Democratic Veterans Caucus Launched to Protect Veterans' Rights and Interests

Strategic Insights -

The Democratic Veterans Caucus has been launched in response to the unprecedented attacks on veterans' health care, benefits, and services by the Trump administration. The caucus, composed of 18 House Democratic colleagues, is led by Chairwoman Pat Ryan (NY-18), an Army veteran, and Chairmen Ted Lieu (CA-36), an Air Force veteran, and Chris Deluzio (PA-17), a Navy veteran. The caucus aims to unite the voices of Democrats who have served in the military and fight for the rights and interests of veterans.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Democratic Veterans Caucus has been launched to protect veterans' rights and interests amidst unprecedented attacks on their health care, benefits, and services.
  • 18 House Democratic colleagues have joined the caucus, led by Chairwoman Pat Ryan (NY-18), an Army veteran, and Chairmen Ted Lieu (CA-36), an Air Force veteran, and Chris Deluzio (PA-17), a Navy veteran.
  • The caucus aims to unite the voices of Democrats who have served in the military and fight for the rights and interests of veterans, including 10% of all veterans who rely on Medicaid for health care and 1.2 million veterans living in households who utilize SNAP benefits.
  • President Trump, aided by House Republicans, is trying to push through massive cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
  • Many caucus members are veterans themselves, including Rep. Salud Carbajal (CA), a Marine Corps Reserve veteran; Rep. Gil Cisneros (CA), a Navy veteran; and Rep. Mike Thompson (CA), a Purple Heart recipient and Army veteran.
  • The caucus is committed to fighting for the rights and interests of veterans, including protecting their health care, mental health care, and families.
  • Members of the caucus include:

* Rep. Salud Carbajal (CA)

* Rep. Gil Cisneros (CA)

* Rep. Herb Conaway (NJ)

* Rep. Jason Crow (CO)

* Rep. Don Davis (NC)

* Rep. Chris Deluzio (PA)

* Rep. Jared Golden (ME)

* Rep. Maggie Goodlander (NH)

* Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA)

* Rep. Ted Lieu (CA)

* Rep. Seth Moulton (MA)

* Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA)

* Rep. Pat Ryan (NY)

* Rep. Bobby Scott (VA)

* Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ)

* Rep. Mike Thompson (CA)

* Rep. Derek Tran (CA)

* Rep. Eugene Vindman (VA)

Statistics:

  • 10% of all veterans rely on Medicaid for health care.
  • 1.2 million veterans living in households utilize SNAP benefits.
  • 80,000 VA staff, many of them veterans, were fired by the Trump administration.
  • The Democratic Veterans Caucus aims to protect the rights and interests of veterans, including their health care, mental health care, and families.

Sources:

  • Rep. Chris Deluzio (PA-17)
  • Rep. Pat Ryan (NY-18)
  • Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-36)
  • Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ)
  • Rep. Maggie Goodlander (NH)
  • Rep. Jason Crow (CO)
  • Rep. Gil Cisneros (CA)
  • Rep. Chris Deluzio (PA)
  • Rep. Seth Moulton (MA)
  • Rep. Mike Thompson (CA)
  • Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA)
  • Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA)
  • Rep. Pat Ryan (NY)
  • Rep. Bobby Scott (VA)
  • Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ)
  • Rep. Mike Thompson (CA)
  • Rep. Derek Tran (CA)
  • Rep. Eugene Vindman (VA)