DeSantis rolls out plan to support Veterans: healthcare access, combating suicide, more
ANDERSON, S.C. – Gov. Ron DeSantis rolled out his presidential campaign platform on supporting American Veterans and a new campaign initiative called “Veterans for DeSantis.“
“DC elites have weakened our nation’s military – wokeism runs rampant, morale has taken a nosedive, and recruitment has sunk to an all-time low,” DeSantis said.
“The ruling class has also left behind the patriots who put their life on the line for America, and that ends under my administration,” he continued. “We will restore our military and take care of our heroes. I know what it means to wear the cloth our country, and I will not let America’s veterans down.”
DeSantis’ campaign pointed out that should he become president, he would be the “first president to serve in a war to be elected since 1988.”
Some of his policies involve modernizing Veteran health care systems and infrastructure, increasing connections between Veterans and “all available support,” focusing on ending delays for care, and rescind “left-wing policies” from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The campaign said DeSantis would ensure the VA does not align itself with critical race theory, diversity, equity and inclusion, paying for any abortion-related expenses, sex reassignment surgeries, and hormone therapy.
Additionally, he promised to “reverse Biden’s recruitment crisis” by resorting “trust” in the military with expanded recruitment programs like JROTC.
Should he become president, he also vowed to “restore accountability” to the VA by expediting termination processes for “bad employees,” ending some union deals and increasing protection for whisteblowers.
DeSantis’ campaign launched “Veterans for DeSantis” officially on Wednesday, ahead of an in-person launch event Thursday.
Per the campaign, U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., who is a U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy Veteran, will be leading the “Veterans for DeSantis National Leadership Team.”
“We need a Commander-In-Chief who has worn the flag on his sleeve, and truly understands what it means to put service above self,” McCormick said. “We need a President with a track record of accomplishments, focused on tackling the challenges that plague our families and communities, and unapologetically committed to our conservative values.”
“I am proud to endorse Governor DeSantis and serve on his National Leadership Team because he has proven himself to be a servant leader who never backs down from a fight,” he added. “We can trust Ron DeSantis to lead, succeed, and always put the American people first.”
The coalition of Veterans follows previous coalitions coalescing around the governor such as Mamas for DeSantis, Law Enforcement for DeSantis, and his Faith and Family Coalition.
The announcement comes after his July policy rollout for a “mission first” U.S. military.
“There was no greater honor than knowing I was wearing the cloth of my country when I served in the military, but our nation’s once-proud fighting force has been infected and paralyzed by a political agenda,” DeSantis said.
“It is time to rip the woke out of the military and return it to its core mission. We must restore a sense of confidence, conviction, and patriotic duty to our institutions — and that begins with our military,” he continued.
His campaign noted the plan’s “four key pillars”:
Ripping Political Agendas Out of Our Military
Restoring Military Standards
Breaking the Swamp & Promoting Accountability
Turning the Tide Against Biden’s Military Recruitment Crisis
Team DeSantis
