During a pre-rally event last week in Killeen, Texas, United States Senate Candidate James Talarico (D-TX) unveiled his veterans policy plan, emphasizing expanding support for veterans and military families.
Talarico said he has devoted time in his campaign tour to speaking directly with veterans to determine what issues they’re facing and how Congress can ease those struggles. Talarico, whose state is home to more veterans than any other, is emphasizing expanded mental health resources, stronger education benefits and full funding for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) support programs.
According to Talarico, the veterans reported experiencing fewer services and support at the VA following workforce and contract cuts at the VA under President Donald Trump’s administration in 2025.
“They’ve told me about the cuts to health care and to SNAP and how that’s hurt their families,” Talarico said. “If we’re going to ask our veterans to serve us, the very least we could do is serve them.”
Talarico also stressed the need to expand mental health care for veterans.
“In Texas, 500 veterans died by suicide every year,” he said. “As the next US Senator from this state, I will represent the most number of veterans of any senator in the country. We have to honor their service, and that means making decisions in the halls of power.”
At a press conference earlier this week on his veterans policy plan, Talarico said he will also strive to better VA benefits and transitional services programs. He said these resources are a “model” for how America can best care for its veterans.
“I will fight to fully fund the VA and fight back against any effort to privatize it,” Talarico said.
Lastly, Talarico said he will push to end “forever wars,” including the nearly six-month-long conflict with Iran. He pointed to the 18 U.S. service members killed in the conflict so far, including 19-year-old Texan Isabella Gonzalez.
“Our service members, our veterans, our military families, they love this country,” he said. “It is time for this country to love them.”
