1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

Upholding the commitment to our nation's veterans should be a paramount priority. As a veteran myself, I find the potential cuts to essential health care programs deeply concerning. Throwing veterans aside after their service is an unfortunate pattern in our history, one that we must actively work to rectify. Programs like the Veterans Health Care Eligibility Act, which provided $119 billion in funding for vital services in the 2024 fiscal year, are crucial for ensuring we honor our promises to those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom and security. Indiscriminate cost-cutting measures that slash funding for expired government programs may seem logical from a financial perspective, but they fail to account for the profound human impact on our veterans. Instead of abrupt defunding, a more thoughtful and compassionate approach is needed – one that streamlines and modernizes these programs while ensuring continuous access to quality health care for our heroes. Our nation's veterans deserve our unwavering commitment to their well-being, not neglect or diminished support. I urge you to be a vocal advocate for the preservation and improvement of veterans' health care programs. We owe it to those who have served to uphold our end of the bargain.