Senator JD Vance, R-Ohio, took a clear stand on the differing approaches of former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris regarding veteran care during a recent campaign stop in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
Vance, a Marine Corps veteran himself, addressed a crowd at JWF Industries, a defense contractor, where he laid out the stark contrasts between Trump’s and Harris’s priorities, particularly in how they address the needs of veterans and illegal immigrants.
During his speech, Vance emphasized that the government’s responsibility should first and foremost be to American citizens, with veterans being at the top of that list.
“When our own citizens suffer, and our veterans are at the top of that list, you know what the big difference between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris is? Donald Trump wants to put American citizens and American veterans first. He thinks the government of this country exists to serve the people of this country, not people who shouldn’t be here in the first place,” Vance stated.
His comments came in response to a question from a reporter about how a potential Trump-Vance administration would address the issue of veteran homelessness, especially given Pennsylvania’s high rate of homeless veterans. Vance’s reply highlighted the growing national conversation about whether sufficient resources are being allocated to care for veterans compared to other groups, such as illegal immigrants.
While Vance acknowledged that efforts had been made to support homeless veterans, such as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announcing over $800 million in grants for veteran assistance programs in August, including $17 million directed to Pennsylvania, he argued that this amount was far from enough. “Let’s be honest here, $17 million — while it will help, it is not nearly enough to meet the challenge of the homeless veteran population in this country,” Vance said.
Vance then turned his focus to the sacrifices veterans have made for the country, highlighting how many of them returned from combat with both visible and invisible wounds. He expressed frustration over the current state of veteran care, particularly in light of how resources have been allocated to house illegal immigrants in first-class hotels.
“These guys went off to war. Some of them came back with wounds, some of them with wounds you cannot see. But all of them came back with the pride that they served their country. How disgraceful is it that millions of our veterans are getting left behind, and thousands of them are homeless? Meanwhile, we’re housing illegal aliens in first-class hotels. It’s a disgrace,” he continued.
Vance’s comments touch on a larger debate that has been unfolding nationwide, especially in cities like New York. In the city alone, there are 119 shelters for migrants operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), many of which are housed in hotels. An additional 38 hotels have been contracted through various other agencies to accommodate the surge of illegal immigrants. This has sparked outrage among veterans’ groups and some politicians who argue that veterans should be prioritized for these resources.
Veterans 4 America First (V4AF), an advocacy group, supported Vance’s concerns. Darin Selnick, the founder of V4AF and an Air Force veteran, stated in an interview with Fox News, “Senator Vance is 100% correct. More needs to be done for our homeless veterans, especially at a time under VP Harris when the Department of Veterans Affairs dropped the ball as veteran homelessness went up over 7% last year.”
Selnick went on to criticize the VA for its mismanagement of resources, pointing to a case in Los Angeles where the VA reportedly sold off land that had been earmarked for housing homeless veterans to private developers instead.
The issue of resource allocation has made its way into legislation as well. Representative Mike Bost, R-Ill., introduced the “No VA Resources for Illegal Aliens Act” in December 2022, aimed at ensuring that VA funds are used exclusively for veterans. This bill came in response to reports that the VA had been processing and covering medical claims for illegal immigrants held in ICE detention centers.
As the 2024 election draws nearer, Republicans have made veterans a key issue in their platform. The Republican National Committee has pledged to end “luxury housing and taxpayer benefits for illegal immigrants” and use those funds instead to provide shelter and healthcare for homeless veterans. Their platform also includes promises to reinstate reforms from the Trump administration that expanded healthcare choices for veterans and improved accountability within the VA.
Vance’s remarks during the campaign event underscore this broader theme of resource allocation, focusing on the importance of ensuring that veterans receive the care they deserve. By contrasting Trump’s focus on veterans with Harris’s handling of VA resources, Vance highlighted what he sees as the critical difference between the two political figures. For Vance, addressing veteran homelessness and improving care for those who have served is not just a political talking point but a moral obligation.
As the debate over how to best care for the nation’s veterans continues, Vance’s comments reflect the growing frustration among those who believe that more needs to be done to prioritize American citizens, especially those who have made sacrifices for their country.
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