Election season is in full swing, and we will soon exercise perhaps the most precious right granted by our Constitution: the right to vote. Millions of veterans have suffered and died to give us this right. While DAV is a nonpartisan organization and does not advocate for or against candidates for office, we are committed to ensuring that our members and their families are well-informed about where candidates stand on issues critical to veterans as they prepare to vote.

In the months ahead, candidates for federal offices, beginning with the president and vice president and including one-third of U.S. Senators and the entire House of Representatives, must know that the votes of DAV members, other veterans and those who support us cannot be taken for granted. We must be certain they know we will hold them accountable for fulfilling our nation’s sacred promises to the men and women who served. It’s our duty to educate them about the challenges facing ill and injured veterans and to advocate for policies that empower veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity.

We expect that VA health care reform will be a prominent issue in both congressional and presidential elections this year. We will continue to promote policies to strengthen, reform and sustain the VA health care system that so many ill and injured veterans choose and rely on. However, there are some individuals and organizations proposing to dismantle or abolish the VA health care system. If they had their way, all veterans would be pushed out of the VA and into privatesector health care, with providers who have little experience treating the unique medical needs of veterans—especially service-disabled veterans.

In Washington, D.C., we are engaged with congressional leaders to educate them on our unique needs, and it is critical that DAV members and grassroots supporters bring these same messages to candidates and elected officials across the country.

To aid in this team effort, DAV has launched a renewed effort centered around our Benefits Protection Team. Its leaders will be organizing and harnessing DAV members to bring our message and our top legislative priorities and policies to the attention of all candidates for federal office. I urge all of you to learn about the issues and become involved at your Chapter and Department levels as a part of the DAV benefits protection effort.

Please join us in this fight to reform and strengthen the VA without weakening or dismantling it. Participate in the Benefits Protection Team effort, and most importantly, reach out to candidates for federal office in your area to ensure they know what veterans want, need and have earned. Working together, we can ensure the VA can provide high-quality health care and benefits not just to us, but to future generations of America’s veterans.

Learn More Online

Find out how you can help advocate for veterans at dav.org/dav-benefits-protection-team.