Veterans

KEEPING AMERICA'S PROMISE TO VETERANS

The Challenges

Limited access to care and benefits: Veterans have limited access to medical care in the 25th district with only two VA clinics and commissaries in Homestead and Collier County.

Lack of Funding: The 25th Congressional District is the worst federally funded district in Florida.

New GI Bill is Needed: A new GI Bill is needed to meet the needs of the 21st Century. The current Congressman voted twice against a new GI Bill.

PTSD is not being treated: The amount of veterans coming home with PTSD and traumatic brain injury is on the rise, yet we are not adequately addressing their needs.

Joe's Plan

• Supporting A New GI Bill: Joe Garcia fully supports a new Post-9/11 GI Bill that provides veterans with greater medical and educational opportunities.
  
  
• Educational Opportunities: Joe Garcia is a firm believer that granting educational opportunities to those that serve is a key way to easing their transition into civilian life and that a GI Bill alone is not enough to cover costs. Accordingly, Joe will work to expand Pell Grants, scholarships and college tuition deductions for our men and women in uniform.
  
  
• Improve VA Care in South Florida: Joe understands the limited access to care that veterans have in South Florida. Joe will work to expand veteran care treatment to existing hospitals.
  
  
• Zero-Tolerance Policy for Veterans Employment Discrimination: Joe Garcia has a zero-tolerance policy for employers who discriminate against guardsmen and reservists. Accordingly, Joe Garcia will seek prosecution of those employers that discriminate against active-duty military personnel and veterans.
  
  

• Homeless Veterans: Those that have served our country should not be without a home. Joe Garcia will fight for affordable housing and assisted-living opportunities for veterans that are living on the streets.
  
  
• Easing Housing Costs: Joe Garcia will work in Congress to grant veterans property tax excemptions to facilitate their transition into civilian life.
  
  
• Commissaries in Homestead, Kendall and Collier County: Joe Garcia commits himself to opening full-service DeCA Commissaries at the Homestead Air Force Base, Southcom Headquarters in Doral and near Collier County's Ave Maria retirement community.
  
  
• Immediate Implementation of Full-Concurrent Receipt for all Disabled Retired Military: In Congress, Joe Garcia will fight to end the practice of reducing military retirement pay based on service related with VA disability payments.
  
  
• Ensuring Immediate Retirement Benefits: Joe Garcia will lead in Congress to enact legislation that ensures retirement is afforded to all National Guard and reservists on the day their equivalent service equals 20 years of active duty. Joe believes it is unacceptable for veterans to have to wait until they accumulate sufficient "points" comparable to active duty in the military before receiving full retirement services.
  
  

• Meet the needs of Women Veterans: Women veterans - those who served in active combat or served our nation in another capacity - have unique medical needs that are not being met. Joe Garcia will work closely with local Women Veterans Program Managers to ensure that VA clinics are receiving proper support to address the medical needs of women.
  
  

• Fully Fund VA Benefits: Joe Garcia believes that our country's veterans deserve access to the finest medical care and benefits. Joe Garcia will work to fully fund the VA so it has all the necessary resources to meet the needs of South Florida's veterans.
  
  
• Cut the Bureaucracy thru Innovation: Joe Garcia will work with members of Congress to modernize the current VA system and cut the bureaucracy. This begins by replacing the outdated current paper benefit claims process with an electronic one, this will reduce glitches and expedite the benefits process.
  
  
• Expand Mental Health Treatment: Existing hospitals already have the proper facilities and faculty to care for veterans with mental health needs. Joe Garcia will work to expand veteran care in already-existing local hospitals and clinics.

• Mental Health Treatment: By fully funding the VA, Joe Garcia will work to recruit more professionals to detect and treat PTSD and offer our veterans the support they deserve for combat stress-related mental health ailments.