The Continuing Importance of Grassroots Advocacy Efforts

BY PETE PETERSON, CHAIR

VVA President Jack McManus recently paid a visit to the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center. Shortly after the visit, President Trump signed an executive order that aims to create a center for homeless veterans in Los Angeles and to improve medical care through the VA.

The order calls for constructing a National Center for Warrior Independence on the campus of the West LA Medical Center that would provide housing and services to 3,000 homeless veterans, with a goal to eventually house 6,000.

The West Los Angeles campus includes a 600-acre tract that was donated in 1888 by private citizens to house disabled veterans. In recent years it has been embroiled in litigation between advocates for homeless veterans and the federal government, which earns revenue from the property by leasing a portion of it to the UCLA baseball team, a private school, and other private entities.

On May 21, VVA’s Government Affairs Department hosted a VSO luncheon at VVA headquarters in Silver Spring. Managing Director Phil Waite gave a presentation on the future of VVA and plans for our continuing mission.

Sean Lee, VA’ s Veterans Service Representative, spoke about how his background as a senior NCO brought him the mentality of caring for the troops.

Many in attendance called for open dialogue and for more events like the luncheon, which allow everyone to have a seat at the table. It was decided that VVA will continue this effort and fund monthly luncheons.

We discussed current events and issues such as suicide-prevention and the homeless veterans’ situation at the West LA VA, and questions came up about Gold Star families and how to include them in the VSO community as we work together for veterans and their families.

We plan to continue to gather regularly, and future meetings will include a keynote speaker.

As we continue to advance VVA’s priorities, I want to once again underscore the vital role that grassroots advocacy and local political engagement play in our success.

At the national level, we are actively working with Congress to advocate for meaningful, forward-thinking legislation that benefits veterans. The Government Affairs team maintains daily contact with congressional offices, participates in hearings, builds relationships with key legislators and committees, and ensures our priorities are heard on the Hill. We have hundreds of meetings with legislators every year. These efforts have yielded real progress. But they work better when they do not stand alone.

What we consistently hear from lawmakers at the federal and state levels is that their constituents’ voices are what matter most. That is why grassroots advocacy is more than a complement to national government affairs; it is often the foundation upon which successful policy change is built.

VVA members’ influence in state legislatures is just as essential as our work on Capitol Hill. State lawmakers are often more accessible and responsive to local veterans, and they have the power to enact policies that help locally. And often, those local policies serve as examples for national models. In many cases, lasting systemic change starts in statehouses, not in the Capitol.

Whether you’re meeting with local representatives, testifying at committee hearings, mobilizing community members, or shaping public opinion through media and events, your efforts make our message resonate. Veterans bring the data, the stories, and the urgency that make our issues real and compelling.

Keep building relationships with state legislators. Let’s help veterans understand the power of their voices. Show them how to get involved. That can lead to positive outcomes in the states, and at the same time, amplify and reinforce the work we’re doing at the federal level.

Go to the VVA.org “Legislative Action” page where you can send a message to your federal representatives and also find out who your local representatives are and how to contact them. https://vva.org/what-we-do/veterans-advocacy/legislative-action-center/"

In the coming weeks, the Government Affairs team will provide additional state-focused advocacy support to help grassroots efforts. Members should feel free to call us if they have needs that require immediate attention.

Thank you for being the leaders that you are. From the halls of Congress to the floors of your state capitals, your leadership and the voices of veterans make the difference.

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