Veterans Issues Virtually Silent During Presidential Debates

Do you ever wonder where veteran issues stand in the presidential race?  Throughout election season we have heard discussion on a variety of topics from both major party presidential candidates.  Unfortunately, it seems the majority of talk is about improper or unethical behavior, that quickly devolves into name-calling more befitting of reality television than of serious debate on our nation’s most pressing issues. What is even more distressing is that, according to news reports[1], veterans issues were virtually ignored during the presidential debates.  

Over the course of three presidential debates, the major candidates only mentioned veterans twice.  You read that right.  Except for a couple of random endorsement announcements, there was no substantial discussion of how the next Commander-In-Chief will address issues of importance to veterans like:

• · How to correct the health care crisis at the Veterans Administration.
• · Show veterans they are valued through more and better job opportunities, not just entry-level positions.
• · Improve transition programs to successfully move warriors into the civilian sector.  Too many veterans use their GI Bill benefits for costly programs like the now closed ITT Technical Institute that delivered too little real value.
• · And more….  

The candidates appear to have missed a real opportunity here.  An easy one to point out is to consider, for a moment, that the military is one of the most diverse institutions in our nation.  And, then, also consider both campaigns have focused on either dividing (Trump) or uniting (Clinton) racial and ethnic groups.  The veteran community could have easily been held up, by both campaigns, as a standard by which to evaluate issues of concern to every civilian population group. 

It also raises another important issue:  Where is the leadership?  Who’s leading the charge to ensure veteran issues get a fair hearing in the public debate — and in the next president’s policies. There’s a real need for people willing to stand up for veterans and advocate for our causes before Congress and the White House.  We have a myriad of organizations that focus on veteran issues. However, who is seen as the leader of veteran interests?   

To whom does the media national leadership turn for guidance on veteran issues? Maybe that’s the next question that needs to be addressed…who’s going to be that leader who advocates for our concerns at the highest levels of national media and with our elected leaders?  

Right now, there appears to be a job available.    

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[1] http://www.npr.org/2016/10/19/498582150/veterans-issues-nearly-ignored-in-previous-presidential-debates

Nevada Legislature, Veterans to Discuss Bill to Provide Business Opportunites for Veterans at Proposed Las Vegas Stadium

Last week I had the opportunity to travel to Carson City for the Nevada Legislature’s Special Session to advocate for veteran jobs and veteran businesses that are expected to happen during when construction begins on a proposed $1.9 billion domed football stadium. The project, to be located near the Las Vegas strip would be the home of the University of Nevada at Las Vegas football team, and the future home of the NFL's Raiders' franchise, currently located in Oakland. 

I had the good fortune to address both the Nevada Senate and Nevada Assembly as well as meet personally with elected officials. I was grateful for the opportunity to remind remind legislature about the golden opportunity these projects can provide to spark a ‘Renaissance of productivity’ though our untapped resource of veterans.  In addition to veteran business contract opportunities, I emphasized veterans should be employed in executive level and mid-level management jobs and not just focus on entry level positions. 

Legislators provided a major boost by authorizing a tourism-related tax that would provide an estimated $750 million stadium funding to move the project forward. 

Of interest to the veteran community is that the bill itself contains compromise language that requires 15% of the projects (stadium, expansion of convention center, and possibly new roads) to be awarded to local small businesses.  That language is intended to attract  stadium-related opportunities for veterans, disabled veteran and minority small business.

From my perspective, that wording is an important step in the right direction. However, as veterans and minority businesses, we cannot be satisfied with such generic language. We need to influence more specific language in what is being called the Community Benefits Agreement that is required to be written as a supplement to the original bill.  So, we have more work and more opportunity ahead. 

Overall, the feedback received from legislators, community leaders and contractor organizations indicated we made a significant positive impression and established a foundation upon which Nevada can begin to build a model program for veteran opportunities.  I look forward to sharing more specific information relevant to your area of support to the veteran community. 

With the benefit of hindsight, the trip turned out to be a good investment. Warriors would describe it as a target rich environment! 

 Keep Doing Great Things...and more to follow!

Pushing for Quality Jobs for Veterans at Proposed Las Vegas Stadium Development Project

      The National Football League’s Raiders franchise may be coming to Las Vegas!  Yes, your heard right.  Las Vegas may become home to the storied silver and black that currently are Oakland’s home team.  Nevada’s role in this dramatic move is whether its legislature will vote, this week, to commit $750 million dollars of public funding toward the proposed $1.9 billion domed stadium near the Las Vegas Strip.  If the public funding is approved, the only remaining hurdle is whether NFL owners will vote to support the move. 

     Interestingly, local veterans, including myself, have been engaged in the process to ensure veterans are on the radar for every stage of the project…from stadium construction to its operation. This will be a marathon effort that starts with a single step, tomorrow.

      Nevada’s veterans see this as a golden opportunity.  In some respects, any initiative that offers potential employment opportunities for veterans is a good thing.  With the Pentagon’s scaling back troop levels across the Armed Services, thousands of veterans every month are transitioning into the workforce looking for employment opportunities.  I’m always encouraged when there are opportunities where veterans can find gainful employment.

      Too often, however, high-profile commitments to veteran hiring tend to relegate veterans to entry-level positions or leftover ‘scraps’ for veteran contracting businesses.  Most veterans and veteran businesses can deliver skills and attributes that qualify them for more skilled jobs with higher pay and greater contributions. However, many times, veterans are denied the opportunity for fair consideration for the roles they desire...and deserve.

     That’s why I am pleased to have been invited to join forces with a veterans’ group that is focused on working with state legislatures to recognize the value of veteran businesses and individual veteran employment opportunities when public funds are in play. One of the areas I’ll be looking to influence is a commitment for a percentage of jobs and contracts to be made available to warriors and their businesses.  I’m hoping that I can educate Nevada legislators, NFL team ownership, and the coalition of stadium project’s investors on the unique skills and assets that veterans can deliver to the stadiums construction and operation.

     I have interviewed experts across the nation who have studied similar issues regarding veterans’ and the civilian sector.  Many concluded there is a trend for civilian organizations to see veterans as broken or victims of combat, instead of focusing on the positive attributes that they bring to the table.

     If this effort is successful, Nevada legislators will not permit state contractors or the NFL to assign veterans and veteran businesses menial work.  Instead, the Las Vegas Stadium will be the model for veterans and veteran businesses to reap the benefits they richly deserve.