As the 2026 midterm election approaches, decisions made in Washington will shape the future of veterans’ healthcare, benefits, and support systems for years to come. Those decisions should be informed by the voices of veterans themselves.
As we do every month, Mission Roll Call is launching a national survey on March 1st to ensure that veterans help define the priorities and expectations that will guide the next Congress and the future direction of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The issues facing veterans are daily realities, but they are often lost in the abstract policy debates so often witnessed in Washington. As we know, elections have consequences, and the 2026 mid-term is no different. Elected leaders will continue to debate important issues impacting veterans. Access to timely, high-quality care. Mental health and suicide prevention. Disability compensation and long-term sustainability of the system. The balance between direct VA care and community-based options. These are structural questions that will be shaped by the outcomes of the 2026 election and the leadership that follows.
This survey is designed to do more than measure opinion. It will identify what issues veterans believe should define the national conversation, how much confidence they have in Congress to protect VA funding, and what expectations they have for candidates seeking federal office. It will also examine how veterans view civic engagement itself—whether elected officials are providing adequate attention to veteran issues and whether greater accountability is needed.
Veterans understand service and responsibility. This survey recognizes that civic engagement does not end when military service concludes. It continues in how veterans vote, how they participate, and how they hold institutions accountable.
The results of this survey will be shared directly with congressional offices, VA leadership, policymakers across the country, and of course you – the veteran. They will help shape advocacy efforts and ensure that legislative priorities reflect documented veteran perspectives—not assumptions.
The strength of this effort depends on participation. The more veterans who engage, the clearer and more influential the message becomes.
In 2026, your voice should help shape the path forward.