(The Center Square) – As former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris make their final pitches to voters ahead of the Nov. 5 presidential election, issues involving veterans have gotten little attention.

With many U.S. voters focused on issues such as high consumer prices, the economy, illegal immigration and abortion, those who have served in the military want to hear about ending homelessness for veterans and providing them with access to lifesaving benefits.

Retired Army Lt. Col. Jim Whaley, the CEO of Mission Roll Call, said that even during the vice presidential debate, which featured two veterans, vet-focused issues got short shrift.

“Our polling and one-on-one meetings with veterans across the country indicate that there’s great dissatisfaction that veterans’ issues have not been a topic in this campaign, especially the vice presidential debate,” Whaley said. “I mean, here were two veterans, and the people asking the questions right from CBS did a horrible job of touching on the fact that they were veterans.”

Mission Roll Call conducted a national survey of veterans that found that the majority of veterans are focused on two key issues: Ending the homelessness crisis and ensuring timely access to lifesaving benefits.

Unlike some groups, the nation’s 18.5 million veterans don’t vote as a bloc. Whaley said that is, in part, because veterans are a diverse group. Veterans do vote. Whaley said more than 98% of veterans are registered to vote.
Full Article – https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_4cf8ed64-96d1-11ef-8d5d-8b8fc1e9e6e5.html