THE PROMISE THEY MADE. THE PROMISE WE MUST KEEP.

Lent believes, and will always fight that pivotal time period of patriotism when a soldier puts on that uniform, they sign a blank check payable with their life. They don’t ask if it’s a red state or a blue state. They just serve. Bravely. Without hesitation.

But when their service ends, far too often, the nation they fought for doesn’t fight for them. Under the Trump Administration, we’re witnessing some of the cruelest threats, and unconditional usages of our Service Members our Nation has ever witnessed, not to mention the forbidden politicizing of these American heroes for weaponized political reasons, and even displaying them as some sort of Korean, Chinese, or Russian dictator toy to stroke the thin skinned egotistical prowless of a man who consistently belittles, and demean America’s selfless War Heroes.

That ends now.

As someone who understands intimately understands what it means to serve, give all for justice, (but refuse to politicize his or his fellow Brother and Sisters Warriors) sacrifice, and the betrayal of broken systems — I refuse to let our veterans and service members stand alone.

ISSUE 1: 

Ending Veteran Homelessness — For Good

Problem:

More than 30,000 veterans sleep on our streets every night — many with PTSD, untreated trauma, or addiction that began on the battlefield.

Lent’s Solution:

• Pass the Veterans Dignity Act: a federally funded housing-first program with wraparound mental health, job training, and substance abuse support.

• Expand HUD-VASH vouchers and give priority to local veteran housing projects.

• Create VetSafe Zones in every major city with immediate beds and 24/7 crisis care.

No American who fought for our freedom should ever have to fight for a warm place to sleep.

American Soliders at War Protecting American Interests and People

ISSUE 2: 

Mental Health Is Mission Readiness

Problem:

22 veterans die by suicide every day. Active-duty suicides are rising. Yet we still treat mental health like a side effect, not a core priority.

Lent’s Solution:

• Launch a National Guard of the Mind: an elite, fully funded mental health corps embedded within every VA hospital and base.

• Mandate post-deployment reintegration programs for every service member with family therapy, job placement, and ongoing trauma care.

• Remove stigma: require the Department of Defense to treat mental health evaluations with the same priority as physical fitness tests.

We train them for war. Let’s also train them for coming home.

ISSUE 3: 

From Boots to Paychecks: Economic Justice for Veterans

Problem:

Veterans face hiring bias, underemployment, and a shrinking GI Bill that fails to keep up with inflation or career transitions.

Lent’s Solution:

• Expand the Post-9/11 GI Bill to cover non-traditional programs: skilled trades, renewable energy tech, AI & cybersecurity training.

• Offer Tax-Free Veteran Small Business Zones in underserved communities for 10 years post-discharge.

• Enforce federal contracts that require hiring quotas for qualified veterans — with real penalties for noncompliance.

They were mission-ready for war. Let’s make America opportunity-ready for them.

ISSUE 4: 

Respecting Military Families

Problem:

Spouses face job instability. Children endure school transfers. Families suffer while the service member serves.

Lent’s Solution:

• Introduce the Service Family Stability Act: guaranteed paid leave, portable federal child care, and priority education access for military kids.

• Fund nationwide military spouse employment networks with remote work placement and tuition assistance.

• Establish permanent PCS (permanent change of station) transition grants to help with the financial hit of moving.

When one serves, the whole family sacrifices. It’s time the whole family is supported.

ISSUE 5: 

Defending Their Health — Not Just Their Country

Problem:

Toxic exposure. Burn pits. Delayed claims. Poor VA access. Our heroes are dying waiting in lines that should’ve been cleared years ago.

Lent’s Solution:

• Fully enforce and expand the PACT Act for toxic-exposed veterans.

• Hire and train 10,000 new VA caseworkers with performance-based timelines.

• Launch VA on Wheels mobile clinics for rural veterans.

If we can fund wars instantly, we can fund their healing without delay.

LENT’S CLOSING STATEMENT FOR The PLATFORM Issue of honoring our Service Members With Dignity:

We drape them in flags at their funerals, but we ignore them when they return home.

That’s not patriotism. That’s shameful.

I don’t just want to “honor the troops” with applause at self-serving parades. I want to honor them with housing, health care, jobs, and justice.

My promise is simple:

If you wore the uniform, I will fight for you every single day I serve in Congress.

Because honor doesn’t end when the uniform comes off. And neither should our duty.