Veterans

Ron Mitchell on Veterans

Northern Virginia has a large military presence. As a veteran of the U.S. Army, Ronald Mitchell is an advocate for veterans, military retirees and their spouses. A former soldier, he supports those who risk their lives to protect and serve our nation and believes that they deserve greater respect and assistance from their government.

The moment Ronald Mitchell joined the military, he became an advocate for better access to educational programs and employment opportunities for veterans. Ronald Mitchell has witnessed firsthand the bureaucracy involved when a solder is trying to access VA and educational benefits.

In 2007, the Department of Veterans Affairs received the single largest increase in funding ($3.7 billion) since its existence.  Congress also passed a record-setting amount for the VA in 2008 to help reduce backlogs in veterans processing and care. This funding should be used to improve and streamline existing programs to ensure rapid response and access to benefits. Thousands of soldiers have returned home after defending our country to substandard medical services and find it very difficult to find employment and housing.  

Ronald Mitchell will focus on easing the burden and concerns of men and women that are serving this nation. On several occasion Ronald Mitchell talked to or read about military families losing their homes because they can’t make their mortgage payments. More programs must be designed to minimize the problem.

Moreover, he will advocate on behalf of veterans to address "concurrent receipt" legislation to undue restrictions on military retirees who have earned the right to receive VA disability benefits. Ronald Mitchell supports legislation to eliminate the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) penalty for military retiree spouses that currently receive Social Security. As a veteran he understand the needs and concerns of soldiers and will lend his voice and advocate on behalf of the men and women who have served our nation.