Voicemail To A Representative Action Project Script

Hello,  Representative Aaron M. Ortiz

My name is Abby and I’m a high school student and a longtime resident of Gage Park. I am sending this voicemail to show my support for a bill I really do believe is for the greater good of veteran citizens in Illinois. I am referring to HB 0035, which is a bill designed to help our veterans. This bill will do the following: “increase loans to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans or service-disabled veterans; increase veterans' access to health care coverage and services; take specified steps toward preventing veteran suicide; and develop and implement a strategy to end veteran homelessness within 3 years”  Despite this bill not affecting me or anyone I know directly, I still truly believe this is a good policy that must be put in place.

Having first hand seen homeless veterans around my city, Chicago, puts into perspective the support needed by various veterans. According to a report by the organization Supporting Veterans in Illinois “approximately 91,851 veterans in Illinois live in homes with one or more major problems of quality, crowding or cost. Housing affordability is the greatest housing problem amongst veterans. Roughly 23.6% pay too much for housing”.I’ve also  read various reports of veterans suffering from mental health issues at a higher rate than non-veterans. For example, a report by the Department of Veteran Affairs reported that in 2019 “the Veteran suicide rate was 31.6 per 100,000, substantially higher than the rate among non-Veteran US adults (16.8 per 100,000)”. I believe it is in the best interest of the state to help its veterans who once served this country. As a resident of Illinois who has no personal or familiar connection to veterans I still believe there is great importance in passing this bill and providing the support and resources to the veterans who need it.  

To willingly serve one's country and sacrifice time, effort, and even one’s youth is something that deserves more than a mere thanks. The very least we can do as a state who ranks tenth for veteran population is make sure they get the support and resources they need in order to integrate back into civilian life after a period of servitude. It is our duty as the people of Illinois to not only show our gratitude but make sure we return in full to those who served our country with integrity and selflessness. Abandoning our veterans and leaving them without anything other than our momentary thank you’s is the same as watering a plant with salt water, while the good intent is there we are not truly helping it grow and flourish. We owe it to those who made sacrifices for this country, this state, these people, they are more than deserving of compensation and access to resources like health and mental health providers, increased affordable loans for business owners, and an opportunity to pursue a higher education if they wish to do so.

Some might believe that this bill is not necessary since only 6.8% of veterans live in poverty making it a minor percentage and only about 15.9% suffer from disabilities connected to their service. Others might completely argue that we do not owe anything to our veterans. To them I say that the very fact that a small percentage of veterans are suffering from poverty gives us all the more power and duty to bring that percentage down to 0%, it is well within our reach as a state. And to those who believe that we do not owe anything to our veterans, I ask that they carefully reconsider and acknowledge the service our veterans have given, whether you agree or disagree with the decisions the government has made militarily, we cannot deny compensation to the men and women who have served this country with best interest at heart.

I ask with the best interest and in support of this bill which I truly believe will be good policy that you co-sponsor this bill and even check in with your colleagues in the Rules Committees to consider and help pass this bill to help our Illinois Veterans. This bill will help them not only with housing, education, and health accessibility but will also be a form of compensation for the hard work and sacrifices they made for our country and the state of Illinois. Thank you for your time Representative Ortiz.