Democrats Show Up for Vets when Van Orden Won't
Representative Derrick Van Orden often touts his military background and claims to be a strong advocate for veterans. But his record tells a different story — one of missed opportunities and misplaced priorities that have left Wisconsin veterans behind.
One flashpoint is September's closure of Klein Hall, a veterans’ shelter in Chippewa Falls. Van Orden failed to secure federal funding to keep the shelter open, even though he could have requested it through Community Project Funding (Klein Hall wasn’t among his 15 earmark requests for 2026). When the shelter closed, he blamed Governor Tony Evers, and not the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee who denied Ever's state-level funding request.
Van Orden also sparked backlash in May of this year after telling VA Secretary Doug Collins during a congressional hearing, “So when are we going to cut the VA? And I hope you do, sir.” The remark set off alarm bells among veterans’ advocates, who warned that cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs would threaten healthcare access for millions.
Van Orden later claimed he was referring only to cutting “waste, fraud, and abuse,” but his rhetoric fits a broader pattern of undermining veterans’ services. His comments came as Congress debated how to address a $6.6 billion VA budget shortfall. While he framed the issue as fiscal responsibility, his stance risks undercutting vital programs, including housing assistance and mental health care.
Even without a viable alternative in place, Derrick supported the Trump administration’s ending of VA Servicing Purchase (VASP), a mortgage-rescue program that so far has helped about 20,000 veterans avoid foreclosure. Meanwhile, his vote for the Big Beautiful Bill has put crucial funding for Medicaid and SNAP in jeopardy (SNAP, in particular, provides meals for 1.2 million veterans and their families). Van Orden’s cruel approach is short-sighted and disconnected from the everyday realities vets face.
How can one not have doubts about his commitment to those who served? From the loss of our local shelter to his willingness to entertain VA cuts, our congressman’s actions — and inaction — show a troubling pattern: when veterans in Wisconsin need him most, he’s not there to stand up for them.
Democrats are showing up for Vets!
Democrats have focused on strengthening the support network for veterans — from healthcare to housing, employment, and mental health. A major part of that effort has been expanding access to care and benefits. Through initiatives like the PACT Act and the Toxic Exposures Fund, they’ve increased healthcare coverage for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxins. Laws such as Jason’s Law and the Veterans Overmedication Prevention Act have also aimed to improve oversight and ensure safer, more personalized care. Democrats push these measures to modernize the VA system and make it more responsive to the long-term health challenges many veterans face.
Support has also extended to financial stability and quality of life. The Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit expansion has provided meaningful relief to those living on fixed incomes, helping veterans and their families stay in their homes. Meanwhile, programs like the Veterans Housing and Recovery Program and the Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act have strengthened housing access, job training, and reintegration services for those transitioning to civilian life. Recognizing that invisible wounds are as serious as physical ones, Democrats have also invested in mental health programs such as the Veterans Outreach and Recovery Program, which connects veterans with counseling, addiction treatment, and peer support.
Together, these initiatives reflect a broader goal: to ensure that every veteran — no matter where they live or what battles they’ve faced — can access the care, stability, and respect they’ve earned through service. Our district can do better.
Demand More. Vote Out Van Orden! Help us Take Back WI’s 3rd Congressional District.