CONTACT: Jessica Ward, (608) 213-5939
Brookfield, Wis. — U.S. Senate candidate Leah Vukmir, R–Brookfield, Tuesday announced more than 75 inaugural members of her new “Veterans Choose Leah” coalition and outlined the top veterans’ policy initiatives for her campaign.
“Wisconsin veterans deserve a senator who will deliver for them. Whether in improving access to care, economic opportunity, or helping them reintegrate when they get back home — that’s exactly what I will do,” Leah said. “When we promise benefits for the men and women who serve our country, arbitrary restrictions and inadequate government shouldn’t get in the way of them getting the best results.”
Addressing Opioid Addiction Within the Veteran Community
Our veterans who have served our country deserve a life free from chronic pain. For those dependent on opioids, we ought to ensure we have the necessary tools to help them with address their addiction. We also must help equip our VA physicians with alternatives to treat pain beyond prescription painkillers.
Expanding the Veterans Choice Program
Veterans should have the freedom to choose where they receive their health care. This can be encouraged by removing limitations on the Veterans Choice Program, which will reduce wait times and allow veterans to choose the health care that best fits their needs. Currently, in order to qualify for this program, veterans must live 40 miles away from a VA hospital or wait longer than 30 days for an appointment.
Increasing Access to the Caregiver Program
The Caregiver Program provides monthly stipends, care and counseling to veterans through caregivers — another choice for care for veterans. Currently only veterans injured after 9/11 have access to the program. This arbitrary eligibility restriction limits many veterans from receiving care through this preferred method and ought to be removed.
This announcement comes on the heels of Leah holding veterans’ roundtables across the state, including Franklin, Manitowoc and Burlington, meeting with veterans and talking about the issues that matter most to them. These policies are a result of those conversations, combined with her talks with veterans all across the state on her Wisconsin Way tour.
Below is a list of members of the “Veterans Choose Leah” coalition:
Troy Anhalt, Elkhorn
Tim Brehmer, Manitowoc
Joseph Campbell, Milwaukee
Dave Carlson, Two Rivers
James Carlson, Manitowoc
Mikc Christiansen, Green Bay
Donald Cook, Mt. Pleasant
Louis D’Abbraccio, Racine
Todd Demske, Manitowoc
Gary Dorgay, Greenfield
Fred Douglass, East Troy
Robert Drefs, Delevan
Tom Dyzak, Manitowoc
Jack Falkowski, Manitowoc
Scott Fitzgerald, Juneau
Dan Freschi, Waukesha
Larry Gamble, Franklin
Chris Goebel, Elkhorn
J.T. Goswitz, Manitowoc
Gary Griffith Sr., Menomonee Falls
Charles Hagen, Two Rivers
John Hager, Elknorn
Harlow Hanson, Milwaukee
Pete Henrickson, Manitowoc
Kurt Hoffman, Mischicot
Dan Kapanke, Lacrosse
Richard Kielman, Elkhorn
Tiffany Koehler, West Bend
Allan Kohls, Reeseville
Bud Krueger, Elkhorn
Keith Kruger, Neenah
Tony Kurtz, Prairie du Chien
Pam Laughrin, Mishicot
Rob Lehninger, Wauwatosa
Don Macleod, Waukesha
Mark Millard, Pewaukee
Ted Mitchell, Brillion
Mike Nasep, Manitowoc
Steve Nass, Whitewater
Cory Newmann, Whitewater
Thomas Nobles, Elkhorn
Kevin O’Brien, Sheboygan
Mel Olberg, Delevan
Ray Perez, Reedsburg
Jerry Petrowski, Marathon
Ted Preiser, Elkhorn
Kim Queen, Milwaukee
John Reiff, Elkhorn
Joseph Rezek, Delevan
Perfecto Rivera, Milwaukee
Cody Robinson, Waukesha
Richard Rust, Pewaukee
John Scherer, Delevan
Tom Schinke, Elkhorn
Kenneth Schmitt, Elkhorn
Michael Schrank, Hartland
Norm Schreiner, Lake Geneva
Phil Schulz, East Troy
Dan Sebring, Milwaukee
Charles Simmerman, Elkhorn
Ken Skowronski, MIlwaukee
Shae Sortwell, Two Rivers
Jim Sterletski, Two Rivers
Thomas Sullivan, Lake Geneva
Laura Szatkowski, Delevan
Kathy Tenyer, Williams Bay
George Tenyer, Williams Bay
Ken Thiers, Mishicot
Tom Visintainer Sr., Kenosha
Sam Wahlen, Racine
Ricky Wentker, Two Rivers
Jan Whitler, Delevan
Brian Wisell, Elkhorn
Don Wolf, Manitowoc
James Young, Brookfield
Gregory Zimmer, Manitowoc
Leah Vukmir is a nurse, military mom and conservative with a proven record who has stood with Gov. Walker in cutting taxes and implementing bold reforms. She is running for the U.S. Senate to bring the Wisconsin Way to Washington. She currently serves as a state senator from Brookfield.
