Beyond Bake Sales: PACT Act Policy for Vets

So much misinformation clouds our understanding of how real change happens for our nation’s heroes. When it comes to supporting those who served, focusing on policy changes matters more than ever, because without systemic shifts, individual efforts often fall short. But how do we cut through the noise and drive meaningful impact for our veterans?

Myth 1: Individual Charity is Enough to Solve Veterans’ Problems

The idea that a series of bake sales, 5k runs, or even substantial individual donations can fundamentally alter the landscape for our veterans is a comforting but ultimately misleading fantasy. While I applaud every single person who gives their time or money to a veteran’s cause – truly, every bit helps – it’s a drop in the ocean compared to the systemic issues at play. I’ve seen firsthand how a well-meaning community effort to house a few homeless veterans can be undermined by a lack of affordable housing policies or insufficient mental healthcare access. We can build shelters, but if the VA can’t process claims efficiently or local governments won’t zone for affordable units, we’re just playing whack-a-mole.

Consider the ongoing challenge of veteran homelessness. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) [https://www.hud.gov/](https://www.hud.gov/), even with significant efforts, tens of thousands of veterans remain unhoused annually. This isn’t because people aren’t caring; it’s because the root causes – a combination of housing affordability crises, inadequate mental health services, substance abuse support gaps, and often, slow disability claims processing – are too vast for individual charities to tackle alone. Policy changes that increase funding for HUD-VASH vouchers [https://www.va.gov/homeless/hud-vash.asp], mandate better inter-agency data sharing, or streamline access to benefits are what move the needle. Without those legislative and regulatory levers, we’re just patching holes in a sinking ship. My firm, for example, often works with veterans who’ve been denied benefits for years, leading directly to financial instability. No amount of private charity can fix a broken bureaucratic process; only a policy directive can.

Myth 2: Veterans Don’t Care About Politics or Policy

“Veterans just want to be left alone,” some say, “they’re not interested in the political wrangling.” This couldn’t be further from the truth. In my two decades working with veterans, I’ve found them to be some of the most engaged, passionate, and often, frustrated citizens when it comes to the policies that directly affect their lives. They understand, perhaps better than anyone, that decisions made in Washington D.C., or even at the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, have real-world consequences on their healthcare, their employment, and their families’ well-being.

The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) [https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/](https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/) regularly conducts surveys and actively lobbies Congress on behalf of its members. Their 2024 Annual Warrior Survey, for instance, highlighted mental health care access and long-term care for severe injuries as top concerns, directly informing their legislative agenda. This isn’t some abstract political game; it’s about life and death for many. I’ve personally seen veterans organize at the grassroots level, attending city council meetings in Marietta to advocate for veteran-owned business preference programs, or testifying before state legislative committees in Atlanta on issues like property tax exemptions for disabled veterans. They don’t just care; they’re often the most effective advocates because they bring lived experience to the table. Ignoring their voices in the policy-making process is not just a mistake, it’s a disservice to the very people we claim to support. They’re not just waiting for handouts; they’re demanding a seat at the table.

Myth 3: The VA is Unchangeable; Policies Don’t Make a Difference There

This is a particularly pernicious myth, often fueled by past frustrations with bureaucratic inertia. While the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a massive, complex organization, it is absolutely responsive to policy changes and legislative mandates. To suggest otherwise is to ignore decades of reform efforts, many of which were directly driven by congressional action and public advocacy.

Think about the PACT Act of 2022 [https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/]. This landmark legislation expanded VA healthcare and benefits for millions of veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service. This wasn’t an internal VA initiative; it was the direct result of years of sustained lobbying by veteran advocacy groups, families, and bipartisan political champions. Before the PACT Act, countless veterans were denied claims related to burn pit exposure. Now, with the policy change, the VA has a clear directive to provide care and compensation. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) [https://www.gao.gov/] report from 2025, reviewing the initial implementation, noted a significant increase in approved toxic exposure claims, directly attributable to the new policy framework.

I recall a case we handled here in Georgia, a Vietnam veteran who had been fighting for decades for presumptive service connection for Agent Orange exposure. The existing policies made it an uphill battle. When the policy changed, expanding the list of presumptive conditions, his claim, which had been denied multiple times, was finally approved. This wasn’t a change in VA personnel or a sudden burst of compassion; it was a direct consequence of a legislative policy shift. The VA, like any large government agency, operates within the parameters set by law. Change those laws, and the VA must adapt. It’s slow, yes, sometimes painfully so, but it’s not immune to legislative will.

Myth 4: All Veterans’ Issues Are Federal; State and Local Policies Are Irrelevant

This misconception severely limits our ability to help veterans effectively. While federal policies, especially those governing the VA, are undeniably critical, a vast array of issues impacting veterans’ daily lives are determined at the state and local levels. From professional licensing to property taxes, and from access to local services to small business support, state and municipal governments play an enormous role.

Take professional licensing for military spouses and veterans. In 2025, Georgia passed House Bill 1064, which significantly streamlined the process for military spouses and veterans to transfer out-of-state professional licenses. Before this policy change, a military spouse who was a registered nurse in California, for instance, might have to jump through countless hoops, retake exams, or even lose their licensure entirely when their service member transferred to Fort Stewart. This policy, championed by organizations like the Georgia Department of Veterans Service [https://veterans.georgia.gov/](https://veterans.georgia.gov/), directly addresses a major employment barrier for military families. It’s a state-level policy, not federal, and its impact is immediate and tangible for hundreds, if not thousands, of families relocating to Georgia.

Another example: local property tax exemptions. Many states and counties, including Fulton County, offer property tax exemptions for disabled veterans. These aren’t federal mandates; they are local policy decisions. I had a client last year, a 100% disabled veteran living near Chastain Park, who was facing significant financial strain until we helped him navigate the application for the Fulton County property tax exemption for disabled veterans. This saved him thousands of dollars annually. These local policies are often overlooked but are incredibly powerful tools for supporting veterans and their families where they live. To ignore them is to ignore a huge piece of the puzzle.

Myth 5: Policy Changes are Too Slow and Complicated to Pursue

I hear this one all the time: “It’s too much red tape, nothing ever gets done.” And while it’s true that legislative processes can be glacial and frustratingly complex, dismissing them entirely is a counsel of despair. It’s precisely because they are slow and complicated that focusing on policy changes requires sustained effort, but the payoff can be immense and long-lasting.

Consider the journey to pass the Honoring our PACT Act. It took years of advocacy, countless hearings, and the tireless work of veteran groups and congressional champions. Was it fast? No. Was it simple? Absolutely not. But the result is a fundamental shift in how the VA cares for veterans exposed to toxins, affecting generations. That’s a legacy no individual charity drive, however well-intentioned, could ever achieve. My previous firm was deeply involved in the early advocacy efforts for presumptive conditions for Gulf War veterans back in the early 2000s. We saw firsthand how slow the wheels of government turn, but we also saw how persistent, evidence-based advocacy eventually broke through.

Furthermore, policy changes aren’t always grand federal legislation. They can be regulatory changes, agency directives, or even local ordinances. For example, in 2024, the city of Atlanta implemented a new policy, following advocacy from local veteran organizations, to prioritize veteran-owned businesses for certain city contracts. This wasn’t an act of Congress; it was a local policy decision with a direct, positive economic impact on veterans in the metro area. It wasn’t simple to get passed, requiring multiple meetings with council members and public presentations, but the outcome was worth the effort. The complexity shouldn’t deter us; it should galvanize us to learn the process and engage strategically.

Myth 6: Only Experts and Lobbyists Can Influence Policy

This is perhaps the most disempowering myth of all. While professional lobbyists and policy experts certainly play a role, the idea that ordinary citizens, particularly veterans themselves, are powerless to influence policy is fundamentally false. In fact, the most impactful policy changes often begin with the lived experiences and persistent advocacy of those directly affected.

Think about the Guard and Reserve healthcare access. For years, National Guard and Reserve members faced significant hurdles accessing affordable healthcare outside of active duty periods. It was the stories of individual service members, shared with their elected officials, amplified by organizations like the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) [https://www.ngaus.org/](https://www.ngaus.org/), that led to incremental but vital policy adjustments, culminating in better healthcare options. These weren’t just highly paid lobbyists; these were citizen-soldiers sharing their struggles.

I’ve advised numerous grassroots veteran organizations right here in the Atlanta area on how to effectively engage with policymakers. We coached them on drafting compelling testimonies, understanding committee structures, and even simply how to schedule a meeting with their state representative in the Georgia State Capitol building. We saw a group of younger veterans successfully advocate for increased funding for local veteran mental health initiatives through the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. Their success wasn’t due to deep pockets or a fancy lobbying firm; it was due to their authentic stories, their clear proposals, and their unwavering determination. The power of a veteran’s voice, speaking directly to their elected officials, is often more potent than any paid lobbying effort. Policy changes are indeed within reach, but they demand engagement, not just observation.

Ultimately, truly supporting our veterans means understanding that while individual acts of kindness are vital, they are insufficient to address systemic challenges. Focusing on policy changes is not just an option, it’s a strategic imperative for creating lasting, impactful improvements in the lives of those who have served.