Veteran-Oriented Policy Proposals

Authored by Joseph Bernard Malki, Senior Management Consultant, The Power Point, LLC

Homelessness to Homeownership

A significant number of American veterans face housing insecurity. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), over 33,000 veterans were homeless on a single night in 2023. This policy proposes a comprehensive roadmap to transition veterans from homelessness to stable homeownership. The plan includes steps for obtaining identification (birth certificates, state ID, Social Security cards, DD214), enrolling in Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare and benefits systems, securing VA Certificates of Eligibility, and utilizing programs such as VA loans, GI Bill education, and Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31). It also outlines city-specific zero-interest or down payment assistance programs available in North Carolina, Texas, and California.

Veterans in Creative Arts

Veterans possess unique perspectives that can enrich the creative arts sector. This policy outlines a national initiative to support veterans entering screenwriting, filmmaking, poetry, design, and performance arts. Resources would be compiled into a centralized directory, with funding pathways through the Montgomery GI Bill, Post-9/11 GI Bill, and Chapter 31 VA education benefits. According to the National Endowment for the Arts, veterans are underrepresented in the arts industry, but programs such as the VA’s Creative Arts Festival have shown their powerful engagement potential. This policy seeks to expand access and visibility through public and private partnerships.

Veteran Farming and Agriculture

Veterans account for 15% of U.S. farm operators, according to USDA Census data. This policy outlines federal and state grants, loans, and cooperative programs for veterans wishing to engage in vegetable, seed, dairy, poultry, and small livestock farming. It also includes pathways for food processing, packaging, and distribution. Recognizing the therapeutic and economic value of agricultural work, the policy supports technical assistance through the USDA Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE), as well as farm ownership through the Farm Service Agency (FSA).

Veteran Fisheries Development

With over 95,000 miles of U.S. coastline and millions of acres of inland waters, veterans have opportunities to participate in sustainable fisheries. This proposal details how veterans can enter commercial or recreational fishing, aquaculture, or hatchery operations with support from NOAA’s Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program and the USDA’s Rural Business Development Grants. The plan emphasizes licensing, sustainability, startup capital, and access to nonprofit support networks.

Veteran E-Commerce Startups

Veteran entrepreneurship is a growing force in the digital economy. Over 2.5 million businesses in the U.S. are veteran-owned, many of which are shifting to e-commerce platforms. This policy guide outlines steps for veterans to build online businesses using platforms like Shopify, eBay, Amazon, or WordPress. It includes links to free resources, legal aid, financial literacy training, and veteran-specific grant opportunities from the SBA Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD).

Veteran Forest Ownership and Land Management

Veterans are increasingly exploring conservation and forestry as pathways to economic stability. This policy supports veteran access to forested lands through conservation easements, timber management, recreation income, and carbon credits. It highlights federal programs such as the Forest Legacy Program, state-level tax incentives, and nonprofit conservation trusts. Veterans would be equipped with the training to manage forests sustainably while earning revenue from hunting, glamping, B&Bs, and trail systems.

Veteran Ranch Ownership Pathways

This policy offers a comprehensive plan for veterans to acquire and operate ranches in states such as North Carolina, Texas, and California. It addresses access to federal low-interest loans, land grant support, and partnerships with universities and tribal entities. Special attention is given to regenerative grazing methods like Carbon Cowboys and the development of protein systems with reduced pesticides, fertilizers, and antibiotics. According to USDA data, veteran-led ranches tend to be smaller but more innovative in their practices.

Veteran Cooperative Businesses

Cooperative enterprises provide an ideal structure for veterans who thrive in peer-based, mission-driven environments. This policy encourages the formation of veteran cooperatives—businesses owned and operated by their members—across sectors such as agriculture, housing, services, and retail. The document includes a state-by-state list of cooperative statutes, Secretary of State registrations, and relevant nonprofit associations. Veterans would receive training on cooperative governance, access to cooperative development centers, and funding through USDA’s Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program.

Veteran Tax Relief and Loan Forgiveness

Disabled veterans and their families often face long-term financial challenges. This legislative proposal offers a suite of tax relief and debt forgiveness measures. It includes capital gains tax exemptions for veterans with 30% or greater disability, SBA EIDL loan forgiveness, and PPP loan discharge. According to the IRS, capital gains exclusions and disaster loan tax burdens can disproportionately affect disabled veteran households. The bill ensures financial equity for those who have sacrificed for the country and protects surviving spouses who remain married.

Veteran Annuity Collaboration with Insurance Industry

This unprecedented initiative calls on the nation’s top insurance companies to co-develop a specialized annuity product for veterans who are blind, paralyzed, amputated, or 100% service-connected disabled. Unlike traditional annuities that benefit the nonprofit post-mortem, this model ensures that veterans themselves are the sole beneficiaries. After their death, the remainder is recycled into a fund for the next eligible veteran. Funding is proposed through a pro-rata profit-sharing agreement with military contractors, ensuring the defense sector supports those it once relied upon.

Veterans.Fund Private Annuity Concept

Expanding upon the annuity concept, this policy outlines the structure for a permanent private annuity vehicle—Veterans.Fund. The goal is to disincentivize suicidal ideation among disabled veterans by ensuring financial dignity and continued care. Capital would be provided by the military-industrial complex through structured contributions, M&A strategy, and annuity product investment. This fund is designed to be self-sustaining and perpetually reinvested to benefit future generations of disabled veterans.

AI Collaboration for Veteran Suicide Prevention

With over 6,000 veteran suicides annually according to the VA, this policy calls for a national public-private partnership to develop AI-driven suicide prevention tools. Tech giants including Microsoft, Google, OpenAI, Meta, Amazon, Oracle, and the gaming industry would collaborate with the VA, American Psychiatric Association, and Hollywood influencers. The plan includes social media monitoring, crisis prediction, digital outreach, and the creation of a centralized data infrastructure to identify risk factors and intervene before tragedy occurs.