National Invest In Veterans Week® Responds to Congressman Bilirakis’ Call to Invest in Military and Veterans
National Invest In Veterans Week® welcomed renewed calls from Congress to invest in military families and veterans, highlighting housing, economic stability, and entrepreneurship as inseparable priorities. As policymakers push for safer living conditions and stronger support systems, NIVW President Angel Shuford emphasized that sustainable veteran success begins with foundational investments that allow veterans and military families to thrive, lead, and build long-term economic impact nationwide.
As national attention intensifies around the conditions facing America’s servicemembers and veterans, remarks from Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) are adding urgency to a conversation long championed by veteran-led civic initiatives.
In a recent interview with The Floridian, Rep. Bilirakis underscored the need for significant federal investment in military and veteran housing, citing decades-old infrastructure, environmental hazards such as mold, and the real health consequences facing military families—particularly at installations like MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. He also highlighted recent federal investments supporting low-income veteran housing projects in Florida and Oregon, pointing to scalable models for national action.
For National Invest In Veterans Week® (NIVW)—the congressionally recognized observance held annually March 1–7—Bilirakis’ remarks reflect a broader policy moment where veteran quality-of-life issues are intersecting with economic development, housing, and workforce stability.
Angel Shuford, President of National Invest In Veterans Week®, emphasized that housing security is inseparable from veteran entrepreneurship and long-term economic readiness.
“When we talk about investing in veterans, housing is foundational,” said Shuford. “A veteran cannot build a business, transition into leadership, or sustain a family when basic living conditions are unsafe. Congressman Bilirakis’ remarks reinforce what veterans have been saying for years—this is not a partisan issue, it’s a national responsibility.”
Shuford added that the growing alignment between lawmakers, veteran advocates, and economic stakeholders creates an opportunity for broader federal recognition.
“We are hopeful that the momentum we’re seeing—across housing, workforce development, and veteran-owned business policy—continues to rise to the level of a formal presidential proclamation or an expanded congressional statement recognizing the economic and civic role veterans play nationwide,” she said. “National Invest In Veterans Week® exists to make that impact visible, measurable, and impossible to ignore.”
Since its founding, National Invest In Veterans Week® has been recognized through congressional entries, state legislative resolutions, and county-level proclamations, spotlighting veteran-owned businesses while advancing policy conversations around capital access, employment, and community reintegration.
As lawmakers like Rep. Bilirakis push for tangible investment in veteran well-being, veteran-led platforms such as NIVW continue to serve as connective infrastructure—linking policy intent with real-world outcomes for military families and veteran entrepreneurs across the country.
Learn more: https://www.investinveteransweek.com
Source article: The Floridian – “Gus Bilirakis Calls for Investing in Military and Veterans” (Dec. 19, 2025)
Read the full article here: https://floridianpress.com/2025/12/gus-bilirakis-calls-for-investing-in-military-and-veterans/