Investing in Veterans Is Economic Policy: Why National Invest In Veterans Week® Continues the Federal Blueprint
TL;DR
Federal leaders have long framed veterans not as charity recipients but as economic infrastructure. A major congressional flashback from Rep. Mike Levin (2020) shows how “invest in veterans” was originally used in federal appropriations language tied to billions in national funding. Today, National Invest In Veterans Week® extends that federal investment framework across states and local governments. New Jersey’s 2025 op-ed reinforces the need for states to follow Texas, Florida, and Montana by actively investing in veterans and veteran families as economic driver
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The phrase “invest in veterans” didn’t start as a slogan. It started inside Congress.
A federal appropriations statement in 2020, delivered by Rep. Mike Levin, made it plain: veteran investment is an economic strategy, not symbolic gratitude.
That statement—packed with billions in allocations—marked the first major federal moment where “investing in servicemembers and veterans” was framed as a national competitive advantage.
Now, five years later, National Invest In Veterans Week® is carrying that same blueprint across states, cities, and civic institutions nationwide.
FLASHBACK: The Federal Origin of the “Invest in Veterans” Framework
In July 2020, Rep. Levin announced a bipartisan funding package that aimed to invest in servicemembers and veterans, working families, and the environment. The funding was unprecedented:
$90 billion for Veterans Medical Care
$10 billion for mental health care
$2 billion for veteran homelessness
$1.9 billion for suicide prevention
$12.5 billion in emergency VA healthcare investments
$1.49 billion for military family housing
Language strengthening HUD–VASH to ensure veterans actually receive housing support
The message was unmistakable:
Veterans are not a cost center. They are a growth engine.
Full flashback:
https://levin.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mike-levin-statement-bipartisan-appropriations-bills-invest-veterans
TODAY: National Invest In Veterans Week® Pushes That Federal Blueprint Into Every State
National Invest In Veterans Week® (NIVW®) is the civic continuation of that federal philosophy.
The holiday—backed by a Congressional Record entry, statewide proclamations, and international digital reach—does not celebrate veterans with ceremony alone.
It positions them as economic accelerators whose innovation potential rivals any traditional sector.
Veterans launch businesses at 45% higher rates than non-veterans.
Veteran family members bring logistical skills, resilience, and adaptability that employers want in every major industry.
NIVW® mobilizes this workforce and turns recognition into regional strategy.
NEW JERSEY’S WAKE-UP CALL: Invest or Fall Behind
In a widely read December 2025 column, New Jersey was warned that states like Texas and Florida are surging ahead because they aggressively invest in veterans, not just support them.
The op-ed argues that veteran entrepreneurs, military spouses, and transitioning service members represent the single most underutilized economic asset in the state.
The takeaway:
States that invest in veterans win.
States that only support veterans fall behind.
NIVW® is the playbook that turns that truth into action.
MONTANA SHOWED THE MODEL: MAKE IT POLICY
Montana’s proclamation for National Invest In Veterans Week® didn’t stop at recognition.
It used the holiday to highlight the economic contributions of veteran business owners, veteran-led companies, and the statewide value of military families.
The proclamation has since become a template for how governors, mayors, and economic development agencies can position veterans as:
innovation catalysts
regional economic multipliers
workforce stabilizers
civic leaders
Montana proved it: proclamation ≠ ceremony. Proclamation = policy direction.
FLORIDA: A LOOK AT THE FUTURE
Want to see where veteran economic development is already accelerating?
Florida offers a preview.
Jacksonville’s annual Vetrepreneur Summit—now in its ninth year—demonstrates how consistent investment builds an ecosystem around veteran innovation.
Florida is already treating veteran entrepreneurship as infrastructure.
Other states are beginning to follow.
BOTTOM LINE
The federal government made the first move in 2020 when it used the phrase “invest in veterans” to describe billions in national spending.
National Invest In Veterans Week® is the movement that carries that mandate forward.
Veterans don’t need charity.
Veterans don’t need symbolic applause.
Veterans need states willing to treat them as America’s most reliable economic asset.
Extended Reading
For a broader view of the civic and congressional recognition surrounding National Invest In Veterans Week®, explore these authoritative publications and government spotlights. From Senator Tracy Pennycuick’s formal commendation of veteran entrepreneurs view here, to Representative Rosendale’s address on the House floor view here, and Douglas County’s county-level award recognitions view here, these instances underscore the week’s growing national traction. For a methodological deep dive into the preservation and archival philosophy underpinning this movement, consult Jeff Shuford’s widely-cited framework: Shuford’s Legacy Preservation Precedent read here.