Rapid Response Info Alert: Honoring Our Texas Veterans

Click here to download a PDF of this Info Alert.

Texas is home to over 1.5 million veterans, with more than 1.2 million having served during wartime. Many of these brave individuals have transitioned into the civilian workforce, including those who are proud members of our union. As a state and a nation, we honor their service by ensuring access to essential programs and benefits, but there is still work to be done. Our nation’s veterans and their families have access to critical resources, including healthcare, financial support, education, and job opportunities, yet many are unaware of these benefits.

That’s why our union is working alongside Texas legislators to advance H.B. 1078 and S.B. 1562, bills that would require standardized workplace postings outlining key veteran benefits and how to access them. These postings would connect veterans with vital programs such as:

• Texas Veterans Commission contact information
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Crisis Line
• Resources for mental health and substance abuse treatment
• Education, workforce, and job training opportunities
• Tax assistance and financial support programs
• Veteran designation on Texas driver’s licenses and ID cards
• Unemployment compensation and legal services

These programs are essential in easing the transition back to civilian life and ensuring veterans and their families receive the support they deserve. Knowledge is power, let’s make sure every veteran in Texas knows where to turn for help.

Together, we can continue to honor our veterans not just with words, but with action.

Honoring these courageous individuals should happen not only while they are actively serving, but also when they return home. Within our union, the “Veterans of Steel” program honors military service and identifies ways to assist veterans and their families in Steelworker-represented workplaces. If you are a veteran, and would like to join Veterans of Steel, click HERE.

For additional questions about this issue or ways to get involved in Rapid Response, contact Lawrence Castillo, USW District 13 Rapid Response Coordinator, at (817) 929-7593 or lcastillo@usw.org.