Florida Veterans for Common Sense President, Gene Jones’, Opinion Editorial in the online edition of the Sarasota Herald Tribune. Sarasota veterans deserve answers from Steube was published on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.
Is U.S. Rep. Greg Steube hiding from the 850,000 constituents in Florida’s 17th District?
Steube, a Sarasota Republican, has not interacted with voters during a public town hall in more than one year. Steube hasn’t responded to invitations from Florida Veterans for Common Sense (FLVCS) to discuss issues important to the 63,000 veterans in the 17th Congressional District.
Why is it important for Steube to make public appearances?
First, we live in a democracy where elected officials have a duty to be accessible to citizens in a prompt and timely manner.
And, second, as a military veteran, Steube should be supporting veterans – especially our disabled veterans who need care and benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Why is Steube AWOL?
So why has Steube failed to meet with the public or veterans? If he is concerned that some people may disagree with him, that’s not a good excuse.
While no one can read the congressman’s mind, many of us suspect Steube is avoiding discussing his voting record. And when it comes to Steube’s votes on issues that are important to veterans, there are questions that deserve answers,
For example, the bipartisan PACT Act of 2022 is the most significant new law for veterans since the GI Bill in 1944.
The PACT Act expanded VA health care and disability benefits to millions of veterans exposed to burn pits, agent orange, radiation, and various toxins with documented links military service.
In the years since its passage, the PACT Act provided has VA disability benefits to thousands of veterans. These benefits have enabled disabled veterans to pay their rents, buy food and avoid homelessness.
Under the PACT Act, more than 6 million veterans received toxic exposure health screenings – and nearly 450,000 veterans have enrolled in VA health care. This has been a significant development because:
- Studies have shown VA’s medical care is less costly, much faster, and of higher quality than the private sector.
- Veterans using VA care are less likely to attempt or complete suicide.
Rep. Steube voted against the PACT Act, and some veterans want to know the details behind why he did so.And to make matters worse, two months ago, Rep. Steube voted to cut PACT Act funding by more than $22 billion.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump’s administration has fired at least 2,400 VA staff members without reason or cause – and there are threats to cur thousands of additional staffers.
A ‘life or death’ matter
These cuts are “life or death” matter: among those fired by Trump administration and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency were VA counselors who staffed the VA’s highly respected Veterans Crisis Line.
Since 2007, the highly trained professionals at the VCL responded to 10 million contacts and dispatched emergency services nearly 400,000 times.
Among veterans, the term “absent without leave,” or AWOL, means a service member has left their post without permission, thereby endangering other service members and the military mission.
Has Rep. Steube gone AWOL from his responsibility to be on the front lines?
To demand answers from the Trump administration?
To protect our veterans?
The people of the 17th Congressional District deserve better.