Joshua T. Atkinson didn’t just study military issues—he lived them. As a proud U.S. Navy veteran, he knows the sacrifices service members make and the long road many veterans face after their service ends. In District 45, we don’t forget our own—and we don’t let them fall through the cracks.

The Problem: Political Talk, No Follow-Through

Illinois politicians wave flags during parades but ignore veterans the rest of the year. Under the current leadership:

• VA appointment backlogs leave veterans waiting for basic care

• Veteran homelessness continues in rural counties—ignored by Springfield

• Mental health and PTSD support are underfunded and hard to access

• Military families struggle with rising costs, spotty health coverage, and poor job placement support

• State incentives for veteran-owned businesses are broken, buried in red tape, or never reach our communities

And while these challenges grow, career politicians like Andrew Chesney offer nothing but talk about patriotism.

Atkinson’s Plan: Real Support, Not Just Lip Service

1. Fully Fund and Enforce Veteran Support Programs

Atkinson will fight to ensure Illinois delivers on the promises made to veterans—starting with faster access to care, housing, job training, and mental health services. Delays kill. Bureaucracy should never stand between a veteran and the benefits they earned.

2. Prioritize Rural Veterans

Many of Illinois’ rural vets are forgotten. Josh will work to create mobile health units, satellite mental health clinics, and coordinated community outreach so rural veterans receive equal care and attention.

3. End Veteran Homelessness in District 45

Josh will lead an aggressive push to identify at-risk veterans, partner with nonprofit housing providers, and hold the state accountable for delivering stable housing—not shelters or band-aids, but permanent solutions.

4. Protect and Empower Military Families

That means helping spouses find jobs, improving school support for children of deployed parents, and expanding access to military-friendly housing and healthcare networks. No family should suffer for their service.

5. Champion Veteran-Owned Businesses

Josh will fight for state-level tax credits, local grant opportunities, and reduced regulatory burdens for veteran-owned startups and trades. If you served this country, Illinois should help you succeed in business—not get in your way.

A Voice Veterans Can Trust

“I’ve stood watch overseas, and I’ve seen the lines at the VA. I know how broken the system is—and how little politicians do to fix it. We don’t need another parade. We need purpose. We need action. We need leaders who show up when it counts.”

— Joshua T. Atkinson

It’s Time to Deliver

In Springfield, Joshua T. Atkinson will make veterans and military families a top priority—not a photo op. He’ll bring accountability, urgency, and real solutions to a system that’s been neglected for far too long.

Let’s fire the career politicians and elect a senator who served—and still serves.