Mike Pence Promises to Expand Veterans' Benefits in Davenport Campaign Stop

Former Second Lady Karen Pence visits the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center and expresses gratitude for veterans' service.

Former Second Lady of the United States, Karen Pence, engaged with a volunteer at the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center during a visit on August 11, 2023. The center was the first stop on Republican presidential candidate and former vice president Mike Pence's three-day statewide tour in Iowa. Pence began his day by meeting with several dozen people who eagerly awaited his arrival. After greeting everyone in the room, he took the time to personally thank veterans for their service, including Davenport Mayor Mike Matson, a veteran of over two decades in the United States Army.

Pence expressed his deep gratitude to those who have served and promised to continue supporting veterans if he were to become president. He outlined his focus on ending veteran homelessness, addressing mental health needs to reduce veteran suicide rates, and ensuring access to medical care. Drawing from his personal experience with his father's service in the Korean War and his own son's service in the Marine Corps, Pence emphasized his commitment to improving veterans' programs and removing obstacles to healthcare.

During the visit, many attendees shared their struggles with receiving proper healthcare and asked Pence for additional support. In response, Pence highlighted the accomplishments of the Trump-Pence administration, such as expanding the Veterans Choice Program to allow veterans to seek healthcare at public or private facilities. He also mentioned the possibility of providing vouchers for veterans who couldn't receive help at Veterans Affairs to seek assistance elsewhere.

Pence found inspiration in the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center and Davenport's successful efforts to end veteran homelessness. He praised the generosity, compassion, and innovation of the American people as the ultimate cure for the country's challenges. Pence also addressed the issue of illegal immigration and proposed a merit-based immigration system that would reward individuals willing to work in the United States.

As a candidate for the 2024 Republican Presidential nomination, Pence acknowledged the disappointment surrounding the 2020 election and his role in it. He emphasized his commitment to upholding the Constitution and the importance of counting all votes, rejecting the idea that any one person should have the power to choose which votes to count. Pence urged voters in Scott County to consider his experience as both vice president and governor of Indiana, as well as his time in Congress, when evaluating his candidacy.

Karen Pence, the former second lady, also attended the event and engaged with attendees after her husband's speech. She shook hands, held conversations, and listened to the concerns of those in attendance. The visit to the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center provided a platform for Mike Pence to connect with veterans, express his support, and outline his plans for improving veterans' benefits and healthcare if elected president.