Manatee Review

Today in Bradenton, Congressman Vern Buchanan initiated his new constituent appreciation program, Valentines for Veterans, by delivering handwritten valentines to local veterans at the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and the Manatee County Commission. This effort is part of a broader initiative aimed at enhancing the mental and physical well-being of American veterans through newly proposed legislation.

"Seeing the smiling faces of our incredible veterans when they were handed a card was the reason I started this program," Buchanan stated. He also expressed gratitude for the involvement of local students in creating these cards, noting their significant contributions to honoring veterans' sacrifices.

The program involved collaboration with 26 schools and youth organizations across Manatee and Hillsborough Counties, resulting in over 4,000 cards for veterans residing in Florida’s 16th Congressional District. With more than 64,000 veterans living in the district, the initiative seeks to reach as many as possible.

Participating institutions included Alafia Elementary School, Bayshore Elementary School, Blackburn Elementary School, Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County, among others. The valentines were delivered not only to veterans working at various county offices but also to several local fire and police departments and veteran organizations.

In conjunction with this event, Buchanan introduced two legislative proposals: the Veterans Nutrition and Wellness Act of 2025 (H.R. 1289) and the Veterans Mental Health Crisis Referral Enhancement Act of 2025 (H.R. 1290). "With more than 64,000 veterans in our district, fighting for our veterans and America’s servicemembers has been one of my top priorities since coming to Congress," Buchanan emphasized.

The Veterans Nutrition and Wellness Act proposes a pilot program offering medically tailored meals to eligible veterans through a "food as medicine" approach. Meanwhile, the Veterans Mental Health Crisis Referral Enhancement Act aims to address mental health care gaps by facilitating access to non-Veterans Affairs providers for those experiencing crises.

Buchanan's commitment to veteran welfare is longstanding. In January, he introduced another bill—the Veteran Overmedication and Suicide Prevention Act (H.R. 136)—mandating reviews of veteran deaths by suicide or overdose treated by the Department of Veterans Affairs over five years.

For further details on Valentines for Veterans or other congressional events, Cara Misiewicz can be contacted via email at Cara.Misiewicz@mail.house.gov.