Shameless Greed: Congress Complains About $70,000 Raise While Veterans and Americans Starve
The sheer audacity of members of Congress like Rep. Dan Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries getting unhinged over the failure of a continuing resolution (CR) because it disrupts their $70,000 raise is nothing short of infuriating. While millions of Americans, including disabled veterans, the poor, and working-class families, scrape by without adequate food, housing, or clothing, these so-called “public servants” have the nerve to whine about their inflated paychecks.
Consider this; the average disabled veteran in America survives on $24,000 a year in VA benefits. That’s barely enough to cover rent in most cities, let alone food, medical bills, and the rising cost of living. Meanwhile, members of Congress enjoy a base salary of $174,000. That is more than seven times what these veterans get, and yet they feel entitled to demand even more. For Crenshaw and Jeffries, $70,000 is a “necessary adjustment.” For most Americans, that’s a life-changing amount of money.
How dare they?
In this country, children are going to bed hungry, veterans are sleeping under bridges, and hardworking Americans are lining up at food banks because they can’t afford groceries. Families are choosing between heating their homes and buying diapers for their babies. And these congressional elites, many of whom are already millionaires, have the gall to get upset about a raise they don’t need and certainly don’t deserve.
Let’s not forget, disabled veterans sacrificed their bodies and minds for this country. They came home with broken limbs, missing eyes, and invisible scars, only to be handed crumbs by a government that claims to honor them. The $24,000 a year they receive in benefits is an insult, especially when juxtaposed against Congress's exorbitant salaries and endless perks. If you asked these veterans to step into the shoes of a representative, they’d do it for two or three times their benefits and do it better.
Rep. Crenshaw, of all people, should know this. As a former Navy SEAL, he’s seen firsthand the sacrifices made by service members. And yet, here he is, aligning himself with a corrupt system that prioritizes its own comfort over the needs of the people it’s supposed to serve. It’s disgusting.
Meanwhile, Hakeem Jeffries, with his polished speeches and promises to fight for the little guy, has shown where his true priorities lie. When push comes to shove, it’s not about feeding hungry children or housing homeless veterans… it’s about keeping his own pockets fat.
This isn’t just tone-deaf; it’s a slap in the face to every struggling American. The anger felt by the people who pay these salaries, with their hard-earned tax dollars, is entirely justified. Congress exists to serve the people, not to gorge itself while the nation suffers.
If lawmakers spent even a fraction of their energy fighting for affordable housing, livable wages, and better VA benefits instead of their bloated paychecks, we might actually see progress. Instead, they reveal their true colors; a pampered elite class more concerned about their own wallets than the lives of the people they claim to represent.
Americans are dying from poverty, hunger, and homelessness. Disabled veterans are living in conditions that should shame this country. And yet, Congress thinks they deserve more money? Enough is enough. It’s time to demand accountability. If these lawmakers can’t find it in their hearts to prioritize the people who actually need help, they don’t deserve their positions or a single dollar more.
This isn’t governance; it’s greed. And it has to stop.
By CPT Robert M Cornicelli US Army (Ret)/Navy Veteran President Veterans for America First Founder, Veteran Recovery Coalition
CPT Robert M. Cornicelli @CPTCforSC is a retired U.S. Army Captain and a former member of the U.S. Navy, now recognized for his involvement in political and veteran advocacy, Cornicelli served over 20 years in the U.S. military, with service in both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army National Guard. He was involved with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) as a Staff Officer and later as an Executive Officer to the Director and Deputy Director, Directorate of Operations. He retired with a 100% service-connected disability and was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal in November 2017.
He has been active in local community service, including roles like Sanitation Inspector Supervisor for the Town of Oyster Bay and involvement with local veteran associations. Cornicelli also hosts a radio show called "In the Ring with CPT C" and co-hosts "Vets Talk" on LI News Radio, showcasing his commitment to veterans' issues. Cornicelli has received endorsements from notable figures like Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn and has been involved with organizations like Veterans for America First (VFAF), where he was named president for a term in 2024.
