South Carolina is home to more than 400,000 veterans—men and women who served our nation and returned home expecting opportunity, dignity, and support. Yet too many veterans still face serious challenges, including housing instability, mental health needs, employment barriers, and access to long-term care.

While South Carolina benefits from strong veterans organizations and community partners, funding for veterans services has never matched the scale of need. That reality can change.

A Dedicated, Long-Term Funding Solution

A proposed amendment to the I-95 Economic and Education Stimulus Act (H.4176) creates a reliable, long-term funding source for veterans services by dedicating 30% of casino privilege tax revenue to the Veterans’ Trust Fund of South Carolina. Independent economic analyses project:

• $100 million in annual privilege tax revenue
• $30 million per year dedicated to veterans services

For comparison, the Veterans’ Trust Fund has received less than $2 million total over the past decade.

Strengthening What Already Works

This legislation does not create a new bureaucracy. It scales up an existing, trusted program.

With predictable funding, the Veterans’ Trust Fund can move from small, one-time grants to strategic, multi-year investments, allowing veterans organizations to:

• Expand housing and homelessness prevention

• Increase mental health and substance-use treatment

• Strengthen job training and placement

• Support wounded warriors and military families

Over ten years, this investment would generate approximately $300 million for veterans statewide.

A Lasting Commitment to Those Who Served

This proposal delivers what veterans need most: consistent funding at scale.

Better housing outcomes. Expanded mental health care. Reduced veteran homelessness. Greater independence for veterans living with disabilities.

Honoring service requires more than words. It requires sustained investment.

Stand With South Carolina’s Veterans

The choice is clear: continue underfunding veterans services—or seize this opportunity to build one of the strongest state-level veterans support systems in the nation.

Stand with our veterans. Support a lasting solution.