My name is Keith R. James, and I’m a combat-disabled veteran who served honorably as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army. I trained soldiers, led on the front lines, and sacrificed my physical and mental well-being in the service of this country. I came home with injuries — seen and unseen — expecting that the government I defended would support me. But instead, I’ve been relentlessly punished by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF).

For years, Wisconsin DCF has treated me like my service and sacrifices mean nothing. The state child support enforcement system does not respect the federal protections afforded to veterans like me. Instead, they disregard clear medical evidence of my disabilities, forcing me into a corner where I'm penalized for decreased earning capacity caused by service-connected injuries.

This is not just my story. Across the country, countless veterans are facing similar struggles. Those who served with honor now find themselves battling a system that punishes them for their injuries. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, nearly 2.8 million veterans live with service-connected disabilities. In Wisconsin alone, thousands of veterans are impacted. Rather than receiving the support they’ve earned, they face bureaucratic hurdles that worsen their financial and emotional hardships.

The current system fails to account for the unique realities of disabled veterans, often treating them like any other parent with unpaid child support, irrespective of their reduced earning capacities or additional medical and care-related expenses.

To address these injustices, we must reform how state child support systems, particularly in Wisconsin, interact with disabled veterans. State agencies should:

1. Recognize and respect federal laws that protect disabled veterans from unjust child support obligations.
2. Consider documented medical evidence and the impact of service-connected disabilities on earning capacity.
3. Provide a fair process that takes into account the sacrifices made by veterans and adjusts obligations accordingly.

By doing so, we not only uphold the dignity of our veterans but also honor the sacrifices they made for our country. These changes can help ensure that veterans receive the fair treatment they deserve.

Sign this petition to demand that the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families and other state agencies implement these essential reforms. Stand with our veterans and ensure that they receive justice and respect.