Why Adrian Boafo Is the Serious Veterans Champion Maryland’s Fifth District Has Been Waiting For
Maryland’s Fifth District is home to one of the largest concentrations of service members, veterans, and military families on the East Coast. Four active military installations anchor our communities. Tens of thousands of men and women have worn the uniform, raised families here, retired here, and built their second careers here. Supporting them isn’t a niche issue. It’s part of the identity of Southern Maryland and Prince George’s County.
And yet, for years, the conversation in Washington has treated veterans policy as a box-checking exercise—something to gesture toward, not something to build a governing agenda around.
Adrian Boafo is the first candidate in this race who has put forward a full, detailed, modern veterans platform that reflects the real needs of the people who live here. Not slogans. Not recycled talking points. A governing blueprint.
Below is why his veterans agenda stands out—and why it deserves serious attention from voters who care about keeping our promises to those who served.
A District Built on Service Deserves a Representative Who Understands It
Boafo starts from a simple premise:
Veterans should not have to fight a second battle with the federal government to receive the benefits they already earned.
His agenda is built around the lived reality of veterans in MD‑05:
- Long VA wait times
- Delays in disability claims
- Gaps in women’s veterans healthcare
- Barriers to homeownership and workforce transition
- Tax burdens that make it harder for retirees to stay in Maryland
These aren’t abstract policy problems. They’re the issues veterans raise at town halls, VFW posts, and community meetings across the district.
Boafo’s plan meets those concerns head-on.
The Boafo Veterans Agenda: A Serious Blueprint, Not a Slogan
1. Eliminating Federal Taxes on Military Retirement Pay
Boafo supports eliminating federal taxes on military retirement pay and veterans’ benefits—an issue that directly affects thousands of families in the district. Maryland has made progress at the state level, but federal action is the missing piece. This is a pocketbook issue, a retention issue, and a fairness issue.
2. Strengthening Care Quality at the VA
Boafo’s plan calls for:
- Reduced wait times
- Expanded specialty services
- Stronger oversight and accountability
This is the kind of modernization push veterans have been asking for—especially those who rely on the DC, Baltimore, and Charlotte Hall systems.
3. Building on the PACT Act
The PACT Act was a major step forward, but implementation gaps remain. Boafo’s position is clear:
No veteran exposed to burn pits or environmental hazards should fall through the cracks.
That means more screenings, more outreach, and more resources.
4. Ensuring Women Veterans Get the Care They Deserve
Women are the fastest-growing segment of the veteran population, yet their needs are still underserved. Boafo’s plan includes:
- Prenatal and obstetric care
- IVF access
- Breast cancer screenings and treatment
- Expanded community care when VA facilities can’t meet demand
This is one of the most comprehensive women‑veterans planks in the field.
5. Investing in Transition Assistance
Boafo emphasizes the full transition pipeline:
- Homeownership
- Higher education
- Workforce training
- Entrepreneurship
This is how you translate military leadership into civilian success—and how you keep veterans in Maryland.
6. Streamlining Benefits and Cracking Down on “Claim Sharks”
Veterans shouldn’t need a law degree to access their benefits. Boafo supports cutting red tape and protecting veterans from predatory actors who profit off confusion and delays.
A Track Record That Matches the Agenda
Boafo isn’t arriving to this issue empty-handed. His legislative record already includes:
- Sponsoring legislation prohibiting discrimination based on military status
- Co-sponsoring the Time to Serve Act of 2024 to expand paid leave for state employees serving in disaster response and reserve duty
- Co-sponsoring the Uniformed Services Spouses Act to expand education and workforce opportunities
- Co-sponsoring the Keep Our Heroes Home Act to expand tax relief for military retirement income
This is not a candidate discovering veterans issues during campaign season. This is someone who has already been legislating on them.
Why This Matters Now
Maryland’s Fifth District is entering a post‑Hoyer era. The next representative will shape how federal resources flow to our bases, our veterans, and our military families for the next decade.
Boafo’s veterans agenda is not symbolic. It is structural. It is detailed. It is grounded in the lived experience of the people who built this district.
And in a crowded field, he is the candidate who has done the work to show what real veterans advocacy looks like.