About

With Honor

With Honor hosted a Strength in Democracy Forum in partnership with Foreign Policy magazine, featuring four discussions that showcase the leadership of military veterans in Congress and on the global stage, along with the public release of a landmark Gallup–With Honor Institute study on public trust in veterans in elected office.

Rewatch the day

A new Gallup survey, conducted in partnership with the With Honor Institute, finds that 55% of Americans are more likely to vote for candidates for public office who are military veterans than otherwise. The full poll results are here.

At its annual gala, With Honor presented its inaugural David R. Gergen Lifetime Leadership in Public Service Award to the Honorable Leon Panetta (former CIA Director and Secretary of Defense) and Sylvia Panetta, who co-founded and runs the Panetta Institute for Public Policy. With Honor also presented the Principles Before Politics Award to the For Country Caucus Founding Co-Chairs — Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA). In addition, With Honor presented the Freshman Fireteam Award to the For Country Caucus Vice Chairs — Reps. Troy Downing (R-MT) and Herb Conaway Jr., M.D. (D-NJ). Pictured left to right are Christopher Gergen, Sylvia Panetta, Leon Panetta, With Honor Co-Founder and CEO Rye Barcott, and Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett.

With Honor sponsored the AI+ Expo, hosted by the Special Competitive Studies Project, and participated in two of its panels: “From Capitol Hill to C-Suite: Leading with Honor Across Sectors” and “Beyond the Battlefield: The Veterans Shaping National Security Policy.” Pictured, second from right, is With Honor Co-Founder and CEO Rye Barcott, speaking at the first of those panels.

Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll joined officials from With Honor for an early morning PT-style run on the National Mall, followed by the annual cleaning of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall with members of the U.S. House For Country Caucus. CBS, CNN, and Fox News covered the event. Pictured in the middle is Secretary Driscoll, next to With Honor Co-Founder and CEO Rye Barcott on the right.

With Honor sponsored the London Defence Conference, an annual gathering of defence and policy leaders from democratically-aligned countries, and was joined by twelve members of the U.S. House For Country Caucus.

With Honor joined shipbuilding and maritime industry partners to co-host a reception for the reintroduction of the SHIPS for America Act, spearheaded by the following With Honor Action allies: Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Todd Young (R-IN), and Representatives Trent Kelly (R-MS) and John Garamendi (D-CA). Pictured are, left to right, With Honor Co-Founder and CEO Rye Barcott Senator Kelly, and Dr. Katherine McGrady.

With Honor, joined by members of the U.S. House For Country Caucus and Senate allies, co-hosted a reception marking the release of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology’s final report. With Honor supported the Commission’s creation through the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act.

With members of the U.S. House For Country Caucus and other Congressional allies, With Honor hosted a reception for Ukrainian Members of Parliament who were visiting the United States shortly after the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022.

With Honor hosted a celebration on Capitol Hill to mark the fifth anniversary of the “Inspired to Serve” report, the final report of the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), a U.S. House For Country Caucus member, and Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), a With Honor ally, announced the introduction of the Unity Through Service Act at the event. Pictured is Senator Reed.

With Honor attended the Annual Munich Security Conference and sponsored a panel, hosted by POLITICO, that featured members of the U.S. House For Country Caucus who were part of the American delegation.

With Honor attended the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and co-hosted the inaugural USA House, which serves as the official U.S. venue at Davos.

The U.S. House For Country Caucus expanded to 37 members in January 2025, and elected Reps. Jake Ellzey (R-TX) and Don Davis (D-NC) as Co-Chairs, and Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Nick LaLota (R-NY), Troy Downing (R-MT), and Herb Conaway (D-NJ) as Vice-Chairs. Pictured, left to right, are Co-Chairs Davis and Ellzey.

With Honor sponsored a bipartisan reception for new Members of Congress at the Harvard Institute of Politics’ biennial Bipartisan Program for Newly Elected Members of Congress in order to nurture Member-to-Member relationships before the start of the 119th Congress.

With Honor helped enact 67 laws in key priority areas in 2024, including the TikTok “divest-or-ban” law, a law providing the largest expansion of Afghan special immigrants visas in program history, and laws that provided for many of the recommendations of the Military Quality of Life Panel, including a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members.

More than 500 veterans ran for federal or state public office in 2024. For the first time in With Honor’s history, all 30 candidates who were endorsed by With Honor’s affiliated political action committees (PACs) and who ran in the general election won their races, including Senators Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Governor Matt Meyer (D-DE).

The With Honor Institute sponsored its second delegation trip to Ukraine in conjunction with the annual Yalta European Strategy Conference. The delegation included U.S. House For Country Caucus members Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA).

With Honor joined Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) and members of the U.S. House For Country Caucus for the annual cleaning of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. Pictured, left to right, are Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Nick LaLota (R-NY), Mike Waltz (R-FL), Brian Mast (R-FL), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Pat Ryan (D-NY), Jen Kiggans (R-VA), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Rich McCormick (R-GA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), and With Honor C0-Founder and CEO Rye Barcott.

After months of negotiations, With Honor was proud to be part of a months-long effort to enact legislation that delivered major military and humanitarian support for our democratic allies in Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific region, and Israel.

With Honor hosted a reception with Ukrainian warfighters and were joined by members of the U.S. House For Country Caucus and Senate allies. Pictured with members of the Ukrainian armed forces, left to right, are With Honor Co-Founder and CEO Rye Barcott, Reps. Jim Baird (R-IN), Zach Nunn (R-IA), Don Davis (D-NC), along with Steve Crowley, and Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX).

The With Honor Institute co-sponsored its first delegation trip for Rep. Don Davis (D-NC) to visit Ukraine in conjunction with the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion. Pictured at left is Rep. Davis.

With Honor led a press conference with the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and No One Left Behind, along with Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), to advocate for our Afghan allies who worked with U.S. Forces in Afghanistan. Pictured at the podium is With Honor Co-Founder and CEO Rye Barcott, flanked by other press conference attendees.

Members of the U.S. House For Country Caucus, which was founded in 2019, joined With Honor to celebrate five years of principled, bipartisan veteran leadership in Congress. Pictured left to right are With Honor Co-Founder and CEO Rye Barcott and Reps. Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Mike Waltz (R-FL), Steve Womack (R-AR), Jim Baird (R-IN), and Don Bacon (R-NE).

At its biennial gala to celebrate veterans serving in Congress, With Honor honors Reps. Steve Womack (R-AR), John James (R-MI), and Pat Ryan (D-NY), as well as Co-Founder David Gergen and Honorary Advisory Board Member Truman Semans, for their service and commitment to the With Honor Pledge.

With Honor launched an aggressive bipartisan campaign to enact the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would give permanent lawful resident status in the United States to certain categories of individuals who supported the U.S. mission in Afghanistan. From left to right, are Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), With Honor Co-Founder and CEO Rye Barcott, Zach Nunn (R-IA), Mike Waltz (R-FL), and Jeff Jackson (D-NC).

CNN’s Jake Tapper covered the annual Memorial Day Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall cleaning by the U.S. House For Country Caucus, featuring the three remaining Vietnam combat veterans in the House — Reps. Jim Baird (R-IN), Mike Thompson (D-CA), and Jack Bergman (R-MI). Pictured are Reps. John James (R-MI) and Pat Ryan (D-NY).

With Honor and USAA co-hosted a 2023 kickoff reception for the U.S. House For Country Caucus, featuring Senators and military veterans Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Jack Reed (D-RI), pictured left to right.

With Honor built allies among Senators who are also veterans — Jack Reed (D-RI), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Todd Young (R-IN). 

The U.S. House For Country Caucus expanded to 30 members and elected Reps. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) and Jason Crow (D-WI) as Co-Chairs, and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) as Vice-Chairs. Pictured, clockwise from top left, are Reps. Crow, Gonzales, Miller-Meeks, and Sherrill.

Rep. Peter Meijer and Rep. Seth Moulton receive With Honor Action’s Principles Before Politics Award.

Nearly 750 veterans run for office. With Honor Fund endorses more than 30 candidates with 25 winning, including With Honor’s first statewide candidates: Governor Wes Moore and Attorney General Anthony Brown of Maryland.

The With Honor Action-endorsed PACT Act passes. It is one of the largest health care and benefits expansions in VA history.

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, led by For Country Caucus Member Rep. Tony Gonzales, passes with support from With Honor Action, taking a significant bipartisan step on gun violence prevention efforts.

With Honor Action was awarded the National Service Advocate of the Year by Voices for National Service. For Country Caucus Founding Co-Chair Don Bacon also received the Congressional Service Award.

Following Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, With Honor Action and the For Country Caucus have advocated for American support of the Ukrainian war effort, including pushing Congress to pass a $10 billion package of security and humanitarian assistance, passing bipartisan legislation tasking the Department of Defense with drawing key lessons from the first year of Russia’s invasion, and advocating for increased military and humanitarian support.

Nearly two years after its introduction, With Honor Action and the For Country Caucus successfully pass legislation authorizing the construction of the Global War on Terror Memorial on the National Mall. 

Following the fall of Kabul, With Honor Action and the For Country Caucus lead the effort to pass the bipartisan HOPE for Afghan SIVs, ALLIES, and WELCOMED Acts, all of which pass on a bipartisan basis and work to expedite the special immigrant visa process and increase support for Afghan refugees.

With Honor Action creates an advocacy ad for critical legislation to assist Afghan refugees, featuring For Country Caucus Members Rep. Jason Crow and Rep. Peter Meijer, and With Honor Action Advisory Board Member and Medal of Honor recipient Army Captain Flo Groberg (ret.).

With Honor Action and Rep. Seth Moulton convene veteran service organizations and humanitarian organizations in front of the White House to advocate for our Afghan allies.

With Honor Action supports bipartisan legislation strengthening the Individual Public Health Corps Ready Reserve Corps, an effort led by For Country Caucus Members Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Rep. Elaine Luria.

With Honor Action successfully secures a nearly $1 billion AmeriCorps funding increase, with a focus on assisting in civic and service recovery efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger receives With Honor Action’s Principles Before Politics Award.

The For Country Caucus grows from 19 to 23 bipartisan veteran Members of Congress committed to the With Honor Pledge.

Rep. Jason Crow receives With Honor Action’s Principles Before Politics Award.

With Honor Action passes key legislation at the end of its first year of advocacy, including the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act championed by founding For Country Caucus Member Rep. Seth Moulton. Other bills passed include the establishment of a tenant “bill of rights” for service members and their families in military housing, and the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2019.

The For Country Caucus is honored as “Champions of U.S. Global Leadership” by the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition — the first Caucus to ever be recognized as such. The award honors the Caucus for their commitment to putting principles before politics.

With Honor Action hosts its inaugural Symposium in Baltimore, Maryland, for the bipartisan members of the For Country Caucus in the 116th Congress. The event includes a keynote interview of historian Robert Caro by David Rubenstein and remarks by presidential advisors, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, and veterans, including Theodore Roosevelt IV, Wes Moore, David Gergen, JR Martinez, Michèle Flournoy, and retired bipartisan senators Barbara Mikulski and John Warner.

With Honor Action and the For Country Caucus endorse the Global War on Terrorism Location Act, led by Caucus Members Rep. Jason Crow and Rep. Mike Gallagher.

The For Country Caucus starts an annual tradition of cleaning war memorials on the National Mall together.

With Honor Action and the For Country Caucus endorse their first bill, the Gold Star Family Tax Relief Act, eliminating an unfair tax on benefits paid to the children of fallen service members that had reached up to a rate of 37% in some cases.

19 veterans in Congress co-found the bipartisan For Country Caucus and elect Rep. Jimmy Panetta and Rep. Don Bacon as founding Co-Chairs.

The number of veterans in Congress increases for the first time in 40 years.

Rye Barcott delivers the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Commencement Address, where his remarks focus on the importance of service.

Veterans Rye Barcott, Peter Dixon, and David Gergen found With Honor Action to fight polarization in Congress with principled veteran leadership. J. Walter Thompson designs With Honor’s brand pro bono.