With Honor fights polarization in Congress by supporting principled veterans across party lines who take the With Honor pledge. With Honor Action, our public policy nonprofit works alongside the bipartisan For Country Caucus in the U.S. House and a group of bipartisan Senators who are veterans to pass critical legislation for our nation.
With Honor’s affiliated political action committee helps elect next-generation veterans and national security professionals across party lines who are committed to the With Honor Pledge. With Honor has helped elect more than 50 cross-partisan Members of Congress, four governors, and numerous veterans in other down-ballot races across the nation.
- I will be honest
- I will use the power of my office only for the service of my constituents and my country
- I will work to bring civility to elected office
- I will participate in a cross-partisan veterans caucus
- I will meet with a Member from an opposing party one-on-one at least once a month
- I will join with colleagues on both sides of the aisle on at least one piece of substantial legislation each year, and co-sponsor additional pieces
Why With Honor Action?
Veteran Representation
As we see a decline in veteran representation in Congress, public trust in Congress also declines.
Congress Is the Least Trusted Public Institution in America
Americans know that extreme partisanship has corroded our national legislature. Congress no longer tackles our country’s biggest issues, and, as a result, public confidence in Congress has plummeted over the last fifty years.Those who served and are willing to put country before party share strengths and experience from which we can all benefit.
A stronger democracy with more cross-partisan veterans who take the With Honor pledge to serve with integrity, civility, and courage.
What Makes Principled Veterans Effective Legislators?
Cross-Partisanship
Political science research suggests veteran lawmakers, especially when screened by an organization like With Honor, are more likely than their non-veteran counterparts to work across the aisle. For example, veterans who have taken the With Honor pledge often score within the top quartile of The Lugar Center’s Bipartisan Index, which measures how often a member crosses the aisle to sponsor or co-sponsor legislation. Additional insights can be found in this research article authored by former West Point professor, Dr. Joseph G. Amoroso
Service
The most effective lawmakers are motivated by a service ethos. Every veteran served. Every veteran took an oath to give up to their lives in the line of duty.
Work Ethic
Military service often requires grueling hours in training and on missions. Such service instills the value of hard work and a respect for the importance of persistence to accomplish goals. These values are crucial in the halls of Congress, where each representative serves hundreds of thousands of constituents, and faces many competing priorities each day.
National Security
Many veterans who become policymakers possess uniquely informed perspectives on national security, having put their lives on the line for their country. Political science research has found that U.S. veteran policymakers have historically held a narrower set of conditions under which they believe in military intervention, but when they do intervene, it is generally with a significant commitment of resources to ensure effective engagement. Read more about this in Choosing Your Battles: American Civil-Military Relations and the Use of Force by Drs. Peter Feaver and Christopher Gelpi.
Leadership
Nearly every U.S. military veteran has received leadership training and real-world leadership experience, often at a very young age, and sometimes in the crucible of combat. Learn more about the benefits of military leadership training and experience in this essay by Colonel Miguel Howe, which focuses on post-9/11 veterans.
Diverse Backgrounds
Veterans serve with Americans from all walks of life, on missions that matter. Military service instills an appreciation of our diverse nation and how that diversity gives us strength. Discover the evolving demographic profile of the U.S. military.