About

With Honor

With Honor hosts the Strength in Democracy Forum in partnership with Foreign Policy, featuring four discussions that showcase the leadership of military veterans serving 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 polling partnership between the With Honor Institute and Gallup finds that 55% of Americans are more likely to vote for military veterans. The full poll results can be found here.

With Honor Action presented the inaugural David R. Gergen Lifetime Leadership in Public Service Award to the Honorable Leon Panetta and Mrs. Sylvia Panetta. The Principles Before Politics Award was given to the For Country Caucus Founding Co-Chairs, Reps. Don Bacon and Jimmy Panetta, and the Freshman Fireteam Award to Vice Chairs Reps. Troy Downing and Herb Conaway Jr., M.D.

With Honor participates in two panels at the AI+ Expo, hosted by the Special Competitive Studies Project: “From Capitol Hill to C-Suite: Leading with Honor Across Sectors” and “Beyond the Battlefield: The Veterans Shaping National Security Policy.”

With Honor is joined by Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll 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 For Country Caucus. CBS, CNN, and Fox News covered the event.

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

With Honor Action joins shipbuilding and maritime industry partners to host a reception for the reintroduction of the SHIPS for America Act, led by With Honor Action allies Senators Mark Kelly and Todd Young as well as Representatives Trent Kelly and John Garamendi.

With Honor Action, joined by members of the 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 Action supported the Commission’s creation through the National Defense Authorization Act of 2022.

With Honor Action, joined by members of the For Country Caucus and other Congressional allies, hosted a reception for Ukrainian Members of Parliament visiting the United States in conjunction with the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion.

With Honor Action hosted a celebration on Capitol Hill, marking the 5th anniversary of the “Inspired to Serve” report, the final report of the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service. For Country Caucus member Rep. Chrissy Houlahan and Senate ally Sen. Jack Reed announced the introduction of the Unity Through Service Act at the event.

With Honor Action attended the Annual Munich Security Conference, sponsoring a panel hosted by POLITICO featuring members of the For Country Caucus who were a part of the American delegation.

With Honor Action attended the Annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and co-hosted the inaugural USA House for the American delegation.

The For Country Caucus expands to 37 members, and elects Rep. Jake Ellzey and Rep. Don Davis as Co-Chairs, and Rep. Chris Deluzio, Rep. Nick LaLota, Rep. Troy Downing, and Rep. Herb Conaway as Vice-Chairs.

With Honor Action sponsored a bipartisan reception for new Members of Congress at the annual Harvard University Orientation program to build Member-to-Member relationships ahead of the 119th Congress.

With Honor Action celebrated the passage of 67 priorities in 2024, including the TikTok “divest-or-ban” bill, the largest expansion of Afghan special immigrants visas in program history, and many of the recommendations of the Military Quality of Life Panel, including a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members.

Over 500 veterans run for office. With Honor’s affiliated PACs endorsed 45 candidates, with 30 candidates being elected. For the first time in the organization’s history, all of With Honor’s endorsed candidates in the general election win their races, including two Senators and Governor Matt Meyer of Delaware, a State Department and AmeriCorps alum.

With Honor Institute sponsored its second delegation trip to Ukraine in conjunction with the annual Yalta European Strategy (YES) Conference. In attendance were Reps. Don Bacon, Salud Carbajal, and Jimmy Panetta.

With Honor Action joined Rep. Mike Waltz and members of the For Country Caucus for the annual cleaning of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

After months of negotiations, including an endorsement of the Defending Borders, Defending Democracies Act, With Honor Action was proud to be part of an effort that delivered major military and humanitarian support for our democratic allies in Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific region, and Israel.

With Honor Action hosted a reception with Ukrainian warfighters and were joined by members of the For Country Caucus and Senate allies.

With Honor Institute, a c(3) nonprofit under the With Honor umbrella, co-sponsored its first delegation trip for Rep. Don Davis to visit Ukraine in conjunction with the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion.

With Honor Action led a press conference with the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and No One Left Behind to advocate for our Afghan allies with bipartisan Senators Chris Coons, Jerry Moran, Amy Klobuchar, and Richard Blumenthal.

Founded in 2019, members of the For Country Caucus joined With Honor Action to celebrate five years of principled, bipartisan veteran leadership in Congress.

With Honor Action honors Rep. Steve Womack, Rep. John James, and Rep. Pat Ryan, along with Co-Founder David Gergen and Honorary Advisory Board Member Truman Semens for their service and commitment to the With Honor Pledge.

With Honor Action launches an aggressive bipartisan campaign to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act. 

Jake Tapper covers the For Country Caucus Memorial Day Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall cleaning, featuring the three remaining Vietnam combat veterans in the U.S. House.

With Honor Action and USAA co-host a 2023 For Country Caucus kickoff reception with senators and military veterans Jack Reed and Roger Wicker.

With Honor Action builds allies among bipartisan, veteran Senators Jack Reed, Roger Wicker, Joni Ernst, Mark Kelly, Gary Peters, and Todd Young. 

The For Country Caucus expands to 30 members, and elects Rep. Tony Gonzales and Rep. Jason Crow as Co-Chairs, and Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Rep. Mikie Sherrill as Vice-Chairs.

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.