Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Tax Relief Act

Posted on by Abigail Trotter

With Honor Action endorses the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Tax Relief Act, co-led by For Country Caucus member Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), an Air Force veteran.

“National service should open doors, not create new hurdles,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor. “For more than three decades, AmeriCorps members have strengthened communities across the country, and more than a million have earned the Segal Education Award to help pay for college or repay student loans. Treating that award as taxable income undercuts the very spirit of service it was meant to honor. The Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Tax Relief Act is a bipartisan, common-sense fix, and we applaud For Country Caucus member Rep. Don Bacon and Rep. John Larson for their leadership.”

The bill would exclude AmeriCorps Education Awards from income tax, to reflect the intent of federal education awards, help those serving pay for college, and remove a barrier that may discourage young people from taking advantage of the financial assistance they’ve earned. This ensures that the AmeriCorps Education Award remains a valuable and compelling incentive for young people to serve their country and a tool for making higher education more affordable.

Duty Status Reform Act

Posted on by Abigail Trotter

With Honor Action proudly endorses H.R. 6976 — the Duty Status Reform Act, led by For Country Caucus members Rep. Gil Cisneros (D-CA), a Navy veteran, and Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI), a Marine Corps veteran.

“When our Reservists step up, whether overseas or in their own communities, they are doing dangerous and essential work. The Duty Status Reform Act is about fairness, consistency, and making sure every reservist is treated equally when they answer the call,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor. “With Honor is proud to endorse the Duty Status Reform Act, which ensures that Reservists don’t lose pay, healthcare access, or benefits simply because of the technical duty status they’re placed in while responding to disasters or serving their country. We thank For Country Caucus members Reps. Cisneros and Bergman for leading this bill and advocating for our Reserve Component.”

Duty status is the official category that describes what kind of military service someone is performing at a given time. It determines who they report to (state or federal government), how they’re paid, and what benefits and legal protections apply. For active duty service members, their duty status is straightforward: they serve full-time for the federal government.

The bill would clarify the Duty Status system by reducing the number of statuses from roughly 30 different statuses under 20 different titles of federal law, to four duty statuses. Under the new duty status construct, service members carrying out assignments within the same category will receive the same pay and benefits package.

Four Years After Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion, Ukraine’s Sovereignty – and Its Children – Remain Under Threat

Posted on by Abigail Trotter

For Immediate Release

Contact: Susan Forbes, forbes@withhonor.org

Four Years After Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion, Ukraine’s Sovereignty – and Its Children – Remain Under Threat

With Honor Action Renews Cross-Partisan Commitment to Ukraine and the Defense of Democratic Nations

Washington, D.C. — February 24, 2026 — Four years ago, Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, displacing an estimated 10 million people, resulting in the abduction and unlawful transfer of at least 35,000 Ukrainian children to areas under Russian control.

The fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion is both a moment of solemn remembrance and a renewed call to action. In addition to the widespread loss of life and displacement affecting millions of Ukrainians, the forced transfer and unlawful detention of children remains one of the most alarming and well-documented humanitarian consequences of the war.

“Four years into this war, the systemic abduction of Ukrainian children stands out as one of the most egregious documented human rights violations,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor. “This demands sustained, bipartisan leadership to ensure accountability, reinforce democratic sovereignty, and secure the safe return of every child taken.”

With Honor Action has endorsed bipartisan legislation led by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and co-sponsored by For Country Caucus member Rep. Don Bacon that would designate Russia as a State Sponsor of Terrorism until the Putin regime returns all abducted Ukrainian children, reinforcing congressional efforts to pair accountability with concrete consequences.

Last year, With Honor Action supported the bipartisan Abducted Ukrainian Children Recovery and Accountability Act, which was signed into law to strengthen U.S. efforts to identify, track, and secure the return of Ukrainian children unlawfully taken by the Russian government. The organization also supported authorization of $400 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, reinforcing Ukraine’s ability to defend its sovereignty, deter further aggression, and protect civilians in the face of continued Russian attacks.

As the conflict enters its fifth year, With Honor Action will continue working alongside bipartisan leaders to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty, uphold international law, and ensure that the unlawful abduction of children is met with sustained accountability and meaningful consequences.

 

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About With Honor

With Honor Action fights polarization in Congress by supporting principled veterans across party lines who pledge to serve with integrity, civility, and courage. With Honor Action works alongside the bipartisan For Country Caucus in Congress to pass critical legislation for our nation. With Honor Action is a 501(c)(4), which serves as the organization’s policy and social-welfare arm. With Honor has an affiliated federally registered “super PAC” called With Honor Fund III. Learn more about our work at WithHonor.org.

With Honor Action Sends Letter Detailing FY27 NDAA Priorities

Posted on by Abigail Trotter

On Tuesday, February 24, 2026, With Honor Action sent a letter to the 18 members of the For Country Caucus on the House Armed Services Committee detailing our initial priorities for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027. These priorities include the Warrior Right to Repair Act, co-led by For Country Caucus members Reps. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH) and Jen Kiggans (R-VA), provisions of the SHIPS for America Act, co-led by With Honor Action allies Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and the expansion of youth service programs.

To the Members of the House Armed Services Committee and the For Country Caucus,  

Each year, With Honor Action endorses several pieces of bipartisan national security legislation. For the FY27 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), we ask that you consider including the following 16 provisions in your initial submissions to HASC. As we enter an election year that will undoubtedly raise the partisan temperature, this critical, consensus-driven legislation is more important than ever, and the principled veteran leadership demonstrated by the members of the For Country Caucus (4CC) is the path toward a more prosperous and secure nation. 

Modernizing the Department of Defense and Revitalizing the Defense Industrial Base:

  1. H.R. 5155 / S. 2209 – Warrior Right to Repair Act of 2025  
  2. Special consideration of key national security pieces of the Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security (SHIPS) for America Act (H.R.3151/S.1541):
    1. Sec. 403 – Assessment of Undersea Cable Repair Contingencies
    2. Sec. 512 – Plan of action for use of Defense Production Act of 1950 authorities
    3. Sec. 521 – United States Center for Maritime Innovation
    4. Sec. 616 – Military to maritime transition

Expanding Pathways and Opportunities to Service:

  1. Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC)
    1. With Honor Action supports the authorization of funding for the JROTC program at or above the FY26 congressionally-authorized level of $353.9 million.
  2. United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps (USNSCC)
    1. With Honor Action supports the authorization of funding for the USNSCC program at or above the FY26 congressionally-authorized level of $4.3 million.
  3. Civil Air Patrol (CAP)
    1. With Honor Action supports the authorization of funding for the CAP program at or above the FY26 congressionally-authorized level of $50.3 million for aircraft and maintenance.
  4. National Guard STARBASE Program
    1. With Honor Action supports the authorization of funding for the DoD STARBASE program at or above the FY26 congressionally-authorized level of $50 million.

Supporting Our Global Allies & Partners:

  1. The establishment of a preservation process for the service records of recognized “Afghan allies” in the Department of Defense.
  2. Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI)
    1. With Honor Action supports the authorization of funding for USAI at or above the FY26 authorized level of $400 million for FY27.
  3. Baltic Security Initiative (BSI)
    1. With Honor Action supports the authorization of funding for BSI at or above the FY26 authorized level of $175 million for FY27.
  4. Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative (TSCI) 
    1. With Honor Action supports the authorization of funding for TSCI at or above the FY26 authorized level of $1 billion for FY27.

Addressing Military Quality & Ease of Life:

  1. H.R. 6383 – Brandon Act Training and Protocol Act 
  2. H.R. 7188 / S. 3654 – Military Occupancy Living Defense (MOLD) Act 
  3. H.R. 6976 – Duty Status Reform Act  
  4. The designation of a senior official responsible for the management and oversight of all programs and activities of the Department of Defense related to the transition of members of the Armed Forces to civilian status.  

Other National Security Matters:

  1. H.R. 6469 – Special consideration of the Feasibility Review of Emerging Equipment for Digital Open Media (FREEDOM) Act
  2. The requirement of an intelligence community assessment on the foreign malign influence operations of the Chinese Communist Party in key regions at the expense of the United States and its allies.

Detailed descriptions of these measures can be found in Appendix I, and specific legislative text may be found in Appendix II attached to this letter.

Vice President of Government Affairs, Kaylan Swartz, is available to assist your staff with any follow-up information you may need (swartz@withhonor.org).

Rye Barcott

Co-Founder & CEO

With Honor

You can read the full text of the letter here.

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