With Honor Action’s Priorities Included in National Defense Authorization Act

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With Honor Action’s Top Priorities Included in National Defense Authorization Act

Washington, DC – With Honor Action is proud to announce 63 of our priorities have been included in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This NDAA will be one of the only major bipartisan bills that Congress is likely to pass this year. Culminating in months and in some cases, years of hard work, these bipartisan provisions championed by the bipartisan veterans in Congress that With Honor Action supports, will have a wide-ranging impact on our nation. These critical pieces of legislation strengthen our national security, improve our civic education and service opportunities for young Americans, and improve quality of life and healthcare for our veteran and military families. 

Some of the most noteworthy provisions are summarized below. Please find a list of all 63 laws located on With Honor Action’s website.

National Security:

  • Sec. 1536: Authority to conduct pilot program on Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve 
    • This bill establishes Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve pilot program within the Department of Defense (DoD) to recruit civilian personnel to serve in cybersecurity reservist positions to ensure that we have the talent necessary to defeat, deter, or respond to cyber threats. 
  • Taiwan Cybersecurity Resiliency Act
    • This bill, led by For Country Caucus founding members Rep. Mike Gallagher and Chrissy Houlahan, directs the Secretary of Defense to seek to engage the Taiwanese government regarding expanded cooperation with respect to military cybersecurity activities.
  • Critical Mineral Independence Act
    • This bill, led by For Country Caucus member Rep. Mike Gallagher, tasks the Department of Defense to assess vulnerabilities in its supply chain, identify and recommend changes to acquisition laws, regulations, and policies, and prioritize recommendations to achieve critical mineral supply chain independence.

Military Quality of Life:

  • The Reserve Component Parental Leave Parity Act (HR 2597 / S. 1095; Section 601 in H.R. 2670) 
    • This bill, led by For Country Caucus members Reps. Jeff Jackson and Zach Nunn, extends the same active duty parental leave policy to an estimated more than one million National Guard and Reserve service members by expanding eligibility beyond birthing mothers to include fathers, adoptive parents, and foster parents.
  • Including military service in determining family and medical leave eligibility for federal employees under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993
    • This provision, led by For Country Caucus member Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, expands eligibility provisions of the Family and Medical Leave Act for federal employees to military service if the individual has completed at least 12 months of honorable service.

Expansion of the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps:

  • Expansion of the JROTC Program [Sec. 551]
    • This provision, led by Senator Roger Wicker, requires the Department of Defense to establish and support not less than 3,400 and not more than 4,000 units of the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, an expansion from the existing 3,275 units.
  • Stop Funding JROTC at CCP-Owned Schools Act [Sec. 553]
    • Prohibition of Establishment or Maintenance of a Unit of the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at an Education Institution Owned, Operated, or Controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.

“The NDAA is the only piece of legislation to consistently pass year after year on a bipartisan basis. This will be the 63rd consecutive year it successfully passes on time,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor Action. “We’re proud to be part of this bipartisan effort and our work to further help the military community. These pieces of legislation will go a long way in making sure the US stays ahead of our competitors while helping our service members here at home.”

The bills listed above are just seven of With Honor Action’s 63 accomplishments from this year’s NDAA process. To learn more about With Honor Action priorities included in the annual defense bill, read the list here.

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With Honor Action fights polarization in Congress by supporting principled veterans across party lines who pledge to service with integrity, civility, and courage. With Honor Action works alongside the bipartisan For Country Caucus in Congress to pass critical legislation for our nation. Learn more about our work at withhonor.org 

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 II.

With Honor Action Endorses the AmeriCorps Education Award Tax Relief Act

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Washington, DC – With Honor Action is proud to endorse the AmeriCorps Education Award tax Relief Act, a bill led by Senators Bill Cassidy and Michael Bennet. A House companion is being led by Reps. Don Bacon and John Larson. The bill would ensure that AmeriCorps education scholarships are not federally taxable. For far too long, these scholarships have been counted as federally taxable income, despite the fact that they are service related awards given directly to colleges and universities for the sole use of paying tuition. 

Every AmeriCorps member who completes a term of service is awarded the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. This scholarship is equal to the maximum amount of a Pell Grant, and is placed in a trust to be used for future educational benefits or student loans. Other service related scholarships, such as Pell Grants, GI Bill benefits, and National Health Service Corps scholarships are not federally taxed. The idea has already been placed into effect in multiple states, such as Oregon, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Iowa, all excluding AmeriCorps education awards from state income tax eligibility.

“Those who participate in national service dedicate their lives to the United States of America,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor Action. “The AmeriCorps Education Award Tax Relief Act would make sure that all who serve our  country are entitled to educational benefits without having to worry about the burden of unforeseen tax costs. Currently, only AmeriCorps members have their education benefits taxed. This is a bipartisan, common-sense piece of legislation that needs to pass.” 

The AmeriCorps Education Award Tax Relief Act would level the playing field for AmeriCorps service members, ensuring they have access to similar educational benefits as others who have served our country. With Honor Action applauds Senators Cassidy and Bennet for re-introducing this bipartisan bill, and urges Congress to pass it in honor of the AmeriCorps service members who work to make this country a better place every day.

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With Honor Action fights polarization in Congress by supporting principled veterans across party lines who pledge to service with integrity, civility, and courage. With Honor Action works alongside the bipartisan For Country Caucus in Congress to pass critical legislation for our nation. Learn more about our work at withhonor.org 

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 II.

With Honor Action Calls on SASC Leadership to Pass Bipartisan Priorities led by For Country Caucus Members in the 2024 NDAA

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Washington, D.C.- After the Senate voted to go to conference with the House of Representatives, With Honor Action sent a letter to Senators Jack Reed and Roger Wicker, the leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), urging them to maintain four bipartisan provisions championed by members of the For Country Caucus in the final version of the FY 2024 NDAA that would greatly contribute to US military readiness. These provisions are already included in the House-passed version of the bill and would help modernize the Department of Defense, and support military families and veterans. 

With Honor Action’s endorsed provisions for the 2024 NDAA:

  • The Reserve Component Parental Leave Parity Act (HR 2597 / S. 1095; Section 601 in H.R. 2670)
    • Extends the same active duty parental leave policy to National Guard and Reserve service members by expanding eligibility beyond birthing mothers to include fathers, adoptive parents, and foster parents.
  • Military Service in Determining Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Eligibility for Federal Employees (H.R. 2670, Sec. 1118)
    • Allows a federal employee’s military service to count towards the 12 month eligibility requirement for receiving benefits under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
  • Expands DoD’s Troops to Teachers program to include JROTC instructors and administrators and reauthorizes the program for an additional two years (HR 2670, Section 574)
    • Provides a pathway for veterans to become JROTC instructors under the DOD’s Troops to Teachers program and extends the life of the program for an additional two years.
  • Organization and Management of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and Codification and Elevation of the Defense Innovation Unit (HR 2670, Section 925)
    • Codifies the DIU, establishing and identifying units in each service branch to acquire and field scalable technology, and clarifies and elevates principal DIU leaders to report directly to the Secretary of Defense.

“It is critical to our national security that we pass the National Defense Authorization Act every fiscal year. With Honor Action urges SASC leadership to support and include these critical provisions spearheaded by members of the For Country Caucus,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor Action. “These pieces of legislation are common sense ideas that would strengthen national security and national competitiveness, improve military readiness, and better support military families and veterans.”

As the conference committee goes over what will be included in the final version of the annual defense bill, With Honor Action calls on Senate Armed Services Committee leadership to include these provisions and maintain our military readiness and national security, and support our nation’s heroes and their families. The full version of the letter outlines each provision in detail and can be found below:

The Honorable Jack Reed                  The Honorable Roger Wicker
U.S. Senate                                            U.S. Senate
728 Hart Senate Office Building       425 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510                      Washington, D.C. 20510

RE: FY24 NDAA Provisions in Support of Modernizing the DoD, Military Families, and Veterans

Dear Chairman Reed and Ranking Member Wicker:
As the conference committee begins to consider the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24 NDAA), With Honor Action respectfully requests you include the provisions discussed below, which are all included in the House-passed version of the bill. These provisions substantially contribute to military family readiness, improving the lives of our veterans and modernizing our military force.

Reserve Component Parental Leave Parity Act (HR 2597 / S. 1095; Section 601 in H.R. 2670)

This provision would put parental leave eligibility for members of the National Guard and Reserves on par with active-duty servicemembers. Currently, only birthing mothers are authorized to take parental leave for three drilling periods. This would extend that same leave to fathers, adoptive parents, and long-term foster care parents. To be clear, this provision only extends the same benefits to Reserve and National Guard parents that active-duty parents are already entitled to.

Military Service in Determining Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Eligibility for Federal Employees (H.R. 2670, Sec. 1118)

This legislation allows a federal employee’s military service to count towards the 12-month eligibility requirement for receiving benefits under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This would put FMLA eligibility on par with other federal benefits, such as retirement and vacation days, which already credit military service for eligibility. As you know, approximately 500,000 veterans have chosen to continue serving our nation as civil servants, comprising about 25% of the
federal workforce.

Expands DoD’s Troops to Teachers program to include JROTC instructors and administrators and reauthorizes the program for an additional two years (HR 2670, Section 574)

The Troops-to-Teachers program not only provides veterans with the path to a career as an educator but also provides kids with positive role models who served in the military. Given the ongoing recruiting crisis, such a program is a significant force multiplier for our overworked military recruiters. Failing to include this legislation will sunset this program.

Organization and Management of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and Codification and Elevation of the Defense Innovation Unit (HR 2670, Section 925)

This provision codifies the DIU, establishing and identifying units in each service branch to acquire and field scalable technology, and clarifies and elevates principal DIU leaders to report directly to SECDEF. As our military seeks to modernize itself in an era of great power competition in a global environment of proliferating technology, this provision ensures that we can field new, innovative equipment that may be the difference between deterrence and war or victory and defeat.

Respectfully,
Rye Barcott, Co-founder and CEO
With Honor Action

With Honor Action Endorses the Jax Act

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Washington, D.C.- With Honor Action is proud to announce our endorsement of the Jax Act (H.R. 1753) sponsored by Rep. Darrell Issa, which would amend the records of female combat veterans who were never formally recognized for their service.

This legislation is named after Jaclyn “Jax” Scott, who served on a Cultural Support Team (CST) in Afghanistan. CSTs were units made up of female service members who deployed to combat zones alongside Special Operations Forces, before women were technically allowed to serve in combat roles. Because of this, they were never recognized for their combat service and missed out on rank, benefits, and health services.

“This is long overdue. These women served with courage and commitment alongside our Navy SEALS and Army Rangers,” said With Honor Action Co-Founder and CEO Rye Barcott. “Hundreds of women put their lives on the line without hesitation to fight with and support our military and should be treated as such.”

Annie Kleiman, a former With Honor Action Inaugural board member, and Rebekah Edmondson were members of a CST and trained Afghan women to serve as special operators in the Afghan National Army. They went on multiple deployments to Afghanistan and their service would finally be recognized with passage of the Jax Act.

“My CST sisters and I joined the program because we wanted to be part of something bigger than ourselves. But as women serving with Special Operation Forces units before the ground combat ban was lifted, we are also used to having our service questioned and minimized,” said Annie Kleiman. “The JAX act is an important step in validating our service, and I am grateful to the members of Congress and organizations supporting this legislation.”

“None of us served as CSTs for recognition, but truth be told, we were out there dodging the same rounds as our male counterparts. Passing the Jax Act would be a step in the right direction to acknowledge the ultimate sacrifices made and honor our colleagues, 1st Lt. Ashley White and Capt. Jennifer Moreno, who was killed in action while deployed as CSTs,” said Rebekah Edmondson.

The Jax Act has strong bipartisan support in the House from For Country Caucus members Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, Rep. Jason Crow, Rep. Pat Ryan, Rep. Seth Moulton. Rep. Zach Nunn, and Rep. Chris Deluzio as well as in the Senate with Sen. Jacky Rosen, Sen. Joni Ernst, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, and Sen. Dan Sullivan.  The American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and the Special Operations Associations of America (SOAA) have also all supported the bill. Congress must pass this legislation and formally recognize Cultural Support Teams as combat veterans.

Reserve Component Parental Leave Parity Act Letter

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The Honorable Jack Reed                                                         The Honorable Mike Rogers
728 Hart Senate Office Building U.S. Senate                        2469 Rayburn House Office U.S. House of Representatives

The Honorable Roger Wicker                                                  The Honorable Adam Smith
425 Russell Senate Office Building U.S. Senate                   2264 Rayburn House Office Building U.S. House of Representatives

RE: Including the Reserve Component Parental Leave Parity Act (HR 2597 / S. 1095; Section 601 in H.R. 2670) in the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act

Dear Chairman Reed, Ranking Member Wicker, Chairman Rogers, and Ranking Member Smith:

We write in support of Section 601 of the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024. This important provision puts parental leave eligibility for members of the National Guard and Reserves on par with active-duty servicemembers so that all parents can spend these critical first three months with their new children.

The undersigned organizations urge you to keep this section intact during conference in order to support our Reserve and National Guard servicemembers and their families. Under current law for drilling members of the Reserves and National Guard, only birth mothers are authorized to take parental leave for three monthly drilling periods upon the birth of a child. Section 601 expands this authorization to include all new parents—including fathers, adoptive parents, and parents of children newly placed in long-term foster care settings. To be clear, this provision only extends the same benefits to Reserve and National Guard parents that active-duty parents are already entitled to.

At a time when we are seeing recruiting and retention challenges across the services, this simple fix helps to ensure that all military parents are fully and equally supported as they build their families. This parental leave allows Reservists and Guardsmen to focus on settling into their new family routine before returning to monthly drills, where they can then focus more intentionally on their military mission.

Section 601 was included on a bipartisan basis in the House-passed NDAA and has bipartisan support in the Senate. It closes a gap for Reserve and National Guard members and allows their parental leave benefits to apply to mothers as well as fathers bringing a new child into the home. We respectfully urge you to retain this section in the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 to support all of our military families.

Sincerely,

Blue Star Families
Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)
National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS)
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
With Honor Action

 

 

With Honor Action Presents Reps Pat Ryan and John James with the Freshman Fireteam Award

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Washington, D.C.- With Honor Action honored For Country Caucus members, Rep. John James and Rep. Pat Ryan, with our first “Freshman Fireteam” award this evening in the Capitol Rotunda. 

With Honor Action was founded to encourage and foster bipartisan veteran leadership in Congress, and this year the organization has decided to recognize two first-term lawmakers that consistently follow the With Honor pledge of leading with integrity, civility, and courage. 

Rep. James, a Republican, and Rep. Ryan, a Democrat, may hold different beliefs and opinions, but they share a similar background in service. They attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and served alongside each other, putting service to each other and the country above all else. The bond they share from their military experience gives them the unique ability to put their political differences aside and work together to get things done in Congress. 

“Leadership in the military often begins with battle buddies in fireteams. This inaugural With Honor Action award recognizes the critical importance of relationships rooted in trust across party lines in Congress. We are delighted to present the first one to For Country Caucus members, West Point classmates, and Iraq war veterans Reps. John James and Pat Ryan,” said Rye Barcott, With Honor Action CEO & Co-Founder. 

In their short time in Congress, these two freshman lawmakers have consistently shown their willingness to work in a bipartisan fashion. During this time, they have worked together on legislation to help our veterans and servicemembers with bills such as the Veterans Entry to Apprenticeship Act. They continue to be leaders in Congress and the bipartisan For Country Caucus of thirty principled veterans in the US House who are committed to serving with integrity, civility, and courage. 

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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. Learn more about our work at withhonor.org 

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.

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