With Honor Action Applauds and Encourages Inclusion of ECA

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CHARLOTTE, NC – With Honor Action applauds the potential inclusion of the Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022 (ECA) in a forthcoming FY23 Omnibus Appropriations bill. S.4573 – The Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022 enjoys broad bipartisan support in both the House and Senate. If passed, this landmark legislation would reform and modernize an outdated, 19th century law that establishes procedures for counting electoral votes. In addition to updating old Electoral College rules, the ECA would specify the Vice President’s role as purely ministerial and protect each states’ popular vote.

“The work members are putting in across party lines to ensure a healthy separation of powers is incredibly encouraging,” said Rye Barcott, CEO and Co-Founder of With Honor Action. “The ECA is uncontroversial and represents simple good governance. I hope to see it included in the final appropriations bill.”

For further information on the ECA, please refer to this one-pager shared by the bill’s lead sponsor Senator Susan Collins of Maine. Other co-sponsors include military veterans and U.S. Senators Todd Young of Indiana and Mark Kelly of Arizona.

With Honor on Initial 2022 General Election Results for Veterans and Polarization

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CHARLOTTE, NC – The 2022 midterms saw another surge of veteran candidates running to serve again across party lines. 744 veterans ran for Congress (190 D, 457 R, 97 I), a 18% increase from the prior cycle. Veterans running who served after September 11th increased by 29.4%. This is an encouraging trend.

With Honor has worked with more than two dozen veterans in Congress who took the pledge to serve with integrity, civility, and courage, and participate in the bipartisan For Country Caucus. This group has passed more than 50 laws in four years, including 23 in 2021. With Honor projects the number of U.S. Representatives committed to this pledge will increase by more than 10% as the final results come in from the 2022 midterms.

The total number of veterans in Congress will increase modestly. The current number of veterans in the Senate will hold at least constant at 16, or possibly increase by 1-2% depending on the outcomes of the senate races in Nevada and Arizona.

With Honor is projecting that the percentage of veterans in the House will increase modestly. 230 veterans advanced to the general election in the House (59 Democrats, 120 Republicans, 51 Independents). At the time of this press release, 77 races with veterans have been called in the House and 21 races with veteran candidates are still too close to call.

“I’m grateful to With Honor for helping more principled veterans get elected to Congress who will participate in the bipartisan For Country Caucus. That is making a big impact and pushing against the polarization threatening our Republic,” said U.S. Congressman Don Bacon, a retired Air Force Brigadier General and co-chair of the For Country Caucus who won re-election in Nebraska’s 2nd District.

“It’s inspiring to see so many principled veterans who won last night and are committed to serving across party lines in the For Country Caucus,” said U.S. Congressman Jason Crow, an Army Ranger and veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and founding member of the For Country Caucus, who was re-elected last night in Colorado’s 6th District. “It is possible to break through our polarized, cynical politics, and get things done. These are some of the Americans doing it, and I look forward to working with them.”

With Honor Fund congratulates its endorsed veterans who have won their general elections:

Congressman Mark Amodei (NV-02)

Congressman Jake Auchincloss (MA-04)

Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02)

Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24)

Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

Congressman-elect Don Davis (NC-01)

Congressman Jake Ellzey (TX-06)

Congressman Mike Gallagher (WI-08)

Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23)

Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06)

Congressman-elect Wesley Hunt (TX-38)

Congressman-elect Jeff Jackson (NC-14)

Congressman-elect Nick LaLota (NY-01)

Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01)

Congressman Seth Moulton (MA-06)

Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-19)

Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)

Congressman Michael Waltz (FL-06)

The following With Honor Fund endorsed veterans are in races that have not yet been called:

Mr. Francis Conole (Candidate for NY-22)

Mr. Chris Deluzio (Candidate for PA-17)

Congressman Jared Golden (Candidate for ME-02)

Congressman Pat Ryan (Candidate for NY-18)

Mr. John James (Candidate for MI-10)

Dr. Kermit Jones (Candidate for CA-03)

Additionally, With Honor Fund supported the following principled Americans who served our country in other capacities, specifically federal law enforcement, intelligence, and as civilians in the State Department and Department of Defense.

Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01)

Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (VA-07)

Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03)

Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin (MI-08)

With Honor Fund endorsed two veterans running in state races for the first time this cycle. Former With Honor Action Advisory Board Member Wes Moore will be the next Governor of Maryland. Former For Country Caucus Member Anthony Brown will be the Attorney General of Maryland.

“Decency won last night in districts across the nation. In a moment of crippling polarization, these results are encouraging,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor Action. “Americans recognize the value and promise of veteran candidates who choose to continue to serve this country with a commitment to bipartisanship and the values embodied by the pledge they have taken: integrity, civility, and courage. ”

With Honor congratulates these new and incumbent members on their wins and looks forward to working alongside them to accomplish more for the American people. Please contact us if you would like more information.

With Honor Endorses Cyberspace Solarium Commission Recommendations for FY23 NDAA

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Charlotte, NC – With Honor Action praises the bipartisan and bicameral efforts to bolster America’s cyber and digital capabilities in the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) but encourages the Senate to debate and pass their version swiftly. The House of Representatives passed its version of the NDAA on July 14, and the Senate is expected to debate and pass its version of the defense bill following the midterm election. After the Senate’s passage of the bill, the chambers will form a conference committee to reconcile differences in the bills.

As currently drafted, both chambers’ versions of the yearly defense bill make critical investments to America’s digital and cyber capabilities, hardening America’s cyber defenses and investing in our cyber workforce, but they need to be realized into law. The most impactful cyber provisions are outgrowths of recommendations made by the bipartisan Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC), Co-Chaired by For Country Caucus Member Rep. Mike Gallagher and Senator Angus King of Maine. The CSC and its successor – the CSC 2.0 project, are vital to developing a consensus on a strategic approach to defending the United States in cyberspace against cyber attacks of significant consequences.

“We are grateful for the thoughtful, bipartisan work to strengthen America’s cyber defenses led by the Members of the For Country Caucus and informed by professionals like RADM (ret.) Mark Montgomery of the CSC 2.0 Project,” said Rye Barcott, CEO and Co-Founder of With Honor Action. “If enacted, these provisions will ensure that America remains the world’s preeminent cyber power.”

The following provisions in the House and Senate versions of the NDAA are of particular importance to With Honor. A full list of endorsed cyber provisions can be found here.

In the House Bill – H.R. 7900 – National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023:

  • Section 5867 – Department of Defense Cyber and Digital Service Academy: Establishes a Department of Defense (DOD) Cyber and Digital Service Academy as a scholarship-for-service program in partnership with select universities and colleges. Scholarship recipients would receive financial support for cyber and related fields of study before incurring a DOD service requirement.
  • Section 1112 – National Digital Reserve Corps: Establishes a program under the General Services Administration that will bridge the needs of the federal government with private sector capabilities by creating a reserve of cybersecurity and digital experts who can be detailed to executive agencies for at least 30 days per calendar year.
  • Section 1504 – Cyber Threat Information Collaboration Environment Program: The collaborative environment will be designed to remove barriers to cyber threat information sharing between the public and private sectors. The currently fragmented approach has led to slow responses to attacks on U.S. critical infrastructure, this new environment would allow the federal government to rapidly detect, identify, and disseminate cyber threats and vulnerabilities to private-sector experts.
  • Section 5133 – Federal Cybersecurity Workforce Expansion: Establishes a pilot program within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide cybersecurity training to eligible veterans and military spouses. DHS in coordination with the Veterans Administration will provide free training for eligible veterans, service members, and spouses thereby providing veterans and military families with new opportunities while developing America’s cyber talent.

In the Senate Bill – S.Amdt. 5499 to H.R. 7900 – National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023:

  • Title LV Sections 5501 to 5509 – Information Security and Cyber Diplomacy Act: In April, the State Department announced that it will create its first Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy. This bill will fund the bureau and emphasize the importance of its work by strengthening it with statutory language to carry out its mission of modernizing American diplomacy by partnering with our allies in cyberspace and to promote freedom of communications and information.

With Honor Action Mourns the Passing of Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter

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CHARLOTTE, NC – With Honor Action mourns the passing of former U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter. Secretary Carter was the 25th Secretary of Defense and previously served as Deputy Secretary of Defense, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Strategic Affairs. He most recently served as the Director of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School, where he was Belfer Professor of Technology and Global Affairs.

“Secretary Carter was a giant of U.S. national security and one of the leading voices for technological innovation in defense,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor Action. “His legacy is the profound impact he made on American security during his decades of service and the thousands of young Americans he mentored during his time in Washington and at Harvard. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time.”

With Honor Action Endorses the Afghan Adjustment Act

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CHARLOTTE, NC – Last week, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Congressman Peter Meijer (MI-03), Senator Amy Klobuchar (MN), and Senator Lindsey Graham (SC) introduced the Afghan Adjustment Act, a bipartisan and bicameral bill that With Honor Action is proud to endorse. The bill would give a pathway to permanent legal status for our Afghan allies in the U.S. who relocated here after the U.S. withdrawal from the country last year. The bill establishes additional vetting requirements during the application process that would allow an adjustment of status for eligible Afghans who are seeking to rebuild their lives here in the U.S.

Other co-sponsors of the bill include For Country Caucus members Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-16), Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02), and Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06).

“The U.S. mission in Afghanistan depended on brave Afghans serving as interpreters, democracy advocates, and women’s rights advocates – they were vital to the twenty-year mission. But despite their valiant and dutiful service to America, many Afghans arrived in the U.S. during last year’s evacuation with no clear path to stable residency,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor Action. “The Afghan Adjustment Act fixes that problem and ensures America keeps its promise to our Afghan allies. With Honor Action is proud to join Congressman Peter Meijer and Congressman Earl Blumenauer in supporting our Afghan allies, and we hope to see broad bipartisan Congressional support for the Afghan Adjustment Act.”

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With Honor Action is a cross-partisan movement focused on supporting military veterans who want to work across the aisle and put principles before politics while serving again in Congress. With Honor Action’s advisory board includes post-9/11 veterans and Gold Star family members — Chris Howard, Ryan Manion, and Medal of Honor Recipient Florent Groberg — as well as prominent American leaders such as Secretary Robert Gates, Senator Tom Daschle, Admiral Michael Mullen, General Nadja West, and David Gergen.

With Honor Action Praises the Honoring Our PACT Act

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CHARLOTTE, NC – With Honor Action praises the bipartisan Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins Act (Honoring Our PACT Act), which was signed into law today by President Biden. The legislation passed in the U.S. Senate earlier this month, with a bipartisan vote of 86-11, following passage in the U.S. House of Representatives with a vote of 342-88. This landmark legislation ensures millions of veterans who were exposed to burn pits, radiation, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances while in combat receive the medical care they need.

With Honor Action proudly joined dozens of veterans organizations in the push for passage, including Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), who have led on the issue for years. We applaud this committed network of organizations on their major accomplishment and thank them for their continued work to put the needs of our service members first. With Honor Action also congratulates members of the For Country Caucus, a bipartisan group of veterans in Congress that With Honor Action proudly works alongside, who led efforts for passage in the House.

“Congress and the Administration came together on behalf of our country’s veterans, putting principles before politics,” said Rye Barcott, CEO and Co-Founder of With Honor Action. “Our veterans protected us on the battlefield. It’s our turn to protect them at home by providing the best medical care we can.”

If you’re a veteran who would like to learn more about how this legislation will potentially impact your care and benefits, please visit this newly launched U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs resource page.

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With Honor Action is a cross-partisan movement focused on supporting military veterans who want to work across the aisle and put principles before politics while serving again in Congress. With Honor Action’s advisory board includes post-9/11 veterans and Gold Star family members — Chris Howard, Ryan Manion, and Medal of Honor Recipient Florent Groberg — as well as prominent American leaders such as Secretary Robert Gates, Senator Tom Daschle, Admiral Michael Mullen, General Nadja West, and David Gergen.

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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