Brandon Act Training and Protocol Act

Posted on by Abigail Trotter

Petty Officer Brandon Caserta was 21 years old when he died by suicide on June 25, 2018. Brandon’s mental health crisis was exacerbated by the fact that several of his fellow sailors had hazed and bullied him for a prolonged period. When he tried to seek help for his situation, he encountered institutional barriers to seeking mental health services. Moreover, the stigma surrounding self-reporting made it difficult to receive the help he needed. Brandon’s story is not an isolated incident. Mental health crises are common, and everyone deserves to receive the care and services they need.

In 2023, suicide rates among military service members hit a record high. According to the Annual Report on Suicide in the Military (CY 2024), suicide rates for active-duty service members have been steadily increasing since 2011, and 523 service members died by suicide in 2023 alone. Building an improved system that enables service members to receive adequate help must be a top priority.

The Brandon Act, originally enacted in the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), presented a strategy to address some aspects of military mental health. This legislation allowed service members to seek confidential referrals for mental health evaluations and, if necessary, to seek referrals outside their chain of command. This legislation is a positive step toward de-stigmatizing the need for help and resources for service members who are experiencing a mental health crisis. At the time the Brandon Act language was signed into law, current For Country Caucus member Rep. Gil Cisneros was serving as the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and signed the order to initiate implementation of the Act across the Department of Defense in May 2023. But more needs to be done to educate leaders at all levels on how best to address and support mental health crises, and to standardize the information disseminated to service members about the options available to them. 

Getting the word out is one of the key next steps, which is why With Honor Action has assisted with garnering support and enthusiastically endorses the passage of the Brandon Act Training and Protocol Act, known as H.R. 6383. This bipartisan legislation was introduced by Rep.Cisneros and fellow For Country Caucus member Rep. Jen Kiggans. This legislation would:

  • Develop uniform protocols for the Brandon Act’s self-referral process among the service branches, to be distributed through workplace advertisements on bases and posts.
  • Administer standardized mental health training for all members of the Armed Forces, especially commanders, leaders, and medical professionals.

With Honor Action identified the Brandon Act Training and Protocol Act as a priority for inclusion in the FY27 NDAA in our letter to the leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees earlier this year. We applaud the leadership of Reps. Cisneros and Kiggans in ensuring its inclusion in the House-passed version of the NDAA. This legislation is a positive step toward improving mental health outcomes and decreasing suicide rates across military branches.

Tell Congress to Pass the Brandon Act Training and Protocol Act (H.R. 6383)

With Honor Action Joins Letter on Including the MOLD Act in the FY27 NDAA

Posted on by Abigail Trotter

On July 29, 2026, With Honor Action joined a letter led by the National Military Family Association (NMFA), alongside Blue Star Families, Change the Air Foundation, Commissioned Officers’ Association of the U.S. Public Health Service, Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS), Exceptional Families of the Military, Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), Hots & Cots, Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), ISSA, the Association for Cleaning and Facility Solutions, Jewish War Veterans of the USA, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Military Chaplains Association, Military Housing Coalition, National Organization of Remediators and Microbial Inspectors (NORMI), Non Commissioned Officers Association, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) and United States Army Warrant Officers Association (USAWOA), sent to Senator Roger Wicker, Chair, Senator Jack Reed, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Representative Mike Rogers, Chair, and Representative Adam Smith, Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee on giving special consideration to the Military Occupancy Living Defense (MOLD) Act,  H.R. 7188 / S. 3654 to include this legislation in the final version of the Fiscal Year 2027 NDAA.

Tell your Member of Congress to take action on the MOLD Act here.

Dear Chairmen and Ranking Members:

On behalf of the undersigned organizations, we write to express support for Section 2825 of S. 4784, a provision that would strengthen health and safety standards for privatized military family housing. We appreciate that the Senate Armed Services Committee recognized the importance of this issue and included the provision in S. 4784. We urge you to include this legislation in the final version of the Fiscal Year 2027 NDAA.

Thousands of America’s military families reside in installation housing that is operated and maintained by private housing contractors. However, while home is supposed to be a safe haven, for many military families the opposite is true. Far too often, military families in privatized housing encounter toxic, unsafe living conditions: mold, pest infestations, faulty maintenance and more.

Of these hazards, mold is among the most common and the most dangerous. Exposure to mold is linked to numerous long-term health risks, including respiratory illnesses, neurological conditions, and developmental delays in children. Military families in mold infested privatized housing rely on their housing contractor to appropriately remediate the situation and ensure that their living environment meets acceptable standards. When contractors fail to do so, military families have little recourse, forcing them to either risk their family’s health or absorb the cost of moving to a new residence and replacing damaged belongings – while the privatized housing company continues to collect their monthly Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) as rent. Neither option is acceptable.

Section 2825 offers effective solutions to address mold and other environmental health risks in military family housing. The legislation would establish clear standards for mold and humidity, mandate independent third-party inspections by contractors not affiliated with housing companies and require inspections in several critical scenarios. Importantly, the bill would also provide military families with the same protections enjoyed by residents of Section 8 housing, by giving the federal government the right to withhold payment to the privatized housing company when a unit fails inspection.

Service members willingly sacrifice a great deal for our country. However, they should not be expected to sacrifice their or their family’s health and well-being. We urge you to include Section 2825 in the FY27 NDAA to ensure that all military families have a safe and healthy living environment.

With Honor Action Celebrates House Passage of FY27 NDAA

Posted on by Abigail Trotter

Congress is making progress toward passing the 66th consecutive National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a bill that is one of the few bipartisan pieces of legislation consistently signed into law. On July 22nd, the House passed its version of the FY27 NDAA. Although this is but one step in the process, as the final bill must be reconciled with the Senate, it is significant progress, and the House bill includes over 40 bipartisan priorities advanced by With Honor Action in partnership with members of the For Country Caucus.

Working alongside these bipartisan Members of Congress, With Honor Action has worked to include provisions that modernize our military, extend America’s edge in biotechnology, defend our allies, and improve the lives of those serving in the military. Principled veteran leadership, demonstrated by the members of the For Country Caucus and by efforts here at With Honor Action, proves that working across the aisle moves the country forward with shared ideals that unite us, regardless of party.

Select FY27 NDAA Priorities Advanced with the For Country Caucus in the House Version

Military Modernization and Industrial Base

Modernization of our military and defense industrial base is one of the top priorities for With Honor Action and the FY27 NDAA, and we continue to advocate for provisions that build on the successful inclusion of many provisions of the FoRGED and SPEED Acts in the FY26 NDAA. Equipping our warfighters with modern equipment and skills builds a more lethal force prepared to face the next generation of threats. With Honor Action was especially proud to see a longtime priority, right to repair, appear in the FY27 NDAA. This provision, while details will need to be worked out in conference on the bill, will help with readiness by addressing some of the challenges of vendor lock, supply chain brittleness, and contractor delays.

Recognizing the need for the revitalization of the American shipbuilding industry, With Honor Action also applauds the passage of key provisions from the SHIPS for America Act, championed by Reps. Trent Kelly (R-MS) and John Garamendi (D-CA) in the House, and With Honor allies Sens. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Todd Young (R-IN) in the Senate. The SHIPS for America Act strengthens both the industrial and human capital behind America’s maritime power. Rep. Trent Kelly’s SHIPS floor amendment received bipartisan support. It brought many of the provisions in the standalone bill one step closer to becoming law, including the three provisions included in With Honor Action’s priorities letter to the Armed Services Committees. These provisions would require an assessment of the nation’s ability to repair undersea cables during a national emergency, direct the President to submit a plan for using Defense Production Act authorities to strengthen the shipbuilding industrial base, and expand the United States Center for Maritime Innovation to accelerate research and development. Beyond these specific measures, the amendment reflects a broader recognition that enhancing America’s commercial and defense shipbuilding industries is a national security imperative. The SHIPS Act also streamlines the credentialing process for transitioning servicemembers entering maritime careers and strengthens U.S. shipyards by combining federal and private investment. Together, these provisions ensure the nation is ready to sustain and repair the vessels our military and maritime industry depend on.

That same forward-looking approach extends beyond hardware and into the technologies now shaping the battlefield. Readiness is not just about the equipment in the warfighter’s hands. The House-passed NDAA includes key legislation that promotes technologies that redefine modern conflict and ensure our intelligence capabilities can keep pace with the evolution of frontier technologies. With Honor Action is proud to have supported the AGI Preparedness Initiative that strengthens the Department of Defense’s ability to anticipate and counter adversarial artificial intelligence. The initiative directs the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer to prioritize tracking the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) AI capabilities and to develop a clear strategy for countering adversarial AI, and was adopted as a floor amendment offered by For Country Caucus member Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-NC).

Additionally, the House bill includes adjacent provisions for the No Adversarial AI Act, including a requirement that the Department of Defense issue government-wide guidance identifying “covered artificial intelligence companies” and establish a process for excluding and removing their AI from Department systems and devices. The bill also includes 14 provisions related to recommendations by the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, which With Honor Action has consistently supported since its inception. Taken together, these measures ensure that the United States can detect and deter our adversaries’ most advanced technologies and protect our innovation ecosystem.

Youth Service and Leadership Development

The FY27 House-passed NDAA also makes critical investments in programs that inspire young Americans to serve their country. Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) reaches over half a million high school students a year, often serving as their first step toward service. At the same time, programs like the Sea Cadets Corps have introduced 180,000 young people to fields from robotics to seamanship since 1962, with roughly 60% going on to join the armed forces. While the Naval Sea Cadets Corps focuses on maritime-specific training in fields such as seamanship, navigation, and robotics, the National Guard STARBASE focuses on hands-on STEM education for students at schools eligible for Title I services. Title I services include federal K-12 education programs that provide extra academic support and funding, specifically targeted assistance programs and schoolwide programs, to help children in high-poverty schools meet state standards. Investing in these programs is critical, as they foster a sense of purpose and civic duty to our country.

The House version of the FY27 NDAA meets the funding targets backed by With Honor Action, with $426.9M allocated to JROTC, $10M to the Naval Sea Cadets Corps, and $53M to National Guard STARBASE programs. Together, these investments total roughly $490 million directed toward the programs preparing America’s next generation of civic and military leaders.

Service Member Health, Well-Being, and Military Transition

With Honor Action is proud to support legislation that improves the lives of our service members and their families. Multiple provisions in the House-passed NDAA seek to enhance our military’s quality of life, from designating a senior official to oversee the military-to-civilian transition to studying the effects of blast overpressure on our warfighters. These provisions centralize oversight and streamline collaboration between agencies and departments, ensuring that service members obtain the essential tools they need to succeed. 

One area where With Honor Action has been particularly engaged is in improving mental health resources for active-duty service members. The Brandon Act, originally passed in the FY22 NDAA, allowed service members to seek confidential referrals for mental health evaluations and, if necessary, to seek referrals outside their chain of command. While this was a positive step toward improving access to mental health resources for our service members, we have continued to push for greater awareness of these resources and better training for commanders to understand their soldiers’ needs. That is why With Honor Action supports the inclusion of the Brandon Act Training and Protocol Act, originally introduced by For Country Caucus member Rep. Gil Cisneros (D-CA) in the House-passed NDAA. It ensures that leaders and service members alike are educated on available resources and how to access them. 

Addressing a risk unique to military aviators, With Honor Action supported the WINGS Act, originally introduced by For Country Caucus members Reps. Jen Kiggans (R-VA) and Maggie Goodlander (D-NH). This legislation requires the Department of Defense to conduct a long-term study on how flying fighter jets and other high-performance aircraft affects pilots’ brains and mental health over time. By tracking things like traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and neurological disease, the act will study the long-term cognitive and psychological impacts of sustained military aviation.

With Honor Action is also encouraged to see progress on a decades-long effort to reform the Duty Status system under which our reservists are called to serve. The standalone legislation, originally introduced by For Country Caucus members Reps. Gil Cisneros (D-CA) and Jack Bergman (R-MI) fix the convoluted duty status system, which currently includes nearly 30 statuses, and replace it with a simple system of four activation statuses. This year’s House-passed NDAA includes report language requiring DoD, in consultation with the Department of Veterans Affairs, to evaluate the RAND study on Duty Status Reform required by the FY18 NDAA, and brief Congress on the feasibility and cost of implementing the reforms recommended by the report. 

Support for American Allies 

With Honor Action has consistently advocated for increased and sustained support for our global allies and partners, whether they are in an active warzone in Ukraine or deterring aggression in the Indo-Pacific. As the United States continues to navigate an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape, strengthening allies’ defense capabilities remains one of the clearest ways to protect our national security interests.

With Honor Action applauds the inclusion of direct report language for a US-Ukraine working group, which will strengthen ties between the US and Ukraine while providing a forum for the two parties to share their research and experience with unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The language instructs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report on the progress of each Department of Defense working group to deepen UAS and counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) collaboration, covering areas ranging from battlefield drones and long-range strike capabilities to electronic warfare and supply chain resilience. This collaboration ensures the U.S. military is constantly developing its capabilities for drone warfare.

As China becomes more ascendant in its defense capabilities, Taiwan plays an important role as a partner in East Asia. With Honor Action applauds the reauthorization of the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative, which focuses on joint training, medical support, and the co-development of uncrewed military systems.

Looking Ahead 

With Honor Action commends the House for passing its version of the FY27 NDAA, marking the 66th consecutive year the chamber has advanced this bipartisan legislation. The work, however, is not yet done. The Senate is still working through its defense authorization bill, and Congress must work as a whole to reconcile differences between the respective bills. Through the end of summer and into the fall, With Honor Action will be continuing our engagement with allies on the Hill and our coalition partners to ensure the passage of this critical legislation. 

With Honor Action Joins Organizations to Applaud Introduction of Duty Status Reform Legislation

Posted on by Abigail Trotter

With Honor Action’s VP of Government Affairs, Kaylan Swartz, joined the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS), along with the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS), Reserve Organization of America (ROA), and The American Legion to address the introduction of Duty Status Reform Act (H.R. 6976) (S.4801).

With Honor Action endorsed the Duty Status Reform Act earlier this year, sending letters to both the House and Senate detailing our priorities for the FY2027 NDAA.

“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 Action 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.”

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Commission Releases Report on U.S. Cyber Force Generation

Posted on by Abigail Trotter

On June 3, 2026, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) released the Full Report from their Commission on U.S. Cyber Force Generation.

The Commission, organized in partnership with the Cyber Solarium Commission 2.0 (CSC 2.0) project at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), worked for nearly ten months to examine the shortcomings in our ability to man, train, and equip for military cyber operations, and the foundation needed to deliver a twenty-first-century cyber fighting force. Their report highlights the core details, role and responsibilities, and necessary authorities a future Cyber Force would need to overcome the barriers to institutional change.

Commissioners include With Honor Co-Founder & CEO Rye Barcott, Former Commanding General, U.S. Army Cyber Command LTG(R) Ed Cardon as Co-Chair, Former Chief of Naval Operations, United States Navy, and Commander US. Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. TENTH Fleet, ADM(R) Mike Gilday, USN, Former Deputy Director, National Security Agency, Mr. George Barnes, and Former Program Manager, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Ms. Perri Adams.

Read the full report.

Learn more about the Commission on U.S. Cyber Force Generation.

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