With Honor Action Praises Advancement of 2022 National Defense Authorization Act Priorities

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CHARLOTTE, NC – With Honor Action is pleased to see twelve legislative priorities of the bipartisan veteran For Country Caucus that we work alongside advance through this week’s hearings for the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). These important provisions will improve our national security, expand civic education in our high schools, and provide life-saving support to our troops, veterans, and military dependents.

“In a time of such bitter polarization and dysfunction, it’s encouraging to see members from across party lines coming together to advance critical legislation for our national security, civic education, and veterans affairs,” said Rye Barcott, With Honor Action CEO and Co-Founder. “I’m especially pleased to see the inclusion of a plan to double the size of Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) in public schools across the country. This is a key piece of the Inspire to Serve Act that the late Senator John McCain initiated, and the founding co-chairs and vice chairs of the For Country Caucus introduced in the 116th Congress. Doubling our JROTC units across the nation is especially timely now as our public schools wrestle with massive educational gaps and challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Below are provisions of special significance:

1) Establish support programs for Gold Star family members of Special Operations Forces.

2) Establish a basic needs allowance for junior enlisted military families.

3) Initiate a plan to dramatically expand Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) across the nation.

4) Improve access to postpartum depression and anxiety screenings for service women and dependents.

5) Increase cooperation between the United States and Israel on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) research through the establishment of a grant program.

6) Provide incentive and special duty pays to National Guard and Reserve service members at the same rate as their active-duty counterparts.

7) Update the National Guard’s 1095 rule to improve mission readiness.

8) Establish a grant program to enable small- and medium-sized U.S. Artificial Intelligence companies to participate in international standardization efforts.

9) Call on the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a robust Department of Defense strategy for modernizing the digital ecosystem by establishing performance objectives and accompanying metrics for Artificial Intelligence and digital readiness.

10) Establish new occupational series and associated policies covering Federal Government positions in the fields of artificial intelligence, software development, software engineering, data science, and knowledge management.

11) Allow service members to anonymously report and seek mental health treatment.

12) Authorize the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) to allow those who withdrew prior to the “Widow’s Tax” repeal to re-enroll and catch up on missed premiums, thus ensuring a continuous lifetime annuity for their dependents.

With Honor Action will work vigorously to ensure these priorities make it to the final passage of the 2022 National Defense Authorization 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, Gen. 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.

With Honor Action Statement on Congressman Seth Moulton and Congressman Peter Meijer

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CHARLOTTE, NC – In ordinary times, one might conclude that the surprise visit to Kabul by two veterans who are now members of Congress, Seth Moulton and Peter Meijer, would be inappropriate. But these are anything but normal times. American leaders are on the verge of making one of the most consequential decisions of our lifetimes: whether we will honor our pledges to protect tens of thousands of Afghan allies who have put their lives on the line for our country or whether we will betray our allies and dishonor ourselves by leaving them stranded to the Taliban.

The choice is clear to many veterans who have been pushing the U.S. government for months to prepare an orderly, protective plan for our Afghan allies. As veterans, we were pleased when several senior leaders assured us that our Afghan allies would have safe refuge. But it is now increasingly obvious that not all Afghan allies will have safe refuge.

It is in that spirit and with growing frustration that veterans like Moulton and Meijer have been investigating conditions on the ground in Kabul and participating in efforts led by members of Congress to provide oversight of our military efforts. To go there on this surprise visit was indeed an act that violated norms. But given the extraordinary moment in which we find ourselves, it was also a trip that required courage as well as dedication. They deserve more respect and less criticism.

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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, Gen. 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.

With Honor Action Praises the Successful Bipartisan Approach in the Senate on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

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CHARLOTTE, NC – With Honor Action praises the bipartisan efforts behind the successful passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This critical legislation, which provides historic and much needed investments in America’s infrastructure, passed the Senate with a bipartisan majority of 69 to 30, with 50 Democrats and 19 Republicans voting in support of the bill. As the bill moves to the House of Representatives, With Honor Action hopes to see this bipartisan approach continue.

“The passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is proof that bipartisanship leads to progress. I am grateful for the work many Senators put into this important legislation and their commitment to working across the aisle,” says With Honor Action Co-Founder and CEO Rye Barcott. “Now we need to see the same willingness to compromise and work together continue in the House of Representatives.”

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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, Gen. 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.

With Honor Action Joins Other Veteran Service Organizations To Call on the White House To Do More for Afghan Allies

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CHARLOTTE, NC – With Honor Action joins a coalition of other veteran service organizations who are calling on the White House to do more for the Afghan allies who served alongside the U.S. military. With Honor Action, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Wounded Warrior Project, Veterans for American Ideals, and a number of other organizations signed a letter to the White House praising the initial arrival of 2,500 Special Immigrant Visa Afghans to Fort Lee and urged the evacuation of all 20,000 Afghans in the Special Immigrant Visa pipeline.

You can read the entire letter and the full list of organizations here.

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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, Gen. 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.

With Honor Action Praises Passage of ALLIES Act, Which Will Protect Afghan Interpreters, in the House of Representatives

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CHARLOTTE, NC – Yesterday, the House of Representatives voted 407 to 16 to pass the With Honor Action and For Country Caucus supported ALLIES Act of 2021. This Act, led by veteran bi-partisan Representatives Jason Crow and Adam Kinzinger, increases the number of Special Immigrant Visas by 8,000 and takes very important steps to streamline and improve the flawed SIV process. A full summary of its content can be found here.

“With Honor Action is pleased by this landslide bi-partisan vote to protect our Afghan allies and their families. We urge the Senate to swiftly pass the bill, and for the White House to start the evacuation plan immediately,” says With Honor Action Co-Founder and CEO Rye Barcott. “Tens of thousands of lives are on the line. Time is of the essence.”

With Honor Action also coordinated the following quotes by American national security leaders in advance of the vote to pass the ALLIES Act in the House:

“Thousands of our brave Afghan allies who served alongside U.S. military forces and in cooperative agreements and grants with U.S.-funded non-governmental organizations are at grave risk after putting their lives in danger for years. Co-sponsored by the bi-partisan veterans of the For Country Caucus, the ALLIES Act will help get these brave Afghans and their children to safety and streamline the whole process. It is our responsibility to stand by those who have stood by us. I urge Congress to pass it immediately,” said Dr. Robert Gates, 22nd U.S. Secretary of Defense and With Honor Action Advisory Board Member.

“I strongly encourage Congress to urgently pass the ALLIES Act introduced by the bipartisan veteran members of the For Country Caucus. This Act will help us protect the loyal Afghans who worked for years with the U.S. military and U.S.-funded non-governmental organizations operating under cooperative agreements and grants. Many of their lives — and in some cases the lives of their spouses and children — are now in imminent danger,” said retired Admiral Michael Mullen, 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and With Honor Action Advisory Board Member.

“Our Afghan allies who served courageously for years in harm’s way including those who guided U.S. military forces or worked with U.S.-funded non-governmental organizations have earned the right to be Americans. The ALLIES Act, which is co-sponsored by bi-partisan veterans of the For Country Caucus who served in Afghanistan, is essential to streamline the flawed visa process and get them to safety immediately. It is our duty to do so, and time is of the essence. I strongly encourage Congress to pass it before it is too late,” said retired Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster, 26th U.S. National Security Advisor.

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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, Gen. 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.

With Honor Action Releases Ads Thanking Reps. Mike Gallagher and Mikie Sherrill for Leading on Artificial Intelligence

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CHARLOTTE, NC – With Honor Action released ads thanking Reps. Mike Gallagher (WI-08) and Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) for leading the fight to ensure the U.S. remains a global leader in artificial intelligence. Reps. Gallagher and Sherrill are co-sponsors of the bipartisan Endless Frontier Act, which invests in research on artificial intelligence and quantum computing while creating new jobs in manufacturing.

Watch the Gallagher ad on Youtube

Watch the Sherrill ad on Youtube

“Congressman Gallagher and Congresswoman Sherrill are proof that bipartisan work can get done on the most critical national security issues facing the U.S.” says With Honor Co-Founder and CEO Rye Barcott. “The U.S. must remain a leader on artificial intelligence and the bipartisan Endless Frontier Act is an important step in bolstering AI research while creating more American jobs.”

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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, Gen. 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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