Washington, D.C. – Today, the House passed the Dustoff Crews of the Vietnam War Congressional Gold Medal Act to award a Congressional Gold Medal, one of our nation’s highest honors, to members of the Dustoff crews of the Vietnam War. This bipartisan legislation was led in the House by Rep. Derek Kilmer and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and passed in the Senate earlier this year after being led by Sen. John Cornyn and Sen. Elizabeth Warren. With Honor Action celebrates the passage of this legislation in both chambers with the support of Members from the For Country Caucus. 

“Awarding the brave men and women who heroically served in the Dustoff crews during the Vietnam War with a Congressional Gold Medal is long overdue, and the least we can do to honor their service and sacrifice to our nation. I am thrilled to see that Congress took the necessary steps to make this recognition a reality,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor Action. “With Honor Action applauds House lawmakers for passing this critical legislation in an overwhelmingly bipartisan fashion, and urges the president to swiftly sign it into law.”

The Dustoff Crews of the Vietnam War Congressional Gold Medal Act was originally introduced in 2023, passed through the Senate in May of 2024, and, as a result of its passage in the House today, will now be sent to the President’s desk to be signed into law. With Honor Action has played an active and key role in the advocacy of this bill and looks forward to seeing these brave servicemembers finally recognized for their heroic service. Although it’s been 49 years since the end of the war, it’s never too late to honor these brave men for their service. 

Background

Due to the logistical complications posed by Vietnam’s terrain, the U.S. Army reconsidered a dangerous tactic used sparingly during the Korean War to evacuate wounded servicemembers: aeromedical evacuations. The U.S. Army Air-Ambulance units, referred to as the Dustoff crews, were in charge of these evacuations and consisted of four men: two pilots, a medic, and a crew chief. The skillful flying of these pilots, combined with the increased capacity of the Huey helicopters they flew in, led to the successful transportation of roughly 900,000 United States, Vietnamese, and allied troops. 

Unfortunately, this incredible feat came at a great price to the crewmembers. Due to the space required to transport and operate on patients, the Hueys were unable to carry weapons. Their only safety was red crosses on the nose and doors of the aircraft, a signal of peace that was often used instead as a target. As a result, one-third of the 1,400 Dustoff pilots were killed or wounded. Their motto, “So Others May Live” underscores the sacrifice of these heroic pilots who flew directly into combat unarmed to save their fellow soldiers.

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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 II.

Washington, D.C. – This week, Congress returned to session after the annual August recess, and kicked off what is expected to be a busy month with “China Week,” where the House voted on a series of bills aimed at countering the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its influence in America. During the week, House lawmakers voted on and passed 25 different pieces of legislation pertaining to this issue that will ultimately strengthen our national security. With Honor Action has played a key role in advocating for several pieces of legislation that made it to the House floor this week, and celebrates the passage of the following with overwhelming bipartisan support: 

• H.R. 8333 – The BIOSECURE Act, led by For Country Caucus Member Rep. Brad Wenstrup, would protect sensitive American information from the CCP by prohibiting federally funded medical providers and executive agencies from obtaining materials produced or provided by foreign biotechnology companies of concern.
  
• H.R. 8152 – The Remote Access Security Act, led by For Country Caucus Member Rep. Jeff Jackson, would take necessary steps to protect advanced American semiconductor chip information from the CCP. Despite current restrictions on the export of these chips, Chinese companies have been able to exploit a loophole in U.S. export control laws to access this technology remotely and use it to develop AI capabilities. This legislation would close that loophole and protect sensitive information.
• H.R. 7159 – The Pacific Partnership Act, supported by For Country Caucus Members Rep. Steve Womack and Rep. Don Bacon, would strengthen U.S. engagement in the Indo-Pacific, and ensure the U.S. has an enduring presence in this critical region. Specifically, it would augment our cooperation with the Indo-Pacific by codifying the 2022 Pacific Partnership Strategy with four-year updates, designates the Pacific Islands Forum with diplomatic status, and requires presidential reporting on implementation of these strategies. 
• H.R. 8361 – The Economic Espionage Prevention Act, led by For Country Caucus Member Rep. Rich McCormick, would bolster our national security by authorizing the Administration to impose sanctions on foreign persons or entities that knowingly engage in economic or industrial espionage. 
• H.R. 9456 – The Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act would take necessary steps to prevent adversarial nations, such as the CCP, from buying and owning U.S. agricultural land in sensitive areas. This is critical as the CCP continues to buy U.S. land close to military bases as a measure to obtain surveillance and intelligence on our armed forces. Specifically, this legislation would add the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investments in the U.S. (CFIUS), allowing the Department of Agriculture to better monitor transactions related to land, biotechnology, transportation, storage, and processing. 

With Honor Action also applauds the passage of the following legislation that passed with bipartisan support:

• H.R. 2864 – Countering CCP Drones Act
• H.R. 1103 – Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) Certification Act
• H.R. 7589 – Removing Our Unsecure Technologies to Ensure Reliability and Security (ROUTERS) Act
• H.R. 554 – Taiwan Conflict Deterrence Act
• H.R. 4741 – Securing Global Telecommunications Act
• H.Res. 1056 – Recognizing the importance of trilateral cooperation among the United States, Japan, and South Korea

“As China week comes to a close, With Honor Action celebrates the passage of several key pieces of legislation to curb the CCP’s influence in the United States,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor Action. “The U.S. has a responsibility to lead the free world in standing up to authoritarian governments, and we applaud the House lawmakers who came together this week to do just that.” 

As the Chinese Communist Party grows increasingly aggressive, pushing back against their authoritarian influence is critical to our national security as well as our allies’ national security. With Honor Action applauds House lawmakers for advancing these bills and strongly urges the Senate to pass them swiftly in a bipartisan manner.

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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 II.

Washington, D.C. – Thirteen Gold Star families of the servicemembers killed during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan were posthumously presented with the Congressional Gold Medal this morning in the United States Capitol Rotunda. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and sponsors of the legislation, Senator Steve Daines and Rep. Lisa McClain, presented the medals to the families of the fallen this morning in a solemn ceremony.

The fallen servicemembers, including eleven Marines, a Navy Corpsman, and an Army Soldier, were killed in a suicide bombing at the Abbey Gate outside Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport on August 26th, 2021. The attack also killed around 170 Afghan civilians.

“Three years ago, thirteen of our nation’s bravest men and women made the ultimate sacrifice while evacuating civilians from Kabul,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor Action. “While we can never bring them back, we can and must honor them for their sacrifice. With Honor Action extends our deepest gratitude to the fallen and their families, and applauds these servicemembers being honored with the Congressional Gold Medal today.”

The Afghanistan withdrawal will forever be remembered as one of the darkest times in our nation’s history. As our longest war came to a close, thirteen heroes were killed in a senseless act of violence as they worked to evacuate civilians from the area. We can never repay them for their sacrifice, and we can never bring them back, but honoring these servicemembers posthumously with the Congressional Gold Medal today helps make sure they will never be forgotten. 

Rest in Peace

• Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo
• Sgt. Nicole L. Gee
• Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover
• Cpl. Hunter Lopez
• Cpl. Daegan W. Page
• Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez
• Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza
• Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz
• Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum
• Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola
• Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui
• Petty Officer 3rd Class Maxton W. Soviak
• Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss

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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 II.

Washington, D.C. – With Honor Action fights polarization in Congress by helping to elect and support principled veterans. This cycle, 495 veterans have taken up the call to serve their country again by  running for Congress. This includes 213 post 9-11 veterans.

While this is a significant number of candidates, the absolute number represents a decline from last election cycle, where 744 ran for Congress, including 475 post 9-11 veterans.  That election cycle, 86 veterans won the general election and joined the 118th Congress, 80 in the House, and 6 in the Senate . With Honor Action has tracked the total number and success of veteran candidates since its founding in 2017, starting with the 2018 cycle. More information can be found in the chart below.

With Honor Action assesses that fewer veterans have run this election cycle for a number of reasons, which include rising costs to run for office, decline of public respect for serving in elected office, and a decline in the percentage of veterans in the U.S. population. Currently, there are 16 million Americans veterans as compared to 18 million in 2018.

With Honor’s political action committee’s have a rigorous endorsement process which starts with assessing a candidate’s viability and commitment to the With Honor pledge. This cycle, With Honor endorsed 8.2% of veterans who ran for Congress, the list can be found on the With Honor Fund website here. 

With Honor Action wishes former President Trump a full and fast recovery and condemns all forms of violence to achieve political goals. Our country is in a dangerous place. We urgently need public leaders to do more work across political divides, turn the temperature down on vitriolic, hateful rhetoric, and speak the truth.

Washington, DC – The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is the annual legislative vehicle that authorizes the policies, programs, and spending for the Department of Defense, and it is the only piece of legislation to consistently pass on a bipartisan basis. With Honor Action is excited to see this trend continue as House lawmakers have passed their version of the crucial legislation. Currently, the Senate Armed Services Committee is marking up its version of the NDAA, which is expected to be referred to the Senate floor by the end of the week. Once the Senate passes its version of the NDAA, the two chambers will convene in conference to remedy any differences to produce a final version. While there is still a lengthy road ahead, the bipartisan passage of the House version today is an important next step in getting this legislation across the finish line. 

“The National Defense Authorization Act is a model for how Congress should function. After decades of its bipartisan passage, we’re glad to see both sides of the aisle coming together yet again to strengthen our national security,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor Action. “The annual defense bill has made it through the House, but it still has a way to go. With Honor Action hopes to see the below priorities included in the final version of the bill.”

The House Armed Services Committee’s Quality of Life Panel, led by For Country Caucus Members Rep. Don Bacon and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, produced a report geared at improving the quality of life for service members and their families, ultimately serving as the base text for the FY25 NDAA. Some notable ideas proposed in the report include a significant pay increase for junior enlisted troops and a plan to address dilapidated housing conditions on military installations worldwide. With Honor Action proudly endorses all of the recommendations outlined in the report, along with the following legislative provisions that were included in the House NDAA:

• Establishment of Multilateral Artificial Intelligence Group, proposed by For Country Caucus Member Rep. Nick LaLota, would establish a working group to develop and coordinate an artificial intelligence (AI) initiative within the Five Eyes Alliance and other international partners, ensuring that AI’s development is defined by the freedom and ideals of the US and our closest allies.
• Prohibitions Relating to Covered Distributed Ledger Technology and Blockchain Equipment of Services, also known as the CLARITY Act, led by For Country Caucus Members Rep. Zach Nunn, Rep. Don Davis, and Rep. Brad Wenstrup would combat adversarial cyber attacks, protect our intellectual property, and strengthen our overall national security by prohibiting the federal government from using blockchain technology developed by an adversarial nation.  
• Biotechnology Roadmap – To ensure our Department of Defense remains at the forefront of advancing biotechnology, For Country Caucus Member Rep. Moulton led this provision to require the Secretary of Defense to develop a biotechnology roadmap to guide ongoing efforts as they relate to its development.
  
• The Maintaining our Obligations to Moms Who Serve (MOMS) Act, led by For Country Caucus Members Rep. Houlahan & Rep. Bacon, would assess the feasibility and impact of using evidence-based perinatal mental health programs for both pregnant and postpartum servicemembers in an effort to address poor mental health rates for military moms.
• Blast Pressure Safety and Brain Health – Supported by seven For Country Caucus Members, this provision would require the military to track service members’ exposure to blasts in training and regularly provide neurocognitive tests to troops who have been exposed to such blasts.
• Basic Needs Allowance: Exclusion of Basic Allowance for Housing, led by For Country Caucus Member Rep. Jimmy Panetta, would ensure military families have the proper resources they need to comfortably live by excluding Basic Housing Allowance (BAH) from the calculation of gross household income of an eligible member of the Armed Forces when determining whether they also qualify for the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA).
• Independent Evaluation Regarding Potential Establishment of United States Cyber Force – Led by For Country Caucus Members Reps. Morgan Luttrell & Chrissy Houlahan, this provision will direct the National Academy of Sciences to evaluate the efficacy, logistics, and proposed processes in establishing a separate, uniformed Cyber Force.

With Honor Action applauds the passage of the House NDAA and urges lawmakers in Congress to continue working together to produce an NDAA that strengthens national security, delivers long-overdue promises to servicemembers and their families, and fosters the spirit of bipartisan leadership.

Read a full list of our supported NDAA floor amendments HERE. 

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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 II.

June 7, 2024

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

To date, members of the For Country Caucus have been successful in driving bipartisan, common-sense solutions for our nation, and have targeted the annual defense bill as the vehicle to contain these efforts. As the House of Representatives and the Rules Committee begin consideration of floor amendments to the FY25 NDAA, we ask that you consider cosponsoring With Honor Action’s top 6 priorities, many of which are led by members of the For Country Caucus, listed here.

• Amndt #542 – Establishes the United States Foundation for International Conservation and requires eligible projects to be cost-matched at a ratio of two (2) dollars from private and other sources to every one (1) dollar of U.S. Government funding (Identical to H.R. 6727 – U.S. Foundation for International Conservation Act of 2023); Representatives John James, Jason Crow, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Zach Nunn, Salud Carbajal, Chris Deluzio, Jimmy Panetta, and Rich McCormick
• Amndt #1271 – Requires Secretary of Defense to establish a Multilateral Artificial Intelligence Working Group tasked with developing and coordinating an artificial intelligence initiative among the allies and partners of the United States; Representative Nick LaLota
• Amndt #1028 – Extension & modification to Ukraine Lend-Lease authority; Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick, Jared Golden, & Seth Moulton
• Amndt #465 – Creates a Cyber Academy Commission that will examine the possibility of the creation of a government-funded university that will educate the next generation of leaders in the defense and intelligence industries in technology, cybersecurity, cyber defense, computer science, computer engineering, information technology, artificial intelligence, and related fields; Representative Chrissy Houlahan
• Amndt #1012 – Prohibitions resting to covered distributed ledger technology and blockchain equipment or services; Representatives Zach Nunn, Don Davis, and Brad Wenstrup (similar to H.R. 6307 – CLARITY Act of 2023)
• Amndt #454 – Prohibition on contracting with certain biotechnology providers; Representatives Brad Wenstrup, Seth Moulton, and Don Davis (similar to H.R. 8333 – BIOSECURE Act as reported by the Oversight Committee)

With Honor Action also supports the following 59 provisions, which are led on a bipartisan basis by members of the For Country Caucus and friends of the Caucus:

DEFENSE MODERNIZATION

• #59 – Defense industrial base advanced capabilities pilot program (similar to H.R. 3147, also known as Investing in American Defense Technology Act); Rep. Houlahan
• #101 – Air Force rapid response language pilot program; Rep. Bacon
• #139 – Improvements to commercialization and technical and business assistance for the SBIR program and STTR program (similar to H.R. 3056 – Research Advancing to Market Production for Innovators Act); Reps. Houlahan & Fitzpatrick (PA)
• #160 – Funding for pilot program on improving Marine Corps supply chain and logistics through the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning software solutions; Rep. Davis
• #227 – Pilot program to test standalone electro-digital technology to improve efficiencies in supply-chain management, medical readiness, and medical processes; Rep. Houlahan
• #296 – Department of Defense use of large language models; Rep. Luttrell
• #395 – National Digital Reserve Corps (similar to H.R. 162 – National Digital Reserve Corps Act); Reps. Gonzales & Davis
• #629 – Operation Cattle Drive; Reps. Bergman, Carbajal, & McCormick
• #1103 – Budget recommendations for multiyear procurement of priority items; Rep. James
• #1241 – Modernization of Information Technology Systems and Applications of the Bureau of Industry and Security to improve the capabilities of export controls; Rep. Crow
• SUPPORT FOR KEY DEMOCRATIC ALLIES
  #99 – Certain restrictions related to aircraft in Iran; Rep. Pfluger
• #128 – Modification of requirements for transfers of United States defense articles and services among the Baltic states; Reps. Houlahan, & Panetta
• #240 – Key partners for Middle East regional integration military subject matter expert exchange program; Reps. Panetta & Bacon
• #419 – FORTRESS Act; Rep. Moulton
• #509 – Report on the military and economic security of Central Asia; Rep. Panetta
• #717 – Independent study on interagency efforts to counter Gray Zone operations of Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea; Rep. Pfluger
• #723 – Addendum to the Department of State and USAID Joint Strategic Plan FY 2022-2026; Rep. Pfluger
• #824 – Report on the use of major non-NATO ally status for Kenya; Rep. James
• #839 – Extension of Global Engagement Center; Rep. Crow
• #936 – Establishment of a War Reserve Stock program for Taiwan; Rep. Panetta
• #1013 – Enhancing weapons research with the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, and Japan; Rep. Moulton
• #1037 – National Gray Zone Director; Rep. Pfluger
• #1038 – Strategic partnership on defense industrial priorities between the United States and Israel; Rep. Nunn
• #1055 – Report on potential strategic partnership between the Defense Innovation Unit and the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense; Rep. Nunn
• #1075 – Report relating to the provision of certain information in connection with the Russian invasion of Ukraine and resulting conflict; Rep. Sherrill
• #1102 – Comprehensive strategy to counter Gray Zone activities and other hybrid warfare; Rep. Pfluger

VETERANS AFFAIRS AND MILITARY QUALITY OF LIFE

• #35 – National Academies study on prevalence and mortality of cancer among individuals who served as active duty crew in the Armed Forces (similar to H.R. 4886 – ACES Act); Rep. Pfluger
• #103 – Retroactive effective date of promotions of senior officers of Armed Forces that were delayed as a result of suspension of Senate confirmation (similar to H.R. 6736 – Military Personnel Confirmation Restoration Act); Rep. Bacon
• #105 – Provision by Department of Veterans Affairs health care providers of recommendations and opinions regarding veteran participation in state marijuana programs (similar to H.R. 2431 – Veterans Equal Access Act); Rep. Mast
• #231 – Pilot program on pre-programming of suicide prevention resources into smart devices issued to members of the Armed Services (similar to H.R. 3009 – Military Suicide Prevention in the 21st Century Act); Rep. Fitzpatrick (PA)
• #393 – Family Separation Allowance amount; Reps. Gonzales, Moulton, & Bacon
• #507 – Servicemembers Civil Relief Act: Automatic extension of residential lease during deployment by lessee; Rep. Sherrill
• #511 – Contracting goal for the AbilityOne program; Reps. Amodei & Panetta
• #582 – Implementation report on the Quality of Life Panel’s recommendations; Rep. Gonzales
• #657 – Credit for Certain Members of the Armed Forces who Served in Female Cultural Support Teams (similar to H.R. 1753 – Jax Act); Rep. Issa (CA)
• #670 – Additional duty of the military pharmaceutical and medical device vulnerability working group; Rep. Houlahan & Kiggans (VA)
• #695 – Expansion of employment flexibility for spouses of members of the Armed Services to spouses of members of the Foreign Service (similar to H.R. 6462 – Resilient Employment and Authorization Determination to Increase the National Employment of Serving Spouses (READINESS) Act); Rep. Houlahan
• #736 – Training and internships for transitioning members through institutions of higher education (similar to H.R. 7097 – College Opportunities for Servicemembers Act); Reps. Sherrill & Kiggans (VA)
• #799 – Opt-out sharing of information on members retiring or separating from the Armed Forces with community-based organizations and related entities; Rep. Golden
• #815 – Reassignment for certain members of the Armed Forces on the basis of the residence of a dependent child (similar to H.R. 5100 – Military Family’s Ability to Move In Line with Your (FAMILY) Dependents Act); Rep. Crow
• #820 – Briefing on Army organizational clothing and equipment used in cold and extreme cold weather environments; Reps. Amodei & Kiggans (VA)
• #832 – Pilot program on collecting and analyzing data regarding certain veteran suicides (similar to H.R. 6330 – Veterans’ Sentinel Act); Rep. Crow
• #869 – Special operations brain health and trauma program (Sec. 5 of H.R. 8025 – Blast Overpressure Safety Act); Reps. Khanna, Stefanik, Gonzales, and Crow
• #871 – Annual Training on the Prevention of Sexual Abuse for Students in the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (similar to H.R. 2711 – Shielding America’s Youth From Exploitation Act); Reps. Davis and Moulton
• #883 – Establishment of the National Intrepid Center of Excellence as a program of record (Sec. 6 of H.R. 8025 – Blast Overpressure Safety Act); Reps. Khanna, Stefanik, Gonzales, and Crow
• #904 – Report on efforts to coordinate with allies and partners (Sec. 2(d)(5) of H.R. 8025 – Blast Overpressure Safety Act); Reps. Khanna, Stefanik, Gonzales, and Crow
• #980 – Addressing mental health issues in the Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense and the Solid Start Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (similar to H.R. 3722 – Daniel J. Harvey, Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act); Reps. Nunn, Miller-Meeks, Davis, & Kiggans (VA)
• #1172 – Ensures that podiatrists are assigned to the Medical Corps of each military department; Rep. Wenstrup

NATIONAL SECURITY

• #155 – Reports on critical mineral and rare earth element resources and strategy on mining, refining, separation, and processing technologies (similar to H.R. 7662 – Critical Minerals Security Act of 2024); Reps. Houlahan & Waltz
• #237 – Critical infrastructure compatibility tabletop exercise; Rep. Panetta
• #239 – Authority to place certain retired members of the armed forces in the ready reserve; pay; Reps. Wenstrup & Panetta
• #243 – Requirement to procure domestically produced generic drugs; Rep. Wenstrup
• #251 – Inclusion of special operations forces in planning and strategy relating to the Arctic Region; Rep. Panetta
• #272 – Tri-service arctic maritime strategy; Rep. Amodei
• #503 – Prohibition on certain exports (similar to H.R. 293 – Banning Oil Exports to Foreign Adversaries Act); Reps. Houlahan & Fitzpatrick (PA)
• #711 – Public database on malicious foreign actors; Rep. Sherrill
• #1095 – Port infrastructure development program application process; Rep. Carbajal
• #1171 – Federal Cybersecurity Workforce Expansion (similar to H.R. 6524 – Federal Cybersecurity Workforce Expansion Act); Rep. Houlahan

NATIONAL SERVICE

• #374 – Establishment of interagency council on service (similar to H.R. 8479, also known as Unity Through Service Act); Reps. Houlahan, Waltz, Panetta, & Bergman

Washington, DC – Last night, the Senate passed a major, three-pronged defense supplemental bill designed to support our democratic allies and protect American interests abroad. A fourth pillar includes multiple pieces of critical legislation that address data privacy issues with TikTok, the ongoing fentanyl crisis, and the imposition of further sanctions on our adversaries. With Honor Action especially commends our bipartisan allies in the Senate for voting to pass this legislative package, to include Senator Joni Ernst, Senator Mark Kelly, Senator Gary Peters, Senator Jack Reed, Senator Roger Wicker, and Senator Todd Young.

“This is the right thing to do. Our allies around the world are in dire need of our support, and we thank the Senate for stepping up and enacting a plan that will provide lasting global security,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor Action. “This bill will ensure that our friends around the world stand a chance against the aggression of Russia and China, Iran, and other actors who seek to topple the free world.”

This legislation is now headed to the President’s desk to be signed into law. As conflicts around the world continue to rage, our allies look to us for leadership. This bill proves to the world that we are still the leader of global security, and shows our adversaries that we will not back down in the defense of freedom.

Some key points of each pillar can be read below:

Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024

• Supplies weapons and monetary aid to Ukraine in their fight against the unprovoked Russian invasion.
• Acquires advanced weapons systems.
• Supports U.S. defense initiatives in the region.
• Institutes a loan repayment system between Ukraine and the United States, ensuring that Ukraine pays us back after the war.

Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024

• Strengthens deterrence efforts around Taiwan.
• Invests in submarines, dry dock construction, and artillery and ammunition production for Taiwan.
• Supports US operations in the region and improves military cooperation between us and partner countries.

Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024

• Replenishes defensive weapons systems, such as the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and others.
• Procures defensive weapons and munitions.
• Backs US military operations responding to Iranian-backed terror.

21st Century Peace through Strength Act

• Protection of American data from malign actors, particularly through apps like TikTok, by requiring foreign adversaries to divest from ownership of said technology or be banned in U.S. markets (Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act)
• A reauthorization and strengthening of the 2018 Sanctioning the Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act
• Comprehensive legislation stemming the flow of fentanyl into the United States through sanctions and anti-money laundering actions designed to combat international opioid traffickers and disrupt supply chains (Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act)
• Authorization for the President to seize Russian sovereign assets frozen in the United States to be transferred to Ukraine for reconstruction purposes (Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity (REPO) for Ukrainians Act)
• The establishment of heavy sanctions on ports, refineries, and other parties that intake and process petroleum originating from Iran (Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum (SHIP) Act)
• Expands and enforces additional sanctions on Iran and its militant proxies, including Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade, and the Lion’s Den (Hamas International Financing Prevention Act)

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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 II.

Washington, DC – With Honor Action thanks Senator Chris Coons and Senator Todd Young for introducing the Building Civic Bridges Act; companion legislation is being led by Rep. Derek Kilmer and Rep. Andy Barr in the House of Representatives.

Civic bridgebuilding can be defined as finding ways to bridge the political divide and support efforts to promote civil discourse. The bill would establish an Office of Civic Bridgebuilding within AmeriCorps to support these efforts across the country, train members in these programs, and support research on effective strategies to bridge the divides we are currently experiencing in American society. The new office would fund nonprofits, public institutions, schools, religious groups, and other organizations working to heal toxic polarization in the United States through civic bridgebuilding and community reconciliation.

Since With Honor Action’s founding, national service and civic education have been at the forefront of our efforts to increase civility in our communities and politics, and despite this period of historic partisan rancor, bills like the Building Civic Bridges Act would be a step in healing our divisions. 

“With Honor Action thanks Senator Coons and Senator Young for introducing the Building Civic Bridges Act,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor Action. “We believe our country can break through polarization and be reunited through shared experiences like national service. We will continue to work to decrease partisanship in Congress and seek more avenues for Americans to reconnect, rebuild, and restore a national sense of civic engagement.”

In previous years, With Honor Action has been at the forefront of the fight to expand service opportunities for Americans and to restore a national sense of civility. In 2021, With Honor Action successfully advocated for a nearly $1 billion expansion of AmeriCorps, which increased living stipends for over 250,000 participants, and worked with the For Country Caucus to introduce the Inspire to Serve Act, legislation modeled on the recommendations of the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service. 

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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.

Washington, DC – With Honor Action applauds the House of Representatives for passing critical national security legislation that supports our allies and addresses our most dangerous challenges across the globe. This three-pronged legislation advances American national security by directly responding to the belligerence of Russia, China, and Iran without putting a single American service member in harm’s way. 

We are also pleased to see some of With Honor Action’s major bipartisan priorities included in the fourth pillar of this legislation that addresses some of the most pressing issues in our foreign policy. We applaud the passage of “divest-or-ban” TikTok legislation and the Strengthening Tools to Counter the Use of Human Shields Act led by For Country Caucus member Representative Mike Gallagher, the Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act, the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity (REPO) for Ukrainians Act, and the Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum (SHIP) Act.

“Our allies can’t afford to wait any longer. As these conflicts rage, lawmakers should consider how history will remember this moment. Will the United States be the shining beacon of freedom that it has been in the past, or will we let partisan politics stop us from doing the right thing?” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor Action. “Our position is clear: With Honor Action wholeheartedly supports this legislation which will provide for our own national defense without deploying a single American soldier, and make good on the commitments we’ve made to our allies abroad.”

Some key points from each bill below:

Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024

• Supplies weapons and monetary aid to Ukraine in their fight against the unprovoked Russian invasion.
• Acquires advanced weapons systems.
• Supports U.S. defense initiatives in the region.
• Institutes a loan repayment system between Ukraine and the United States, ensuring that Ukraine pays us back after the war.

Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024

• Strengthens deterrence efforts around Taiwan.
• Invests in submarines, dry dock construction, and artillery and ammunition production for Taiwan and other key partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Supports US operations in the region and improves military cooperation between us and partner countries.

Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024

• Replenishes defensive weapons systems, such as the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and others.
• Procures defensive weapons and munitions.
• Backs US military operations responding to Iranian-backed terror.

21st Century Peace through Strength Act

• Protection of American data from malign actors, particularly through apps like TikTok, by requiring foreign adversaries to divest from ownership of said technology or be banned in U.S. markets (Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act)
• A reauthorization and strengthening of the 2018 Sanctioning the Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act
• Comprehensive legislation stemming the flow of fentanyl into the United States through sanctions and anti-money laundering actions designed to combat international opioid traffickers and disrupt supply chains (Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act)
• Authorization for the President to seize Russian sovereign assets frozen in the United States to be transferred to Ukraine for reconstruction purposes (Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity (REPO) for Ukrainians Act)
• The establishment of heavy sanctions on ports, refineries, and other parties that intake and process petroleum originating from Iran (Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum (SHIP) Act)
• Expands and enforces additional sanctions on Iran and its militant proxies, including Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade, and the Lion’s Den (Hamas International Financing Prevention Act)

For Country Caucus Member and 2023 Recipient of With Honor Action’s Principles Before Politics Award Rep. Steve Womack delivered remarks on the supplemental legislation on the House floor.

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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 II.

Washington, DC – With Honor Action has endorsed the Daniel J. Harvey, Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act, led by For Country Caucus members Rep. Zach Nunn, Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks, and Rep. Don Davis, as well as Rep. Jen Kiggans and Rep. Seth Magaziner and Senator Sherrod Brown. There is a mental health crisis gripping the nation, and no one is more affected by this than our veterans. According to The Washington Post, 50,000 veterans used free emergency suicide prevention care in 2023. 

According to the VA’s Annual Suicide Prevention report, veteran suicide rates are at their highest within the first twelve months a servicemember separates from the military. This bill would establish a program to counsel servicemembers on challenges they might face during their transition to civilian life and support them through challenges that may affect their mental health. It would also ensure that servicemembers are aware of the resources and services available to them at their local Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facility.

“We need to do better as a country at taking care of our veterans,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor Action. “These brave men and women spent years protecting us, and now we must make sure they are protected from the invisible wounds of war. We urge Congress to pass this bipartisan legislation as soon as possible.”

This bill is dedicated to Daniel J. Harvey, Jr. and Adam Lambert, two brave Marines who served together in Afghanistan, but tragically lost their lives to suicide less than a year after leaving the military. Companion legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Sherrod Brown. 

Previously, With Honor Action has supported legislation that improves mental health resources for our servicemembers and veterans, including the Brandon Act, which made it easier for servicemembers to seek mental health resources confidentially, and the establishment of 9-8-8 as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

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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 II.

SUBJECT: Expressing Support for the Inclusion of Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies in the National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2024 

It has been over two years since the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Some might believe this marked the end of America’s involvement in Afghanistan, but for U.S. veterans this is not the case. Since the withdrawal, thousands of veterans along with non-veterans from across civil society have devoted countless hours and significant portions of their savings to support our wartime Afghan allies. The moral obligation our veterans feel to the Afghans who fought beside them did not end with the withdrawal, these veterans continue to stand with the 80,000 Afghans languishing in legal limbo in the United States as well as the over 140,000 applicants to the Special Immigrant Visa program, hiding for their lives in Taliban controlled Afghanistan. 

America’s veterans and civil society are steadfast in our support of Afghan allies and now it is time for Congress to act. Legislation providing adjustment of status for Afghans in the U.S. and support to the nearly 140,000 Afghan allies still abroad is vital, and we cannot continue to miss opportunities to include critical provisions in the few legislative vehicles available. As Congress considers the defense supplemental, The American Legion, The Moral Compass Federation, No One Left Behind, The Veterans of Foreign Wars, and With Honor Action strongly support the swift passage of legislation that will adjust the status of our Afghan allies and assist those still in Afghanistan and third countries. We urge the House of Representatives to include and pass Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies in the House version of the Emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2024. 

Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies was a comprehensive and bipartisan section of the Senate’s version of the National Security Supplemental, it took key provisions from the bipartisan Afghan Adjustment Act and Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2023. Disappointingly, the section was stripped out for political expediency. This was a missed opportunity by the Senate, but thankfully the House has the chance to rectify. The provisions in Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies are incredibly popular across the political spectrum –national polling shows nearly 90% support amongst Americans for the policies this legislation would implement. Furthermore, this legislation is a national security imperative – standing with our Afghan allies will demonstrate American resolve, building confidence among America’s allies and deterring adversaries. 

Congress has failed over the last two years to pass necessary legislation. Partisan politicking has made passing bipartisan legislation increasingly difficult, but our allies and veterans dealing with moral injury can no longer be casualties of this inaction. Therefore, we strongly support the inclusion of Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies in the National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act. 

Sincerely,