With Honor Action and America250 Celebrate One Month Until America’s 250th

Posted on by Abigail Trotter

Rosie Rios, Chair of America250 with Rye Barcott, With Honor Co-Founder & CEO

With Honor Action, along with America250, co-hosted the America250 VIP Reception at the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream, celebrating one month until America’s 250th birthday and the nation’s upcoming Semiquincentennial. The evening brought together leaders, veterans, and citizens to mark this milestone in the nation’s story.

Together with the Congressional America250 Caucus, the largest bipartisan, bicameral caucus in U.S. history and now including all 38 members of the For Country Caucus, alongside federal agencies and national partners, the event highlighted collaborative efforts already underway to orchestrate a celebration and commemoration from sea to shining sea.

The evening centered on the enduring ideals that define the American spirit. Guests who looked up at the ceiling noticed a set of values on the chandelier: respect, integrity, honesty, freedom, kindness, courage, service, equality, humility, fairness, responsibility, and patriotism. These were not randomly chosen. Gallup will publish the results of a national survey done in collaboration with America250 and With Honor on the values that unite us as Americans.

With Honor Action and America250 share a commitment to service, civic engagement, and shared purpose in shaping the next chapter of our nation’s story. This milestone builds on the momentum of the America250 Commission and Congressional America250 Caucus Reception on Capitol Hill this past March, which marked the 100-day countdown and kick-off of the Semiquincentennial, as the nation now counts down the final month toward July 4, 2026.

With Honor Action to Participate in Two Sessions at the 2026 AI+ Expo for National Competitiveness

Posted on by Abigail Trotter

For Immediate Release

Contact: Susan Forbes, forbes@withhonor.org

With Honor Action to Participate in Two Sessions at the 2026 AI+ Expo for National Competitiveness

Veteran Leaders to Spotlight Defense Industrial Base Reform, Veteran Leadership, and Tech Policy

Washington, D.C. – May 4, 2026 – With Honor Action will participate in two featured sessions, along with a fireside chat, at the AI+ Expo for National Competitiveness, organized by the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), in Washington, D.C. The Expo convenes top leaders from government, industry, and academia to address how the United States can ensure that emerging technologies serve as engines of economic growth, global leadership, and national security.

Thursday, May 7 | 11:30 AM | South Stage
Fireside: Rebuilding the Arsenal of Freedom

A conversation on restoring America’s defense industrial base to meet the demands of sustained great power competition. This session will examine how Congress is approaching procurement reform, production scaling, and supply chain resilience to ensure readiness at speed. It will also explore the role of public-private partnerships in rebuilding capacity across critical sectors.

Speakers:

  • Scott Cooper, SVP for Government Affairs, With Honor Action
  • Representative Don Bacon (R-NE), Founding Co-Chair, For Country Caucus
  • Moderator: Aaron Mehta, Editor-in-Chief, Breaking Defense

Key Themes:

  • The Proposed $1.5 Trillion Defense Budget
  • Defense Industrial Base Restoration
  • Procurement Reform and Production Scaling

Friday, May 8 | 9:30 AM | South Stage
Panel: How Technology is Unleashing Veteran Leadership Across America

A discussion on how technology is expanding the reach and impact of veteran leadership in communities, the workforce, and public service. This session will also examine how mission-driven networks are connecting veterans to opportunities in business, policy, and community leadership, with a focus on unlocking the full potential of veteran talent as a force multiplier for American renewal.

Speakers:

  • Rye Barcott, Co-Founder & CEO, With Honor
  • Mike Hutchings, CEO, Combined Arms
  • Moderator: LtGen Michael Groen (Ret.), Former Director, Joint Artificial Intelligence Center

Key Themes:

  • Technology as a Force Multiplier for Veteran Leadership
  • Mission-Driven Networks and Veteran Opportunity
  • Veteran Talent and American Renewal

Friday, May 8 | 11:00 AM | President’s Tech Brief | PTB Stage
With Honor Co-Founder & CEO Rye Barcott will join SCSP’s Ylli Bajraktari and Martijn Rasser for a live discussion on principled veteran leadership and how veteran leaders in Congress are driving tech policy.

Speakers:

  • Rye Barcott, Co-Founder & CEO, With Honor
  • Ylli Bajraktari, President & CEO, SCSP
  • Martijn Rasser, Vice President & Technology Leadership Directorate, SCSP

Key Themes:

  • Principled Veteran Leadership
  • Veteran-Led Tech Policy in Congress
  • Civic Trust and Democratic Accountability

More info and registration: https://expo.scsp.ai/

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About With Honor
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. 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 III. Learn more about our work at WithHonor.org.

With Honor Action Hosts Reception to Celebrate the Revitalization of America’s Maritime Industrial Base

Posted on by Abigail Trotter

Following the joint hearing “Revitalizing Shipbuilding and the Maritime Industrial Base” of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces and the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, With Honor Action hosted a reception to celebrate the revitalization of America’s maritime industrial base.

The U.S. shipbuilding industry has reached a critical turning point. Over the last decade, while China built over 6,700 commercial vessels, the United States produced just 37. It isn’t just a matter of trade; it is a national security priority. To maintain our defense capabilities and protect our economic interests, we must bridge the gap between education and the shipyard. Reinvigorating American shipbuilding is essential to ensuring our country remains competitive and secure on the global stage.

We’re grateful for the leadership of Rep. Trent Kelly (R-MS) and Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA), along with For Country Caucus members Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA) and Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA), who have elevated the importance of shipbuilding and the maritime industrial base.

Read With Honor Action’s statement from the hearing here.

With Honor Action and HillVets Host VSO Reception on Capitol Hill

Posted on by Abigail Trotter

With Honor Action and HillVets hosted a veteran service organization (VSO) reception on Capitol Hill to bridge the gap between grassroots advocacy and legislative power.

Alongside the nearly 40 veteran legislators of the For Country Caucus, With Honor Action is committed to amplifying the military veteran voice in the areas of national security, national service, and veterans affairs issues. Engaging directly with advocates and strengthening connections with organizations that serve those who served our country in uniform remains one of the cornerstones of our work.

We were joined by Chamber of Mothers, DAV (Disabled American Veterans), Hiring Our Heroes, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), the The National Guard Association of the United States, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), the Reserve Organization of America (ROA), Student Veterans of America, The American Legion, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) participating and fostering important collaborations.

With Honor Action Joins Allied Leaders at the 2026 London Defence Conference

Posted on by Abigail Trotter

With Honor Action joined heads of government, senior military leaders, policymakers, industry executives, and media at the 2026 London Defence Conference (LDC). This annual gathering of allied nations focuses on elevating the importance of defense and security in an increasingly complex global landscape.

Held at the historic Old War Office in Whitehall from April 10-11, LDC convenes allied leadership to confront the defining questions in defense and security. Our participation reflects the strong relationships that With Honor Action has cultivated across government and allied defense communities to advance our shared, bipartisan priorities with the veterans in the For Country Caucus.

This year’s conference centered on a single, urgent theme: warfighting readiness. Senior officials delivered frank assessments, warning that current capabilities may be insufficient for sustained large-scale conflict. They called for accelerated rearmament across the U.K. and NATO, reinforced by major procurement announcements. LDC 2026 marked a clear shift from strategic dialogue to coordinated action, as allied nations respond to a more volatile global environment.

On day two of LDC, With Honor Action sponsored a roundtable with the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB), placing American biotechnology policy at the center of an allied defense forum.

Conducted under the Chatham House Rule, the private session brought together senior representatives from allied governments, industry, and research institutions across three continents. Participants explored the growing role of biotechnology as a cornerstone of national security and economic strength.

This discussion builds on a landmark year for American biotechnology. In December 2025, Congress passed a significant package of biotechnology provisions informed by the NSCEB’s Final Report, including 17 With Honor Action-supported measures to strengthen biotechnology across the defense and intelligence communities. Those provisions addressed national security coordination, defense-focused development and manufacturing, supply chain resilience, and expanded allied collaboration.

The conference concluded with remarks from Al Carns, a Member of Parliament, Minister for the Armed Forces, Royal Marines veteran, and a partner within With Honor Action’s network. On the transatlantic alliance, he was unambiguous: the UK-US relationship “is not measured in commentary. It is measured in what we do and what we have done.”

Last October in Washington, Minister Carns joined us for the With Honor Action’s Strength in Democracy Forum and toasted the transatlantic alliance at our Gala, a relationship that reflects the kind of allied engagement LDC exists to deepen.

With Honor Action remains committed to advancing bipartisan veteran leadership and strengthening the alliances that underpin global security.

With Honor Action and America250 Kick Off Our Nation’s Semiquincentennial

Posted on by Abigail Trotter

L-R: Rye Barcott, With Honor Co-Founder & CEO, Lynn Forney Young, former president of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Cathy Gillespie, Commissioner of America250, Rosie Rios, Chair of America250, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, former Rep. Joe Crowley, Rep. Robert Aderholt, Rep. Nick LaLota, Jennifer Condon, Executive Vice President of America250.org, Inc.

With Honor Action was excited to host the America250 Commission and Congressional America250 Caucus Reception on Capitol Hill, a special evening marking the kick-off of our nation’s Semiquincentennial in 2026.

As a Founding Sponsor, With Honor Action is proud to support America250 in bringing Americans together—through service, civic engagement, and a renewed commitment to put country over politics. Together with the Congressional America250 Caucus–the largest bipartisan, bicameral caucus in U.S. history–alongside federal agencies and national partners, the event highlighted collaborative efforts already underway to orchestrate a celebration and commemoration from sea to shining sea.

With Honor Co-Founder & CEO Rye Barcott reminded attendees of the importance of youth service, noting that less than 2% of Americans serve in any capacity, whether in the military or through civilian service programs like AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps. With Honor Action and America250 share a commitment to making this year the largest year of service in American history, so that it remains a cornerstone of the American experience.

For Country Caucus Vice Chair Rep. Nick LaLota, along with members Rep. Pat Harrigan, Rep. Tom Barrett, Rep. Derek Tran, Rep. Jen Kiggans, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Rep. Matt Van Epps were also in attendance as members of the Congressional America250 Caucus.

 

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