The Last Three Vietnam Veterans in Congress Return to the Wall Together Ahead of Memorial Day

Posted on by Abigail Trotter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Last Three Vietnam Veterans in Congress Return to the Wall Together Ahead of Memorial Day

Nearly 30 bipartisan veteran lawmakers gathered for annual act of remembrance

WASHINGTON, D.C. —May 21, 2026— On the morning of Thursday, May 21, nearly 30 bipartisan veteran Members of Congress gathered at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial—not for a press conference, but for a quiet act of remembrance.

Together, they cleaned the wall.

Leading the gathering were the only three Vietnam veterans still serving in Congress. Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN), who lost his left arm in a 1971 convoy ambush, will return to the memorial alongside Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA), who was wounded in combat with the Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade, and Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI), a retired Marine Corps lieutenant general who flew CH-46 helicopters in Vietnam. He has spent decades returning to the wall to honor those who did not come home.

For Baird, the wall reflects the war he survived. It includes the names of soldiers who fought in the same deadly convoy operations along QL19—including Specialist Four Larry Dahl, a Medal of Honor recipient killed in a 1971 ambush on that same road.

More than fifty years after their service, the three stood together again at the wall—not as young soldiers, but as some of the last living links between that war and the nation that sent them.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial—the most-visited site on the National Mall—bears the names of more than 58,000 Americans who were killed or remain missing in action.
For many of the Members participating, the names etched into the black granite are not abstract. They are friends. Brothers and sisters in arms. For the eighth consecutive year, the bipartisan For Country Caucus, alongside With Honor, has brought these veterans in Congress together to honor the more than 58,000 Americans who gave their lives in Vietnam—ensuring their memory is carried forward not only in stone, but in continued service to the nation.

“More than fifty years after Vietnam, the courage it took to serve, and the bonds it forged, still transcend today’s political divisions,” said Rye Barcott, Marine Corps veteran and Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor. “Courage is a decision to advance the common good despite personal risk. The veterans on this wall made that decision. In a divided time, this simple act of cleaning the wall is a reminder that America is still capable of making that decision too.”

“This wall is sacred ground,” said Representatives Jake Ellzey (R-TX) and Don Davis (D-NC), Co-Chairs of the For Country Caucus. “The names on it belong to Americans who answered the call without asking who stood with them politically. Coming together as veterans to honor them is how we keep faith with that same standard.”

Now an established tradition, the annual cleaning of the wall has become a quiet tradition for the For Country Caucus—one that reflects its core commitment: to put service and country above party.

In honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary, Jen Condon, Executive Vice President of America250, the official nonprofit partner of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, joined this year’s event.

With Honor Action Joins 34 Veterans Organizations and Bipartisan Members of Congress in Push to Pass Written Informed Consent Act

Posted on by Abigail Trotter

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian Le, le@withhonor.org

With Honor Action Joins 34 Veterans Organizations and Bipartisan Members of Congress in Push to Pass Written Informed Consent Act

The bipartisan bill would require written consent before the VA prescribes medications carrying FDA suicide-risk warnings.

Washington, D.C. — April 28, 2026 — With Honor Action, alongside For Country Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Don Davis (D-NC), caucus member Rep. Tom Barrett (R-MI), Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), the Grunt Style Foundation, and 33 other veterans organizations today urged Congress to pass the Written Informed Consent Act (H.R. 4837 / S. 3314), bipartisan legislation that would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to obtain written informed consent before prescribing veterans medications that carry FDA warnings related to suicide risk.

Under current VA practice, written informed consent, the process by which patients are formally educated about the risks and benefits of their treatment, applies only to long-term opioid prescriptions. The Written Informed Consent Act would extend that requirement to other high-risk medications, including stimulants, narcotics, and antipsychotics.

“With Honor Action stands behind this bill because informed veterans are better-positioned to manage their own health and advocate for themselves within the VA system,” said Scott Cooper, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for With Honor Action. “Expanding written informed consent to high-risk medications is a commonsense step that protects patients and builds trust between veterans and their providers.”

“It’s at the core of this bill, it’s about something that is simple, but essential. It’s about ensuring veterans and their families are able to make informed decisions about their healthcare,” said Rep. Don Davis, Co-Chair of the For Country Caucus.

“Veterans deserve to be fully informed about the serious risks of the medications they are prescribed,” said Tim Jensen, President of The Grunt Style Foundation. “Written informed consent empowers veterans, improves safety, and strengthens — rather than discourages — access to mental health care. This is a straightforward, bipartisan solution that can help prevent unnecessary tragedies.”

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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.

For Country Caucus Marks Seven Years, 200+ Bipartisan Laws Passed to Strengthen National Security, Increase National Service, and Support Veterans and Military Families

Posted on by Abigail Trotter

For Immediate Release

Contact: Susan Forbes, forbes@withhonor.org

For Country Caucus Marks Seven Years, 200+ Bipartisan Laws Passed to Strengthen National Security, Increase National Service, and Support Veterans and Military Families

Bipartisan caucus of military veteran lawmakers celebrates record of results in a polarized Congress

 

Washington, D.C. — March 18, 2026 — The bipartisan For Country Caucus today proudly marks seven years, celebrating a record of more than 200 bipartisan laws passed by its members. These laws have strengthened national security, expanded national service and civic education, supported veterans, and improved the lives of service members and their military families. 

Founded in 2019, the For Country Caucus is a bipartisan group of veteran lawmakers united by their commitment to advancing principled leadership and bipartisan solutions in Congress. Today, the caucus proudly includes nearly 40 Republican and Democratic members who have served in uniform and continue their service through legislative leadership on national security and support for the military community. 

“The For Country Caucus was founded on the idea that those who have served our nation in uniform should work together to serve it in Congress,” said Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX) and Rep. Don Davis (D-NC), Co-Chairs of the For Country Caucus. “Seven years later, we are proud of the bipartisan progress our members have made—and committed to continuing that work on behalf of our troops, veterans, and national security.”

Among the Caucus’s and its members’ achievements are:

  • Expansion of national service programs, including Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, AmeriCorps, and the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps
  • Designation of “988” as the nationwide Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and the passage and sustainment of the Brandon Act to improve the ability of active duty military personnel to receive mental health assistance
  • Leadership of the Military Quality of Life Panel, contributing to 14.5% pay raise for junior-enlisted service members to combat military food insecurity
  • Creation of an Afghan War Commission to examine lessons from America’s longest war
  • Passage of more than two dozen recommendations of the National Security Commission on AI and the Cyberspace Solarium Commission
  • Establishment of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology in 2021and subsequent sections under the National Biotechnology Initiative Act enacted in 2025
  • Support for democratic allies, including the NATO Support Act, Baltic Security Initiative codification, and measures to repurpose Russian assets for Ukraine’s recovery
  • Laws to counter malign CCP influence, including the BIOSECURE Act and TikTok divest-or-ban legislation restructuring U.S. ownership
  • Authorization of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial on the National Mall

“Seven years ago, a group of veteran lawmakers came together with a simple belief: service to country should come before politics,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor. “In a time when Americans are seeking courage in their elected officials, these members have shown that the oath they took to serve in uniform is translating into the kind of principled leadership our country needs in Congress.”

Read the 2019 Washington Post op-ed by the caucus’s original leadership, Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), and former Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) here.

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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.

Four Years After Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion, Ukraine’s Sovereignty – and Its Children – Remain Under Threat

Posted on by Abigail Trotter

For Immediate Release

Contact: Susan Forbes, forbes@withhonor.org

Four Years After Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion, Ukraine’s Sovereignty – and Its Children – Remain Under Threat

With Honor Action Renews Cross-Partisan Commitment to Ukraine and the Defense of Democratic Nations

Washington, D.C. — February 24, 2026 — Four years ago, Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, displacing an estimated 10 million people, resulting in the abduction and unlawful transfer of at least 35,000 Ukrainian children to areas under Russian control.

The fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion is both a moment of solemn remembrance and a renewed call to action. In addition to the widespread loss of life and displacement affecting millions of Ukrainians, the forced transfer and unlawful detention of children remains one of the most alarming and well-documented humanitarian consequences of the war.

“Four years into this war, the systemic abduction of Ukrainian children stands out as one of the most egregious documented human rights violations,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor. “This demands sustained, bipartisan leadership to ensure accountability, reinforce democratic sovereignty, and secure the safe return of every child taken.”

With Honor Action has endorsed bipartisan legislation led by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and co-sponsored by For Country Caucus member Rep. Don Bacon that would designate Russia as a State Sponsor of Terrorism until the Putin regime returns all abducted Ukrainian children, reinforcing congressional efforts to pair accountability with concrete consequences.

Last year, With Honor Action supported the bipartisan Abducted Ukrainian Children Recovery and Accountability Act, which was signed into law to strengthen U.S. efforts to identify, track, and secure the return of Ukrainian children unlawfully taken by the Russian government. The organization also supported authorization of $400 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, reinforcing Ukraine’s ability to defend its sovereignty, deter further aggression, and protect civilians in the face of continued Russian attacks.

As the conflict enters its fifth year, With Honor Action will continue working alongside bipartisan leaders to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty, uphold international law, and ensure that the unlawful abduction of children is met with sustained accountability and meaningful consequences.

 

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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 Becomes a Founding Sponsor of America250, Placing Service at the Center of the 250th

Posted on by Andy Smialowski

For Immediate Release

Contact: Susan Forbes, forbes@withhonor.org

With Honor Becomes a Founding Sponsor of America250, Placing Service at the Center of the 250th

Veteran-led organization joins national bipartisan effort to mark America’s 250th anniversary with a focus on service, citizenship, and shared responsibility.

Washington, D.C. — February 2, 2026 — With Honor, the cross-partisan organization dedicated to strengthening American democracy through principled veteran leadership, announced its role as a Founding Sponsor of America250, the national nonpartisan organization charged by Congress to lead celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

As a Founding Sponsor, With Honor will support America250’s efforts to bring Americans together around service, civic participation, and the enduring responsibilities of citizenship. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to elevating leadership values shaped by service—integrity, civility, and courage—and to encouraging meaningful engagement in communities across all 50 states and U.S. territories.

“America250 offers an opportunity not only to commemorate our nation’s founding, but to reflect on the ideals that continue to bind us together,” said Rosie Rios, Chair of America250. “With Honor’s sponsorship highlights the important role of veteran leadership in reinforcing civic responsibility and strengthening our democracy as we look toward the next chapter of our national story.” 

With Honor’s mission is to reduce polarization in the U.S. government by supporting principled veterans who bring a service-first ethos into public life. Veterans supported by With Honor take the With Honor Pledge, committing to place principles over partisanship and to lead with integrity, civility, and courage on behalf of all Americans.

“Veterans answer the call to serve in every stage of life,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor. “As a Founding Sponsor of America250, With Honor is helping ensure this milestone is not only a reflection on our past, but a bipartisan call forward—one that renews our shared commitment to civic service and the values veterans bring to public life across party lines.”

With Honor’s sponsorship aligns with its broader commitment to building a democracy that works for all Americans, one strengthened when leaders and citizens alike draw on a common ethic of service to meet the challenges of the present and the promise of the future. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, With Honor hosted the fifth annual reception for the U.S. Congressional Delegation at the USA House in partnership with America250 and Freedom 250.

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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.

About America250

America250’s mission is to celebrate and commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, marking America’s Semiquincentennial. We aim to inspire our fellow Americans to reflect on our past, strengthen our love of country, and renew our commitment to the ideals of democracy through programs that educate, engage, and unite us as a nation. America250 will foster shared experiences that spark imagination, showcase the rich tapestry of our American stories, inspire service in our communities, honor the enduring strength, and celebrate the resilience of the United States of America.

With Honor Action Submits Statement for the Record Supporting Veterans Legislation

Posted on by Brian Le

On Wednesday, January 28, 2026, With Honor Action submitted a Statement for the Record for a legislative hearing in support of H.R. 4105, Veterans Energy Transition (VET) Act of 2025 , and H.R. 2878, Daniel J. Harvey, Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act.

The Veterans Energy Transition (VET) Act of 2025

Led by For Country Caucus members Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA), a Navy veteran, and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), an Air Force veteran, this legislation would expand the pipeline of skilled workers by enabling veterans, separating service members, and military spouses to transition into critical roles across the energy and advanced manufacturing sectors.

Key Provisions:

  • Creates a Department of Labor grant program for energy and advanced manufacturing companies that hire eligible separating service members, veterans, and spouses.
  • Provides up to $10,000 per hire and $500,000 per employer annually for training, certification, relocation, and onboarding expenses.
  • Prioritizes veterans with service-connected disabilities or experiencing homelessness.
  • Authorizes $60 million for the program for each of Fiscal Years 2026 through 2031, with a 15% cap on administrative costs

The Daniel J. Harvey, Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act

Led by For Country Caucus member Rep. Zach Nunn, a currently serving Iowa Air National Guardsman, this legislation would ensure separating service members and veterans have clear, timely access to mental health resources by expanding information and hands-on assistance during and after their transition to civilian life.

Key Provisions:

  • Requires that counseling provided under the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Transition Assistance Program include mental health information, including:
    • Availability of mental health services through the DoD, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and non-profits.
    • Treatment options for PTSD, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), depression, and other chronic issues.
    • Suicide risk factors, signs, and prevention resources.
    • Support for substance abuse.
  • Expands the VA’s Solid Start program to include education on the mental health and counseling services available through the VA.

You can read the full statement here.

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