Purpose

Our country has been ripped apart by hyper-partisanship. We are a country where political leaders can’t even talk to each other, compromise, or get anything done. Debilitating partisanship in Washington is near a record high, while veteran representation in Congress is near a historic low.

The Problem:

Public Trust in Congress

is Far Too Low

Americans know that extreme partisanship has corroded our national legislature. Congress no longer tackles our country’s biggest issues, and, as a result, public confidence in Congress has plummeted over the last fifty years.

Public Trust in Congress from 1975 – 2019

PERCENT OF AMERICANS WHO ARE HIGHLY CONFIDENT IN CONGRESS

CREDIT: GALLUP, CONFIDENCE IN INSTITUTIONS 1973-2019

Veteran Representation in Congress

is at a historic low.

Veterans represented more than half of Congress for much of the second half of the 20th Century. Although veterans have declined as a percent of the U.S population, the decline of veterans in Congress has been far more rapid. Veteran representation in Congress is near a historic low at less than 18%.

As the generation that served in WWI, WWII and Korea began retiring from public service, fewer and fewer military veterans took their places…

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

Percent of Representatives who served in the military DATA: BROOKINGS

Amid the decline in veteran participation in national politics, we have seen both sides of the political spectrum become more partisan.

Average ideological scores of Democrats and Republicans in Congress have become more polarized.

+1 is extremely conservative, -1 is extremely liberal

DW Nominate – Republican MeanDW Nominate – Democrat Mean

*CREDIT: VOTEVIEW

The Solution

Those who served and are willing to put country before party share strengths and experience from which we can all benefit.

Confidence in the Military Vs. Congress

PERCENT OF AMERICANS WHO ARE HIGHLY CONFIDENT IN CONGRESS vs. HIGHLY CONFIDENT IN THE MILITARY

Confidence in the MilitaryConfidence in Congress

CREDIT: GALLUP, CONFIDENCE IN INSTITUTIONS 1973-2019

Why do principled veterans make

effective legislators?

Cross-Partisanship

Research suggests that veterans are more likely than non-veteran politicians to work with their colleagues across the aisle. Veterans have scored higher than non-veterans on The Lugar Center’s Bipartisan Index, which measures how often a member crosses the aisle to sponsor or co-sponsor legislation.

National Security

Veterans often have a deeper appreciation of the gravity of national security decisions. For example, research from leading political scientists suggests that veterans in elected and appointed offices have historically had a significantly lower propensity to commit U.S. military forces to disputes overseas.