With Honor Endorses Cyberspace Solarium Commission Recommendations for FY23 NDAA

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Charlotte, NC – With Honor Action praises the bipartisan and bicameral efforts to bolster America’s cyber and digital capabilities in the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) but encourages the Senate to debate and pass their version swiftly. The House of Representatives passed its version of the NDAA on July 14, and the Senate is expected to debate and pass its version of the defense bill following the midterm election. After the Senate’s passage of the bill, the chambers will form a conference committee to reconcile differences in the bills.

As currently drafted, both chambers’ versions of the yearly defense bill make critical investments to America’s digital and cyber capabilities, hardening America’s cyber defenses and investing in our cyber workforce, but they need to be realized into law. The most impactful cyber provisions are outgrowths of recommendations made by the bipartisan Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC), Co-Chaired by For Country Caucus Member Rep. Mike Gallagher and Senator Angus King of Maine. The CSC and its successor – the CSC 2.0 project, are vital to developing a consensus on a strategic approach to defending the United States in cyberspace against cyber attacks of significant consequences.

“We are grateful for the thoughtful, bipartisan work to strengthen America’s cyber defenses led by the Members of the For Country Caucus and informed by professionals like RADM (ret.) Mark Montgomery of the CSC 2.0 Project,” said Rye Barcott, CEO and Co-Founder of With Honor Action. “If enacted, these provisions will ensure that America remains the world’s preeminent cyber power.”

The following provisions in the House and Senate versions of the NDAA are of particular importance to With Honor. A full list of endorsed cyber provisions can be found here.

In the House Bill – H.R. 7900 – National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023:

  • Section 5867 – Department of Defense Cyber and Digital Service Academy: Establishes a Department of Defense (DOD) Cyber and Digital Service Academy as a scholarship-for-service program in partnership with select universities and colleges. Scholarship recipients would receive financial support for cyber and related fields of study before incurring a DOD service requirement.
  • Section 1112 – National Digital Reserve Corps: Establishes a program under the General Services Administration that will bridge the needs of the federal government with private sector capabilities by creating a reserve of cybersecurity and digital experts who can be detailed to executive agencies for at least 30 days per calendar year.
  • Section 1504 – Cyber Threat Information Collaboration Environment Program: The collaborative environment will be designed to remove barriers to cyber threat information sharing between the public and private sectors. The currently fragmented approach has led to slow responses to attacks on U.S. critical infrastructure, this new environment would allow the federal government to rapidly detect, identify, and disseminate cyber threats and vulnerabilities to private-sector experts.
  • Section 5133 – Federal Cybersecurity Workforce Expansion: Establishes a pilot program within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide cybersecurity training to eligible veterans and military spouses. DHS in coordination with the Veterans Administration will provide free training for eligible veterans, service members, and spouses thereby providing veterans and military families with new opportunities while developing America’s cyber talent.

In the Senate Bill – S.Amdt. 5499 to H.R. 7900 – National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023:

  • Title LV Sections 5501 to 5509 – Information Security and Cyber Diplomacy Act: In April, the State Department announced that it will create its first Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy. This bill will fund the bureau and emphasize the importance of its work by strengthening it with statutory language to carry out its mission of modernizing American diplomacy by partnering with our allies in cyberspace and to promote freedom of communications and information.

With Honor Action Praises the CHIPS and Science Act

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CHARLOTTE, NC – With Honor Action praises the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which was signed into law today by President Biden. The legislation passed on a bipartisan basis in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives earlier this month.

Despite being used in thousands of products including cars, gaming consoles, medical devices, cell phones, and our military defense systems, it is estimated that a mere 12% of the world’s chips are produced in the United States while Asia accounts for about 80% of production. The CHIPS and Science Act will reduce reliance on foreign semiconductor manufacturers by incentivising domestic manufacturing and production. This landmark legislation will ensure the U.S. remains a global competitor while securing our national security.

With Honor Action congratulates members of the For Country Caucus, a bipartisan group of veterans in Congress that With Honor Action proudly works alongside, who led efforts for passage in the House. Many elements of the CHIPS and Science Act are based on recommendations from the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI), which With Honor Action and the For Country Caucus have worked to advance.

“The CHIPS and Science Act revitalizes the U.S.’s place as a global competitor in domestic semiconductor production while making historic investments in the National Science Foundation for technological research,” said Rye Barcott, CEO and Co-Founder of With Honor Action. “We’re also making sure that our service members have the weapons and systems they need in combat. This is an excellent step forward.”

With Honor Action looks forward to seeing continued investments in maintaining America’s competitive edge and future legislation further supporting our emerging technological capabilities.

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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, General 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 House Passage of National Defense Authorization Act

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CHARLOTTE, NC – With Honor Action praises the bipartisan passage of the fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the U.S. House of Representatives. The NDAA passed by a bipartisan vote of 329-101.

With Honor Action also congratulates members of the For Country Caucus, a bipartisan group of veterans in Congress that With Honor Action proudly works alongside, on their legislative achievements included in this year’s House version of the yearly defense bill. These provisions span three of With Honor Action’s top legislative priorities: national security, national service, and veterans affairs.

“The NDAA process is the gold standard of bipartisan legislative work. This year was no exception,” said Rye Barcott, CEO and Co-Founder of With Honor Action. “The work of the For Country Caucus will undoubtedly improve the lives of our service members, military families, and our veterans. But it will also ensure the strength and resilience of this nation by improving integration of artificial intelligence and biotechnology into our national security apparatus, boosting our federal digital workforce, and securing our critical infrastructure.”

A number of For Country Caucus members serve as members of the House Armed Services Committee, which leads the NDAA process, including: Representatives Don Bacon, Jack Bergman, Anthony Brown, Salud Carbajal, Jason Crow, Scott Franklin, Mike Gallagher, Jared Golden, Chrissy Houlahan, Kai Kahele, Elaine Luria, Seth Moulton, Jimmy Panetta, Mikie Sherrill, and Mike Waltz.

Below, find a detailed list of these twenty-three particular, substantive bipartisan provisions:

Investing in the Future of Defense
  1. National Digital Reserve Corps
  2. Pilot Program on Cybersecurity Training for Veterans and Military Spouses
  3. U.S. Digital Service Academy
  4. CISA Leadership Act
  5. Space National Guard Establishment Act
  6. DHS Roles & Responsibilities in Cyberspace
  7. Establishment of Critical Technology Security Centers
  8. Support for Research and Development of Bioindustrial Manufacturing Processes
  9. Designation of Systemically Important Critical Infrastructure
  10. Sense of Congress on Taiwan Defense Relations
Supporting Service Members, Veterans, and their Families
  1. Onward to Opportunity Act
  2. The Post-Widows Tax Repeal SBP Open Enrollment for Service-Disabled Veterans Act
  3. Exclusion of Basic Allowance for Housing income from Basic Needs Allowance
  4. Military Housing Transparency and Accountability Act
  5. VA Same Day Scheduling Act
  6. U.S. Israel Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Collaborative Research Act
  7. Supporting Education Recognition for Veterans during Emergencies (SERVE) Act
  8. Get Rewarding Outdoor Work (GROW) Act
  9. Study on Incidence and Mortality of Cancer Among Former Aircrew
  10. Report on Adverse Childhood Events in Servicemembers
Encouraging National Service and Civic Engagement
  1. Expanding opportunities for Junior Reserve Officer Training Program participation
Honoring our Wartime Promises to Afghan Allies
  1. Extension and Modification of the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) Program
  2. Expansion of the Afghan SIV Program to Include Combat Wounded Afghan Allies
You can read more about these provisions here.

With Honor Action Sends Letter to House and Senate Leadership About National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology

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CHARLOTTE, NC – With Honor Action sent a letter to House and Senate leadership today about the urgent need to appoint the final four commissioners to the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB).

The establishment of this commission was an outgrowth of an effort championed by two bipartisan, veteran Members of the For Country Caucus – Representatives Mike Gallagher and Seth Moulton. This commission follows in the footsteps of other bipartisan commissions that addressed emerging national security challenges, including the Cyber Solarium Commission and the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence.

The Senate and House Armed Services Committee Chairs and Ranking Members have selected eight commissioners for the NSCEB, but the full power of the commission cannot be realized until House and Senate leadership appoint the final four commissioners.

“I am writing to encourage you to appoint your commissioners as soon as practical, so that the NSCEB can begin their vital work in earnest,” writes Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor Action, to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.

Barcott goes on to write, “I appreciate your consideration of the above request – your robust support of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology will pay generational dividends for American national security.”

With Honor Action Praises Inclusion of Key 2022 National Defense Authorization Act Amendments

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CHARLOTTE, NC – With Honor Action praises the inclusion of seven priority legislative amendments in the House of Representatives’ 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The important provisions will help preserve America’s technological competitiveness, enhance our national security, improve the lives of our service members and veterans, and assist in the resettlement of our Afghan allies.

“These seven amendments build upon a robust list of twelve important NDAA provisions advanced by the bipartisan, veteran-led For Country Caucus, in the House of Representatives.” said Rye Barcott, With Honor Action CEO and Co-Founder. “We look forward to working alongside the Senate to ensure these provisions and many other provisions on national security, national service, and military communities make it to the President’s desk for signature into law.”

Of particular note, advancing the recommendations of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI) and securing proper oversight are both immediate and long-term priorities of With Honor Action. The items that passed the House yesterday include two recommendations from the NSCAI that the For Country Caucus Sub-Committee on AI moved forward. The For Country Caucus Sub-Committee on AI Members includes Representatives Kai Kahele, Don Bacon, Seth Moulton, Tony Gonzales, Mikie Sherrill, and Van Taylor. Representative Taylor also serves as the Co-Chair of the For Country Caucus alongside Representative Jared Golden.

1) Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Memorial Location Act – a provision, led by For Country Caucus Members Representatives and GWOT veterans Jason Crow and Mike Gallagher, establishing a location on the Reserve of the National Mall for a GWOT Memorial. Reference this Washington Post op-ed that With Honor Action worked on with the six surviving former Secretaries of Defense who led the Department of Defense during the GWOT.

2) National Digital Reserve Corps Act – an NSCAI recommendation, led by For Country Caucus Member Representative Tony Gonzales, establishing the National Digital Reserve Corps, a program within GSA that would allow private sector tech talent to work for the federal government for 30 days per calendar year in order to take on short term digital, cybersecurity, and AI projects.

3) Onward to Opportunity Act– a provision, led by For Country Caucus Member Representative Mikie Sherrill, implementing a pilot program which will use new screening tools and industry specific training pathways to optimize the assistance available for transitioning service members through the Veterans Administration.

4) Get Rewarding Outdoor Work for our Veterans Act – a provision, led by For Country Caucus Members Conor Lamb and Mike Waltz, directing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a two-year pilot program employing veterans for Departments of the Interior and Agriculture conservation and resource management projects.

5) Alexander Lofgren Veterans in Parks Act – a provision, led by For Country Caucus Member Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, providing free annual America the Beautiful Passes to current military service members and free lifetime America the Beautiful Passes to veterans and members of Gold Star Families so they can access our National Parks and public lands at no cost.

6) National Security Commision on AI DoD Reporting Requirement Amendment – an NSCAI recommendation, led by For Country Caucus Members Representatives Chrissy Houlahan and Don Bacon, requiring the Secretary of Defense to submit yearly reports on how NSCAI recommendations are being implemented to the Congressional defense committees.

7) Afghan Refugees of Special Humanitarian Concern Amendment – a provision which includes elements of For Country Caucus Members Representative Jason Crow and Peter Meijers’ Showing American Values by Evacuating (SAVE) Afghan Partners Act, it expands the Special Immigrant Visa program by making clear that those employed under cooperative agreements and grants are eligible for the Afghan SIV program.

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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 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.

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