With Honor Action Announces First Round of Legislative Priorities for 2024

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Washington, DC – With Honor Action continues to focus on four major areas of legislation as we head into 2024: national security, national service, military quality-of-life, and countering the Chinese Communist Party. These four areas are critical as we look to strengthen our national security, support our military, and create a more united nation at home. With Honor Action is excited to roll out our first legislative endorsements of the year that tackle these significant issues:

Supporting Our Afghan Allies 

  • Following the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, tens of thousands of Afghans whose support of American troops put their lives in grave danger were evacuated to the United States and granted temporary residency via humanitarian parole. Unfortunately, this is only a temporary solution that prevents these refugees from being able to move forward with their lives. The only pathways to lawful, permanent residency are claiming asylum and the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, neither of which were designed to respond to a crisis of this scale, and both of which are plagued by backlogs of thousands of cases. 
  • Legislation to adjust the immigration status of these Afghans, such as the Afghan Adjustment Act, would provide them with the opportunity to apply for permanent legal residence, expand eligibility in the SIV program, and provide additional vetting to address any national security concerns. In April of last year, the State Department estimated that we left behind over 152,000 allies. To help them escape the perils of Taliban rule and ensure America keeps her word, the Afghan Allies Protection Act would authorize an additional 20,000 SIVs to those remaining in Afghanistan and neighboring countries. 
  • Our Afghan allies stood beside us in our longest war and it is well past time that we uphold our promise to take care of them. The world is watching and our sacred national honor is at stake. 

Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Tax Relief Act

  • Unlike most service-connected scholarships, including Pell Grants and education benefits from the GI bill, stipends paid to AmeriCorps volunteers are subject to federal income tax, penalizing Americans who choose to pursue public service through AmeriCorps. This bill would remove the income tax on the education award granted to AmeriCorps service members, following states like Oregon, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Iowa, which have passed laws to exclude the AmeriCorps education awards from state income tax.

Military Food Security Act of 2023

  • Rep. Bacon notes in his opening comments in the video below that at least 15% of our military are currently considered “food insecure” and lack consistent access to nutritious meals for themselves and their families. Bipartisan legislation we are championing to fix this issue includes the Military Food Security Act led by Reps. Bacon and Jimmy Panetta, who together also founded the For Country Caucus 4 years ago. This bill would increase benefits to an estimated 27,000 service members and their families who are currently struggling.
    • The video can be viewed here.

The Five AIs Act

  • The bipartisan bill would direct the Secretary of Defense to establish a working group to develop and coordinate an artificial intelligence initiative within the Five Eyes framework, America’s closest and strongest intelligence alliance between the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Canada. The Chinese government is rapidly expanding their AI capabilities and we need to be prepared to counter any threats they may throw at us and our allies. This bill is sponsored by Rep. Mike Gallagher, a member of the For Country Caucus and chairman of the Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party.

“We had a busy year in 2023 and we don’t plan on slowing down. We managed to get 63 of our priorities in last year’s defense bill, and we hope to use that momentum to keep affecting real, bipartisan change in Congress,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor Action. “Our organization looks forward to a year of improving national security, expanding national service, helping service members and their families, and countering the Chinese Communist Party.”

With Honor Action remains committed to our goal of advancing principled veteran leadership in Congress. The priorities and endorsements outlined above are bipartisan solutions to real problems we face as a nation, and we strongly encourage lawmakers to consider them for passage.

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With Honor Action’s Priorities Included in National Defense Authorization Act

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With Honor Action’s Top Priorities Included in National Defense Authorization Act

Washington, DC – With Honor Action is proud to announce 63 of our priorities have been included in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This NDAA will be one of the only major bipartisan bills that Congress is likely to pass this year. Culminating in months and in some cases, years of hard work, these bipartisan provisions championed by the bipartisan veterans in Congress that With Honor Action supports, will have a wide-ranging impact on our nation. These critical pieces of legislation strengthen our national security, improve our civic education and service opportunities for young Americans, and improve quality of life and healthcare for our veteran and military families. 

Some of the most noteworthy provisions are summarized below. Please find a list of all 63 laws located on With Honor Action’s website.

National Security:

  • Sec. 1536: Authority to conduct pilot program on Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve 
    • This bill establishes Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve pilot program within the Department of Defense (DoD) to recruit civilian personnel to serve in cybersecurity reservist positions to ensure that we have the talent necessary to defeat, deter, or respond to cyber threats. 
  • Taiwan Cybersecurity Resiliency Act
    • This bill, led by For Country Caucus founding members Rep. Mike Gallagher and Chrissy Houlahan, directs the Secretary of Defense to seek to engage the Taiwanese government regarding expanded cooperation with respect to military cybersecurity activities.
  • Critical Mineral Independence Act
    • This bill, led by For Country Caucus member Rep. Mike Gallagher, tasks the Department of Defense to assess vulnerabilities in its supply chain, identify and recommend changes to acquisition laws, regulations, and policies, and prioritize recommendations to achieve critical mineral supply chain independence.

Military Quality of Life:

  • The Reserve Component Parental Leave Parity Act (HR 2597 / S. 1095; Section 601 in H.R. 2670) 
    • This bill, led by For Country Caucus members Reps. Jeff Jackson and Zach Nunn, extends the same active duty parental leave policy to an estimated more than one million National Guard and Reserve service members by expanding eligibility beyond birthing mothers to include fathers, adoptive parents, and foster parents.
  • Including military service in determining family and medical leave eligibility for federal employees under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993
    • This provision, led by For Country Caucus member Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, expands eligibility provisions of the Family and Medical Leave Act for federal employees to military service if the individual has completed at least 12 months of honorable service.

Expansion of the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps:

  • Expansion of the JROTC Program [Sec. 551]
    • This provision, led by Senator Roger Wicker, requires the Department of Defense to establish and support not less than 3,400 and not more than 4,000 units of the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, an expansion from the existing 3,275 units.
  • Stop Funding JROTC at CCP-Owned Schools Act [Sec. 553]
    • Prohibition of Establishment or Maintenance of a Unit of the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at an Education Institution Owned, Operated, or Controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.

“The NDAA is the only piece of legislation to consistently pass year after year on a bipartisan basis. This will be the 63rd consecutive year it successfully passes on time,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor Action. “We’re proud to be part of this bipartisan effort and our work to further help the military community. These pieces of legislation will go a long way in making sure the US stays ahead of our competitors while helping our service members here at home.”

The bills listed above are just seven of With Honor Action’s 63 accomplishments from this year’s NDAA process. To learn more about With Honor Action priorities included in the annual defense bill, read the list here.

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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.

With Honor Action Presents Rep. Steve Womack With ‘Principles Before Politics’ Award at Biennial Gala

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Washington, D.C.—With Honor Action honored Rep. Steve Womack with our 4th “Principles Before Politics” award at our third biennial gala at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Va. on Tuesday evening.

With Honor Action believes the key to making Congress more effective is electing and supporting lawmakers who lead with civility, integrity, and courage. Each year, With Honor Action recognizes those leaders who have embodied these ideals with the “Principles Before Politics” Award recognizing leaders who make the hard choices to do what is best for the American people regardless of the political consequences

“Of all of the things that we do and of all of the votes that we will take and all of the decisions we will make, the one where you pick your leader, the person you are most accountable to is that individual that you saw in the mirror that morning,” Womack said in accepting the award.

“We were proud to bring together such a distinguished group of veterans from both inside and outside Congress to talk about how to bridge the partisan divide and put country before politics,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor Action. “Our mission is to strengthen democracy by fighting congressional polarization and by celebrating those who have taken a stand when it counted, Rep. Steve Womack is a true patriot who believes in working together to get things done.”

Rep. Steve Womack has consistently stood steadfast in his convictions, putting his service to his district and country above party. A true leader in Congress who has never wavered from fighting against polarization, unafraid of political consequences.

Speakers at the gala included Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr.; Maryland Gov. Wes Moore; For Country Caucus members Rep. Jason Crow, Rep. Mike Gallagher, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, Rep. Jimmy Panetta, Rep. Seth Moulton, and Rep. Jared Golden. President George W. Bush, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Nucor’s Chief Executive Officer Leon Topalian also gave recorded remarks exclusive to the event.

Listen to Rep. Womack’s remark’s after accepting the award here

WHA Letter to Chairs and Ranking Members on NDAA Priorities

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The Honorable Jack Reed                                                    The Honorable Roger Wicker
728 Hart Senate Office Building                                         425 Russell Senate Office Building
U.S. Senate                                                                              U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510                                                         Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Mike Rogers                                                The Honorable Adam Smith
2469 Rayburn House Office Building                                 2264 Rayburn House Office Building
U.S. House of Representatives                                            U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515                                                         Washington, DC 20515

To the Chairs and Ranking Members:

For more than 60 years, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has been a model of bicameral, bipartisan lawmaking. As our country faces extraordinarily complex national security challenges, from Ukraine to Taiwan and in the realms of cyberspace and artificial intelligence, the world once again looks to us for leadership. This defense bill is essential to our success in meeting those challenges, defending the homeland, and supporting our warfighters and their families.

Central to that mission, With Honor Action is advocating for the inclusion of these four priorities in the final version of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act.

  • S. 903 – Department of Defense Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve Act
    • Incorporated as Senate NDAA, Sec. 1216 – Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve pilot project
  • H.R. 2597/S. 1095 – Reserve Component Parental Leave Parity Act
    • Incorporated as House NDAA, Sec. 601 – Parental leave parity for members of certain reserve components of the Armed Forces
  • House NDAA, Section 1118 – Including military service in determining family and medical leave eligibility for federal employees under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993
  • S. 2678 – Outbound Investment Transparency Act of 2023
    • Incorporated as Senate NDAA, Sec. 1085 – Protection of covered sectors

As you work to finalize this bill, we appreciate your consideration of the above provisions and respectfully request they be retained in the final draft. We are grateful for your leadership, the dedication of the Members to our national security, and the diligence of your staff members.

 

Appendix: Further Information

  • S. 903 – Department of Defense Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve Act
    • Incorporated as Senate NDAA, Sec. 1216 – Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve pilot project

Modeled upon the recommendations of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission and the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service, this provision would create a pilot program to recruit qualified cybersecurity professionals to supplement the federal workforce. Led by For Country Caucus Founding Co-Chair Rep. Jimmy Panetta in the previous Congress, the provision tasks the Department of the Army to establish a pilot program where they may appoint up to 50 reservists drawn from private industry with demonstrated cybersecurity expertise.

  • H.R. 2597/S. 1095 – Reserve Component Parental Leave Parity Act
    • Incorporated as House NDAA, Sec. 601 – Parental leave parity for members of certain reserve components of the Armed Forces

Led by For Country Caucus members Reps. Zach Nunn and Jeff Jackson, the Reserve Component Parental Leave Parity Act would align National Guard and Reserve parental leave eligibility with active duty standards. Under current policy, only birthing mothers are eligible for parental leave– this provision would expand leave eligibility to include fathers and adoptive parents. 

  • House NDAA, Section 1118 – Including military service in determining family and medical leave eligibility for federal employees under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993

Led by For Country Caucus member Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, and in partnership with the Bipartisan Policy Center, this provision would allow military service time to count towards the 12-month eligibility requirement for federal employees to receive benefits under FMLA. 

  • S. 2678 – Outbound Investment Transparency Act of 2023
    • Incorporated as Senate NDAA, Sec. 1085 – Protection of covered sectors

This would require U.S. firms to notify the Treasury Department of certain investments in countries of concern while protecting confidential business information. Covered investments include joint ventures, know-how and greenfield investments in certain sectors including advanced semiconductors and microelectronics, artificial intelligence, quantum technology, satellite-based communications, dual-use network laser scanning systems and hypersonics.

With Honor Action to Congress: Support Bipartisan NDAA Priorities

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, With Honor Action sent a letter to the Chairs and Ranking Member of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, calling for the inclusion of four key legislative priorities in the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

“For over 60 years, the National Defense Authorization Act has been the cornerstone of our national security,” said Rye Barcott, CEO and Co-Founder of With Honor Action. “We hope to see our common sense bipartisan solutions, which focus on military quality of life, cybersecurity and emerging technology, included in the final passage of the bill. Our national security is too important for partisanship.”

With Honor Action is advocating for the inclusion of the following four bipartisan priorities in the final version of this year’s NDAA, some of which are being led by members of the For Country Caucus.

  • S. 903 – Department of Defense Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve Act 
    • To create a pilot program to recruit qualified cybersecurity professionals to supplement the federal workforce. 
  • H.R. 2597/S. 1095 – Reserve Component Parental Leave Parity Act
    • To align National Guard and Reserve parental leave eligibility with active duty standards. Under current policy, only birthing mothers are eligible for parental leave– this provision would expand leave eligibility to include fathers and adoptive parents. 
  • House NDAA, Section 1118 – Including military service in determining family and medical leave eligibility for federal employees under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993
    • To allow military service time to count towards the 12-month eligibility requirement for federal employees to receive benefits under FMLA. 
  • S. 2678 – Outbound Investment Transparency Act of 2023
    • To require U.S. firms to notify the Treasury Department of certain investments in countries of concern while protecting confidential business information.

The NDAA is a critical piece of legislation that has historically passed by large, bipartisan margins and sets annual priorities for defending the homeland and arming our warfighters. It addresses challenges at home and abroad, including combatting Russian aggression in Ukraine, deterring Chinese encroachment on Taiwanese sovereignty, and developing new capabilities in the realms of cyberspace and artificial intelligence.

***Read the full letter here, detailing With Honor Action’s four major priorities.

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