Members of the bipartisan For County Caucus served America in uniform. Now, they are working together to serve America in Congress.
by TONY GONZALES & JASON CROW
There’s an innate level of understanding and mutual respect between veterans. We’ve put the mission and often our safety before self-interest. We’ve worked and fought alongside men and women of different beliefs with whom we bonded over a shared commitment to the American people. The military taught us service above self, teamwork, and the ability to work under pressure. These are the values we bring to Washington, D.C.
Together, we Co-Chair the For Country Caucus, a group of 30 veterans from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force who didn’t see the end of their military careers as the end of their service to this country. Having taken the same oath, we have an immediate sense of understanding and trust. We came to Washington with a commitment to put aside party differences and get work done, even in the toughest of times.
Going into caucus meetings, we know that the member sitting next to us gets it. They could have been the person next to us in combat. And for some of us, they were. Rep. Jake Ellzey (TX-06) flew in a squadron that provided air support in Afghanistan for Rep. Mike Waltz (FL-06). Rep. John James (MI-10) and Rep. Pat Ryan (NY-18) attended West Pont together. In a time when it’s so easy to demonize someone on the other side of the aisle, we’ve agreed to work together to ensure that even in these highly polarized times, our nation passes thoughtful, bipartisan legislation regarding veterans, military quality of life, and national security.
We’ve agreed to work together to ensure that even in these highly polarized times, our nation passes thoughtful, bipartisan legislation regarding veterans, military quality of life, and national security.
One of our earliest successes since the For Country Caucus was founded in 2019 was passing legislation establishing a Global War on Terrorism Memorial on the National Mall. Many of us served in the Global War on Terror (GWOT), our country’s longest war, and uniquely understand what a GWOT Memorial means for our nation. We continue to push for a swift and thorough process to build the memorial and look forward to joining our fellow Americans to mourn, reflect, and honor the sacrifices of so many.
While the memorial will serve as a place of healing, we remained focused on providing other outlets as well. For years, mental health has carried a stigma that has made it difficult for veterans and service members to seek the care they need. Luckily, the narrative is changing. Seeking help when you need it is a necessity of remaining a strong member of a team. We now know that to have the strongest troops, we must also have strength of mind. We worked across party lines to pass the Brandon Act, making it easier for military personnel to report mental health concerns and receive treatment. We led efforts to change the Veterans Crisis Line number, also used by active duty servicemembers, to 988. The easy-to-remember number has seen a dramatic uptick in calls and those receiving help.
The military demands sacrifices, which we all deem essential. However, our servicemembers and their families should not go hungry, struggle to care for their children, or find it difficult to put a roof over their heads. As our military struggles with retention and recruitment, who would want to join under these conditions? We’re working to ensure food security, address military housing transparency and accountability, expand parental leave for certain servicemembers, and make it easier for military spouses to secure employment. We also look forward to reviewing the recommendations of the Military Quality of Life Panel, led by For Country Caucus members Reps. Don Bacon (NE-02) and Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), and implementing provisions that can ensure Americans want to both join the Armed Forces and develop meaningful careers that support their families and our nation as a whole.
We’re working to ensure food security, address military housing transparency and accountability, expand parental leave for certain servicemembers, and make it easier for military spouses to secure employment.
Our commitment extends to our allies as well. In August of 2021, the world watched as Kabul fell. For members of the military community, including many of our caucus members, this was personal. We saw the people who served alongside us, people we had promised safety for working with us, now in grave danger. We expedited the process for Afghan translators and interpreters to escape the Taliban and led efforts to pass the Afghan War Commission Act. Our work isn’t done. We must continue to secure the safety of our allies. Why would locals in future conflicts want to work with us if we have failed our past allies? It remains a national security imperative to uphold our oaths and do what is right.
This same principle of standing by our partners extends to Taiwan, Ukraine, and Israel. As the aggression of our adversaries intensifies, we’re working to fortify our national security capacities and bolster our competitiveness. We continue to grow our cyber workforce and invest in new technologies. Our members remain vigilant and up to date, with many sitting on the China Select Committee and participating in the Foreign Military Sales Task Force. As a caucus, we know that internal divides make us vulnerable to outside threats.
We served our nation in uniform, and we remain committed to serving Americans in Congress. We are proud of the bipartisan work our caucus has accomplished in a deeply divided Congress. We look forward to the next mission as we serve the American people.
Tony Gonzales is a Republican who represents the 23rd District of Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives. Jason Crow is a Democrat who represents the 6th District of Colorado. Together, they serve as Co-Chairs of the bipartisan For Country Caucus.
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