For Country Caucus

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Our Mission

The bipartisan For Country Caucus provides its principled military veteran members the opportunity to work together across party lines to pass thoughtful legislation in national security, veterans affairs, and national service. Members collaborate, find support for their ideas and legislation, and unite on the values they share as veterans. Since its founding in 2019, the caucus has advocated for a less polarized Congress that works for — and is trusted by — Americans. 

See Accomplishments

Improving the Lives of Service Members and Their Families:

Our active-duty military and their families have chosen to dedicate themselves to service. But the sacrifices they make should not come at the expense of their quality of life. That’s why we’ve prioritized legislation that addresses their needs.

We’ve led initiatives to improve DoD mental health services, strengthen military hunger prevention efforts, support military spouses and children, and expand support efforts for Gold Star Families.

Looking Out for Our Veterans:

As veterans ourselves, we understand the unique needs of the veteran community. Many of us served in Iraq and Afghanistan and recognize the toll our nation’s longest war has taken on U.S. servicemembers and its distinct impact on the country as a whole. As such, we successfully led an effort to establish the Global War on Terrorism Memorial on the National Mall. After continued work from caucus members, the design process is currently underway. Soon all Americans will have a place to properly honor and reflect on the sacrifices of so many.

Having served in times when mental health struggles were often taboo, we’ve also worked to improve awareness of services and access to timely, high-quality care. Our members worked to create the easy-to-remember, three-digit Veterans Crisis Line number, 988. Since this shift, the line has seen a dramatic uptick in calls to help veterans receive the emergency care they need.

Honoring Our Commitments to Wartime Allies:

The For Country Caucus understands that supporting U.S. allies—especially those who served alongside U.S. troops during the Global War on Terror—is both a moral imperative and a national security priority. That's why we secured several legislative provisions to support our Afghan allies in the lead-up to and aftermath of the U.S. withdrawal. We expedited the process for Afghan translators and interpreters to escape the Taliban and come to the U.S. and we led efforts to pass the Afghan War Commission Act. This legislation created a non-partisan, independent commission charged with conducting a comprehensive examination of the War in Afghanistan. The United States will use its final report to learn from our experience in Afghanistan and better prepare for potential conflicts in the future.

Modernizing the Department of Defense and Securing America's Technological Future

The For Country Caucus believes the U.S. must be prepared to address future challenges across the globe while investing in our competitive technologies. That's why we helped implement a number of the recommendations from the Cyber Solarium Commission (CSC) and the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI). These include the establishment of a Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy at the State Department, efforts to strengthen the cyber workforce and cyber education, and the strengthening of research and development efforts across the artificial intelligence, cyber, and biotechnology sectors.

We also recognize the importance of maintaining a competitive advantage against potential adversaries and ensuring America remains the most capable and responsive force in the world. We helped pass critical provisions of the Taiwan Partnership Act to require the DOD to improve cooperation between the National Guard and Taiwan. Our members also helped establish the Arctic Security Initiative to establish a five-year plan to fully resource the Arctic region and develop service-specific strategies in the Arctic.

 

Leadership

  • Co-Chair
    Tony Gonzales
    TX-23 | NAVY
  • Vice Chair
    Mariannette Miller-Meeks
    IA-01 | ARMY
  • Co-Chair
    Jason Crow
    CO-06 | ARMY
  • Vice Chair
    Mikie Sherrill
    NJ-11 | NAVY
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In The News

For Country Caucus Endorses Bill to Establish DOD Risk Framework, Guidance for Foreign-Owned Mobile Apps

Bipartisan legislation would help defense personnel better understand cyber threats posed by seemingly harmless apps

November 20, 2023

Washington, D.C. – The For Country Caucus, a bipartisan group of military veterans, today announced its endorsement of H.R. 6106 Bolstering America’s Defense Against Potentially Perilous Software (BAD APPS) Act. This legislation, introduced by For Country Caucus Members Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) and Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-01), builds on the caucus’s work to strengthen national security and improve U.S. cyber protections. Specifically, the BAD APPS Act would require the Department of Defense to categorize applications from certain foreign countries of concern and create a risk framework so it can craft proactive guidance to protect its personnel and operations. In supporting the BAD APPS Act, For Country Caucus members aim to ensure that defense personnel are properly informed of the potential risks of apps downloaded to cellular devices and how they may compromise U.S. national security.

 

“In an increasingly digital age, we must stay vigilant and up to date on the ways in which our adversaries are using technology to undermine our democracy,” said For Country Caucus Co-Chairs, Congressmen Tony Gonzales (TX-23) and Jason Crow (CO-06). “The BAD APPS Act aims to reduce the risk that some foreign-owned apps pose to our defense personnel. We must provide those who work in defense of this country with tools to protect themselves from bad actors and malicious content so we can better safeguard their personal data and U.S. national security information.”

  

“It is crucial that our national security professionals and servicemembers have all the pertinent information needed to make smart cyber decisions when they are on the job or at home. That’s why I introduced this legislation to take a proactive approach to help the Department of Defense keep track of potentially dangerous cell phone applications. Our servicemembers and civilian defense personnel perform important duties across the globe to keep our country safe. We cannot allow a foreign adversary, company, or individual to compromise our national security by targeting an individual's data through a seemingly innocuous app on their phone. I want to thank the bipartisan For Country Caucus for supporting this legislation,” said Representative Sherrill.

 

“Our adversaries are flooding app stores with seemingly harmless apps that present a real danger to our national security. The BAD APPS Act will ensure our national security personnel have proper guidance on these evolving threats to make smart decisions. I’m proud to work with Rep. Sherrill to introduce this bill and ensure news, games, and other mobile phone applications do not compromise our defense employees’ movements, sensitive facility locations, or movements of critical national security hardware,” said Representative Bergman.

 

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Co-Chaired by Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) and Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06), the bipartisan For Country Caucus provides principled military veteran members the opportunity to work together across party lines to pass thoughtful legislation in national security, veterans affairs, and national service. Since its founding in 2019, the caucus has advocated for a less polarized Congress that works for — and is trusted by — Americans.  

 

Permalink: https://gonzales.house.gov/2023/11/for-country-caucus-endorses-bill-to-establish-dod-risk-framework-guidance-for-foreign-owned-mobile-apps