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 Calls for Joint Hearing on Servicemember Transition to Civilian Life

Joint hearing between House Armed Services Committee and House Veterans Affairs Committee has not occurred since 2019

February 28, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sixteen members of the For Country Caucus, a bipartisan group of military veterans, this week called on the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC) to hold a joint hearing to examine best practices to support separating or retiring military servicemembers transitioning to civilian life. A joint hearing between HASC and HVAC was last held in 2019 to discuss solutions to military and veteran suicide. For Country Caucus Co-Chairs Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) and Jason Crow (D-Colo.) and Vice Chairs Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) and Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) led the letter.

            “As a bipartisan group of military veterans, we have an intimate understanding of the military transition process and the impact it can have on the well-being and prosperity of servicemembers and their families,” the lawmakers wrote.  “We know that HASC and HVAC are dedicated to supporting our servicemembers and veterans. Many of us sit on these committees and have worked under their respective jurisdictions to better facilitate a warm hand off for our separating or retiring servicemembers from the Department of Defense (DOD) to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It is our understanding, however, that a joint hearing between HASC and HVAC—the two committees tasked with overseeing these departments—has not occurred since 2019. With this in mind, we believe it is imperative that the two committees work together to examine this issue and develop policy solutions together in a joint setting this year.” 

For Country Caucus members joining Co-Chairs Gonzales and Crow and Vice Chairs Miller-Meeks and Sherrill in signing the letter were Representatives Jake Ellzey (R-Texas), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Penn.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), Brian Mast (R-Fla.), Jared Golden (D-Maine), Jack Bergman (R-Mich.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.), Don Davis (D-N.C.), and Chris Deluzio (D-Penn.).

The letter is supported by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Full text of the letter is below and can also be read HERE.

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Dear Chairmen Rogers and Bost, and Ranking Members Smith and Takano,

We write to request a joint committee hearing between the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC) to discuss the transition of military members from active duty to civilian life. As a bipartisan group of military veterans, we have an intimate understanding of the military transition process and the impact it can have on the well-being and prosperity of servicemembers and their families.

We know that HASC and HVAC are dedicated to supporting our servicemembers and veterans. Many of us sit on these committees and have worked under their respective jurisdictions to better facilitate a warm hand off for our separating or retiring servicemembers from the Department of Defense (DOD) to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It is our understanding, however, that a joint hearing between HASC and HVAC—the two committees tasked with overseeing these departments—has not occurred since 2019. With this in mind, we believe it is imperative that the two committees work together to examine this issue and develop policy solutions together in a joint setting this year.

We are happy to work with the committees to identify appropriate witnesses for such a hearing. We believe receiving testimony from both DOD and VA officials is essential to developing a comprehensive assessment of the transition landscape and determining what legislative fixes may be required to improve the process for American servicemembers. Feedback from recently separated or retired veterans and from Veteran Service Organization representatives could further put this issue into focus as well.

Thank you for all your work on behalf of the U.S. military, veterans, and their families. We look forward to working with you on this important matter and welcome your response to our request. 

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Permalink: https://gonzales.house.gov/2023/2/for-country-caucus-calls-for-joint-hearing-on-servicemember-transition-to-civilian-life