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
See All Members

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In The News

For Country Caucus Endorses the Captain James C. Edge Gold Star Spouse Equity Act

May 9, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The For Country Caucus, a bipartisan group of military veterans, today announced its endorsement of H.R. 854 Captain James C. Edge Gold Star Spouse Equity Act. The legislation, introduced by For Country Caucus Members Mike Waltz (FL-06), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Don Bacon (NE-02), and Jason Crow (CO-06), aims to build on the bipartisan veterans’ work to support our nation’s Gold Star families. 

Current law mandates that spouses of fallen service members who remarry before the age of 55 lose their Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) and those that remarry before the age of 57 lose their Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). The Captain James C. Edge Gold Star Spouse Equity Act would entirely remove those penalties so Gold Star spouses can receive the benefits they deserve. 

“Our fallen troops gave the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. In their absence and in their honor, we must do right by their spouses and families—regardless of changes in marital status,” said For Country Caucus Co-Chairs, Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) and Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06). “The James C. Edge Gold Star Spouse Equity Act is common-sense legislation to improve benefits for Gold Star Spouses. Let’s do right by our fallen and pass this legislation.” 

“I am grateful that, since its inception, the For Country Caucus has recognized the unfairness of the remarriage-penalty for our Gold Star families,” said Rep. Waltz. “While we’ve made progress, lowering the cutoff age from 57 to 55, much work still remains. This important legislation would allow Gold Star spouses to move forward with their lives, allowing them to remarry, free of fear of losing their benefits owed to them for their family’s noble sacrifice.” 

The SBP is a death benefit provided by the Department of Defense. Based on a percentage of retired pay, the SBP gives eligible survivors of servicemembers who died on active duty an inflation-adjusted monthly income. The DIC is a VA tax-free monetary benefit paid to eligible survivors of active-duty service members and survivors of veterans whose deaths are determined to be service-related. 

The For Country Caucus has successfully pushed for multiple pieces of legislation to support Gold Star Families. This includes passage of the Gold Star Family Tax Relief Act, which repealed tax increases on children receiving survivor benefits; the Gold Star Families Park Pass Act, which made the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass available at no cost to members of Gold Star families; the Fallen Heroes Family Travel Act, which authorized reimbursement to Gold Star families for the costs of transporting fallen servicemembers’ remains to a national cemetery; the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Memorial Location Act, which served as the final step in authorizing the establishment of the GWOT Memorial on the National Mall. Additionally, Caucus efforts contributed to the Expansion of Support Programs for Special Operations Gold Star Families and the repeal of the Military Widow’s Tax. 

Joining Reps. Waltz, Moulton, Bacon, and Crow in cosponsoring the legislation are For Country Caucus members Tony Gonzales (TX-23), Brad Wenstrup (OH-02), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Pat Ryan (NY-18), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Don Davis (NC-01), and Nick Lalota (NY-01). Also cosponsoring the legislation is Delia Ramirez (IL-03). 

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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/2023/5/for-country-caucus-endorses-the-captain-james-c-edge-gold-star-spouse-equity-act