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Friends and Allies,
Welcome to the latest edition of our With Honor Action Newsletter. Thank you for expressing interest in our nation’s political well-being and concern over growing polarization. As we enter the 118th Congress, the great power competition remains top of mind for our team.
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Mission:
With Honor is a bi-partisan organization. Our mission is to strengthen democracy by fighting polarization in the U.S. Congress with principled veteran leadership. We work alongside the For Country Caucus, a caucus of 30+ Members of Congress, to pass bipartisan legislation for the nation. We envision a stronger democracy with more bi-partisan veterans who take the With Honor pledge to serve with integrity, civility, and courage. The 118th Congress has welcomed new leadership to the For Country Caucus:
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Co-Chair: Tony Gonzales (TX-23)
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Co-Chair: Jason Crow (CO-06)
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Vice Chair: Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01)
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Vice Chair: Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)
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On the Issues:
2023 bipartisan priorities include:
- National Digital Reserve Corps Act - Led by For Country Caucus Co-Chair Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23), this legislation established a National Digital Reserve Corps to help the federal government reach its cybersecurity and digital needs. Reservists would sign-up for a three-year period, in which they would work for the federal government for 30 days per calendar year to take on digital and cybersecurity projects, digital education and training, data triage, acquisition assistance, and development of technical solutions. This is one of the priorities from the National Security Commission on AI that has not yet passed into law.
- Banning Oil Exports to Foreign Adversaries Act - Led by For Country Caucus Founding Vice Chair, Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), and For Country Caucus Founding Chair, Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02), this legislation will close a loophole allowing for the sale and export of Strategic Petroleum Reserve oil to our foreign adversaries including China, North Korea, Russia, Iran, and other countries under U.S. sanction.
- Onward to Opportunity Act - Introduced in the 117th Congress and led by Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), this legislation would implement a pilot grant program to provide enhanced support and funding to eligible entities to supplement the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) in providing job opportunities for industry-recognized certifications, job placement assistance, and related employment services to service members participating in TAP and their spouses. We look forward to this legislation’s reintroduction.
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Big Ideas:
To dig deeper into these important issues, here are two recent press pieces on these issues:
- Roll Call: Chairman Gallagher outlines China committee’s agenda, By: Briana Reilly
- This article highlights Congressman Gallagher’s intentions for the China committee. Gallagher, a member of the For Country Caucus, has continuously led congressional efforts to bolster our nation’s technological prowess.
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"Lead With Honor" Shoutout:
In each newsletter we shout out a partner who is leading with honor.
Ylli Bajraktari
CEO of the Special Competitive Studies Project
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Ylli Bajraktari is the CEO of the Special Competitive Studies Project. Prior to launching SCSP, Ylli served as the Executive Director of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI). Prior to joining NSCAI, he served as Chief of Staff to the National Security Advisor LTG H.R. McMaster, held a variety of leadership roles for former Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work, and served as Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dempsey. Originally joining the Department of Defense in 2010, he served in the Office of the Undersecretary for Policy as a country director for Afghanistan, and later India. Bajraktari is the recipient of the Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Medal – the highest award given to career DoD civilian employees.
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What do you believe it means to lead “with honor”?
“To me, leading ‘with honor’ means living a life worthy of the service and sacrifice of those who defend our country and protect freedom around the globe—especially the U.S. military which helped save my family from genocide in Kosovo, the country of my birth. It means doing my utmost, day after day, to ensure America remains the most powerful nation in the world, admired by our allies and partners, and feared by all who may wish to do us harm.”
- Ylli Bajraktari
CEO of the Special Competitive Studies Project
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Best of Social Media:
Check out the latest video from our social media team. Make sure to share it with your community!
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Click here to watch and share our video on Twitter.
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Book Club:
We’re always looking for new books to read at With Honor Action. Reach out if you have your own book recommendations. This quarter we’re highlighting veteran and With Honor Action Honorary Advisory Board Member, Henry Kissinger’s, World Order.
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World Order
by Henry Kissinger
“Grounded in Kissinger’s deep study of history and his experience as National Security Advisor and Secretary of State, World Order guides readers through crucial episodes in recent world history. Kissinger offers a unique glimpse into the inner deliberations of the Nixon administration’s negotiations with Hanoi over the end of the Vietnam War, as well as Ronald Reagan’s tense debates with Soviet Premier Gorbachev in Reykjavík. He offers compelling insights into the future of U.S.–China relations and the evolution of the European Union, and examines lessons of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Taking readers from his analysis of nuclear negotiations with Iran through the West’s response to the Arab Spring and tensions with Russia over Ukraine, World Order anchors Kissinger’s historical analysis in the decisive events of our time.”
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Join the Mission:
If you’re looking for more ways to help get things done for our country, here are three actionable ways you can get involved. Let’s make a difference together!
- No One Left Behind - Consider donating to No One Left Behind to support their work in evacuating and resettling our Afghan allies.
- Veterans Crisis Line - Spread the word, the veterans crisis line 988 is now active across the nation thanks to legislation that was first introduced by For Country Caucus member Representative Seth Moulton and endorsed by With Honor Action.
- The Welcome Corps - Learn more about this new program and how everyday Americans will be able to sponsor refugees from Afghanistan and Ukraine.
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Please consider forwarding this to a friend who may be interested in learning -- and doing -- more for our country. To learn more about how to support our work, please visit www.withhonor.org, follow us on Twitter, and contact [email protected]. |
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