Ripon Forum


Vol. 58, No. 5

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In This Edition

With over 14 million Americans currently caring for a veteran or military service member in the United States, the 6th Annual Veteran Day Special Edition of The Ripon Forum examines the challenges facing these hidden heroes and what policymakers can do to support them.

“It’s a Day When I Reflect Upon What Made My Own Service so Meaningful.”

With shaven heads and fresh uniforms, we each sworn the same oath to support and defend the United States. In that moment, our differences faded away.

“Being a veteran means being a part of something bigger than yourself.”

No matter their background, whenever I speak to a fellow veteran there is a glimmer of recognition that can only come from our shared service.

“Honoring Our Brothers and Sisters Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice.”

As a combat veteran myself, I know the sacrifices made, the courage shown, and the dedication it takes to serve.

America’s Hidden Heroes

There are over 14 million military & veteran caregivers in the United States in the U.S. And according to the CEO of the Dole Foundation, they need our help.

Safeguarding Sacrifice: Improving Military Quality of Life

The Co-Chairs of the Armed Services Committee’s Military Quality of Life Panel discuss the bipartisan effort they are leading to make sure our troops have the resources they need off the battlefield to take care of their families and themselves.

Rebuilding Integrity and Trust at VA

Recent instances of mismanagement have left veterans waiting for services and highlight the need for greater accountability within VA.

Comprehensive Support, Data Hold Answers to Veteran Suicide Crisis

Military families make unimaginable sacrifices on behalf of our nation, and it is our responsibility to ensure we provide for their basic needs.

SkillBridge is a Win for Veterans, a Win for Business, and a Win for America

Military service creates unparalleled opportunities for young Americans. Whether you serve in the infantry, fix jets, or provide supportive services, the military teaches young men and women how to think critically, be effective leaders, embrace change, and work as a team. These skillsets are becoming more and more valuable to corporate America. Over the last […]

Beyond “Thank You for Your Service”

Veterans face conflicting perceptions, on the one hand seen as being prone to violence, on the other hand seen as a hero and placed on a pedestal.

Beyond the Uniform

In 2010, a Marine Corps veteran saw the destruction caused by the Haiti earthquake and felt compelled to help. He, along with seven others, saw an opportunity to use their skills in a time of need and took the initiative to organize and deploy, aiding hundreds of the injured. Fifteen years later, this group has […]

Should Military Commissaries be Privatized? Yes…

It it will better serve our troops and their families

Should Military Commissaries be Privatized? No…

For struggling military families, commissaries are more important than ever

Ripon Profile of Tony Gonzales

The Representative of Texas’ 23rd Congressional District and Co-Chair of the For Country Caucus discusses how his service in uniform has shaped his career.

Safeguarding Sacrifice: Improving Military Quality of Life

As members of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), we are committed to improving and advancing our military. Each year, we work to secure passage of the National Defense Authorization Act, annual legislation that sets policy for the operation and oversight of the Department of Defense.

As veterans of the Air Force, we know firsthand the importance of supporting our men and women in uniform. Last year, we joined forces to lead a panel focused on improving military quality of life, the HASC’s bipartisan Military Quality of Life Panel, and we were joined by eleven Committee members. Over a year, the Panel conducted dozens of engagements with service members, military families, senior defense officials, and outside experts to understand the challenges military families face and explore solutions. 

The Panel’s work revealed how many service members and military families face challenges such as low pay, substandard housing, access to healthcare and childcare, and spouse employment. Military families make unimaginable sacrifices on behalf of our nation, and it is our responsibility to ensure we provide for their basic needs.

Military families make unimaginable sacrifices on behalf of our nation, and it is our responsibility to ensure we provide for their basic needs.

In our candid discussions, we heard firsthand accounts of military families who struggle with putting food on the table in an economy where military pay has lagged behind inflation for many years. At a minimum, no one who volunteers to risk their life defending our country should have to rely on federal, state, or private food assistance to eat.

Another urgent problem that quickly caught the Panel’s attention is the sharp decline in affordable quality housing for military families and single servicemembers who live on base. During testimony at one of our hearings, the Government Accountability Office revealed deplorable living conditions at many of our installations. Making matters worse, the Department of Defense has chosen to reduce housing reimbursements to commercial operators of on-base family housing and for those living off-base on the local economy. Over time, this has forced more and more service members into either unaffordable or substandard living conditions. 

We also learned about the employment challenges facing military spouses. Like many Americans, sharp increases in the cost of living have forced military families to have two incomes. However, the frequent moves required by military service often make it very difficult for military spouses to find work. The Panel’s work revealed that military spouse unemployment typically hovers over 20%, making it one of the highest unemployment rates in American society. 

Like many Americans, sharp increases in the cost of living have forced military families to have two incomes. However, the frequent moves required by military service often make it very difficult for military spouses to find work.

Ultimately, the Panel assembled a 48-page report containing 31 recommendations to improve the lives of military families, with a final goal of strengthening America’s fighting forces. We identified five key problem areas and made policy recommendations to address pay, childcare, housing, healthcare, and spousal support.

The title and text of this year’s NDAA, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, are based on the legislative recommendations of the HASC Military Quality of Life Panel. H.R. 8070 includes all 31 recommendations totaling more than $4.5 billion to combat challenges faced by service members and their families.

Among the most important of these recommendations are a targeted 19.5 percent pay increase for junior enlisted personnel, restoring housing reimbursement rates to 100 percent, requiring the Department to fully fund housing reimbursement, and making professional certifications valid across state lines.

Our national security is weakened when our All-Volunteer Force cannot recruit or retain service members. By implementing the recommendations of the HASC Military Quality of Life Panel, we both strengthen our national security and honor the sacrifices made by our service members and their families. We will continue to ensure that those who defend our freedom receive the support and resources they deserve.

After serving nearly 30 years in the Air Force, retiring as a brigadier general, Don Bacon continued his service to our nation when he was elected in 2016 to represent Nebraska’s 2nd District. He currently serves on the Armed Services Committee, where he chaired the Quality of Life panel and is Chairman of the Cyber, Information Technologies and Innovation Subcommittee. Chrissy Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, an engineer, a serial entrepreneur, an educator, and a nonprofit leader. She represents Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, and serves on the Armed Services Committee and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.