United States Congressman Jake Ellzey

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 Servicemembers 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

  • ellzey
    Chair
    Jake Ellzey
    TX-06 | NAVY
  • Davis
    Chair
    Don Davis
    NC-01 | AIR FORCE
  • lalota
    Vice Chair
    Nick LaLota
    NY-01 | NAVY
  • Davis
    Vice Chair
    Chris Deluzio
    PA-17 | NAVY
  • downing
    Vice Chair
    Troy Downing
    MT-02 | AIR FORCE
  • conaway
    Vice Chair
    Herb Conaway
    NJ-03 | AIR FORCE
See All Members

Previous Leadership:

116th Congress:
Co-Chairs: Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA)
Vice Chairs: Congressmen Mike Waltz (R-FL) and Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)
117th Congress:
Co-Chairs: Congressmen Jared Golden (D-ME) and Don Bacon (R-NE) (Mr. Bacon replaced Van Taylor (R-TX))*
Vice Chairs: Congressmen Jim Baird (R-IN) and Salud Carbajal (D-CA)
118th Congress:
Co-Chairs: Congressmen Jason Crow (D-CO) and Tony Gonzales (R-TX)
Vice Chairs: Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA)and Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ)
*Departed Congress in 2022. 

For Country Caucus Endorse Members’ NDAA Requests

April 4, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Today, the For Country Caucus announced its support for 20 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) requests aimed at enhancing U.S. military readiness, strengthening defense technology, and securing the nation’s defense infrastructure. These requests reflect the Caucus' unwavering commitment to ensuring the U.S. Armed Forces remain the most capable and technologically advanced in the world.

"The national security and defense capabilities of the United States must continuously evolve and be strengthened to match growing threats facing our nation and our allies," said Congressman Ellzey, Co-Chair of the For Country Caucus. "Today, members from both parties came together to endorse key initiatives that will not only ensure the readiness of our military, but also promote innovative technologies that will help us stay ahead of global threats."

The endorsed requests include a variety of initiatives that enhance military readiness, improve service member welfare, and modernize defense technologies. The following are the endorsed requests and their respective sponsors:

  1. DoD Reserve Chief Minimum Qualifications (Rep. Jack Bergman, MI-01) – Ensures Reserve Component leaders hold senior ranks (O-9), enhancing their authority and influence within the Department of Defense.
  2. Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act of 2025 (Rep. Jack Bergman, MI-01) – Aims to preserve and recapitalize the U.S. Air Force’s fighter aircraft, with a focus on maintaining fighter capacity and readiness.
  3. Funding for the STARBASE Program (Rep. Salud Carbajal, CA-24) – Requests $53 million to support STEM education for students in grades 4–6, engaging young minds in hands-on learning across the country.
  4. Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act of 2025 (Rep. Jason Crow, CO-06) – Similar to Rep. Bergman’s request, this bill aims to preserve and enhance U.S. Air Force fighter capabilities through recapitalization and maintenance of the Air National Guard fleet.
  5. Dental for Our Troops Act (Rep. Jason Crow) – Provides no-cost dental care for Reserve Component members, improving recruitment, retention, and overall military readiness.
  6. Two-Year Extension of Afghan Special Immigration Visa Program (Rep. Jason Crow, CO-06) – Extends the Afghan SIV program through 2027, ensuring continued support for Afghan nationals who assisted U.S. forces.
  7. Support for Procurement of F-15EX Aircraft (Rep. Don Davis, NC-01) – Requests $2.5 billion for 24 F-15EX aircraft in FY26 to replace aging fighter jets and enhance U.S. Air Force capacity.
  8. Air Force Base Security Funding (Rep. Don Davis, NC-01) – Proposes a $10 million increase in funding for base security, including advanced technology and personnel, to improve safety at Air Force bases nationwide.
  9. Non-lethal Weapons Strategic Plan (Rep. Don Davis, NC-01) – Directs the Department of Defense to study and develop strategies for non-lethal weapons use in base and mission protection.
  10. Protecting American Families and Servicemembers from Anthrax (Rep. Don Davis, NC-01) – Calls for a modernized strategy to defend against the anthrax threat, ensuring national preparedness for biological threats.
  11. Musculoskeletal Regenerative Medicine (Rep. Don Davis, NC-01) – Seeks a $4 million increase in funding for regenerative medicine research to improve treatment of musculoskeletal injuries for military personnel.
  12. Funding to Integrate AI into Air Force Maintenance (Rep. Don Davis, NC-01) – Promotes the use of AI and advanced software solutions to enhance logistics and decision-making within the U.S. Air Force.
  13. CLARITY Act (Rep. Zach Nunn, IA-03) – Prohibits the Department of Defense from using blockchain infrastructure from companies or individuals linked to adversarial entities, specifically targeting Chinese influence.
  14. DIU-Taiwan Strategic Partnership (Rep. Zach Nunn, IA-03) – Directs the Department of Defense to establish a strategic defense technology partnership with Taiwan, focusing on countering China in the Indo-Pacific region.
  15. DIU Joint Reserve Detachment Formalization (Rep. Zach Nunn, IA-03) – Formalizes the Defense Innovation Unit’s (DIU) Joint Reserve Detachment to leverage reservists’ expertise in advancing military technology and procurement.
  16. 5 EYES for AI (Rep. Zach Nunn, IA-03) – Establishes a working group to enhance artificial intelligence coordination within the Five Eyes intelligence alliance (U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand).
  17. Defense Innovation Community-Abraham Accords Partnership (Rep. Zach Nunn, IA-03) – Expands collaboration between the U.S. and Middle Eastern nations part of the Abraham Accords to address regional security threats, including countering Iran.
  18. AI PLAN for the Department of Defense (Rep. Zach Nunn, IA-03) – Directs the Department of Defense to conduct a review of current AI capabilities and potential threats from adversarial AI, particularly from China.
  19. AI DPAS Rating System Elevation (Rep. Zach Nunn, IA-03) – Elevates the priority rating of AI systems in the Defense Priority and Allocation System (DPAS) to ensure that vital AI technology is prioritized in defense contracts.
  20. Report on Joint Counter Small Unmanned Aircraft Office (JCO) Process (Rep. Pat Ryan, NY-18) – Calls for a report on the effectiveness of the Joint Counter Small Unmanned Aircraft Office’s process for evaluating and approving drone defense applications at U.S. military bases.

“The For Country Caucus’ legislative endorsements underscore our unwavering commitment to ensuring that our military forces remain strong, innovative, adaptable, and fully prepared for the threats that lie ahead,” said Congressman Don Davis, Co-Chair of the For Country Caucus. “By prioritizing the readiness of our servicemembers and advancing cutting-edge technologies, we are firmly positioned to maintain our leadership in global defense.”

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Co-Chaired by Rep. Jake Ellzey (TX-06) and Rep. Don Davis (NC-01), the bipartisan For Country Caucus provides principled military veteran members with 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 — the American people.  Follow on X @BipartisanVets

Permalink: https://ellzey.house.gov/2025/4/for-country-caucus-endorse-members-ndaa-requests

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