Keeping the US secure is becoming increasingly more of a challenge. On Veterans Day, those who have served in the Armed Forces are now more involved in writing and passing laws that influence national security, which is more important than ever. Legislators with military experience add an element of validity to congressional budgets and other legislation impacting national security.
Historically, veterans have not been as revered as they are today. Throughout America’s history, honoring veterans has all too often been just an 11th-of-November parade occasion. There was a time following World War II and the Korean War when it was hard to find a congressman or senator who had not served in the military. However, veterans’ representation in the two US legislative bodies has diminished over the years. “In 1973, the total number of veterans serving in House and Senate seats was 401 – 75% of all the seats in both chambers. By 1995, that number was down to 213 seats. It dropped below 100 for the first time in 2013,” according to a Military Officers Association of America report.
Encouraging Number of Veterans in Congress
There are currently 82 House members and 16 senators who are veterans. Looking at how many veterans ran for federal office in 2024, the numbers are encouraging. “So far, 80 veterans who ran for Congress in one of the two major parties this year have won, while 94 have lost, according to AP race calls,” Military.com reported. In some of the closest races, veterans replaced non-veteran incumbents. Most notably, the Montana senatorial race was very close. A US Navy veteran ran against John Tester (D-MT), the incumbent, and won. The Military Times explained:
“Montana Sen. Jon Tester, a key voice for Democrats on veterans and military spending issues, lost his re-election bid on Tuesday to Republican challenger Tim Sheehy, an outcome that gave GOP leaders the majority in the Senate.…Sheehy is a former Navy SEAL who also graduated from Army Ranger School as part of a special operations exchange program between the services.”
Though Senator Tester was a strong advocate for veterans, with Republicans taking back the Senate in the 2024 election, Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) is thought to be the next chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. Having been a committee member since 2011, Moran is predicted to be a strong voice for veterans’ causes in the committee. “Moran pledged to focus on preventing veteran suicide, tackling veteran homelessness, overseeing the modernization of the Veterans facilities and health records, and monitoring the implementation of the PACT Act, a landmark bill expanding health and disability benefits,” the Stars and Stripes reported. Now, veterans will be better represented with Senator-elect Tim Sheehy in the upper chamber.
Another squeaker of a race won by a veteran was the Senate contest in Pennsylvania. Republican Senator-elect Dave McCormick, a West Point graduate, beat incumbent Senator Bob Casey (D-PA).
9/11 Increased Recruiting Numbers
A factor in whether the number of military veterans continues to grow is how successful the US Military Services are in recruiting and sustaining the armed forces. However, there was a large influx of military members following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on America. As the Navy Times explained, “Of the 79 (80 at this writing) election winners, 53 served some or all of their time in the military after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Seth Lynn, founder of Veterans Campaign, said that group continues to grow in importance in legislative work regarding military and veterans’ issues.”
Those issues include the rising cost of healthcare benefits for veterans. Private and family healthcare givers have filled the gap where the Department of Veterans Affairs has not been sufficient. The number of legislators in Congress who are veterans is a testament to the patriotic impulse to serve that is emblematic of Americans.
The views expressed are those of the author and not of any other affiliate.
