Congressman Nick LaLota (R-Rocky Point) and Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (R-Virginia), both U.S. Navy veterans, led a group of House Republican veterans in asking Senate Democrats who are veterans to support the House-passed Continuing Resolution (CR) that ensures pay for U.S. servicemembers while Congress continues negotiating annual appropriations. In the letter sent to Senate Democrats who are also United States military veterans, the House members emphasize that their message is not political; it’s personal.
“We hope you receive this letter in the manner in which it is intended: as brothers and sisters in arms, not as partisans,” the letter states. “Passing this continuing resolution is not a concession by one side or the other. It is an act of solidarity with those who continue to serve.”
The letter also acknowledges that some Senate Democrats object to the House’s One Big Beautiful Bill and are also demanding a permanent extension of the pandemic-era Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, which are currently scheduled to expire at the end of this year. The House veterans write that, while they respect those policy priorities, they should not be used as a reason to block a short-term, clean funding bill that pays troops on time.
“We understand that you oppose certain policies in the One Big Beautiful Bill and that you have strong preferences regarding the future of the Affordable Care Act credits,” the letter states. “We respect that you have those priorities. But for the sake of the men and women who continue to serve, we ask that you separate those debates from the immediate responsibility of keeping the government open and paying our Troops.”
“This isn’t about party jerseys — it’s about the men and women wearing our nation’s uniform,” LaLota said. “The House already passed a clean, no-cuts, no-riders funding bill to keep the government open while long-term appropriations are negotiated. We’re asking our fellow veterans in the Senate to help end the shutdown and make sure our troops get paid on time.”
According to a 2022 study published by the U.S. Army University Press, 62% of military families report stress due to their financial situation — a reflection of how many servicemembers live paycheck to paycheck.
LaLota noted that withholding pay from troops who already face economic strain “adds unnecessary hardship to families who sacrifice enough as it is.”
“Our servicemembers shouldn’t have to wonder if they’ll get paid because of political gridlock in Washington. Paying our troops is not a Republican or Democrat issue, it’s an American responsibility. We can debate policy differences later, but the men and women defending our nation must always come first,” said Kiggans.
There are currently seven Democratic Senators who have served in the U.S. military. LaLota and Kiggans noted that if those seven crossed the aisle and voted for the House’s clean, no-cuts, no-riders Continuing Resolution, the government could reopen and Troops would be paid immediately. “It only takes seven to do the patriotic thing,” LaLota said. “If the Veterans in the Senate stand with the Veterans in the House, we can end this shutdown today.”
The letter, signed by Republican Veterans now serving in the House, urges Senate Democrats who are also Veterans to “stand with us in putting country over politics — to protect those who protect us.”
In addition to LaLota and Kiggans, the following members of Congress signed the letter: Army Veteran, Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas); Army Veteran, Rep. Cory Mills (R-Florida); Air National Guard Veteran, Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Florida); Marine Corps Veteran, Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio); Navy Veteran, Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-Texas); Air Force Veteran, Rep. Don Bacon (R-Nebraska); Navy Veteran, Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wisconsin); Air Force Veteran, Rep. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa); Navy Veteran, Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas); Army Veteran, Rep. John James (R-Michigan); Army National Guard Veteran, Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Kentucky); Navy Veteran, Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas); Air Force Veteran, Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas); Army Veteran, Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Colorado); Navy Veteran, Rep. Andy Harris (R-Maryland); Navy Veteran, Rep. Scott Franklin (R-Florida); Army Veteran, Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R-Arizona); Navy Veteran, Rep. John McGuire (R-Virginia); Air Force Veteran, Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Georgia); Marine Corps Veteran, Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Georgia).