For those that have been here before welcome back. We are your hosts, BJ 'n Cindy. We own and operate this site as well as the sister sites. The Military Spouse Commission held its first meeting today at the White House.
The commission, which President Donald J. Trump established via executive order Aug. 3, is tasked with advising and assisting the president on policies that affect military spouses and families.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who attended the meeting as a guest, spoke briefly to the roughly 20 attendees.
"A lot of things that need to happen in our department happen with the stroke of a pen from either your husbands, at [their] level, and if not, up at the office of secretary of war level; and we are prepared to wield that pen," Hegseth told the commission, which comprises the spouses of the War Department's most senior military leaders.
His wife, Jennifer Hegseth, chairs the commission and spoke about its establishment.
"We're here to help President Trump improve the lives of America's nearly 1 million military spouses, which you all are a part of. And as you know firsthand, military spouses make a sacrifice for our nation together with the sacrifice of your warrior," she said.
She went on to explain that the commission will work to tackle big issues like employment, housing, education and healthcare, as well as micro issues that also need addressing.
"Many of those solutions will be new, but some already exist and have gotten stuck in the bureaucracy — and we'll find those too," she said.
Jennifer Hegseth noted that some of those issues will need to be revived from past efforts to fix them, and that some solutions will require congressional legislation.
"We will work to find solutions to all of them, so thank you all again for being willing to serve," she said.
Each commission member then introduced themself and spoke about the issues that they prioritize the most. As the meeting continued, it became clear that the three most referenced issues were healthcare, employment and housing.
Donna Caudle, the wife of the chief of naval operations, said that as a licensed healthcare professional, she has seen firsthand and heard from countless Navy families about the challenges they face when accessing healthcare.
The Military Spouse Commission held its first meeting today at the White House.
The commission, which President Donald J. Trump established via executive order Aug. 3, is tasked with advising and assisting the president on policies that affect military spouses and families.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who attended the meeting as a guest, spoke briefly to the roughly 20 attendees.
"A lot of things that need to happen in our department happen with the stroke of a pen from either your husbands, at [their] level, and if not, up at the office of secretary of war level; and we are prepared to wield that pen," Hegseth told the commission, which comprises the spouses of the War Department's most senior military leaders.
His wife, Jennifer Hegseth, chairs the commission and spoke about its establishment.
"We're here to help President Trump improve the lives of America's nearly 1 million military spouses, which you all are a part of. And as you know firsthand, military spouses make a sacrifice for our nation together with the sacrifice of your warrior," she said.
She went on to explain that the commission will work to tackle big issues like employment, housing, education and healthcare, as well as micro issues that also need addressing.
"Many of those solutions will be new, but some already exist and have gotten stuck in the bureaucracy — and we'll find those too," she said.
Jennifer Hegseth noted that some of those issues will need to be revived from past efforts to fix them, and that some solutions will require congressional legislation.
"We will work to find solutions to all of them, so thank you all again for being willing to serve," she said.
Each commission member then introduced themself and spoke about the issues that they prioritize the most. As the meeting continued, it became clear that the three most referenced issues were healthcare, employment and housing.
Donna Caudle, the wife of the chief of naval operations, said that as a licensed healthcare professional, she has seen firsthand and heard from countless Navy families about the challenges they face when accessing healthcare.
SOURCE DoW News Release