A group of Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives, all military veterans, have called on Senate Democrats who are also veterans to support a continuing resolution that would ensure military personnel continue to receive pay during ongoing government funding negotiations. The letter, led by Congressman Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) and Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), was signed by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Brandon), who represents Florida’s 16th district in Congress, as well as several other veteran lawmakers.
The letter addresses Senate Democrats who voted against the House’s September 19th Continuing Resolution, urging them to reconsider their stance for the sake of active-duty service members. The signatories emphasized the importance of unity among veterans in Congress, regardless of party affiliation.
The letter states: “We are a group of military Veterans now serving in the House of Representatives who voted YES for the House’s September 19th Continuing Resolution. We write to you, fellow Veterans now serving in the United States Senate, who have voted NO on that same resolution multiple times. We hope you receive this letter in the manner in which it is intended: as brothers and sisters in arms, not as partisans.”
It continues: “We all remember what it meant to lead, to follow, and to stand beside those who depended on us. In that same spirit, we respectfully ask that you reconsider your recent vote against the clean, no-partisan-rider funding bill passed by the House of Representatives.”
The representatives highlight that the proposed short-term measure contains no spending cuts or policy riders and is designed to keep the government open while allowing time for further negotiation on long-term appropriations bills. They stress that the resolution is essential for ensuring uninterrupted pay for U.S. troops.
“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. We respect that you have those priorities. But for the sake of our troops, we ask that you vote for the continuing resolution and assert those policy preferences during subsequent discussions and debates that do not interrupt troop pay,” the letter says.
The signatories also note: “Let us be clear: 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. It is a simple but profound statement that, even in divided times, we remain united behind the people who defend our Nation.”
They add: “We know that each of us brings our own views on fiscal priorities, but we also know that those who wear the uniform should never be used as leverage in a political stalemate. A clean continuing resolution is the only immediate way to prevent their pay from being withheld.”
The letter concludes: “We urge you, as fellow Veterans and patriots, to stand with us in putting country over politics — to protect those who protect us. Let’s get this government reopened, pay our service members, and continue working out our differences the way Americans always have: through debate, compromise, and shared commitment to the mission.”
Vern Buchanan has served in Congress since 2007, representing Florida’s 16th district after replacing Katherine Harris. He previously served in the Florida House of Representatives and resides in Sarasota. Born in Detroit in 1951, Buchanan graduated from Cleary University in 1975 and later from the University of Detroit Mercy in 1986.
