CONGRESSMAN BISHOP LEADS MILITARY FAMILY SUMMIT AT NATIONAL INFANTRY MUSEUM & SOLDIER CENTER
COLUMBUS, Ga. – Yesterday, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA-02), Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Military Family Caucus, organized and led the 2023 Military Family Summit which was hosted at the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center, adjacent to Fort Moore. Congressman Bishop was joined by Caucus Co-Chair, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-05) in hosting the day-long event.
The summit provided participants with the unique opportunity to hear directly from key military leaders as well as provide a forum for military families to discuss their experiences. The annual event alternates sites between Columbus, Georgia, and Fairchild Air Force Base in Eastern Washington.
The theme of this year’s summit was “Together We Thrive: Strengthening Resilience and Enhancing Well-being in Military Families.”
WATCH: Congressman Bishop’s Opening Remarks at the Summit
WATCH: Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers Opening Remarks at the Summit
Colonel (Ret) David Moore delivered opening remarks recalling the legacy of his father, Lt. Gen. Harold Gregory Moore, Jr. and mother, Julie Moore, after whom Fort Moore was recently named. They were instrumental in drawing attention to the importance of military family well-being to the readiness of U.S. Armed Forces.
During the summit, there were four panel discussions featuring presenters from military service organizations, as well as U.S. Armed Forces leadership and leaders of federal programs that support military families. Panel topics included:
- Family Readiness and Quality of Life
- Health and Wellness, including:
- Family Wellness and Work-Life Balance
- Health Care Access
- Food Security and Nutrition
- Special Needs and Disabilities
- Employment and Financial Resources, including:
- Military Spouse Employment and Child Care
- Skill Development and Education
- Retirement/Transition Planning and Benefits
- Military Pay and Compensation
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse, including:
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Military Sexual Trauma (MST)
- Depression, Anxiety, and Overcoming Barriers to Care
- Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention
- Suicide Prevention and Awareness
The goal of the annual summit is to raise awareness about federal resources that support military families, as well as hear from military families about the challenges they face. Using feedback from the Summit, Members of Congress can work towards creating or improving the programs, departments, and agencies that serve them.
For those interested in learning more about the Congressional Military Family Caucus, the 2023 Summit, or the work being done on behalf of servicemembers and their families in Congress, they can contact any of the Congressman’s offices – in Georgia or Washington, DC. Contact information can be found on the Congressman’s website: https://bishop.house.gov.
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PHOTO CAPTION (TOP): Congressman Bishop welcomes attendees to the Congressional Military Family Caucus 2023 Summit at the National Infantry Museum at Fort Moore in Columbus, Georgia
PHOTO CAPTION: Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers delivers welcome remarks at the Congressional Military Family Caucus 2023 Summit
PHOTO CAPTION: General Gary M. Brito delivers the Congressional Military Family Caucus 2023 Summit keynote address
PHOTO CAPTION: Panelists answer questions from the audience during the Congressional Military Family Caucus 2023 Summit session covering employment and financial resources
