Stories / Issue · Sep 26 – Oct 2, 2026
Military Readiness
Congress is addressing military readiness through weapons procurement, base operations, and personnel policies. Republicans are securing defense contracts, including Boeing's $20 billion Navy fighter deal and $5.5 million for drone testing, while supporting military pay increases. Democrats are introducing legislation on officer promotion independence and military family support, and questioning missile defense costs and administration proposals they view as wasteful.
AI summary of the releases below · Oct 6, 2026
How the conversation moved
Democrat Republican · one dot = one action| Action type | Sat261 | Sun271 | Mon282 | Tue2913 | Wed307 | Thu18 | Fri22 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sent lettersTo agencies, companies, officials | 7 | |||||||
| HearingsHeld, testified or questioned | 3 | |||||||
| CriticizedA policy, decision or person | 3 | |||||||
| PraisedCredit for a decision or person | 9 | |||||||
| Visits and eventsTours, town halls, site visits | 2 | |||||||
| Announced fundingGrants and approvals | 2 | |||||||
| Filed or pushed billsNew, reintroduced or passed | 5 | |||||||
| Other | 3 |
Where they stand
Support · 12
- RScott FLIntroduced bill protecting military training range from interference
- RCotton ARUrged action to preserve domestic critical mineral supply chain
- RMarshall KSPraised Forbes Field selection for KC-46A mission
- DBlumenthal CTIntroduced bill to protect military promotions from political interference
- RHamadeh AZApplauds increased hostile fire and imminent danger pay
- DLarsen WAAdvocated for Naval Station Everett as homeport for future Navy frigates
- RSmith MOCelebrated Boeing defense contract for Missouri aerospace manufacturing
- RGuest MSWelcomed Key Field selection as KC-46 refueling aircraft location
- DCourtney CTPraised F/A-XX program selection for naval readiness
- RAlford MOPraised Boeing F/A-XX contract award for Missouri economic growth
- RMoran KSUrged Secretary of War to maintain support for MV-75 Cheyenne program
- RJackson TXUrged Pentagon to advance MV-75 Cheyenne aircraft program
Oppose · 5
- DDuckworth ILOpposes Trump's Triumphal Arch as wasteful vanity project
- DWasserman Schultz FLOpposes new military mega-base proposal as costly vanity project
- DKelly AZQuestioned if Golden Dome could fuel arms race with Russia and China
- DJohnson TXIntroduced bill to review military personnel pardons by president
- DReed RIOpposed reckless officer reduction without congressional consultation
What each party did · Democrats 18 · Republicans 16
- 2Sent letters5
- 2Hearings1
- 3Criticized0
- 2Praised7
- 2Visits and events0
- 0Announced funding2
- 4Filed or pushed bills1
- 3Other0
Most active
By state
+10 more with fewer actions
Every action
34 actions · 37 releases- Oct 2, 2026
- Bill
- Letter
Sent letter to cabinet secretaries urging preservation of domestic silicon carbide manufacturing.
- Oct 1, 2026
- Praise
Praised Forbes Field Air National Guard Base as candidate location for KC-46A Pegasus mission.
- Criticism
Criticized Trump's Triumphal Arch project as wasteful and dangerous to veterans and national security.
- Letter
Urged Senate Armed Services Committee to halt 183rd Wing deactivation pending replacement mission.
- Criticism
Criticized Trump administration proposal for new military mega-base as wasteful and unnecessary.
- Bill
Led introduction of bicameral legislation to prevent political interference in military officer promotions.
↳ Military Promotions Depoliticization Legislation · Release ↗
- Praise
Praised Department of War for increasing combat pay to $450 and $275 per month.
- Statement
Released report arguing Naval Station Everett is ideal homeport for future U.S. Navy frigates.
- Letter
Sent letter to Navy Secretary requesting information on swine use in diving experiments.
- Praise
- Sep 30, 2026
- Letter
Sent letter urging Army to designate two Indiana facilities as premier military test ranges.
- Praise
Praised Air Force selection of Key Field in Meridian as KC-46 aircraft finalist.
- Hearing
- Bill
- Hearing
- Bill
Introduced bill requiring military review boards for presidential pardon recipients.
- Praise
- Letter
- Sep 29, 2026
- Criticism
- Funding
Secured Boeing St. Louis as prime contractor for Navy's next-generation F/A-XX strike fighter.
- Bill
Padilla and Scott introduced bipartisan bill to support military families transitioning to civilian life.
- Visit
Welcomed Air Force's selection of Bangor Air National Guard Base as finalist for new KC-46A squadron.
- Hearing
- Praise
Applauded Air Force selection of Key Field in Meridian as KC-46 aircraft finalist location.
- Funding
RHoeven ND $5.5M
Secured $5.5 million for Project ULTRA to expand drone and counter-drone testing capabilities.
- Letter
Sent letter to Defense Secretary urging review of military supply chain security.
- Praise
- Praise
- Statement
- Praise
- Praise
- Sep 28, 2026
- Letter
- Letter
Led 86 colleagues in letter urging Pentagon to prioritize MV-75 Cheyenne aircraft program.
- Sep 27, 2026
- Statement
Conducted in-person oversight of USS Abraham Lincoln to address crew concerns and accountability.
- Statement
- Sep 26, 2026
- Visit
Held Service Academy Day event for Puerto Rican students interested in military education.
- Visit
Summaries, action types, amounts and positions are read from each press release by AI and can be wrong. Joint releases (same day, same action, matching title or amount) count once. How it works