💜 The Kids Behind the Uniform

More than 11,000 kids in Iowa are growing up in military families. They may not wear the uniform, but they carry the weight of service every single day. 

For some, that means moving to a new town — sometimes halfway across the world — and starting over when new orders come in. For others, it means living through deployments, saying goodbye without knowing when they’ll see their mom or dad next, and growing up faster than most kids their age.

As a combat veteran, Air Force Reserve Colonel, and dad of six kids, I’ve lived on both sides of that sacrifice. And during the Month of the Military Child, recognition matters — but so do results. That’s why I’ve worked to deliver real support for military families, including: 

💰 Securing a 4% pay raise for every servicemember in this year’s defense bill

🇺🇸 Leading the No Tax on Drill Pay Act to exempt federal taxes on drill pay for Iowa’s 13,000 National Guard and Reserve members 

Why it matters: For Iowa’s military families, greater financial stability at home means fewer disruptions when deployments begin, orders change, or families are asked to move. More dollars in parents’ pockets help make every transition easier on the children who carry that sacrifice every day. 

Bottom Line: During the Month of the Military Child, we honor the resilience and sacrifice of military kids across Iowa. I’ll keep fighting to ensure our military families have the support they’ve earned.