Julie's Journal Special Edition: Veterans and Military
Dear North Dakota veterans and service members,
Serving as North Dakota’s voice in the U.S. House of Representatives is the honor of a lifetime. My husband Mike, a Navy veteran, and I have been soaking up the history that engulfs Washington, D.C. Not only are we walking the same ground as our nation’s greatest heroes, but the principles and ideals of our country are quite literally baked into the walls and architecture of the city.
On the wall of the Energy and Commerce Committee room, where I spend the most time, is a massive representation of the Great Seal of the United States. It’s about 10 feet wide and 6 feet tall. This seal is embossed on the wall directly across from where I sit, so I admire it often. At the center of this image is a bald eagle with its massive wings spread wide. The eagle's left talon is filled with arrows. The eagle’s right talon holds an olive branch. Peace through strength is the message.
Strength is, always has been, and always will be the greatest peacekeeping tool of America. Our way of life depends on peace through strength and rests upon the commitment to freedom that every generation of Americans always has—and always must—embrace through military service. North Dakota has always punched above our weight class in this regard. We have some of the highest military participation rates in the nation. We have the North Dakota National Guard and Air Guard—the best! And we are home to two-thirds of our nation’s nuclear triad—one of our greatest investments in peace through strength.
As great as all of these investments are, we must recognize the most important keepers of peace through strength: our veterans, especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice by dying to protect the freedom and self-governance that defines America. We cannot achieve peace through strength without the brave, selfless men and women who step up to serve in our nation’s military.
In this special military-focused newsletter, you’ll find updates on the issues that matter to our state’s veterans and military families. If you’d like more frequent updates, please subscribe to my monthly newsletter. I always appreciate hearing from you, so reach out to my office anytime to share your thoughts.
My Best,
Julie
My team and I had the honor of welcoming hundreds of North Dakota veterans who traveled to Washington, D.C. with the Western North Dakota Honor Flight and the North Dakota/Minnesota Honor Flight. North Dakota has a proud tradition of service, and these men and women embody the very best of who we are. Welcoming our heroes and bringing them to the House Floor—the heart of democracy—was one of the greatest privileges I’ve had in Congress. We also had a surprise visit from our former Governor, and now Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum!
The Minot Air Force Base plays a vital role in our nation’s defense and is home to two-thirds of our nation’s nuclear triad. As North Dakota’s lone voice in the House, understanding the missions of this base and knowing the leaders and service members stationed there is vital to my work. Many thanks to the commanders there who briefed me on the base's key activities and security protocols that keep America’s most powerful assets ready to defend the nation 24/7 and discussed the future of America’s nuclear deterrence. The meetings included:
A combined mission briefing at the 5th Bomb Wing Headquarters from Col. Jesse Lamarand, Commander of the 5th Bomb Wing’s legendary B-52 bombers, and Col. James Schlabach, Commander of the 91st Missile Wing’s Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM), on what it takes to keep America safe from the sky.
Overview of infrastructure challenges.
Discussion of unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles that delay access to health care and should be eliminated.
Up-close look at one of the B-52 Bombers, the Security Forces Group and Minuteman III ICBM silo.
Camp Grafton is a jewel on the banks of Devils Lake. At this site, men and women of the ND National Guard train in everything from bridge building and carpentry to cutting-edge UAS and counter-UAS operations. Thanks to the dynamic leadership of Brigadier General Mitchell Johnson and his team, North Dakota soldiers play a critical role in our state and national defense.
Meeting with veterans’ organizations, military leaders, and active service members is a top priority for my team. Here is a list of some of the organizations and individuals we’ve had the pleasure of meeting with:
VA Secretary Doug Collins
North Dakota Disabled American Veterans
North Dakota American Legion
North Dakota Veterans of Foreign Wars
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Military Veterans Advocacy
North Dakota Wing Civil Air Patrol
Brig Gen Mitchell Johnson and his team at Camp Grafton
Col. Timothy Monroe, Commander, 319th Reconnaissance Wing, Grand Forks Air Force Base
Col. Jesse Lamarand, Commander, 5th Bomb Wing, Minot Air Force Base
Col. James Schlabach, Commander, 91st Missile Wing, Minot Air Force Base
BG Rebecca McElwain
In my first six months in Congress, my colleagues and I have passed a series of bills that uphold our promise to veterans and their families:
H.R. 224 – Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act
H.R. 965 – Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act
H.R. 1228 – Prioritizing Veterans' Survivors Act
H.R. 981 – VETT Act
H.R. 586 – Vietnam Veterans Liver Fluke Cancer Study Act (as amended)
H.R. 1039 – Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act (as amended)
H.R. 983 – Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act of 2025
H.R. 877 – Deliver for Veterans Act (as amended)
H.R. 1912 – Veteran Fraud Reimbursement Act of 2025
H.R. 970 – Fairness for Servicemembers and Their Families Act of 2025
H. Con. Res. 9 – Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers Memorial Service
H.R. 1364 – ASSIST Act
H.R. 1823 – VA Budget Shortfall Accountability Act
H.R. 2201 – Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act
H.R. 217 – CHIP IN for Veterans Act of 2025
H.R. 1286 – Simplifying Forms for Veterans Claims Act
H.R. 1147 – Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act
H.R. 658 – Establishing qualifications for marriage and family therapists in the Veterans Health Administration
H.R. 1578 – Veterans Claims Education Act
H.R. 1815 – VA Home Loan Program Reform Act
H.R. 1969 – No Wrong Door for Veterans Act
H.R. 530 – ACES Act
H.R. 695 – Medal of Honor Act
Spoke on the House Floor to congratulate Minot on being named one of the 2025 Great American Defense Communities.
Penned a column in the Minot Daily News to commemorate the 70th groundbreaking anniversary of the Minot Air Force Base.
Honored the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country during a Memorial Day ceremony at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan.
If you are a veteran, please see below for a list of resources that could benefit you:
Click here for a list of services and benefits ranging from disability and health care to housing and life insurance.
Click here for VA assistance and forms.
Click here for more information on North Dakota’s VA facilities.
Click here for more information regarding the VA’s recent announcement of $52M in available suicide prevention grant funds.
Click here to learn more about how access to non-VA care no longer requires secondary approval.
Click here for a list of upcoming events near you.
Click here to receive more VA updates on resources for veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors.
Thank you to every veteran, active-duty service member, and military family who has answered the call to serve. Your sacrifice is the backbone of our freedom, and North Dakota is stronger because of your service. As the world changes, we will adapt—but I pray we never lose the values that have guided our service members for generations: duty, resilience, and love for our country. |
| My Best, |
Julie Fedorchak
Member of Congress
P.S. I’ll be hosting another Fedorchak Forum: A Conversation with Constituents on Tuesday, June 10 at 7:00pm CT to discuss pressing issues, answer questions, and hear concerns directly from North Dakotans. Please sign up here to participate. I’d love to hear from you!