Our military members make countless sacrifices every day – sacrifices many of us cannot begin to imagine. They put their lives on the line for our freedom and our safety, and they do it expecting nothing in return. This month marks National Military Appreciation Month, and I would like to take time to honor the brave Americans who serve in our Armed Forces, including our guardsmen and reservists, and I would like to remember the heroes who have died while serving our country. They made the ultimate sacrifice so that our children can sleep safe at night, and there are no words strong enough to express my profound gratitude to these fallen soldiers and to their families.

As the co-founder of the Military Family Caucus, I know that when a service member joins the military, it’s not just a job; it’s a family commitment to our country. It’s a commitment complete with sleepless nights and frequent moves, with learning curves and insurmountable stress. Military spouses deserve our great appreciation for their strength and their loyalty.

As the House considers the National Defense Authorization Act this week, I want to encourage the Secretary of Defense to continue working to reduce the unemployment and underemployment of military spouses and support closing the wage gap between military spouses and their civilian counterparts.

This month I offer great thanks and appreciation to our military men and women and their families — because they deserve our gratitude for the sacrifices they have made, and they are essential to keeping America safe. Yes, May marks National Military Appreciation Month, but really, every month the members of our military – and their families — should be celebrated, appreciated, and thanked for the commitment they have made.

This week I had the opportunity to honor National Military Appreciation Month on the Floor. Please click here if you would like to watch the video.