Spokane, WA – Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Rep. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Military Family Caucus, hosted the first-ever Military Family Summit at Fairchild Air Force Base today.  The successful all-day event brought together Eastern Washington’s military families with state, local, and federal leaders on how to better support our military families. 

“Today’s summit was a tremendous success, and one that made me proud to represent the dedicated military families of Eastern Washington,” said Rep McMorris Rodgers.  “Our panel discussions, roundtables, and breakout sessions were insightful and engaging.  The comments and ideas that came out of them will be instrumental in developing better policy for military families at Fairchild and across the country.”

In addition to Reps. McMorris Rodgers and Bishop, panelists included Mr. Robert Gordon, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Military Community and Family Policy; Mr. Tom Riggs, Washington Guard Military Families; and Fairchild leadership.

The breakout sessions throughout the day focused on key issues affecting the military family community, including employment, health care, retirement, education, and the Exceptional Family Member Program.  There were over 100 attendees.    

In her closing remarks, Rep. McMorris Rodgers thanked Eastern Washington’s service members and their families for their valor, patriotism and sacrifice.  “May you never forget that your service does not go unnoticed, and your dedication to our country does not go unappreciated.”

The Congressional Military Family Caucus is a bipartisan educational forum for Members of Congress and their staff on military family topics.  This was the Caucus’ first event outside Washington, D.C.