At Secure Families Initiative, we promote an approach to U.S. foreign policy that prioritizes peace and diplomacy, and provides a platform for military family voices. In pursuance of this goal, our organization advocates on the following issues:
Decisions over War and Peace
Protracted conflicts abroad exacerbate many of the challenges facing military families. It is imperative that the United States disentangle itself from endless wars, demilitarize its relationships with rising powers, and reprioritize caring for those who have served here at home.
Additionally, the process of Authorizing the Use of Military Force should be maximally deliberative, transparent, and respectful of constitutional war powers. If our loved ones are called upon to demonstrate the ultimate bounds of their service, we want to feel confident in the necessity and justness of that decision.
- Read: Why War Powers Matter to Military Spouses
- Learn more: read about the Authorized Use of Military Force.
National Security Budget
The United States should and does have a strong military, but that’s not the only arrow we should have in our foreign policy quiver. We must also invest in the diplomatic and developmental arms of our foreign policy apparatus because when they succeed, they make our nation stronger and shield our military families from unnecessary risk.
Our Pentagon budget must reflect the importance of the people charged with our national security. Every dollar counts. It’s no secret that our current approach to defense spending is bloated and opaque. Our military cannot be mission-ready if military people do not have the right training and tools to do their jobs, or if they are worried about their families’ wellbeing. Initiatives that strengthen our service families will also strengthen our national security.
- Learn more: read about the national security budget.
Military Family Voting
Military families deserve a say in the decisions that so dramatically affect our lives. Yet our current system of voting remains inaccessible for many in our community. That’s why we support legislation that makes voting as accessible as possible, while still upholding election security. Because safe access to the ballot box is a national security priority, now more than ever.
- Learn more: read about military family voting.