With so many issues currently facing lawmakers, it is a wonder if Congress will complete anything meaningful over the next eleven months, given that the current 119th Congress is regarded as one of the least productive Congresses in the modern era. Still, the concerns of everyday Americans, both stateside and abroad, continue to linger without legislative action.
At the beginning of February 2026, a handful of members of the Democrats Abroad Global Veterans and Military Families (VMF) Caucus were recently asked:
“What are the top three issues you think Congress should be addressing right now?”
As VMF’s members and voters span all 50 states and several U.S. territories, the range of responses we compiled is shown below.
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“Free and fair voting is paramount to maintain our democracy. As UOCAVA voters, most of us are not able to travel to the States to register to vote, nor can we return for every election our Cities and Counties hold, nor can we return for the 2026 Midterm Elections. We often hear, “This election is the most important election of our lives.” I believe the 2026 Midterm Election truly is. UOCAVA voters must be allowed to register and vote by mail, FAX or online, a right granted in 1989. Federalizing any election in any state violates the U.S. Constitution, and that must not happen. ICE must not be allowed to surround polls, intimidating voters. Congressional stock trading must be banned. Gerrymandering must end. Congress must defend the rule of law and separation of powers.”
-Kee Evans, Guatemala
“It’s hard to narrow it down to just three, so I’ll summarize in four issues what Congress should be tackling. First, education – the dismantling of the Department of Education is a travesty, and especially will affect the most vulnerable students. Second, the Scouts and how Pete Hegseth wants to terminate that partnership because it’s ‘too woke’ – for some military kids, it’s one of the few things that they can do, no matter what country they are in. Plus, it is a big recruitment tool for the military. Third, health care – for me in particular, it’s about making sure we still have access to vaccines, staffing hospitals that are always short-staffed, and having access to the medications we need (we are constantly on back-order for all kinds of medications out here at Rota Naval Station). And fourth, the cost of living – especially for the active military community that lives in the states. Service members and their families shouldn’t have to rely on food pantries to get by. However, everything is so expensive these days, and especially so in places like San Diego. It’s a shame that I feel more financially stable overseas than I ever did in the States.”
-Chloe Lamfers, Spain
“My number one priority that Congress needs to take action on is protecting the right to VOTE and ensuring free and fair elections for all. Also, they should pass legislation on creating a universal Health Care for All program. And for a third priority, we need to see Congress impeach people in the current Administration!”
-Susan Fitoussi, France
“Here are the three issues that Congress should be dealing with right now: 1) Government corruption - the president is acting out of control with the sacred constitutional power of the pardon, and Congress appears to have totally forgotten all about Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution regarding the emoluments clause; 2) Reform of Health Care - movement towards a single payer system, like that enjoyed by the military and the US Congress; and 3) Election Funding Reform - follow the work of AmericasPromise.org and their campaign to bring fairer campaign funding rules to elections.”
-Dr. Thomas Murphy, Belgium
“I actually have four issues of priority concern: 1) Abolishing ICE – Congress should take action to abolish ICE and replace it with an immigration system that treats people with dignity and focuses on humane, effective policy rather than punitive enforcement. The current structure has produced systemic abuses that demand real accountability and structural change. 2) Impeaching Donald Trump – Congress must confront the ongoing abuses of power and violations of democratic norms associated with Donald Trump. Holding a president accountable is essential for maintaining the rule of law and ensuring that no one—especially the most powerful—is above it. 3) EPA Regulations – Congress should urgently address the rollback of critical EPA regulations that protect clean air, clean water, and public health. Weakening environmental safeguards puts communities at risk and undermines our ability to respond to the accelerating climate crisis. 4) Firing of DoD Employees and Other Government Agency Staff – Congress should investigate the politically motivated firings happening across the Department of Defense and other federal agencies. These purges undermine institutional stability, weaken national security, and erode the nonpartisan civil service on which a functioning democracy depends.”
-Angela Fobbs, Germany
“1. Rule of law, accountability, and civilian oversight – Veterans understand the lawful use of force and the importance of accountability. Right now, Congress is failing to assert its oversight role when federal agencies misuse authority or when senior officials mislead the public about the use of force. Upholding the rule of law and civilian oversight is a core democratic principle, and Congress needs to act before further damage is done. 2. Presidential corruption and abuse of office for personal gain – Congress must confront the ongoing damage caused when a president uses the office to enrich himself. The blending of public power with private financial interests undermines ethical norms, weakens democratic institutions, and erodes trust at home and abroad. When corruption is tolerated at the highest level, it damages America’s credibility and moral leadership on the world stage. Congress has a responsibility to enforce clear ethical standards and ensure no president is above the law. 3. Good government: fixing TRICARE and the VA Foreign Medical Program for military families and veterans overseas – For military families and veterans overseas, broken government systems are not an abstraction. TRICARE and the VA’s Foreign Medical Program routinely take months to reimburse medically necessary care, with little transparency or accountability, forcing people to front significant out-of-pocket costs. Congress needs to treat this as a basic good-government failure, modernize these programs, and ensure overseas veterans and families receive the care they’ve earned.”
-Stephen Peters, United Kingdom
“1. Immigration—Congress should act to stop ICE’s inhumane and illegal actions. In addition to their abuse of power, it makes me angry to see ICE agents ‘cosplaying’ as the military when they lack the professionalism and patriotism of actual service members. 2. NATO—Congress should do something to prevent Trump from invading our allies for no reason. Congress should act to clearly define laws of war as relating to attacking NATO allies so that we don’t attack them and so that individual service members are not put in impossible situations. 3. Corruption—Congress should prevent the Executive Branch from openly taking bribes from business executives to the ‘Melania’ movie to using the Justice Department as his personal piggy bank, Trump is robbing the American people blind while we struggle to make ends meet.”
-VMF member who wishes to remain anonymous, Japan
“Given that the United States is slipping into a fascist/authoritarian, lawless regime, my concerns focus on salvaging the republic. Thus, I’d like to see Congress: 1) impeach Trump and remove him from office, 2) impeach DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, given the out-of-control behavior of ICE and DHS leadership, and 3) impeach and remove Todd Blanche, US Deputy Attorney General and Trump’s lawyer. He has given sweetheart treatment to child trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell and refused to investigate the murder of Renee Goode by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.”
-Meredith Wheeler, France
“I think that Congress should do its job and stop allowing the Executive Branch to take over the Legislative Branch's functions. The Congress is supposed to declare wars and impose taxes (tariffs). The Executive Branch is out of control, and the Congress does nothing. ICE is out of control, and Congress is doing little to rein them back in. I would just like for Congress to do its job!”
-Dr. Robert Scott, Germany
“1. The illegal use of immigration enforcement and lack of training/rules of engagement: This issue affects not only immigrants but all Americans, especially those of color. It also affects community safety, local businesses, and tourism revenues. 2. Clear national security policies: the actions of this administration are creating instability not only in the United States but globally. There needs to be a 12-24 month plan outlining the national security. The current strategy on the White House webpage is full of political propaganda and no actual plan. I urge lawmakers to demand a clear cut national security strategy that will strengthen our alliances instead of dividing them. 3. Protection of veterans’ benefits: there’s been chatter about certain VA benefits to be cut. I would like for veterans to be assured they can count on their benefits.”
-Jessica van Dop DeJesus, Belgium
“My 3 important issues Congress should be addressing are: 1) making sure Americans living abroad can easily vote without constraints and hindrances especially the passport or photo ID requirement; 2) ensuring our veterans living abroad have the same health care as those stateside at U.S. military hospitals through the VA’s Foreign Medical Program; and 3) expanding the VA to assure that veterans are well taken care of stateside, while totally opposing any job cuts.”
-Anna Marie Mattson, France
“Thanks for asking. Congress needs to sort out the Supreme Court, protect the environment, and finally get money out of elections.”
-Michael Lee, Germany
“First, Congress should abolish ICE and use the money to provide health care for Americans in need. Secondly, lawmakers should remove the president from office by any means feasible and bring legal cases against corrupt and/or unqualified members of the cabinet, FCC, FBI, DoD, and DOJ. And third, Congress needs to follow the wonderful development projects (energy, infrastructure, student loan reduction, economic for 1st time home buyers and business owners, peaceful international relations, DEI, USAID, Department of HHS, Department of Education, etc.) that were initiated or supported under the Biden Administration in order to create a peaceful America at home and abroad.”
- Bhikkhuni Dr. Lee, Thailand
“The top three Veteran-related issues Congress should be addressing right now are access to quality health care, strong support for service-connected injuries and conditions, and meaningful action to prevent veteran suicide. These priorities cannot be met if funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs is cut. VA hospitals and care facilities experienced damaging reductions during the first year of the Trump administration, and continued leadership that prioritizes political loyalty over veteran well-being only worsens the problem. Congress must fully fund and strengthen the VA so it can provide timely, comprehensive care to those who have sacrificed for this country.”
-Sarah Dachos, The Netherlands
“I think Congress should be very concerned about climate change, gun control, stopping ICE from operating as police and killing Americans in cold blood without any repercussions, and stopping the destruction of the history of Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice.”
-Herbert Ruffin, Germany
“What does Congress need to do? 1. Normalize the status and secure human rights for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. This includes ending prolonged family detention, ensuring humane treatment in all facilities, and creating a fair, accessible, and timely path to status for our undocumented neighbors, many of whom serve our communities and economy.
Honor our sacred obligation to veterans and servicemembers by fully supporting their lives and families. This must include finally normalizing the status of all non-citizen members who enlist or commission in the U.S. Armed Forces, and ensuring a direct and expedited path to citizenship. Furthermore, we must improve veterans’ access to GI Bill benefits to allow for study at accredited institutions outside the United States, and recognize the global nature of education and the diverse backgrounds of our servicemembers. 3. Addressing the climate crisis as the definitive national security and public health emergency of our time. Congress must enact a just transition to a green economy, prioritizing communities most impacted by pollution and climate disruption, and creating millions of sustainable jobs that rebuild our infrastructure with equity and resilience at the core.”
-Amerika García Grewal, Mexico
All VMF members are encouraged to share their opinion on the above-posed question or any other VMF-related matter by doing any of the following:
Sending an e-mail to: [email protected].
Speaking up at one of our monthly virtual meetings.
Messaging us on Facebook, Instagram, or X (formerly Twitter).
Communicating with any of VMF’s leaders on the Steering Committee.
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U.S. citizens living abroad, both civilian and military, are highly encouraged to check your voter registration status and request your ballot for any upcoming elections in your home voting state that you are eligible to vote in.
The VMF Caucus has a membership of over 1,400 members located in dozens of countries and proudly consists of veterans, military family members, Department of Defense civilians, other national security professionals, and strong allies of veterans and military family causes.
For questions pertaining to this statement, please reach out to
[email protected].