Only 24 percent of the entire Congress has military experience. With each new Congress, we've noted the steady decline in the number of senators and representatives who have experienced some form of uniformed service. The following figures include any form of active, Reserve, or National Guard service. (Note: There are a few elections still being contested or subject to recounts. For the sake of consistency, the numbers below include the status of those candidates currently listed as leading in those races.)
1991 1995 1999 2003 2005 2007
Senate 68% 56% 43% 35% 31% 29%
House 48% 37% 31% 27% 25% 23%
This year's difference is highlighted by comparing those who left Congress by retirement or defeat vs. the freshmen legislators who replaced them:
Departees New Freshmen
Senate 20% 10%
House 25% 11%
The declining number of veterans in Congress is a reflection of the same trend among all Americans. With smaller forces, the proportion that has served will continue to decline as time passes.
But we shouldn't jump to the conclusion that veteran status is a good litmus test of the legislator's likely support for issues affecting the uniformed service community. Many non-veterans are among our strongest supporters on the Hill, and some who have advocated severe benefit cutbacks have served in the armed forces with great distinction.
More than anything else, the figures above illustrate the education challenge we face in getting our legislators to understand our issues. Most want to do the right thing, but their unfamiliarity with our issues means constituents who are veterans need to make special efforts to outline both problems and solutions for them.
Click here for more details on turnover and changes in the 2006 election, and how this may effect MOAA.
