WASHINGTON – Blue Star Families, the nation’s largest nonprofit military and veteran family organization, has awarded U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (AL-03), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, with the Military Family Champion Award in recognition of his steadfast commitment to improving the lives of military families.

“I’ve been privileged to have the chance to support America’s service members and their families. The men and women in our armed forces selflessly serve and protect our nation, and they are able to do that because their families are standing beside them and enabling their service,” said Rep. Rogers. “The House Armed Services Committee recognized the sacrifices being made by these great Americans and worked hard to improve their quality of life and give them the support and resources they deserve. I’m proud of our achievement and honored by this recognition from Blue Star Families.”

“Chairman Rogers has been a tireless advocate for the people who serve and the families who serve alongside them,” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families. “Thanks to his leadership, the needs of military families are not just being heard — they are being met with action and accountability. We are grateful for his past and continued efforts in shaping a stronger, more resilient force and honoring military service.”

Background: This recognition follows Rep. Rogers’ leadership in elevating quality of life issues as a priority of the House Armed Services Committee, empowering the Congressional Quality of Life Panel and ensuring that critical support was included in the H.R. 5009, the “Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025.”

The FY2025 NDAA included the following provisions to support military families’ quality of life:

• A substantial 14.5% pay increase for junior enlisted, which will impact approximately 500,000 service members E-4 and below, and a 4.5% increase for the rest of the force.

• Expansion of access to and capacity of military child care programs with child care fee assistance programs and competitive staff salaries.

• Increase of the Basic Needs Allowance for low-income families meant to address food insecurity.

• Employment support for military spouses including expanding child care for job searches, making professional licensure transfers easier, and codifying the Military Spouse Career Accelerator Pilot Program.

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