Strategic Reflection: National Invest In Veterans Week® and the Codification of a National Doctrine of Veteran Investment
Since its founding in 2019, National Invest In Veterans Week® has operated from a singular premise: the act of military service is itself a profound investment in the nation—and that investment demands a reciprocal, institutional response. This is not a commemorative initiative cloaked in ceremony, but a federally trademarked civic framework, forged to realign national priorities around the economic empowerment of veteran entrepreneurs.
From legal protection to legislative proclamation, from rhetorical adoption to policy implementation, National Invest In Veterans Week® has moved with uncommon discipline across the intersections of law, governance, and language. Today, its influence is measurable in the very structures of state and federal discourse.
South Carolina Leads Legislative Recognition
The earliest legislative codification came in 2021 through the South Carolina General Assembly. In its 124th Session, the legislature introduced and unanimously adopted H. 3825, a concurrent resolution officially recognizing National Invest In Veterans Week®, to be observed March 1–7, 2021.
Sponsored by more than 100 bipartisan state representatives—including Chris Wooten, Gilda Cobb-Hunter, Russell Fry, Todd Rutherford, and Leon Stavrinakis—this resolution affirmed the week’s purpose: to honor and uplift veteran-owned businesses. It encouraged civic institutions to provide commercial support and mentorship opportunities.
National Invest In Veterans Week® (NIVW), the only congressionally honored civic initiative of its kind, continues to gain significant national momentum as it is featured in Financial Poise™’s March 4, 2025 article, “Veteran-Owned Businesses Make All Kinds of Sense” by Mercedes Holmen. This feature highlights the rising economic impact and investability of veteran-owned businesses and complements NIVW’s growing federal and state-level recognition.
In recent years, the phrase “Invest in Veterans”—federally trademarked and protected under U.S. Registration No. 6784776—has evolved into more than a slogan. It now stands as a policy-aligned framework for economic and legislative support, cited across two entries in the Congressional Record, multiple U.S. House press releases, and three consecutive Montana gubernatorial proclamations (2023–2025).
Federal Recognition Overview
Congressional Record Entries:
May 24, 2023 – Rep. Don Davis (NC-01) delivered a floor speech aligned with NIVW principles, emphasizing investing in veterans and underserved communities.
March 8, 2024 – Rep. Matt Rosendale (MT-02) officially recognized “Invest in Veterans Week” during a House address, linking to Montana’s formal statewide proclamation.
U.S. House Press Releases:
March 2024 & April 2025 – Rep. Brian Mast (FL-21), a decorated Army veteran, explicitly named NIVW and reinforced its messaging in official press communications connected to veteran legislation and service center development.
Montana Executive Proclamations:
Governor Greg Gianforte has issued consecutive proclamations (2023, 2024, 2025) recognizing March 1–7 as “Invest in Veterans Week” statewide, cementing Montana’s leadership in veteran business advocacy.
Founded in 2019 by Lt. Col. Rickey L. Pope (Ret.), NFL veteran Drayton Florence, and Iraq War veteran Jeff Shuford, National Invest In Veterans Week® is not just a ceremonial week—it is a federally protected civic infrastructure designed to reframe military service as an economic asset.
Financial Poise™ Coverage and National Context
In Financial Poise™’s article, Holmen outlines why veteran-led businesses make sense for investors and the economy. Veterans are 45% more likely to start a business and often outperform peers due to their resilience, leadership, and operational experience.
Highlights from the article:
Veteran-owned businesses create 3.2 million jobs and contribute $983 billion annually to the U.S. economy.
Challenges persist—access to capital, mentorship, and networking remain major hurdles.
National Invest In Veterans Week® addresses these gaps through strategic syndication, legislative engagement, and educational platforms.
The combined recognition from Congressional Records, House press statements, and state-level proclamations—along with national business media coverage—positions National Invest In Veterans Week® as a leading force in veteran economic empowerment.
To read the full Financial Poise article:
https://www.financialpoise.com/invest-in-veteran-owned-business/
Entry into the Congressional Record
On May 24, 2023, Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) delivered a House floor speech titled “Investing in Our Veterans”, recorded in the Congressional Record (Vol. 169, No. 88, Page H2588). While he did not cite National Invest In Veterans Week® by name, Davis echoed its founding language:
“Investing in our brave veterans while helping the communities that need it most should be our highest priority.”
The phrase “Investing in Our Veterans” directly aligns with the initiative’s federally protected language established in 2019. Davis’s remarks also backed reforms like the Veterans Jobs Opportunity Act, promoting veteran entrepreneurship—further reinforcing alignment with the week’s mission.
Representative Brian Mast: A Federal Endorsement by Name
In March 2024, Congressman Brian Mast (FL-21), a U.S. Army veteran and double amputee, released a formal public statement titled “Invest in America, Invest in Veterans.” This time, National Invest In Veterans Week® was referenced explicitly:
“Just as these veterans invest in us and our safety, we must likewise invest in the veterans who have sacrificed so much for the greater good.”
Mast’s statement coincided with the passage of the Service-Disabled Veteran Opportunities in Small Business Act, tying policy directly to the observance.
In April 2025, Mast issued a second statement titled “Investing in Our Veterans”, using the phrase in reference to constituent services at the Thomas H. Corey VA Medical Center:
“Just as they have invested in us, we must invest in them.”
These two distinct uses of the “Investing in Our Veterans” title—by two different representatives across separate years—solidify the phrase’s federal adoption, showing rhetorical and legislative convergence with the initiative.
The Montana “Three-Peat”: Executive-Level Validation
At the executive level, Governor Greg Gianforte of Montana issued three consecutive gubernatorial proclamations—2023, 2024, and 2025—declaring March 1–7 as Invest in Veterans Week.
In his 2025 remarks, Gianforte said:
“I do hereby proclaim the week of March 1–7, 2025, as ‘Invest in Veterans Week’ in Montana to support our veterans and their investment in our communities.”
Montana, which holds the highest per capita veteran population in the U.S., has become a national model for state-level investment in veteran-owned businesses.
Founders and Framework: From Vision to Doctrine
The influence of National Invest In Veterans Week® traces back to its visionary co-founders:
Lt. Col. Rickey L. Pope (Ret.)
NFL veteran Drayton Florence
Iraq War veteran Jeff Shuford
These leaders crafted not only a week of recognition but an enduring, trademarked civic doctrine. Their strategic vision laid the foundation for cross-sectoral policy, economic empowerment, and federal adoption.
A Civic Doctrine Codified
What began as a civilian-led initiative is now legally protected, federally echoed, and legislatively reinforced. National Invest In Veterans Week® is no longer symbolic. It is actionable. It is lawfully real. And it is embedded in statehouses, Congress, and the executive branch.
This is the arc of civic invention made institutionally durable and federally indexable.
This is influence by design.
https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/volume-169/issue-88/house-section/article/H2588-4?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22Invest+in+veterans+week%22%7D&s=8&r=2
