From Washington to Canberra: National Invest In Veterans Week® Defines a Global Framework for Veteran Investment
From Washington to Canberra, a new consensus is taking shape: veterans are not merely to be commemorated—they are to be capitalized. National Invest In Veterans Week® (March 1–7), now recognized on both sides of the Pacific, is rapidly becoming a global framework for institutional veteran investment.
In the United States, venture capital syndicates like MilVet Angels, congressional citations, and Harvard-endorsed reintegration models have reframed the veteran identity from beneficiary to builder. In parallel, Australia's Returned & Services League (RSL) has issued its 2025 Election Asks published March 2025, calling for transformative investments in veteran healthcare, advocacy, and defence self-reliance.
This international alignment marks a shift in public policy, economic strategy, and civic values—anchored in the guiding ethos of National Invest In Veterans Week®:
“Military service is an investment. Let’s yield the return.
Published featuring contributions from AOL, NBC Bay Area and RSL Australia
From Washington to Canberra, a bold new era in veteran policy is emerging—one that treats military service not as a sacrifice to be honored alone, but as an asset to be invested in. With National Invest In Veterans Week® (March 1–7) now recognized globally, 2025 marks a turning point: an international alignment of public, private, and policy-driven efforts that affirm a shared commitment to veteran empowerment, entrepreneurship, and systemic support.
While the U.S.-based movement has long advanced its founding principle—"Military service is an investment. Let’s yield the return."—this year it finds powerful reflection abroad. In Australia, the Returned & Services League (RSL)’s Election Asks report (March 2025) lays out a transformative policy vision: full implementation of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, fee-free advocacy, modernized healthcare access, sustained institutional funding, and a rebalanced national defense strategy rooted in the wellbeing of those who serve.
“We want all sides of politics to seize the momentum... and make an enduring commitment to real, meaningful and long-lasting reform,” said Alan Toner of RSL’s Mosman Sub-Branch.
Flashback: A Silicon Valley Spark
The global trajectory of this movement traces back to a 2023 flashpoint in Silicon Valley. There, venture capitalist Dr. Ernestine Fu launched the MilVet Angels syndicate—a coalition of over 100 veteran investors backing startups led by military founders. The initiative showcased how veterans, equipped with leadership, adaptability, and mission clarity, are ideally suited to innovate in AI, infrastructure, and national security sectors.
“Veterans don’t just belong in the room,” Fu remarked. “They built it. Now, they’re investing in it.”
That ethos—of veterans as capital originators rather than passive beneficiaries—has come to define the 2025 tone of National Invest In Veterans Week®.
Institutional Advancements & Global Echoes
In the U.S., the initiative has been cited in the Congressional Record and propelled the formation of ITA Growth Partners, a dedicated family office investing in veteran-owned enterprises.
Harvard Catalyst (Jan. 2025) highlighted NIVW as a model for transition policy, integrating workforce, healthcare, and entrepreneurship into a unified reintegration strategy.
In Canada, 2025 marked the first official cross-border alignment, signaling the viability of a North Atlantic veteran investment framework.
In Australia, the RSL's platform calls for increased defence spending (2.5–3% GDP), systemic veteran healthcare reform, and the establishment of an independent Defence and Veteran Services Commission—all deeply aligned with the NIVW model of sustainable institutional commitment.
Beyond Symbolism: A Call to Structural Action
As National Invest In Veterans Week® continues to expand, it does so with a sharpened focus on policy impact, capital access, and narrative reframing. From the halls of Stanford to the chambers of Parliament in Canberra, the message is clear: veterans are not a cause, they are a class of catalytic capital.
This March, as AOL’s readers browse calendars for inspiration, National Invest In Veterans Week® offers more than a celebration. It offers a framework—and a future.
Learn more at www.investinveteransweek.com
Full report from RSL Australia available here (PDF)
Congressman Don Davis: From Congressional Record to Legislative Reform, a Champion for Veterans' Dignity and Economic Empowerment
In a year marked by transformative legislative action for veterans, Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) emerged as a key figure shaping the national veteran policy landscape. From entering National Invest In Veterans Week® into the Congressional Record in 2023 to introducing the Veterans Employment Readiness Yield (VERY) Act in 2025, Davis has demonstrated a sophisticated, sustained commitment to ensuring that America’s heroes are met with dignity—not bureaucracy. His leadership aligns powerfully with the federally trademarked initiative’s core goal: redefining military service as an investment in the nation, deserving of institutional reciprocation.
Honoring Congressman Davis for Linking the National Invest In Veterans Week® Movement to Meaningful Legislative Action Through the VERY Act of 2025
In 2025, Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) demonstrated a steadfast commitment to enhancing the lives of veterans through legislative action and public advocacy. His introduction of the Veterans Employment Readiness Yield (VERY) Act and his prior Congressional Record entry underscore a comprehensive approach to veteran support, aligning with the principles of National Invest In Veterans Week®.
The VERY Act: Modernizing Veteran Support
On April 11, 2025, Congressman Davis, alongside Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), introduced H.R. 2625, the VERY Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to update the Department of Veterans Affairs' Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program by replacing the terms "employment handicap" and "serious employment handicap" with "employment barrier" and "serious employment barrier," respectively. This change reflects a shift towards more respectful and empowering language, acknowledging the evolving perspectives of veterans regarding their experiences and challenges.
"We must ensure that our disabled veterans feel represented and heard," stated Congressman Davis. "The VERY Act makes changes to let our disabled vets know that they are receiving the respect and dignity they have rightfully earned."
Congressional Record Entry: A Precursor to Legislative Action
Congressman Davis's dedication to veterans' issues was evident prior to the introduction of the VERY Act. On May 24, 2023, he delivered a floor speech titled "Investing in Our Veterans," emphasizing the importance of supporting veterans and underserved communities. This address, recorded in the Congressional Record (Vol. 169, No. 88, Page H2588), highlighted the need for legislative action to bolster veteran entrepreneurship and employment opportunities.(National Invest In Veterans Week®)
Alignment with National Invest In Veterans Week®
The VERY Act and Congressman Davis's Congressional Record entry align with the objectives of National Invest In Veterans Week®, a federally recognized initiative dedicated to promoting investment in veteran-owned businesses and supporting veterans' transition to civilian life. The initiative has garnered bipartisan support and has been formally acknowledged in multiple Congressional Record entries, including those by Representatives Matt Rosendale and Brian Mast.(National Invest In Veterans Week®)
National Invest In Veterans Week® serves as a platform to advocate for policies that empower veterans economically and socially. Congressman Davis's legislative efforts and public statements contribute to this broader movement, reinforcing the nation's commitment to honoring and supporting its veterans.
Conclusion
Through the introduction of the VERY Act and his prior advocacy, Congressman Don Davis exemplifies a comprehensive approach to veteran support. His actions reflect a dedication to modernizing veteran services, promoting respectful language, and aligning with national initiatives that prioritize veteran empowerment.
For more information on the VERY Act, please visit Congressman Don Davis's official press release: Congressmen Don Davis and Juan Ciscomani Introduce Veterans Employment Readiness Yield (VERY) Act.
Congressman John Moolenaar Leads National Charge to Invest in Veterans’ Futures
Congressman John Moolenaar has emerged as a national leader in veteran workforce development, first endorsing National Invest In Veterans Week® in 2021 and now championing the 2025 bipartisan Veterans Fellowship Act to help transitioning service members access long-term civilian careers. His efforts reflect a legislative arc that aligns with the growth of National Invest In Veterans Week®, the only federally trademarked civic observance of its kind, now recognized in the U.S. Congressional Record, endorsed by Harvard Catalyst, and backed by ITA Growth Partners. In March 2025, National Invest In Veterans Week® became the first U.S. veteran business initiative to receive international media recognition, with Canadian industry joining the movement to treat military service as an investable asset. For further reading, visit: Harvard’s spotlight on the initiative and coverage of ITA Growth Partners and international adoption.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman John Moolenaar (MI-02) has emerged as one of the most consistent and forward-looking voices in federal veteran advocacy. This week, Moolenaar reintroduced the Veterans Fellowship Act, a bipartisan bill co-sponsored with Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (D-MI). The legislation is designed to help veterans and transitioning service members secure meaningful employment as they return to civilian life.
“Veterans often face unique challenges after their service when entering the workforce as civilians,” said Moolenaar.
“The Veterans Fellowship Act would provide them a pathway to gain useful skills for full-time employment in a new career. Veterans make significant sacrifices to keep our nation safe, and our bipartisan legislation will support them after their service.”
Rep. Scholten added:
“We are the home of the free because of the brave... I’m proud to work with Rep. Moolenaar to support efforts that invest in our veterans and their futures.”
Read the official press release and legislative details here:
Moolenaar, Scholten Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Veterans Enter the Workforce
From 2021 Endorsement to 2025 Legislation: A Full Circle for National Invest In Veterans Week®
Congressman Moolenaar’s dedication to investing in veterans predates the current bill. On March 3, 2021, he issued one of the earliest public endorsements of National Invest In Veterans Week®, stating:
“Our freedom is in large part thanks to the dedication and service of our heroic veterans and their families. They deserve our honor, respect, and support. I will always fight for investment in our veterans!”
— Congressman John Moolenaar
#InvestInVeteransWeek
Original endorsement:
Campaigns Daily – Invest In Veterans Week (2021)
That early support helped propel National Invest In Veterans Week® into a national civic framework, and now, under Moolenaar’s continued leadership, its core message is reflected in real-world legislative infrastructure.
National Movement, Global Impact
Today, National Invest In Veterans Week® is more than an observance—it is the only federally trademarked civic initiative of its kind (U.S. Reg. No. 6784776). Founded in 2019 by Lt. Col. Rickey L. Pope (Ret.), NFL veteran Drayton Florence, and Iraq War veteran Jeff Shuford, it has grown into a legislative, academic, and international platform for veteran entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.
Recent milestones include:
Harvard Catalyst Endorsement (January 2025): Harvard Medical School’s research division spotlighted National Invest In Veterans Week® as a model framework for veteran transition, calling for greater collaboration across government, academia, and the private sector.
Read moreITA Growth Partners Formation (March 2025): Announced by ITA International, this family office—founded by Mike and Kathy Melo and their daughters—is dedicated to long-term investment in veteran-owned businesses, mirroring the initiative’s core values.
More infoInternational Expansion to Canada (March 2025): Northern Ontario Business published “Investing in Veterans: A Call to Northern Ontario’s Business Community”, marking the first global recognition of the U.S.-originated initiative.
Congressional Record Citations:
May 24, 2023 – Rep. Don Davis (NC-01): Speech titled “Investing in Our Veterans” (Vol. 169, H2588).
March 8, 2024 – Rep. Matt Rosendale (MT-02): Official floor acknowledgment of Invest in Veterans Week (Vol. 170, H1049).
A Blueprint for Federal Impact
Through sustained leadership, Congressman John Moolenaar has helped shape National Invest In Veterans Week® into a federally validated, bipartisan-supported, and now internationally echoed initiative. His reintroduction of the Veterans Fellowship Act is not an isolated gesture—it is the legislative expression of a movement years in the making.
By linking national observance with actionable policy, Moolenaar exemplifies how elected officials can go beyond statements of support to architect durable solutions that uplift veterans economically and honor their service structurally.
To Learn More:
For further reading on the growing national and international impact of National Invest In Veterans Week®, visit Harvard Catalyst Spotlights National Invest In Veterans Week® as Model for Cross-Sector Veteran Empowerment, which explores the academic community’s recognition of the initiative. Additionally, learn how National Invest In Veterans Week® became the first U.S. veteran business observance celebrated internationally and how ITA Growth Partners’ launch reinforces this momentum by visiting: International Recognition Coverage.
🫡Our Team
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President Angel Shuford
Chief Financial Officer (CFO) | Army Veteran
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Retired U.S. Army First Sergeant Kevin D. Shoun
Senior Advisor | Civic Leadership and Policy Development
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Sara Pomposo
Chief Advisor | Audience Growth & Strategic Syndication
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Jim Freeman of The Five Satins
GRAMMY Hall of Famer | Brand Ambassador
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Pastor Ron Henson
Social Impact Advisor | Navy Veteran
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LTC Rickey L. Pope USA, Ret.
CO-FOUNDER | Retired Army Veteran, Retired Firefighter
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Jeff Shuford
CO-FOUNDER | Iraq War Veteran & Military Spouse
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Drayton Florence
CO-FOUNDER | NFL Veteran & Military Brat
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Erik M. Pelton & Associates, PLLC
Trademark Attorney | Veteran IP Advocate
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Advisor | Retired Army Veteran
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Brandon Sugar
Legacy UX/UI Designer | Army Veteran
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Mike Bicek
Creative Director | Army Veteran
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Private Jewel
Co-Founders Pup | Biewer Terrier
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Lonnell McCall I
Sr. Spokesperson | Retired Navy Veteran
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Celeste Everett
Legacy IT Consultant | Army Veteran
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Lonnell McCall II
Jr. Spokesperson | Military Brat
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Christopher B. Mueller
Lead Video Spokesperson | Veteran Advocate
“As an educator committed to professional growth, I fully endorse National Invest in Veterans Week® for recognizing that veterans are vital economic assets who deserve tangible support in entrepreneurship and workforce development.”