VFAF National Ambassador Cait Corrigan recently co-authored an op-ed with her colleague, Samuel Pascal Redfern, Iraq combat veteran and President of the Montana Veterans Association.
Article Link: https://www.westernmt.news/2025/08/25/protecting-american-freedom-why-the-grace-act-matters-for-veterans-parents/
The article highlights why the GRACE Act is essential: to honor veterans, preserve parental rights, and defend religious beliefs. As the piece notes, “We are only one election, one bill, one vote away from losing more parental rights and religious freedom.”
Veterans for America First ,Corrigan and Redfern proudly stand together in support of Congressman Greg Steube, this important legislation, and the values it protects.
Published:
When the freedom of conscience and the rights of families are threatened, the GRACE Act stands as a safeguard. Authored in the U.S. Congress by Rep. Greg Steube (FL-17), a decorated veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, this legislation strikes at the heart of three fundamental liberties: medical freedom for our military and veterans (and their children), parental rights, and religious freedom. All freedoms our military has fought hard for.
Representative Steube knows firsthand the sacrifices made in uniform and the importance of preserving medical choice for those who serve. A veteran himself, he has consistently championed legislation expanding healthcare options for service members and veterans, including the Veterans’ True Choice Act and reforms enabling expanded access to community care when VA services are insufficient. We continue to support community care. We also witnessed Military members wrongly discharged with mandates and Veterans continue to have to fight for choice in care and freedom in how to raise their families. Freedom is not Free.
Under the GRACE Act, set to be introduced in Congress on August 29th, schools that refuse to honor religious exemptions regarding vaccination requirements would lose federal funding. The Montana Veterans Association (MVA) stands with Congressman Steube. He understands that Montana veteran families deserve the ability to make medical decisions grounded in personal conscience, without bureaucratic interference.
Across America, and even here in Montana, parental authority over children’s health and education has come under assault from powerful special interests. When rights are stripped away, it is often by a few votes in just one bill. We have seen narrow legislative losses this session threatening freedoms including the school choice loss. Consider the nationally reported Montana case of the Kolstad family, embroiled in a custody battle when officials overrode their medical decisions for their gender-dysphoric child, Montana had no safeguards to protect this child and their family.
A recent attempt to revive Montana’s parental-consent requirement for minors seeking abortions was struck down by the state Supreme Court, with the U.S. Supreme Court declining to intervene. House Bill 371 sought to ban mRNA vaccines for humans but failed on the House floor by a slim margin. Senate Bill 437 attempted to reaffirm traditional definitions of “sex” in Montana law, while a similar earlier measure, Senate Bill 458, was struck down by courts as unconstitutional. These rulings highlight how fragile parental rights have become and Montana Veteran’s families are still vulnerable.
Faith communities and religious families deserve respect, not exclusion. The GRACE Act would ensure that schools receiving federal funds cannot penalize families for claiming religious exemptions. That is why the Montana Veterans Association is supporting Congressman Steube’s GRACE Act. We are also working with partnered organizations in our coalition to secure commitments from Rep. Zinke and Rep. Downing to support this important legislation. Veterans and military families deserve respect for their service, not mandates that override their convictions. Montana parents deserve a genuine say in their children’s upbringing, health, and education. Families of faith deserve protection from exclusion.
The GRACE Act is backed by a growing coalition of organizations, including: Montana Veterans Association, Montana Conservative & Liberty Alliance, Children’s Health Defense, Moms for Liberty, Autism Action Network, NY Alliance for Vaccine Rights, My Kids My Choice, Education for All, Teachers for Choice, Global Wellness Forum, Veterans for America First, Veterans for Trump, Veterans for America First State Chapters (Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, Texas), Moms for America, Latinos for America First, Latinos for Trump, National Health Federation, Freedom of Religion – United Solutions (FOR-US), Million Mamas Movement, Righteous RN LLC, Nurses Out Loud, Parents Demanding Justice Alliance, Para Church Partners, NYS Constitutional Coalition, Family of God Church (Connecticut), WayMaker Church (New York), Victory Garden Alliance (New Jersey), Vaccine Research Safety Foundation, Connecticut Residents Against Medical Mandates, We the Patriots USA, No College Mandates, America First Veterans and Coalition of Leaders (Virginia).
Congressman Steube embodies a rare leadership combination: a combat veteran with clear respect for both individual liberty and constitutional faith, advocating for medical freedom, parental rights, and religious liberty. Our coalition applauds his leadership. The GRACE Act is consistent with Montana’s constitutional tradition of strong parental rights and personal conscience.
Montana’s recent legislative seasons show key policy battles were won or lost by the narrowest margins. That should alert us: our freedoms live, or die, on the razor’s edge. The GRACE Act is essential, to honor our veterans, preserve parental rights, and defend religious beliefs. We are only one election, one bill, one vote away from losing more parental rights and religious freedom. We hope you will join us.
