Two members of the House Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee have been awarded the Association of the U.S. Army’s 2024 Legislator of the Year award for their staunch and effective support of the Army and soldiers, veterans and their families.
Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, a Democrat from Maryland, and Republican Rep. Steve Womack from Arkansas were honored on Capitol Hill by AUSA President and CEO retired Gen. Bob Brown and retired Lt. Gen. Leslie Smith, AUSA’s vice president for Leadership and Education.
“Representatives Dutch Ruppersberger and Steve Womack have long been champions of America’s Army, and AUSA is pleased to recognize them as our 2024 Legislators of the Year,” Brown said. “Recognizing these congressmen was an easy choice. Their bipartisan leadership, tireless efforts and steadfast commitment have gotten results and made a difference in the lives of our soldiers, veterans and their families.”
Ruppersberger, who is retiring after this Congress, is a proud supporter of the Army, particularly the Army Research Laboratory and Aberdeen Proving Ground in his home state. Completing his 11th term in the House of Representatives, Ruppersberger is co-chair of the House Army Caucus.
In 2003, Ruppersberger created Operation Hero Miles after learning that deployed troops were paying for connecting flights home. The program allows Americans to donate frequent flyer miles instead. Now run by the nonprofit Fisher House, the program provides airline tickets to wounded and ill service members or their families while undergoing treatment at a military or VA medical center, according to Ruppersberger’s biography. To date, more than 3 billion miles have been donated.
“I could not be prouder to receive this recognition from the Association of the U.S. Army as I approach my retirement from public service and a career dedicated to supporting our Army, its soldiers and their families,” Ruppersberger said. “I have focused on national security since first coming to Congress in 2003, serving at points as ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, co-chair of the bipartisan House Army Caucus, a defense appropriator and a representative of a district home to two Army installations. It has always been the highest honor to meet our men and women in uniform and thank them for defending our country.”
Womack, who was first elected to the House in 2010, is a retired Army National Guard colonel who served for more than 30 years. His deployment to the Sinai Peninsula in 2002 marked the first time a National Guard unit had performed the mission of the Multinational Force and Observers.
He is the chairman of the West Point Board of Visitors, where he supports the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York.
“Our nation’s service members, veterans and military families consistently put the nation above self, sacrificing for the security and freedoms we enjoy as Americans. They’ve earned and deserve our unwavering support,” Womack said. “I’m humbled to receive the Legislator of the Year Award for my work to deliver for those who’ve worn America’s uniform and made serving possible.”
AUSA’s Legislator of the Year award is an apolitical and nonpartisan award designed to recognize congressional leaders who have made significant contributions to and provided substantial support for the Total Army—Regular Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve—as well as Army civilians, families, survivors, caregivers and veterans.
This is the third time the award has been presented since 2013, even though AUSA began recognizing congressional leaders more than two decades ago.
