ENDORSEMENT OF 20th COMBAT VETERAN FOR CONGRESS, RUNNING FOR US SENATE IN INDIANA IN 2023  

The Combat Veterans For Congress PAC is endorsing four term Congressman James E. Banks, Lt/USNR (R-IN-3) to fill the vacated seat of Indiana US Senator Mike Braun to represent Indiana in the US Senate; Senator Braun is running for Governor of Indiana in 2024.   Cong Banks resides in Columbia City, Indiana, served 3 ½ years in the US Naval Reserve, in 2010 he was elected to the Indiana State Senate, and in 2014 he took a leave of absence from the State Senate to serve for one tour of duty in Afghanistan.  Then State Senator Banks served in the Indiana State Senate from 2010 to 2016, and in 2015, he was endorsed as the 104th Combat Veteran For Congress to run for Congress in the 3rd Congressional District of Indiana.  Cong Banks was elected to represent the 3rd Congressional District in 2016, and was re-elected for three additional terms.   

Cong Banks is a fiscally conservative Congressman who for 13 years in the Indiana Senate and in Congress has worked to rein in the out of control spending by irresponsible Social Democrats.   Cong Banks has been working for four terms to unleash the private sector to  create jobs, to stimulate business, and help businesses recover from the Biden administration induced inflation.  Cong Banks has supported efforts to teach Public School students a comprehensive and accurate History of the United States and supports state’s and individual rights enshrined in the US Constitution.  He has supported a strong national defense and has supported Veterans and Veterans issues for 13 years in the Indiana State Senate and in Congress.  

Cong Banks’ Congressional Committee assignments are the Committee on Armed Services (chairing the Military Personnel Subcommittee and with Subcommittee assignments on Intelligence, Tactical Air & Land Forces), the Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party Committee on Veterans Affairs (with Subcommittee assignments on Technology Modernization and Economic Opportunity), and the Committee on Education and Labor (with Subcommittees assignments on Health, Employment, Labor & Pensions and Higher Education and Workforce Investment).

Jim Banks was born on July 17, 1979 in Columbia City, IN and was raised in Columbia City.  In May 1997, Jim graduated from Columbia City High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science in December 2004 from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN.  From June 2002 to October 2008, Jim Banks worked for Focus on the Family in the Policy Department.  On November 1, 2008, Jim was hired as Director of Business Development for The Hagerman Group commercial construction company of Fort Wayne, Indiana.  On January 1, 2009, Jim was elected to the Whitley County Council, and remained on the Council until November 2010, when he was elected to the Indiana State Senate, representing Whitley, Huntington, Wabash, and Grant Counties in Indiana.  On November 1, 2013 Jim joined The Bradley Company commercial real estate company, as a licensed commercial real estate broker, and remains associated with The Bradley Company until 2016.

On March 12, 2012, Jim Banks received a direct commission and was sworn into the US Naval Reserve as an Ensign by a Naval Reserve Recruiter in the Indiana Statehouse, in Indianapolis, IN where he was serving as an Indiana State Senator.  Ens Banks was assigned to the Naval Cargo Handling Battalion 7 (NCHB 7) at the Naval Operational Supply Center in Indianapolis.  On December 3, 2012, Ens Banks began the 15 month training program to be designated as a Navy Supply Officer, which required three two week training periods at the US Naval Supply Corps School at the US Naval Base in Newport, RI, in between the two week training periods in Newport, Ens Banks was required to complete multiple correspondence courses.  On March 12, 2014, Ens Banks was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade, graduated from US Naval Supply Corps School, and was designated a Naval Supply Corps Officer.  Lt (jg) Banks received orders to report to the Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Bahrain in Saint Louis, MO as the unit’s Supply Officer.   On October 1, 2014 FLC Bahrain assignment was changed from supporting the US Naval Facility in Bahrain to providing support for the US Naval Facility in Yokosuka, Japan; the name of the unit was changed to Fleet Logistic Center Yokosuka.  

On April 28, 2014, Lt (jg) Banks received orders to mobilize for deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.  On September 5, 2015, Lt (jg) Banks reported to Naval Operational Supply Center Indianapolis for mobilization to Active Duty.  Lt (jg) Banks then departed for US Naval Station, Norfolk, VA for one week of processing, issuance of Desert Camouflage Uniforms, orientation, and admin. On September 14, he reported to Fort Jackson, SC for three weeks of combat skills training, the issue of more gear for deployment, issuance of weapons (the M9 Glock 19 hand gun and the M4 standard issue rifle), and then weapons qualifications training.  On October 7, 2014, Lt (Jg) Banks deployed to Afghanistan, where he was assigned as the Foreign Military Sales Officer, with the Combined Security Transition Command in the International Security Assistance Force Headquarters (ISAF) on the NATO Headquarters Base in Kabul.  Lt (jg) Banks was assigned the billet of Vehicle Commodity Manager in the Foreign Military Sales Unit in the Security Assistance Office (SAO).  His duties required that he supervise the vehicle related and maintenance issues for the entire ground wheeled vehicle fleet for the Afghan National Army (ANA).  His collateral duty assignments included liaising with the ANA, coordinating Key Leader Engagements, and distributing documents between Combined Security Transition Command, NATO, and the ANA.  Lt (jg) Banks additional assignments included performing the duties of Foreign Disclosure Officer for the Foreign Military Sales Unit, and handling & distributing classified documents to the members of the NATO coalition and the ANA.  

Lt (jg) Banks led over 40 “high risk” convoy missions outside the wire in the Kabul area where he performed various duties as a driver, truck commander, and guardian angel in advancing their missions.  Lt (jg) Banks also traveled to, and worked at Bagram Air Base to perform duties in support of the Combined Security Transition Command.  On April 7, 2015, Lt (jg) Banks was transferred to the US Naval Station, Norfolk, VA, was Honorably Discharged from Active Duty, and re-affiliated with the US Naval Reserve.  For his assigned duties in Afghanistan, and for leading 40 “high risk” convoy missions, Lt (jg) Banks was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the NATO Medal, the Navy/Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon, and various Service and Campaign Medals.  Upon return to duty, Lt (jg) Banks received orders to report as Training Officer for the Fleet Logistics Center Yokosuka, in St Louis, MO and was subsequently promoted to Lieutenant. 

In 2008, James Banks was listed as one of Northeast Indiana’s "Future 40 Leaders Under 40".  In 2013, Senator Banks received the Distinguished Public Service Award from the Indiana American Legion, the Distinguished Public Official Award, from the Ivy Tech Community College, and received a Certificate of Appreciation for Public Policy Leadership from the U.S. Department of Defense.  In 2014, Senator Banks received the Distinguished Public Service Award from the Indiana American Legion, he was selected as the “Legislator of the Year” by the Indiana Department of Disabled American Veterans, and The American Conservative Union recognized Senator Banks as one of the “Top Conservatives Under 40” in the nation.  Americans for Tax Reform have selected Senator Banks as Chairman of the Indiana Taxpayer Protection Caucus.  Americans for Prosperity gave then Indiana State Senator Banks a 98% rating for his voting record.  

Cong Banks is a member of the American Legion, the VFW, the NRA, the Columbia City Rotary Club (Past President), The Gideons, the Reserve Officers Association, the Whitley County Republican Party (Past Chairman), and the Indiana University Alumni Association.  Jim and his wife Amanda of 18 years, have three children Lillian age 14, Elizabeth age 12,  and Joann age 10; they are members of the Columbia City First Church of God in Columbia City, Indiana.  

Cong James E. Banks has been endorsed to run for the US Senate to represent Indiana by US Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR-Senate), US Senator JD Vance (R-OH-Senate), US Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL-Senate), US Senator John Barrasso (R-WY-Senate), US Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS-Senate), House GOP Conference Chair Cong Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21), Cong Mike Rogers (R-AL-3), Cong Ashley Hinson (R-IA-2), Cong Michael Waltz (R-FL-6), General Counsel for National Right to Life Jim Bopp, Senior Policy Advisor for President Trump Stephen Miller, Former U.S. Representative Mike Sodrel (R-IN-9), IN State Sen Sue Glick (R-LaGrange-Dist 13), IN State Sen Dr. Tyler Johnson (R-Leo-Dist 14), IN State Sen Justin Busch (R-Fort Wayne-Dist 16), IN State Sen Andy Zay (R-Huntington-Dist 17), IN State Sen Mike Gaskill (R-Pendleton-Dist 25), IN State Senator Jim Tomes (R-Wadesville-Dist 49), Former IN State Senator Scott Schneider (R-Indianapolis), IN State Rep David Abbott (R-Rome City-Dist 18), IN State Rep Tim Wesco, (R-Osceola-Dist 21), IN State Rep J.D. Prescott (R-Union City-Dist 33), IN State Rep Denny Zent (R-Angola-Dist 51), IN State Rep Ben Smaltz (R-Auburn-Dist 52), IN State Rep Craig Haggard (R-Mooresville-Dist 57), IN State Rep Michelle Davis (R-Whiteland-Dist 58), IN State Rep Matt Hostettler (R-Patoka-Dist 64), IN State Rep Martin Carbaugh (R-Fort Wayne-Dist 81), IN State Rep Chris Judy (R-Fort Wayne-Dist 83), IN State Rep Bob Morris (R-Fort Wayne-Dist 84), IN State Rep Dave Heine (R-Fort Wayne-Dist 85), President Lake County Right to Life Inc., Len Reynolds, Former State Chairman Indiana Republican Party Jeff Cardwell, Chairman Indiana Family Institute Curt Smith, Executive Director American Family Association of Indiana Micah Clark, Executive Director Indiana Family Institute Ryan McCann, Co-Founder Hoosiers for a Conservative Senate Monica Boyer, Former Chairman Northeast Indiana Right to Life Cathie Humbarger, Hamilton County Activist Heather Crossin, Pastor Micah Beckwith, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Turning Point USA Action, Club for Growth Action, and Combat Veterans For Congress PAC.

The Combat Veterans For Congress PAC is pleased to endorse Indiana Congressman Jim Banks, Lt/USNR, to run for the vacated Senate seat of Indiana US Senator Mike Braun; he will bring to the US Senate his private sector skills, 6 years of experience serving in the Indiana Senate, 8 years of experience serving in the US House of Representatives, and the wisdom to better solve problems in government and representing Indiana in the US Senate.  If you review Congressman Bank’s positions on his Web site, you will be pleased with his position on critical issues, they agree with the Combat Veterans For Congress Mission Statement.  We look forward to working with Congressman Banks, and are pleased that a Combat Veteran of his caliber is running for the US Senate.

If you have friends, associates, or relatives who know voters in Indiana, kindly pass this message on to them, and ask them to support Congressman Banks by working in his campaign, providing financial support for his campaign in any amount, and/or by networking with others who would be willing to support his campaign for the US Senate.  The military is one of the few remaining institutions producing the caliber of men and women needed to restore this nation to the greatness our Founding Fathers envisioned.  We have endorsed another Combat Veteran For Congress that General George Washington would have approved of.  He is a Veteran who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to “The United States of America” for an amount “up to and including his life.”