CALL TO ACTION !! H.R. 2693 - Pay our Coast Guard Parity Ac
Monday, June 5, 2023
By President Oelschig
TREA Members,
On April 14, 2023, Representative Hillary Scholten (Mich.) and Delegate Jennifer González-Colón (PR) introduced the “Pay our Coast Guard Parity Act” (H.R. 2693) a bipartisan bill aimed at ensuring that the U.S. Coast Guard is compensated for their work performed during government shutdowns. In early 2019, the Coast Guard was the only branch of the military that was not compensated while on duty during the government shutdown, which lasted over a month. This oversight left 41,000 Active-Duty Coast Guard members working without pay, including 360 who were currently deployed to the Arabian Gulf, in addition to 6,200 reservists and 8,500 civilian personnel.
As a result, for 35 days 960 families did not receive childcare subsidies necessary to allow them to care for their children while meeting mission demands, death benefits were not paid to survivors of Coast Guard members who died while on active duty, and housing leases for personnel living in government leased housing were not paid. Maritime security was also put at risk as the issuance of merchant mariner documents and licenses, vessel documentation and inspections of new commercial vessel construction, and recreational boating safety and bridge administration activities all ceased or were curtailed.
This bill provides continuing appropriations to the U.S. Coast Guard that compensates them for their time for up to two weeks during which interim or full-year appropriations for the Coast Guard are not in effect if the Department of Defense is being funded. This would cover pay for active duty, reserve, and civilian employees of the Coast Guard. It also covers basic allowances, funeral travel, and gratuities for families of service members who have died on active duty.
TREA is working to ensure funding parity with DoD on pay, benefits, and housing for Coast Guard personnel plus adequate resources for the same within the U.S. Coast Guard budget. The Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act of 2023 is a crucial step in supporting the men and women of the Coast Guard and their families and ensuring that they are treated fairly.
Please contact your Representative and ask them to support this important bill!
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