Senator Rick Scott led Senate colleagues in a letter urging Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security Chairwoman Shelley Moore Capito and Ranking Member Jon Tester to safeguard pay for United States Coast Guard members during any government shutdown. Senator Scott co-sponsored the Pay Our Coast Guard Act during the government shutdown earlier this year to make sure members of the U.S. Coast Guard receive pay during a shutdown.

See the full letter HERE or below.

April 12, 2019

The Honorable Shelley Moore Capito

Chairwoman

Subcommittee on Homeland Security

Senate Committee on Appropriations

131 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Jon Tester

Ranking Member

Subcommittee on Homeland Security

Senate Committee on Appropriations

131 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Chairwoman Capito and Ranking Member Tester:

We understand the rewarding, but challenging, role that comes with being a military family. Our men and women in uniform risk their lives every day to protect our freedom and our way of life, and we will always do everything we can to fight for the priorities that matter most to our military, veterans and their families.

It was unacceptable that during the recent government shutdown, the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) were not paid. These are truly amazing men and women who work day in and day out to honorably defend our country. But due to Washington’s dysfunction, whenever a funding deadline nears, these service members have to endure uncertainty about how they are going to put food on the table, pay for medicine for their children, or make rent. The most heartbreaking consequence of all is that, as long as a shutdown continues, families of USCG members killed in active service are unable to receive death benefits.

 

This is why, as your Committee considers Fiscal Year 2020 Appropriations, we respectfully ask for your consideration in including language that ensures pay to members of the USCG and retirees during a lapse in appropriations, if members of the other Armed Forces are receiving pay.

Thank you for your consideration of this request and for your considerable efforts on the Fiscal Year 2020 Appropriations bills.

Sincerely,

                                                                                                                                                          

Rick Scott                                                                                            Jeanne Shaheen

United States Senator                                                                         United States Senator

                                                                                                                                                          

John Cornyn                                                                                       Margaret Wood Hassan

United States Senator                                                                         United States Senator

                                                                                                                                                          

James E. Risch                                                                                     Doug Jones

United States Senator                                                                         United States Senator

                                                                                                                                                          

M. Michael Rounds                                                                            Kyrsten Sinema

United States Senator                                                                         United States Senator

 

                                                                                                                                                               

Dan Sullivan                                                                                                                    

United States Senator                 

###