Grand Rapids Reporter

WASHINGTON, DC—On April 19, 2023, Representatives Hillary Scholten and Jenniffer González-Colón introduced the Pay our Coast Guard Parity Act of 2023, a bipartisan bill aimed at ensuring that the U.S. Coast Guard is compensated for their work performed during government shutdowns.

“This commonsense bill would ensure that our Guardsmen and women receive the financial security that the rest of our Armed Forces already have,” said Congresswoman Hillary Scholten. “Two-thirds of service members report that the security and stability of the job had a great or very great influence on their decision to join the military. During a time when recruitment is near an all-time low for the Coast Guard, we need to ensure that we are doing all we can to ensure they are placed on a level playing field.”

““In Puerto Rico and across the rest of the nation, the Coast Guard plays a vital role securing our maritime borders against transnational criminal threats and smugglers, assisting with disaster response, and safeguarding our maritime transportation system. Congress must respond accordingly and support the men and women of the Coast Guard as they carry out their ever-growing number of missions,” said Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR). “I’m proud to support the Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act, which would provide up to two weeks of pay for Coast Guard personnel during any lapse in appropriations under which the Department of Defense has been funded, but not the Department of Homeland Security. While we must do everything within our power to avoid such a scenario, I believe this bill could provide some certainty and stability to our Coast Guard members in the event of a funding lapse.”

In early 2019, the Coast Guard was the only branch of the U.S. Armed Forces 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 child care 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 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.

The Pay our Coast Guard Parity Act of 2023 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.

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 and equitably.

To see Congresswoman Scholten talking about this bill, click here.

To read the bill text, read here.

About Representative Scholten

Representative Hillary Scholten is the first mom and first woman to serve Michigan’s Third Congressional District. She is a social worker and immigration attorney who worked for the Department of Justice under President Obama. Congresswoman Scholten lives in Grand Rapids, MI with her husband, Jesse, and two sons. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for updates from the official office.

Original source can be found here.