Many of you know that I am Coast Guard family and quite proud of it. Everyone by now knows that there is a Federal Government shutdown. I could probably argue its merits from both sides successfully in theory … I’m not writing about the merits of this annoyingly more commonplace political tactic used by both sides.
Here is my personal issue: Coast Guard personnel are defined as essential and are still working … and by the grace of god and a loophole they received their 12/31/2018 paycheck. The next paycheck is in jeopardy.
There is a “compensation resolution” on the table somewhere in this mess of negotiation and it needs to be moved. The shut-down is one thing, messing with people who are working is another. Asking those who put their lives on the line for the rest of us, who pluck us out of our stupidity when we don’t evacuate or get ourselves in over our heads whether on cruise ships, private boats, or other situations to serve without pay is quite another.
You’ve all paid your taxes … so I’m not asking anyone to donate to the Coast Guard Foundation … what I’m asking you to do is to contact your Congressional Representatives and Senators and request that they work with the Administration to pay people who are still working on our behalves. The money has been authorized, it needs to be appropriated. This is not just a Coast Guard issue, it is broadly impacting many of the departments in Homeland Security and probably other departments ... but I only know the facts about the Coast Guard.
I mean really, do we really want our Coast Guard professionals to be thinking about how to fund things for their families such as food, shelter, and diapers (this is real) … do we want them taking benefit time to work another paying job to pay their bills? And for anyone who doesn’t think their work is worthy … there is a 9/11 memorial to remind us all what happens when we let our guard down.
So … from this Coast Guard big brother … my brother has plucked hundreds of our fellow citizens off their rooftops in Katrina and served in many missions that I cannot share publicly that protected us. He and his colleagues deserve better.
Please help me help them in whatever way you can.
Thank you and Happy New Year,
Kev
Here is my personal issue: Coast Guard personnel are defined as essential and are still working … and by the grace of god and a loophole they received their 12/31/2018 paycheck. The next paycheck is in jeopardy.
There is a “compensation resolution” on the table somewhere in this mess of negotiation and it needs to be moved. The shut-down is one thing, messing with people who are working is another. Asking those who put their lives on the line for the rest of us, who pluck us out of our stupidity when we don’t evacuate or get ourselves in over our heads whether on cruise ships, private boats, or other situations to serve without pay is quite another.
You’ve all paid your taxes … so I’m not asking anyone to donate to the Coast Guard Foundation … what I’m asking you to do is to contact your Congressional Representatives and Senators and request that they work with the Administration to pay people who are still working on our behalves. The money has been authorized, it needs to be appropriated. This is not just a Coast Guard issue, it is broadly impacting many of the departments in Homeland Security and probably other departments ... but I only know the facts about the Coast Guard.
I mean really, do we really want our Coast Guard professionals to be thinking about how to fund things for their families such as food, shelter, and diapers (this is real) … do we want them taking benefit time to work another paying job to pay their bills? And for anyone who doesn’t think their work is worthy … there is a 9/11 memorial to remind us all what happens when we let our guard down.
So … from this Coast Guard big brother … my brother has plucked hundreds of our fellow citizens off their rooftops in Katrina and served in many missions that I cannot share publicly that protected us. He and his colleagues deserve better.
Please help me help them in whatever way you can.
Thank you and Happy New Year,
Kev