Van Drew Lauds Committee Passage of Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act

Press Release

Yesterday, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which oversees the U.S. Coast Guard, passed H.R. 367, the Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act of 2019. H.R. 367 provides continuing appropriations to the U.S. Coast Guard in the event of another government shutdown. This legislation is nearly identical to Rep. Van Drew's H.R. 350, the Pay Our Coast Guard Act of 2019 which he introduced on January 8, 2019 amidst the longest government shutdown in our nation's history.

Earlier this year, the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard were either furloughed or were required to work without pay for more than a month, harming Coast Guard families and national security. It was the only branch of our armed forces that had not been funded for the simple fact that it resides within the Department of Homeland Security and not the Department of Defense.

"It is unacceptable for the men and women who protect us to be treated like second class citizens over partisan bickering," said Congressman Van Drew. "I hope that Congress does its most basic job and fund the government, but in the event of another shutdown, the Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act ensures that the U.S. Coast Guard will continue to be funded."

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