The recent government shutdown once again highlighted the unfair treatment of the U.S. Coast Guard when it comes to pay during lapses in appropriations. As one of the nation’s five armed services, the Coast Guard protects America’s coastlines, ports, and inland waterways Yet unlike the other military branches, the Coast Guard goes without pay when Congress fails to pass a budget on time New legislation aims to correct this injustice by appropriating pay for the Coast Guard even when other appropriations lapse.
The Inequity Facing the Coast Guard During Shutdowns
When the federal government partially shuts down due to lack of appropriations, members of the Coast Guard face a difficult predicament. As military service members, they must continue carrying out their critical missions of national security, maritime law enforcement, disaster response, and other vital services. However, while service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps keep getting their paychecks during a shutdown, Coast Guardsmen do not.
This is because while the Coast Guard is an armed service, it resides within the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime. The Department of Defense and its service branches operate under separate appropriations from DHS and the Coast Guard. So when Congress fails to fund DHS but keeps the DoD going, Coast Guard members protect the nation without pay.
The Heavy Toll of Missed Paychecks
Going without pay creates clear hardships for Coast Guard members and their families. During the 35-day partial government shutdown from December 2018 to January 2019, some 42,000 active duty Coast Guardsmen missed their final paycheck of 2018. For junior enlisted members earning modest salaries, even a single missed paycheck can threaten their ability to pay for groceries, childcare, rent, car payments, and other basic needs. Married Coast Guardsmen had to explain to landlords and creditors why rent checks and loan payments would be late. The financial stress weighed heavily on service members whose jobs involve dangerous missions far from home for months at a time.
Prior Efforts to Address the Pay Disparity
There have been efforts in the past to correct the unfair treatment of the Coast Guard during government shutdowns. In early 2019, Congress passed a bill guaranteeing backpay for all Coast Guard members and civilians affected by missed paychecks during the 2018-2019 shutdown. While appreciated backpay does not help Coast Guardsmen put food on the table in real time when bills are coming due.
In 2020, the House of Representatives passed the Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act to appropriate pay for the Coast Guard during lapses in appropriations. However, the Senate failed to pass companion legislation, leaving the bill stalled. Coast Guard advocates in Congress continued pressing for equitable pay during the next government funding crisis.
New Bipartisan Bill to Appropriate Coast Guard Pay
This year, bipartisan legislation has been introduced in both the House and Senate to finally ensure Coast Guardsmen receive pay during future shutdowns. The bicameral Coast Guard Pay Parity Act, or H.R. 2693/S. 2791, would amend U.S. Code to directly appropriate pay and benefits for the Coast Guard even when a lapse in appropriations occurs. This would prevent Coast Guardsmen from losing pay in the event of future shutdowns, putting them on equal footing with DoD service members.
Key provisions of the bill include:
- Appropriating pay and allowances for all active duty, reserve, and civilian Coast Guard employees during a funding gap
- Funding essential benefits like death gratuities and housing allowances for families of service members who die on active duty
- Defining a “Coast Guard funding lapse” as when DHS is unfunded but DoD remains operational
The bipartisan legislation is sponsored by Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) in the Senate and Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Don Young (R-AK) in the House. The bill enjoys broad support with 72 House cosponsors and 15 Senate cosponsors so far.
Key Arguments in Favor of the Bill
Supporters emphasize several reasons why the Coast Guard Pay Parity Act deserves swift passage:
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Fairness to service members: Coast Guardsmen deserve pay equity with DoD branches during shutdowns. Withholding pay is unreasonable while they conduct vital missions.
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Essential missions at stake: The Coast Guard protects national security, overseas interests, maritime commerce, and American lives. These critical operations cannot lapse even when funding does.
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Recruitment and retention: Lack of pay parity detrimentally impacts Coast Guard recruitment, retention, and morale. Fair compensation encourages talented Americans to join the service.
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Broad bipartisan support: The bill enjoys overwhelming backing from both parties, signaling its importance and reasonableness. Lawmakers agree compensating the Coast Guard is a matter of fairness.
Outlook for the Bill’s Passage
With broad bipartisan support in both chambers, the Coast Guard Pay Parity Act has excellent prospects for passage. The bill exemplifies effective governing through compromise and fairness. Pay equity for the Coast Guard during shutdowns is long overdue. Members of Congress increasingly recognize that America’s Coast Guardsmen deserve the same treatment as those serving in the DoD. By appropriating pay when DHS funding lapses, this bill will help ensure Coast Guardsmen can continue carrying out their duties without financial hardship. Support for the men and women of the Coast Guard transcends partisan politics.
Bill passes House and Senate panels
The Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2019 is the latest edition in a regular series of legislation that makes appropriations and other updates to modernize and improve the service and how it operates. A feature of this reauthorization act is the stipulation that requires Coast Guard to be paid should any shutdowns materialize in the future, among other reforms. This was done through the inclusion of an amendment titled the “Coast Guard Pay Parity Act” that would ensure paychecks are sent despite any shutdown occurring.
The legislation is well on its way to passing through Congress, having cleared key panels in both the House and the Senate with bipartisan support. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee had passed the reauthorization act near the end of June. At that time, Committee Chair Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) hailed it as crucial to protecting both the men and women of the Coast Guard and recognizing their sacrifice.
“The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.”
“This legislation ensures our Coasties can continue carrying out their important work to secure our waterways and keep our communities safe,” DeFazio said. “In addition, I am proud to have added an amendment which guarantees that members of the Coast Guard are paid on time and in full, even in the event of another senseless government shutdown.”
On July 31 the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation approved the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2019.
“Im honored to have led the effort on this years Coast Guard reauthorization, supporting members of the fifth branch of our military who are far too often overlooked or forgotten,” said Dan Sullivan (R-AK). “With this legislation, we will ensure that Coast Guardsmen never again are risking their lives and serving without pay – as they were during the partial government shutdown earlier this year.”
The full House and Senate will need to vote on and pass the act before it can be sent to the president and signed.
US Coast Guard Pay “What You Earn as a New Recruit in 2024”
FAQ
What is the Coast Guard Authorization Act 2024?
Does the coast guard get paid if the government shuts down?
What is the Coast Guard pay Parity Act?
What is the Pay Our Coast Guard Act?
1. This Act may be cited as the Pay Our Coast Guard Act. 2. The Coast Guard is a military service and a branch of the Armed Forces of the United States at all times regardless of whether it operates as a service in the Department of Homeland Security or as a service in the Navy.
Do Coast Guard members get paid?
Although few join for the pay and benefits, it’s true that members of the military enjoy an uncommon degree of financial and medical security. Expect steady progression in pay based on: Every branch of the military, including the Coast Guard, uses the same pay structure.
Who blocked the Pay Our Coast Guard Act?
In seeking passage of the Pay Our Coast Guard Act, Sen. Cruz was joined by Senator Sullivan, who is the ranking member of the Committee’s subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, Climate Change, and Manufacturing. Passage of the bill was blocked by Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.). Sen. Cruz’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, are included below:
What is the Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act?
Companion legislation to the Pay Our Coast Guard Act, the Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act (H.R. 2693), was introduced by Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI) in April of this year. The Pay Our Coast Guard Act would ensure that the Coast Guard gets the same treatment as the other branches of the armed services if there is a lapse in appropriations.
Will Ted Cruz pass pay our Coast Guard Act?
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today took to the Senate floor requesting unanimous consent to pass the Pay Our Coast Guard Act, bicameral, bipartisan legislation he introduced with Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.).
Did Coast Guard personnel get paid during the government shutdown?
The most recent government shutdown started in Dec. 2018, lasting 34 days. During that partial shutdown, DoD had already been funded under supplemental appropriations, but DHS was not. As a result, DoD military personnel were paid during the shutdown, but Coast Guard personnel, who continued to work, did not receive pay.