Letter in English
To: The Honorable Members of the United States Congress
Washington, D.C.
Subject: Urgent Request for Budget Exception to Ensure Military Pay During Government Shutdown
Dear Members of Congress,
On behalf of military families across the nation, I respectfully urge Congress to take immediate and united action to protect the pay of active-duty service members during this government shutdown.
While we recognize the complexities of federal budget negotiations, our service members and their families should never bear the burden of political impasses. These men and women carry out missions vital to the safety, security, and stability of our country every day. Yet during a shutdown, they face the very real possibility of going without pay while still being required to serve without pause or compromise.
Military families already endure unique challenges, including frequent relocations, deployments, food insecurity, and the strain of separation. Interruptions in pay compound these hardships, placing families at risk of falling behind on mortgages, rent, utilities, childcare, and other essential needs. This not only jeopardizes family readiness but also undermines morale and national security.
I respectfully request that Congress enact an immediate exception in the budget to guarantee uninterrupted pay for our military personnel. Such an exception is not only a moral obligation but also a national security imperative. No soldier, sailor, airman, Marine, Coast Guardsman, or guardian should be asked to serve under the uncertainty of whether their families will have food on the table or a roof overhead.
As you deliberate funding priorities during this shutdown, I urge you to remember that safeguarding the financial stability of military families safeguards the strength of the nation itself.
The Pay Our Troops Act (H.R. 5401) is sponsored by more than 30 Members of Congress, and would ensure that members of the Armed Forces, including the Coast Guard, would continue to be paid in the event of a government shutdown. Please unite to the Pay Our Troops Act for our military families and military members.
Thank you for your leadership and for standing with those who stand for us. I look forward to your support and swift action.
Respectfully,