When a 35-day partial government shutdown hit the nation in the 2018-2019 winter, thousands of federal employees, contractors and others went without pay. Even the Coast Guard missed paychecks after more than a month political standstill, but kept working through the shutdown. This was notable because the Coast Guard was the only part of the nation's armed forces that went without pay during that stretch, as it is part of the Department of Homeland Security and not the Department of Defense, whose funding did not lapse.
While members of the Coast Guard did receive back pay, Congress has recently moved to remedy that oversight and prevent any future shutdowns from obstructing Coast Guard from being paid.
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.
"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.
"I'm honored to have led the effort on this year's 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.
42,000 went without pay last time
The unique circumstances of the Coast Guard being part of the Department of Homeland Security — instead of Defense, like the other four branches of the military — led to it being affected by the shutdown. During those 35 days, 42,000 missed a paycheck, including active duty members, reservists and retirees, according to NBC news. The lapse negatively affected thousands who had families to support and payments to make, like those for mortgage or credit cards. The Coast Guard even provided its members with a financial management tip list.
The legislation is hugely important not just for members themselves, but for national security and the efficacy of the Coast Guard. According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, the Coast Guard took time to recover after the shutdown delayed crucial maintenance and supply replenishment.
