USA donates $15 million to Coast Guard families

World 09:53 16.01.2019

In a letter recognizing the anxiety among Coast Guard members who missed paychecks Tuesday because of the partial federal government shutdown, Adm. Karl L. Schultz announced a $15 million donation to support servicemembers.

The donation to the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, a nonprofit charity that aids members of the Coast Guard, from USAA, a financial services and insurance company, will help the military and civilian workforce in need, said Schultz, commandant of the Coast Guard.

“I am grateful for the outpouring of support across the country, particularly in local communities, for our men and women,” Schultz wrote Tuesday in a letter posted to Twitter. “It is a direct reflection of the American public’s sentiment towards their United States Coast Guard; they recognize the sacrifice that you and your family make in service to your country. It is also not lost on me that our dedicated civilians are already adjusting to a missed paycheck — we are confronting this challenge together.”

The donated funds will disburse as interest-free loans to Coast Guard personnel with the assistance of the American Red Cross, according to a news release from USAA. Beginning Wednesday, Coast Guard servicemembers with dependents will be eligible for interest-free loans up to $1,000, while servicemembers without dependents will be eligible for up to $750.

The loan assistance is available to all Coast Guard servicemembers and is designed to cover an estimated two weeks of financial shortfalls caused by a lack of pay, such as housing, essential utilities, food and child care expenses, the release stated.

“Since 1924, the mission of CGMA is unchanged — to help members of the Coast Guard family in their time of financial need. They are feeling that need now more than ever,” said retired Rear Adm. Cari Thomas, CEO of the assistance program. “This incredible gift makes a difference in the lives of Coast Guard men and women. And it will position CGMA to respond during this time of uncertainty for those that rely on Coast Guard paychecks and pensions: active duty, reservists, civilian employees, retirees and annuitants.”

About $150 million is needed to pay all Coast Guard personnel, according to a news release from mutual assistance. The nonprofit previously had promised to provide assistance to all Coast Guard servicemembers at the rank of E-5 and below. Calls for help started last week, Thomas said. They are working to expand those efforts to all members of the Coast Guard.

In his letter, Schultz said he believes this to be the first time in American history that servicemembers in a U.S. armed forces branch have not been paid during a lapse in government appropriations. He pledged he, senior leadership and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen will remain fully engaged and will provide a steady flow of communication as the shutdown continues through a fourth week.

The shutdown began when Congress failed to pass a budget by Dec. 21 for certain departments, including Homeland Security. Other military branches are unaffected by the shutdown because they are part of the Defense Department, which is fully funded through fiscal year 2019, which ends Sept. 30.

It is now the longest government shutdown in history as the White House and congressional Democrats cannot work out a compromise. President Donald Trump has said he will not sign a funding bill without $5.7 billion designated for a border wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. Democrats refuse to provide money for a wall.

Across the country, small communities have banded together to support Coast Guard members. On Long Island, N.Y., the Greater Huntington Council of Yacht and Boating Clubs established a gift card donation drive to help servicemembers buy groceries and gas.

“Year-round, the brave and dedicated men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard stand ready to respond to any emergency,” said Jackie Martin, executive officer of the organization. “They continue to report to work even though they are not getting paid. They still have bills to pay and many have families to feed.”

In Washington, several large veterans organizations gathered Tuesday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars headquarters to call for an end to the shutdown and to bring attention to its effects on members of the Coast Guard, as well as veterans who work in the federal government.

“Federal government employees missed their first paycheck last Friday. Today, more than 41,000 active-duty Coast Guardsmen missed theirs,” said VFW National Commander B.J. Lawrence. “We do not want anyone to miss a second check, which is why the VFW calls upon the administration and Congress to reach an agreement.”

Lawrence said the VFW so far had distributed more than $45,000 in emergency grants to Coast Guard members and their families for their mortgages, utilities and food. The American Legion also is offering assistance to Coast Guard members through its Temporary Financial Assistance Program, in which the group gives one-time grants of up to $1,500 per household.

The Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Association has about 100 chapters at communities where members of the Coast Guard are stationed. Jon Ostrowski, the group’s leader, said each chapter was busy taking donations and organizing food banks.

“As the partial government shutdown continues, I anticipate that need for assistance will only increase,” Lawrence said.

The groups issued their support for a measure, the “Pay Our Coast Guard Act,” which would allow members of the Coast Guard to get paid as the shutdown continues. It also would include retirement pay and would apply to Coast Guard civilian workers and contractors. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., introduced the legislation last week, followed by an identical bill introduced in the House. Neither has been brought up for a vote.

IEPF issued a statement regarding Azerbaijani children at the UN Human Rights Council

News line

EU to introduce toughest sanctions against Russia — France’s FM
12:45 08.07.2025
US-Iran talks may take place next week
12:30 08.07.2025
Pentagon confirms US plans to send additional 'defensive weapons' to Kiev
12:15 08.07.2025
Trump sets 25% tariffs on Japan and South Korea
12:00 08.07.2025
Israeli army says 5 soldiers killed, 14 injured in northern Gaza
11:45 08.07.2025
Brazil’s president sounds alarm over multilateralism crisis, condemns Gaza genocide at BRICS summit
11:30 08.07.2025
Protest Held in London Backing Pro-Palestine March Organizers Accused of Offences
11:15 08.07.2025
Japan to make diplomatic efforts to ensure implementation of Israel-Iran ceasefire: Top diplomat
11:00 08.07.2025
Trump Holds Talks with Netanyahu at the White House
10:45 08.07.2025
Trump says US has 'scheduled Iran talks'
10:30 08.07.2025
Trump says US will supply weapons to Ukraine
10:15 08.07.2025
Priorities of Azerbaijan's international development policy discussed
10:00 08.07.2025
US to impose 25% duties on imports from Kazakhstan from August
09:45 08.07.2025
Plans for border delimitation, demarcation with Armenia discussed in Baku
09:30 08.07.2025
Israel wants to coordinate with US on possibility of new strikes on Iran
09:15 08.07.2025
Netanyahu nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize
09:00 08.07.2025
Geno rejects signing of 38-year-old Jamie Vardy
21:00 07.07.2025
Gaza death toll passes 57,500 as Israeli attacks continue unabated
20:45 07.07.2025
Russian emergencies minister arrives in Baku
20:25 07.07.2025
Trump due to meet Netanyahu at White House
20:15 07.07.2025
Russia attacks recruitment centers in Ukraine's Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia
20:00 07.07.2025
Pezeshkian says Israel attempted assassination against him
19:45 07.07.2025
Iran has military capability to strike Israel daily for 2 years, IRGC adviser says
19:20 07.07.2025
US envoy says ‘satisfied’ with Lebanese response on roadmap to disarm Hezbollah
19:00 07.07.2025
Peskov: Russia, Azerbaijan should remain close partners, allies
18:45 07.07.2025
The Gulf Observer: Armenians' destruction of Azerbaijan's cultural heritage - vandalism against all humanity
18:30 07.07.2025
Official: Nearly 1M foreigners arrived in Azerbaijan in 5 months of 2025
18:15 07.07.2025
Chief of General Staff of Azerbaijan Army visits Saudi Arabia
18:00 07.07.2025
Israeli PM approved Yemen airstrikes during his flight to US
17:45 07.07.2025
Expert: ECO Summit in Khankendi confirmed member countries' desire for inclusive, multipolar world
17:30 07.07.2025
AZAL introduces new online service
17:15 07.07.2025
Poland imposes checks on German and Lithuanian borders amid migration fears
17:00 07.07.2025
Saudi Arabia raises August oil prices for Asia, Europe buyers
16:45 07.07.2025
EU Reporter: Karabakh region became platform for int'l forums
16:15 07.07.2025
Georgian PM says direct foreign interference in democratic elections failed
16:00 07.07.2025
Typhoon Danas kills two in Taiwan, injures over 500
15:45 07.07.2025
'Coalition of the Willing' may fall apart over Starmer-Macron conflict
15:30 07.07.2025
Former Adjara head hospitalized with gunshot wound in Georgia
15:15 07.07.2025
Scientists reveal how caffeine slows down aging
15:00 07.07.2025
Thailand to offer US more trade concessions to avert 36% tariff
14:45 07.07.2025
Hamısı