WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) today joined a bipartisan group of Senators in cosponsoring S. 724, a bill to ensure that members of the military continue to receive their paychecks during a possible government shutdown.
As negotiations over a budget for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011 continue, Senator Coons wants to ensure that, should a shutdown occur, our men and women in uniform will not have to go without pay. This bill would pay for members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and the National Guard using un-appropriated funds from the Treasury during a shutdown period.
“We must meet our responsibilities to those who put their lives at risk for this country,” Senator Coons said. “This bill would protect the pay of the men and women who are so bravely defending our nation overseas and keeping our homeland secure. I visited with troops from Delaware during my recent trip to Afghanistan.”
They are doing heroic work and the last thing that they and their families should have to worry about is whether they can pay their bills because of a shutdown.
S. 724 was introduced by Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Robert P. Casey, Jr., (D-PA) on April 5 and now includes over fifty cosponsors from both parties. Senator Coons is committed to working across the aisle to stand up for our troops and do what it takes to ensure they have the pay, benefits, and resources they deserve.
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