(Photo Credit: Lindsay Holt)
Photo posted by: Lariah Nicole
Photo posted by: Lariah Nicole
You asked him to fight.
I said OK.
You asked me to live alone.
I said OK.
You asked me to cry myself to sleep.
I said OK.
You asked him to get shot at.
I said OK,
and now you ask us to do it for free.
That's not OK.
It's a sad day in our country when our men and women who serve, fight for our freedoms and give their lives every day, have our government turn its back on them by taking away their pay, leaving families struggling to pay bills, put food on the table, then tell them it's all for nothing ... literally. In my opinion, conducting this act at such a crucial time in our nation's fight for freedom from terrorism is nothing short of treason, and everyone involved should be impeached. Abraham Lincoln said it best. "Congressmen who willfully take action during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs, and should be arrested, exiled or hanged."
My husband said to me, "I will be looking for another job, because one of the main things they promise us when we sign our lives away is that our families will always be taken care of." This brings me to tears. Here is a man who is living up to his end of the deal, leaving his family behind to do the job the government asked him to do, and now, the government isn't living up their end of the deal. Promises made, promises broken.
Photo of me by Theresa Benedetto: T Photography
It's difficult enough having my husband gone on deployment, not to mention having to constantly worry whether or not I will be able to be here when he gets home. It's scary knowing we can lose everything we worked so hard for. It's upsetting to know the sacrifices we make as a family are not appreciated. I hope Congress and our President sleep well at night, because I know I sure don't.
I have kept the amount of stress and hardship this has caused away from my husband. We Americans need his mind sharp and focused on his task at hand out at sea, and his family needs him coming home SAFE to us. That means tackling these issues alone, not with my partner as issues should be dealt with, has become a daily part my of life. We can't afford to have him worry about home when his job is already stressful enough. He has been told, per my request, that I have things completely under control, and everything is fine. Lie? Not really ... I do have things under control as much as I can have them under control. Are they fine? Well, how fine is fine when someone is taking half or all of your income away without notice? Even with notice, that is devastating. I am lucky enough that I have a job, and my income can support us to some extent during a government shutdown. However, I don't receive BAH (housing allowance) to cover our $1800.00 a month rent required to live in Hawaii where he is ordered to be stationed. I have no idea what I would do, but I will cross that bridge if I come to it. Dealing with the stress of not knowing what will happen day to day is aging me quickly.
My husband and sailors of the USS Cheyenne leaving on deployment. I love you, Baby! I am proud of you all, and the American citizens are not turning their backs on you! We all support you and are here fighting for your rights while you are out fighting for ours ...
Those of you who know me, know that when I get angry, it's the best time for me to get things done. Through the online protest event, every last one of us are able to easily contact congressmen and women all over the nation with the click of a button. As responses from our leaders come in, I will post them here. If you receive a response from congress, please feel free to post it as well. A letter was also sent that informed me of a pledge, which is posted below, that has been taken by several members of Congress to forgo their pay in the event of a government shutdown. I am involved in as many protests as I can find the time to manage. Writing and making phone calls every day has filled my free time. I told Chris I wasn't sure how much one voice could do, but just look at what Hope Bradley has done by forming ONE online protest group with 1.9 MILLION members and growing! If her voice can make a difference, imagine what all of our voices combined can do!
I am posting this blog to urge every American to get involved. If the government can take the pay from our military, who's to say YOUR PAY isn't next? Please join this event and/or write to Congress! It costs you nothing except FIVE MINUTES of your time to support what a lifetime of freedom our military men and women have given to you. This fight is not over. Until the budget is fixed, our military men and women will have to fight for their right to be paid over, and over, and over again.
Get involved and help get this act passed to ensure our military is always paid!
LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!
Ensuring Pay for Our Military Act of 2011
The letter is already written for you.
You can change it as you like, or leave it as is.
(If If your government leaders haven't signed it, write them, and ask, "WHY?")
Direct Contacts To Congress
Bold & Kreative Photography
This photo came with this caption by Britney McGinnis:
This photo came with this caption by Britney McGinnis:
If you don't want to pay my husband, you can send him home.
He has someone special he hasn't met yet.
He has someone special he hasn't met yet.
April 15, 2011
ReplyDeleteDear Mrs. Avakian,
Thank you for your correspondence concerning H.R. 1297, the Ensuring Pay for Our Military Act of 2011. I appreciate your input on this important issue.
The Ensuring Pay for Our Military Act of 2011, introduced by Representative Louie Gohmert (TX), would require funds to be transferred to the Department of Defense in the event of a gap in federal funding. This money would ensure payment that our troops were paid during a government shutdown. While Congress took action to avert a shutdown at this time and enacted the Fiscal Year 2011 continuing resolution, it is important that our troops to not become pawns in matters of differing views over other funding priorities.
H.R. 1297 provides an important provision for our troops, ensuring that we take care of those who sacrifice so much for our country. This bill has been referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. I am pleased to inform you that I am a cosponsor of H.R. 1297, and will continue to support legislation in the best interest of our military.
Again, thank you for expressing your views on this crucial issue. I hope you will continue to contact me on federal matters of concern to you. If you would like regular updates, please sign up for my e-newsletter at http://hanabusa.house.gov/.
Sincerely,
Colleen Hanabusa
Member of Congress
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteApril 18, 2011
ReplyDeleteDear Mrs. Avakian:
Thank you for contacting me regarding H.R 1297, the Ensuring Pay for Our Military Act of 2011, a bill to ensure that members of the Armed Forces, including reserve components, continue to receive pay and allowances for active service performed in the event of a government shutdown. I appreciate receiving your thoughts on this issue.
I have the highest regard for our military and all who have served this country. The health and well-being of our military and their families is very important to me. Rest assured, I will keep your thoughts in mind. Mahalo again for contacting me.
Aloha pumehana,
DANIEL K. AKAKA
U.S. Senator
Regina Burke April 19 at 5:26am
ReplyDeleteHere's the first one I got, either the day I emailed them or the day after (4-8-11):
Thank you for contacting me regarding S.724, the Ensuring Pay for our Military Act of 2011. It is good to hear from you and I share your concerns.
One of our country's greatest responsibilities is to support that the men and women in our armed services. S.724 would require the Department of the Treasury to appropriate funds to ensure that members of the Armed Services, including reserve components, continue to receive pay and allowances during a government shutdown. You will be pleased to know that I am a cosponsor of this bill.
Currently, the Department of Defense (DOD), like most federal agencies, is operating under a continuing resolution (CR). If Congress is unable to come to an agreement on funding, agencies are generally required to shut down. In the past, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has identified a number of exceptions to the requirement that agencies cease operations, including an exception for those that provide for national security.
The House has proposed a one-week funding bill which would cut $12 billion while funding the DOD for the rest of the fiscal year. It is my hope that the Department of Defense will be funded, our armed forces will be paid, and a government shutdown will be avoided.
As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I will continue to promote policies that provide our men and women in uniform with the resources they need. I am humbled by sacrifices made by men and women in our armed services who we entrust with the duty of protecting our nation.
Thank you for taking the time to contact my office. For more information, I encourage you to visit my website at www.portman.senate.gov.
Please keep in touch.
Sincerely,
Rob Portman
U.S. Senator
Rob Portman
www.portman.senate.gov
Regina Burke
ReplyDeleteThis is from the second of the 3 reps I contacted:
Thank you for getting in touch with me about recent legislation that will continue funding the government until September 30.
The passage of this bill averted a government shutdown, which would have undermined our nation’s economic recovery. This budget contains significant cuts while holding the line at critical investments that create the jobs and growth required to reduce the deficit.
I was particularly disturbed that a shutdown would have disrupted the pay checks and allowances to U.S. servicemembers and the civilians and contractors who support them. Withholding the paychecks of those who serve our nation — in attempts to pass a political agenda — would have been unconscionable.
That is why I have cosponsored the Ensuring Pay for Our Military Act (S.724). This bill would ensure that members of the Armed Forces, including reserve components, and supporting civilian and contractor personnel continue to receive pay and allowances for active service performed during a funding gap caused by the failure to pass full-year appropriations for the Armed Forces.
As Congress considers future budget issues, I will be sure to keep your views in mind. Thank you again for getting in touch with me.
Sincerely,
Sherrod Brown
United States Senator
Janice Lowe April 19 at 11:43am Report
ReplyDeleteDear Janice,
Thank you for contacting me to share your concerns about the need to continue pay for troops in the event of a federal government shutdown. I appreciate hearing from you.
Like you, I was concerned about the negative repercussions of a government shutdown and am pleased that this event did not come to pass. However, should a shutdown occur in the future, the men and women serving our nation in uniform should not bear the burden of Congress' failure to approve a federal budget. I am keenly aware of the special debt of service we owe to the men and women who serve our country in the military, and believe that disrupting servicemembers' pay could create significant financial hardships and emotional burdens for servicemembers and their families. While I hope that all efforts are made to prevent a shutdown of government operations, I have co-sponsored the Ensuring Pay for Our Military Act of 2011, S. 724, which would put a contingency plan in place to ensure that servicemembers receive pay on time in the event of a government shutdown.
Again, thank you for your input. I hope you will continue to send your thoughts and observations my way.
All my best,
Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator
Jessica Tucker Gilbert April 19 at 11:06pm
ReplyDeleteDear Friend:
Thank you for contacting me regarding a potential government shutdown and its impact on salaries for military personnel. I welcome your thoughts and comments.
If our federal government shuts down due to Congress and the White House failing to reach a timely agreement on the federal budget for fiscal year 2011, I believe our military members and their families should be protected against any interruption in pay and benefits. To ensure that they are protected, I introduced S. 724, the Ensuring Pay for Our Military Act of 2011. My bill would ensure that all military servicemen and women would be paid, without delay, during any government shutdown.
In my view, this issue is more than a matter of fairness. It is about honoring the service of men and women in uniform. It is about heeding the call of those who have heeded their country’s call. We in Congress have no greater responsibility.
I have asked my Senate colleagues to co-sponsor my bill quickly, so that, in the event of a future government shutdown, we can expedite legislative action to protect military members’ paychecks from interruption.
I appreciate hearing from you, and I hope that you will not hesitate to contact me on any issue that is important to you.
Sincerely,
Kay Bailey Hutchison
United States Senator
284 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Update: There are currently 80 co-sponsors at this time.
ReplyDelete