Opinion: Standing Up For Families in Kitsap: Why I Voted to Override The President's Veto
If you serve this country, the federal government should have your back - and invest in you and your family. Here in Kitsap County, with the large number of active-duty and veteran families in our community, we know just how important it is to take care of those who have dedicated their lives to serving our nation.
It’s that ethic that has led Congress to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 59 years in a row. In a nutshell, the NDAA focuses on investments in our national security – and in the security of those who serve, and their families. And in early December, Congress reached a strong, bipartisan compromise on an NDAA that does just that.
Though the bill was supported by over 80% of the U.S. House, just two days before Christmas, President Trump vetoed it, threatening to halt measures that benefit servicemembers and their families from moving forward.
His issue? His desire to regulate social media providers.
Say what you will about that policy issue, but it’s wrong-headed to block a bill that’s vital to our national security and our servicemembers because of something completely unrelated.
I don’t say that in a partisan way. In fact, the Republican Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee indicated publicly that it didn’t make sense to tie unrelated language to the NDAA. The lead Republican in the House said the same thing, reminding his colleagues to consider their oath to the Constitution.
Lost in cable news coverage of the President’s veto was the fact that there were high stakes involved for folks here in Kitsap.
For example, this bipartisan compromise includes a 3% increase in pay for servicemembers. Those are dollars in the pockets of families here in Kitsap.
In addition, it includes a measure to extend paid parental leave to all federal employees. That’s a big deal for every worker at Naval Base Kitsap, at the VA, at the Park Service, and in every other federal agency.
Speaking of leave, this bill also includes a measure I fought for to help our federal civilian employees, like those at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton. Early this fall, in partnership with workers at PSNS, I introduced legislation aimed at ensuring that federal workers didn’t have to sacrifice the paid leave benefits they earned during this health crisis. These are “use it or lose it” benefits; however, most federal workers couldn’t “use it” because they were unable to travel due to the pandemic or unable to take time off because they had to get the job done during these extraordinary circumstances. Thankfully, the NDAA takes an important step by allowing federal workers to carry an additional 25% of their annual leave into 2021. It’s a simple, common-sense fix that will help a lot of working families.
Additionally, this bill includes improvements in the oversight and management of housing for military personnel and their families, solutions to address the shortage of military child care, and funding to clean-up drinking water on military bases contaminated by PFAS chemicals. All of these issues are important in Kitsap County. Those who serve deserve decent housing, clean water, and a safe environment.
Moreover, this bill takes care of our veterans as well – and includes a measure to provide long-overdue benefits to Vietnam-era veterans exposed to Agent Orange.
While the NDAA is not a perfect bill (indeed, few things that come out of DC can be described as perfect), it undeniably makes important investments in our servicemembers, their families, and the communities that support them.
That’s why I supported the bill in the first place. And it’s why, last week, I joined strong bipartisan majorities in the House and the Senate to override the President’s veto to make sure this bill becomes law.
It’s vital that the federal government does right by our service members and their families. I’ll continue to fight to ensure that we put them first.
Source: Kitsap Sun