Provisions in defense bill would help shipyard workers, vets
BREMERTON — The defense budget passed Friday by the U.S. House of Representatives includes help for local shipyard workers and veterans. U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, secured an extension of overtime pay for Puget Sound Naval Shipyard workers who conduct nuclear maintenance on the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan in Yokosuka, Japan. Payments would continue through Sept. 30, 2019. The bill passed Friday also would eliminate a Department of Defense policy that reduces per diem allowances 25 percent for long-term temporary duty assignments longer than 30 days and 45 percent for those lasting more than 180 days. "Workers and service members traveling for assignment shouldn't have to take a financial hit to find a safe play to stay," Kilmer said in a press release. A third provision would eliminate the 180-day wait time before service members who retire can apply for civilian jobs at military facilities such as the shipyard. There had been a waiver, but it expired at the end of 2016. "If a job is open, retiring service members should be able to apply," he said. The bill new heads to the Senate. Then the two chambers will have a conference committee to iron out differences before the legislation goes to president to be signed. The Senate has removed temporary duty assignment and military retiree provisions in the past.
By: Ed Friedrich
Source: Kitsap Sun