With no end in sight to the partial government shutdown, there’s growing concern that the ability to move water-borne freight could shift into crisis mode the longer the shutdown continues.
That’s because much of the work that gets done behind the scenes in the US maritime industry is done by civilian employees – most of whom are furloughed. Also, while much of the regulatory and enforcement responsibilities fall on the shoulders of active duty U.S. Coast Guard personnel, they’re the only branch of the military that is being required to work without getting paid.
An estimated 31% of the branch’s 41,000 active duty members don’t have enough money in an emergency savings fund to cover one month’s worth of expenses, according to Congressman Peter DeFazio of Oregon, Chairman of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, who introduced a bill this week that would provide funding to ensure they are paid during the shutdown.
“We are asking them to do their job serving and protecting our communities, which sometimes means life or death situations, without pay,” said DeFazio’s colleague, Congressman Kurt Schrader, in a statement. “Meanwhile Congress can’t do its number one job. What kind of message is that?”