Government Shutdown 2025
Shutdown specific communications sent to CPOA/CGEA Members via email. This is what you can do! - >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
**ACT NOW**
Support Pending Legislation for Coast Guard and Department of War Service Members/Families >>>>>>>>>>>>>
We encourage all military members, family and advocates to immediately email your congressional delegation to show support for, and demand support of the below bills. We have provided templates below for you to use, in part or in whole, to make this process easy. Please take action .... NOW!
HR 5401
Subject line for email:
Writing in support of H.R.5401 — 119th Congress (2025-2026) Protect our Servicemembers' Pay now
Body/Text for email:
As your constituent, I urge you to support immediate legislation that guarantees pay for all members of the Armed Forces, including the U.S. Coast Guard, during any government shutdown.
In the 2018-2019 shutdown, thousands of Coast Guard families missed paychecks while continuing to serve our nation. We must not allow this to happen again.
H.R. 5401 – the Pay Our Troops Act of 2026 – and related legislation provide the necessary protection to ensure those who serve are not used as bargaining chips in political disputes. Military member and their families deserve financial stability, regardless of Washington gridlock.
I respectfully request that you make this a priority and act promptly to ensure uninterrupted pay for our military personnel and the Coast Guard.
Sincerely,
S.802 — Pay Our Coast Guard Act
Subject line for email:
Writing in support of S.802 — 119th Congress (2025-2026) Pay Our Coast Guard Act
Body/Text for email:
As a member of the U.S. Coast Guard, I join in with the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Association & Enlisted Association, along with several military service organizations, asking for your cooperation in supporting Senate Bill 802, Pay Our Coast Guard Act. This act was introduced in the 119th Congress in February 2025, providing legislation to make continuous appropriations for Coast Guard pay in the event of a government shutdown. This particular proposed legislation would bring parity with the Department of Defense military and civilian personnel. Our Coast Guard personnel carry out an expansive multi-mission responsibility to national and homeland security. The previous government shutdown in 2019 severely impacted our active duty members, who work in the same capacity as their military counterparts in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force. In addition, any delay in funding will pose an extreme hardship on Coast Guard and other social services relief programs, such as the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, which by its charter is available to assist personnel with financial needs under this nature. Most importantly, this Senate Bill is all about fairness. Fairness in valuing the U.S. Coast Guard personnel as all other military services. We greatly appreciate your support in this matter.
Sincerely,
H.R.1542 — Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act of 2025
Subject line for email:
Writing in support of H.R.1542 — 119th Congress (2025-2026) Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act of 2025
Body/Text for email:
As a member of the U.S. Coast Guard, I join in with the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Association & Enlisted Association, along with several military service organizations, asking for your cooperation in supporting House Resolution H.R. 1542, Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act of 2025. This act was introduced in the 119th Congress in February 2025, providing legislation to make continuous appropriations for Coast Guard pay in the event of a government shutdown. This particular proposed legislation would bring parity with the Department of Defense military and civilian personnel. Our Coast Guard personnel carry out an expansive multi-mission responsibility to national and homeland security. The previous government shutdown in 2019 severely impacted our active duty members, who work in the same capacity as their military counterparts in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force. In addition, any delay in funding will pose an extreme hardship on Coast Guard and other social services relief programs, such as the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, which by its charter is available to assist personnel with financial needs under this nature. Most importantly, this Senate Bill is all about fairness. Fairness in valuing the U.S. Coast Guard personnel as all other military services. We greatly appreciate your support in this matter.
Sincerely,
National Resources available to CG Members
CGMA, by our partnership with the other Military Aide Societies, will likely be able to ship commissary gift cards to CPOA Associations with commissaries nearby. If your Chapter/Branch would like to participate, please complete this form.
Banks/Lenders
Most major banks and lending institutions have shutdown programs. Members are encouraged to reach out directly to your banks to discuss what they can do for you. Below are a few examples.
Guidance from CPOA National Office
Fundraising Activities:
All fundraising activities must adhere to the
CPOA National Operations Manual SECTION XVI: Liability Issues in Fundraising
Tax Exempt Donations:
See our Tax Exemption Information Page for general guidance when asking for, or accepting, donations.
Best Practices
Mobile Chapter - SKC Pablo J. Rosa-Perez (President):
We have prepared the framework to have two food banks assist CG Members that are impacted in our AOR. This is the initial response and since we cover both all of Alabama and Mississippi making our area geographically large, we have localized 3 different teams within our AOR. One focusing on MS members/residents, another ATC with focus on Mobile County residents, and another at Sector Mobile focusing on Baldwin county residents.
Food Pantry
ATC- Feeding the Gulf Coast will be providing food items at ATC on Tuesday, October 14th. Chiefs will be sorting, packing and distributing aid.
Sector Mobile - No distribution on site but we have partnered with Prodisee Pantry in Spanish Fort, AL to provide aid for members living in Baldwin County.
Station Gulfport - Feeding the Gulf Coast will also bring food items to Station Gulfport for members stationed and living in MS.
Communications
We have communicated with all chiefs in the area on the importance of being a member of the CPOA so they can help with fundraising, seeking donations, and receiving them. Additionally, we referred all of them to the CPOA page regarding shutdown for guidance. We communicated our plan at ATC Chief's call, and our October meeting. We will also visit with MS chiefs mess and Sector's Mess. We also communicated with isolated units like CGC Wedge and RUITOFF Montogomery to plan assistance. Finally, we have posted our initial pantry locations on FB, and passed a fundraising letter to all of our members so they can start going out to raise awareness and support. The letter includes QR codes for our Venmo and Paypal.
Fundraising
We have requested assistance from large supermarket chains like Rouses, Winn Dixie, Publix, Target, Walmart, etc. We also have a list of our frequent collaborators that we are reaching out to for donation.
