DALLAS (1080 KRLD) - A Texas congresswoman wants better benefits for those serving in the Coast Guard. Coast Guards officers don't get the same benefits offered to those serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. Those agencies are under the umbrella of the Department of Defense, and a recent change under the National Defense Authorization Act puts the coast guard under the department of Homeland Security.
H.R. 3066, the Coast Guard Personnel Parity Act to would ensure Coast Guard Servicemembers receive the same benefits and services offered to Servicemembers in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. The now missing perks include retirement benefits, promotion opportunities, and employment assistance.
Democratic representative Lizzie Fletcher from Harris County says "If the Country were to go to war, the Coast Guard would move under the Department of Defense to be a combat branch. They should be treated equally with all the other services."
She adds the Coast Guard is critical for our safety. "We rely on them during natural disasters and they serve an important function at the Port of Houston. For us, the Coast Guard manages the traffic in and out of the Port of Houston."
The now missing perks include retirement benefits, promotion opportunities, and employment assistance.