Kiggans Takes Action to Protect Coast Guard 

WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) introduced the Coast Guard Separation Parity Act, a bill that would ensure members of the United States Coast Guard receive the same 20-year retirement benefits as their military counterparts in other branches. This bipartisan bill, introduced alongside Congresswoman Jill Tokuda (HI-02), aims to establish equal protections for members of our Coast Guard and create well-deserved parity with the rest of our Armed Forces.

Specifically, this bill would ensure enlisted Coast Guard members who have served at least 18 years are not forced to leave the service shortly before reaching a 20-year retirement – giving them the same benefit as members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Space Force. Ensuring experienced personnel can complete their 20 years of service strengthens retention, morale, and fairness for those who dedicate their careers to protecting our nation. This bill is endorsed by the Navy League, Concerned Veterans for America, Blue Star Families, Military Officers Association of America, With Honor, and Veterans for Mustangs.

“After years of dedicated service to our country, every member of our Armed Forces deserves the right to retire with the benefits they’ve earned – including the Coast Guard,” said Congresswoman Kiggans. “The Coast Guard Separation Parity Act ensures that the brave men and women who wear the uniform in our nation’s maritime force receive the same protections as their military counterparts in other branches. This is about fairness, recognizing the sacrifices of our Coast Guard, and ensuring these servicemembers are not forced out just before reaching retirement eligibility. As a Navy veteran, I am proud to introduce this bipartisan bill to uphold our commitment to those who serve.”

“The U.S. Coast Guard serves a critical role protecting our coastal communities, rescuing people in harm’s way, and enforcing our maritime laws. These brave men and women were first on the scene when fires destroyed our town of Lahaina, going above and beyond to pull people out of the water and getting them to safety,” said Congresswoman Tokuda. “That’s why I’m proud and honored to co-lead the Coast Guard Separation Parity Act with my colleague Rep. Kiggans, so those who sacrifice so much are better protected and have every opportunity to fairly advocate for themselves, just as their fellow service members in the other service branches. Every day, the Coast Guard stands ready to defend our country and assist mariners in need, and we must never forget to take care of them too.”

“This bill ensures enlisted Coast Guard members who have served at least 18 years are not forced to leave the service shortly before reaching a 20-year retirement, and aligns their protections with other military branches,” said John Vick, Executive Director of Concerned Veterans for America. “It guarantees them the same retirement for the same service, ensuring parity across the military by allowing them to serve their full term and retire with the benefits they’ve earned.”

“The Coast Guard’s brave men and women serve our nation with the same dedication and sacrifice as their counterparts in other branches of the military,” said Kathy Roth Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families. “The Coast Guard Separation Parity Act ensures they receive the equal 20-year retirement benefits they’ve rightfully earned — honoring their selfless commitment and reinforcing that no service member’s sacrifice is valued less than another’s.”

“With Honor Action applauds Rep. Kiggans for her leadership of this legislation that recognizes the important service rendered by Coast Guardsmen in support of America’s national security,” said With Honor Co-Founder & CEO Rye Barcott. “The Coast Guard Separation Parity Act is another step towards fully recognizing that any American who raises their hand to serve our nation should be entitled to the same benefits across all Service branches.”

“The introduction of the Coast Guard Parity Act is a long-overdue step toward addressing the inequities faced by Coast Guard members compared to their counterparts in other military branches,” said Veterans for Mustangs. “For too long, these dedicated servicemembers, who perform critical missions safeguarding our nation’s waters and responding to emergencies, have been denied equal retirement benefits. This disparity has persisted despite their sacrifices and contributions being on par with those in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. It is encouraging to see Representative Jen Kiggans championing this cause and working to correct this injustice. Her efforts reflect a commitment to ensuring that all members of the U.S. Armed Forces are treated with fairness and respect and we at Veterans for Mustangs thank her for that.” 

Background:

You can find the full text of this bill here.

You can find a one pager on this bill here.

• The Coast Guard Separation Parity Act would ensure that all enlisted Coast Guard members have the ability to serve 20 years and retire with full military benefits.

• The US Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Air Force will retain enlisted members that have served 18 years or more, but fewer than 20 years, if their enlistment expires and they have been denied reenlistment.
  
• Enlisted Coast Guardsmen are not afforded this protection, leaving them open to being separated prior to 20 years of service.

• This bill would establish protections for these servicemembers, creating parity for Coast Guard Members with the rest of the Armed Forces.

• The Coast Guard has a total workforce of over 57,000 active duty, reserve, and civilian personnel. For 235 years, the Coast Guard has served our country in wars and conflicts and has played a vital role in our national security, maritime safety, and disaster response.

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