All articles tagged with #military families
A military mom, Samantha, urged House Speaker Mike Johnson to pass a bill to pay troops during the government shutdown, highlighting her family's medical and financial struggles, but Johnson indicated that no new vote on military pay would occur as the issue was already addressed by the recent continuing resolution.
The article reports on the case of Paola Clouatre, a Mexican national and wife of Marine Corps veteran Adrian Clouatre, who was detained by ICE while seeking a green card, highlighting the increased strictness of immigration enforcement under the current administration and its impact on military families, with some recruiters promoting enlistment as a way to gain protection from deportation, despite official clarifications that the Marine Corps cannot provide immigration relief.
Marine Corps veteran Adrian Clouatre's wife, Paola, who is still breastfeeding their baby, was detained by ICE and faces deportation due to a missed hearing related to her asylum case, highlighting increased enforcement and reduced discretion for military families under the current administration.
The updated FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) filed in the U.S. House includes a provision that would prohibit healthcare coverage for transgender children of servicemembers, sparking criticism from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). HRC President Kelley Robinson condemned the move as a political attack on military families, urging Congress to oppose the legislation. President Biden has vowed to veto any discriminatory laws against transgender individuals. This follows previous attempts by House Republicans to introduce anti-LGBTQ+ measures in legislation.
Military families are facing severe child care shortages, exacerbated by frequent relocations, unconventional work hours, and a lack of available child care workers. This crisis is causing significant stress and financial strain, leading some service members to consider leaving the military. Despite efforts by the military to improve the situation, including offering bonuses and increasing wages for child care workers, the problem persists, threatening mission readiness and recruitment. Legislative proposals aim to address these challenges, but many military spouses continue to struggle with balancing child care and career aspirations.
A study by the RAF Benevolent Fund has revealed a significant increase in the number of RAF children seeking mental health support due to challenges such as frequent home moves, separation from serving parents, and disruptions to education. The charity reported a 131% rise in children and young people seeking help for depression, anxiety, and isolation between 2020 and 2023, as well as a 93% increase in family counselling. Financial assistance for childcare and children's needs also saw a 70% increase in 2023. The charity released these figures to highlight the growing welfare demands and emotional wellbeing of children in the RAF, emphasizing the need for tailored support for military families.
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley criticized former President Donald Trump, expressing doubt about his ability to protect America's military and questioning his understanding of the sacrifices made by military families. Haley's comments come amid Trump's attacks on her husband, who serves in the military, and his recent controversial remarks about NATO. She emphasized that Trump's lack of military experience and his comments about siding with Putin raise concerns about his capability to keep military personnel out of harm's way, as she continues to distance herself from Trump in the GOP nominating fight.
President Biden defended Nikki Haley's deployed husband against attacks from former President Trump, who questioned his whereabouts. Haley's husband, Maj. Michael Haley, is serving abroad, and both Biden and Nikki Haley criticized Trump's disrespect for military families. Trump also drew scrutiny for questioning the US commitment to NATO nations that don't fulfill their obligations, with the White House and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg criticizing his remarks.
Former President Donald Trump mocked Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley over her husband's deployment, prompting a sharp response from Haley, who criticized Trump for disrespecting military families and questioned his mental competency. The war of words between the two candidates escalated as Haley fired back at Trump's comments, emphasizing the sacrifices of military families and calling for mental competency tests for politicians over the age of 75. The exchange reflects the intensifying competition within the Republican Party's nomination race, with both candidates trading barbs and criticisms.
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley criticized former President Trump for questioning the whereabouts of her deployed husband, Major Michael Haley, and accused him of disrespecting military families. Haley, whose husband is serving in the military, defended his deployment and emphasized their mutual support for each other's endeavors. The Twitter feud erupted after Trump's comments at a rally in Haley's home state, prompting her to assert that someone who disrespects military sacrifices is unfit to be commander in chief.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced a new policy, the Combating Auto Retail Scams Rule (CARS Rule), aimed at protecting consumers, including military families, from scams and deceptive practices in the car shopping experience. The rule, effective from July 30, 2024, prohibits price misrepresentations, lying about military or government affiliations, and false claims about moving vehicles out of state or country. It also targets bait-and-switch advertising and hidden fees. The FTC received over 27,000 comments on the proposed rule, with violations potentially resulting in penalties and restitution for consumers.
Senator Joni Ernst is criticizing President Biden's border policy after military families who had booked hotel rooms in Massachusetts for the Army-Navy Game received cancellation notices, as the hotels are being used to house migrants. Ernst argues that the cancellations are a result of the administration's decision to transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary cities. She calls on Biden to address the border crisis and ensure that veterans and military families are not displaced. Massachusetts has a "right to shelter" law, which guarantees housing for migrants and homeless families. GOP lawmakers have been urging Democrats to include stricter asylum standards at the southern border in Biden's national security supplemental request, but Democrats are reportedly not interested in policy changes.
Army senior leaders discussed concerns raised by soldiers and their families, including rent increases that match Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) increases, leaving service members struggling financially. The leaders acknowledged the issue and suggested potential solutions such as tax breaks for landlords who rent to service members. They also addressed the uneven implementation of a law allowing military spouses to transfer professional licenses across states. Other quality of life issues highlighted include health care, housing and barracks, PCS moves, child care, and spouse employment. The leaders emphasized the importance of communication and urged soldiers and families to voice their concerns.
The Pentagon is increasing pressure on Sen. Tommy Tuberville to lift his hold on hundreds of senior military nominations, which is impacting 265 officers and their families. The Pentagon is engaging in back-channel conversations with Congress, raising awareness of the effects of the holds on military families, and seeking support from Republican senators. Tuberville maintains his block on nominations as a protest against the Defense Department's reproductive health policies, claiming it has no impact on national security. The hold disrupts the routine process of confirming nominations and could take months to complete if each nomination requires an individual vote.
President Biden signed an Executive Order aimed at enhancing career stability and expanding employment resources and support for military and veteran spouses, caregivers, and survivors. The order includes nearly 20 actions, such as developing a government-wide Strategic Plan on Hiring and Retention, increasing Federal job postings utilizing the Military Spouse Noncompetitive Appointment Authority, and improving support for military spouses during transition. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to enhancing the health, wellbeing, and economic security of military and veteran families, caregivers, and survivors.