Congressman Davis Listens to Military Spouses Amid Government Shutdown

GOLDSBORO, N.C. – Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) met with military spouses in Goldsboro as the federal government shutdown continues to cause uncertainty for many military families. 

“Military families play a crucial role in supporting our national security and force readiness,” Congressman Don Davis. “It’s difficult to focus on the mission when the daily concerns of maintaining a household is front and center.” 

Military spouses shared concerns, ranging from pay uncertainty in the ranks and especially, among junior enlistees to those families with two active-duty members or a spouse experiencing furlough. They also shared how the government shutdown is disrupting families changing duty stations, the challenges on those families of deployed servicemembers, and the delays resulting from furloughed civilian employees working on base.  

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[Congressman Don Davis meets with military spouses in Goldsboro.]

The meeting underscored the urgent need for Congress to reach an agreement soon and to reopen the government. Congressman Don Davis is also a cosponsor of H.R. 5401, Pay Our Troops Act, which would authorize military personnel to be paid during a government shutdown.

Davis noted that while he agreed with the Trump administration moving money to cover payments for our military personnel for the mid-October pay period, those funds may not be available moving forward. During past government shutdowns, Congress has acted to pay our military. 

“Our servicemember’s pay should not be withheld because Washington, D.C. politicians cannot agree. We must always prioritize our military families, who are already sacrificing a lot for our nation,” Davis added.  

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[Congressman Don Davis and military spouses.]

Congressman Davis recently volunteered to assemble, and pack supplies at Support Our Troops, a local nonprofit organization in Ayden, in partnership with Care Goods and Hearts with Hands, to distribute to military families. He has also announced that he is withholding his pay until the government reopens.    

Congressman Don Davis serves as the vice ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee and sits on the Subcommittees on Tactical Air and Land Forces and Readiness. He is the co-chair of the For Country Caucus, composed of a bipartisan group of veterans serving in the House of Representatives. Congressman Davis graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1994 and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

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