ICYMI: Stefanik OpEd in Watertown Daily Times: Stefanik: Show appreciation to veterans this month, and always

Op-Ed

"As we observe Veterans Day and honor Military Families Month, it is important for every American to take a moment to show our appreciation to the brave veterans who have served in the military and their families. Our Servicemembers who defend our nation are only able to do so because of the selfless service their families perform every day. Too often, military spouses and families face the extreme burdens of managing their households alone while their Servicemember is called away to serve. This is why I am a proud supporter of our military families and continuously advocate on their behalf in the House of Representatives.

I have the distinct honor and privilege of representing Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division, the most deployed division since 9/11. Those deployments, and the critical training between them, take soldiers away from their families for extensive periods of time. During these times, spouses and other dependents are faced with unique challenges that place a heavy burden on them.

The difficulties that Servicemembers face while balancing the needs of their demanding profession and the needs of their family are vast. Since my first year in Congress, I have introduced and advanced numerous bills to ease the burdens on our military families.

Childcare is a daily concern for many families, and it is paramount that these military families not only have immediate availability, but also quality options for childcare. Servicemembers rely on Child Development Centers while they are on duty to take care of their children. In this year's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), I secured language that aims to retain quality workers at these centers, enhancing employment at these facilities, to ensure ample availability for our Servicemembers' children.

While Child Development Centers are critical, military families deserve to have options to choose what type of childcare best suits their families. To ensure these families have this choice, I worked to include an expansion of the Department of Defense's In-Home Child Care pilot program to Fort Drum. This program aids military families by allowing them to have full-time childcare options to meet their specific needs.

When relocating, military spouses and families oftentimes face employment and financial challenges. One of the greatest financial burdens that can impact them is their student loans. This Congress, I have introduced legislation that would defer student loans for certain military spouses for up to 180 days. This gives families more time to get situated at their new duty location and provides flexibility in their finances to stay current on repayments.

Maintaining financial stability is increasingly challenging in today's economy. Ensuring our Servicemembers are compensated fairly is crucial for a high quality of life. I am proud to have secured a 5.2% increase in basic pay for Servicemembers in this year's NDAA. This is the largest pay raise in over two decades and will greatly benefit military families.

Finally, we must not forget to honor and support our military families that have suffered the loss of a Servicemember. Surviving spouses must navigate through incredibly difficult circumstances when dealing with the devastating loss of their loved ones; brave Servicemembers who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country. Unfortunately, they are penalized financially if they remarry and work to rebuild their lives before a certain age. In recognition of not only the Servicemembers' ultimate sacrifice by the surviving family's sacrifice as well, I have introduced legislation that would restore non-monetary benefits to these surviving spouses, such as access to on-base commissaries and morale, welfare, and recreation programs.

I will continue to advocate for our Servicemembers through the Committee on Armed Services and introduce common-sense legislation that ensures the 10th Mountain Division and military families everywhere have the best resources available and are supported to the best of our ability. This National Veterans and Military Families Month, which is highlighted by Veterans Day, I am thankful to the courageous men and women that serve our country, and for their families that endure so much as the backbone of our military community."

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