Bishop: 'Sequestration is Hurting Our Military Families'

Congressman Bishop, on Monday said he won't stand idly by and watch local military families continue to struggle. 

On Monday, he stood alongside military technician members of the 106th Air Rescue Wing in Westhampton, who are facing pay cuts due to the Federal sequestration cuts and called on Congress to exempt them.

Bishop said the 220 technicians, who are part of the 106th civilian workforce, are facing a furlough through Sept. 30 that is resulting in a 20 percent annual pay cut. 

Those classified under the GS-4 Pay Grade of $31,560 annually are loosing $1,578 as a result of the furlough and a top supervisor at the GS-14 pay grade of $109,022 annually will have $5,451 less in their paycheck, Bishop said.
"We all know the cost of living on Long Island and with a 20 percent pay cut people are having a hard time putting food on the table and clothes on their family. That's a travesty in itself."

The 200 technicians are among 10,000 Department of Defense employees at New York’s military installations are facing furloughs, including approximately 1,750 National Guard technicians, said Bishop, who feels that the furloughs are not only hurting local families, but is also hurting the country's military readiness.

“Congress must reach an agreement to replace this poorly crafted and harmful policy with a balanced approach that reduces long-term deficits while protecting our economy and critical services.”

Specifically, Bishop said he is sponsoring bipartisan legislation that would prevent furloughs of “dual-status” military technicians by including them in military personnel accounts exempted from the sequestration cuts.

"The 106th Air Rescue Wing and the dedicated public servants who work here do an incredible job for us, and they deserve better," said Congressman Bishop. "They deserve from us the level of support they are giving to us."