Boozman, Manchin, Budd Lead Bipartisan Resolution Honoring Gold Star Spouses

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate unanimously passed U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Ted Budd’s (R-NC) bipartisan resolution to designate today, April 5, 2024, as Gold Star Wives Day. The resolution honors the sacrifices made by the spouses and families of fallen members of the United States Armed Forces. 

“The loved ones of our fallen servicemembers experience a sense of loss and grief that few will ever know. We must always commemorate their sacrifice while also honoring the incredible courage and resilience it demands of the spouses, children and parents left behind. This resolution helps extend to these Gold Star families the eternal gratitude they are owed by those of us who enjoy the freedoms so many American heroes have given their lives to protect,” said Boozman. 

“We will never be able to repay our brave servicemen and women and their families who have paid the ultimate price to protect our beloved country. West Virginians and Americans are forever grateful to these heroic patriots, and I’m proud to lead this bipartisan resolution to designate April 5, 2024 as Gold Star Wives Day to honor their dedication and sacrifice. Gayle and I extend our deepest condolences and profound gratitude to every Gold Star family and spouse,” said Manchin. 

“We are forever indebted to all those who lay down their lives to protect and defend us. We often forget the sacrifice that military families also bear. That’s why I’m proud to help pass a bipartisan resolution honoring Gold Star spouses. I would like to extend the gratitude and condolences of all North Carolinians to the spouses of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” Budd said.

On April 5, 1945, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt convened the first meeting of the Gold Star Wives of America, a congressionally-chartered nonprofit to acknowledge the incredible sacrifices of the families of those who died in service during World War II. 

Boozman has also introduced bipartisan legislation that would adjust monthly benefits for family members and survivors of veterans who lost their lives in service to our country. The Caring for Survivors Act of 2023 will bring parity to payments for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) recipients, which currently lag behind other federal program payments by nearly 12 percent. The bill is supported by Gold Star Wives of America. 

The full text of the resolution can be found here.

Boozman, colleagues urge Senate leadership to advance legislation to protect National Security and support Marshallese and all COFA citizens

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) joined U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Ranking Member John Barrasso (R-WY) in calling on Senate leadership to support legislation renewing the Compacts of Free Association (COFA) with the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau. 

Boozman is a long-time advocate for restoring access to federal benefits for COFA citizens legally living in the U.S. The largest population of Marshallese in the continental U.S. resides in Springdale, Arkansas.

Last year, the senator introduced the Compact Impact Fairness Act, legislation to renew eligibility for COFA citizens to receive public benefits they are entitled to.  

Congress has built on the foundation of the Boozman-backed legislation and negotiated a plan to renew the agreement, protect U.S. interests in the Pacific and block the People’s Republic of China’s efforts to expand its corrupting influence in the region.  

Boozman, Manchin, Barrasso and a bipartisan group of senators wrote a letter to Senate leaders urging them to advance the legislation. 

In addition to Boozman, Manchin and Barrasso, the letter is signed by Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Todd Young (R-IN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Gary Peters (D-MI), Rick Scott (R-FL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). 

Full text of the letter is available here and below: 

Dear Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, Chair Murray and Ranking Member Collins:

We write in support of legislation to renew the Compacts of Free Association (COFA) with the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau, including in any legislative vehicle.

Our COFA partnerships are critical to U.S. national security. Failure to pass the renegotiated Compacts as soon as possible imperils our relationships with the Freely Associated States and the entire Pacific Island region, who view the COFA as a barometer of the U.S. commitment to the region. They ensure that we, rather than a nation hostile to U.S. interests, maintain strategic control of the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and the Philippines.

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is engaged in active efforts to undermine Pacific Island nations’ confidence in the United States. Failure to act on COFA opens the door to more corrupting influence and funding by the PRC in the region. The PRC is pursuing military basing and policing agreements in the region and working to undermine recognition of Taiwan, and exerting corrupting influence in several other countries. Without the COFA agreements, these trends would accelerate.

These unique bilateral agreements are the product of nearly four years of negotiations under two Presidential Administrations, and year-long negotiations across eight primary committees of jurisdiction in the House and Senate and multiple others. The resulting bicameral, bipartisan legislation will secure U.S. national security in the Indo-Pacific for the next two decades.

We ask for your support in moving the COFA package forward with the urgency it requires. Thank you for your attention to this matter.