April 2, 2020 Dr. Mark T. Esper Secretary of Defense 1000 Defense Pentagon Washington, DC 20301 Secretary Esper, We applaud the Defense Department enacting the March 11, 2020 Stop Movement Order, which prevents DoD civilian employees, Servicemembers and their families from traveling and potentially worsening the spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Not only does this action preserve the health and welfare of DoD civilian employees, Servicemembers and their families, but it also increases positive outcomes for local communities and ensures our force readiness is sustained. While the Stop Movement order was noble and necessary, this unprecedented action left thousands of military families in extreme financial distress. Shortly after the 60-day movement suspension was ordered, numerous military members and their families informed us of the significant repercussions caused by their inability to follow through with their PCS, retirement and/or separation orders. Their specific circumstances include but are not limited to families who are renting a home at their current duty station and have contractually purchased or leased a rental unit at their next duty station, families who are currently renting with landlords who refuse to release deposits towards rental property at the new duty location, civilian spouses who terminated their employment prior to the Stop Movement order, and families who will be forced to separate due to their civilian spouses employment at the new duty station. These circumstances have forced Servicemembers and their families into difficult financial situations where they are paying for two residences and must replace necessities that were already shipped, ie- household goods, rental furniture, and clothing. We understand there are mechanisms within each respective Service that assist military families with resources and monetary support like grants and loans, but the monetary caps under these programs are simply not high enough in this situation. For example, under current policy, Army families are limited to a maximum of $1,500 to offset their expenses while they wait to PCS. Additionally, given the scope of the problem, we are concerned about the limited capacity installation Commanders and organizations like the Airmen and Family Readiness Centers have to address these claims. This unparalleled order issued to save lives has led to an unparalleled need for assistance, critically straining the staff and resources available and inevitably resulting in long delays before relief reaches military families. We strongly urge you to show the same level of swift action you did in issuing the Stop Movement Order to exercise every measure within your authority to provide the Services with the guidance and resources needed to ensure care and support to every military member and family adversely affected by this order. Further, we strongly urge you to issue guidance allowing Commanders to use the greatest possible breadth of relief options for these families and to further empower commanders to coordinate with traditional and non-traditional partners that may rapidly address the needs of these families, including coordination between gaining and losing Installations, Military Family Support organizations, national and community non-profits, veterans service organizations, non-Government Organizations, State and Local Governments, existing community support efforts, and any and all available relief funds. We remain eager to assist you in this effort and encourage you to request any additional resources or authorities you may require to provide for the wellbeing of military families directly affected by this order. Again, thank you and your team for the COVID-19 responses you’ve put in place thus far. Let’s continue to serve this community, as they serve our nation, with the utmost respect and care. Sincerely, _________________ Debra A. Haaland Member of Congress _________________ James P. McGovern Member of Congress _________________ Brian Fitzpatrick Member of Congress _________________ Matt Gaetz Member of Congress _________________ Jackie Speier Member of Congress _________________ Cheri Bustos Member of Congress _________________ Eleanor Holmes Norton Member of Congress _________________ Denny Heck Member of Congress _________________ Donald S. Beyer, Jr. Member of Congress _________________ Madeleine Dean Member of Congress _________________ Tulsi Gabbard Member of Congress _________________ Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. Member of Congress _________________ Veronica Escobar Member of Congress _________________ Jason Crow Member of Congress _________________ Wm. Lacy Clay Member of Congress _________________ Doug Lamborn Member of Congress _________________ Elaine G. Luria Member of Congress _________________ Terri A.Sewell Member of Congress _________________ Anthony Brindisi Member of Congress _________________ Ruben Gallego Member of Congress __________________ Michael Waltz Member of Congress _________________ Joe Wilson Member of Congress _________________ Tony Cardenas Member of Congress __________________ Anthony G. Brown Member of Congress _________________ Stephen F. Lynch Member of Congress _________________ Vicki Hartzler Member of Congress _________________ Lauren Underwood Member of Congress _________________ Julia Brownley Member of Congress _________________ Seth Moulton Member of Congress _________________ Mike Levin Member of Congress _____________ Jamie Raskin Member of Congress __________________ Salud Carbajal Member of Congress _________________ Colin Allred Member of Congress __________________ Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan Member of Congress Endorsed By: Pay It Forward Inc. Military Order of the Purple Heart U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officers Association & Enlisted Association AMSUS, The Society of Federal Health Professionals TREA: The Enlisted Association Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA) National Military Family Association Partners In PROMISE Association of the United States Navy (AUSN) Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Marine Corps Reserve Association (MCRA) __________________ William R. Keating Member of Congress