On Saturday July 2, just before Independence Day, the White House released a video of President Obama announcing unprecedented new benefits for veterans and their spouses. First, he wished everyone a happy 4th of July, which he said he would spend on the White House South Lawn, filled with,
“Hundreds of our troops, our veterans and their families.”
Then he quickly moved on to announce the results of the Joining Forces initiative, started by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr Jill Biden, Vice President Biden’s wife:
“They’ve rallied businesses to hire more than 1.2 million veterans and military spouses, and helped to reduce veteran’s homelessness.”
This week, the initiative saw a breakthrough in making it easier for the spouses moving across state boarders with their families, when stationed in different places, to continue their professions,
“Because their spouses serve with them, that means they move ten times more than the rest of us. […] One in three of these spouses work in a field that requires a professional license or certification. Nurses, childcare providers, accountants, social workers, and lots of other jobs.”
When Obama and Biden started the rally five years ago, only three states made it easy for military spouses to re-license. In others, renewing a license could mean years of study and hefty fees, just in order to continue working in professions they are already trained for and have been working in,
“Today, all 50 states have acted to streamline many of these licensing issues. It’s a big step forward.”
The military have more reasons to be grateful to President Obama. Last year, he announced a much needed pay raise for military and other federal employees, which went into effect earlier this year. Federal civilian workers received an increase of one percent, and members of the military an increase of 1.3 percent. The last couple of years, the military increase was only one percent, but they received no increase during the 2011-2013 pay freeze.
It’s a long overdue increase, especially considering the average soldier earns only about $40,000, which most of us would agree is a shamefully low figure for putting your life at risk while serving your country.
Most of us? Well… Congressional Democrats originally proposed a 3.8% increase in pay for soldiers and other federal workers, but House Republicans shot their bill down.
Unfortunately, it sometimes appears that Republicans’ inexplicable hatred of President Obama runs so deep, that they feel the need to work against him even by shutting down bills that would benefit causes close to their own heart, like supporting the military.
The same Republicans have remained silent on this issue, rather than give Obama the credit he deserves.
Others see all the great work President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have done and continue to do, as their time in the White House is nearing its end. The popularity of the President is ever increasing, and many mourn the fact he can’t be elected for a third and even a fourth term.
Happy 4th of July Mr President. Thank you for everything!
Featured image screen grab from the White House’s video on Facebook.
