Financial Instability Is Major Cause of Veterans’ Suicides
Statement from AFL-CIO Union Veterans Council Executive Director Will Attig on the government shutdown:
It is disgraceful that an estimated 248,400 veterans across the country are not receiving paychecks because of dysfunction in Washington, D.C. Our veterans who continue to serve by protecting our borders, guarding prisoners and stopping terrorist attacks at airports do not deserve to be used as political pawns.
Many of our union veterans believe we should improve border security but their financial security should not be put at stake. This shutdown has consequences that go beyond the loss of pay. Financial instability is one of the main cause of suicides among the veterans’ community. These hard-working men and women who sacrificed so much for their country should not have their families held hostage by lawmakers that cannot relate to living paycheck to paycheck.
