Press Releases
Rep. Scott Peters and Rep. Sara Jacobs Celebrate Military Funding Wins for San Diego and Servicemembers
May 31, 2024
“San Diego is historically a military town,” said Rep. Peters. “No matter how our region and economy have evolved, we are still, at our core, a proud military town with a cherished history of playing a pivotal role in national defense. Connecting D.C. to San Diego means making sure our servicemembers have the equipment and resources they need to do their jobs and stay safe and that our military installations are secure from the dual threats of climate change and energy vulnerabilities.”
“In San Diego, 45,000 servicemembers and their families go to the food bank every single month to put food on the table. Our childcare waitlist was 2,600 spots long last year and recently it’s been up to 4,000. Servicemembers are living in their cars or friends couches because they can’t afford a place to live and if they’re lucky enough to find housing, it’s not always liveable,” said Rep. Jacobs. This isn’t only a failure to live up to our values and our promises made to our military servicemembers and their families. It’s a direct threat to our ability to recruit and retain the best and the brightest and our ability to respond quickly and effectively to evolving national security challenges.”
Adm. Paul Pearigen, who was formerly commander of Navy Medicine West, spoke about the nearly $205 million allocated for medical and dental facilities at MCAS Miramar and the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. “These investments in renovations and replacement of aging healthcare facilities on these two crucial San Diego installations will markedly improve the Nave medicine teams’ ability to generate warfighter readiness through health promotion and health restoration for body and mind, all the way from the newest recruit to the most senior aviator at Miramar, so they can focus on mission and enable them to get in the fight and stay in the fight wherever they are called upon to do so.”
“These benefits bring relief to military families. They significantly improve the quality of life for our servicemembers and their loved ones,” said Lt. Cdr. Tracy A. Owens from Support the Enlisted Project. “Knowing they are taken care of by these kind of benefits will help alleviate burdens and worries. This peace of mind is invaluable; it helps military parents stay mission ready. These benefits also bring a sense of security to military families, ensuring they feel protected and cared for. It reinforces the understanding that their wellbeing is a priority. This type of support is more than just policy; it is a tangible expression of gratitude. It makes military families feel valued and cared for knowing their country is committed to their overall quality of life.”