Pandemic forced ‘unforeseen burden’
Mike Garcia (CA-25) has introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation with Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) to allow servicemembers and their families to terminate telephone, cable, and internet service contracts if they receive military orders for a permanent change of station (PCS) but then receive a stop movement order due to an emergency situation like the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Emergency Relief for Servicemembers Act was also introduced by Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH).
Recently, many military families have suffered personal financial losses after entering new telephone, cable, or internet service contracts ahead of their scheduled PCS move but then receiving a stop movement order from the Department of Defense (DoD). As a result, these military families have to pay for services in two locations – one for their current duty station and another at their intended PCS location.
