After reports that National Guard troops deployed to Washington, D.C. have been forced to eat undercooked meat and other “disgusting” foods, a Republican U.S. Congressman from Michigan is taking a stand.
“Recently, there have been a cascade of reports describing the food being provided to our soldiers as poorly prepared, oftentimes inedible, and unacceptable,” Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI-02) said in a letter addressed to Acting Secretary of the Army John E. Whitley and Chief of the National Guard Bureau General Daniel R. Hokanson.
“This includes meals that are severely undercooked, moldy, and even filled with metal shavings,” the letter continued. “It has also been reported that the low food quality has resulted in approximately 50 soldiers being treated for gastrointestinal complaints, with some of these members needing to receive medical care at military treatment facilities.”
Calling the quality of the food “clearly unacceptable, unhealthy, and even harmful,” Huizenga requested per diem food allowances for the troops in D.C.
“We write today to request that per diems be issued immediately, so that guard members can secure proper meals for the duration of their deployment in Washington, D.C.,” the letter said. “Additionally, we also request that per diems be issued retroactively to cover the cost of guard members having purchased meals with personal funds due to the unsanitary and inadequate nature of the contracted meals.”
Huizenga also urged the Guard Bureau and the Pentagon to move quickly to resolve the issue.
“Although these conditions have been widely reported and acknowledged by leadership at the National Guard, the situation does not appear to have been rectified and immediate action must be taken,” the letter said. “As demonstrated over the last few months, the members of the National Guard have time and time again answered the call to provide assistance and security where requested. There is no reason they cannot be fed safely and adequately while serving in our nation’s capital.”
The letter was co-signed by 38 other members of Congress, including some Democrats.
“Proud to lead this bipartisan effort. Our men and women serving in the National Guard at the Capitol deserve safe food and should be provided a per diem,” Huizenga said on Twitter.
Proud to lead this bipartisan effort. Our men and women serving in the National Guard at the Capitol deserve safe food and should be provided a per diem. https://t.co/mTK858EI5X
— Rep. Bill Huizenga (@RepHuizenga) March 5, 2021
Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI-01), Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI-03), Rep, John Moolenaar (R-MI-04), Rep. Daniel Kildee (D-MI-05), Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI-07), and Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI-08) joined Huizenga in signing the letter, representing the Michigan congressional delegation.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-12), who has not commented on the meals provided to the troops, is under fire for keeping them in D.C., with some accusing her of using them as political pawns to fabricate the existence of a domestic terror threat.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a contributor at The Michigan Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
