Mike Rogers - Chairman of the Armed Services Committee | Official U.S. House headshot
Mike Rogers - Chairman of the Armed Services Committee | Official U.S. House headshot
The House Armed Services Committee advanced a defense policy bill on Wednesday night, proposing a nearly 20% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and significant investments in quality-of-life improvements for all troops.
Under the White House’s $895 billion defense budget proposal, all service members are set to receive a 4.5% pay raise. The House committee's bill suggests an additional 15% increase for junior troops, some of whom earn less than $25,000 in basic pay annually.
The bill is titled the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act, reflecting its emphasis on addressing compensation shortfalls and enhancing housing, healthcare, and other essential services.
“We did that to underscore the tremendous gains this bill makes toward improving the quality of life for our service members and their families,” said Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), the committee chairman.
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is an annual must-pass bill outlining funding levels and policies for the Pentagon. An accompanying appropriations bill provides the necessary funds. The House panel highlighted provisions aimed at enhancing military life and service.
One key measure restores coverage of the basic allowance for housing from 95% back to 100% of calculated costs, as it was from 2005 to 2016. Another raises the threshold for the basic needs allowance to 200% of federal poverty guidelines.
Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) emphasized the importance of a $17.5 billion investment in military construction projects within the bill, including $1.15 billion allocated to improve housing conditions.
“The condition of our barracks in particular is shocking,” he stated. “It’s unacceptable that this committee has to step in to push the Pentagon to fix this problem, but that’s what we’re going to do. We have to provide safe barracks and housing and put our service members’ welfare first.”
A government watchdog reported last year hazardous living conditions such as mold, mildew, sewage overflow, broken windows and locks, rodent infestations across ten U.S. installations.
For the first time, the authorization bill mandates each military department implement an electronic management system to track fund expenditures and maintain up-to-date facility condition records according to Waltz, a former Green Beret.
Additional efforts include permanently authorizing a fellowship program for military spouses seeking employment, expanding access to specialty healthcare providers, and fully funding child care fee assistance programs to eliminate waitlists.
Service members relocating overseas would be permitted under new legislation to ship and store up to two privately owned vehicles per household; current regulations typically cover one vehicle per household.
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