19.5% pay raise for junior enlisted troops faces White House opposition

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

A BIPARTISAN PUSH IN CONGRESS TO GIVE JUNIOR ENLISTED TROOPS A 19.5% PAY RAISE – IS FACING A MAJOR POTENTIAL OBSTACLE: THE WHITE HOUSE.

THE PROPOSAL WOULD GIVE JUNIOR ENLISTED TROOPS A 15% PAY RAISE ON TOP OF THE 4.5% RAISE THE PRESIDENT ASKED FOR IN HIS BUDGET.

THE PROPOSED RAISE WOULD COST $24.4 MILLION FROM 2025 TO 2029. 

THE PAY RAISE PASSED THE HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE OVERWHELMINGLY AS PART OF THIS YEAR’S DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION.  

COMMITTEE CHAIR MIKE ROGERS SAID THE PAY RAISE PACKAGE IS BASED ON RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY THE “BIPARTISAN QUALITY OF LIFE PANEL IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.”

ROGERS SAYS TOO MANY MILITARY FAMILIES ARE “RELYING ON FOOD BANKS, SNAP, AND WIC IN ORDER TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.”

ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MEMBER COMPENSATION REPORT, 25% OF SERVICE MEMBERS ARE FOOD INSECURE AND THEIR PAY HAS NOT KEPT UP WITH INFLATION SINCE 2020. 

THE WHITE HOUSE BUDGET OFFICE SAID THIS WEEK THE ADMINISTRATION IS “STRONGLY COMMITTED TO TAKING CARE OF SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES” BUT “STRONGLY OPPOSES MAKING A SIGNIFICANT, PERMANENT CHANGE TO THE BASIC PAY SCHEDULE BEFORE” THE PENTAGON FINISHES ITS QUADRENNIAL COMPENSATION REVIEW. 

SERVICE MEMBERS RECEIVED A 5.2% BASIC PAY INCREASE  IN JANUARY – “THE LARGEST SINCE 2003.” 

ROGERS RESPONDED SAYING “INSTEAD OF SUPPORTING THIS COMMONSENSE PROPOSAL, PRESIDENT BIDEN IS ONCE AGAIN TURNING HIS BACK ON OUR SERVICE MEMBERS. I BELIEVE WHOLEHEARTEDLY THAT THE BRAVE AMERICANS WHO SERVE IN OUR ARMED FORCES SHOULDN’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MAKING ENDS MEET, UNFORTUNATELY PRESIDENT BIDEN DOESN’T FEEL THE SAME.”

DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN ADAM SMITH SAID JUNIOR ENLISTED TROOPS ARE STRUGGLING TO AFFORD HOUSING COSTS AND THEIR PAY HAS NOT KEPT UP WITH THE PACE OF RISING COSTS. HE CALLED THE PROPOSED PAY HIKE “A BOLD STEP TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SUPPORT THEM, WHICH INCIDENTALLY WILL ALSO HELP WITH RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.”

THE FULL HOUSE IS EXPECTED TO VOTE ON THE DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL  THIS WEEK.

THE SENATE IS ALSO CONSTRUCTING SIMILAR LEGISLATION.

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