House Passes Bill For Military Pay Raise

The House of Representatives recently passed a bill that includes significant pay raises for military personnel in 2025. The proposed pay raises are part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2025. This crucial legislation authorizes funding levels and sets policies for the Department of Defense.

Background on the NDAA

The NDAA is passed by Congress on an annual basis. It is one of the few major bills that reliably becomes law every year. While the overall dollar amounts and specific policies can change from year to year, the NDAA provides vital funding and direction for America’s armed forces.

Passing the NDAA is a major priority for members of Congress There is usually strong bipartisan support for the bill, as both parties recognize the importance of providing for national defense However, disagreements often arise over specific funding levels and policy provisions. Negotiations between the House and Senate are frequently required to reach a compromise bill.

For fiscal year 2025, the initial House version of the NDAA authorized $895.2 billion in defense spending. This was approximately $9 billion above the 2024 enacted level. The House bill also included a substantial pay raise for military personnel, especially junior enlisted troops.

Pay Raise for Junior Enlisted Troops

Under the House-passed NDAA the youngest enlisted servicemembers would receive a 19.5% pay raise in 2025. This would apply to troops in paygrades E-1 through E-4. Other military personnel would get a 4.5% raise under the House plan.

The 19.5% raise for junior enlisted troops would be the largest increase in a generation. Advocates argue it is necessary to keep military pay competitive amid high inflation and a strong job market Opponents counter it is unaffordable and could undermine retention and morale among more senior personnel.

Junior enlisted troops typically make between $20,000 and $30,000 per year. The 19.5% boost would increase their pay by $3,000 to $6,000 annually, providing meaningful help given their modest incomes. Proponents say it would lift some families out of poverty and reduce the need for food stamps or other public assistance.

Bipartisan Support for a Pay Raise

While the specifics differ, there is bipartisan acknowledgement that a pay raise is needed for 2025. Democrats and Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee agree military pay has lagged behind private-sector wage growth.

In fact, a bipartisan House panel spent months in 2024 studying military quality-of-life issues. The resulting report highlighted pay inadequacy as a major concern negatively impacting recruiting and retention. This helped build momentum for including a sizable pay raise in this year’s NDAA.

While the 19.5% raise passed the Democrat-controlled House, the Democrat-led Senate is expected to propose a smaller increase. The White House has also recommended a more modest raise in the 5-10% range. So the final amount will likely be a compromise between the House and Senate versions.

Other Notable NDAA Provisions

In addition to the pay raise, the House NDAA contains other provisions aimed at improving quality-of-life for servicemembers:

• Expanding eligibility for the Basic Needs Allowance to help alleviate food insecurity

• Requiring better maintenance of military housing and barracks

• Increasing access to childcare on bases

• Enhancing employment help for military spouses

• Easing troops’ ability to transfer professional licenses between states

Meanwhile, House Republicans added several controversial policy provisions unlikely to be accepted by the Senate, such as blocks on funding for abortion travel and transgender medical care.

Outlook for Final Passage

Despite some partisan differences, lawmakers are optimistic the NDAA will ultimately pass before Christmas as it does every year. There is too much at stake to allow defense funding and policies to lapse.

The pay raise for junior enlisted troops has strong momentum. The final amount may be lower than 19.5% given concerns about cost and pressure from the White House. But a double-digit percentage increase is quite possible based on the House bill and public support.

Passing the 2025 NDAA will require good-faith negotiations between the Chambers. But lawmakers know servicemembers are counting on them to fulfill the nation’s promises and provide fair compensation. Boosting incomes for junior enlisted personnel remains a high priority for Congress and the American people.