House Passes Bill Giving Troops Biggest Raise in 9 Years

• The House passed a defense spending bill Thursday which gives troops a 2.6 percent raise ― the largest pay raise for members of the Armed Forces in nine years. The $675 billion bill passed on a bipartisan 359-49 vote.
• Per the Military Times, this would amount to a $670 more in pay per year for junior enlisted troops, $1,300 more for senior enlisted and junior officers, and $2,300 extra for majors / lieutenant commanders with 12 years experience.

What’s Next?

• The bill now goes to the Senate, which likely use the amendment process to swap out the House bill with the Senate’s own defense spending bill.
• Earlier this week the Senate’s Defense Appropriations Subcommittee advanced its $675 billion defense spending bill, which includes a 2.6 percent pay raise for troops. So while the House and Senate will likely have to go to conference to resolve the other differences between their respective defense spending packages, the pay raise will be in the bill that’s eventually signed into law.

Check out the House bill and tell your senators what you think about the pay raise for the military using the Take Action button!

— Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: U.S. Army Photo - Sgt. Ashley Bell / Public Domain)