The Senate Appropriations Committee came out with their version of next year’s defense funding bill, and it contains a military pay raise of 3%.
New pay rates, once the defense budget is passed, take effect on January 1, 2021. And the new rates would first be reflected on paychecks issued on January 15, 2021.
The House version of the defense funding bill also included a 3% pay raise for troops, as did the White House federal budget plan.
If approved this would be the first time in over a decade where a salary increase has been 3% or higher in consecutive years.
Military personnel and families will also be happy to hear that the Senate included some new quality-of-life and improved health services measures for them in the proposed bill.
Via Military.com:
To address growing concerns over the DoD’s overhaul of the military health system, the Senate committee has inserted restrictions in its bill that would limit the Defense Health Agency from transferring funding from providing care in-house to the private sector.
The bill would cap the amount of funds that can be transferred from the military health system to private care, and any amount above $15 million would have to be approved by lawmakers.
The Senate’s proposed bill also states the Department of Defense would be responsible for giving Congress reports on military treatment facilities being transferred over to the Defense Health Agency. These reports would seek to make sure that current capabilities provided by the services would be included and transferred to DHA.
According to Congress, 263 of the 723 military medical facilities and dental clinics have already transferred to the DHA.
The report would require the DHA to explain the cost implications of the transfers, how it plans to meet the services’ medical requirements, and its plan for reducing redundant services.
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Next steps for the 3% military pay raise to be signed into law are for the Senate Appropriations Committee to vote on the proposed bill. If passed, there would then need to be negotiations surrounding the differences in the two bills. Once that is worked out, there would be a final vote, and if passed it would head to the President for his approval.
The military does need support in the form of monetary upgrade for both active and retired military persons who are on duty 24 hours a day and 7 days a week no matter what the weather or conditions are they are always on duty or on call.
I am a vet/retired, and I do want to say that I am happy to hear about the pay raise. Thank all of you that pushed this through.
Well I will try this again. Thank all for approving the pay raise.
As a retired vet money is not always easy to come by.so
I and my family welcome it.
If “we”, really do support veterans, then the $ should reflect so.
The government officials treat DOD,
Like second class citizens.
It’s appalling ‼️
Thank you so much for ythe pay raise we need it as a Retired Vet Tanks again
What about DAV pay increase? Included? Tks.
Are disabled VETs included in this bill?
I’m a 19 year black female veteran of the US army. I receive medical compensation benefits I hope this includes me. Thanks to all of my fellow Veterans for your service.