House Supports Biggest Military Pay Raise in Five Years

[UPDATED: < June 18, 2015] Last week the House of Representatives passed their version of the 2016 defense budget (H.R. 1735) , which includes < plans to give service members a 2.3 percent pay increase for 2016. The increase is 1.3 percent greater than last year < and would be the largest military pay raise in since 2010. The House’s proposed 2.3 percent military pay raise is a full percentage point higher < than the White House's and Senate committee’s proposed < 1.3 percent increase. The Senate’s version < of the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (S. 1376) was passed by the full Senate. Next will come the work to reconcile the two versions of the bill. Check out the proposed 2016 Military Pay Charts Both the House and Senate versions of the NDAA address full funding of commissaries and the proposed privatization of the commissaries. However only the House version rejects the proposed cuts to military couples BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) rates. The Senate’s version of the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (S. 1376), passed by the full Senate < on June 17, supports eliminating the "compensation windfall" enjoyed by dual-service military couples, those who each draw BAH. Next a House and Senate conference committee will work to reconcile the two versions of the bill. Read the Military Update for the latest details on the Senate's passage of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2016. Let your elected officials know your opinion about this important legislation.