The House of Representatives recently passed a bill that would give military service members a significant pay raise in 2024. This pay raise, which is included in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), aims to improve quality of life for members of the military and help address recruitment and retention issues.
Background on the Military Pay Raise
The bill passed by the House would provide an across-the-board pay raise of 4.5% for all military service members in 2024. This raise is in line with the annual raise mandated by federal law to keep up with private sector wage growth.
However, the House bill goes further by including an additional 15% raise targeted specifically for junior enlisted service members in the E-1 to E-4 pay grades This would mean a total pay raise of 195% for these lowest ranking troops, which includes privates, corporals, specialists, and petty officers third class.
The large, targeted pay raise for junior enlisted aims to address the fact that some of these positions pay close to minimum wage, while asking troops to perform demanding, dangerous jobs Providing better pay aims to improve recruitment, retention, and overall quality of life
Legislative Path for the Pay Raise Bill
The military pay raise passed the House as part of the 2024 NDAA. The NDAA is one of the few major bills that Congress passes every year. This bill authorizes spending levels and policies for the Department of Defense.
On May 23, 2024, the pay raise bill was approved by the House Armed Services Committee in a 57-1 vote as part of the NDAA It then passed the full House in a bipartisan 336-89 vote on June 2
The pay raise bill now heads to the Senate, which is currently working on its own version of the 2024 NDAA. The Senate Armed Services Committee is expected to hold a markup on the bill in late June. If the Senate’s NDAA includes the pay raise provision, it will need to be reconciled with the House version before final passage later this year.
Key Advocates for the Pay Raise
The large pay raise for junior enlisted service members is a bipartisan effort, sponsored by both Democrats and Republicans in Congress.
Key advocates include Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel. Rogers and Smith introduced the standalone bill for the targeted pay raise earlier this year.
In advocating for the pay boost, Rogers cited the need to pay service members properly for demanding and hazardous jobs, saying “No service member should have to rely on food stamps to feed their children.”
Support from the Administration
The Biden administration has indicated support for the measures in the House version of the 2024 NDAA, including the military pay raise provisions.
While the administration’s initial 2024 budget request only included the standard 4.5% raise, officials have since endorsed the House plan for an additional increase focused on junior enlisted troops.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on June 9 saying the administration “strongly supports” the House pay raise plan to bolster recruiting and retention.
Outlook Going Forward
Now that the military pay raise bill has passed the House, attention shifts to the Senate. The end result will depend on what pay raise provisions, if any, are included in the Senate’s version of the 2024 NDAA.
If the Senate bill includes a similar pay raise, it bodes well for the provision being enacted. Congress has passed an NDAA bill for 60 consecutive years, and it is considered must-pass legislation.
However, some Republican lawmakers could oppose the extra spending on a large, targeted pay raise depending on its costs. Some progressives may also push to spread the raise beyond junior enlisted ranks.
Nevertheless, strong bipartisan support in the House suggests confidence the military pay raise will ultimately pass Congress this year given its importance for recruitment, retention, and quality of life. The administration’s backing also makes approval more likely.
So in the end, the outlook is positive but not certain that 2024 will bring the largest military pay raise in over a decade – a boost aimed at better compensating the lowest paid service members for their essential contributions to national security.
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