House Lawmakers Criticize Biden’s Resistance to Junior Soldier Pay Raise

Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, called President Biden “offensive and wrong” for opposing a provision in the annual defense bill that gives a large pay raise to junior enlisted soldiers.

The White House Office of Management and Budget said in a statement Tuesday that it “strongly opposes making a significant and permanent change to the base pay schedule” ahead of an upcoming review of military compensation.

Rogers, however, said the nearly 20 percent pay raise for junior troops was included in the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) because many service members “rely on food banks” and other benefits to eat.

“The Republicans and Democrats on our committee agreed that this is unacceptable,” Rogers said in a statement. “Instead of supporting this commonsense proposal, President Biden is once again turning his back on our military. I truly believe that the brave Americans serving in our Armed Forces should not have to worry about surviving, unfortunately President Biden does not. feel the same.”

Rogers argued that the increase was based on research from a bipartisan Quality of Life Panel, led by Reps. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), which released a report in April on how to improve lives . of military families.

This year’s NDAA is actually called the Servicemembers Quality of Life Improvement Act and National Defense Authorization Act to emphasize the focus on improving conditions for servicemembers and their families. The project was approved by the Armed Forces Committee with a bipartisan vote, especially on quality of life recommendations.

Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the committee’s ranking member, told the House Rules Committee on Tuesday that “people are irreplaceable” in the military and the bill “goes after” improving their lives .

“Many of our young enlistees are struggling to afford housing. Housing costs have gone up, their salaries haven’t kept up,” he said. “This is a bold step to try to make sure we support them.”

The White House said last year’s NDAA included a 5.2 percent increase in base pay, the largest since 2003, along with another 5.4 percent increase for a basic housing allowance. The NDAA’s 2025 budget request also calls for a 4.5% increase.

“If the President’s request for fiscal year 2025 is approved, service members will have received a 15% increase in base pay in just three years,” the White House said in a statement outlining opposition to the provision. “The House’s proposed changes would lead to pay compression in some parts of the enlisted military’s basic pay scale.”

The House is considering the $883.7 billion NDAA 2025 this week, while the Senate is also now considering its own version of the legislation. Both projects will have to be approved in the plenary of the House and Senate and then reconciled in conference.

The House NDAA faces some resistance as Democrats oppose some changes that target America’s ongoing culture wars.

The White House opposes several provisions of the bill, including one that bars the military from testing applicants for marijuana and another that bans any committee or body that oversees diversity, equity and inclusion in Defense Department schools.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story