Thursday, November 7, 2019

Bill giving servicemen and women largest pay raise in 9 years passes committee

OFF THE WIRE
by ADRIAN MOJICA
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WZTV) --The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a bill which will give a 3.1% pay raise to our men and women in uniform.
Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander, who sits on the committee, says it is the largest pay raise for military service members since 2010.
In addition to the raise, the bill also includes funding for research and development of advanced technologies. In a statement release, Alexander calls the funding a "record."
“Governing is about setting priorities and this bill shows our priority is the men and women who serve in our armed forces. This funding bill provides a total of $694.9 billion for our national defense, a $20.5 billion increase over fiscal year 2019. The bill also includes a 3.1 percent pay raise for the men and women who defend our freedoms – including those serving at Fort Campbell, Naval Support Activity Mid-South in Millington, and Arnold Air Force Base, in Tullahoma,” Alexander says.
The bill will next be sent to the full Senate for consideration.