Junior enlisted members of the armed forces make less than fast food workers

The U.S. House of Representatives and the House Armed Services Committee wants to give a raise to members of the military, with the biggest raises going to junior, enlisted members of the armed forces. This effort is being opposed by the White House who want a much smaller pay increase. In a statement the White House said that they "strongly oppose" a large pay increase.

Members of the House Armed Services Committee told the Washington Times that the lowest-ranking enlisted military members are paid less than fast food workers and many other entry-level employees in the private sector,"

The privates, sailors, and airmen who are on the front lines defending this country make so little that they often have to rely on supplemental nutritional assistance program (SNAP – formerly Food Stamps) in order to buy food for their kids.

A bipartisan group of 13 House Armed Services Committee members spent roughly a year investigating compensation and living standards in the military.

"I got tired of going to bases and being shown the food pantry," said Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Virginia) and a former Navy pilot involved in the effort, told The Washington Times. "We can do better than that."

"This is a historic piece of legislation because of what we're doing on quality of life," House Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Saks, Alabama) who chairs the committee. "We're putting more into that area than we have in seven decades."

The House bill would raise the base pay for the most junior enlisted members - E-1s to E-4s - by 15%. The House defense bill also provided a 4.5% pay increase for all service members, providing a combined increase of nearly 20% for those bottom four pay grades.

The House also wants more money spent on housing, healthcare, and childcare for members of the military.

With war with China, Russian, Iran, and/or North Korea increasingly likely it has already been difficult to recruit volunteers to join the military. Asking them to take a pay cut from what they are making in their current jobs makes recruiting even more difficult.

Rogers has represented Alabama's Third Congressional District since 2002. This is his second years as Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/jun/25/house-leads-charge-to-boost-pay-housing-quality-of/#:~:text=House%20leads%20the%20charge%20to,armed%20service%20members%20%2D%20Washington%20Times

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