House panel considers pay raises for troops amid recruiting crisis
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — A group of House Democrats and Republicans are pushing for the largest pay raise for military service members in history.
California Democratic Congresswoman Sara Jacobs says some military families are starving.
“In San Diego, just in San Diego, we have 45,000 members of military families who visit the food bank every single month,” Jacobs said.
Jacobs says the living conditions for some service members are even worse.
“We have service members who are living in their cars or couch surfing because they cannot find a place to live,” Jacobs said.
Pennsylvania Democratic Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan says families have been dealing with these issues for years.
“These are unnecessary obstacles that are bad,” Houlahan said.
To try to solve many of these issues, a group of lawmakers released recommendations to improve the quality of life for members of the military.
“We don’t often think about the fact that it’s not just the service members who commit, it’s their spouses and it’s their children,” said Rep. Mike Rogers, (R-Ala.).
Congressman Mike Rogers says the Armed Services Committee is calling for a 15% pay raise for troops, better living conditions and better access to child care.
South Carolina Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace says the pay increase is long overdue.
“The housing is falling apart; it’s dilapidated for our military. The pay can’t keep up with the costs,” Mace said.
Rogers says he wants these improvements to be included in the next defense spending bill.
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