(Washington, D.C.)–Late last night, Congressman Jim Langevin voted for and the House passed a motion that calls upon members of both the House and Senate to approve a proposal that would provide combat pay to U.S. troops serving in dangerous areas. 

 “Providing extra compensation to our troops for serving in combat zones is just and necessary,” said Congressman Langevin, a member of the House Armed Services Committee.  “In addition to destroying breeding grounds for terrorists and fostering democracy, our troops are directly thwarting terrorist activity.  Their efforts, in the face of grave danger, deserve appropriate compensation.”

 Currently, House and Senate conferees are negotiating the final details of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2004.  One issue that has not yet been resolved is whether to continue to provide our servicewomen and men with higher levels of compensation in all combat and hostile fire areas.  Under a provision passed last year, increases were only temporary, for fiscal year 2003.  The proposal Langevin and the House supported today would extend those increases to fiscal year 2004 and beyond.

The Fiscal Year 2003 Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act increased hazardous duty and hostile fire pay from $150 monthly to $225 and the family separation allowance from $100 monthly to $250 until September 30, 2003. The House version of the FY 2004 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) would continue these higher amounts in FY 2004 for those personnel deployed in and around Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and in and around Iraq as part of Iraqi Freedom.  The Senate's version of NDAA would make the increases permanent and applicable in all areas where members of the armed services face imminent danger.  Today's vote endorsed the Senate's provisions.

 “The House has sent a strong message to those negotiating final details on the Defense Spending Bill: do not shortchange our troops,” added Langevin.  “If the President is able to afford massive tax cuts for the wealthiest in this nation, then there should be funds available to support those who put their lives on the line each and every day.”

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