Press Releases

WASHINGTON D.C. – America’s warfighters should be paid the same way members of Congress are. That is why Congressman Abe Hamadeh (AZ-08) introduced the Combat Pay Protection Act this week.

Combat pay has not increased since 2003. Currently, America’s warfighters’ combat pay amounts to only $7.50 per day, capped at $225 per month. That is barely enough to buy a large coffee while serving in harm’s way.

This bill provides a one-time boost, followed by permanent annual increases, and covers numerous other hazardous duties, deployment-based, and special incentive pays that have not increased in many years. The bill also includes Family Separation Allowance and ensures that Reserve and National Guard members are also included.

An identical amendment was offered by Congressman Hamadeh and included in the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by unanimous voice vote of his colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee and is expected to be passed by the House later this month.

“At a time when President Trump and his administration are providing record military base pay increases, Congress must ensure the men and women serving in combat, hazardous, and high-risk assignments are not left behind,” stated Congressman Hamadeh. “The Combat Pay Protection Act will make a long-overdue investment in America’s warfighters and military families.”

As a former U.S. Army Reserve Intelligence Officer, Congressman Hamadeh crafted this legislation to usher in an historic modernization of military compensation.

Background:

The Combat Pay Protection Act includes a one-time increase in certain hazardous duty and special incentive pays based on the greater of either the cumulative rate of inflation or the cumulative base pay increase since the last time the given incentive pay was increased. The bill then provides permanent annual increases for these incentive pays based on the inflation or a base pay increase rate, whichever is higher. The various pays, ranging from Sea Pay to Parachutist Pay, are listed in Chapter 5, Title 37, U.S.C.

Family Separation Allowance (FSA) helps offset the real costs of involuntary separation caused by deployments, mobilizations, ship duty, and other operational requirements. Congressman Hamadeh's bill includes FSA among covered compensation so military families are not left behind as costs rise.

The bill clarifies that Reserve and National Guard members may receive applicable special and incentive pays in full when they perform the same qualifying duty as Active counterparts.