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They serve in remote posts around the world, keeping watch over our national security interests, standing up to protect our liberties and freedoms. They serve in the deserts of Iraq, the mountains of Afghanistan, and as part of other dangerous missions. The brave men and women of our armed forces are on a constant vigil to protect the United States and its citizens.
They show up for their jobs every day so that we can safely get to ours. And this week, Congress' job is to ensure that our military personnel and national defense programs have the resources they need to succeed.
The Senate is considering the Department of Defense Authorization Bill, the legislation that authorizes funding for troops and defense programs and systems. This important legislation will improve benefits for our active duty, reserve and National Guard troops. I'm fortunate to serve on two Senate Committees that play important roles in creating this bill - Armed Services and Appropriations. Also, as Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Personnel subcommittee it's my priority to ensure that this bill serves the men and women who serve us.
This year, as in the past, the Personnel Subcommittee focused on improving the quality of life of the men and women in the active duty armed forces, the National Guard, and the Reserve and their families. There is an old axiom in the military that you recruit the soldier, sailor, airman or Marine, but you retain the family. This bill reflects our priority to better serve military families.
The Defense Authorization bill (H.R. 1585) authorizes $135 billion for military personnel, to cover costs including increased pay, allowances, bonuses, death benefits, and permanent change of station moves and improved benefits for military families. Here are a few examples of how this bill serves our service members:
First and foremost, the bill authorizes a 3.5 percent across the board pay raise - which is half a percent higher than the average pay raise in the private sector as measured by the Employment Cost Index. It is also a half percent higher than the Administration's proposal for a 3 percent increase in pay. This increased pay raise recognizes the outstanding service and sacrifice of the men and women of the armed forces and their families.
The bill also addresses concerns about the end strength of the military by authorizing increases in the end strength of the Army and the Marine Corps to 525,400 for the Army and 189,000 for the Marine Corps.
The bill would expand combat-related special compensation to all service members eligible for retirement pay who have a combat-related disability. This special compensation is currently denied to our wounded warriors who are medically retired with less than 20 years of service.
The bill includes provisions that would enhance and improve the Department of Defense health care system for service members and their dependents. The bill authorizes $24.6 billion for the defense health program and takes steps to ensure that TRICARE is available to beneficiaries who need it.
In addition to ensuring TRICARE is available, I also hope the bill will ultimately include the bipartisan "Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act," which the Senate Armed Services Committee unanimously approved last month. It is very important to ensure that our wounded heroes - and their families - are provided the very best in medical care and transition services that the government can provide.
As Chairman of the Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee, I'm proud of the subcommittee's accomplishments in the area of doing what's best for the troops. The improvements in this bill will support our men and women in uniform as they answer their country's call of duty.
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