U.S. Representative Jim Banks (R-IN), Chairman of the Military Personnel Subcommittee, delivered the following opening statement at the full committee markup for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024.
Rep. Banks' remarks as prepared for delivery:
The Military Personnel mark was developed in a bipartisan manner and includes member priorities focused on taking care of service members and their families to ensure they are prepared to carry out…without distraction…any mission they are called upon to execute.
We have been informed by our rigorous oversight in developing the provisions included in the mark…
The mark supports a military basic pay raise of 5.2% and authorizes an economic conditions bonus for junior enlisted service members…we are recommending a budgetary change to reduce the out of pocket housing cost for service members…and it excludes the housing allowance from household income for the purposes of eligibility for the Basic Needs Allowance.
We authorize the establishment of the Space National Guard and set a new personnel management benchmark by authorizing the creation of an innovative personnel management system for the Space Force. We reinforce the subcommittee's oversight of the Military Health System and we continue to attack the problem of childcare shortages for our servicemembers.
In this year of the 50th anniversary of the all-volunteer force, this mark continues the development of focused policy that recruits, retains and provides for those that are willing to put service before self. Lastly, I want to acknowledge the committee staff's efforts…they have all worked tirelessly and always in a bi-partisan manner to develop the subcommittee mark.
