Received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
This resolution states the sense of Congress that Congress and the President should raise basic pay for all military service members by 3.5 percent in 2008 and by at least 1 percent more than the Employment Cost Index for 2009 through 2012. It is an expression of opinion and does not itself change military pay or create a legal requirement. Any actual pay increases would require passing and signing laws and providing the necessary appropriations. The text describes reasons for the recommendation, such as deployments and family impacts.
Concurrent resolutions record the position or recommendation of both chambers but are not presented to the President and do not become law; implementing the pay increases would require separate legislation and funding. This resolution passed the House and would need Senate approval to represent the full Congress' sense.
This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of Congress that Congress and the President should raise basic military pay by 3.5% effective January 1, 2008, and for fiscal years 2009–2012 should increase basic pay by at least 1 percentage point more than the Employment Cost Index (ECI).
It is a non-binding statement urging those actions; it does not itself appropriate funds or change law.
As a concurrent resolution it cannot create law; adoption by both chambers is plausible but it does not itself appropriate funds.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill functions as a clear and specific expression of congressional sentiment recommending particular pay increases for military personnel. It furnishes explicit percentage targets and an initial effective date but does not create binding legal changes, funding authority, or implementation procedures.
Liberty-left stresses adequacy and family supports
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Liberty-left stresses adequacy and family supports
Likely strongly supportive: views pay increases as deserved compensation and retention policy for service members and their families.
Would applaud narrowing the pay gap with the private sector but may desire broader family and benefits supports.
Generally favorable but cautious: supports pay increases for morale and retention while wanting fiscal clarity and offsets.
Appreciates ECI-based linkage for predictability but seeks precise budgeting plans.
Supportive of improving pay for troops but wary of recurring costs and automatic escalators.
Prefers limited, targeted increases with clear funding and Congressional control over pay policy.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
As a concurrent resolution it cannot create law; adoption by both chambers is plausible but it does not itself appropriate funds.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Liberty-left stresses adequacy and family supports
As a concurrent resolution it cannot create law; adoption by both chambers is plausible but it does not itself appropriate funds.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill functions as a clear and specific expression of congressional sentiment recommending particular pay increases for military personnel. It furnishes explicit percentage…
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