HUTCHINSON — The U.S. House has approved the conference report for the National Defense Authorization Act for 2020, allocating $738 billion in funding for the military, and giving troops their largest pay raise in a decade according to a release from 1st District Congressman Roger Marshall. The matter will now go to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature.
“As the representative of the First Infantry Division and Fort Riley, our warfighters are always top of mind,” Dr. Marshall said. “One of the most important jobs we have in Congress is to provide for our military and enable our troops to do their jobs – keeping us safe. This legislation provides the resources to continue to maintain readiness, advance modernization of the nuclear triad, develop emerging technologies, enhance missile defense, and confront our adversaries. It also establishes the United States Space Force as the sixth branch of the military, delivering on another promise made by President Trump.”
In addition to the 3.1 percent pay raise for troops, it repeals the harmful “widows tax,” which costs roughly 65,000 families of fallen service members tens of thousands of dollars in lost benefit payments each year.
“For the families of service members who have fallen in combat, the loss of their loved one must be unbearable,” Marshall said. “Getting rid of the ‘widows tax,’ which causes financial hardship at a time when families are grieving, is long overdue, but I’m glad we could deliver this for our Gold Star families.”