H.R.1932 - Pay Our Troops Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.1932, the Pay Our Troops Act of 2025, is a bill introduced in the House of Representatives. It aims to provide continuing appropriations for military pay in the event of a government shutdown. The bill ensures that members of the Armed Forces, civilian personnel of the Department of Defense and Homeland Security (Coast Guard), and contractors supporting the Armed Forces continue to receive pay and allowances during periods when regular appropriations are not in effect.
The appropriations are available for fiscal year 2025 from any unappropriated money in the Treasury. The bill defines "Secretary concerned" as the Secretary of Defense for matters concerning the Department of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security for matters concerning the Coast Guard.
The Act's appropriations terminate upon the enactment of a regular appropriation, a continuing appropriation, or on January 1, 2026, whichever occurs first.
Expected Effects
The Pay Our Troops Act of 2025 would ensure that military personnel and essential support staff continue to be paid during government shutdowns. This would prevent disruptions in military readiness and the financial hardship of service members and their families.
It would also maintain morale and ensure that essential defense functions are not compromised due to lack of funding. The bill provides a temporary solution, contingent on regular appropriations being enacted.
Potential Benefits
- Ensures military personnel receive timely pay during government shutdowns, maintaining morale and financial stability.
- Prevents disruption of essential defense functions by ensuring continued payment to civilian personnel and contractors supporting the Armed Forces.
- Provides a degree of certainty and stability for military families during periods of government funding uncertainty.
- Supports national security by ensuring military readiness is not compromised due to funding gaps.
- Could improve public perception of government support for the military.
Potential Disadvantages
- It relies on the existence of unappropriated funds, which may be limited or require reallocation from other areas.
- It is a temporary measure and does not address the underlying issues causing government shutdowns.
- Could create a perception that military funding is prioritized over other essential government services.
- May incentivize Congress to delay or avoid reaching agreement on full-year appropriations, relying instead on this stopgap measure.
- The definition of 'support' may be subject to interpretation, potentially leading to disputes over which contractors qualify for continued pay.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the constitutional mandate to "provide for the common defence" (Preamble). Congress has the power of the purse (Article I, Section 9, Clause 7), granting it the authority to appropriate funds for military pay.
The bill does not appear to infringe upon any specific constitutional rights or limitations. It operates within the framework of congressional appropriations and does not expand executive power in a way that would raise constitutional concerns.
However, the reliance on continuing appropriations highlights a potential dysfunction in the regular budget process, which could be seen as a failure to fully exercise Congress's constitutional responsibilities in a timely manner.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).