Must-Pass Defense Bill Includes 4.5% Military Pay Raise on Top of 15% Increase for Junior Enlisted Troops

A key House panel is endorsing a 4.5% across-the-board pay raise for service members on top of a 15% raise for junior enlisted troops in a must-pass defense policy bill that was released Monday.

The recommendation from the House Armed Services Committee in its draft version of the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, means the military's lowest-ranking forces could see a 19.5% pay hike next year if the plan becomes law.

There are still several hurdles before the bill becomes law, including negotiations with the Senate, which has not yet revealed its plans for a military pay raise next year. But inclusion in the base text of the House NDAA signals that House members will prioritize increasing junior enlisted pay as the defense bill works its way through Congress.