House Reservists Pay Adjustment Act of 2008

HOUSE RESERVISTS PAY ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 2008 -- (House of Representatives - September 09, 2008)

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Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6608 provides supplemental income to House employees who are Armed Forces reservists and who are involuntarily called to active duty. The House will supplement the active military duty pay by making up the difference between the employee's military salary and the employee's House salary prior to their call to active service.

To be eligible for the supplemental income, employees must be employed by the House for at least 90 days prior to military activation. The cost of the pay supplements will come from appropriate House accounts and not charged to the employing office. In addition, the employee's salary will be subject to the cost of living adjustments in the same as other House employees.

Mr. Speaker, I introduced this bill to address family hardships caused by some reservists and National Guard members being deployed for the second or third time. These servicemen and women earn military wages while on active duty and must leave their families and jobs, often for an undetermined and unpredictable amount of time.

The private sector is supporting our soldiers and sailors by continuing to pay the difference between their usual salary and their active duty pay. This bill will offer the same for House employees.

This is a good bill with strong bipartisan support that honors the devoted public service of our House employees. Our active duty reservists should not endure undue financial hardship for heeding our Nation's call to service.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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