Abraham Hamadeh (R-AZ)
Combat Pay Protection Act
A Republican bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 4 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Combat Pay Protection Act aims to amend title 37 of the United States Code regarding pay for the Armed Forces. It provides for a one-time corrective increase for covered special and incentive pays. Following this initial increase, the bill establishes a system for recurring annual adjustments. These adjustments are determined by either the Consumer Price Index or the increase in the average rate of basic pay. The bill also requires the Secretary of Defense to publish a table detailing these pay adjustments. Finally, it clarifies pay authorities for members of Reserve Components.
Yes
- Scored +3
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?
While focused on active duty, the pay increases for reserve components provide broader financial stability for service members.
- Scored +2
Would middle-income households be better off under this?
The bill provides predictable pay increases that help service members maintain purchasing power against inflation.
- Scored +2
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The clarification of pay authorities for Reserve Components directly benefits those who serve in the reserves.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill increases mandatory pay obligations for the Department of Defense through one-time and recurring adjustments.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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One-Time Corrective Increase: Members of the Armed Forces will receive an initial increase in covered special and incentive pay effective January 1 of the first year after the act is passed (Section 2, subsection a, paragraph 1).
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Annual Pay Adjustments: Members of the Armed Forces will receive recurring annual increases every January 1 starting in the second year after enactment (Section 2, subsection a, paragraph 1).
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Inflation and Pay Parity Protection: The increases are tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or the increase in the average rate of basic pay, ensuring pay adjustments reflect economic changes or basic pay raises (Section 2, subsection a, paragraph 1).
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Removal of Pay Caps: The Secretary is authorized to increase pay amounts even if there are existing limitations on the maximum amount of such pay specified in other laws (Section 2, subsection a, paragraph 1, subsection c).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill provides predictable pay increases that help service members maintain purchasing power against inflation. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The clarification of pay authorities for Reserve Components directly benefits those who serve in the reserves.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — While focused on active duty, the pay increases for reserve components provide broader financial stability for service members.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill increases mandatory pay obligations for the Department of Defense through one-time and recurring adjustments.
- 8/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/25/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Donald DavisDemocrat · North Carolina
Cory MillsRepublican · Florida
Derek SchmidtRepublican · Kansas
Eugene VindmanDemocrat · Virginia