House Republicans put forward a bill Monday to ensure U.S. troop pay in the event of a government shutdown; it passed with bipartisan support and then passed through the Senate “without dissent.”
According to Politico, President Obama plans to sign the bill.
On September 27 Obama’s Pentagon made it clear “pay for service members could be delayed and many civilian employees would be furloughed” in the event of a shutdown, but the House GOP bill guards against that.
In addition to guaranteeing pay for troops, the measure also keeps pay coming for “civilian employees of the Defense Department and Pentagon contractors whom Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel determines” are filling crucial support roles for “members of the Armed Forces.”
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) praised Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for following the lead of the House GOP instead of playing politics with troop pay.
Said Cruz: “The soldiers and sailors and airmen and Marines who risk their lives for this nation should not have their paychecks held hostage to any government shutdown in Washington.”
Follow AWR Hawkins on Twitter @AWRHawkins.
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