House Democrats Push for Military Salary Bill Amid Shutdown Concerns

Ten House Democrats are urging Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) to reconvene the chamber by next week. Their goal? To pass a salary bill for military personnel before ongoing government shutdowns start affecting payments. However, Louisiana Republicans have indicated that this isn’t likely to happen.

Led by Representatives Gabe Vasquez (New Mexico) and Derek Tran (California), these legislators have reached out to Speaker Johnson, asking for action before next Wednesday. They note that the next paycheck for tens of thousands of National Guard and Coast Guard members is at risk.

“If Congress does not act by October 15th, around 3 million military families could miss their next salary,” they stated in a letter first highlighted by Punchbowl News. “This situation is unacceptable. Our military families deserve better.”

The Democrats are urging Johnson to present a bipartisan bill to address this issue as negotiations to reopen the government continue. They emphasize that a solution must be found before October 13th if military personnel are to avoid financial difficulties.

The lawmakers referenced the Pay Our Military Act, which was passed during the government shutdown in 2013, suggesting a similar approach could work now. During the 2018-2019 shutdown, funds were still disbursed to the Department of Defense throughout the record 35-day impasse.

“It’s not uncommon for Congress to unite on military pay, even amid broader disputes,” they remarked. “The threat from enemies doesn’t pause just because the federal government does.”

Nonetheless, Speaker Johnson firmly stated on Wednesday that he has no plans to resume voting on military payments.

“We’ve already taken care of that. Our work in the House is done,” he noted.

Currently, the US government remains in limbo over funding for the new fiscal year. Republicans are pushing for a straightforward continuing resolution to sustain traditional spending levels until mid-November.

The Senate is slated to vote again on a temporary funding measure on Wednesday. Republicans are pressing Democrats to approve a straightforward resolution that would maintain spending at existing levels. Meanwhile, Democrats are blocking progress, pushing for inclusion of an extension for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credit, which is set to lapse at the end of this year.

The situation is complicated further by the House’s absence. Johnson hinted on Monday that lawmakers might stay in their districts until the Senate reaches a consensus.

President Trump has assured that the military will not miss any pay; however, he has raised questions about whether furloughed federal workers will be eligible for unpaid wages once the shutdown concludes, breaking with past practices during such disruptions.