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H.R. 5660: Pay Our Military Act

This bill, titled the Pay Our Military Act, addresses how members of the Armed Forces will continue to receive their pay and allowances if there is a gap in federal funding or appropriations for the fiscal year 2026. The purpose of the bill is to ensure that military personnel are not adversely affected by potential lapses in budget appropriations.

Key Provisions

1. Funding for Pay and Allowances

The bill authorizes the necessary funds to be allocated from the Treasury to ensure that:

Members of the Armed Forces: This includes those serving in both active duty and those in inactive-duty training.
Civilian Employees: Civilian employees of the Department of Defense, as well as those of the Department of Homeland Security for the Coast Guard, who provide support to military personnel.
Contractors: Contractors working for the Department of Defense or the Coast Guard, who are also providing support to military personnel, will be compensated under this bill.

2. Duration of Appropriations

The appropriations and funding provided through this bill will remain effective until one of the following occurs:

The enactment of a new law that includes appropriations for the same purposes outlined in this bill.
The enactment of a continuing appropriation resolution or other legislation that does not provide appropriations for these needs.
January 1, 2027.

3. Definitions

Several key terms are defined within the bill to clarify its scope, including:

Active Service: Defined according to existing federal law.
Armed Forces: Also defined in accordance with federal law.
Inactive-Duty Training: Defined according to existing law.
Reserve Components: Defined in line with applicable sections of federal law.
Secretary Concerned: Refers to the Secretary of Defense for the Department of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security for the Coast Guard under specific conditions.

Objective

The overall aim of the Pay Our Military Act is to provide financial security to military personnel and related civilian and contractor employees, ensuring that they receive their due pay without interruption during any periods when money appropriated by Congress is not readily available.