Overview
Title
To ensure continuity of pay and allowances for members of the Armed Forces in the event of a lapse in appropriations.
ELI5 AI
In H.R. 2017, if the government runs out of money, soldiers and certain workers still get paid. This helps them keep getting their money until the government starts paying again or until the end of the year.
Summary AI
H.R. 2017, introduced by Mrs. Sykes and Mr. Bacon, is known as the "Pay Our Military Act". This bill ensures that members of the Armed Forces receive their pay and allowances even if there is a temporary lapse in federal funding during the 2025 fiscal year. It also includes civilian employees and contractors of the Department of Defense, and the Coast Guard under certain conditions, who provide support to these service members. The funding provided by this act will continue until either new appropriations are passed or until January 1, 2026, whichever occurs first.
Published
Keywords AI
Sources
Bill Statistics
Size
Language
Complexity
AnalysisAI
Overview of the Bill
H.R. 2017, titled the "Pay Our Military Act," aims to ensure that members of the Armed Forces continue to receive their pay and allowances during any fiscal period in which appropriations are not effectively in place. This bill applies to fiscal year 2025, and its provisions extend to civilian employees and contractors associated with the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security related to the Coast Guard, when it operates outside the Department of the Navy. The act remains effective until new appropriations are passed or until January 1, 2026.
Key Issues Identified
One significant issue with the bill is its broad and open-ended allocation of funds. The phrase "such sums as are necessary" provides flexibility, but without specific limits or oversight, it could result in unchecked spending. This broad language might raise concerns over financial oversights and accountability.
Additionally, the bill authorizes using any unallocated Treasury funds, which could disrupt other planned appropriations. Without clear criteria on what qualifies civilian employees and contractors as "providing support," there is potential for ambiguity and misuse of funds. This lack of specification leaves room for interpretation, which may lead to operational and legal challenges.
Lastly, the discretion granted to the "Secretary concerned" lacks oversight, posing potential ethical and managerial issues concerning fund allocation. The termination clauses could also inadvertently allow spending to extend without adequate legislative input, bypassing essential budgetary oversight.
Potential Impact on the Public and Stakeholders
Generally, the bill aims to provide financial security to military personnel during budget uncertainties. This assurance is crucial for service members and their families, who rely on consistent pay to manage their daily lives and obligations.
For civilian employees and contractors involved with the Armed Forces, the bill's provisions ensure ongoing financial compensation, supporting job security and stability. These stakeholders can focus on their roles without worrying about sudden interruptions in pay.
On the other hand, the vague financial language and broad funding authorization might lead to fiscal mismanagement, potentially impacting the Treasury's ability to support other necessary government functions. This could result in broader concerns about financial oversight and the allocation of resources.
In summary, while the bill ensures stability for military personnel and related civilian workers, it brings to light issues around fiscal responsibility and accountability, which could affect general public opinion on governmental financial management. The success of the bill in achieving its goals may depend on careful interpretation and implementation to avoid fiscal pitfalls and to uphold transparent financial practices.
Issues
The term 'such sums as are necessary' in Section 2(a) is broad and open-ended, potentially allowing for unchecked and excessive spending without clear limitations, which could lead to financial oversight issues and public concern over responsible fiscal management.
The provision in Section 2(a) to use any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated might disrupt or impact other planned financial appropriations, leading to potential funding shortages for other important governmental functions or projects.
Section 2(a) does not specify the criteria for determining which civilian employees and contractors are 'providing support' to the Armed Forces, which may lead to ambiguity and potential misuse of funds, raising legal and operational concerns.
The language in Section 2 gives wide discretion to the 'Secretary concerned' without adequate oversight or defined parameters, potentially leading to ethical and management concerns about how funds are allocated and spent, specifically for civilian employees and contractors.
The termination clauses in Section 2(b) might be interpreted in a manner that extends spending without sufficient legislative approval, potentially bypassing necessary budgetary oversight and approval processes.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
This section provides the official short title of the act, which is the "Pay Our Military Act."
2. Continuing appropriations for pay and allowances for members of the Armed Forces Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section provides funding for the year 2025 to ensure that members of the Armed Forces, certain civilian employees, and contractors of the Department of Defense are paid if there is no approved budget. The funding will continue until a new budget is passed, or until January 1, 2026, whichever comes first.