If the federal government shuts down during fiscal year 2024, U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) wants to ensure America’s military service members get paid.
“Our military service members dedicate their lives to their country and the least we can do is ensure their paychecks arrive on time,” Sen. Wicker, ranking member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, said on Tuesday.
Sen. Wicker on Sept. 19 signed on as the lead cosponsor of the Pay Our Military Act of 2023, S. 2835, which U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) sponsored on Sept. 18. The bill currently has 14 other GOP cosponsors, including U.S. Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Mike Rounds (R-SD).
Specifically, S. 2835 would appropriate funds to pay members of the United States Armed Forces, including reservists, if a temporary or full-year federal funding bill is not passed and signed by Oct. 1, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Wicker’s staff.
The bill also would fund the pay of civilians working at the U.S. Department of Defense, as well as U.S. Department of Homeland Security personnel and contractors whom each department’s respective secretary determines are “providing support to members of the Armed Forces,” the summary says.
“Extending pay for our service members would demonstrate that legislators mean it when they say ‘thank you for your service,’ and it would ensure that military readiness does not become a casualty of congressional negotiation,” said Sen. Wicker.
S. 2835 is under consideration by the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee.