[House Document 104-158]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]





        104th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House 
Document 104-158



    FISCAL YEAR 1996 SUPPLEMENTAL LANGUAGE REQUEST TO AUTHORIZE A
 
           2.4 PERCENT PAY RAISE FOR U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

A PROPOSED SUPPLEMENTAL LANGUAGE REQUEST TO PROVIDE AUTHORIZATION FOR A 
           2.4 PERCENT PAY RAISE FOR U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL





 January 3, 1996.--Referred to the Committee on National Security and 
                         ordered to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                     Washington, December 28, 1995.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
    Sir: Today I returned to Congress without my approval H.R. 
1530, the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 
1996, which includes authority for the annual military pay 
raise. I consider passage of the annual military pay raise to 
be of crucial importance. Accordingly, I ask Congress to 
consider the enclosed FY 1996 supplemental language request 
that would authorize a 2.4 percent pay raise and other 
allowance increases.
    I vetoed H.R. 1530 Act because it would restrict my 
Administration's ability to carry out national security policy 
and would substantially interfere with the implementation of 
key national defense programs. Moreover, certain provisions in 
the Act raised serious constitutional issues by restricting my 
authority to conduct foreign affairs and to act as Commander in 
Chief.
    Nevertheless, I believe that our men and women in uniform 
should not be harmed as we work to obtain a bill that I can 
support. Therefore, I ask the Congress to enact the 
supplemental language to provide the increases in military pay 
and housing allowances, effective January 1, 1996, that both 
Congress and I fully support. If this legislation is not 
enacted, our military personnel will receive a 2.0 percent 
raise instead of a needed 2.4 percent raise. The legislation is 
also required to provide an additional increase in the Basic 
Allowance for Quarters that will help improve the quality of 
life of our service members and their families.
    Speedy enactment of this legislation is imperative at a 
time when our military personnel are working under challenging 
conditions to help implement the peace agreement in Bosnia. I 
urge Congress to enact this legislation as quickly as possible.
            Sincerely,
                                                William J. Clinton.
    Enclosure.
             [Estimate No. 20, 104th Congress, 1st Session]

                 Executive Office of the President,
                           Office of Management and Budget,
                                 Washington, DC, December 28, 1995.
The President,
The White House.
    Submitted for your consideration is a proposed supplemental 
language request to provide authorization for a 2.4 percent pay 
raise for U.S. military personnel. Without enactment of this 
request, our military personnel would receive a 2.0 percent pay 
increase instead of the needed 2.4 percent raise. Also included 
is supplemental language to provide an additional increase in 
the Basic Allowance for Quarters that will help improve the 
quality of life for our service members and their families.
    These provisions were included in H.R. 1530, the National 
Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 1996, which you 
intend to veto today. The enclosed supplemental language 
request would affirm your desire that our men and women in 
uniform not be harmed as we work to obtain a bill that the 
Administration can support. Therefore, I join the Secretary of 
Defense in recommending that it be transmitted to the Congress.
            Sincerely,
                                         Alice M. Rivlin, Director.
    Enclosure.

                         Department of Defense

                           general provisions

SEC. 8131. MILITARY PAY RAISE FOR FISCAL YEAR 1996.

    (a) Waiver of Section 1009 Adjustment.--Any adjustment 
required by section 1009 of title 37, United States Code, in 
elements of compensation of members of the uniformed services 
to become effective during fiscal year 1996 shall not be made.
    (b) Increase in Basic Pay and BAS.--Effective on January 1, 
1996, the rates of basic pay and basic allowance for 
subsistence of members of the uniformed services are increased 
by 2.4 percent.
    (c) Increase in BAQ.--Effective on January 1, 1996, the 
rates of basic allowance for quarters of members of the 
uniformed services are increased by 5.2 percent.
    This request would provide members of the armed forces with 
a 2.4 percent pay raise in FY 1996 instead of the 2.0 percent 
increase that would be provided by current law. The FY 1996 
basic allowance of quarters (BAQ) would be increased by 5.2 
percent.
    This request would not require an increase in budget 
authority. The budget authority needed to fund this pay raise 
and BAQ increase was provided in the FY 1996 Department of 
Defense Appropriations Act. OMB's estimate of outlays for the 
FY 1996 Department of Defense Appropriations Act would be 
unchanged, since the pay raise and BAQ increase were assumed in 
the official scoring of the bill.

                                
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