[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 47 (Thursday, April 13, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E576-E577]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


    NON-COMMISSIONED AND PETTY OFFICER PAY TABLE EQUITY ACT OF 2000

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. WALTER B. JONES

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 13, 2000

  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing 
legislation that will provide much needed pay reform for our mid-career 
non-commissioned officers and petty officers. It is my hope this 
legislation will accomplish three important steps for the Nation's 
Armed Forces.
  First, it will provide mid-career enlisted service members an 
increase in their basic pay that will nearly match the increases given 
to mid-grade commissioned officers beginning July 1, 2000.
  Second, it will work to address the problem of retention of qualified 
and experienced mid-career enlisted noncommissioned and petty officers 
that the Armed Forces wants to retain.
  Third, in retaining qualified and experienced mid-career enlisted 
service members, it will help maintain the high-level of personnel 
readiness enjoyed by the Nation's defense posture.
  Last year, this Congress in the Fiscal 2000 National Defense 
Authorization Act (NDAA) approved a 4.8 percent pay raise for uniformed 
services personnel, one of the largest increases in recent history. It 
also authorized pay reform for certain mid-grade commissioned officers 
and mid-career enlisted service members effective July 1, 2000. While 
the pay raise itself is a critical step for our military personnel, the 
pay adjustment unfortunately will miss its mark in offering equitable 
reform for mid-grade enlisted noncommissioned officers (NCOs) and petty 
officers (POs) of the Armed Forces in grades E-5, E-6, and E-7.
  Whereas, most mid-grade commissioned officers were to receive a well-
deserved pay hike on July 1, 2000, mid-career enlisted NCOs and POs are 
targeted for minimal increases. The July 1, 2000 pay reform will 
provide for adjustments in 15 of 33 mid-grade officer pay cells, each 
of which rated increases greater than 4 percent. On the other hand, of 
the 33 mid-grade enlisted NCO/PO pay cells, only one (1) will receive a 
raise of 3.5 percent, two (2) are being offered a 3.1 percent increase, 
one (1) a 2.5 percent hike, and three (3) at 2.1 percent to 2.3 
percent. It doesn't require a mathematician to figure out that the 
enlisted NCOs and POs will be largely left out of the equation.
  Most of the military services are experiencing problems either in 
recruiting and retention, or both. One of the major issues confronting 
enlisted NCOs and POs is whether they have enough financial resources 
to care for their family--particularly when they are deployed. Recent 
surveys indicate that service members are not happy with the pay 
they're receiving. Recognizing this problem, the Fleet Reserve 
Association (FRA), a 75-year-old organization of career Sailors, 
Marines, and Coast Guardsmen, prepared a study that demonstrates the 
value of basic pay for enlisted NCOs and POs has diminished since the 
advent of the all-volunteer force (AVF). That study, which was 
distributed to a number of House and Senate members on both the Armed 
Services Committees and Defense

[[Page E577]]

Subcommittees and to selected defense and military officials, proves 
the value of basic pay for enlisted NCOs and POs has diminished since 
the advent of the all-volunteer force.
  If Congress doesn't want to face the same problem of the late 1970s 
having too few enlisted petty officers to get its ships to sea, or 
experiencing another shortage of enlisted NCOs for the Army's combat 
forces, Congress must address the retention of qualified and 
experienced mid-career enlisted service members. This pay reform 
proposal for E-5's, E-6's and E-7's contained in this legislation will 
take steps to do just that.
  Each E-5 with 8 to 26 years of service would receive a $31 per month 
increase in basic pay on July 1, 2000. E-6s, in the same years would 
each realize a monthly increase of $49, and E-7s a $56 raise each 
month. While I believe all of our military should be paid more, this is 
an important step in the right direction.
  This bill has the full support of the Nation's eight national 
enlisted military organizations; the Air Force Sergeants Association, 
the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, 
the Fleet Reserve Association, the Naval Enlisted Reserve Association, 
the Non Commissioned Officers Association, The Retired Enlisted 
Association, the U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Association, and 
the U.S. Coast Guard Enlisted Association.
  These mid-career non-commissioned officers and petty officers are the 
backbone of our military. I hope that my colleagues will work with me 
to recognize that fact and to ensure they are provided pay table reform 
that is both fair and equitable.

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