[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 166 (Tuesday, December 4, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2203-E2204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  H.R. 3280, TO LOWER THE TIME OF CONTINUOUS ACTIVE DUTY REQUIRED TO 
               RECEIVE LEVEL I BASIC ALLOWANCE OF HOUSING

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                           HON. PATSY T. MINK

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 4, 2001

  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, over 57,000 members of the Reserves 
and National Guard have been called to active duty. Each week the 
military calls up more soldiers to help in our struggle against 
terrorism. They leave their civilian jobs and families to help defend 
our country.

[[Page E2204]]

  From the day they begin their active duty, members of the National 
Guard and Reserves must deal with the difficult challenge of paying 
their bills and extra living expenses while serving their country.
  To help ease this burden, soldiers placed on active duty are entitled 
to a Basic Allowance of Housing, which pays for their housing costs. 
Soldiers receive it when they do not live on a military base. The exact 
amount depends on grade, dependency status, and geographic location.
  If members of the National Guard and Reserves serve less than 140 
days, they receive Level II Basic Allowance of Housing. If they serve 
more than 140 days, they receive Level I Basic Allowance of Housing.
  Level II Basic Allowance of Housing is similar to the Level I Basic 
Allowance of Housing, but it does not include adjustments for expensive 
housing markets, such as Honolulu or New York City.
  This policy hurts soldiers placed on short tours of duty in expensive 
housing markets. For example, an 0-1 officer in Honolulu will receive 
$410.70 per month under Level II. Under Level I, that same soldier 
would receive $953.00.
  The current law costs soldiers hundreds of dollars every month. 
Soldiers should not have to wait 140 days before receiving the Level I 
Basic Allowance of Housing.
  On November 13, 2001, I introduced H.R. 3280 to correct this. It will 
reduce the number of active duty days required for the Level I Basic 
Allowance of Housing from 140 to 60 days.
  We ask members of the National Guard and Reserves to serve without 
hesitation to defend our nation. We must ensure that all soldiers in 
the military are paid enough money to cover their housing costs.
  I urge my colleagues to join with me and support H.R. 3280.

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