[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 7460-7461]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          IMMINENT DANGER PAY

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, it is the nature of our debate on the 
budget resolution that there is a very limited amount of time available 
to discuss amendments which we will be offering. I am taking this 
opportunity this morning to describe to my colleagues and those 
following the debate an amendment which I plan to offer this morning to 
the budget resolution.
  All of us are transfixed by images that come over the television, as 
we listen to the radio, and as we read the newspaper about the war in 
Iraq. We are reminded on a minute-by-minute basis of the heroism, 
bravery, and determination of our Armed Forces.
  Last week, there was a resolution commending the Armed Forces for 
their efforts, as well as standing, by the President as Commander in 
Chief as he leads these forces into battle. That resolution was enacted 
by a vote of 99 to 0, with all Senators present voting in favor of it--
all Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. It is an indication of 
the solidarity in this Chamber behind the men and women in uniform.
  The amendment which I will offer during the course of the budget 
resolution debate today will be further evidence of our solidarity 
behind the men and women in uniform. My colleagues may be surprised to 
learn that those who are serving in the military in Iraq are eligible 
for what is known as imminent danger pay, combat pay. It is one of 
those rare moments in military life when we know these men and women 
put their lives on the line and we give them a bonus, an imminent 
danger pay

[[Page 7461]]

bonus, above their ordinary compensation. One might ask themselves, 
well, how much is combat pay for those who are serving? Combat pay 
today is $150 a month, $5 a day. Combat pay to our soldiers, sailors, 
airmen, marines, and Coast Guard is less than the minimum wage for one 
hour in America for each day they are in battle in harm's way. That was 
last changed in 1991, when it was raised to $150.
  The amendment I will propose, the imminent danger pay increase 
amendment, will raise the monthly amount to $500 a month. Make no 
mistake, there is no compensation in dollar amounts we can give these 
men and women for their heroism and sacrifice, but I think it is 
important that we step forward with this increase so that combat pay is 
$500 a month.
  There is a second part to the amendment. We also say when we activate 
someone into a war theater that we help their family at home. That is 
known as family separation allowance. How much do we give the family of 
these service men and women back home during the period of time their 
loved ones are in combat? The family separation allowance is $100 a 
month. I met with some of those families at the Rock Island Arsenal in 
my State last Saturday. They are facing extraordinary challenges for 
child care, for the expenses of their families they had not 
anticipated. We should do better for them. I am suggesting as part of 
my amendment that $500 should be the monthly compensation for the 
family separation allowance. That is the nature of my amendment.
  I ask all my colleagues in the Senate who stood shoulder to shoulder, 
99 to nothing behind the men and women in uniform, to do the same now 
when we raise combat pay to $500 a month and the family separation 
allowance to $500 a month as well. That will be a clear demonstration 
that our commitment to these troops goes beyond words and goes to the 
budget, so we can provide them and their families the resources they 
need to not only come home safely but without the hardships that would 
be part of this service if we did not do our part to help them.
  I hope my colleagues on a bipartisan basis will join as we did on the 
resolution.
  I might add, there are some procedural hurdles being thrown in my 
path. People are saying the procedures may not allow you to offer this 
amendment. I beg my colleagues on both sides, as our men and women in 
uniform cannot hide in the deserts of Iraq, we should not hide on the 
floor of the Senate behind procedural niceties when it comes to fair 
compensation for our men and women in uniform and their families 
waiting dutifully at home.
  I urge my colleagues to reconsider their opposition to this 
amendment. This is the right thing to do, and we should do it today.
  I yield the floor.

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