Military Pay: Controversy Over Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay and Family Separation Allowance Rates

Publication Date: October 2003

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Military and defense

Type:

Abstract:

Recently, controversy has surfaced over the rate of pay for two specific types of military compensation: Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay (HF/IDP) and the Family Separation Allowance (FSA). The rates for these forms of compensation were temporarily increased for FY2003 by the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2003, and extended by a continuing resolution, H.J.Res. 69. If no further action is taken by Congress, the statutory authority for the higher rates will expire on October 31, 2003. However, both the House and Senate versions of the 2004 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill for Iraq and Afghanistan contain provisions to extend the higher rates of HF/IDP and FSA through September 30, 2004. Additionally, both the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2004 have provisions that would permanently raise the rates for HF/IDP and FSA, although the House provision is targeted more narrowly.

The Department of Defense opposes continuing the higher rates for HF/IDP and FSA but has an alternative proposal to maintain total compensation for those serving in a combat zone, or in direct support of a combat zone, through increased use of Hardship Duty Pay (HDP).

This report describes the statutory authority for and purpose of these forms of compensation, recent legislative initiatives related to them, the Department of Defense (DOD) position on these matters, and some implications of the DOD position.