U.S. Rep. Abe Hamadeh, a Republican from Surprise, Ariz., has filed legislation aimed at boosting combat-related and specialty pay for members of the armed forces. The measure, formally titled the Combat Pay Protection Act and introduced as H.R. 9465, would deliver a one-time increase to a range of combat and hazardous duty pay rates and then require annual adjustments going forward. The bill directs that those adjustments be made each January and tied to whichever is greater: inflation or the yearly increase in basic military pay. The proposal has been referred to the House Committee on Armed Services for consideration.
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A military veteran in uniform salutes during a public ceremony, symbolizing the service members who could be affected by proposed increases to hazard pay.
Hamadeh, an Army veteran, described the current situation as one in which military special pays have fallen behind both inflation and improvements in basic pay. He said the legislation is intended to restore payments that “have not kept pace with inflation or military basic pay rates.” The congressman highlighted that a number of combat and hazardous duty pay scales have gone unchanged for long periods, and his bill is designed to update “dozens of military [pay scales] that Washington has ignored for far too long.”
The bill outlines specific mechanisms for indexing these payments beginning after the one-time increase: each January the amounts would be adjusted to reflect either inflation or the annual basic pay raise, whichever results in a higher payment. Hamadeh said this change is intended to ensure military members do not “fall behind because of Washington’s failures.” He argued that when inflation harms military families, Congress bears a responsibility to act so that service members and their dependents are not left worse off by stagnant special pays.
Hamadeh cited the current authorization levels and the amounts the Department of Defense has chosen to pay as part of his argument for change. He noted that Pentagon authorization permits up to $275 per month for hazardous duty pay and up to $450 per month for hostile fire pay, but that the Defense Department has chosen to pay $225 per month for either hazardous duty or hostile fire pay. Pointing to that $225 figure, Hamadeh framed the shortfall in familiar terms, saying, “That is only $7.50 a day, which is about the cost of a coffee in 2026. That’s unacceptable.” He also referenced the fact that Congress last increased special-combat pay in 2003.
An Arizona congressman speaks at a podium during a public event while advocating for measures to boost hazard pay for military personnel.
In comments outlining the intent behind the legislation, Hamadeh said, “Washington forgot who it works for.” He emphasized that updating combat pay, hazardous duty pay, and family separation allowances to keep pace with either military base pay growth or inflation is a matter of fair treatment for the men and women who serve. The congressman expressed that supporting the armed forces is more than verbal recognition, stating, “Supporting America’s military means more than saying ‘Thank you for your service'; it means ensuring they and their families can thrive.”
Hamadeh also said he is proud the measure will be included in the House FY27 National Defense Authorization Act. He pledged to continue advocating for the provision until service members receive the compensation he says they have earned, asserting, “For years, Washington failed to stand up for the men and women who stand up for America every day. That's why I have introduced the Combat Pay Protection Act, and that's why I'll continue fighting until our service members receive the compensation and respect they have earned.” He reiterated his personal commitment to the cause, saying, “I am proud to be a champion for America's warfighters and their families, and I will always put them first.”
Legislatively, the bill has been sent to the House Committee on Armed Services, where it will be considered alongside other defense-related measures. Inclusion in the House FY27 National Defense Authorization Act, as Hamadeh noted, would embed the proposed changes within the annual authorization bill that sets policies and funding priorities for the Department of Defense. At this stage the measure remains subject to committee review and the broader legislative process before any changes would be enacted.
The Combat Pay Protection Act lays out a framework for both an immediate adjustment and ongoing annual protections designed to prevent future erosion of combat-related and specialty pays. By tying future increases to the higher of inflation or the annual basic pay raise, the bill seeks to create a sustained, predictable mechanism to ensure that hazardous duty pays do not lag behind rising costs or standard military wage growth. The path forward for the legislation will depend on committee consideration and any negotiations that occur as lawmakers work on the FY27 National Defense Authorization Act.
Hamadeh's office announced that an identical amendment was added to the FY27 NDAA by unanimous voice vote in the House Armed Services Committee and is expected to pass the full House soon. The measure also explicitly covers family separation allowances and ensures Reserve and National Guard members receive the updated pays for qualifying service.
The bill was formally introduced in the House on June 25, 2026, and the official congressional entry lists Representatives Eugene Vindman (VA), Cory Mills (FL) and Donald G. Davis (NC) as cosponsors in addition to Rep. Abe Hamadeh. (govinfo.gov)
The govinfo filing shows the measure would amend chapter 19 of title 37 of the U.S. Code (citing 37 U.S.C. 1017, 357 and Chapter 19) to implement the one-time corrective increases and the proposed annual indexing mechanism. (govinfo.gov)
Hamadeh’s amendment corresponding to this proposal was listed on the House Armed Services Committee’s FY27 NDAA amendment roster as Log ID 5778 — described as a one-time corrective increase and annual adjustments for certain special and incentive pays — and was offered during the committee markup. (docs.house.gov)
The House Armed Services Committee favorably reported the FY27 NDAA (H.R. 8800) to the full House by a 44–12 vote after the June markup, and the committee package as reported includes a 3.6% basic pay increase for servicemembers that the Hamadeh language would reference for its annual adjustment if enacted. (armedservices.house.gov)