By Cory Titus and Jen Goodale

Bipartisan legislation introduced April 6 would restore the Basic Housing Allowance to 100% of housing expenses – a key focus of MOAA’s spring Advocacy in Action campaign and a much-needed financial assist to servicemembers and their families.

The BAH Restoration Act (H.R. 2537), introduced by Reps. Marilyn Strickland (D-Wash.) and Don Bacon (R-Neb.), rolls back a 2015 law that incrementally reduced the BAH pay requirement to cover only 95% of housing expenses, with the remaining 5% paid out-of-pocket by servicemembers. The move saved the DoD $5 billion over the implementation period, but it placed a significant burden on our troops and their families, especially those struggling to make ends meet.

[TAKE ACTION: Urge Your Legislators to Pay Full Housing Costs for Servicemembers]

“As we weigh in for the future of the All-Volunteer Force, we see the strain being placed on our servicemembers and families, particularly among our junior enlisted,” MOAA President and CEO Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, USAF (Ret), said. “Financial security starts at home. We are grateful for Representatives Strickland and Bacon’s leadership to care for our service-families by introducing legislation to restore the Basic Allowance for Housing to 100 percent. Our servicemembers give their all to our nation, the least we can do is ensure that we fully provide for adequate housing.”

The proposed legislation aims to ease some of the financial challenges faced by servicemembers by restoring the BAH to 100%. This would help ensure these members and their families can maintain adequate housing and are not forced to choose between paying rent and covering other essential expenses.

“Access to affordable housing is one of the top issues I hear from servicemembers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Servicemembers are being priced out of options to live near their bases, putting strain on our military families,” Strickland said. “When the department reduces the housing allowance, it exacerbates economic, food access, and readiness issues. Restoring the BAH to 100% provides servicemembers and their families with stability and shows that meeting their basic needs is a national security priority.”

[MORE ADVOCACY IN ACTION: MOAA.org/AIA]

Bacon, a retired Air Force brigadier general and a MOAA member, said servicemembers and families “should not have to struggle to find and afford housing. When they volunteer to put their lives on the line for their country, we should be able to guarantee that they will have access to clean and comfortable housing within the allowance they are given. Restoring BAH to 100% will help improve the quality of life for those that are willing to sacrifice so much.”

Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) introduced similar legislation in the Senate last Congress and plans to do so again this session, according to a press release announcing the House bill.

In addition to being backed by MOAA, the legislation has support from military and veterans service organizations including the Military Family Advisory Network, Blue Star Families, Veterans of Foreign Wars, National Military Family Association, and the American Legion, and is a priority of The Military Coalition.

Help MOAA share the importance of this bill with Congress by writing your lawmakers and asking for their support.

Cory Titus is MOAA's director of Government Relations for Veteran Benefits and Guard/Reserve Affairs. Jen Goodale is MOAA's director of Government Relations for Military Family and Survivor Policy.