GOP Rep. Gaetz introduces bill to pay military servicemembers amid debt ceiling standoff
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy this month unveiled his proposal which includes a one-year debt limit extension as well as spending cuts.
Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz on Monday introduced legislation to guarantee the pay of military servicemembers amid an ongoing dispute over raising the debt ceiling.
The proposed "Armed Services Always Paid Act" would appropriate funds to remunerate military members for the amounts they would have been paid during the duration of a disruption.
"While President Joe Biden and lawmakers in Congress negotiate the debt limit plan, I hope we can all agree that our military service members should be paid without delay, regardless of how long discussions may take," Gaetz told the Daily Caller. "My legislation, the Armed Services Always Paid (ASAP) Act, will ensure our military receives pay in the event of any lapse of appropriations."
Gaetz's plan comes as the deadline for Congress to agree to a proposal to raise the debt ceiling or face an unprecedented default looms. President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats have advocated for a clean increase to the debt limit while Republicans have proposed to pair any increase with spending cuts.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy unveiled his proposal this month, which includes a one-year debt limit extension as well as spending cuts. Democrats have derided the plan as essentially punting the issue to the following year.
Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.