The fiscal 2005 defense authorization act authorizes a 3.5
percent across-the-board pay raise for all service members.
It also sets a permanent hike in special pay to $225 a month
for duty subject to hostile fire or imminent danger, and a
permanent increase in family separation allowance to $250 a
month. In addition, it authorizes the service secretaries to
provide Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay to Military Firefighters.
And it provides for increases in Basic Allowance for Housing
to eliminate average out-of-pocket housing expenses.
Furthermore, it permanently exempts service members from
paying subsistence charges while hospitalized. The act also
removes the existing funding limitations on military housing
privatization authorities. This will allow the services to
continue to partner with the private sector to provide the
highest quality housing for military members and their families
in the shortest amount of time.
The fiscal 2005 defense authorization act authorizes the use of
federal write-in ballots for absentee military voters in the
United States. It also contains a provision that would direct
the Secretary of Defense to reimburse service members who
purchased, or had another person purchase on their behalf, any
protective, safety, or health equipment for use while deployed
in connection with Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring
Freedom, or Operation Iraqi Freedom. In addition it authorizes
the Secretary to accept donations of frequent flier miles,
credits and tickets for use by service members. It also provides
for separate campaign medals for Operation Enduring Freedom
and Operation Iraqi Freedom. And it indexes the death gratuity
for survivors of deceased service members to the average
increase each year in basic military pay. Furthermore, it
requires the Secretary of Defense to improve medical readiness
training and health surveillance.
