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Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Santa Clarita, voted in favor of the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act, securing the highest pay raise in American history for junior enlisted troops with the passage of this bill, the congressman’s office announced in a news release. 

“This strong defense bill rightfully prioritizes the true mission of our military: Deterring and winning wars,” Garcia said in the release. “More specifically, it prioritizes America’s greatest national security asset: Our brave men and women in uniform. 

“My amendment’s inclusion in this bill – which would effectively implement my RAISE Act – secured the highest pay raise in history for nearly one million of our junior enlisted troops. This pay raise is not just appropriate, but necessary amid our military’s record-low recruitment and retention. It’s unacceptable that our heroes in uniform, who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedom, were making less than fast food workers. 

“This bill rights that wrong, but there is still much work to be done. I couldn’t be more proud of this historic victory, and I couldn’t be more eager to continue fighting for those who fight so hard to protect us.” 

Garcia’s amendment will raise the entry level pay for E-1’s from approximately $22,000 per year to over $31,000 per year – an average pay raise of more than 30%, the release said. 

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, issued the following statement regarding Garcia’s work to secure this victory: 

“In House Republicans’ Commitment to America, we made a pledge to build a nation that is safe, and today we delivered on that promise by supporting our country’s heroes through this troop funding bill,” McCarthy’s statement said. “Given Mike Garcia’s military service and expertise, he knows better than most how critical these resources are to our men and women in uniform. As a leader of this legislation, he developed new and improved pay tables for our service members to help ensure they receive the biggest pay raise in decades, and I thank Mike for his tireless efforts to help see this provision through.”