News chronological

THENATIONALPULSE (Pulse Wires) - Senate Stalls $833 Monthly Boost for Disabled Veterans. Tue Aug 11 22:16:57 2026

The Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act (H.R. 6047) has been delayed by the United States Senate.

New legislation to provide severely disabled veterans and surviving military families with increased financial support has stalled in the Senate due to disagreements over funding mechanisms, raising concerns about legislative gridlock. PULSE POINTS WHAT HAPPENED: The Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act (H.R. 6047) has been delayed by the Senate. Sharri Briley is a Gold Star widow, while Eric Edmundson is an Iraq War veteran. DETAIL: The legislation offers the first major increase in Special Monthly Compensation for disabled veterans in over 20 years. The legislation would also raise Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payments for nearly 600,000 surviving spouses and family members. Specifically,…Open

STRIPES (Matthew Adams) - Air National Guard summer incentive includes $7,500 bonuses | Stars and Stripes Wed Aug 5 00:00:00 2026

The bonuses are paired with three-year contracts to secure reenlistments and recruit airmen looking to transfer from active duty or Air Force Reserve.

WAR (C. Todd Lopez) - Service Member Compensation More Competitive Than Many Realize, War Department Says Tue Jul 28 17:55:46 2026

The War Department kicked off the yearlong Military Compensation Educational Campaign to help service members and their families learn about the total value of their compensation, so they can better achieve and maintain financial readiness.

STRIPES (Chad Garland) - Military air traffic controller shortages hinder homeland defense, IG says | Stars and Stripes Wed Jul 22 00:00:00 2026

Lower pay and outdated standards are contributing to a shortage of military air traffic controllers, a government watchdog agency found.

STRIPES (Seth Robson) - Declining yen likely means zero COLA for US troops in Japan | Stars and Stripes Tue Jul 14 00:00:00 2026

The declining Japanese yen means many American troops stationed in Japan are likely to lose the allowance they receive to offset the cost of overseas goods and services, according to U.S. Forces Japan.

WAR (Air Force Staff Sgt. Skyler Combs, United States Forces Japan) - Reduction Expected for Japan Cost-of-Living Allowance Rates Mon Jul 13 16:30:10 2026

Service members based in Japan will likely see a reduction in their overseas cost-of-living allowance because of a long-term drop in the value of the Japanese yen and a corresponding increase in the value of the dollar.

STRIPES (Jennifer H. Svan) - Pentagon needs to fix COLA program flaws to make sure pay is accurate, watchdog agency says | Stars and Stripes Fri May 1 00:00:00 2026

The Pentagon’s data may not always reflect actual living costs due to “sampling practices that are not generalizable,” a watchdog report said.

STRIPES (Chad Garland) - Troops to get danger pay in Iran conflict zones, including Diego Garcia | Stars and Stripes Fri Apr 3 00:00:00 2026

Troops serving in the designated areas can qualify to receive imminent danger pay on a prorated daily basis, up to the monthly limit.

STRIPES (Svetlana Shkolnikova) - Bill seeks to exempt pay for drill weekends from federal income taxes | Stars and Stripes Fri Mar 13 21:54:04 2026

Current law requires Guardsmen and Reservists to pay federal income taxes on compensation for drills as well as additional readiness activities.