BAH Restoration Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1956
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-06: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-20T08:07:55Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The BAH Restoration Act (H.R. 1956) aims to ensure that members of the U.S. uniformed services receive a basic allowance for housing (BAH) that fully covers the actual cost of adequate housing within the United States, addressing potential shortfalls in current allowances.
Key Provisions
- Amendment to Housing Allowance Calculation: The bill modifies Section 403(b)(3) of Title 37, United States Code, which governs military pay and allowances.
- New BAH Formula: The monthly BAH for a service member in a specific U.S. area will equal the determined monthly cost of adequate housing in that area. This amount is set by the Secretary of Defense and tailored to the member's pay grade (their rank level) and dependency status (whether they have dependents like a spouse or children).
- Scope: Applies only to housing inside the United States for members of the uniformed services, which include the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and certain other federal entities.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Under current law, BAH is calculated based on average housing costs but may not always match the full expense of "adequate" housing in high-cost areas, sometimes leaving service members to pay out-of-pocket.
- This bill replaces the existing formula in Section 403(b)(3) with a direct tie to actual adequate housing costs, effectively increasing the allowance to eliminate such gaps and "restore" full coverage.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Defense (DoD) will need to update its housing cost surveys and budgeting processes to determine and implement these higher allowances, potentially increasing federal military spending by millions annually depending on housing market fluctuations.
- On Citizens (Service Members): Uniformed service members stationed in the U.S. could see direct financial relief, reducing personal housing burdens and improving quality of life, which may help with family stability and job satisfaction.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, as the bill focuses solely on domestic U.S. housing; it does not affect overseas allowances or foreign policy.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Primary Beneficiaries: Active-duty and reserve members of the uniformed services (approximately 1.3 million active personnel) and their families, particularly those in expensive housing markets like California or New York.
- Government Entities: The DoD and Congress, responsible for funding and oversight of military compensation.
- Indirectly Affected: Military base communities and local housing markets, which may see increased demand or economic activity from better-supported service members.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens compliance with federal pay statutes (Title 37) by mandating cost-based allowances, potentially reducing future lawsuits over inadequate military compensation. No direct constitutional challenges anticipated, as it aligns with Congress's authority over military pay under Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.
- Political: Bipartisan support evident from cosponsors across parties, signaling broad consensus on military welfare. Could influence future defense budgets by prioritizing personnel retention amid recruitment challenges, though it may face debate over added costs in a constrained fiscal environment.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]
Cosponsors (36)
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2], Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7], Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11], Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2], Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3], Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11], Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-06: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- 2025-03-06: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-06: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- BAH Restoration Act — issued 2025-03-06 — PDF (2 pages)