Barrar Asks Governor to Sign Bill to Increase State Active Duty National Guard Pay
HARRISBURG – Majority chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware) requests that Gov. Tom Wolf sign legislation that received unanimous support in both the House and the Senate. The bill would increase the minimum state active duty pay for Pennsylvania National Guard members from $75 to $100 per day.
“I have been working on
House Bill 602 since the beginning of this legislative session, and I am so pleased that our Pennsylvania National Guard will hopefully soon receive the pay increase they’ve been waiting for since 1996,” Barrar said. “In the last two decades, they have continued to protect Commonwealth citizens during natural disasters and other crises, but we have not even given them a cost-of-living increase.”
The key beneficiaries of this legislation are the state’s lower-ranking enlisted personnel, who are earning a lower base pay due to having less time and grade in the military. The modest pay increase would make Pennsylvania comparable to neighboring states, which have already honored their state active duty National Guard with an increase.
“These men and women serve long hours, sometimes more than 12 hours a day during emergencies, and we are not properly acknowledging their tremendous dedication. I look forward to Gov. Wolf signing the bill so we can change that,” Barrar said.
If Gov. Wolf signs the bill, the increase will be effective immediately.
Representative Stephen E. Barrar
160th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Alison Evans
717.260.6206
aevans@pahousegop.com
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