Bill > HR3120

This bill aims to improve the review and effectiveness of cost of living adjustments (COLA) for military personnel and Department of Defense civilian employees stationed in California's 19th Congressional District. The bill recognizes that military personnel and DOD civilians face financial challenges due to frequent relocations and high living costs, particularly in California, where expenses for housing, transportation, groceries, and healthcare significantly exceed the national average. The legislation requires the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness to submit a comprehensive report within one year, which must detail the current methods for calculating cost of living adjustments, assess the appropriateness of including military commissaries and exchanges in these calculations, evaluate whether specific areas in the 19th Congressional District should be considered high-cost areas, and compare COLA factors in Monterey and Santa Clara, California. The underlying goal is to ensure that the current COLA calculation methods accurately reflect the economic realities faced by military and civilian DOD employees in this region, and to potentially develop more precise ways of providing financial support that appropriately addresses their living expenses.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3120/all-info