With Congress designating 2009 as the Year of the Military Family, Congresswoman Castor continued her commitment to our troops and their families as the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Defense Authorization bill today. This significant investment in our military personnel will go a long way toward improving the quality of life for our active duty troops, reservists and their families. Congresswoman Kathy Castor said the bill, which she supported, will give a pay raise to military personnel, keep the cost of health care steady, expand family housing and offer more support to troops’ loved ones.

As our troops and their families continue to make sacrifices for our nation, the U.S. House of Representatives today passed the Defense Authorization bill. This significant investment in our military personnel, as we work to recognize 2009 as the Year of the Military Family, will go a long way toward improving the quality of life for our active duty troops, reservists and their families. Congresswoman Kathy Castor said the bill, which she supported, will give a pay raise to military personnel, keep the cost of health care steady, expand family housing and offer more support to troops’ loved ones.

“With this bill, we are investing in the needs of our military and their families,” said Castor, whose district includes MacDill Air Force Base. “We must do our part to make sure they have a good quality of life.”

Service members will receive a 3.4 percent pay raise under this legislation.

The Defense Authorization Act takes the health of our troops and their families seriously. It extends TRICARE eligibility to reserve members so they can receive full TRICARE coverage six months before they go on active duty. The bill also prohibits fee increases on TRICARE inpatient care for a year; expands dental coverage to survivors of service members who die on active duty; and increases the number of military mental health providers.

Families will also benefit from a robust support initiative. The Defense Authorization bill sets aside $2.2 billion for family housing, which will help pay for expanding the quality of housing for service members and their families. The bill also establishes an internship pilot program within federal agencies for military spouses, and it helps military children by directing $30 million to schools with large enrollments of military students.

“From active duty troops to reservists, from military spouses to military children, we are ensuring that military families get the health care, the pay and the services they deserve,” Castor said. “Supporting our troops and their families is one of my utmost priorities.”