Bacon, Houlahan to Discuss Quality of Life Recommendations at ADC Summit

February 9, 2024

The leaders of the House’s special panel on military quality of life will appear together at ADC’s Defense Communities National Summit in April.

Reps. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) have spent almost a year holding hearings and meetings to identify ways Congress can improve quality of life for service members and military families.

“The work of this panel has revealed an alarming erosion of military quality of life that, if not addressed quickly, will place the very existence of our all-volunteer force at risk,” Bacon said in opening remarks at a recent hearing. “I believe that reversing this decline will require a national commitment to change course while there is still time.”

Houlahan noted in her remarks at the hearing that Congress provided a 5.2% pay raise for service members last year but said “we should be asking ourselves if the benefits offered are the most effective to recruit and retain a new generation, one that has different perspectives and priorities about the kind of work and career they seek.”

The panel is expected to release recommendations in the coming weeks on pay, child care, housing, spouse support programs and health care. Bacon and Houlahan will discuss the policy suggestions at the Defense Communities National Summit.

The Defense Communities National Summit is taking place April 8-10 in the D.C. area. ADC has extended early bird registration rates through Monday.

ADC photo of Bacon at the 2023 Summit by Will Noonan

February 9, 2024

Recent News

Hegseth to Visit Southern Border Today

Hegseth to Visit Southern Border Today

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is traveling to the U.S.-Mexico border today as the military continues supporting immigration enforcement, Politico reported. Hegseth will meet with Joint Task Force North at Fort Bliss, Texas. “The Defense Department will support the...

DOD Reverses Abortion Travel Policy

DOD Reverses Abortion Travel Policy

The Pentagon last week did away with the Biden-era policy that reimbursed service members for time and expenses if they had to travel to another state for certain reproductive care, as Military Times reported. The move was expected. “President Trump and Secretary...

In Our Communities

In Our Communities

Air Force Says Preliminary Results Show No Higher Cancer Risk Near Missiles The Air Force has not found a higher rate of cancer among missileers and other service members who worked for decades near missile sites, Air & Space Forces Magazine reported. The Air...

Black Hawk Crew Who Died in DCA Crash Were Based at Belvoir

Black Hawk Crew Who Died in DCA Crash Were Based at Belvoir

Army and Pentagon investigators are looking into what went wrong Wednesday night when an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with a regional jet from Wichita, Kansas. Sixty passengers, four airline crew members and three soldiers all died in the Potomac River after...

Army Secretary Nominee Wants Service to Speed Up Its Tech

Army Secretary Nominee Wants Service to Speed Up Its Tech

Daniel Driscoll, President Trump’s pick for Army secretary, told lawmakers Thursday that the Army should rely more on technologies that are already developed outside the department, Defense Scoop reported. “Some capabilities require the Army to undertake independent...

PAST STORIES