The 13 members of the bipartisan House Armed Services Committee panel on quality of life improvements are urging Senators to include its recommendations in the negotiated National Defense Authorization Act.

“The panel repeatedly heard first-hand how military families — traditionally a bedrock source of military recruiting — are less likely to recommend military service for their own children, predominantly due to quality of life concerns,” the group wrote in a letter Friday, according to Military Times. “This is an urgent indicator that we must promptly correct with meaningful results, not just supportive rhetoric.”

The panel was led by Reps. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Penn.). The House Armed Services Committee adopted the panel’s sweeping and costly recommendations into its version of the NDAA, but Senate authorizers have scaled them back, including a steep pay raise for junior enlisted service members.

Negotiations in the Works

Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Jack Reed (D-R.I.) recently said lawmakers are working on an “informal conference” report and will let House and Senate leaders know what points of contention remain between the two committees’ bills.

Lawmakers return to D.C. Tuesday.

ADC photo of Bacon, left, by Will Noonan