U.S. military personnel whose promotions were delayed for months due to Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s (R-AL) protest could get back pay if new bipartisan legislation gets signed into law.
The new legislation, which was introduced this week, came days after Tuberville largely ended his nearly yearlong hold on military promotions and nominations, a move that stemmed from his disapproval of the Department of Defense’s post-Roe v. Wade abortion policy. The Senate, following the former football coach’s stand down, confirmed more than 420 promotions, though Tuberville is still holding up roughly a dozen four-stars.
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For officers whose promotions require Senate confirmation, the ensuing pay raise that accompanies their promotion does not take effect until the upper chamber votes in favor of it, meaning those who were caught up in Tuberville’s protest were losing out on income that they would’ve received had their promotions been confirmed in a timely manner.
Sens. Mike Rounds, (R-SD), and Joe Manchin, (D-WV), both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, sponsored the bill, while co-sponsors include Angus King (I-ME), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Tuberville.
“The men and women who wear the uniform of the United States of America should not be negatively impacted by political squabbles,” Rounds said. “When our men and women in uniform serve side by side, they don’t know whether the people they are serving with are Republicans, Democrats, or independents. I disagree with the Department of Defense’s policy of paying the travel expenses for service members and their dependents seeking abortions. I also support a member of the Senate’s right to hold any nomination. However, our men and women in uniform should not be caught in the middle of partisan politics.”
It is unclear if and when the Senate will take up the legislation.
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Tuberville’s protest is over a Pentagon policy that came out in response to the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade. Under the policy, the Defense Department would reimburse the travel expenses incurred for a service member or dependent who would have to travel out of state to receive a reproductive healthcare procedure, such as an abortion, that would not be legal in their home state. Department officials argued that the policy was important to ensure every service member has access to the same healthcare.
The DOD did not change its abortion policy to spur Tuberville’s fold.
