Issues: Military Families

“As we move forward with modernizing the military, it's important to assess the impact of military policies and practices on the families of our soldiers, sailors, air personnel and marines.”— Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson

Photo of a family walking down as residential street.As the military operations continue in Iraq and Afghanistan, our nation must focus resources on improving the tools and training available to soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines in the field. But a strong military does not begin on the battlefields; it begins at home.

Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson understands this, and he knows that the military can only hope to retain and recruit high quality personnel with adequate assistance for families. So he has committed himself to ensuring that military families have the resources they need, providing security for families whose loved ones are providing security for our country.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, Nelson is also working to make sure troops and their families receive timely information on deployments. Concrete schedules are critical for personnel, especially those in the National Guard and Reserve who must leave their everyday lives – and jobs – to serve.

Working for Military Families

  1. Senator Nelson introduced legislation to improve benefits for military families by increasing the military pay schedule by up to $1000 per month during long-term deployments of active duty and military personnel. This proposal was signed into law in 2003.
  2. Senator Nelson introduced legislation to establish a new 401(k)-type plan where members of Reserve components can invest pre-tax dollars which can be withdrawn to supplement military income when a member is mobilized or completes his or her military career.
  3. Senator Nelson supported the successful effort to permanently increase the pay rates for the Imminent Danger Pay (IDP) and Family Separation Allowance (FSA) for deployed active duty and reserve military personnel from $150 to $225 per month and the FSA from $100 to $250 per month.
  4. Senator Nelson co-sponsored legislation to expand access to health care by making all Guard and Reserve families eligible for health coverage through TRICARE, the military health system, regardless of their mobilization status.
  5. Nelson supports pay raises for military personnel of at least 3.7%, and an additional pay raise for mid-career personnel.