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Legislative bills

Equal Pay for Servicewomen Act Introduced in Congress

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Congresswoman Julia Brownley, joined by Reps. Jackie Speier and Elise Stefanik, has introduced the Equal Pay for Servicewomen Act to address the long-standing issue of unequal uniform costs for women in the US military. The bill aims to implement the four legislative recommendations of a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, which found that women in the military pay several times more than men in out-of-pocket costs for uniforms. This disparity, which adds up to hundreds or thousands of dollars over time, has been cited as a significant barrier for women in the military, hindering their ability to serve alongside their male counterparts.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Equal Pay for Servicewomen Act is a bipartisan bill aimed at addressing the unequal uniform costs for women in the US military, which has been a persistent issue for years.
  • The bill is based on the recommendations of a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, which found that women in the military pay several times more than men in out-of-pocket costs for uniforms.
  • The GAO report highlighted the disproportionate impact of uniform changes on female officers, with 18 changes made over the last 10 years that increased out-of-pocket costs for these individuals.
  • The bill requires the US Department of Defense (DOD) to develop consistent criteria for determining which uniform items are considered "uniquely military," and to review the calculation of standard cash clothing replacement allowances for enlisted servicemembers.
  • The DOD will also be required to review military service plans for changing uniform items and make any needed adjustments to ensure equity.
  • Congresswoman Julia Brownley, Chair of the Women Veterans Task Force, has been a key advocate for this issue, having offered an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act in 2019 to direct the GAO to analyze gender disparities in out-of-pocket uniform costs.

Statistics:

  • Women in the military pay several times more than men in out-of-pocket costs for uniforms (GAO report).
  • 18 uniform changes made over the last 10 years have disproportionately increased out-of-pocket costs for female officers (GAO report).
  • Hundreds or thousands of dollars in disparities in uniform costs add up over time, hindering women's ability to serve in the military (GAO report).

Sources:

  • [Government Accountability Office (GAO) report]
  • [National Defense Authorization Act of 2020]
  • [Joint Release from Congresswoman Julia Brownley, Rep. Jackie Speier, and Rep. Elise Stefanik]

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