By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Oct 15, 2008 9:40:24 EDT
The 2009 Defense Authorization Act, which includes a host of improvements in military pay and benefits, capped by a 3.9 percent raise, was signed into law by President Bush on Tuesday.
The pay raise, which takes effect on Jan. 1, marks the eighth consecutive year in which pay for service members will exceed the average increase in private-sector wage growth.
There is more to the defense bill than pay and benefits increases, however. It also includes $531.4 billion in budget authority for peacetime defense programs, including weapons research and purchases, operations and training, military construction and health care programs and other personnel costs.
Also in the bill is permission for the Pentagon to spend $68.6 billion for ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan — enough for about six months at the current pace of expenses.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/10/military_defenseauthorization_signed_101408w/
To read the FY09 NDAA online: Go to http://thomas.loc.gov. Search for bill S.3001. Select version 5, Enrolled Bill.
