Bill · H.R. 3120· House(119-HR-3120)
To improve the review and effectiveness of the cost of living adjustments to pay and benefits for members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees of the Department of Defense whose permanent duty station is located in the 19th Congressional District of California, and for other purposes.
- Introduced
- 4/30/2025
- Last activity
- 4/30/2025 — Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Sponsored by
- Jimmy Panetta
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
H.R. 3120 is a bill focused on improving the review and effectiveness of cost of living adjustments (COLA) for members of the Armed Forces and Department of Defense civilian employees. Specifically, it targets those whose permanent duty station is in the 19th Congressional District of California. The bill expresses the sense of Congress that these personnel should be financially supported in high-cost areas. It requires the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness to submit a report within one year. This report will examine the data and factors used to determine COLA in that specific region.
Yes· 3 of 7
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+3
Lower-pay grades benefit most from improved COLA in high-cost areas.
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?+2
Junior military and civilian personnel are often most impacted by COLA inaccuracies.
Would people in middle age be better off under this?+2
Middle-career personnel in the affected region may receive increased financial support.
The opposite
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?-1
Potential for increased government spending if COLA adjustments are raised based on the report.
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-1
The bill aims to potentially increase cost of living adjustments, which would increase spending.
Does this reduce what is spent on the military?-1
Potential increase in personnel spending for cost of living adjustments.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Financial Support for Personnel: The bill expresses that military and civilian Department of Defense personnel should be supported when facing frequent relocation to high-cost areas that create financial burdens (Section 1(a)(1)).
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Offsetting Basic Needs: The bill recognizes the need to offset rising costs for healthcare, groceries, transportation, and housing in California, where costs are higher than the national average (Section 1(a)(2)).
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Improved Accuracy of Pay: By calling for a periodic review of COLA calculations, the bill seeks to ensure accuracy in how the United States cares for its military and civilian employees (Section 1(a)(4)).
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Potential for Increased Adjustments: The required report will evaluate if certain areas in the 19th Congressional District of California should receive an increased cost of living adjustment (Section 1(b)(3)(C)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts for individuals or groups are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households+3Good For Middle Aged+2Good For Middle Class Households+2Good For Urban Residents+2Good For Young Adults+2
- Economy And Finance
- Reduces Government Spending-1Reduces National Debt-1
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+2
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Reduces Military Spending-1
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+1
- 4/30/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced in House