Kaine, Rounds, Manchin, & Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Provide Back Pay for Officers Impacted by Military Promotion Hold

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and one of the most forceful voices who pushed to end Senator Tuberville’s reckless hold on military promotions, joined U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) in introducing the bipartisan Military Personnel Confirmation Restoration Act of 2023 to provide back pay to military officers who were denied promotions for months.

“By denying servicemembers’ military promotions at the time they were supposed to receive them, Senator Tuberville also denied them the pay, allowances, and benefits that come with these promotions,” said Kaine. “While I’m glad many of these servicemembers received the promotions they’ve earned this week, this bill is critical to helping ensure the impacted servicemembers are compensated.”  

Specifically, the Military Personnel Confirmation Restoration Act of 2023 would provide those officers impacted by Tuberville’s promotions hold with backpay commensurate to the date they would have otherwise been promoted. It also directs the Secretary of Defense to adjust their time in grade, or associated seniority for the grade or rank associated with their appointment, and carry out other administrative fixes, including allowances and benefits.

Tuberville’s hold on military promotions resulted in the delayed promotion or assignment of 430 flag or general officers. This week, the Senate confirmed 425 of these promotions and is expected to confirm the remaining ones before the end of the year. Last month, Kaine held the Senate floor for over an hour, calling up every individual military promotion being blocked by Tuberville, which Tuberville denied. Kaine also spoke on the Senate floor various times and during Senate Armed Services Committee hearings to highlight how the blockade impacted servicemembers in Virginia and across the country.

In addition to Kaine, Rounds, and Manchin, the Military Personnel Confirmation Act of 2023 is cosponsored by Senators Angus King (I-ME), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL).

Full text of the bill is available here.

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