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H.R. 5208House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

To amend title 37, United States Code, to exclude the basic allowance for housing from the calculation of gross household income for purposes of the basic needs allowance for eligible members of the Armed Forces.

Sponsored by Jimmy PanettaRep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA)
Introduced September 8, 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 23, 2025 at 10:13 PM UTC

This bill changes the law so that the basic allowance for housing that service members receive is no longer counted as part of their household income when calculating eligibility for the basic needs allowance. By making the exclusion automatic, it aims to increase the amount of financial assistance available to eligible military families.

Key Provisions

  • Amends 37 USC § 402b(k)(1)(B) to automatically exclude a service member’s basic allowance for housing (BAH) from the gross household income used to determine eligibility for the basic needs allowance (BNA).
  • Removes language that made the exclusion optional or dependent on a Secretary’s decision, replacing it with language stating that BAH paid to the member is excluded.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

September 8, 2025

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

September 8, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

September 8, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued September 8, 2025

I

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 5208

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 8, 2025

Mr. Panetta (for himself, Mr. Moore of Utah, Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia, Ms. Strickland, Mr. Riley of New York, Ms. Goodlander, and Ms. Jacobs) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To amend title 37, United States Code, to exclude the basic allowance for housing from the calculation of gross household income for purposes of the basic needs allowance for eligible members of the Armed Forces.

1.

Basic needs allowance: exclusion of basic allowance for housing from the calculation of gross household income of an eligible member of the Armed Forces

Section 402b(k)(1)(B) of title 37, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

by striking in the case and all that follows through portion of; and

(2)

by striking that the Secretary concerned elects to exclude and inserting paid to such member.