Leadership Recognition Act

To provide that the rate of military basic pay for the Senior Enlisted Advisors to the commanders of the combatant commands shall be equivalent to the rate of military basic pay for the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Leadership Recognition Act 2. Rate of military basic pay for the Senior Enlisted Advisors to the commanders of the combatant commands (a) In general Effective for months beginning on or after January 1, 2017, the rate of monthly basic pay for the Senior Enlisted Advisors to the commanders of the combatant commands shall be equivalent to the rate of monthly basic pay for the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (b) Conforming amendment Effective with respect to months beginning on or after January 1, 2017, footnote 2 accompanying the enlisted members pay table in section 601(c) of the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 ( Public Law 109–364 37 U.S.C. 1009 or Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, or Senior Enlisted Advisor to the commander of a combatant command 3. Report on inclusion of additional senior enlisted members among enlisted members entitled to elevated rate of military basic pay (a) Report required Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report setting forth an assessment of the advisability of including additional senior enlisted members of the Armed Forces among the most senior enlisted members of the Armed Forces who are entitled to an elevated rate of military basic pay by reason of footnote 2 accompanying the enlisted members pay table in section 601(c) of the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 ( Public Law 109–364 37 U.S.C. 1009 (b) Members or categories of members If the Secretary determines that the inclusion of any additional enlisted members or categories of enlisted members as described in subsection (a) is advisable, the report under that subsection shall specify such additional members or categories of members. 4. Modification of authority of President to determine alternative pay adjustment in annual basic pay of members of the uniformed services (a) Modification Section 1009(e) of title 37, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by striking or serious economic conditions affecting the general welfare (2) by striking paragraph (2); and (3) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2). (b) Effective date The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, and— (1) if the date of the enactment of this Act occurs before September 1 of a year, shall apply with respect to plans for alternative pay adjustments for any year beginning after such year; and (2) if the date of the enactment of this Act occurs after August 31 of a year, shall apply with respect to plans for alternative pay adjustments for any year beginning after the year following such year.

Summary: Leadership Recognition Act This bill makes the rate of monthly basic pay for the Senior Enlisted Advisors to the commanders of the combatant commands equivalent to the rate of monthly basic pay for the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Department of Defense (DOD) shall submit to Congress a report setting forth an assessment of the advisability of including additional senior enlisted members among the most senior enlisted members who are entitled to an elevated rate of military basic pay. If DOD determines that the inclusion of any additional enlisted members or categories of enlisted members is advisable, the report shall specify such additions. The bill modifies the President's authority to determine alternative pay adjustments in the annual basic pay of members of the uniformed services to limit such adjustments to national emergency conditions.