Guarantee Paychecks for America's Military Families Act

To prioritize certain Government obligations for continued payment in the event that the statutory debt limit is reached, to appropriate funds for the pay and allowances of all members of the Armed Forces, and for those civilian employees of the Department of Defense and the Coast Guard serving in a combat zone, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Guarantee Paychecks for America’s Military Families Act 2. Definitions In this section: (1) The term Armed Forces (2) The term combat zone (3) The term contingency operation (4) The term military personnel accounts (5) The term pay and allowances (6) The term period of lapsed appropriations 3. Priority given to payment of certain Government obligations in event debt limit is reached In the event that the debt of the United States Government, as defined in section 3101 (1) The obligation of the Secretary of the Treasury provided in section 3123 (2) The obligation of the Secretary of Defense (and the Secretary of Homeland Security in the case of the Coast Guard) to pay members of the Armed Forces the pay and allowances earned under title 37, United States Code, and other compensation paid from the military personnel accounts. (3) The obligations incurred by the Secretary of Defense (and the Secretary of Homeland Security in the case of the Coast Guard) to carry out a contingency operation (as defined in section 101(a)(13) of title 10, United States Code), including the pay earned by civilian employees of the Department of Defense and the Coast Guard serving in a combat zone (as defined in section 112(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986). 4. Permanent appropriation of funds to provide pay and allowances for members of the Armed Forces and certain civilian employees during period of lapsed appropriations For any period of lapsed appropriations, there are appropriated, out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to the Secretary of Defense (and the Secretary of Homeland Security in the case of the Coast Guard) such amounts as may be necessary to allow the Secretary of Defense (and the Secretary of Homeland Security in the case of the Coast Guard) to provide, during the period of lapsed appropriations and without interruption— (1) pay and allowances to members of armed forces, including reserve components thereof, who perform active service during the period of lapsed appropriations; and (2) pay to civilian employees of the Department of Defense and the Coast Guard serving in a combat zone.

Summary: Guarantee Paychecks for America's Military Families Act - Prioritizes, in the event that the public debt of the U.S. government reaches the statutory limit, the following obligations over all other obligations: (1) the Secretary of the Treasury to pay with legal tender the principal and interest on debt held by the public; (2) the Secretary of Defense (DOD) and the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to pay members of the Armed Forces the earned pay, allowances, and other compensation paid from military personnel accounts; and (3) the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security to carry out a contingency operation (as defined in existing provisions of federal military law), including the pay earned by civilian employees of the DOD and the Coast Guard serving in a combat zone (as defined in existing provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986). Appropriates to the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security, for any period of lapsed appropriations, such amounts as may be necessary to allow such Secretaries to provide, during the period of lapsed appropriations and without interruption: (1) pay and allowances to members of Armed Forces, including reserve components thereof, who perform active service during the period of lapsed appropriations; and (2) pay to civilian employees of the DOD and the Coast Guard serving in a combat zone. Defines "period of lapsed appropriations" as any period during which appropriations are not available due to the absence of the timely enactment of any Act or joint resolution (whether a general appropriations Act or an Act or joint resolution making continuing appropriations) appropriating funds for the payment of the pay and allowances of members of the Armed Forces or civilian employees of the DOD and Coast Guard.