Service Member Housing Relief Act

The Service Member Housing Relief Act would adjust the rules governing the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for members of the uniformed services. Specifically, it lowers the threshold for when the Secretary of Defense can temporarily adjust BAH rates and makes the authority to do such adjustments permanent. In practical terms, a smaller change in housing costs would be enough to trigger a temporary BAH adjustment, and the ability to make these adjustments would no longer be limited by a sunset or temporary constraint. BAH is a non-taxable allowance intended to help service members cover housing costs in different localities. This bill aims to make it easier and more durable for the Department of Defense to respond to fluctuations in housing markets that affect service members’ costs of living.