Give the military a 2 percent pay raise without reducing housing allowances and raising health care fees for retirees.

Senior Pentagon officials told Congress that troops are willing to sacrifice portions of their pay and benefits if it means keeping and improving the training and equipment needed to do their jobs. This statement is patently false. Troops, regardless of what branch of service they serve under, do not think their pay is so grand they are willing to have their housing allowances cut. Nor should the U.S. government expect its retirees to pay higher fees for healthcare. Additionally, anything less than a 2 percent pay increase would prove this country's gross negligence with regards to supporting and taking care of its fighting men and women who have sacrificed so much for the integrity and security of this nation.