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HR 4437 115th Congress House Armed Forces and National Security Military law Military operations and strategy Military personnel and dependents

To amend the Uniform Code of Military Justice to prohibit the payment of back pay and allowances to certain members of the Armed Forces who are guilty of desertion and to use the amount of any such…

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To amend the Uniform Code of Military Justice to prohibit the payment of back pay and allowances to certain members of the Armed Forces who are guilty of desertion and to use the amount of any such unpaid pay and allowances to provide additional compensation to other members of the Armed Forces who were killed or wounded during missions to search for the missing members.

Introduced: January 16, 2018 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 7, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
Nov 16, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Nov 16, 2017
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

This bill amends the Uniform Code of Military Justice to deny back pay and allowances to any person who is guilty of desertion.

The Department of Defense shall use payments and allowances denied to a deserter under this bill to provide compensation to any members of the Armed Forces who were wounded while searching for the deserter or to representatives of any members who were killed while searching for the deserter.

What's happening now December 7, 2017

Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 4413 Related bill No Back Pay for Bergdahl Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 11
All 11 Republican 5
Barletta, Lou
· Jan 16, 2018
Brooks, Susan
· Dec 20, 2017
Rooney, Francis
· Dec 14, 2017
 R
Bost, Mike
Illinois · Nov 29, 2017
 R
Norman, Ralph
South Carolina · Nov 29, 2017
Abraham, Ralph
· Nov 16, 2017
 R
Babin, Brian
Texas · Nov 16, 2017
 R
Crawford, Eric A. "Rick"
Arkansas · Nov 16, 2017
McSally, Martha
· Nov 16, 2017
 R
Smith, Jason
Missouri · Nov 16, 2017
Walz, Timothy
· Nov 16, 2017
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4437: To amend the Uniform Code of Military Justice to prohibit the payment of back pay and allowances to certain members of the Armed Forces who are guilty of desertion and to use the amount of any such unpaid pay and allowances to provide additional compensation to other members of the Armed Forces who were killed or wounded during missions to search for the missing members.. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-4437/
MLA
"H.R. 4437: To amend the Uniform Code of Military Justice to prohibit the payment of back pay and allowances to certain members of the Armed Forces who are guilty of desertion and to use the amount of any such unpaid pay and allowances to provide additional compensation to other members of the Armed Forces who were killed or wounded during missions to search for the missing members.." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-4437/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4437, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-4437/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4437: To amend the Uniform Code of Military Justice to prohibit the payment of back pay and allowances to certain members of the Armed Forces who are guilty of desertion and to use the amount of any such unpaid pay and allowances to provide additional compensation to other members of the Armed Forces who were killed or wounded during missions to search for the missing members.](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-4437/)
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