To authorize the Secretary of Defense to pay an additional amount of assignment special pay to members of the Armed Forces who agree to serve in Afghanistan for up to six years or the duration of the United States mission in that country.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jun 19, 2009

Authorizes the payment of assignment pay in a total amount of $250,000 to members of the armed forces who agree to serve on active duty in Afghanistan for six years or for the duration of the U.S. mission in Afghanistan, whichever occurs first. Provides for an increase in the amount of such pay if such a member scores a 4.0 on the Foreign Service Institute test for the dominant languages of Pashto and Dari.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Kirk, Mark Steven [R-IL-10] · R–IL

Committees

Armed Services Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Aug 3, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
Jun 19, 2009
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Jun 19, 2009
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1506)
Jun 19, 2009
Introduced in House
Jun 19, 2009
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jun 19, 2009 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jun 6, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.2960 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.2960, 111th Congress: To authorize the Secretary of Defense to pay an additional amount of assignment special pay to members of the Armed Forces who agree to serve in Afghanistan for up to six years or the duration of the United States mission in that country.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/2960

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2009-06-19.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hr2960/BILLS-111hr2960ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:18:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.2960 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.2960 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.2960, 111th Congress: To authorize the Secretary of Defense to pay an additional amount of assignment special pay to members of the Armed Forces who agree to serve in Afghanistan for up to six years or the duration of the United States mission in that country.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/2960

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2009-06-19.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hr2960/BILLS-111hr2960ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:18:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.2960 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.2960 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.2960, 111th Congress: To authorize the Secretary of Defense to pay an additional amount of assignment special pay to members of the Armed Forces who agree to serve in Afghanistan for up to six years or the duration of the United States mission in that country.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/2960

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2009-06-19.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hr2960/BILLS-111hr2960ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:18:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.2960 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.2960 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.2960, 111th Congress: To authorize the Secretary of Defense to pay an additional amount of assignment special pay to members of the Armed Forces who agree to serve in Afghanistan for up to six years or the duration of the United States mission in that country.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/2960

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2009-06-19.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hr2960/BILLS-111hr2960ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:18:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.2960 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.