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.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Nov 16, 2017

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.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Graves, Garret [R-LA-6] · R–LA

Committees

Armed Services Committee

14 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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

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
Nov 16, 2017
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 · Nov 16, 2017 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 4413 · No Back Pay for Bergdahl Act

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

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.4437 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.4437, 115th Congress: 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.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4437

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-11-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr4437/BILLS-115hr4437ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:17:56Z. 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.4437 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.4437 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.4437, 115th Congress: 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.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4437

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-11-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr4437/BILLS-115hr4437ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:17:56Z. 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.4437 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.4437 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.4437, 115th Congress: 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.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4437

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-11-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr4437/BILLS-115hr4437ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:17:56Z. 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.4437 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.4437 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.4437, 115th Congress: 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.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4437

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-11-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr4437/BILLS-115hr4437ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-06-06T14:17:56Z. 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.4437 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.