(Washington, D.C.) – Montana’s senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus today applauded a Department of Defense decision to pay U.S. troops $500 for every month they had their service extended due to stop loss.

Stop loss orders prevent service members from leaving military service at the end of their voluntary enlistment period and have been used by the Department of Defense to retain force numbers during wartime.

“Stop loss takes a toll on our soldiers and their families. It means more time away from the ones they love- when they have already sacrificed a tremendous amount for their country,” Baucus said. “Today’s announcement is great news. I believe service is the most noble of all human endeavors and the men and women who serve in our military are truly the bravest and most noble among us. It is only fair that they receive this pay.”

The Defense Department will retroactively pay U.S. troops an additional $500 for every month of stop loss service between September 11, 2001, and September 30, 2009.

Baucus is a member of the Powerful Senate Finance Committee and voted to fund this additional pay as part of the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act.