Washington, D.C. – Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01) released the following statement after voting for the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 217-199:
“Today, our military faces unprecedented attacks on every front, from increasing Chinese aggression and attempts by foreign adversaries to compromise our military intelligence to efforts by bureaucrats to radicalize our military with woke policies. This year’s NDAA addresses important challenges faced by our current state of national defense, including improving our servicemembers' quality of life, restoring the focus on our military lethality, deterring China, defending Israel, securing our border, and enhancing our military capabilities. By addressing these challenges, the FY25 NDAA will save taxpayers $30 billion by cutting out inefficient defense programs, obsolete weapons systems, and unnecessary Pentagon bureaucracy. In addition, the legislation contains key measures to prioritize military capabilities in Texas and to invest in our servicemembers and their families stationed there.
“With this year’s NDAA, House Republicans also rejected the woke initiatives within the Department of Defense that would have authorized pro-abortion policies, DEI initiatives, and Green New Deal-style climate efforts. It is critical that our resources are focused on strong military readiness and that the NDAA not serve as a vehicle for a liberal wish list.”
The FY25 NDAA Includes the Following Texas Wins:
- Authorizes $782.7 million for 15 military construction projects in Texas, including measures for HMMWV ABS upgrades that support the Red River Army Depot.
- Rejects the Biden administration’s plans to halt nuclear weapons facilities in Texas
- Requires an improvement plan for infrastructure at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi
- Contains strong support for the V-22 program through safety and performance upgrades which will occur in Texas
- Supports the continued development of the T-7 aircraft that will be flown at multiple Texas bases
- Creates a pathway to improve recruitment to senior military colleges, including schools in Texas
- Supports hypersonic research occurring in Texas
The FY25 NDAA Safeguards Conservative Principles:
- Ensures Oversight and Accountability:
- Saves taxpayers $30 billion, or four percent of current DOD spending levels, by cutting inefficient programs, obsolete weapons systems, and unnecessary Pentagon bureaucracy.
- Cracks down on contractor waste by cutting $4.3 billion in programs that are not meeting requirements.
- Pushes Back Against Radical Woke DOD Policies:
- Prohibits the DOD from implementing its illegal policies of taxpayer-funded abortion.
- Requires promotions to be based on merit, ends affirmative action at service academies, and abolishes diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) bureaucracy at DOD schools.
- Prevents a military Green New Deal.
The FY25 NDAA Improves Quality of Life for Servicemembers:
- Boosts Compensation: The FY25 NDAA authorizes a 19.5% pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers, expands allowances for housing and food, and improves the cost-of-living calculation. This comes after reports that military families have been forced to rely on food banks, SNAP, and WIC to put food on the table.
- Improves Housing: The FY25 NDAA boosts funding for housing maintenance accounts, strengthens oversight of military housing programs, and pursues public-private partnerships to upgrade unaccompanied housing.
- Ensures Access to Medical Care: The FY25 NDAA reduces healthcare wait times by expanding access to medical providers, especially mental health providers, and increases oversight of healthcare accessibility for servicemembers.
- Enhances Support for Military Spouses: The FY25 NDAA makes it easier for spouses to transfer professional licenses across states and expands DOD programs that provide employment support to military spouses.
- Increases Access to Childcare: The FY25 NDAA improves access to childcare for military families by mitigating childcare staffing shortages at DOD facilities and fully funding childcare fee assistance programs.
The FY25 NDAA Bolsters American Deterrence:
- Deters Communist China:
- Prevents Communist China’s espionage in U.S. military, supply chain, and research institutions.
- Reforms DOD acquisitions to expedite the fielding of innovative technologies the U.S. needs to deter Communist China’s aggression.
- Bolsters Taiwan’s defense, supports America’s Indo-Pacific allies, and increases funding for U.S. defense initiatives in the Indo-Pacific.
- Defends Israel:
- Expands U.S.-Israel military exercises and fully funds cooperative missile defense programs.
- Increases funding for research and development (R&D) of emerging technology and anti-tunneling programs with Israel.
- Secures America’s Border:
- Fully funds the deployment of National Guard troops at the southwest border.
- Expands authorities and increases funding for DOD counternarcotics efforts.
- Prohibits DOD funds from being used to Palestinian refugees to the United States.
- Modernizes and Improves U.S. Military Capabilities:
- Takes steps to ensure the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter meets performance requirements
- Includes a provision to require an evaluation of the potential establishment of the United States Cyber Force.
- Provides supportive language in pursuit of the digital reserve corps.
- Authorizes $1.25B for the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft development which will support decades of investment in the state and provide Army aviation units with upgraded aircraft.
- Authorizes $75m for HMMWV ABS upgrades.
- Implements a plan to restore the B-52 bombers’ nuclear capacities.
- Evaluates and emphasizes the need for MQ-9 ISR capabilities.
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