Washington, D.C. – Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01) released the following statement after voting to support the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25), which passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 281 to 140:
“Over the last four years under the Biden Administration, our country has witnessed significant deterioration in national security and military capabilities. Our foreign adversaries have become empowered in their aggression and threats, drug cartels have overrun our southern border, and the Biden Administration has attempted to infiltrate our Department of Defense with woke policies that politicize our military and push a liberal agenda on our servicemembers. This is unacceptable on all fronts.
“Today, I voted to support legislation that will address the pressing national security threats our country faces and provide our servicemembers with a sorely needed pay increase, while ensuring fiscal responsibility and combating the woke leftist agenda that threatens our military readiness and capabilities. This NDAA is supported by conservative champions such as Heritage Action for America and the Family Research Council. Rather than chasing a liberal wish list, our DOD must be laser focused on its mission of ensuring America is prepared to meet the challenges of tomorrow. This NDAA fulfills that commitment and delivers for our military servicemembers, while cutting inefficient defense programs, obsolete weapons systems, and unnecessary Pentagon bureaucracy.”
Securing Texas Wins:
For Texas’ 167,700 servicemembers, this NDAA provides a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers and a 4.5% pay raise for all other servicemembers.
Authorizes $575.7 million for 14 military construction projects in Texas, including $34 million for a vehicle paint shop at Red River Army Depot.
Expands programs to help Texas’ 50,900 military spouses attain and retain employment.
Creates a pathway to improve recruitment to senior military colleges like Texas A&M University.
Increases access to childcare for the 82,100 children of military families in Texas.
Supports fiscal responsibility by keeping in line with Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) spending caps.
Maintains and builds upon significant wins countering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) that were contained in last year’s NDAA.
Rejects Senate Democrats’ attempts to draft our daughters.
Removes IVF language that did not contain adequate pro-life protections.
Includes language stating that, “medical interventions for the treatment of gender dysphoria that could result in sterilization may not be provided to a child under the age of 18.”
Prohibits funding for the teaching, training, and promotion of critical race theory (CRT) in the military, including at service academies and DOD schools.
Extends the DEI hiring freeze, preventing DOD from establishing any new positions or filling any open DEI positions until the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) completes an investigation of the Pentagon’s DEI programs.
Prohibits DOD from contracting with advertising firms that blacklist conservative news sources.
Provides authorization for servicemembers to participate in patriotic events at major sporting events such as the Super Bowl.
Requires all newly commissioned officers to receive training on the Constitution prior to their first operational assignment.
Deterring China:
Prevents Chinese Communist Party (CCP) espionage in our military, supply chain, and research institutions.
Reforms DOD acquisitions to expedite the fielding of innovative technologies needed to deter CCP aggression.
Bolsters Taiwan’s defense, supports our Indo-Pacific allies, and increases funding for U.S. defense initiatives in the Indo-Pacific.
Defending 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.
Securing America’s Borders:
Fully supports the deployment of National Guard troops at the southern border.
Expands authorities and increases funding for DOD counternarcotic activities.
Ensuring Oversight & Accountability:
Saves $31 billion by cutting inefficient programs, obsolete weapons, and Pentagon bureaucracy.
Cracks down on contractor waste by cutting $3.9 billion in programs that are not meeting requirements.
You can learn more about critical wins secured in the FY25 NDAA HERE.
