U.S. Senator Katie Britt, R-Ala., joined her colleagues Wednesday in voting to support final passage of the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (NDAA), which includes several provisions beneficial to the State of Alabama.
“The FY25 NDAA ensures the Yellowhammer State remains at the forefront of America’s defenses while modernizing our military’s cutting-edge capabilities and assets, so our warfighters remain the best equipped, trained, and prepared in the world. At a time when we live in an increasingly dangerous world with adversaries like China, Iran, and Russia ready to take advantage of any American weakness, it is absolutely imperative we make targeted, strategic investments in our national security. This legislation will help put America back on track while providing the incoming Trump administration with the resources to implement a peace through strength doctrine to once again prioritize America First policies,” said Senator Britt.
“The NDAA also includes major wins for the brave men and women who serve with a needed pay raise and investment in their wellbeing. Addressing America’s mental health crisis extends to our Armed Forces, which is why I was committed to finding ways to support the mental health of our servicemembers and their families in this Defense Bill,” continued Senator Britt.
Senator Britt directly secured a number of key provisions in the FY25 NDAA, including assessing basing and training requirements for the Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (FTUAS) that will tout the benefits of Fort Novosel, and amending the minimum number of students required to establish a unit of the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC), ensuring students interested in pursuing military service as a career in Alabama and across the nation have the resources and training opportunities to do so.
In the FY24 NDAA, Senator Britt previously secured passage of a key amendment directing a study on the feasibility of DOD behavioral health services to U.S. personnel and their dependents when stationed abroad. In the FY25 NDAA, Senator Britt has now expanded on this amendment, securing access to specialty behavioral health care under the TRICARE Prime program for members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their dependents when stationed abroad.
Background:
Passed annually by Congress since 1961, the NDAA authorizes critical functions such as funding for the military, outlining national security priorities, and setting targets for modernizing defense technologies and munitions. The bill includes a 4.5 percent pay raise for the tens of thousands of active-duty servicemembers in Alabama and a 14.5 percent pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers (E1-E4).
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The FY25 NDAA also refocuses our military priorities on warfighting rather than wokeness, rebuilds our nation’s arsenal by authorizing targeted munitions and industrial base funding, helps secure the southwest and maritime borders by empowering the Department of Defense (DOD) to assist law enforcement in combatting drug and human trafficking, and increases resources to support Israel and U.S. Gulf partners in responding to radical Islamic terrorism.
For a comprehensive look at wins for Alabama click here.
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Publish date : 2024-12-19 00:07:00
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