Henrico Times

Congressman Rob Wittman has expressed his approval following the House's passage of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25 NDAA). The legislation includes a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted personnel and a 4.5% increase for Virginia's nearly 150,000 servicemembers. It also expands employment programs for over 50,000 military spouses in Virginia and improves childcare access for around 100,000 children of military families in the state.

The FY25 NDAA aims to achieve significant cost savings by cutting inefficient defense programs and obsolete weapons systems, resulting in $30 billion or 4% savings from current U.S. Department of Defense spending levels.

"As China’s aggression escalates, Russia’s ambitions continue, and threats from Iran and North Korea persist, America faces more global threats than any time since World War II," said Rep. Wittman. "We cannot shortchange our national security when the stakes are this high."

Wittman played a key role in crafting the bill as vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and chairman of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee. The NDAA is a primary vehicle through which defense policy is enacted and has been historically bipartisan.

The legislation includes provisions to support troops' quality of life, bolster tactical aviation forces, protect forward-deployed forces, strengthen naval capabilities, spur defense innovation, prepare for space-based battlefield expansion, boost military readiness, and counter China's growing military aggression.

Specific measures include revitalizing the Troops to Teachers program, requiring corrective actions for the Joint Strike Fighter program, authorizing additional funding for F-35 aircraft development testing and procurement of F-15EX fighter aircrafts. It also supports sixth-generation combat aircraft development and unmanned air systems technology advancement.

In terms of naval enhancements, an additional $357 million is allocated to address Virginia-class submarine industrial base challenges. The bill formalizes congressional support for stable procurement schedules for Ford-class aircraft carriers (CVN-82) among other initiatives.

To spur innovation within defense sectors further authority is granted to accelerate new technology adoption while providing funds to advance mobile micronuclear reactor programs aimed at ensuring resilient energy supply.