Kiggans Secures Quality-of-Life Wins for Military

WASHINGTON, DC: Today, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) released the below statement following the passage of H.R. 5009, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), for Fiscal Year 25, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 281-140. 

The FY25 NDAA authorizes $895.2 billion for national defense discretionary programs, an increase of $9 billion or 1% over the FY24 enacted level. A significant portion of the FY25 NDAA is comprised of initiatives to improve quality of life for servicemembers and their families. These provisions are the result of the House Armed Services Committee Quality of Life Panel, which Congresswoman Kiggans served on. The panel met beginning last year and concluded its research in April 2024, making 31 recommendations for quality-of-life improvements. 

“Today’s legislation is a win for our Armed Forces and all those who risk their lives every day for our freedom,” said Congresswoman Kiggans. “I was proud to serve on the House Armed Services Committee Quality of Life Panel where we worked to make long overdue quality-of-life improvements including enhancements to military pay, housing, healthcare, childcare, and spousal support, most of which were included in this bill.

“In particular, I fought hard to secure a 14.5% pay increase for our junior enlisted servicemembers. These men and women in uniform sacrifice so much for our great country and deserve salaries that reflects their service.”

The NDAA also includes authorizations for military construction projects in Congresswoman Kiggans’ congressional district, including authorizing funding $2.7 million for a childcare facility at Fort Story, $4 million for a childcare facility at NAS Oceana, and $16 million for unaccompanied housing at NAS Oceana. 

“I am proud to have secured several provisions in this final bill that will provide our servicemembers back home in Hampton Roads with better housing and greater access to childcare,” continued Congresswoman Kiggans. “This authorized funding will ensure our military families and communities have access to the resources they need.”

In addition to critical quality-of-life provisions, the NDAA contains significant advancements to U.S. defense systems and contains provisions aimed at countering China’s growing aggression, improving military recruitment, and cutting bureaucratic regulations to allow for new innovation and technology procurement at DoD.

“I came to Congress on a mission to restore strength in our military and take care of our all-volunteer force… today’s legislation is a right step in that direction,” continued Congresswoman Kiggans. “At a time when our great nation is facing increased threats from every corner of the globe, America needs to prioritize our warfighters and ensure we can maintain a ready, capable, and lethal fighting force. 

“I am very pleased that members on both sides of the aisle recognize the importance of our national defense and came together to pass this critical legislation that refocuses the Department of Defense on our servicemembers, our warfighting capabilities, and our global deterrence initiatives. I look forward to continuing to prioritize developing technologies to foster new innovation, growing our Navy through shipbuilding, and recruiting and retaining servicemembers. As a third-generation veteran, I will always be the loudest voice for our military men and women in Congress!”

Highlights of this legislation are included but not limited to:

Improving Servicemember Quality of Life

• Authorizes a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers and supports a 4.5% pay raise for all other servicemembers.
• Authorizes an additional $954 million over the President’s request for housing and facility maintenance accounts.
• Requires DoD to develop and implement a strategy to enter into public-private partnerships to lease new barracks and other unaccompanied housing.
• Authorizes $1.2 billion to renovate and build new barracks.
• Authorizes an additional $30 million for a berthing barge to provide a safe housing alternative for sailors during dry dock availabilities.
• Authorizes the services to provide free wireless internet access to servicemembers in all unaccompanied housing facilities.
• Enables DoD to recruit and employ additional mental health providers by excluding them from statutory caps on military end strength.
• Provides servicemembers with direct access to specialty medical providers by waiving the TRICARE referral requirement.
• Increases the number of nurses working for DoD by waiving prior federal service hiring requirements. 
• Authorizes over $176 million for the design and construction of new childcare centers.
• Makes it easier for military spouses to transfer professional licenses between states.
• Codifies the Military Spouses Career Accelerator which provides employment support to military spouses. 

Military Recruiting

• Authorizes the reimbursement of private medical expenses for recruits entering the service.
• Increases funding for JROTC programs.
• Reforms the Army’s recruiting force by creating a professional recruiting military occupational specialty. 

Deterring China

• Authorizes $15.6 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative to enhance U.S. deterrence and defense posture in the Indo-Pacific region. 
• Increases funding for innovative new technologies needed to deter the CCP, including hypersonics, AI, autonomous systems, cyber, mobile micronuclear reactors, and high energy lasers.
• Supports the Marine Corps 31 amphibious warship requirement and enables efficiencies in the Congressionally authorized block buy.
• Provides Army Counterintelligence Command Agents with authorities required to counter Chinese espionage.

Military and Industrial Base Readiness

• Blocks the Biden administration’s plan to reduce the number of U.S. Special Forces.
• Requires an assessment of the domestic maritime capability to support national security sealift and shipbuilding requirements. 

Acquisition Reform

• Requires DoD to write contract solicitations in a manner that is clear, concise, and accessible to small businesses.
• Includes a Small Business Bill of Rights for the DoD to ensure small business customer service issues and conflicts are resolved expeditiously.

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