WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025.

Rep. August Pfluger (TX-11): “It is our duty in Congress to equip our men and women in uniform with the tools and resources needed to be laser-focused on lethality to protect our country. I proudly voted for this strong national defense bill which includes major conservative wins—including a pay raise for all enlisted service members, freezing the hire of DEI personnel, and banning gender affirming care for minor children of servicemembers. I am especially proud of the impact this legislation will have on Goodfellow Air Force Base and Fort Cavazos, which includes funding increases for much needed upgrades to barracks for our military families, investment in the motor pool at Fort Cavazos, and other various projects.”

Congressman Pfluger Specific FY 2025 NDAA Initiatives:

·     Fully funds the “Rip and Replace” program to remove Chinese sourced communications technology from U.S. networks.

·     Requires the administration to provide information on how proceeds from illicit Iranian oil exports are funding the IRGC and Iranian-backed terrorist proxies.

·     Requires the Secretary of the Air Force, in coordination with the STRATCOM Commander, to develop and then implement a plan to restore the B-52 bombers' nuclear capacities.   

·     Requires the Secretary of Defense to develop an integrated space and satellite security strategy in cooperation with allies and partners in the Middle East.

·     Allows service academy graduates to play professional sports and fulfill their service obligation through reserve duty in a recruiting position.

 

Overall FY25 NDAA Highlights:

Military Service Members and Families:

·     Authorizes a 14.5 percent pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers and a 4.5 percent pay raise for all other service members. 

·     Improves the servicemember cost of living allowance calculation to ensure it properly accounts for inflation, especially for servicemembers based abroad. 

·     Expands access to the Basic Needs Allowance and requires DoD to reevaluate the allowance for subsistence to ensure it meets the actual cost of necessities. 

·     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 $7.2 billion to renovate and build new barracks.

Critical Race Theory and Gender Ideology:

·     Prohibits funding for “gender affirming” care for minors and critical race theory. 

Institutes a freeze on the hiring of any new DEI personnel.