WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA), vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and chairman of the Tactical Air and Land Forces (TAL) Subcommittee voted in favor of the committee’s advancement of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25). The bill was reported favorably out of committee with a vote of 57-1.
Following his vote in favor of reporting the FY25 NDAA out of the committee, Rep. Wittman released the following statement:
“During this time of global unrest, it is more important than ever that the U.S. military is equipped to counter America's emboldened adversaries. This year's National Defense Authorization Act addresses the Biden administration's failed policies that have weakened our national defense.
“In line with the debt ceiling agreement, we have authorized a budget of $849.8 billion. Within this topline, we have made strategic choices to equip our warfighters and accelerate production of innovative defense systems. These measures deter China from seizing Taiwan, weaken Russia in its unprovoked war against Ukraine, and combat Iran's rogue attacks in the Middle East.
“This mark includes many of my top priorities, including additional funding for education of our service members' children, advancing electronic warfare capabilities, investing in affordable munitions, restoring a second Virginia-class submarine originally cut by the Biden administration, and expediting technology adoption into our defense systems.
“The impacts of this year's NDAA will secure and protect the United States and our allies. I thank my fellow House Armed Services Committee members for their work in crafting this critical legislation.”
The bill’s investments will support U.S. servicemembers and their families, modernize the U.S. military’s defense systems, and deter the Chinese Communist Party’s growing military aggression.
“As chairman of the Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, Rep. Wittman has continually fought to ensure our military has what it needs to stay ahead of our adversaries,” HASC Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) said. “Thanks to Rep. Wittman’s leadership, the FY25 NDAA will strengthen our counter UAS defenses and prevent the early retirement of platforms critical to the fight.”
The bill includes many of Rep. Wittman’s top priorities, including:
Taking Care of Our Troops and Their Families
- Countering Overlooked Base Impact Aid (COBIA) Act: ensuring local educational agencies properly account for children eligible to receive impact aid.
- Revitalizing the Troops to Teachers program, which helps transitioning service members seeking to pursue careers in education.
- Requiring the U.S Government Accountability Office to address U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) civilian recruitment and retention shortfalls when competing with the private sector.
Bolstering Our Tactical Aviation Forces
- Requiring the DoD to implement corrective actions, adopt current test practices, and integrate cutting-edge technology to put the Joint Strike Fighter program on track.
- Increasing the number of F-35 aircraft manufactured for developmental testing.
- Authorizing future procurement of F-15EX fighter aircraft.
- Supporting 6th Generation combat aircraft development.
- Accelerating technology development of unmanned air systems including engine development for collaborative combat aircraft.
- Developing affordable cruise missiles to the needed quantity to overwhelm adversaries in future conflict.
- Stopped the Biden administration from retiring F-22 Block 20s and F-15E aircraft.
- Authorized retirement of legacy aircraft incapable of performing current battlefield requirements.
- Urging procurement programs for unmanned air systems to use parallel acquisition pathways for hardware and software.
Protecting Forward Deployed Forces
- Creating an Electronic Warfare Center of Excellence within the U.S. Department of Defense.
- Establishing the Drone Corps as a basic branch of the U.S. Army.
- Requiring the Secretary of the Army to report on the Army’s ability to defend against missiles and unmanned aircraft.
- Expanding counter-unmanned aerial vehicle forces by including the Army Chief of Staff top three unfunded requirements totaling over $350 million.
- Doubling U.S. Air Force counter-unmanned aerial vehicle capabilities in two years.
- Establishing a DoD executive agent responsible for all DoD counter-unmanned aerial vehicle research, testing, and training activities.
- Retiring legacy unmanned aerial vehicles incapable of supporting modern warfare.
Strengthening Our Navy
- Restoring a second Virginia-class submarine that was originally cut by the Biden administration.
- Increasing funding for future Ford-class aircraft carrier production to ensure a stable procurement schedule.
- Creating a pilot program to examine how robotic technologies can be used for shipboard maintenance and inspection.
- Developing unmanned undersea vehicles that keep our troops safe while enabling reconnaissance, mine laying, and mine detection missions.
Spurring Defense Innovation
- DOD Entrepreneurial Innovation Act: enabling small businesses at the forefront of cutting-edge technology to support DoD efforts.
- Recruiting more scientists and engineers to support defense innovation.
- Requiring the U.S. Army and Air Force to report on National Guard cyber modernization efforts.
- Granting greater authority to DoD to accelerate the adoption of new technology.
- Advancing a mobile micronuclear reactor program to provide resilient energy to the U.S. military.
- Expanding shared classified commercial infrastructure pilot programs within the DoD.
Preparing for the Battlefield’s Expansion into Space
- Authorizing the Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve (CASR) to enable DoD-industry collaboration during conflict.
- Requiring the National Reconnaissance Office to assess the effectiveness of data sharing between the private sector and commanders to help them win on the battlefield.
- Requiring intelligence officials to brief Congress on topographical maps used for cockpit displays and battle management systems to improve situational awareness for warfighters.
Supporting Military Installations’ Infrastructure
Boosting Military Readiness
- Prohibiting the Secretary of the Army from purchasing foreign-sourced energetic materials until domestic manufacturers have reached production capacity.
- Requiring the DoD to develop a decontamination plan for chemical, biological, and radiological threats.
- Requiring the U.S. Army to deliver a plan for improving its data management tools.
- Requiring the DoD to identify how to streamline its cumbersome clearance and vetting processes.
- Requiring the DoD to show how they are addressing pharmaceutical supply chain risks.
Countering China’s Growing Military Aggression
- Ordering a DoD-wide effort to counter China's overseas basing efforts.
- Boosting public-private collaboration with allies and private sector partners to prevent adversaries from gaining control over strategic assets abroad.
- Preventing the sale of illicit Chinese vaporware on military bases.
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