WASHINGTON – Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) today delivered the following remarks on the House floor in support of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025.
Rep. Wittman’s remarks as prepared for delivery:
“I thank the chairman for yielding.
This bill comes at a critical time. Along with many of my colleagues — at the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion in Normandy, France — I was reminded of the sacrifice we ask of each of our servicemembers to protect our nation.
This bill puts a primary and bipartisan focus on the quality of life of our servicemembers and families, including a 19.5% pay raise increase for our junior enlisted. This bill fully funds military housing. This bill requires that servicemembers be promoted on their abilities, not contrived bureaucratic initiatives. For these reasons, it is not surprising that a multitude of key military service organizations, including Blue Star Families, Military Officers Association of America, and the National Military Family Association all support this bill.
This bill also provides meaningful reform on the Joint Strike Fighter program and supports necessary future capabilities like Next Generation Air Dominance aircraft and the Columbia ballistic missile submarine.
It is not surprising that this bill reported from committee on a resounding bipartisan vote of 57 to 1. Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith should be rightly congratulated on delivering this bipartisan bill to the floor today.
Additionally, I want to congratulate my colleague and friend, Ranking Member Norcross. We worked on the most contentious issues together, and our product was an impressive bipartisan subcommittee mark. Finally, I want to thank the entire Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee staff, including David Sienicki, Heath Bope, Michael Kirlin, Max Huntley, Jay Vallario, and Brooke Alred for their particular support.
My friends, it is simple to vote against any bill offered in the House. Voting no is easy. But if you vote against this bill, you are voting against the military service members who provide our nation their lives every day for our democracy and freedom.
I thank the chairman and yield the balance of my time.”
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