Congress is making progress toward passing the 66th consecutive National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a bill that is one of the few bipartisan pieces of legislation consistently signed into law. On July 22nd, the House passed its version of the FY27 NDAA. Although this is but one step in the process, as the final bill must be reconciled with the Senate, it is significant progress, and the House bill includes over 40 bipartisan priorities advanced by With Honor Action in partnership with members of the For Country Caucus.
Working alongside these bipartisan Members of Congress, With Honor Action has worked to include provisions that modernize our military, extend America’s edge in biotechnology, defend our allies, and improve the lives of those serving in the military. Principled veteran leadership, demonstrated by the members of the For Country Caucus and by efforts here at With Honor Action, proves that working across the aisle moves the country forward with shared ideals that unite us, regardless of party.
Military Modernization and Industrial Base
Modernization of our military and defense industrial base is one of the top priorities for With Honor Action and the FY27 NDAA, and we continue to advocate for provisions that build on the successful inclusion of many provisions of the FoRGED and SPEED Acts in the FY26 NDAA. Equipping our warfighters with modern equipment and skills builds a more lethal force prepared to face the next generation of threats. With Honor Action was especially proud to see a longtime priority, right to repair, appear in the FY27 NDAA. This provision, while details will need to be worked out in conference on the bill, will help with readiness by addressing some of the challenges of vendor lock, supply chain brittleness, and contractor delays.
Recognizing the need for the revitalization of the American shipbuilding industry, With Honor Action also applauds the passage of key provisions from the SHIPS for America Act, championed by Reps. Trent Kelly (R-MS) and John Garamendi (D-CA) in the House, and With Honor allies Sens. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Todd Young (R-IN) in the Senate. The SHIPS for America Act strengthens both the industrial and human capital behind America’s maritime power. Rep. Trent Kelly’s SHIPS floor amendment received bipartisan support. It brought many of the provisions in the standalone bill one step closer to becoming law, including the three provisions included in With Honor Action’s priorities letter to the Armed Services Committees. These provisions would require an assessment of the nation’s ability to repair undersea cables during a national emergency, direct the President to submit a plan for using Defense Production Act authorities to strengthen the shipbuilding industrial base, and expand the United States Center for Maritime Innovation to accelerate research and development. Beyond these specific measures, the amendment reflects a broader recognition that enhancing America’s commercial and defense shipbuilding industries is a national security imperative. The SHIPS Act also streamlines the credentialing process for transitioning servicemembers entering maritime careers and strengthens U.S. shipyards by combining federal and private investment. Together, these provisions ensure the nation is ready to sustain and repair the vessels our military and maritime industry depend on.
That same forward-looking approach extends beyond hardware and into the technologies now shaping the battlefield. Readiness is not just about the equipment in the warfighter’s hands. The House-passed NDAA includes key legislation that promotes technologies that redefine modern conflict and ensure our intelligence capabilities can keep pace with the evolution of frontier technologies. With Honor Action is proud to have supported the AGI Preparedness Initiative that strengthens the Department of Defense’s ability to anticipate and counter adversarial artificial intelligence. The initiative directs the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer to prioritize tracking the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) AI capabilities and to develop a clear strategy for countering adversarial AI, and was adopted as a floor amendment offered by For Country Caucus member Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-NC).
Additionally, the House bill includes adjacent provisions for the No Adversarial AI Act, including a requirement that the Department of Defense issue government-wide guidance identifying “covered artificial intelligence companies” and establish a process for excluding and removing their AI from Department systems and devices. The bill also includes 14 provisions related to recommendations by the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, which With Honor Action has consistently supported since its inception. Taken together, these measures ensure that the United States can detect and deter our adversaries’ most advanced technologies and protect our innovation ecosystem.
Youth Service and Leadership Development
The FY27 House-passed NDAA also makes critical investments in programs that inspire young Americans to serve their country. Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) reaches over half a million high school students a year, often serving as their first step toward service. At the same time, programs like the Sea Cadets Corps have introduced 180,000 young people to fields from robotics to seamanship since 1962, with roughly 60% going on to join the armed forces. While the Naval Sea Cadets Corps focuses on maritime-specific training in fields such as seamanship, navigation, and robotics, the National Guard STARBASE focuses on hands-on STEM education for students at schools eligible for Title I services. Title I services include federal K-12 education programs that provide extra academic support and funding, specifically targeted assistance programs and schoolwide programs, to help children in high-poverty schools meet state standards. Investing in these programs is critical, as they foster a sense of purpose and civic duty to our country.
The House version of the FY27 NDAA meets the funding targets backed by With Honor Action, with $426.9M allocated to JROTC, $10M to the Naval Sea Cadets Corps, and $53M to National Guard STARBASE programs. Together, these investments total roughly $490 million directed toward the programs preparing America’s next generation of civic and military leaders.
Service Member Health, Well-Being, and Military Transition
With Honor Action is proud to support legislation that improves the lives of our service members and their families. Multiple provisions in the House-passed NDAA seek to enhance our military’s quality of life, from designating a senior official to oversee the military-to-civilian transition to studying the effects of blast overpressure on our warfighters. These provisions centralize oversight and streamline collaboration between agencies and departments, ensuring that service members obtain the essential tools they need to succeed.
One area where With Honor Action has been particularly engaged is in improving mental health resources for active-duty service members. The Brandon Act, originally passed in the FY22 NDAA, allowed service members to seek confidential referrals for mental health evaluations and, if necessary, to seek referrals outside their chain of command. While this was a positive step toward improving access to mental health resources for our service members, we have continued to push for greater awareness of these resources and better training for commanders to understand their soldiers’ needs. That is why With Honor Action supports the inclusion of the Brandon Act Training and Protocol Act, originally introduced by For Country Caucus member Rep. Gil Cisneros (D-CA) in the House-passed NDAA. It ensures that leaders and service members alike are educated on available resources and how to access them.
Addressing a risk unique to military aviators, With Honor Action supported the WINGS Act, originally introduced by For Country Caucus members Reps. Jen Kiggans (R-VA) and Maggie Goodlander (D-NH). This legislation requires the Department of Defense to conduct a long-term study on how flying fighter jets and other high-performance aircraft affects pilots’ brains and mental health over time. By tracking things like traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and neurological disease, the act will study the long-term cognitive and psychological impacts of sustained military aviation.
With Honor Action is also encouraged to see progress on a decades-long effort to reform the Duty Status system under which our reservists are called to serve. The standalone legislation, originally introduced by For Country Caucus members Reps. Gil Cisneros (D-CA) and Jack Bergman (R-MI) fix the convoluted duty status system, which currently includes nearly 30 statuses, and replace it with a simple system of four activation statuses. This year’s House-passed NDAA includes report language requiring DoD, in consultation with the Department of Veterans Affairs, to evaluate the RAND study on Duty Status Reform required by the FY18 NDAA, and brief Congress on the feasibility and cost of implementing the reforms recommended by the report.
Support for American Allies
With Honor Action has consistently advocated for increased and sustained support for our global allies and partners, whether they are in an active warzone in Ukraine or deterring aggression in the Indo-Pacific. As the United States continues to navigate an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape, strengthening allies’ defense capabilities remains one of the clearest ways to protect our national security interests.
With Honor Action applauds the inclusion of direct report language for a US-Ukraine working group, which will strengthen ties between the US and Ukraine while providing a forum for the two parties to share their research and experience with unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The language instructs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report on the progress of each Department of Defense working group to deepen UAS and counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) collaboration, covering areas ranging from battlefield drones and long-range strike capabilities to electronic warfare and supply chain resilience. This collaboration ensures the U.S. military is constantly developing its capabilities for drone warfare.
As China becomes more ascendant in its defense capabilities, Taiwan plays an important role as a partner in East Asia. With Honor Action applauds the reauthorization of the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative, which focuses on joint training, medical support, and the co-development of uncrewed military systems.
Looking Ahead
With Honor Action commends the House for passing its version of the FY27 NDAA, marking the 66th consecutive year the chamber has advanced this bipartisan legislation. The work, however, is not yet done. The Senate is still working through its defense authorization bill, and Congress must work as a whole to reconcile differences between the respective bills. Through the end of summer and into the fall, With Honor Action will be continuing our engagement with allies on the Hill and our coalition partners to ensure the passage of this critical legislation.