1. DoD Acqusition Reform

A core priority of With Honor Action ally Senator Roger Wicker, the NDAA delivers results by reforming how the DoD buys weapons by cutting red tape, accelerating acquisition, scaling proven technologies faster, and overall, requiring DoD to determine if products or services can be obtained easier commercially. These reforms get new capabilities out of the lab, or off of shelves, and into the hands of warfighters faster.

Spotlight: Sec. 1822 – Modifications to Commercial Products and Commercial Services , a.k.a. the FoRGED Act, led by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Senator Roger Wicker, an Air Force veteran.

2. Boosts to Youth Service Programs

The NDAA invests tangible resources in civic youth programs by adding 200 more JROTC units and authorizing $4.3 million for the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, $50 million for the National Guard STARBASE program, and $50.3 million for the Civil Air Patrol. For Country Caucus member Rep. Salud Carbajal is a Co-Chair of the Congressional STARBASE Caucus.

Spotlight: Sec. 542 – Number of Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Units

3. Congress Goes Big on Biotech

This year’s NDAA includes 17 provisions to protect and advance U.S. leadership in biotechnology, including the creation of a DoD biotech coordination office and restrictions on federal agencies contracting with CCP-linked biotech firms. Many of these provisions were led by NSCEB Chair and With Honor Action ally Senator Todd Young.

Spotlight: Section 851 – Prohibition on contracting with certain biotechnology providers a.k.a. the BIOSECURE Act, led by With Honor Action ally and Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee Senator Gary Peters, a Navy veteran, and previously by former Representatives and For Country Caucus members Brad Wenstrup, an Army veteran, and Mike Gallagher, a Marine Corps veteran.

4. Prioritizing Warfighter Health

Building on our work last year on TBIs and service member brain health, this year’s NDAA establishes blast safety officer positions and requires a study on the high rates of cancer among military rotary-wing pilots and aircrew, strengthening the DoD’s oversight and understanding of the hidden costs of war.

Spotlight: Sec. 736 – Study on prevalence and mortality of cancer among military rotary-wing pilots and aviation support personnel a.k.a. the ROTOR Act, led by For Country Caucus members Rep. Rich McCormick, a Marine Corps and Navy veteran.

5. Support for Our Allies and Partners

Congress delivers support for allies on the front lines, doubling down on Ukraine’s fight to protect its sovereignty, reinforcing deterrence in the Baltics, and strengthening Taiwan’s defense against coercion. Notably, the NDAA reauthorizes and increases by $100 million the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which helps build and maintain Ukraine’s capability to defend itself by buying equipment, weapons, and training from U.S. sources.

Spotlight: Section 1247 – Baltic Security Initiative a.k.a., the Baltic Security Assessment Act of 2025, led by Founding For Country Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Don Bacon, an Air Force veteran, and former Vice Chair Rep. Salud Carbajal, a Marine Corps veteran.