With Honor Action Applauds House Passage of the National Defense Authorization Act

Washington, DC – The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is the annual legislative vehicle that authorizes the policies, programs, and spending for the Department of Defense, and it is the only piece of legislation to consistently pass on a bipartisan basis. With Honor Action is excited to see this trend continue as House lawmakers have passed their version of the crucial legislation. Currently, the Senate Armed Services Committee is marking up its version of the NDAA, which is expected to be referred to the Senate floor by the end of the week. Once the Senate passes its version of the NDAA, the two chambers will convene in conference to remedy any differences to produce a final version. While there is still a lengthy road ahead, the bipartisan passage of the House version today is an important next step in getting this legislation across the finish line. 

“The National Defense Authorization Act is a model for how Congress should function. After decades of its bipartisan passage, we’re glad to see both sides of the aisle coming together yet again to strengthen our national security,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor Action. “The annual defense bill has made it through the House, but it still has a way to go. With Honor Action hopes to see the below priorities included in the final version of the bill.”

The House Armed Services Committee’s Quality of Life Panel, led by For Country Caucus Members Rep. Don Bacon and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, produced a report geared at improving the quality of life for service members and their families, ultimately serving as the base text for the FY25 NDAA. Some notable ideas proposed in the report include a significant pay increase for junior enlisted troops and a plan to address dilapidated housing conditions on military installations worldwide. With Honor Action proudly endorses all of the recommendations outlined in the report, along with the following legislative provisions that were included in the House NDAA:

• Establishment of Multilateral Artificial Intelligence Group, proposed by For Country Caucus Member Rep. Nick LaLota, would establish a working group to develop and coordinate an artificial intelligence (AI) initiative within the Five Eyes Alliance and other international partners, ensuring that AI’s development is defined by the freedom and ideals of the US and our closest allies.
• Prohibitions Relating to Covered Distributed Ledger Technology and Blockchain Equipment of Services, also known as the CLARITY Act, led by For Country Caucus Members Rep. Zach Nunn, Rep. Don Davis, and Rep. Brad Wenstrup would combat adversarial cyber attacks, protect our intellectual property, and strengthen our overall national security by prohibiting the federal government from using blockchain technology developed by an adversarial nation.  
• Biotechnology Roadmap – To ensure our Department of Defense remains at the forefront of advancing biotechnology, For Country Caucus Member Rep. Moulton led this provision to require the Secretary of Defense to develop a biotechnology roadmap to guide ongoing efforts as they relate to its development.
  
• The Maintaining our Obligations to Moms Who Serve (MOMS) Act, led by For Country Caucus Members Rep. Houlahan & Rep. Bacon, would assess the feasibility and impact of using evidence-based perinatal mental health programs for both pregnant and postpartum servicemembers in an effort to address poor mental health rates for military moms.
• Blast Pressure Safety and Brain Health – Supported by seven For Country Caucus Members, this provision would require the military to track service members’ exposure to blasts in training and regularly provide neurocognitive tests to troops who have been exposed to such blasts.
• Basic Needs Allowance: Exclusion of Basic Allowance for Housing, led by For Country Caucus Member Rep. Jimmy Panetta, would ensure military families have the proper resources they need to comfortably live by excluding Basic Housing Allowance (BAH) from the calculation of gross household income of an eligible member of the Armed Forces when determining whether they also qualify for the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA).
• Independent Evaluation Regarding Potential Establishment of United States Cyber Force – Led by For Country Caucus Members Reps. Morgan Luttrell & Chrissy Houlahan, this provision will direct the National Academy of Sciences to evaluate the efficacy, logistics, and proposed processes in establishing a separate, uniformed Cyber Force.

With Honor Action applauds the passage of the House NDAA and urges lawmakers in Congress to continue working together to produce an NDAA that strengthens national security, delivers long-overdue promises to servicemembers and their families, and fosters the spirit of bipartisan leadership.

Read a full list of our supported NDAA floor amendments HERE. 

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With Honor Action fights polarization in Congress by supporting principled veterans across party lines who pledge to serve with integrity, civility, and courage. With Honor Action works alongside the bipartisan For Country Caucus in Congress to pass critical legislation for our nation. Learn more about our work at WithHonor.org 

With Honor Action is a 501(c)(4), which serves as the organization’s policy and social-welfare arm.
With Honor has an affiliated federally registered “super PAC” called With Honor Fund II.