East Central Alabama News

U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, has expressed approval following the passage of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for FY25 by the House Armed Services Committee.

“The threats our nation faces today are unprecedented. China is rapidly building up its military, Iran’s proxy terrorists have attacked U.S. servicemembers, Russia continues to wage a bloody war in Ukraine, and North Korea remains a destabilizing force,” stated Rogers. “To make matters worse, our adversaries are working together to test the credibility of American deterrence and the strength of our alliances. To deter our adversaries, it’s imperative that we embrace President Ronald Reagan’s doctrine of ‘peace through strength’. Strengthening our military and investing in our defense is how we send our adversaries a message that we will not be intimidated.”

Rogers emphasized the importance of investing in military personnel. “The most important investment we can make is in the foundation of our military: our people. No servicemember should have to worry about making ends meet, putting food on the table, or having safe housing,” he said. He highlighted that the FY25 NDAA aims to boost compensation, improve housing, expand access to medical care, increase access to childcare, and provide support for servicemembers' spouses.

The act also focuses on strengthening national defense capabilities. “To strengthen our defense, the FY25 NDAA will support the continued modernization of our nuclear deterrent, invest in our Naval fleet, boost innovation, and revitalize our defense industrial base to ensure our warfighters have the capabilities they need to win on future battlefields,” Rogers noted. Additionally, he pointed out provisions supporting Alabama's role in national defense, including those benefiting the Anniston Army Depot.

“Our adversaries are watching what we do – weakness is not an option,” Rogers concluded.