East Central Alabama News

U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, delivered remarks at a Rules Committee hearing in support of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for FY25.

Chairman Rogers began by expressing gratitude to Chairman Burgess, Ranking Member McGovern, and their staff for facilitating H.R. 8070's progress to the House floor. He also thanked Ranking Member Smith for his significant contributions to advancing the bill.

"For the first time in decades, the year’s defense bill carries a different short title," Rogers stated. "It is the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act."

Rogers emphasized that this new title reflects substantial improvements aimed at enhancing servicemembers' quality of life. He highlighted issues such as inadequate living conditions, reliance on food stamps among military families, and long wait times for medical care.

"This bill will go a long way toward fixing that," he said. Key provisions include a 20 percent pay raise for junior enlisted personnel, expanded housing and food allowances, and improved cost-of-living calculations.

The bill authorizes $766 million over the budget request to upgrade existing barracks and construct new ones. It also enables public-private partnerships to provide better unaccompanied housing.

Healthcare access is another focus area; the bill aims to reduce wait times by waiving referral requirements for specialty care and expanding recruitment and pay authorities for DoD doctors and nurses.

Childcare improvements are also included: over $206 million is allocated for new DoD childcare centers, fully funded fee assistance programs, and competitive pay and benefits to fill staffing vacancies.

To assist military spouses with employment challenges, the bill facilitates professional license transfers between states and grants DoD authority to quickly hire military spouses during duty station changes.

These initiatives stem from recommendations by a special panel established last year by Rogers and Ranking Member Smith to examine servicemember quality of life issues. "I want to thank Don Bacon and Chrissy Houlahan and all the members of the panel for their hard work," Rogers said.

Addressing national security threats, particularly from China, is another priority in the FY25 NDAA. The bill includes reforms to acquisition authorities, strengthens security partnerships with Taiwan and Pacific allies, funds nuclear deterrent modernization, protects U.S. assets from espionage, builds necessary logistics networks in the Pacific region, and invests in revitalizing the industrial base.

"In the face of growing threats from China," Rogers noted that restoring military focus on lethality is critical. The FY25 NDAA aims to end policies perceived as divisive while cutting wasteful spending within DoD programs not aligned with current threats.

The bipartisan nature of this legislation was underscored by its passage out of committee with a vote of 57-1 after extensive oversight efforts by Members and staff over recent months.

"It will help revitalize the defense industrial base," Rogers concluded. "It will build the ready, capable, and lethal fighting force we need... And it will provide historic improvements in quality of life for our servicemembers."

He urged consideration of amendments that advance national security interests while addressing servicemembers' needs before thanking attendees once more.

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