Omaha City Wire

Washington—Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee’s (HASC) Cyber, Information Technology, and Innovation Subcommittee, voted late Wednesday evening in favor of advancing H.R. 8070, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. The bill was reported out of committee by a vote of 57–1. This annual legislation, which contains multiple amendments and provisions authored by Bacon, authorizes defense spending and sets the policy and priorities for the military. Overall, the bill authorizes a total of $884 billion for national defense consistent with the terms of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.

“The first and most critical job of Congress is to provide for the common defense,” said Bacon. “In advancing this legislation to protect our national security and improve the quality of life for our servicemembers and military families, once again the House Armed Services Committee has proved that it remains one of the last true bastions of bipartisan policymaking in the United States government.”

The title and base text of this year’s House NDAA is based on legislative recommendations from the HASC Military Quality of Life Panel chaired by Rep. Bacon over the past year.

“Rep. Bacon has fought tirelessly to improve the quality of life for our service members and their families,” Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) said. “Thanks to Rep. Bacon’s leadership as Chairman of the Quality of Life Panel, the FY25 NDAA will boost servicemember compensation, improve housing, expand access to medical care, increase access to childcare, and provide support for military spouses.”

Highlights from the committee’s FY 2025 bill include:

- Over 30 recommendations totaling more than $4 billion to improve military quality of life championed by Rep. Bacon who chaired a year-long effort to understand challenges faced by military servicemembers and families

- A targeted 15 percent pay increase for junior enlisted personnel and other pay and benefit improvements

- Various authorizations to fully fund modernization efforts for America’s aging nuclear deterrent forces

- Language directing the Secretary of Defense to establish a subordinate unified command under U.S. Cyber Command to conduct defensive cyber operations

In addition, numerous legislative proposals sponsored by Rep. Bacon are included in this bill:

- Additional funding for USSTRATCOM’s Nuclear Command, Control and Communications (NC3) Rapid Engineering Architecture Collaboration Hub (REACH) initiative

- Additional funding for USSTRATCOM’s affiliated research center at the University of Nebraska

- A requirement for an assessment from Secretary of Defense on force posture concerning U.S Army and Air Force units in Europe

- An assessment from Secretary on space and satellite security concerns for allies in Middle East including Israel

- Information on supplemental health insurance requirements provided by Secretary

- Maintenance directives on current contact information regarding next kin fallen service members

- Establishment directives regarding Department Hackathon Program

- Authorization language designating former Airmen supporting space mission as Legacy Guardians

“With Memorial Day coming up this weekend," added Bacon "I can’t think better way honor those gave lives country ensure we improve quality life currently serving." H.R..8070 Servicemember Quality Improvement FY25 NDAA does much more pleased join Chairman urge all Members support when comes House floor next month."

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