Omaha City Wire

Today, Representatives Don Bacon and Chrissy Houlahan, leading the House Armed Services Committee's bipartisan Military Quality of Life Panel, urged Senators Jack Reed and Roger Wicker to incorporate their panel's recommendations into the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The recommendations are part of Title XVIII of H.R. 8070, which focuses on improving servicemembers' quality of life.

The panel has identified significant issues affecting military personnel, including compensation that hasn't kept pace with living costs, poor housing conditions reported by the Government Accountability Office, long healthcare wait times causing job dissatisfaction, limited childcare access impacting readiness and retention, and high unemployment rates among military spouses.

Rep. Bacon emphasized the urgency of addressing these issues: "Too many of our servicemembers and military families are struggling and it’s not right." He called for Senate cooperation to include these solutions in the NDAA.

Rep. Houlahan highlighted the importance of supporting military families: "Our national security is at its strongest when our brave men and women in uniform are cared for." She stressed that addressing these challenges is crucial for maintaining a strong defense force.

The panel includes several other House members committed to enhancing military quality of life through legislative action.