Supporting Servicemembers At Home and Abroad

Floor Speech

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Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, today the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025.

I voted for the legislation, as this body upholds again the over 60- year bipartisan tradition, ensuring partisan politics does not put America's national security at risk.

As a senior Member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I greatly appreciate the bipartisan work of the defense authorizing committee. Their collaboration has resulted in a bill that supports our patriotic servicemembers at home and abroad, and the legislation meets that call through its 14.5 percent pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers and a 4.5 percent increase for all other members of our military.

Our State of Ohio is home to over 31,000 servicemembers including those on Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard duty. They have earned this much-needed increase in pay at a time when too many of our citizens are struggling to afford basic needs.

This legislation also authorizes $121 million for defense-related upgrades in Ohio to further strengthen avenues of collaboration between the Department of Defense and Ohio's installations.

Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and Kwanzaa to our dear servicemembers who are serving liberty at home and abroad.

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