Wildlife Innovation and Longevity Driver Reauthorization Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act.

The 2025 NDAA prioritizes the servicemembers and military families who protect and defend the United States by making their quality of life the cornerstone of this legislation.

I had the honor of serving as the chairman of the committee's bipartisan military Quality of Life Panel side by side with my friend, Ranking Member Houlahan, and other distinguished members of this committee.

I thank Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith for their support of our efforts and for their deep commitment to improving the quality of life for the men, women, and families who serve.

As a result of the tireless efforts of our members, the professional staff, and the personal staff, the legislation before us delivers the most comprehensive military quality of life reforms in the history of this country. It includes a 14.5 percent pay raise for our junior enlisted members, a 4.5 percent pay raise for the rest of the force, improvements for the Basic Needs Allowance and cost of living allowances, improvements to unaccompanied and military family housing, and far-reaching reforms to expand access to medical care and childcare and to improve support to military spouses.

In addition, this year, I was able to serve as the chairman of the Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation Subcommittee. The 2025 NDAA advances the DOD's offensive and defensive posture in cyberspace and ensures our warfighters are equipped with the most modern and lethal technologies in the world.

I am grateful that several of my provisions were included in the final legislation, including the elevation of the Joint Force Headquarters-Department of Defense Information Networks to a sub- unified command within the U.S. Cyber Command and the establishment of the Department of Defense Hackathon program.

In addition, this bill includes needed hiring authorities for DOD's innovation enterprise, including DARPA, DIU, SCO, and SDA, which will ensure that the Department of Defense has access to the best and brightest technical talent.

Mr. Speaker, the 2025 NDAA is a strong defense bill that prioritizes our national security, all of those men and women who serve, and their families, and I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

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