Friends,
Earlier this week, the House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (NDAA) on a bipartisan vote of 312-112. I was pleased to join my colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee, and in the full House, to support this critical legislation to ensure our military remains the most lethal and effective. The bill now heads to the Senate for further consideration.
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The House-passed NDAA includes many provisions aimed at enhancing peace through strength, improving servicemembers’ quality of life, and revitalizing the defense industrial base. I was particularly pleased initiatives that I advocated for on behalf of our district were also included in bill. Earlier in the year, I introduced legislation to streamline the process for small businesses to become suppliers for the Pentagon. In my view, the effort to cut red tape is essential so small, innovative companies can help supply America’s defense need.
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The NDAA also included H.R. 6595, a bill Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and I led to improve veterans’ access to healthcare and protect against downsizing of Department of Defense medical facilities. This would include Irwin Army Community Hospital at Fort Riley. I also served as a co-lead on a bipartisan measure to improve retention of quality Army and Air Force National Guard officers by eliminating a penalty for breaks in service. During House Armed Services Committee consideration, I was also able to secure a directive that the National Simulation Center at Fort Leavenworth remain in operation.
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When I was elected to Congress, I sought a seat on the House Armed Services Committee to strengthen our ability to advocate for America’s military strength, the needs of our Kansas military communities, and the thousands of Kansans in our district who serve in the Armed Forces or support those who do. As I serve on this committee, I’m working toward those priorities and am encouraged by the progress thus far.
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Other provisions I supported in the NDAA include:
- Authorizing a 3.8% pay raise for military personnel;
- Authorizing more than $490 million to design and build new childcare centers;
- Improving assistance to service members and families receiving orders to relocate;
- Preventing cancellation of the Air Force’s E-7 Wedgetail aircraft acquisition, protecting Kansas jobs;
- Increasing the number of air refueling tankers over time to remain capable and ready;
- Limiting the Pentagon’s ability to further reduce U.S. force posture in Europe;
- Establishing more test corridors for hypersonic and long-range weapons; and
- Establishing an Advanced Nuclear Transition Working Group to coordinate the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies on military installations.
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