Dayton Reporter

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, issued a statement after voting to pass the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) out of the House of Representatives.

“This year’s NDAA authorizes more than $50 million for projects at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and delivers a much-needed pay increase with significant quality of life improvements to support Ohio’s dedicated servicemembers,” said Congressman Turner. “The work done at Wright-Patterson is critical to safeguarding our national interests and assisting in the security of our allies. As our adversaries continue to expand their capabilities, the United States must make certain that our Armed Forces and defense industrial base are properly equipped to address increasing threats.”

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers expressed his gratitude for Turner's efforts: “I thank Congressman Mike Turner for his continued advocacy to bolster our national security. I also want to recognize his hard work on behalf of the men and women who serve at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Thanks to Congressman Turner’s leadership, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 will improve the quality of life for servicemembers across Ohio and will continue efforts to strengthen our military and deter our adversaries.”

The FY 2025 NDAA includes several key provisions:

For Wright-Patterson Air Force Base:

- Authorizes $45 million for construction of the Human Performance Wing Laboratory.

- Authorizes $9 million in planning and design funding for the Advanced Research Laboratory.

- Increases Air Force Base Support to modernize installation law enforcement operations and physical security protection services.

For Military Service Members and Families:

- Increases basic pay for junior enlisted servicemembers by 15 percent.

- Ensures Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) covers 100 percent of calculated rates.

- Reevaluates calculations for BAS to make it a realistic allowance.

- Makes Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) available to servicemembers with dependents below 200 percent federal poverty guidelines.

- Permanently authorizes Military Spouse Career Accelerator Pilot.

- Grants authority to ease transferring professional licenses between states for military spouses.

- Expands eligibility for DoD Child Development Programs.

- Authorizes a pilot program allowing TRICARE plan changes during pregnancy.

- Requires updates on Uniform Code of Military Justice regarding nonconsensual distribution of AI-manipulated images.

- Directs a report on procedures governing administrative separation due to sexual misconduct offenses.

- Supports habitability standards in military housing, including mold research requirements.

- Requires a strategy report on eliminating wait lists in child development centers.

- Creates a database tracking servicemember training accessible to states and employers.

For Healthcare:

- Requires DHA reports on access to care data at MTFs with inpatient capabilities.

- Directs DHA to establish care standards for urgent specialty behavioral healthcare referrals.

- Expands access to specialty providers and reevaluates hiring/retention authorities for civilian medical providers.

- Mandates a study on mental health care accessibility for active duty members.

For Technological Innovation and Industry:

- Fully funds modernization projects including nuclear triad updates, Columbia-class submarines, AI, quantum computing, autonomous systems deployment, new warfighting technologies integration, essential military construction projects, PIAs use enhancement, STEM education funding increase targeted at military students.

For Foreign Policy and National Security:

- Requests an assessment from NNSA on space nuclear detonation impacts.

- Prohibits strategic nuclear information sharing with Russia under New START Treaty provisions.

- Establishes coalition key within Baltic states for HIMARS ammunition sharing purposes

- Restricts Department of Defense funds from reaching Iran's government.

Preventing CCP Espionage:

- Protects U.S. military equipment testing labs from Chinese espionage,

- Enhances Army spy identification/arrest capabilities,

- Removes China from defense supply chain,

- Revokes security clearances lobbying Chinese companies post-retirement/separation from DoD personnel.

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