Womack Supports FY25 National Defense Authorization Act

Washington, D.C.—December 11, 2024…Today, Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) voted to pass H.R. 5009, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025. The annual legislation authorizes $895.2 billion for our national security, including resources to enhance military preparedness, improve quality of life for our troops and their families, deter foreign adversaries, and focus the Department of Defense on its core mission. Congressman Womack secured Arkansas’ Third District priorities within the legislation, including authorizing funding for construction of the Ebbing Air National Guard Base Academic Training Center.

President Trump NDAA Signing 2020-Flickr Image

Congressman Womack said, “Passing the NDAA is vital to the safety and security of our homeland and strength of America’s armed forces. This year’s legislation aims to deter adversarial threats abroad and bolster defense capabilities nationwide—including in Arkansas—while improving the quality of life for servicemembers and their families. Although I’m strongly opposed to the decision to circumvent state’s rights regarding the forced federalization of National Guard formations, opposing this legislation is not the right way to address the issue. We can’t deprive our military of the resources needed to protect our nation. Today is a step in the right direction. However, the mission is not complete until we put resources toward these priorities in full-year defense appropriations.”

Provisions in the bill Womack strongly supports:

• Encourages Department of Defense (DOD) to continue investing in expanding Iron Dome system production capacity in the United States, namely at the Camden, Arkansas facility.

• Authorizes funding for Ebbing Air National Guard Base Academic Training Center in support of the F-35 FMS mission.

• Authorizes a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers, along with a 4.5% pay increase for all other servicemembers.

• Expands access to childcare and employment opportunities for military families.

• Refocuses the DOD on military readiness instead of domestic social policy by gutting DEI programs and prohibiting CRT.

• Extends the Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI) and increases a funding authorization for new military technology to deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific region.

• Reaffirms U.S. support to Israel against Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah.

• Reaffirms U.S. support to the defense of Taiwan against CCP threats.

• Authorizes full funding for the deployment of National Guard troops at the southwest border and increases authorized funding by $20 million for DOD counternarcotics activities.

• Blocks the Biden Administration’s plan to reduce the number of U.S. Special Forces, warfighting aircraft, and defense missiles.

Additional Provisions Congressman Womack Helped Secure:

• Hot Springs, AR Army-Navy Hospital: Provides Arkansas three years to request permanent ownership of the former Army-Navy Hospital in Hot Springs, AR, and in the event of this request, would extinguish any reversionary interest in the property by the United States.

• National Digital Reserve Corps: Creates a National Digital Reserve Corps to help federal agencies address cyber-attacks and critical workforce gaps as needed.

• Expansion of National Guard State Partnership Program: Directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, to assess and report on the feasibility and benefits of expanding the National Guard State Partnership Program in the Pacific Islands.

• Assessment of U.S. Coast Guard Involvement in State Partnership Program: Directs the DOD to conduct a study on how to more actively consider and support the U.S. Coast Guard’s involvement in the State Partnership Program in the Pacific.

The FY25 NDAA will now advance to the Senate for consideration. 

Representative French Hill champions vital provisions for Nation's defenders

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. French Hill (AR-02) today released the following statement after the House passed the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes important provisions for military bases throughout Arkansas.

“My vote today underscores my steadfast dedication to the courageous men and women of our armed forces both at home in central Arkansas and abroad safeguarding our freedoms. Among the key provisions of this bill are substantial investments in Arkansas’s military infrastructure including funding for more training at Camp Robinson, increased production capacity in Camden for the Iron Dome system, and $73 million for an F-35 Academic Training Center at Ebbing Air National Guard Base - all of which mean creating and sustaining good paying jobs for the hardworking people of Arkansas.”

Further Background:

H.R. 8070 - 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): This bill includes a 4.5% pay increase for service members, counters our foreign adversaries, and supports our military and industrial base readiness.

For military spouses, this legislation makes it easier for them to transfer professional licenses across states and expands Department of Defense programs that provide employment support to spouses.

Additionally, this bill tackles waste by saving $30 billion by cutting inefficient programs and outdated weapons and cuts $4.3 billion in programs that aren’t meeting requirements. 

Westerman votes to bolster national defense

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024. Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) released the following statement:

“This year under Republican House leadership, Congress followed regular order on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to ensure all members, in both chambers, had the opportunity to participate in the crafting of the legislation and ensure the priorities of their districts and states were met. The NDAA exemplifies bicameral, bipartisan work and will bolster our national defense capabilities, increase our military readiness, and support our servicemen and women, all while remaining within the Fiscal Responsibility Act’s FY 24 defense discretionary spending level. Moreover, the legislation funnels key investments through defense programs in Southwest Arkansas, which is critical to ensure we remain a global defense leader and support Arkansans who work in the national defense industry.

“I advocated for, and am proud to see, provisions included in the NDAA that would give the Department of Defense (DoD) authority to grant funding to the Army-Navy Hospital in Hot Springs for on-site security and fire prevention services. This is the next step in a whole-of-government approach to properly secure the site and put it on a better path forward to a more beneficial use in the future.

"Through this process, House Republicans successfully fought to push back against the radical woke ideology in our military, which the Senate tried so hard to include. This NDAA bans the teaching, training, and promotion of critical race theory in the military, guts the pay of DEI bureaucrats at the Pentagon, and prohibits the display of any unapproved flags at military institutions - meaning the VA can no longer display pride flags at their facilities. While we fought hard to push back on the woke agenda and this NDAA came out with significant conservative priorities included, our country needs a Republican-controlled House, Senate, and White House to get our military back to where it needs to be to be a true global leader in defense and to fully rid the DoD from these woke ideologies.”

BACKGROUND:

The FY24 National Defense Authorization Act:

• Authorizes the DoD to provide grant funding to the state of Arkansas for increased on-site security and fire prevention services at the former Army-Navy Hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

• Authorizes the procurement for CH-53 and CH-47 helicopters whose parts are manufactured in Magnolia and Hot Springs, AR, bolsters the modernization of our Nuclear Triad, adds additional F-35s, and facilitates manufacturing of guided multiple launch rocket systems (GMLRS), which all have a production footprint in Camden, AR.

• Funnels critical investments to the Fourth District and supports hundreds of jobs through investments in missile systems, aircraft, and explosive ordinances that proudly have manufacturing or assembly done in Arkansas’ Fourth District.

• Enhances U.S. military readiness and builds and maintains the overmatch needed to counter the aggression of foreign adversaries.

• Boosts servicemember pay and benefits and improves the quality of life for military families by supporting the largest pay raise in over 20 years.

• Prohibits the display of any unapproved flags, including the LGBTQ pride flag, at military institutions.

• Authorizes DoD to reduce out-of-pocket childcare expenses for military families.

• Improves military recruitment by increasing the number of JROTC programs, requires schools to allow military recruiters to participate in career fairs, and extends military recruitment bonuses.

The Former Army-Navy Hospital:

• The site of the former Army-Navy Hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas, which sits atop the city’s downtown on National Park Service land, is rapidly falling into disrepair. The current major buildings, built by the U.S. Government in the early 1930s, once served as the first general hospital in the country to serve Army and Navy patients. The site was deeded by the Army to the State of Arkansas and became a state-run rehabilitation center in 1960; later being converted into the Arkansas Career Training Institute. In 2019, the State ceased all operations at the site, and since then, the site has been vacant. As many Hot Springs residents know, the buildings and surrounding grounds have been targets of vandalism and unauthorized access in recent years, leading to serious safety and fire concerns.

• Congressman Bruce Westerman worked closely with Senator John Boozman (R-AR), Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), and Congressman Steve Womack (AR-03) to ensure language (Section 2852) was included in the FY24 NDAA to give the DoD authority to provide grant funding to the state of Arkansas for increased security and fire prevention services at the site of the former Army-Navy Hospital.

Click here for a summary of the FY24 NDAA.

Click here for the full text of the FY24 NDAA.

Issues:Security