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Additionally, this bill tackles waste by saving $30 billion by cutting inefficient programs and outdated weapons and cuts $4.3 billion in programs that aren’t meeting requirements.

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

Gov. Sarah Sanders on Friday (June 14) authorized a three percent adjustment for pay increases for state employees, effective June 23, 2024. In a letter to state workers, Sanders also outlined a one percent base salary merit raise for executive branch employees and a three percent base salary merit raise for state workers who have exceeded performance evaluations.

“Arkansas’ state government runs on you, our state employees. As my administration works to provide exceptional services to the people of Arkansas at a lower cost, we are relying on you to deliver. In the past 18 months, you have facilitated bold changes to state government, and I am incredibly appreciative of your work,” Gov. Sanders said. “As recognition for your accomplishments – and as an acknowledgment of our need to recruit and retain talented public servants – I worked with the legislature to make a one-time, 3% increase to all Arkansas executive branch state employee’s pay. I am authorizing that adjustment to go into effect on June 23.”

In noting the merit pay raises, Sanders said they would apply to state workers who have worked in the executive branch for at least a year, and who have worked at their current executive department since January 2, 2024.

Gov. Sanders authorizes three percent pay increases for state employees