Palm Coast Times

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz (FL-6), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, issued a statement in support of the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act. The bill includes several national security priorities such as investments in U.S.-flag shipping, shipbuilding, and the maritime workforce aimed at countering Chinese influence. It also seeks to support Gold Star families, enhance military assets in space, and improve service members' quality of life.

“I’m proud to join to support this defense bill that will ensure the U.S. military remains the strongest fighting force in the world and modernize our armed forces to compete with current and emerging threats,” said Rep. Waltz. “It’s critical we continue to support our service members, and their families, who have answered the call of duty and provide our warfighters with training, equipment, and support they need to protect our great nation.”

“Military readiness is the foundation of our national defense,” said Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL). “As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Readiness, Rep. Waltz has continued to be a strong advocate for ensuring our military remains ready and capable. Thanks to Rep. Waltz’s leadership, the FY25 NDAA strengthens our military and invests in vital naval capabilities.”

The Committee included language proposed by Rep. Waltz that encompasses several key areas:

- Prohibiting retirement accounts of service members from being invested in Chinese military companies.

- Establishing a grant program between American universities and non-profit institutions working with Israeli schools on PTSD research.

- Reforming the Board of Visitors for Service Academies for greater accountability.

- Allowing children of fallen soldiers continued commissary access beyond age 21.

- Calling for 4,000 JROTC programs by 2031.

- Honoring pension commitments to older specialized recruits.

- Assessing Joint Multi-Domain Electronic Warfare Platforms.

- Expanding resiliency planning for Coast Guard stations.

- Integrating additive nanotechnology into battery-electric ground vehicle systems.

- Mitigating reliance on Chinese shipbuilding through a "de-risking" strategy.

- Updating Strategic Sealift readiness policies from National Security Directive 28 (1989).

- Launching a national recruiting campaign via the Maritime Administration for maritime workforce initiatives.

- Conducting a market survey on domestic suppliers for marine concrete materials.

- Briefing on Air Force's development efforts for future combat simulators.

- Ensuring funding increases enhance facilities sustainment quality-of-life initiatives.

- Developing rapid delivery space assets for battle zones.

Additionally included are directives requiring:

$28.45 million in MILCON:

- $11.4 million for wastewater main installation at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

- $6.87 million for designing a Child Development center at Naval Air Station JAX

- $10.18 million for communications center design and infrastructure upgrades at Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island Command

$390 million in funding priorities:

- $25 million over PB for additional Sonobuoys

- $335.5 million for Armed Overwatch

- $30 million for Tactically Responsible Space

Other notable provisions include strategies for Navy re-armament at sea capabilities, implementing FAA-certified commercial dual-use aviation products within DoD processes, covering costs upfront instead of reimbursing families transporting fallen servicemembers' remains to national cemeteries, restocking national defense stockpile materials from domestic sources during sustained emergencies, demolition strategies for unutilized military infrastructure reducing utility costs, among others.

Report language addresses various contracting processes related to AUKUS Pillar II Innovations; global household goods contract services; finding foreign control within Defense Industrial Base using commercial off-the-shelf solutions; airborne augmented reality pilot training; commercial satellite support; NATO-compliant UAS interoperability; additive manufacturing applications in naval operations; USAF pilot shortage mitigation measures.