Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is hailing final House passage of the 2026 pay raise for the military, part of the yearly major Defense bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
The bill, which passed Wednesday by a vote of 312-112, raises pay for U.S. Service Members by 3.8 percent next year, building on the prior year’s historic pay raise of over 14.5 percent for junior enlisted ranks (E-1 through E-4) with a 4.5 percent raise for all other military in the previous NDAA for fiscal year 2025, and the year before that a 5.2 percent increase – at the time, the highest boost in decades.
“Our dedicated military Service Members have earned every dollar of this increase and more,” said Congresswoman Aumua Amata. “Thank you to our Toa o Samoa for your service. The well-being of our Service Members and their families must always be a top priority, along with ensuring national readiness and defense systems. Over the last several years of the NDAA, we’ve built a growing focus on the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific region.”
The House previously passed an NDAA in July, and after the Senate passed their version, leaders met in conference negotiating on the two bills for this final version, S. 1071.
Congresswoman Amata welcomes the inclusion of several of her priorities.
Amata’s bill, the South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act, which had already passed the House in May, was included as a section of this final NDAA. (See Congresswoman Amata’s separate release detailing this legislative success.) Her legislation provides statutory authority for previous diplomacy stabilizing tuna agreements among the U.S. and 16 South Pacific nations, allowing the U.S. fleet to plan and depend on these policies. “It’s wonderful to complete this lengthy effort,” said Aumua Amata. “Implementing this treaty ensures available days and access for our fleet, and better secures U.S. tuna for our national food supply.”
In another legislative success, a version of her House effort to provide VA healthcare benefits to Veterans from the Freely Associated States (FAS) is included. Congresswoman Amata, along with Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific Chairwoman Young Kim, Congressman Ed Case of Hawaii, and Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds of CNMI, had proffered a bipartisan amendment to keep the nation’s commitment to U.S. veterans from the islands.
“It’s important to honor our support for our island veterans, which were negotiated as part of the recent discussion for the renewed Compacts of Free Association. I worked on that legislation in the previous Congress. These FAS veterans served in the U.S. Armed Forces, and absolutely deserve these benefits, and I appreciate the Senate and House leaders accepting our bipartisan efforts into the final bill,” said Congresswoman Amata, who serves as Vice Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HVAC).
In a third key priority, the NDAA includes the five-year authorization of the United States Coast Guard, complete with congressional direction to conduct a homeport analysis, and continue to enhance the cutter fleet.
“I have long favored a more permanent Coast Guard presence operating consistently out of Pago Pago Harbor, strengthening efforts against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (I.U.U.) fishing, and sending an important signal of commitment to the South Pacific,” continued Congresswoman Amata.
Each year the NDAA focus is refined for current and upcoming needs. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 bill included major new support for housing and quality of life improvements, while the FY 2025 bill emphasized improved acquisition.
This year, the $900 billion NDAA for FY 2026 is aimed at peace through strength including speeding up defense procurements, such as development of the next generation of air dominance fighters, naval vessels, along with strengthening Pacific security, especially strongly bolstered support for U.S. economic and technology interests in Taiwan.
Each year the NDAA is the largest Defense authorization bill, comprising all aspects of the Pentagon’s operations, including training, equipment, and current and future weapons system. Due to its importance, Congress has never failed to pass the yearly NDAA, with the first one passing in 1961 for fiscal year 1962.
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