Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

Today U.S. Representatives Don Beyer, Suhas Subramanyam, James Walkinshaw, Bobby Scott, Jennifer McClellan, and Eugene Vindman, Members of Congress representing Virginia, issued the following statement on Section 373 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2026, which addresses “Manned Rotary Wing Aircraft Safety” in the wake of the January 29, 2025 mid-air collision at Ronald Reagan National Airport that took 67 lives:

“We share serious concerns raised by the Families of Flight 5342 and the National Transportation Safety Board about Section 373 of the National Defense Authorization Act related to safety in the airspace around National Airport following the tragic collision in January. We are deeply disappointed that this provision, which only applies to training flights, creates a waiver process to allow training flights in the region that further congest the airspace, an issue that contributed to January’s deadly crash.

“This provision falls short of NTSB’s preliminary safety recommendations and omits changes that are essential to improve visibility, safety, and communications between military and civilian aircraft in D.C. airspace. Further action is needed to prevent a repetition of the mistakes that led to this incident, and we will continue working with all possible speed on legislative solutions with our colleagues and transportation officials to get this right before any waivers are issued, and to ensure air safety in the region.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)

Today, Representatives Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Sarah Elfreth (MD-03) announced legislation they co-led, the AI Training for National Security Act, has been included in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (FY26 NDAA).

The AI Training for National Security Act requires the Department of Defense (DoD) to include information on the unique cybersecurity challenges created by artificial intelligence in its annual cybersecurity training for servicemembers and civilian employees.

“Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the national security threat landscape,” said Larsen, who previously served on the Armed Services Committee for 22 years. “This legislation ensures that DoD meets this moment and prepares our armed forces for today’s challenges and opportunities.”

“The rapid development of AI threatens to outpace our ability to counter cyber threats to our nation’s security,” said Rep. Elfreth. “Our national security leaders – many of whom fight these global threats from CYBERCOMM headquarters at Fort Meade here in Maryland – must maintain the education and expertise to utilize rapidly developing technologies. I’m grateful to work with Representative Larsen to develop an AI strategy for our servicemembers.”

The House of Representatives will vote on the FY26 NDAA later today.

The full text of the AI Training for National Security Act is available HERE.

Larsen Champions AI Education for Servicemembers

The AI Training for National Security Act builds on Larsen’s work to develop an AI education strategy for servicemembers.

In 2024, three provisions from Larsen’s Next Generation Military Education Act were included in the FY25 NDAA and became law. These provisions require:
– The DoD’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer to provide an online AI education course;
– All military branches to participate in “Digital On-Demand,” the DoD’s initiative to accelerate AI knowledge; and
– The DoD to add an AI risks and threats section to its annual mandatory cybersecurity training.
The AI Training for National Security Act is the final remaining provision from the Next Generation Military Education Act that has yet to become law.

In 2019, Larsen successfully included a provision in the FY20 National Defense Authorization Act that required DoD to develop an AI education strategy. Larsen’s provision also required the underlying curriculum to include ethical issues, bias, and potential strengths and weaknesses of AI.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)

Larsen Releases Statement on Defense Policy Bill Vote

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Dina Titus (1st District of Nevada)

Congresswoman Dina Titus today supported the final 2026 National Defense Authorization Act following bipartisan, bicameral discussions that resulted in this compromise text.

“While the 2026 NDAA does not include everything I have supported, it does contain provisions of my RESTRAIN Act to block President Trump from reigniting an international arms race with his plans to resume nuclear testing, which would damage our environment and put Nevadans at risk for toxic radiation,” Congresswoman Titus said. “Trump’s plans would also give Russia and China an excuse to resume testing and ramp up their nuclear arsenals, weakening our nuclear deterrence and security.”

Congresswoman Titus also noted that the NDAA rebukes Trump by supporting European allies and strengthening US security initiatives in Europe and elsewhere: authorizing $400 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative; providing funding for the Baltic Security Initiative and Taiwan Security Initiative; instituting caps on the removal of troops from the U.S. European Command; and restricting the administration’s ability to recognize Russian sovereignty over internationally recognized Ukrainian territory.

“This sends a message that we will stand by our allies, not abandon them,”
the Congresswoman continued. “I am disappointed, however, that the NDAA does not provide adequate support for our diplomatic professionals who are ensuring peace through diplomacy.”

In addition, the bill makes important upgrades to troops’ well-being by including $1.5 billion for barracks, dormitories, and child development centers; authorizing a 3.8% pay raise for all military personnel; and expanding access to food on military installations for service members and their families. Moreover, most of the anti-LGBTQ provisions inserted by the Republican-controlled House were removed. “All of our soldiers should be treated equally,” the Congresswoman said.

Rep. Titus introduced several amendments to the bill that would prohibit the VA from requiring evidence of a certain dose of radiation to determine if a veteran is considered radiation-exposed for the purposes of “presumptive benefits,” authorize the Department of State to submit an Unfunded Priorities List to Congress as the DOD does, direct the Secretary of State to establish a Red Team Capability at the State Department to inform the Department’s crisis response and contingency planning, extend the waiver renewal period for the arms embargo on the Republic of Cyprus from one year to five years, and require certification that any arms sales to the Republic of Turkey will adversely impact Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge. Unfortunately, these were not included in the compromise bill.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1)

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) today voted for the final compromise version of the $900 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that includes six of his amendments and various other requests for Hawai‘i and the broader Indo-Pacific, including $1 billion for military construction projects in Hawai‘i.

The annual measure, setting priorities, policy and funding for the Department of Defense (DOD) and other national security activities and programs for the year, also includes Case-requested provisions to increase funding and staffing for the United States Coast Guard and expand Coast Guard operations in the Indo-Pacific.

NDAA. The final version of the NDAA authorizes $900 billion to invest in our service members, their equipment and related infrastructure. The annual authorization is considered must-pass legislation, with Congress enacting one every year since fiscal 1962. It is separate from the regular annual appropriations bills that Congressman Case helps draft as a member of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee; these bills actually direct funding using the NDAA as an authorizing framework.  

“Our National Defense Authorization Act is a critical annual measure that not only authorizes our defense spending for the year, supplementing my Appropriations Committee’s parallel funding responsibilities, but also establishes defense policies, including organization and administration of the Defense Department,” said Case, who serves on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, responsible for funding all defense and intelligence community programs, and previously served on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs.  

“While the NDAA also addresses military readiness, the measure also supports several quality-of-life provisions that are critical to service members and their families,” said Case.

The bill includes language encouraging the Army to fully develop and communicate its plans for the leased lands at Pōhakuloa Training Area to all stakeholders. It encourages the Army to continue working with the State of Hawai‘i and Congress to ensure any appropriate legislative authority aligns with the value of land in Hawai‘i and meets the training needs of all the services. 

Given the positive economic impact from military construction in Hawai‘i, Case highlighted various military construction projects he supported that were included in the final version of the NDAA, including: 

·        $142 million to commence a multi-year project to build a water treatment plant at Red Hill that would allow the drinking water shaft to be reopened and help remove any residual contaminants from the ground surrounding Red Hill. Case has worked both through the authorization and appropriations bills to advance this critical project. 

·        $493 million of additional funding to continue construction a new drydock at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility. This is a multi-billion dollar project requiring sustained funding over several years and is the largest current military construction project in the DOD today.

·        $66 million for airfield improvements at the Pacific Missile Range Facility. 

·        $147 million for Military Housing Privatization Initiative projects (460 units) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. 

·        $37 million for Water Reclamation Facility Compliance Upgrades at Marine Corp Base Hawai‘i. 

·        $49 million to replace the main gate at Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i.  

·        $83 million for DDG-1000 Ship Support Infrastructure Upgrades at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. 

·        $15 million to modernize the electrical distribution system at Marine Corp Base Hawai‘i.  

The bill includes several provisions Case proposed as amendments during the House’s consideration of the bill, including:  

·        Directing the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations and Environment and United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) to assess the critical civilian and military infrastructure investments needed in Hawai‘i for any potential conflict. 

·        Directing the Army to conduct a study and send Congress a report on options for expanding a reserve contracted wartime sealift capacity in the Indo-Pacific region. Hawai‘i is the home to the Army’s 8th Theater Support Command that is responsible for leading logistics and sustainment operations across the vast Indo-Pacific region, including ocean going transport. 

·        Directing the Government Accountability Office to examine how to improve the military’s foreign exchange programs, which are a key soft-power tool that strengthen the ties between America and other countries throughout the globe.

·        Directing USINDOPACOM to assess how to strengthen community relationships between the U.S. Armed Forces and Freely Associated States (FAS) citizens from the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia impacted by military installations and operating locations in the FAS. 

·        Preventing the Navy for from taking any action to disestablish the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Pacific located at Pearl Harbor, which had been proposed by the Trump administration. The provision would also require the Secretary to provide a briefing to Congress on: (1) the status of the decision of the Secretary with respect to the disestablishment of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Pacific; and (2) the strategic rationale, cost and benefits of such disestablishment. 

·        Directing the Navy, in coordination with USINDOPACOM, to assess the capacity of each U.S. public and private shipyard, and each foreign shipyard of an allied or partner country, to support battle damage repair in the event of an armed conflict in the Indo-Pacific. 

The bill further includes several provisions advocated for and supported by Case to continue the military’s investment in Hawai‘i and the Indo-Pacific, including:  

·        Prohibiting the DOD from carrying out a hiring freeze or reduction in force of certain public shipyard workers. 

·        Requiring the Secretary of the Navy to induct a class of not fewer than 100 apprentices at each of the Navy’s shipyards, including Pearl Harbor. 

·        Directing the military to provide a report to Congress assessing the feasibility of, and funding necessary to accelerate the development and deployment of the major elements and programs comprising the next-generation air and missile defense architecture, to include Hawai‘i.

·        Directing the military to brief Congress on the use and future potential of the Defense Access Roads Program in the Indo-Pacific region. Hawai‘i has previously used funding for this program to help improve Hawai‘i Route 200 on the Big Island. 

·        Providing $50 million for the purpose of aiding local educational agencies with military dependent students through the Impact Aid Program, and $20 million for local educational agencies eligible to receive payment for children with severe disabilities. The Impact Aid Program provides crucial federal funding to the Hawai‘i Department of Education by compensating for lost local property tax revenue due to the presence of U.S. military bases.  

·        Reaffirming support for the Pacific Deterrence initiative as a mechanism to strengthen U.S. posture in the Indo-Pacific reassure allies and partners and build readiness and operational capability in the region. 

·        Proving $1 billion for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative designed to enhance Taiwan’s defense capabilities and resilience. 

·        Providing $1.4 billion for Pacific Deterrence Initiative related construction, including another $364 million for USINDOPACOM’s Military Construction Pilot Program to support minor construction projects across the Indo-Pacific. 

·        Directing the Air Force to submit a report to Congress on the potential value of ultra-short takeoff and landing aircraft in the Indo-Pacific. The report will assess potential missions, users and non-military uses, such as humanitarian relief and wildfire suppression. 

·        Requiring the Air Force to incorporate depot-level maintenance in at least one multinational exercise conducted in the Indo-Pacific. 

·        Requiring the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with USINDOPACOM, to conduct a comprehensive joint mobilization and sustainment readiness study to assess the capability of the U.S. military to respond to a high-intensity conflict in the Indo-Pacific. 

·        Directing the military, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Transportation, to assess the feasibility and advisability of the United States removing oil from three World War II-era sunken Japanese oil tankers located in the waters near the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau. 

·        Directing the executive branch to provide certain telehealth benefits and mail order pharmacy benefits to veterans in the FAS. 

·        Expanding eligibility for intergovernmental support agreements to include the State of Yap of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau. 

·        Requiring the military, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to establish and maintain a security cooperation initiative to strengthen cooperation among the defense industrial bases of the United States and allied and partner countries in the Indo-Pacific region.  

·        Requiring the Secretary of Defense to implement a strategy to strengthen multilateral deterrence against regional aggression in the Indo-Pacific by expanding multilateral coordination with United States allies and partners in the region.  

·        Authorizing the military to provide a living quarter allowance for DOD civilian employees with “permanent duty station” in Guam. 

The FY 2026 NDAA also makes the most substantive reforms to the defense acquisition process and system in decades. It seeks to reduce the complexity, cost and risk of doing business with U.S. military by establishing a new acquisition architecture based on five key pillars of reform:  

·        Aligning acquisition to service members’ priorities and operational outcomes,

·        Accelerating the requirements process,  

·        Finding a balance between the need for regulation and efficiency  

·        Strengthening the American industrial base and leveraging commercial innovation, and

·        Developing a mission-oriented acquisition workforce. 

The reforms arise in part from the work of the bipartisan House Defense Modernization Caucus, of which Case is a member.

Finally, the bill includes a 3.8% pay raise for members of the armed forces. It also includes the following provisions to help our nation’s service members: 

·        Increased oversight of food programs across the services and of the Basic Allowance for Subsistence to ensure funds are used to provide food for service members,

·        Requiring a pay and benefits education campaign for service members and their families,   

·        Expanding access to food on military installations by granting the Services authorities to conduct pilot programs to reform their food programs, and 

·        Requiring an analysis of alternative methods for calculating the Basic Allowance for Housing to better reflect market trends.  

USCG Authorization. Congress included USCG Authorization as a separate section of the NDAA. It authorizes $35 billion in appropriations for USCG for FY 2026 and 2027, an overall 25 percent increase from previous authorization levels. It also increases the number of authorized active-duty personnel by 18 percent.  

Also included was a provision from Case’s Pacific Ready Coast Guard Act that requires an annual plan and budget display for Coast Guard operations in the Pacific. (More information about this provision is available at https://tinyurl.com/CASEUSCG.) 

Other provisions relevant to Hawai‘i and the Indo-Pacific include: 

·        Creating a Special Advisor to the Commandant for Tribal and Native Hawaiian Affairs, along with an annual briefing to Congress on their activities.  

·        Allowing the USCG Commandant to provide federal financial assistance to Native Hawaiian organizations if certain natural or cultural resources are damaged by certain Coast Guard actions.  

·        Requiring a feasibility study on supporting additional USCG port visits and deployments in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands. 

·        Requiring the Coast Guard to develop a plan to increase joint and integrated training opportunities for USCG and the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration.  

  ATTACHMENTS:  

·        A summary of the FY 2025 NDAA is available here. 

·        The text of the bill is available here.  

·        The explanatory committee report is available here.  

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mark Takano (D-Calif)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark Pocan (2nd District of Wisconsin)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02), co-chair and co-founder of the Defense Spending Reduction Caucus, released the following statement after voting against final passage of the $890.6 billion FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bill’s topline does not reflect the additional $150 billion added to the Pentagon’s budget through the Big Ugly Law this past July, pushing total military spending over $1 trillion for the first time. Rep. Pocan continues his streak of never having voted in favor of an NDAA since being elected to Congress in 2012.

“Once again, Congress is choosing to funnel exorbitant sums into a bloated defense department instead of investing in the everyday needs of working families, like housing, healthcare, and rising costs at the grocery store. The Pentagon remains the only major agency that continues to fail an audit year after year. Yet we keep writing essentially blank checks to defense contractors with little accountability and few results to show for it, while ignoring the needs of our troops who bravely serve our nation. Until lawmakers prioritize people over the Pentagon and demand real oversight, I will continue opposing these reckless, out-of-control defense bills.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Baird (R-IN-04)

Congressman Baird Statement on Passage of FY26 NDAA

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03), Congressman Brett Guthrie (R-KY-02), and Congressman Bob Onder (R-MO-03) introduced the bipartisan Student Financial Clarity Act to increase price transparency for American students as they navigate higher education opportunities. This legislation would create a Universal Net Price Calculator and bolster the College Scorecard to provide additional information about specific programs of study.

“Families deserve clear, accessible information when making one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “The Student Financial Clarity Act builds on years of work to strengthen Net Price Calculators and expands those reforms through a modernized College Scorecard with transparency on costs, aid, and student outcomes broken down by institution and program. This bill delivers on the simple idea that every student should know what they are paying for and what they can expect in return. I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to help students and parents navigate the path to higher education with confidence.” “Today, America’s young people face the daunting task of navigating an increasingly complex higher education landscape. As a result of the skyrocketing cost of education, Americans now owe nearly $1.8 trillion in student loans,” said Congressman Guthrie. “My Student Financial Clarity Act would allow students to easily access information about the costs and outcomes at institutions and individual programs so they can evaluate the program that is best suited for their academic interests and financial means. This bill will bring much-needed clarity for the American student.”
“I am proud to join Congressman Guthrie in leading the Student Financial Clarity Act. With the cost of higher education continuing to rise, it is crucial that we help students thrive by creating transparency around institutions, programs, and costs. This is exactly what the Student Financial Clarity Act will accomplish. By creating an accurate Universal Net Price Calculator, this bill will empower students to compare universities and programs to help identify the best option not only for their educational future but also for their financial future,” said Congressman Bob Onder.
Since 2008, Congress has required institutions of higher education to provide Net Price Calculator tools on their websites as a part of the Higher Education Opportunity Act. However, this tool has been implemented inconsistently, resulting in students experiencing difficulty in accessing important information when making the most crucial decisions of their academic careers. If enacted, the Student Financial Clarity Act would:

Create a Universal Net Price Calculator, which would allow students to answer a set of financial and academic questions to receive personalized cost estimates for institutions and programs of study.

Provide a central location for students to compare costs at one or more schools and programs of study, specific to their financial situation.

Expand the College Scorecard to require additional information on program-level statistics, allowing students to compare student costs, outcomes, and financial aid at institutions and specific programs of study.

This legislation is expected to be marked up by the House Committee on Education and Workforce on December 11, 2025.
Trahan has consistently worked to increase transparency for students and families considering higher education dating back to her time as a member of the House Committee on Education and Labor during her first term. Last Congress, she reintroduced her Net Price Calculator Improvement Act, which would ensure that prospective students have the full picture of what it will cost to attend a higher education institution.
A copy of the legislation introduced yesterday can be accessed HERE.

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