Shreveport Reporter

Speaker Johnson has issued a statement regarding H.R. 5009, known as the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025. The legislation is designed to equip U.S. military personnel with the necessary resources and support.

"This year's Annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) ensures our men and women in uniform have the resources and support they need to defend our great nation," Speaker Johnson stated. He emphasized that the NDAA focuses on core military missions, supporting law enforcement operations, deploying the National Guard to the southwest border, expediting innovation, reducing acquisition timelines for new weaponry, supporting allies, and strengthening nuclear posture and missile defense programs.

The legislation addresses threats from China, Russia, and Iran. "We remain determined to confront increasingly hostile threats from Communist China, Russia, and Iran," Johnson said. The bill aims to restore military lethality while banning transgender medical treatment for minors and countering antisemitism.

Johnson highlighted investments in servicemembers' quality of life: "This legislation also reinforces our commitment to America’s brave men and women in uniform, and their families." It includes pay raises for servicemembers, employment opportunities for military spouses, improved housing, and childcare access.

"The safety and security of the American people is top priority," Johnson noted. The bill proposes a 19.5% pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers, supports National Guard deployment at the southwest border, prevents Chinese espionage in military sectors, expands U.S.-Israel military exercises, increases Indo-Pacific defense funding including Taiwan's defense support, saves $31 billion by cutting inefficient programs and bureaucracy while abolishing DEI bureaucracy.

Other provisions include merit-based promotions prohibition on contracting with firms blacklisting conservative news sources permanent ban on transgender medical treatment for minors prohibition on selling goods from entities boycotting Israel at DOD commissaries exchanges.