WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) announced that several of his key initiatives were included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed the U.S. House of Representatives. Rep. Pfluger released a statement following the passage of the annual defense bill:
Rep. August Pfluger (TX-11): "I am proud to deliver a strong national defense bill that refocuses our military on lethality, improves the quality of life for our service members and their families, and makes critical investments to support our heroes at Fort Cavazos and Goodfellow Air Force Base. This strong package also fully funds the deployment of the National Guard to the southwest border, cuts inefficient programs to save taxpayer dollars, and abolishes DEI in our military."
The FY25 NDAA will:
- Refocus the military and senior leaders on warfighting, lethality, and the profession of arms.
- Provide junior enlisted servicemembers with a 19.5% pay raise.
- Authorize 15 military construction projects in Texas, including $147 million in investments for Motor Pool #70 and #71 at Fort Cavazos.
- Improve servicemember quality of life by improving housing, access to medical care, and childcare to address military recruitment, retention, and readiness.
- Fully fund the deployment of the National Guard at the southwest border to intercept illegal aliens and drugs.
- Prevent Chinese espionage in our military, supply chains, and research institutions.
- Expand U.S.-Israel military exercises and fully fund cooperative missile defense programs.
- Increase funding for U.S. defense initiatives in the Indo-Pacific to bolster Taiwan’s defense and support Indo-Pacific allies.
- Save $30 billion by cutting inefficient programs, obsolete weapons, and bloated Pentagon bureaucracy.
- Cut $4.3 billion in programs that do not meet requirements.
- Require promotions to be based on merit.
- End affirmative action at service academies; abolish DEI bureaucracy.
Pfluger Priorities Included:
- Revoke security clearances for retired or separated civilian/military Department of Defense personnel who engage in lobbying for certain Chinese companies.
- Require administration information on how proceeds from illicit Iranian oil exports are funding IRGC and Iranian-backed terrorist proxies.
- Require Secretary of Defense briefings on potential Russian-Chinese coordinated or combined military aggression.
- Require DOD reports on left-of-launch capabilities/strategies in CENTCOM operations area.
- Establish recruiting/retaining system for airplane flight instructor pilots within DOD.
- Develop integrated space/satellite security strategy with Middle East allies/partners as required by Secretary of Defense.
- Implement Psychological Performance Training for US servicemembers to improve psychological health/life quality as required by Secretary of Defense
- Restore B52 bombers' nuclear capacities per plan developed by Secretary of Air Force/STRATCOM Commander coordination
- Submit report on augmented/virtual/extended reality training integration across Navy as required by Secretary of Navy
- Allow service academy graduates professional sports play while fulfilling reserve duty service obligations.
Read more about FY25 NDAA here