WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (AL-03) Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, today announced the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a bill that authorizes the budget and expenditures for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) for Fiscal Year 2024. The bill now awaits the President’s signature to become law.

The final version of the NDAA includes measures to refocus the military on lethality. Measures to ban Critical Race Theory, gut the Pentagon’s DEI bureaucracy, stop unlawful censuring of Conservative voices, build the border wall, and increase the pay of our servicemembers were all included in the final bill. Furthermore, the legislation continues robust funding of Israel’s defense and enhances US military readiness in the face of increasing Chinese aggression.

“I am proud to announce the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2024,” said Rep. Rogers. “Our country faces more national security threats than ever, and it has never been more important to fund our defense. Yet, the Biden Administration continues to attempt to use the military as a conduit for leftist political initiatives. This bill refocuses our military on lethality, establishes rigorous oversight on Biden’s DOD, and cements Alabama’s place as a leader in national security.”

Measures that directly benefit the state of Alabama included in NDAA can be found below:

• Blocks the move of SPACECOM Headquarters to Colorado.

• 5.2% pay raise for the over 37,000 servicemembers stationed in Alabama.

• Authorizes over $16 million for improvements at the Anniston Army Depot, including:
• $8.1M for a Component Rebuild Shop
• $5.5M for an Access Control Point
• $29M for a Vehicle Paint Shop
• $270K for the planning and design of an Open Storage Facility

• Authorizes $7 million to complete the construction of new enlisted barracks at Fort McClellan.

• Authorizes $316.6 million in Military Construction Projects, including:
• $68M for a Ground Test Facility at Redstone
• $65M for Military Family Housing at Maxwell
• $57M for a new Army Reserve Center in Birmingham
• $41.2M for new Barracks at Ft. Rucker

• Prohibits KC-135 retirement, preserving footprint at Sumpter Smith Air National Guard Base

• Authorizes a new grant program for infrastructure improvements at private shipyards, requested by Alabama Shipyards.

• Authorizes $6 billion for Columbia procurement and industrial base improvements benefitting Austal.

• Fully funds all Austal Navy shipbuilding projects.

• Requires the Army to implement plans to improve telecommunication infrastructure at all AL National Guard installations.

• Authorizes $20 million over the budget request for additional Lakota helicopters used for training at Ft. Rucker.

• Authorizes $65 million for additional MH-139 helicopters for Maxwell Air Force Base.

• Authorizes over $120 million for DoD research and development projects throughout AL.

###