U.S. Rep. Marcus Molinaro, District 19 | Official U.S. House headshot
U.S. Rep. Marcus Molinaro, District 19 | Official U.S. House headshot
U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro (NY-19) announced today that six bipartisan measures he authored and four bipartisan measures he cosponsored were included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025.
Rep. Molinaro voted to pass the NDAA, which authorizes the budget and expenditures for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) for Fiscal Year 2025. Once both the House and Senate pass their versions of the bill, lawmakers will work to develop a compromised NDAA to be signed into law.
Rep. Molinaro stated, "I'm proud to have my bipartisan measures included in the NDAA that support military families with disabilities, enhance our defense systems, and implement lifesaving medicine. This bill delivers for our national defense and ensures our servicemembers, military families, and veterans have the utmost support."
Summaries of Molinaro’s bipartisan measures included in NDAA:
- Directs the Secretary of the Army to produce a report on progress made to modernize Black Hawk Helicopters.
- Requires an updated DoD report on defenses against biological threats.
- Directs DoD’s Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer to identify gaps in skills and training within its AI workforce.
- Authorizes a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study on the effectiveness of DoD Education Activity Disability Emphasis Program.
- Requires a GAO study on the Exceptional Family Member Program supporting military families with disabilities.
- Directs DoD to provide reports on Narcan (Naloxone) implementation for preventing opioid overdoses among servicemembers.
Molinaro also backed several amendments:
- Requires updates from Secretary of Defense on efforts to rescue hostages in Gaza.
- Authorizes DoD and Health and Human Services (HHS) to address mental health care barriers for military pilots, aviators, and air traffic controllers.
- Requires an outline of tunnel networks along Gaza-Egypt border used by terrorist groups.
- Directs DoD to maintain prescription drop boxes on all military bases.
Other key provisions in the NDAA include:
- A 19.5% pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers and a 4.5% raise for all other servicemembers.
- Expanded access to mental health services and healthcare for servicemembers.
- Full funding for childcare assistance programs for military families.
- Funding expansion programs aimed at deterring Chinese aggression.
- $601 million over President's request allocated towards improving military housing.
- Increased protection and support for Israel.
- Expansion of an in-home childcare pilot program focusing on rural areas.
- $20 million assistance administered to local schools teaching children with severe disabilities.
- Increased security along southwest and maritime borders.
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