Rep. Courtney Votes in Support of National Defense Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Joe Courtney voted to pass the final FY25 National Defense Authorization Act(NDAA). This marks the 64^th consecutive year the House has passed the annual defense bill.

As Ranking Member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, Rep. Courtney secured generational improvements for servicemembers and their families, successfully reversed the Navy's request to cut procurement of a Virginia class submarine, and authorized wage increases for shipbuilders at Electric Boat and Newport News Shipbuilding.

The bill (H.R. 5009) passed today (281-140) reflects the final, negotiated text between the House and the Senate following months of negotiations to reconcile the differences between the versions that each chamber passed last summer. The Senate is expected to follow the House's lead and pass the bill in the next week and send it to President Biden's desk for signature.

"Last June, I sat down with servicemembers and their spouses at SUBASE NEW LONDON to brief them on the transformational 'quality of life improvements' that are included in this year's defense bill which significantly boosts pay for entry-level enlisted sailors and soldiers, and provides greater housing assistance and day care support for all servicemembers. There's no question that these provisions are sorely needed and welcomed among the thousands of submariners and their families in eastern Connecticut as well as residents who serve in other branches of the military. The bill also authorizes funding for two Virginia class submarines, rejecting the Navy's completely inadequate budget request submitted last February. The bill boosts the Virginia account and extends new latitude to submarine shipbuilders to increase wages for frontline shipyard workers.

"This final negotiated bill eliminated most of the partisan 'poison pills' included in the legislation that narrowly passed out of the House in June. It is unfortunate that one item that came out of the Senate that limits some TRICARE health care coverage for specific procedures for some minor dependents of servicemembers stayed in the bill at the insistence of Speaker Johnson.

"That said, Speaker Johnson's intrusion cannot jeopardize delivering major quality life improvements to the sailors in eastern Connecticut and the investments needed to grow our submarine fleet, which the FY25 NDAA achieves," Courtney concluded.

For a fact sheet on Courtney-led priorities, click here.

To view and download Ranking Member Courtney's remarks, click here.