Westmoreland Review

June 14, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chief Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) released a statement following the House's passage of H.R. 8070, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025.

“Providing our Armed Forces with the resources they need to defend our nation is vital as we face threats from across the globe. Under the Biden administration, the United States is no longer feared by our foreign adversaries, and our democratic allies, such as Israel, are being attacked relentlessly by terrorist organizations," Reschenthaler stated.

"This year’s defense bill will ensure our servicemembers receive a pay raise, our military combats Communist China, our academies eliminate racist DEI policies from their curriculum, our border security efforts are bolstered, and our nation stands with Israel. I’m also proud to see several of my initiatives be included, including my effort to defund EcoHealth Alliance, which used taxpayer funds to perform dangerous gain-of-function experiments in Wuhan, China — the likely epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic."

He added: "A strong military equals a strong America. As a Navy veteran, I am proud to support the NDAA and urge the Senate to pass this critical legislation.”

The FY25 NDAA includes provisions such as:

- A 19.5% pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers.

- Expanded allowances for housing and food.

- Improved cost-of-living calculations.

- Increased funding for housing maintenance accounts.

- Strengthened oversight of military housing programs.

- Pursuit of public-private partnerships to upgrade unaccompanied housing.

- Reduced healthcare wait times by expanding access to medical providers.

- Increased oversight of healthcare accessibility for servicemembers.

- Measures to prevent espionage by Communist China in military and research institutions.

- Bolstered defense initiatives in Taiwan and support for Indo-Pacific allies.

- Merit-based promotions at service academies and an end to affirmative action policies.

- Expanded U.S.-Israel military exercises and full funding for cooperative missile defense programs.

- Full funding for National Guard troop deployment at the southwest border.

Reschenthaler's initiatives included in the bill are:

- Prohibiting funds from supporting certain laboratories or gain-of-function research related to adversarial nations.

- Prohibiting funds from requiring travel in zero-emission vehicles under Joint Travel Regulations for Uniformed Services.

- Requiring a report on human rights abuses against U.S. citizens by Turks and Caicos Islands' government.

- Prohibiting sales at commissary stores or military exchanges from companies boycotting Israel.

- Requiring a report on TRICARE program copays related to outpatient mental health care.

The full bill can be read here.