In a significant victory for the Sunshine State and the nation as a whole, the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) recently passed the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes a robust set of provisions championed by Senator Rick Scott.
“Each year, I have fought to include big wins for Florida and U.S. national security in the NDAA, and this year’s bill is a massive accomplishment that reflects the priorities of Florida families. As ranking member of the Subcommittee for Personnel, I am proud of the bipartisan work we accomplished in SASC to ensure our men and women in uniform are taken care of, and our military remains the most lethal force in the world,” said Scott.
“For our service members in Florida, I fought aggressively in this NDAA to secure a 4.5% pay raise, $3 million for Child Development Center (CDC) construction to increase access to childcare for military families in the Panhandle, and with Russian warships now 90 miles off our shores, I made sure that Homestead Air Reserve Base will continue to serve a critical mission for years to come,” Scott said.
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The FY 2025 NDAA authorizes a substantial $923.3 billion in defense spending, representing a $25 billion increase over the previous year’s topline.
This significant investment underscores the critical importance of maintaining a strong military posture in the face of evolving global threats.
As the ranking member of the SASC Personnel Subcommittee, Senator Scott played a pivotal role in securing a 4.5% pay raise for active-duty service members and a 2% pay raise for Department of Defense (DoD) civilian employees.
Additionally, he fought to increase the monthly basic pay for junior enlisted service members in the grades of E-1 through E-3, ensuring that our brave men and women in uniform are adequately compensated for their selfless service.
Recognizing the unique challenges faced by military families, Senator Scott secured $3 million in the NDAA for the design of a Child Development Center at Naval Air Station Whiting Field in the Florida Panhandle.
This investment will help increase access to quality childcare for the families of service members stationed in the region, a crucial aspect of supporting the overall well-being and readiness of our armed forces.
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With the growing threats posed by adversaries like Russia, Iran, and China, Senator Scott has fought to safeguard Florida’s strategic defense assets. He successfully included provisions in the NDAA to extend the joint-use prohibition at Homestead Air Reserve Base until 2028, ensuring that this critical military installation can continue to fulfill its vital national security mission.
“The United States is at a critical moment where military strength is essential to preserving our national security and fending off the threats of tyranny and terrorism that are rising around the globe,” said Scott. “This NDAA reflects what must be done to combat the threats posed by our enemies in Communist China, Iran and Russia, protect our allies and partners in Israel, the Philippines and across Europe, and protect and grow our military strength in Florida where we have massive defense assets that are critical to our national security. I would like to thank Chairman Reed, Ranking Member Wicker, and all of my colleagues on the Armed Services Committee for their leadership on these important issues. I am proud of the work we have done and look forward to seeing this through this finish line when it is signed into law later this year.”
Additionally, the Senator secured a requirement for the DoD to provide a briefing to the Armed Services Committee on the readiness of Hurricane Hunter aircraft prior to the start of each hurricane season, a proactive measure to prevent operational disruptions during these crucial storm monitoring efforts.
Recognizing the national security risks posed by America’s reliance on Chinese-made products, Senator Scott spearheaded several key provisions in the NDAA to address these vulnerabilities.
He secured a requirement for the DoD to procure generic drugs made in the USA, reducing the government’s dependence on Chinese-produced pharmaceuticals.
Additionally, the NDAA includes a ban on the DoD’s purchase of computers and printers manufactured by Chinese companies, as well as a prohibition on the procurement of LiDAR technology from Chinese-based firms, unless explicitly approved by Congress.
Key measures included in the 2025 NDAA championed by Senator Scott include:
- A 4.5% pay raise for military members, 2% pay raise for DoD civilian employees, and increases in monthly basic pay for junior enlisted service members in the grades of E-1 through E-3, in addition to the force-wide pay raise.
- A requirement for the DoD to procure generic drugs made in the USA, addressing the vulnerabilities presented by the U.S. Government’s reliance on Chinese drugs.
- Banning the sale of garlic grown in Communist China in Defense Commissary stores to ensure U.S. service members and families aren’t subject to unnecessary risks. Chinese-grown garlic is widely reported to be grown in human sewage, then bleached and harvested in abhorrent conditions, often with slave labor.
- Banning the DoD from purchasing computers and printers made by companies based in Communist China, a U.S. adversary.
- Preventing the DoD from procuring LiDAR technology for manned or unmanned systems from companies based in Communist China, a known U.S. adversary, unless granted explicit Congressional approval. It also supports research and development efforts to enhance the United States’ commercial space-based LiDAR capabilities.
- A report on the operational value of the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar given the concerning relationship the Government of Qatar has with Hamas and other terrorist organizations, as well as its continuing hostility to the State of Israel and other U.S. interests.
- Directing the DoD to prioritize sites in the PFAS cleanup process and determine appropriate cleanup actions based on the highest level of environmental contamination to protect our environment and communities.
- Providing support for United States ally, Israel, with U.S.-Israel counter tunneling cooperation and an increase of $47.5 million for U.S.-Israel cooperation on emerging technology.
- $3 million for the design of a Child Development Center at Naval Air Station Whiting Field to increase access to childcare for military families in the Panhandle.
- Extending the joint use prohibition at Homestead Air Reserve Base to 2028 to protect the military mission as threats to U.S. national security rise in Latin America.
- Requiring a briefing to the Armed Services Committee on the readiness of Hurricane Hunter aircraft prior to the start of hurricane season to avoid issues like what occurred prior to Hurricane Idalia when the planes were grounded.
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