WASHINGTON—Senator-elect Jim Banks (R-IN) released the following statement on Wednesday after voting for the passage of the Fiscal Year 2025National Defense Authorization Act:
“This year’s NDAA makes important investments in our national defense by refocusing the Pentagon’s mission on ensuring readiness and lethality. I am proud to support the legislation’s historic pay increase for our junior enlisted troops and its prohibition of TRICARE funding child gender transition procedures.”
“This bill also includes two of my provisions to address the growing threat of Communist China by restricting DOD-funded research with universities that partner with foreign adversaries and prohibiting DoD contracts with entities that provide semiconductors or chip manufacturing equipment to Huawei.”
Key Provisions Included in FY25 NDAA:
Increases Troop Pay
- 4.5% pay raise for all service members to offset Joe Biden’s inflation
- A historic 10% additional pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers
Fights Wokeness at the Pentagon
- Prohibits TRICARE from covering sex change surgeries and hormone treatment for minors
- Maintains DEI hiring freeze at the Pentagon
Confronts Threat of Communist China
- Bans the operations of new Chinese drones in the U.S.
- Restrictions on DOD funding for university research projects with foreign adversaries
- Prohibits DoD contracts with any companies that employ lobbyists that work on behalf of Chinese Military Companies
- Prohibits DOD contracts with any entity that provides semiconductors, chip-manufacturing equipment, or related services to Huawei
- Requires a plan to resolve shortfalls in the National Defense Stockpile
Investments in Indiana
- Requires the Air Force and Air National Guard (ANG) to produce a plan for F-16 simulators for the ANG, including the 122nd Fighter Wing in Fort Wayne
- Extends the authority for the construction of a small arms range at the 181st ANG base in Terre Haute
- Secured $10 million in additional funding for the Multi-Services Advanced Capabilities for Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) program headquartered at NSWC Crane
Supports Israel
- Requires an annual U.S.-Israel counter-tunneling exercise to better assist Israel in fighting Hamas
