SIGNED INTO LAW: Annual Defense Bill with Key Hassan-Backed Provisions

WASHINGTON – The President signed into law the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025, including key provisions that Senator Maggie Hassan secured and supported. Among other measures, the legislation includes a 14.5 percent pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5 percent raise for all other service members.

“Service members sacrifice to keep our country safe, secure, and free, and our bipartisan annual defense bill will further support them in their mission,” said Senator Hassan. “This bill will also strengthen our national security – including by taking on China – and it delivers for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and other New Hampshire priorities.”

Key measures to strengthen national security and support service members supported by Senator Hassan:

• The SERVE Act, introduced by Senators Hassan and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), which will guarantee readmission to colleges and universities for National Guard and Reserve members after a mobilization or deployment
• A 14.5 percent pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5 percent pay raise for all service members
• Taking on China and Russia by:
• Prohibiting the Defense Department from contracting with any entity that provides semiconductor products to Chinese telecom company Huawei
• Strengthening intelligence sharing to help counter Chinese trafficking of fentanyl and fentanyl precursors
• Increasing investments in the Pacific Deterrence Initiative and establishing the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative
• Directing the Defense Department to report on its efforts to identify and apply lessons learned from the war in Ukraine in order to strengthen U.S. national security efforts
• Establishing a counter-UAS (commonly referred to as drones) task force for U.S. military installations; requiring a counter-UAS strategy for Defense Department facilities, assets, and personnel in the U.S.; and providing greater resources for counter-UAS technologies
• Increasing access to contraception by eliminating co-pays for women covered by TRICARE

New Hampshire priorities that are included in the NDAA:

• Exempting public shipyard employees (including those at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard) from being required to stay in government or preferred housing when traveling for official duty
• Supporting infrastructure at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, including multi-mission dry dock military construction and power plant resiliency improvement
• Supporting Virginia Class submarines, which are repaired at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
• Funding to procure KC-46A Pegasus refueling tankers, which are flown by Air Force units, including the New Hampshire Air National Guard at Pease Air National Guard Base
• Continuing PFAS cleanup and research efforts

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