Barrett Votes to Strengthen U.S. Military, Secures Passage of Helicopter Safety Plan

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) and the U.S. House of Representatives approved the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that will strengthen America's armed forces to ensure military readiness, deter foreign threats, and maintain peace through strength. Included in this package is Barrett's aviation safety legislationhe introduced in response to the fatal D.C. crash between a commercial airplane and an Army helicopter in January.

"America must keep our military the strongest and most lethal in the world to deter our adversaries and keep our nation at peace," said Barrett. "With this year's National Defense Authorization Act, we're authorizing critical investments in our armed forces to obtain weapons and other critical equipment, build up our fleets, and boost support for service members and their families. This is a huge step in our effort to ensure the U.S. military remains ready to defend our nation, protect American lives, and preserve the freedoms we hold dear."

The NDAA (H.R. 3838) included the language of Barrett's Military Helicopter Training Safety Act (H.R. 1898) to begin the process of equipping military helicopters with the same collision avoidance technology used by civilian aircraft.

"The deadly mid-air crash between a passenger jet and an Army helicopter this January shocked and saddened us all," said Barrett. "It was a tragic call to action. Equipping our military aircraft with life-saving technology will prevent future tragedies and keep our armed forces and civilians safe in the sky."

The National Defense Authorization will now need to be considered by the Senate. If a different version is passed, then the two bills will need to be conferenced together and voted on again before being signed into law.

Background: National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)

Every year, Congress passes the NDAA to set policy and funding priorities for the military. This year's House-approved bill:

• Supports a 3.8% pay raise for all members of the military, improves housing and education, and expands access to health care and child care.
• Helps service members return to civilian life by enhancing the Transition Assistance Program, an ongoing priorityfor Barrett.
• Fully funds the deployment of troops to the southern border to fight drug trafficking.
• Removes bureaucratic waste.
• Authorizes new ships, aircraft, combat vehicles, and weapons.
• Reduces delays and expedites military construction and acquisition of equipment.
• Keeps the squadron of A-10 fighter jets at Michigan's Selfridge Air National Guard Base until the base's new F-15EX Eagle II squadron arrives.

CLICK HEREto read the full text of the FY26 NDAA.

Background: Military Helicopter Training Safety Act

On Wednesday, the House unanimously adopted Barrett's amendment, officially incorporating the Military Helicopter Training Safety Act into the NDAA.

Helicopters in every branch of the armed forces routinely fly training missions in civilian airspace. On January 29, 2025, a Bombardier CRJ700 airliner and a United States Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter collided mid-air over the Potomac River about one-half mile short of runway 33 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. All 67 people aboard both aircraft were killed in the crash, including 64 passengers and crew on the airliner and the three crew members of the helicopter. It was the first major U.S. commercial passenger flight crash in nearly 16 years and the deadliest U.S. air disaster in nearly 24 years.

The crash may have been prevented if the military helicopter had been outfitted with a traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS), which would have communicated with the commercial airliner's TCAS and directed the two aircraft to maneuver before it was too late. The Military Helicopter Training Safety Act would require the Department of Defense to report on the feasibility of adding TCAS and other technology in military helicopters to help prevent future crashes.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently investigating the causes of this tragic accident, and its investigation is likely to take twelve to eighteen months to complete.

CLICK HEREto read the amendment.

CLICK HEREto learn more about the Military Helicopter Training Safety Act.

###