Sen. Moran Applauds Passage of FY26 National Defense Authorization Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) - a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense - today released the following statement, applauding the Senate passage of the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):

"Each year, Congress has the responsibility to pass an annual defense bill to make certain our servicemembers have the technology, resources and support to keep our nation safe and combat threats from our adversaries. The bipartisan bill passed by the Senate makes important strategic investments to bolster our military capabilities, provide a well-deserved pay raise for our troops and support increased quality of life for our Armed Forces. I worked to secure provisions to invest in Kansas' military bases, expand access to medical care for our servicemembers and their families, and improve the safety and efficiency of military operations. We owe a debt of thanks to the men and women who serve our nation, and it is my priority to make certain they have the resources needed to fulfil their mission.

"While this legislation is important for bolstering our military's capabilities, it is critical that we fund the government through the non-partisan, continuing resolution and the regular appropriations process to reopen the government and pay our troops."

Sen. Moran introduced an amendment to improve collaboration between the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in using Military Medical Treatment Facilities like Irwin Army Community Hospital at Fort Riley. This amendment passed and will support greater utilization of military hospitals and expand access to care for veterans.

Click HERE to Watch Sen. Moran's Full Remarks on His Amendment

Sen. Moran's priorities included in the FY2026 NDAA:

• Supports access to medical care at Fort Riley - Creates additional requirements before a military medical treatment facility like Irwin can be downgraded and encourages greater collaboration between the DoD and VA to better utilize military hospitals.
• Adds Fort Riley Air Traffic Control tower - Authorizes $26 million in funding for the construction of a new Air Traffic Control tower on base at Fort Riley.

• Creates Automated Infantry Platoon Battle Course - Authorizes $13 million in funding to create a new training course for Fort Riley servicemembers.
  
  
• New barracks at Fort Riley - Authorizes $16 million in design funding for additional barracks at Fort Riley.

• Improves safety for military aircraft operating in commercial airspace - Requires the use of position broadcast technology around commercial airports, directs policy to maximize the use of these systems and mandates the DoD to develop a process for sharing near miss and mishap data with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
  
  
• Gives troops a pay raise - Provides a 3.8 percent pay raise for servicemembers.
  
  
• Bolsters military recruitment - Improves military recruiter access to secondary schools and timely directory information sharing and establishes a National Week of Military Recruitment.
  
  
• Increases military capabilities - Advances readiness and maintenance funding for all military services.
  
  
• Helps combat fires on board Navy ships during maintenance - Directs the Secretary of the Navy to evaluate alternative technologies for ship maintenance, including press connect fittings in order to combat a growing problem of Navy ships catching fire during repairs.
  
  
• TRICARE hearing aids for dependents of retired servicemembers - Allows the dependents of retired servicemembers to maintain hearing aid coverage through TRICARE Select. This provision builds on Sen. Moran's previous legislation included in the FY24 NDAA that expanded hearing aid coverage to TRICARE Prime dependents of retired servicemembers, meaning all dependents of retired servicemembers on TRICARE will now maintain this coverage.

• Streamlines process of receiving Public Service Loan Forgiveness for servicemembers - Requires the Department of Defense to issue a report on the status of a data match to make certain servicemembers can automatically receive Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
  
  
• Expands VA Services for Veterans in the Freely Associated States (FAS) - Sen. Moran's amendment makes certain veterans from Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands who reside in those countries after serving in the United States military will receive access telehealth, mail-order pharmacy and beneficiary travel reimbursement through the VA.

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