South Lake Today

Washington, D.C. — Florida Congressman Daniel Webster, R-Clermont, released a statement regarding his vote to pass H.R. 8070, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025. By supporting this bill, Webster aims to fulfill his constitutional duty to "provide for the common defense."

"Today I voted to pass legislation that upholds my commitment to Americans to deliver a nation that’s safe," said Rep. Webster. "This NDAA improves the quality of life of our nation’s service members and their families and provides the resources needed for our military to counter threats from our adversaries."

Webster highlighted specific aspects of the bill: "I’m pleased that the FY25 NDAA builds upon the work of House Republicans in last year’s NDAA to ensure that our nation’s military is focused on being the best fighting force in the world, and not woke politics. I am particularly pleased that an amendment I cosponsored to block funding for Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s policy of using taxpayer dollars to cover abortion costs for service members was adopted and is part of this bill."

However, Webster expressed disappointment over certain exclusions: "I am not pleased that our bipartisan Coast Guard Authorization Act was excluded from this year’s NDAA. This important legislation is necessary for the Coast Guard to carry out their national defense mission to protect our coasts, secure our maritime borders, ports and waterways, and respond to emergencies and disasters. I will continue working with House and Senate leadership to get our Coast Guard bill through the Senate and to President Biden."

Key provisions of H.R. 8070 include:

- Blocking the Biden Administration's plan to reduce U.S. Special Forces.

- Investing in new technologies for future battlefield superiority.

- Providing a 19.5% pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers.

- Waiving TRICARE referral requirements for direct access to specialty medical providers.

- Allocating over $204 million for new childcare centers construction.

- Saving $30 billion by cutting inefficient programs and obsolete weapons.

- Enhancing Congressional oversight of Department of Defense programs.

- Fully funding National Guard troop deployment at the southern border.

- Prohibiting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies at DoD schools.

- Preventing climate change programs within DoD.

Additionally, it extends the Pacific Deterrence Initiative aimed at strengthening U.S. defense posture in the Indo-Pacific region with funding allocated towards new technologies, munitions, and force projections against potential threats from China.

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