Blog
Rebuilding the arsenal of freedom
All of us who wore the uniform know that strength isn’t defined by combat alone, but long before, through preparation and warfighting readiness: in supply chains, shipyards, depots, and procurement. And the House Armed Services Committee’s (HASC) advancement of the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act marks an overdue turning point in modernizing our national security efforts—with, above all—an emphasis on peace through strength.
The bill delivers strong quality of life benefits for military housing, childcare, and education for their families. It rebuilds depleted munition stockpiles and rehabilitates America’s factories and shipyards, creating thousands of new skilled labor opportunities. From hypersonics to cutting edge autonomous systems, the bill prioritizes getting equipment into our warfighters’ hands, faster—and it cuts billions of wasteful spending through demanding a full audit from the Pentagon within two years.
The full bill still needs to pass a vote on the House floor, but I’m proud to share five of my legislative proposals were included in HASC’s bill.
The SEAL Act designates the Navy SEAL Memorial in Fort Pierce as a national memorial. These sacred grounds are the birthplace of Naval Special Warfare, honoring the legacy and sacrifice of some of our most elite warriors.
The Oath of Exit Act offers service members a voluntary “Oath of Exit” upon their transition to civilian life, asking them to recommit to personal wellness and service to their fellow veterans, a tool for those navigating life post-service.
The GAMES Act ends the eligibility exclusion for medically retired veterans from participating in the Warrior and Invictus Games, striking a rule that restricts eligibility to those who are one-year from service discharge giving all wounded warriors the opportunity to benefit from adaptive sport programs.
Additional Leave for our Service Members
There is often a blur between the distinction of “on duty” and “off duty” time. Which is why expanding military leave accrual from 2.5 to 3.5 days per month better aligns compensation with modern service demands and supports long-term readiness, retention, and force resilience.
Modernizing the Military Leave Program
Under current law, accrued military leave exceeding 60 days is forfeited at the end of the fiscal year. Deployments, contingency operations, shipboard assignments, training exercises, and other mission requirements routinely require warfighters to postpone or forego leave in order to accomplish the mission; warfighters serving in these circumstances should not be punished. Leave is earned compensation, awarded to America's Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Guardians just the same as their basic pay, retirement points, and Thrift Savings Plan contributions—none of which Congress would seek to limit. Eliminating the 60-day cap means our military’s men and women get to retain their hard earned leave.
The NDAA is a promise to everyone who’s worn the uniform, to everyone who’s wearing it now, and to the next generation of freedom fighters.