Kiggans Secures Major Wins for Hampton Roads and Military Families in Defense Bill

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) announced the House passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), bipartisan legislation that strengthens America's national defense, revitalizes the defense industrial base, and delivers key quality-of-life improvements for servicemembers and their families. The bill now heads to conference with the Senate later this year.

"I came to Congress to make sure our military has what it needs to fight and win, and that our servicemembers and their families are never taken for granted," said Congresswoman Kiggans. "While there is more work to do as the bill heads to conference, I will continue fighting to ensure the final NDAA keeps America's Navy the strongest in the world and delivers for the men and women who call Hampton Roads home."

The FY26 NDAA carries forward President Trump's peace through strength agenda while addressing the urgent needs of servicemembers and their families. It supports a 3.8% pay raise, expands military bonuses and special pays, reforms the Basic Needs Allowance by removing Base Allowance for Housing (BAH) from income calculations, and invests over $1.4 billion in new barracks and family housing construction. The bill strengthens healthcare access by preventing cuts to military medical billets, authorizing major hospital renovations, improving TRICARE coverage for pregnant women and reservists, and expanding mental health services and studies, including a new longitudinal review of traumatic brain injuries and the unique impacts of G-force exposure on military pilots. It also expands commissary and MWR access to civil service mariners and increases childcare resources, with more than $361 million authorized for new childcare centers.

"As a proud Navy veteran, military spouse, and Mom, I know that taking care of our servicemembers and their families is the foundation of our national defense," said Congresswoman Kiggans. "This year's NDAA delivers for Hampton Roads by strengthening naval aviation and shipbuilding, protecting access to quality health care for military children, and ensuring the quality-of-life our troops and families deserve. I'm proud to have secured these wins for Virginia's Second District and for servicemembers around the globe."

The NDAA ensures Hampton Roads remains at the forefront of America's naval readiness. It requires the Navy to provide a detailed plan for basing F-35C squadrons, advances shipyard modernization through cost-saving software evaluation, and authorizes over $22 billion in new shipbuilding, including a Columbia-class submarine, Virginia-class submarine, and Ford-class aircraft carrier. The bill also establishes a National Commission on the Maritime Industrial Base to recommend policies that revitalize American shipbuilding and protect long-term naval readiness.

Congresswoman Kiggans also secured several floor amendment victories that directly support servicemembers and their families. These include new protections requiring timely electronic notices for TRICARE beneficiaries before coverage transitions, stronger oversight of PCS reimbursements and the family impacts of frequent moves, and reforms to make housing allowances more responsive to rising costs of living. She advanced provisions to implement GAO's recommendations on improving military housing, authorized cost-plus contracts to accelerate shipyard infrastructure modernization, and required reports on installing rotary-wing collision avoidance systems to enhance aviator safety.

The FY26 NDAA will now move to conference negotiations with the Senate before final passage later this year.