Higgins Secures Louisiana Wins in FY27 National Defense Authorization Act

Jul 22, 2026 | Issues, Media, Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on the passage of H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2027.

"This year's NDAA strengthens America's standing as the most powerful military force the world has ever known. President Trump has brought new meaning to the term 'Peace Through Strength.' This legislation provides American warfighters with the tools they need to win in any conflict, anywhere around the world. As I ascend in seniority on the Armed Services Committee, we will continue to perform for the country and fight for Louisiana priorities."

In his role on the Armed Services Committee, Congressman Higgins helped secure many provisions in this year's National Defense Authorization Act that will directly benefit Louisiana. These include:

• $259M for Yard, Repair, Berthing, and Messing (YRBM) barge craft.
• $152M for the procurement of US Navy 40-foot Patrol Boats.
• $5M for Louisiana industry to develop unmanned Arctic-capable vessels.
• $35M for defense technology innovation programs in partnership with the Louisiana Defense Research Consortium (LDRC) and UL-Lafayette.
• Language directing the Navy to develop and report on clear performance standards for integrating mission payloads onto unmanned surface vessels (USVs).
• $125M for the Platform Supply Vessel Program to support offshore maritime logistics.
• Language directing the Navy to evaluate the industrial base's maintenance, logistics, and sustainment capacity needed to support large unmanned undersea vehicles.
• $733M for the Ship to Shore Connector program. The NDAA also authorizes advanced procurement for the Ship to Shore Connector program to maintain its production schedule.
• Language directing a Navy and U.S. Marine Corps study to inform future requirements for advanced reconnaissance vessels for constituent shipbuilders.
• $7M for aerial computer sensor manufacturing in Louisiana.
• Language directing the Navy to develop a strategy to maintain a competitive and resilient unmanned surface vessel (USV) industrial base.
• Support for design and testing of USVs operating in contested environments.
• Supporting continuity of mission and readiness during the transition of F-5 to F/A18 fighter aircraft which will directly benefit Joint Reserve Base New Orleans.
• $53M for M917A3 heavy dump trucks for the Louisiana National Guard.
• Language directing the Army to assess how autonomous unmanned surface vessels (USVs) could protect U.S. watercraft in contested environments.
• Authorization for the Louisiana National Guard and Navy Reserve to procure F-15EX fighter jets.
• $70M for 48-meter autonomous M3OPVs, supporting the Pentagon rapid prototyping initiative for autonomous vessels in contested logistics environments.
• $25M to modernize B-52 Agile Pod systems at Barksdale Air Force Base.
• Language requiring a quality-of-life assessment for the garrison at Joint Reserve Base New Orleans.
• $916M for funding additional C-130J aircraft for the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.
• Language directing, when possible, the domestic production and sourcing of critical minerals for defense supply chains.
• Language prohibiting the procurement of vehicles and vehicle technologies from adversarial nations like China and Russia.
• $25M for the development of a directed energy satellite missile defense system.
• $133M and report language for advancing sea-based petroleum distribution systems.
• $13.5M for maneuverable spacecraft prototyping to support the U.S. Space Force.
• Language establishing the National Guard Homeland Defense Service Ribbon for personnel engaged in missions to protect federal personnel and property, support law enforcement, secure the border, and restore public order.
• Language directing the U.S. Census Bureau to coordinate with the Department of War to provide an accurate count of personnel living on U.S. military installations, to prevent undercounting for congressional apportionment.

Congressman Higgins also worked with his colleagues to align this year's NDAA with President Trump's agenda, securing the following conservative victories:

• Stopping government waste, fraud, abuse, and theft by cutting nearly $30B in wasteful programs, as well as providing new authorities to stop fraudulent payments.
• Strengthening nuclear deterrence, missile defense, as well as our critical resource supply chains to counter adversaries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
• Expanding American production ability by cutting red tape for private sector innovators, and creating thousands of new jobs for Americans.
• Codifying over 65 of President Trump's executive orders and legislative proposals, fully funding the America First defense policy agenda.