Amata Hails House Passage of NDAA with Military Pay Raise

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata is hailing the pay raise for the military in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025, passed Wednesday by the House with a vote of 231-196. The House voted to raise pay for U.S. Service Members by 3.8 percent next year, building on this year's pay raise.

"This is a well-earned pay raise for our dedicated military, including our own Toa o Samoa," said Congresswoman Aumua Amata. "We must keep supporting the well-being of our Service Members and their families, and ensure our military is strong and ready. We must continue the important focus on the security of the vast Indo-Pacific region."

The Senate also has version of the NDAA, which authorizes $32 billion more than the House. Armed Services Committee leaders in both chambers are hopeful the compromise between the two can be crafted and passed before Thanksgiving.

Congresswoman Amata along with Indo-Pacific Chairwoman Young Kim, Congressman Ed Case of Hawaii, and Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds of CNMI proffered a bipartisan amendment to provide VA healthcare benefits to Veterans from the Freely Associated States. Congresswoman Amata, who serves as Vice Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, said, "Our bipartisan amendment is already included in the Senate bill, and we are optimistic it will be included in the final conference between House and Senate. These provisions supporting veterans were negotiated and intended to be part of the renewed Compacts of Free Association. The veterans of all three Freely Associated States served and deserve these benefits, and I am confident in its inclusion in the final NDAA."

The House-passed bill, H.R. 3838, is fully titled the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026(SPEED Act and FY26 NDAA). Led by Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) of the House Armed Services Committee, the $848 billion NDAA aims to speed up defense procurements, would codify certain Ukraine aid, and strengthens Pacific security, including support for Taiwan

Last year, Congress passed a 4.5 percent raise for all military in the previous NDAA for fiscal year 2025, and historically, paid junior enlisted (E-1 through E-4) a 14.5 percent increase. Last year's bill included major new support for housing and quality of life improvements, while this year's bill additionally emphasizes improved acquisition, while building on other aspects of the previous bill.

Each year the NDAA is the largest Defense authorization bill, comprising all aspects of the Pentagon's operations, including training and equipment. Due to its importance, Congress has never failed to pass the yearly NDAA, with the first one passing in 1961 for fiscal year 1962, and it generally attracts bipartisan support.

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