Bill to Strengthen National Defense with Provisions Championed by Senator Collins to be Signed into Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced that the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes $900.6 billion, has passed both chambers of Congress, with votes of 77 to 20 and 312 to 112 in the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively. The FY26 NDAA now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law.

This annual defense bill authorizes spending levels and sets policy for the military and critical national defense priorities, while the defense appropriations bill, which is under the jurisdiction of the Senate Appropriations Committee, appropriates the funding for the Department of Defense (DOD) each fiscal year. The Senate Appropriations Committee advanced the FY26 Defense funding bill in July by a vote of 26-3.

"With this legislation heading to the President's desk, Congress has fulfilled one of its most important Constitutional responsibilities-providing for our national defense," said Senator Collins. "The NDAA addresses the many national security threats facing our nation today and better supports the brave men and women of our armed forces. Additionally, the bill authorizes funding that will support the hardworking Mainers of our state's defense industrial base, who make invaluable contributions to our national defense."

Several provisions and amendments authored or co-authored by Senator Collins were included in the final bill that passed the Senate today:

• Berry Amendment-Compliant Footwear Report.
• • Amendment filed by Senator Collins will require the Department of Defense to submit a report on the U.S. boot industrial base and a plan to achieve full Berry Amendment compliance for combat footwear.

• Public Shipyard Apprentice Program.
• • Amendment filed by Senator Collins will strengthen the skilled trades pipeline at public shipyards like Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

• Counter Act.
• • Cosponsored by Senator Collins, provisions from this bill will expand the Department of Defense's authority to defend its facilities from illegal drone activity.

The NDAA also includes several provisions Senator Collins strongly advocated for that will benefit Maine:

• Support for U.S. Troops.
• • Authorizes a 3.8 percent pay raise for all service members-including the thousands of Maine men and women serving in uniform.
  • Includes reforms to streamline and modernize defense procurement to ensure our military is better equipped and supplied.
  • Directs a study on behavioral and mental health staffing shortfalls at military medical treatment facilities to improve access to care for service members and their families.

• Support for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
• • $227.8 million for power reliability and water resilience upgrades.
  • $220.8 million for the Multi-Mission Drydock #1 extension.

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