Rep. Crank Votes to Advance NDAA; Package to Include Pay Raise for Servicemembers, Revitalization in Defense Industrial Base

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Representative Jeff Crank (CO-05) voted in the House Armed Services Committee to advance the Fiscal Year (FY) 27 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to the House Floor.

America's national security is dependent on our ability to produce the capabilities needed to defend our country and deter our adversaries. For decades, the U.S. defense industrial base (DIB) was the envy of the world. But declining investments in defense have significantly weakened the DIB.

The FY27 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) focuses on revitalizing the defense industrial base, restoring lethal capabilities, improving our servicemembers' quality of life, and more.

"It is imperative that we stay ahead of our adversaries," said Rep. Crank. "This year's advancement of the NDAA will focus on the revitalization of the defense industrial base to ensure America stands ready against its adversaries. The package also includes a pay raise for our men and women in service, strengthens American deterrence, eliminates wasteful spending, accelerates innovation, and more."

Wins Rep. Crank secured in the FY27 NDAA include:

• $250 million Space Force Operations Facility at Schriever Space Force Base;
• Increases 2nd Lieutenants coming to Peterson Space Force Base to complete Officer Training Course by 300%;
• Prohibits the deactivation of the Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigades (ECABs) and provides $35 million to ensure continued flight operations;
• Doubles the Space Force's budget;
• Expands the Space Force's use of commercially sourced data to track Chinese and Russian satellites;
• Encourages continued development of a nuclear thermal propulsion capability to protect our space-based assets;
• Supports the Department of the Air Force in establishing a dedicated funding mechanism for the USAFA 2050 campus modernization project;
• Prevents the closure of the 70th Flight Training Squadron at the Air Force Academy;
• Allows the USAFA Alumni Foundation to manage campus improvement projects for the Academy, lowering costs and reducing delays;
• Eliminates DEI in military advancement decisions;
• Expands the use of commercial data in the National Guard's FireGuard program to improve wildfire response;
• Restores funding for the Next-Gen OPIR Polar satellite to protect advanced missile warning capabilities;
• Requires the Department to create a five-year plan for barracks improvement;
• Continues support for shared-use SCIFs to reduce burden-to-entry for small defense businesses in the Pikes Peak region.

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