Rep. Derek Schmidt: Passage of Annual Defense Bill Secures Key ‘Peace through Strength’ Initiatives for Kansas

WASHINGTON, D.C. - (December 17, 2025) - Several priorities important to Kansas are included in the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 (S. 1071) that today received final approval from Congress and is headed to the President for his signature, Congressman Derek Schmidt (KS-02) said.

"Congress must ensure America's Armed Forces are well-equipped with the tools necessary to keep our country safe," Schmidt said. "I was pleased to join my House and Senate colleagues in supporting this year's NDAA to maintain the Trump Administration's peace through strength agenda and support our servicemembers."

The final version of the bill, which passed the House last week on a 312-112 bipartisan voteand a 77-20 bipartisan votetoday in the Senate, includes H.R. 5977, a bill Schmidt introduced to streamline the process for small businesses to become suppliers for the Pentagon. That measure became part of a broader effort to cut red tape so smaller, innovative companies can help supply America's defense needs.

The bill also includes H.R. 6595, a bill led by Schmidt and Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) to improve veterans' access to healthcare and protect against downsizing of Department of Defense medical facilities, including Irwin Army Community Hospital at Fort Riley. Schmidt also helped lead H.R. 6745, a bipartisan bill in the NDAA to improve retention of quality Army and Air Force National Guard officers by eliminating a penalty for breaks in service.

Other provisions important for Kansas that Schmidt supported in the final NDAA include:

• Authorizing a 3.8% pay raise for military personnel;
• Authorizing more than $490 million to design and build new childcare centers;
• Improving assistance to service members and families receiving orders to relocate;
• Preventing cancellation of the Air Force's E-7 Wedgetail aircraft acquisition, protecting Kansas jobs;
• Increasing the number of air refueling tankers over time to remain capable and ready;
• Limiting the Pentagon's ability to further reduce U.S. force posture in Europe;
• Establishing more test corridors for hypersonic and long-range weapons; and
• Establishing an Advanced Nuclear Transition Working Group to coordinate the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies on military installations.

"I sought a seat on the House Armed Services Committee to strengthen our ability to advocate for America's military strength, the needs of our Kansas military communities, and the thousands of Kansans in our Second Congressional District who serve in the Armed Forces or support those who do," Schmidt said. "In that role, I'm working toward those priorities and am encouraged by the progress we made this year."

During House Armed Services Committee consideration of the NDAA earlier this year, Schmidt also secured a directivethat the National Simulation Center at Ft. Leavenworth remain in operation.

The Second District of Kansas is home to numerous military interests including the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, the U.S. Army's Combined Arms Center and 35th Infantry Division at Fort Leavenworth, the 190th Air Refueling Wing of the Kansas National Guard at Forbes Field in Topeka, and both the Kansas Army National Guard and Kansas Air National Guard Headquarters with authority over nearly 7,000 Kansas soldiers and airmen. It also is home to many private-sector businesses that manufacture products used by the military and employ thousands of Kansans.