Banks Votes to Pass the FY 2026 NDAA, Delivers Key Wins for Indiana

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today,Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after voting to pass Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act with a 77 to 20 vote and deliver key legislative priorities for Indiana.

Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.): "Today, I proudly voted to pass the FY2026 NDAA delivering key investments in Indiana that I fought to secure. These wins strengthen our military, support Hoosier job growth, and ensure Indiana remains a leader in national defense and technological innovation."

Provisions secured by Senator Banks in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act:

1. Crane MILCON funding
   • $72 million in military construction (MILCON) approved to build a new pyrotechnics production facility at Crane Army Ammunition Activity.
   • Separately, a funding bill passed last month includes $100 million in appropriations for this facility.

1. Muscatatuck Urban Training Center
   • Requires the Department of War to provide Congress with studies on how best to manage and fund ranges like Muscatatuck Urban Training Center.

1. Navy Small Modular Reactor pilot program
   • Requires the Navy to establish a pilot program for a Navy installation to be powered by a Small Modular Reactor (SMR).

1. Quantum Corridor funding
   • $12 million approved for the Quantum Corridor project.

1. Trine University Artificial Intelligence for Maritime Maneuver (AIMM)
   • $5 million approved for Trine University's Artificial Intelligence for Maritime Maneuver (AIMM) partnership with Naval Surface Warfare Center - Crane to build and deploy fully autonomous low-cost vessels powered by artificial intelligence for the Navy. This program supports students at Trine, engineers at Crane, and midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy.

1. Shelbyville Aviation Hangar
   • $55 million in military construction authorized for an Aircraft Maintenance Hangar Addition at the Indiana National Guard facility in Shelbyville.

1. Training Facility for the 122^nd Fighter Wing
   • $18 million in military construction for an F-16 Mission Training Facility at the 122^nd Fighter Wing at the Fort Wayne Air National Guard Base.

1. Buying Faster than the Enemy Act
   • Speeds up military acquisitions by streamlining procurement, reducing red tape, and prioritizing commercial solutions for both traditional and nontraditional contractors.

1. REFOCUS DODEA Act
   • Requires the DoW to implement rules limiting cellphone use in classrooms for military children to reduce distractions, with exceptions for emergencies.

Background:

The National Defense Authorization Act is U.S. federal law that authorizes annual funding for the Department of Defense and sets policies and priorities.

Senator Banks served in the U.S. Navy Reserve and is an Afghanistan veteran. He previously served on the Armed Services Committee in the House of Representatives as the representative for Indiana's third district.

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