Representative Tran Votes to Raise Troop Pay, Improve Military Readiness in National Defense Authorization Act

Washington, DC - U.S. Representative Derek Tran (CA-45) helped pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2026, securing key provisions to support enhanced military readiness and improve service members' quality of life. The NDAA must pass the House of Representatives and the Senate every year to maintain vital military programs and improve our national security.

"As an Army Veteran, one of my most important responsibilities is my vote to ensure that our troops are taken care of and our national security apparatus is second-to-none," said Representative Tran. "I was proud to use my position on the powerful House Armed Services Committee to advocate for increased troop pay, strengthened global security alliances to counter the Chinese Communist Party, and continued investment for Joint Forces Training Base - Los Alamitos in California's 45th District. As Americans face economic uncertainty at home and increasing threats abroad, the National Defense Authorization Act must respond to these evolving challenges and meet the moment. This bill is not perfect; it fails to honor the time-honored bipartisan process that delivers necessary resources to small businesses that support military communities and fails to safeguard collective bargaining rights for our troops, but it is a step in the right direction. I proudly voted yes to keep our military strong and keep Americans safe."

The FY26 NDAA includes several key provisions, including:

• A 3.8% pay increase for troops;

• Improvements to child care and housing resources for military families;

• A $276 million authorization for Civil Military Programs like STARBASE and the National Guard Youth Challenge Program, two youth development programs with a major footprint at JFTB-LA;

• Requiring the Secretary of Defense to provide unredacted videos of all strikes that have occurred in Latin America, otherwise risking withheld funds;

• Improvements to oversight and accountability mechanisms for military involvement in civilian law enforcement and immigration enforcement;

• Revoking Congressional approval of forever wars in the Middle East by repealing the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force against Iraq;

• Combating the influence of the Chinese Communist Party in the Indo-Pacific with increased funding for the Taiwan Security Initiative and strengthened commitments to global military allies.

Serving his first term in Congress, Representative Tran was appointed to the powerful House Armed Services Committee, overseeing the Department of Defense. Tran serves as a co-chair of the House Democratic Caucus National Security Task Force,bringing together expertise in Congress to develop policy solutions to the most pressing national security challenges facing our country. Representative Tran enlisted in the Army Reserve at age 18 and served for eight years. He was activated for Operation Noble Eagle/Enduring Freedom before earning an honorable discharge.

Representative Tran signed a discharge petition to force a vote on H.R. 2550, the bipartisan Protect America's Workforce Act.This legislation would rescind the Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs Executive Order issued on March 27, 2025, to restore the collective bargaining rights for more than one million federal employees, including service members.

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Congressman Derek Tran represents California's 45th Congressional District. Serving his first term in Congress, Congressman Tran is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and House Small Business Committee, where he is Ranking Member of the Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations Subcommittee. Congressman Tran is the son of Vietnamese refugees, a Veteran, and fought for consumers as an attorney before entering Congress.