Bacon Commends House Passage of FY26 Defense Policy Bill

Bacon Commends House Passage of FY26 Defense Policy Bill

Washington - Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Cyber, Information Technology and Innovation Subcommittee, joined his House colleagues in voting for H.R. 3838, the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026. The bill passed the House of Representatives with a bipartisan majority of 231 to 196. The annual legislation, which contains multiple amendments and provisions authored by Rep. Bacon, authorizes defense spending and sets the policy and priorities for the Armed Forces.

"For the 65th consecutive year, the House of Representatives has passed bipartisan legislation that increases our national security and takes care of our servicemembers and their families," said Rep. Bacon. "In particular, this year's Defense Authorization reforms the acquisition process, delivering much-needed capabilities to our warfighters to meet the next generation of threats. I commend Speaker Johnson, Chairman Rogers, and my colleagues from both sides of the aisle on this significant legislative achievement."

Highlights from the FY 2026 bill include:

• Sets major reforms to the defense acquisition system to speed development and fielding of modern technologies while reducing bureaucracy
• Authorizes $142.6 billion for research, development, testing, and evaluation to field essential technologies like hypersonics, AI, and autonomous vehicles
• Preserves U.S. force posture in Europe and authorizes additional security assistance to the Baltic Nations and Ukraine
• Fully funds modernization of the U.S strategic nuclear deterrent as well as scientific capabilities and nuclear command, control, and communications architectures
• Boots compensation for our servicemembers, reforms military food programs, and upgrades servicemember housing including $1.4 billion for new construction

In addition, the House defense bill contains numerous legislative proposals sponsored by Rep. Bacon, including:

• Authorization of support to Ukraine and the Baltic Nations of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia to counter Russian aggression
• Directs the Secretary of Defense to prepare an implementation plan to establish a Joint Task Force Cyber for the Indo-Pacific area of operations
• Directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide an acquisition and fielding strategy for the F-47 advanced fighter aircraft program
• Directs the Secretary of Defense to provide an independent assessment of toxic exposure in the Air Force ICBM missileer community
• Directs the Secretary of Defense to provide an implementation plan to reform Department of Defense (DoD) casualty assistance programs
• Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish the Civil Reserve Manufacturing Network
• Directs significant security upgrades to DoD mobile telecommunications
• Directs the major defense acquisitions programs to prepare digital manufacturing transition plans for critical components
• Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish the Center for Strategic Deterrence and WMD Studies at the National Defense University
• Directs the Secretary of Defense to improve cancer detection and prevention measures for DoD firefighters
• Directs updates on the U.S. Space Force Satellite Control Network

When compiled, the text of H.R. 3838 can be found here.

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