WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Rick Scott, member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and ranking member of the SASC Personnel Subcommittee, released the following statement after SASC voted to pass the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This year’s NDAA includes $923.3 billion in defense spending, a $25 billion increase in topline spending.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Each year, I have fought to include big wins for Florida and U.S. national security in the NDAA, and this year’s bill is a massive accomplishment that reflects the priorities of Florida families. As ranking member of the Subcommittee for Personnel, I am proud of the bipartisan work we accomplished in SASC to ensure our men and women in uniform are taken care of, and our military remains the most lethal force in the world. For our service members in Florida, I fought aggressively in this NDAA to secure a 4.5% pay raise, $3 million for Child Development Center (CDC) construction to increase access to childcare for military families in the Panhandle, and with Russian warships now 90 miles off our shores, I made sure that Homestead Air Reserve Base will continue to serve a critical mission for years to come. I am also proud to have personally fought for and secured big wins for the United States against Communist China, including making sure the Department of Defense (DoD) buys generic drugs made in the U.S. to cut dependence on our enemies for these essential medicines, stopping the DoD purchase of Chinese computers and printers which pose a threat to our national security when connected to secure networks, and even eliminated disgusting Chinese garlic from our commissaries.

“The United States is at a critical moment where military strength is essential to preserving our national security and fending off the threats of tyranny and terrorism that are rising around the globe. This NDAA reflects what must be done to combat the threats posed by our enemies in Communist China, Iran and Russia, protect our allies and partners in Israel, the Philippines and across Europe, and protect and grow our military strength in Florida where we have massive defense assets that are critical to our national security. I would like to thank Chairman Reed, Ranking Member Wicker, and all of my colleagues on the Armed Services Committee for their leadership on these important issues. I am proud of the work we have done and look forward to seeing this through this finish line when it is signed into law later this year.”

Senator Scott will continue to fight for Floridians through the amendment process in the FY 2025 NDAA. In its current form, he fought for and secured several measures, including:

• A 4.5% pay raise for military members, 2% pay raise for DoD civilian employees, and increases in monthly basic pay for junior enlisted service members in the grades of E-1 through E-3, in addition to the force-wide pay raise.
• A requirement for the DoD to procure generic drugs made in the USA, addressing the vulnerabilities presented by the U.S. Government’s reliance on Chinese drugs.
• Banning the sale of garlic grown in Communist China in Defense Commissary stores to ensure U.S. service members and families aren’t subject to unnecessary risks. Chinese-grown garlic is widely reported to be grown in human sewage, then bleached and harvested in abhorrent conditions, often with slave labor.
• Banning the DoD from purchasing computers and printers made by companies based in Communist China, a U.S. adversary.
• Preventing the DoD from procuring LiDAR technology for manned or unmanned systems from companies based in Communist China, a known U.S. adversary, unless granted explicit Congressional approval. It also supports research and development efforts to enhance the United States’ commercial space-based LiDAR capabilities.
• A report on the operational value of the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar given the concerning relationship the Government of Qatar has with Hamas and other terrorist organizations, as well as its continuing hostility to the State of Israel and other U.S. interests.
• Directing the DoD to prioritize sites in the PFAS cleanup process and determine appropriate cleanup actions based on the highest level of environmental contamination to protect our environment and communities.
• Providing support for United States ally, Israel, with U.S.-Israel counter tunneling cooperation and an increase of $47.5 million for U.S.-Israel cooperation on emerging technology.
• $3 million for the design of a Child Development Center at Naval Air Station Whiting Field to increase access to childcare for military families in the Panhandle.
• Extending the joint use prohibition at Homestead Air Reserve Base to 2028 to protect the military mission as threats to U.S. national security rise in Latin America.
• Requiring a briefing to the Armed Services Committee on the readiness of Hurricane Hunter aircraft prior to the start of hurricane season to avoid issues like what occurred prior to Hurricane Idalia when the planes were grounded. 

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