Rep. Bill Huizenga
The U.S. House of Representatives on June 14 passed a bipartisan military appropriations bill for fiscal year 2025 that includes three amendments authored by U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI) to bolster national security.
“This legislation strengthens our military readiness and capabilities while improving housing, childcare, and the overall quality of life for the men and women serving in our Armed Forces,” Rep. Huizenga said. “Importantly, this legislation takes steps to root out waste, saving taxpayers $30 billion by cutting inefficient programs, obsolete weapons systems, and unnecessary Pentagon bureaucracy.”
Additionally, the congressman said the bill “blocks the Biden administration’s reduction in U.S. Special Forces” and would stop the administration from transferring terrorists currently housed in Guantanamo Bay to prisons in the United States.
“Lastly, this legislation includes multiple amendments I have authored to enhance our national security and counter aggressive actions taken by Russia and China,” said Rep. Huizenga.
The House on Friday voted 217-199 to advance the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025, H.R. 8070, which would authorize FY 2025 appropriations for military activities of the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), for military construction, and for defense activities of the U.S. Department of Energy to prescribe military personnel strengths for FY 2025, among other provisions.
The larger bill includes amendments led by Rep. Huizenga regarding NATO’s military readiness, DOD’s contact with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), and a report to Congress on the military activities of the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China in the Arctic Region.
For example, an amendment from Rep. Huizenga would express the sense of Congress that each NATO member state should commit, at a minimum, 2 percent of its GDP to defense spending to ensure NATO’s military readiness, according to a summary provided by the congressman’s staff.
Additionally, another amendment would require the DOD to report to Congress on how it is mitigating the risk of the PLA gaining indirect knowledge of U.S. Armed Forces’ equipment and operational tactics, techniques, and products through interaction with the militaries of U.S. allies and partners, the summary says.
The NDAA now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration.