Congressman Rich McCormick Votes to Bring the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act to the House Floor

WASHINGTON - On Tuesday, Congressman Rich McCormick and his colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) marked up the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the third of his congressional career so far. After nearly 14 hours of debate and negotiation, Rep. McCormick and the rest of the committee voted overwhelmingly to approve this legislation, which will improve quality-of-life and pay for our servicemembers, streamline the defense acquisition process, and provide our warfighters with the tools they need to deter and, if necessary, defeat our adversaries.
 
"This year’s NDAA is a bold victory for President Trump’s Peace Through Strength agenda and a decisive investment in America’s national security," said Congressman McCormick. “As a Marine and Member of Congress, it is a deep honor to shape policy for the future of our military. This year’s NDAA enhances our military’s readiness, competitiveness, and lethality. I will never stop fighting to ensure our warfighters have every tool they need to win – anytime, anywhere.”
 
Congressman McCormick spearheaded dozens of provisions in this bill, including many that will directly benefit servicemembers at Georgia installations and support the defense industrial base in Georgia.

1. Authorization of the Department of Labor’s Employment Navigator and Partnership Program, which brings veterans employment non-profits onto bases to provide one-on-one career assistance services to servicemembers transitioning to civilian life.

     a. This program has a 98% satisfaction rate among participants and is already active at Robins Air Force Base.     

2. Creation of an Air Force-Navy plan for future procurement of the C-130J aircraft manufactured in Marietta.

3. Funding for the use of artificial intelligence to conduct predictive maintenance for military aircraft and improve efficiency at public shipyards.

4. Adoption of technology and training methods that will dramatically increase Army helicopter pilots’ efficiency and lethality.

5. Procurement funding for the EC-37B Compass Call aircraft, which will get manufactured in Savannah and keep the Air Force at the cutting edge of electronic warfare.

6. Authorization of a study of cancer incidence among military helicopter pilots and aircrew to accompany recent studies on cancer rates among military fixed-wing aviators.

7. Language directing the military to review how Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can arise moral injury, which happens when a servicemember perceives betrayal by their leadership or violates their own deeply held beliefs.

     a. For many veterans of the War in Afghanistan, the 2021 withdrawal was a morally injurious event.

8. Support for new drone technologies that will give our military an edge on the battlefield while reducing servicemembers’ exposure to the most dangerous combat situations.

9. Funding for key Georgia National Guard priorities including procurement of heavy dump trucks, which play a critical role in disaster relief missions.

10. Modernization of landmine clearance technologies and support for landmine and unexploded ordinance disposal efforts overseas.
 
The National Defense Authorization Act is legislation that Congress passes each year to authorize the Department of Defense’s annual budget and set policies that govern the military’s organization and function. The NDAA complements the annual defense appropriations process and is an important tool keeping the military democratically accountable to the American people via their elected congressional representatives.