Both the House and Senate Armed Services committees advanced their versions of the FY 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) last week – each containing provisions aligning with MOAA’s legislative priorities in the 118th Congress.

This marks the 63rd consecutive year both committees have voted overwhelmingly in favor of advancing the NDAA – the House panel advanced its bill 58-1 on June 21, and the Senate panel did so with a 24-1 vote June 23. Both considered hundreds of amendments during the markup process.

So, why is the NDAA important? And what specifically does its passage mean to MOAA members?

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Without the necessary authorizations and appropriations, federal agencies can’t operate properly. An authorization bill establishes new policies and programs for a federal agency and can reauthorize programs set to expire—appropriations provide the funding for those authorizations. 

Until Congress passes those bills, federal agencies, including those overseeing the eight uniformed services, lack the authorizations and funding needed for the annual military pay raise, quality health care coverage, and quality-of-life programs for servicemembers and their families, along with many other support programs and benefits necessary for an all-volunteer force.

Breaking Down the Bills

Although the Senate has not released the full text of its NDAA version, the bills do overlap in two areas at the top of MOAA’s priority list: 

• Both authorize a 5.2% pay raise for servicemembers, which is on par with the Employment Cost Index.
• Both will improve the calculation of Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates for junior enlisted members. The House version removes specified pay levels for those in grades E-1 to E-4; details on the Senate’s approach to BAH have not been released, but the bill’s executive summary notes a similar modification.

House Bill Provisions 

Despite the areas of overlap, there likely will be key differences between the House and Senate versions which must be addressed during negotiations, most likely through a conference committee designated for that purpose.

MOAA will continue to evaluate the Senate’s progress on their version of the bill and continue to engage with the Senate Armed Services Committee and other Senate offices to see where the Senate stands on those issues impacting our servicemembers of all ranks and their families.

Provisions in the House bill would:

• Expand eligibility for the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) by excluding BAH from the calculation. MOAA has staunchly supported BNA and is working to ensure the program works effectively to end food insecurity within the ranks.
  
  
• Encourage DoD to increase the BAH rate to 96%, a 1% increase. This provision is not a mandate; it would require appropriations from Congress before we can expect DoD to increase the rate.
  
  

• Require DoD to publish wait times for child development centers on a publicly available site.
  
  
• Extend commissary and exchange privileges for remarried surviving spouses.
  
  

• Require that the secretary of Defense and the secretary of Veterans Affairs submit a joint report offering ideas to increase capacity at Arlington National Cemetery.

[RELATED: The Military Coalition Weighs in to Protect Eligibility for Burial With Honors]

• Provide zero out-of-pocket cost dental care to reserve-component servicemembers. Their dependents would still be eligible to purchase premium-based TRICARE Dental Program coverage.
  
  
• Remove TRICARE contraception copays for one year to bring TRICARE in line with federal requirements for commercial plans.
  
  
• Advance access improvements to mental health care, including reports on mental health provider credentialing and reimbursements, as well as a feasibility study on employing mental health providers in military treatment facilities (MTFs), under supervision, who are working toward licensure.
  
  
• Require a report on wait times in MTFs and the TRICARE network, including the impact of the new Military Health System (MHS) Genesis system on delays in accessing care, as well as a report on hiring practices for civilian nurses at MTFs.

What’s Next for the NDAA?

While both the House and Senate Armed Services committees have honored their commitment to our nation’s servicemembers and their families by advancing the NDAA, much more needs to be done before this year’s defense bill becomes law. 

Next steps for both chambers will be the floor consideration of their respective NDAA versions. Stay tuned for more updates on the NDAA and other defense-related issues in The MOAA Newsletter and Military Officer magazine, and on social media.

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All MOAA members also can participate by registering with MOAA’s Legislative Action Center, allowing them to take part in a much-improved system to ensure grassroots support for key legislative priorities. If we hit bumps along the way during NDAA negotiations between the House and Senate, we will seek your assistance to engage your lawmakers to make sure they know our priorities for the all-volunteer force.