A busy agenda awaits members of Congress when they return to Washington, D.C., after the election, with the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) taking center stage.

This year’s NDAA has faced significant delays as lawmakers negotiate disagreements on a multitude of military policies. As they navigate a challenging political and legislative landscape, MOAA remains closely involved with several initiatives that could have an impact on the well-being and support of the military community.

Here’s a look at some of the provisions in the House and Senate NDAA versions, which include key MOAA priorities:

Military Pay Raise and Junior Enlisted Pay Increase: The House version of the NDAA calls for a significant 15% increase for junior enlisted servicemembers (E-1 to E-4) in addition to a standard 4.5% raise for all ranks. This proposal faces strong opposition from the White House and some in the Pentagon, and lacks corresponding provisions in the Senate's version, which only suggests a 1% additional raise for fewer junior enlisted members (E-1 to E-3).

[TAKE ACTION:  Urge Congress to Support a Substantial Pay Raise for Our Junior Enlisted Troops]

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH): Another critical element of the House NDAA is the effort to restore BAH to cover 100% of housing costs, a measure vital for supporting servicemembers and their families. This initiative lacks Senate support and was not funded by the House Appropriations Committee, highlighting the challenges of securing adequate resources for military families.

Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS): The House NDAA mandates a comprehensive review of BAS rates by DoD. This review would consider various factors such as family size, food accessibility, and local costs, ensuring allowances accurately reflect the needs of servicemembers and their dependents. Furthermore, the legislation proposes raising Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) eligibility to 200% of federal poverty guidelines, a move that could significantly expand support for those in need.

Military Family Support: The House version of the NDAA includes several important provisions aimed at enhancing support for military families and improving the welfare of servicemembers:

• Expanded In-Home Child Care Pilot: The proposed expansion would include installations such as New York’s Fort Drum, New Mexico’s Holloman Air Force Base, and Naval Air Station Lemoore and Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms in California. The move would increase access to essential child care services for military families.
  
  
• Incentives for Child Care Providers: Last year, DoD mandated that services implement policies to encourage more individuals to become child care providers, offering a 50% discount on care for their first child. The Air Force has set a higher standard by providing a 100% discount for the first child and additional discounts for subsequent children. The House version of the NDAA aims to establish this 100% discount across all services, ensure competitive pay for child care personnel, and facilitate easier transfers between installations.
  
  
• Flexibility for Federally Employed Military Spouses: The House version of the NDAA requires federal agencies to offer flexibility for military spouses upon receipt of PCS orders. Options include remote work, reassignment within the commuting area of the new duty station, authorization to perform duties in an equal position, or leave without pay for up to six months, allowing agencies to backfill positions.

[LEARN MORE: What the House NDAA Would Mean for Military Families]

Transition Assistance Program for Guard and Reserve: The House NDAA includes a tailored transition assistance program for Guard and Reserve members, better aligning support with their unique needs. It also would establish parental leave parity for the Coast Guard Reserve, bringing the service’s policies in line with DoD procedures.

Military Unaccompanied Housing: The House NDAA calls for increased funding and visibility of Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization (FSRM) funds to address decades of deferred maintenance, estimated at $137 billion. The proposal also includes provisions allowing junior enlisted Navy personnel on sea duty to receive BAH in response to extended ship maintenance periods.

[RELATED: Members of MOAA’s Currently Serving Councils Weigh in on Military Moves]

TRICARE: Both the House and Senate NDAA versions include key provisions that would improve the military health care benefit by:

• Eliminating Contraception Copays to Align TRICARE With Affordable Care Act Requirements: To avoid direct spending barriers, the House version limits this change to one year while the Senate version delays implementation until 2034.
  
  
• Expanding TRICARE Coverage of Assisted Reproductive Technology, Including IVF: Both versions exclude certain beneficiaries, including retirees, to avoid mandatory spending increases. MOAA has urged Congress to include all beneficiaries in this parity fix.
  
  
• Including Pregnancy as a Qualifying Life Event (QLE): The House version includes a pilot that would make this change as part of a five-year program. Greater flexibility in switching between TRICARE Prime and Select will help ensure access to vital prenatal care.
  
  
• Offering More Mental Health Options: A provision in the Senate version would allow active duty servicemembers and their families to use TRICARE network mental health providers licensed in another state. This would help address mental health access and continuity of care challenges for mobile military families.

These provisions underscore the commitment to supporting military families and ensuring the well-being of servicemembers. As lawmakers consider the NDAA, it is essential they include critical measures in the final legislation to strengthen and support the military community.