Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) released the following statement upon passage of the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):

“I am proud to support the FY2026 NDAA, which delivers a hard-earned pay raise for military service members and their families while improving their quality of life and safeguarding America’s national security.

“I am particularly proud to have championed parts of the defense bill that benefit the service members and families at MacDill Air Force Base, including pay raises and critical improvements to on-base housing and infrastructure, health care and childcare. The bill includes $74 million to support the construction of new KC-46 aircraft hangars and maintenance facilities.

“To address the high cost of living, I am proud to have fought for and helped secure a 3.8 percent pay raise for all service members. This well-earned pay raise will provide meaningful relief to service members and their families.

“This year’s NDAA also includes important provisions intended to address mold issues plaguing base housing, including in privatized housing at MacDill AFB. The new provision strengthens mold reporting requirements, standardizes remediation guidelines across the military, and requires routine inspections of privatized and government-owned military housing by an independent, qualified home inspector.

“Education and childcare are also fundamental for our military families and their children. This year’s NDAA authorizes $50 million to support local school districts that serve military-dependent students and additional funding for the construction of child development centers.

“Service members and their families deserve reliable access to high-quality health care. That’s why I’m thankful that the NDAA fully funds military medical treatment facilities and includes stricter requirements for downsizing or closing facilities, like Tampa’s Sabal Park Clinic.

“After decades of the executive branch taking advantage of two broad Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMF), the FY2026 NDAA finally repeals the 1991 and 2002 AUMFs against Iraq, re-establishing the Constitutionally prescribed role of Congress in the use of military forces.

“Congressional Democrats also successfully opposed numerous policy riders and poison pills targeting LGBTQ+ service members.

"Tampa Bay is a vibrant hub for defense-sector companies and entrepreneurs. To continue strengthening business and relationships with these key partners, this year's NDAA delivers the most substantive reforms in decades to address the defense acquisition process. These updates will ensure both regulatory requirements and efficiency are met, while bolstering our nation's industrial base and commercial innovation, as well as the workforce that delivers them.

"Importantly, the NDAA includes provisions to ensure that the Trump Administration does not walk away from our partners and allies like Ukraine, and to provide oversight and accountability measures to restrain illegal actions by the Trump Administration, including strikes that have occurred in Venezuela and the Caribbean, removal of general officers, and the use of military aircraft, personnel, and installations for immigration enforcement."

Supporting Military Service Members and their Families:

1. 3.8% pay raise for all service members
2. Increased investments in child development centers
3. Increased investments in base housing
4. Increase to the Family Separation Allowance (FSA)

Military Housing:

1. Provides funds to keep DoD facilities in good working order and reduce the maintenance backlog
2. Strengthens military housing by creating new reporting requirements, establishing standardized remediation of mold across military branches and requiring inspections of privatized and government-owned military housing by an independent, qualified home inspector

Health Care:

1. Establishes additional requirements that changes to military medical treatment have no effect on operations at treatment facilities for service members and their families

The FY2026 NDAA Conference Report passed by a margin of 312-112 in the House. The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate.

U.S. Rep. Castor is a member of the powerful U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee and previously served on the U.S. House Armed Services Committee and as Chair of the former U.S. House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. Her district includes MacDill Air Force Base and is home to U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), two of the Armed Forces’ most important military commands.  MacDill Air Force Base’s 6th Air Refueling Wing is the centerpiece of the U.S. Air Force’s Global Vigilance, Global Reach, Global Power mission, with its essential aerial refueling function. The base’s mission is vital to keeping America safe and ready for any contingencies we may face as a nation.