Mississippi Gulf News

Today, Congressman Mike Ezell of Mississippi's 4th District expressed his support for the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bill, which Ezell voted in favor of, includes three legislative provisions he authored.

"I am proud to support the advancement of this year’s national defense bill. This is a crucial first step in providing essential support for our brave servicemembers and their families as global threats continue to grow," said Ezell. "The FY2025 NDAA makes important progress in strengthening U.S. military defenses, which must remain the strongest in the world to deter any potential attacks on the United States and our allies. South Mississippi plays a vital role in ensuring this strength, and I will continue to stand with our American troops and their unwavering commitment to defending our nation."

Ezell's contributions to the NDAA include:

- The Streamlining Law Enforcement Information Sharing Act, aimed at improving information sharing between state, local, and federal agencies.

- The FAST PASS Act, which focuses on enhancing the delivery of protective health care equipment during emergencies.

- The Serve Act, designed to safeguard the academic future of student service members in the National Guard and Reserve who are serving short-term mobilizations.

The annual defense legislation outlines priorities and policies for U.S. armed services. The FY2025 NDAA features measures such as increasing pay for U.S. servicemembers, enhancing military readiness, and continuing Department of Defense support for law enforcement operations along southwest and maritime borders.

Specific highlights of this year's NDAA include authorizing a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers and supporting a 4.5% pay raise for all other servicemembers. It also supports investments in shipyard infrastructure and industrial base while fully backing the deployment of National Guard troops to assist Border Patrol activities at the southwest border.