Today, Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) voted to pass the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the U.S. House of Representatives. The FY26 NDAA is a yearly policy package that outlines the funding provisions for our nation’s defense priorities and military quality of life initiatives.
"As a 20-year Navy veteran, taking care of the men and women in our armed services is a top priority for me. Our servicemembers' quality of life goes hand in hand with military readiness,” said Congressman Tony Gonzales. "In the NDAA, I worked to ensure the Pentagon implements a pay raise from $250 to $400 for military families who qualify for the Family Separation Allowance, that child development centers for military families are adequately staffed, and conditions at military housing, dining, and medical facilities across our services are evaluated and improved. The passage of this legislation is a win for our national security priorities and a win for our troops.”
Additionally, Congressman Gonzales led and secured the approval of a bipartisan amendment in the FY26 NDAA. This amendment, authored by Congressman Gonzales and supported by the entire San Antonio congressional delegation, directs the Department of Defense to take into account San Antonio's well-established military infrastructure and geographical strengths in ongoing considerations by the Pentagon to consolidate United States Army North and United States Army South into a newly formed Western Hemisphere Command.
“San Antonio, which is widely known as Military City USA, is a critical arm to our national security interests. From the mission sets underway at Joint Base San Antonio, to our proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border, to the cyber capabilities employed at 16th Air Force and NSA Texas, the existing military infrastructure in San Antonio is second to none, and should continue playing a key role in the consolidation of Army North and South into one Western Hemisphere Command,” said Congressman Tony Gonzales. “Thank you to the entire San Antonio delegation for joining me on this effort. The House took a critical step forward on this matter today by including my proposal in the FY26 NDAA.”
In addition, Congressman Gonzales secured amendments to the House-passed FY26 NDAA to award an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal to troops who supported Operation Midnight Hammer in Iran earlier this year. He also secured amendments to improve commissaries and dining facilities, increase staffing at child development centers, support housing for troops stationed at the southern border, and decrease delays with SCIF (classified briefing room) accreditations.
Priorities for TX-23 Military Entities Secured and Passed by Congressman Tony Gonzales:
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$500,000,000 for the acquisition of a permanent, non-leased facility for NSA Texas in San Antonio
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$79,000,000 for Basic Military Training classrooms and a dining facility at JBSA-Lackland
- $18,000,000 for a new C-5M age maintenance facility at JBSA-Lackland that will support the Air Force Reserve
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$5,000,000 for the design of the Army Reserve Center Building at Camp Bullis
Servicemember Quality of Life Initiatives Passed by Congressman Gonzales:
Pay & Allowances:
? Provides a 3.8% pay raise for all servicemembers
? Mandates an increase in the Family Separation Allowance from $250 to $400 a month
? Excludes the Basic Allowance for Housing from household income calculations when determining eligibility for the Basic Needs Allowance
Health Care & Leave:
? Prevents reductions in uninformed healthcare personnel to ensure Military Treatment Facility staffing
? Waives fees and copays on the TRICARE Dental Program for all members of the Reserves
? Authorizes servicewomen and dependents to switch to TRICARE plans during pregnancy
? Increases access to specialty care by lowering the threshold for travel reimbursement for medical appointments from 100 miles to 50 miles
? Expands bereavement leave to include pregnancy loss and stillbirth
? Expands convalescent leave for service academy cadets and midshipmen
Housing & Nutrition:
? Requires an independent evaluation of military housing conditions, resident support gaps, and private company performance
? Requires an analysis of alternative methods for calculating the Basic Allowance for Housing to better reflect market trends
? Expands an Army pilot program across all services to allow CAC card use for meals at dining facilities, commissaries, exchanges, and on-base restaurants
Child Care:
? Extends the Child Care in Your Home Pilot Program through December 31, 2029. This program provides financial assistance to military families to help cover the cost of in-home childcare when on-base options are unavailable or insufficient
? Requires an annual review of childcare financial assistance to ensure it maintains pace with growing childcare costs
Mental Health:
? Expands mental health services tailored to meet the needs of the Cyber Mission Force
? Requires a DoD assessment of mental health staffing levels, appointment wait times, telehealth availability, and improvement plan
Post-Military Occupation Preparedness:
? Requires DoD to ensure that when servicemembers complete training and earn certifications for a military occupational specialty, those credentials are recognized as valid in the civilian workforce
? Allows Veterans Service Organizations to take part in the Transition Assistance Program
Key Priorities in the FY26 NDAA Advanced by Congressman Gonzales:
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Fully funds and provides additional authorities to DoD to support DHS border security efforts
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Fundamentally reforms the DoD acquisition process, codifying President Trump’s EO and speeding the delivery of innovative new technologies to the warfighter
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Authorizes full funding for the Golden Dome, F-47 fighter aircraft, submarines, warships, and autonomous systems
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Authorizes funds and creates new authorities to support the defense industrial base, grow defense manufacturing jobs in America, and onshore defense supply chains
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Provides over $20 billion in savings, including $15 billion from DOGE-initiated reforms
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Includes new authorities and funding to support efforts to prepare our military for a potential conflict in the Indo-Pacific
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Codifies President Trump’s EO to promote energy independence and utilize new nuclear power technologies