Utah Valley Times

Congress has approved the conference report for the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (NDAA). This legislation authorizes funding levels and provides authorities for the U.S. military, ensuring that American forces have the necessary training, equipment, and resources to fulfill their missions. The bill now awaits the President's signature.

Senator Mitt Romney emphasized the importance of addressing threats from China while highlighting Utah's role in national security. "Besides our burgeoning national debt, an emboldened and rising China is the greatest threat to American security and prosperity," he stated. He added that modernizing nuclear deterrents is crucial to maintaining global superpower status.

Romney also mentioned provisions in this year's NDAA aimed at countering threats from countries like China, Russia, and Iran. These include modernizing the nuclear triad, strengthening supply chains in the Indo-Pacific, and increasing servicemembers' pay.

Several measures will benefit Utah specifically. The bill strengthens the Sentinel program at Hill Air Force Base and addresses military recruitment challenges by promoting service among young people.

Key Romney measures included in the NDAA are:

- Incorporating Japan into AUKUS: As China's military activities increase in regions such as Taiwan Strait, sections 1331-1334 of the NDAA update Romney’s Coordinating AUKUS Engagement with Japan Act to engage Japan in advanced technology cooperation under AUKUS.

- Bolstering Sentinel Program: Section 1630 mandates maintaining no less than 400 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles. Additional requests aim to strengthen related infrastructure and assess cost-saving opportunities using Minuteman III systems.

- Supporting Hill Air Force Base: A request requires examining productivity challenges at Ogden Air Logistics Center to improve Air Force readiness.

- Promoting Military Service: Language supporting Romney's Military and Educational Data Integration Act aims to create a data-sharing program between state education systems and military enlistment data.

- Shoring Up Military Supply Chains: Sections 821 and 1026 address logistics challenges in the Indo-Pacific by adding allies for product support and allowing shipyard use outside the U.S.

- Combating Foreign Terrorist Drones Act of 2024: This measure seeks to prevent foreign terrorists from acquiring drones for attacks or intelligence gathering.

The full text of this year's NDAA can be accessed online along with additional reports detailing its provisions.