Bill to Strengthen National Defense with Provisions Championed by Senator Collins to be Signed into Law

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, announced that the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes $895.2 billion in total defense spending, passed the Senate by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 85-14. This annual defense bill authorizes spending levels and sets policy for the military and critical national defense priorities, while the defense appropriations bill, which is under the jurisdiction of the Senate Appropriations Committee appropriates the funding for the Department of Defense (DOD) each fiscal year. The Senate Appropriations Committee advanced the FY25 DOD funding bill in August by a unanimous vote of 28-0.  The NDAA, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives on December 11 by a 281-140 vote, now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“Each year for the past six decades, Congress has fulfilled one of their most important Constitutional responsibilities—providing for our national defense—by passing the NDAA,” said Senator Collins. “This legislation addresses the many national security threats facing our nation today and better supports the brave men and women of our armed forces. Additionally, the NDAA authorizes funding that will support hardworking Mainers at BIW, PNSY, Pratt & Whitney, and elsewhere across the State, who make invaluable contributions to our national defense.”  

Several provisions and amendments authored or co-authored by Senator Collins were included in the final bill that passed the Senate today:

• Blast Overpressure and Traumatic Brain Injury.  The NDAA includes multiple provisions based off the Blast Overpressure Safety Act, of which Senator Collins is an original cosponsor.  The provisions would direct DOD to enact measures to help mitigate and protect service members from blast overpressure, which is the wave caused by the firing of a weapon or munition.  Recent research indicates repeated exposure to these waves can cause traumatic brain injury (TBI).  In June, Senator Collins joined a bipartisan group of senators in sending a letter requesting the Government Accountability Office (GAO) review DOD research on blast overpressure and TBI.  GAO accepted the request and shortly after the Pentagon released updated policies aimed at mitigating servicemembers' exposure to blast overpressure, including updating standoff distances for specific weapons and proposing limits on expending excess rounds during training.

• TRICARE Coverage of Certain Alzheimer’s Therapies.  The NDAA includes an amendment authored by Senator Collins that requires DOD to review its TRICARE coverage of monoclonal antibodies (MABs) for prevention, treatment, or mitigation of the symptoms related to mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease.  TRICARE’s coverage policy specifically excluded coverage of MABs for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease even though such drugs have had full FDA-approval since July 2023.

• Contraceptive Coverage Parity under TRICARE.  The NDAA contains language from a bill led by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Senator Collins to eliminate copays for contraceptives for servicemembers and their families.  This provision brings TRICARE’s coverage in-line with private health care requirements.

The NDAA also includes a number of provisions Senator Collins strongly advocated for that will benefit Maine: 

• Support for U.S. Troops.  The NDAA supports a 4.5% raise for servicemembers and DOD civilians. 

• Support for Maine Air National Guard.  The NDAA authorizes $48 million for construction of a universal fuel cell hangar at the Bangor Air National Guard base.  As the Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins secured nearly $9.6 million for MEANG projects in Bangor and Saco in the Fiscal Year 2024 Military Construction Appropriations bill.  In May, she highlighted the important role the MAINEiacs play in our national defense at a hearing to review the Fiscal Year 2025 budget request for military construction. Senator Collins hosted Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall earlier this year on June 7, in what was the first time that the Secretary of the Air Force has made a dedicated visit to the 101st ARW.

• Support for Bath Iron Works.  The NDAA not only authorizes the President’s request for $5.4 billion for the two Arleigh-Burke class destroyers for FY25, but also includes $700 million in incremental funding for a third DDG-51 option ship.  The bill also authorizes $41.5 million in advance procurement for a FY26 option ship.  Senator Collins announced in August that she secured funding for a third DDG-51 in the FY 2025 Defense Appropriations bill.

• Support for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.  The NDAA authorizes $400.6 million for an extension of the multi-mission Dry Dock #1 military construction project at PNSY.  The bill also authorizes $28.7 million for power plant resiliency improvements at the shipyard.

• Support for Defense Contractors in Maine.  The NDAA authorizes funding to procure a total of 68 F-35 jets. It also authorizes the procurement of 20 CH-53K helicopters. Pratt & Whitney’s North Berwick facility manufactures the F135 engine for the F-35s, and Hunting Dearborn in Fryeburg has made important contributions to the F-35 and CH-53K program for years.

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