Annual Defense Bill with King-Backed Provisions to Strengthen National Security, Protect Service Members from Brain Injuries Passes Congress

December 18, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), lauded the bipartisan Congressional passage of theFiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This legislation will strengthen America’s national security, help protect service members from brain injuries and boost the economies of Maine communities through shipbuilding and manufacturing with the hundreds of businesses that serve the military’s technological and manufacturing needs.
More specifically, the bill includes several provisions that Senator King backed, including support for service members’ health and transition to civilian status, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer for Bath Iron Works (BIW), an aggressive new military-wide approach to monitoring brain injuries, and stronger measures to prevent illegal drugs from entering the country. The bill passed out of the Senate in a 85-14 vote and now heads to the President’s desk for signature.
“For over six decades, Congress has taken a bipartisan approach to ensure that America’s military and defense forces have the training, equipment, and resources to carry out their missions. I’m proud that we could continue the tradition this year to pass an annual defense bill that will make our nation safer and stronger,”said Senator King.“As our global community faces some of its greatest challenges, the bill makes important investments in our military’s greatest asset – its people. The legislation supports good-paying jobs and manufacturing in Maine, particularly through its funding for shipbuilding at Bath Iron Works and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. These funds will help the shipyards plan their futures, continue to build the highest-quality ships, and maintain the submarine fleet that our Navy needs to accomplish missions across the globe.
“There are many more important provisions in this legislation – including a long-overdue brain injury monitoring program, fighting the opioid epidemic, and deterring Chinese and Russian aggression,”continued Senator King.“All told, this year’s NDAA will make our country safer, strengthen our economy, and support the health and safety of the men and women who fight for our freedoms.”
TheNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025includes King-backed provisions to:
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