Rep. Van Epps Secures Major Legislative Victories in FY27 NDAA

July 22, 2026 Press Release Rep. Van Epps Secures Major Legislative Victories in FY27 NDAA Image WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Matt Van Epps (TN-07) released the following statement after four of his amendments were included in the House’s version of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). HONOR Gold Star Families Act Amendment Rep. Van Epps stated , “I am proud that core provisions of my HONOR Gold Star Families Act made it into the FY27 NDAA. For the first time in nearly two decades, this legislation updates the military death gratuity by increasing the benefit for survivors from $100,000 to $165,000 and indexing future payments to inflation through a cost-of-living adjustment. This legislation will provide greater financial support to the families of fallen servicemembers who have sacrificed so much.” Read more here . Fort Campbell Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Amendment Rep. Van Epps said , “The fact of the matter is that aging water and wastewater infrastructure has become a growing concern for readiness and quality of life. Much of Fort Campbell’s utility system is more than 60 years old and requires significant maintenance and modernization to reduce the risk of service disruptions. Should a major disruption occur, it could affect everything from mission execution to the health of military families,” he continued . He said , “Fort Campbell isn’t the only aging base. According to a 2024 CBO report , the four services have $50 billion in deferred maintenance on their bases, with the Army and Navy making up 70 percent of the backlog. Yet, despite the scale of the challenge, the Department of War (DOW) lacks a comprehensive assessment that identifies and prioritizes the military's most critical aging utility systems. That’s why I am introducing this amendment today. My amendment directs the DOW to evaluate the condition, costs, and operational impacts of these systems across all military installations. Once that is done, the Department of War will rank the highest-risk projects and provide recommendations for prioritizing future investments.” “This data-driven roadmap for modernization will ensure installations like Fort Campbell receive appropriate attention before infrastructure failures degrade military readiness,” he concluded. Read more about this amendment here and here . Report on Defense Prototype Transition to Program of Record Amendment Rep. Van Epps said , “My amendment to accelerate the delivery of advanced technologies to our warfighters was also included in the NDAA. Too often, groundbreaking research and development from institutions like Vanderbilt University in my district or Tennessee’s Oak Ridge National Lab take far too long to reach the battlefield. It doesn’t help to have the best scientists, engineers, and innovators in the world, only to have their breakthrough discoveries stifled by bureaucracy. My amendment directs the DOW to identify and address the barriers that prevent successful prototype projects from transitioning into procurement and production. My hope is to get the best tools we have into our warfighters' hands faster. I hope this amendment will help do just that.” Read more about this amendment here . Defense Contractor Maximum Production Plan Requirement Amendment Rep. Van Epps stated , “This amendment will help ensure our nation can meet the demands of any future conflict. Recent events in Ukraine and Iran have shown how quickly modern conflicts consume artillery rounds, precision-guided munitions, air defense interceptors, and other critical systems. That is why I introduced an amendment requiring major defense contractors to outline how they would rapidly increase production capacity during a national emergency or major conflict. I am confident that this amendment will identify problematic bottlenecks, whether it be aging infrastructure or workforce shortages, that could keep us from being the most lethal fighting force on the planet.” Read more about this amendment here .