The Senate Armed Services Committee has approved the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), advancing a sweeping defense package that includes targeted funding for Florida military bases and a pay bump for service members.
U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), a member of the committee and chairman of the Seapower Subcommittee, announced the bill’s passage following bipartisan negotiations. The massive defense policy legislation now heads to the full Senate floor for a final vote before it can be sent to the president’s desk.
“Florida is home to thousands of servicemen and women who put on a uniform every day and put their lives on the line to protect our country,” Senator Scott said. “Our state hosts more than 20 military installations and three combatant commands. I am pleased to see so many critical provisions have been included in this year’s version of the bill that will help Florida, our warfighters, and our national security.”
Among the primary provisions included in the committee-approved bill is a 3.6 percent pay raise for all military personnel. The legislation also authorizes more than $930 million specifically designated for military construction projects throughout the state of Florida.
The defense package places strict new supply-chain restrictions on technology from foreign adversaries. Under the current text, the U.S. Department of War is banned from purchasing televisions, modems, or routers manufactured by companies based in China. Additionally, the military is prohibited from procuring or operating drones that utilize batteries, motors, subcomponents, or raw materials sourced from China. The bill also broadens the criteria used to identify and list Chinese military companies operating under government military-industrial policies.
For naval and aerial operations, the bill permits a block-buy contract to acquire 12 or more E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft through 2029. It increases funding for anti-submarine sonobuoy sensors, boosts development funds for unmanned surface and subsurface vessels, and directs the Navy to accelerate the deployment of extra-large uncrewed undersea vehicles in the Indo-Pacific.
In Central Florida, the Secretary of War is encouraged to maintain and assess expansion opportunities for the simulation, training, and test support portfolio. For service academy athletes, the bill creates an easier pathway to transition into professional sports leagues.
On international policy, the bill adjusts the AUKUS security partnership by authorizing the transfer of up to three in-service submarines to Australia, rather than a mix of new and older vessels. It also mandates congressional briefings regarding missile defense cooperation with Israel and orders an assessment of aerial refueling operations during the recent 12-Day War against Iran.
Other provisions in the bill target domestic readiness and commercial space operations. It extends a temporary cap on reimbursable space launch costs to maintain competitive commercial range economics and orders a comprehensive review of the Air Force’s National Security Space Launch strategy. Furthermore, defense officials must brief Congress on short-term risk mitigation strategies for critical pharmaceutical ingredients that are currently sourced from foreign suppliers.
“This bill helps equip our military with the technology and supplies it needs, rewards innovation and efficiency, invests in Florida’s military infrastructure, takes steps to counter Communist China, and ensures America remains safe and strong now and in the future,” Scott said.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
