House Passes NDAA with Key Wins for the Marianas

The House passed the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Wednesday with three of my amendments benefiting the Northern Mariana Islands. All three amendments were adopted by unanimous consent, strengthening local readiness, infrastructure, and strategic importance in the Indo-Pacific. My amendments include:

• Enhancing the Innovative Readiness Training Program – This amendment authorizes the Department of Defense to use IRT funds to purchase necessary supplies and materials for ongoing training projects. Currently, while DoD can provide personnel and services, it cannot fund basic materials, leaving some missions incomplete and diminishing training value. By closing this gap, we improve mission success, enhance military readiness, and ease the burden on host communities like ours.

• Studying Defense Access Roads Program Limitations – This bipartisan amendment, cosponsored by Representatives Ed Case and James Moylan, directs DoD to study the current limitations of the DAR Program, particularly its inability to support routine road maintenance. Including maintenance within the program's scope could lower long-term infrastructure costs and provide stronger support for states and territories that host military operations.

Authorizing Repair in the Northern Mariana Islands – Under current law, U.S. naval vessels cannot undergo overhaul, repair, or maintenance in the Northern Marianas. My amendment changes that by making the Marianas an eligible location for these vital services. As U.S. military presence expands in the Indo-Pacific, it is strategically sound to allow repairs in every U.S. jurisdiction in the region, including ours. This policy change could also bring economic benefits by opening the door for private investment, job creation, and long-term economic development.