NDAA passes with key Marianas provisions

The House passed the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act Wednesday, authorizing investments to strengthen America's military and support our servicemembers. The House-approved bill includes three of my amendments benefiting the Northern Mariana Islands:

• Studying Saipan's Geothermal Energy Potential – Directs the Department of Defense to conduct a geothermal resource confirmation study on Saipan as part of its Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program. If a viable resource is confirmed, it could help lower electricity costs, strengthen energy security for military installations, and create opportunities to provide reliable, affordable power for CNMI residents and businesses.
• Strengthening Security for Defense Support Infrastructure – Requires the Department of Defense to assess counterintelligence risks involving civilian ports, warehouses, transportation networks, and other infrastructure that support major military installations. The amendment will help identify vulnerabilities and improve the security of critical supply chains.
• Expanding Service Academy Opportunities – Increases the number of CNMI students who may attend the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, and U.S. Air Force Academy from 9 to 12 at any given time, creating more opportunities for our students to pursue military service and leadership.

The $1.15 billion Defense policy bill also authorizes a 5-7% pay increase for all service members, investments in barracks and family housing, and extends the Pacific Deterrence Initiative to enhance U.S. posture in the Indo-Pacific. The Senate will now consider its version of the NDAA before the two chambers negotiate a final bill for the President’s signature.