WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today applauded the Senate’s passage of the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This legislation will now go to the President to be signed into law:

“Responding to threats from around the world begins with a strong military. This year’s NDAA invests in our nation’s weapons stockpiles and technology, provides support and resources for our military families and makes strategic investments to fortify our defenses against adversaries like China and Russia. It also makes strategic investments at our southern border to enable the Department of Defense to help counter cartels and traffickers. I worked to also include a number of my priorities in NDAA to protect benefits for spouses of fallen servicemembers, invest in Kansas military bases and expand TRICARE services.”

Sen. Moran’s priorities included in the FY2024 NDAA:

• Protecting Benefits for Military Spouses – Allows surviving spouses to retain certain benefits upon remarriage at any age. This provision is part of a more comprehensive bill Sen. Moran introduced – the Love Lives on Act.
• New Investments at Fort Riley – Authorizes $105 million for the construction of an Aircraft Maintenance Hangar at Fort Riley, $1.6 million for the planning and design of a new Air Traffic Control Tower, and $15.6 million in cost-to-complete funding for a power generation and microgrid.

• TRICARE Pharmacy Benefit Analysis – Analyzes the impact transitioning to TPharm5 is having on stakeholders, including servicemembers, their dependents and veterans.

• TRICARE Hearing Aids for Dependents of Retirees – Allows the dependents of retired servicemembers to maintain hearing aid coverage through TRICARE Prime.

• Resources for Forbes Field – Authorizes $5.9 million for a microgrid and backup power generator at Forbes Field. 

• Establishes New Rank of National Guard Vice Chief – Elevates the National Guard Vice Chief to a four-star general.

• Red Hill Long-Term Health Study and Registry – Establishes an exposure registry to address CDC recommendations due to ongoing health impacts and limitations of Department of Defense’s (DoD) tracking system. This provision also requires the DoD to conduct an epidemiological study to assess health outcomes for individuals affected by the Red Hill Incident.

• Military Mental Health Referrals – Currently, servicemembers must obtain a referral through their primary care doctor before seeking care in the community, leading to longer wait times to receive care. This provision requires the DoD to provide a report on how removing the referral requirement impacts servicemembers seeking mental health care.

• Supporting Children with Disabilities Around the World – Bolsters U.S. support for children with disabilities, helping support local disabilities rights organizations and families of children with disabilities around the world.

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