This year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes six Hickenlooper bills and provisions, strengthens U.S. national security
Bill also delivers major progress on housing affordability, food quality, pay increases for service members
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper celebrated bipartisan Senate passage of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which sets national security policy and recommended spending levels for the Department of Defense. The legislation authorizes $924.7 billion for defense programs, including critical funding for Colorado’s Buckley Space Force Base and Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station.
“Our national security hinges on Colorado. This NDAA invests in our troops – and our state – so they can continue to keep us safe,” said Hickenlooper.
The Senate passed the NDAA following months of bipartisan negotiations, despite the federal government being shut down. Hickenlooper remains committed to negotiating a government funding bill that would open the government AND protect Americans health care.
Hickenlooper secured the inclusion of the following bills he introduced or cosponsored in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 NDAA:
- Hickenlooper-led Amendment on Personnel Transfers to the Space Force: Clarifies congressional intent that the move of National Guard personnel to the Space Force is a limited action that does not set a precedent for future personnel transfers. The FY25 NDAA provided the authority for this transfer and Hickenlooper has led the effort to provide for greater gubernatorial oversight.
- Hickenlooper-led Amendment Supporting the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP): Requires the Secretary of Defense to continue transmitting DMSP data to scientific researchers nationwide for the duration of the satellites’ lifespan. The DMSP collects global weather data to support Department of Defense operations. It was abruptly cancelled this summer before being restored following a letter from Senators Hickenlooper and Murkowski.
- Finding ORE Act: Co-led by Hickenlooper, this bipartisan bill strengthens the U.S. supply of critical minerals and reduces strategic vulnerabilities. The bill leverages the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) mapping of critical mineral reserves to help partner nations responsibly develop their global mineral resources around the world.
- ROAD to Housing Act of 2025: This legislative package increases access to affordable housing for Americans by expanding the housing supply and improving housing affordability. Hickenlooper cosponsors the VA Home Loan Awareness Act, a bill to help more veterans take advantage of the VA Home Loan program and achieve home ownership, which was incorporated into the larger ROAD to Housing Act.
- The Servicewomen and Women Veterans Menopause Research Act: Cosponsored by Hickenlooper, this bipartisan legislation requires the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to research and study the effects of menopause on women service members and women veterans. The research would analyze gaps in treatment for women service members experiencing menopause or perimenopause.
- Community Development Banking and Financial Institutions (CDFI) Bond Guarantee Program Improvement Act of 2025: Cosponsored by Hickenlooper, this bipartisan legislation would strengthen CDFIs to jumpstart economic development and increase access to capital for more Americans.
The legislation also includes numerous funding and policy priorities that are important to Colorado communities and our military installations, including:
- $12 Million for Buckley Space Force Base: Authorizes $12 million to improve 351 of Buckley’s family housing units to update living spaces for service members and their families .
- More than $22 Million for Cheyenne Mountain: Authorizes $22 million to invest in updated electronics systems at the Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station.
- $226 Million for NORAD / NORTHCOM: Authorizes more than $226 million for increased missile testing by NORAD and NORTHCOM.
- Grants U.S. Air Force Cadets a Chance to Compete as Olympic and Professional Athletes: Permits USAFA cadets to seek employment as a professional or Olympic athlete upon graduation while maintaining the requirement that they complete their five year service obligation as an officer or pay back their education.
The legislation also strengthens America’s promise to our service members to ensure those who work to keep us safe receive the benefits they earn.
- Larger Paychecks for Military Personnel: Increases all service members pay by 3.8%.
- Better Food Quality for Service Members: Modifies the calculation of the basic allowance for food for enlisted servicemembers to improve access to quality food. The legislation also authorizes the Secretary of Defense to conduct a pilot program to provide coupons to junior enlisted members to purchase food at commissaries.
- Improve Military Child Care: Directs the DoD to report to Congress on the unmet need for child care in military communities, as well as to identify gaps between needs and providers, and enter into interagency partnerships to place trained volunteers into child development centers.
- Increase Housing Affordability: Requires DoD to clarify how basic allowance for housing (BAH) is calculated and create more transparency. Includes historic legislation to increase housing supply and affordability, including the Hickenlooper-cosponsored VA Home Loan Awareness Act.
- Support Gold Star Spouses: Includes an amendment to make Gold Star spouses eligible for services under the disabled veterans’ outreach program.
- Bolster Reproductive Health Care: Ensures that fertility-related care for service members is covered under TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select.
The legislation authorizes a number of significant provisions that will strengthen our national security and reinforce American global engagement, including on:
Critical Minerals:
- Invests in critical U.S. tools to secure a stable supply chain for critical minerals by reauthorizing the Defense Production Act and the Development Finance Corporation.
- Bolsters domestic capabilities and supply chain resilience of critical minerals by modifying the Defense Industrial Base Fund (IBF), which supports efforts to boost our military security, to include critical minerals.
- Strengthens domestic supply of critical minerals by encouraging the exploration, development and extraction of strategic and critical materials through the Defense Industrial Base Purchase Commitment Program (DIB PCP).
- Invests in our technological future by authorizing $15 million for defense-wide manufacturing science and technology programs focused on critical minerals.
- Directs the DoD to establish multiple sources for products in critical sectors such as strategic and critical minerals (and energy storage and batteries) by fiscal year 2031.
- Directs the Secretary of Defense to take measures to ensure reliable supply of strategic materials, including stockpiling, planning for long lead times, and developing substitutes.
Space:
- Strengthens our space security by growing our Space Force (USSF) to a full 10,400 members.
- Requires anti-satellite weapons systems to be acquired and operated by USSF.
- Directs DoD to study future heavy and super heavy space launch capacity, including a comparative analysis of alternate sites.
Artificial Intelligence (AI):
- Directs DoD to facilitate the integration of commercially available AI capabilities into logistics operations.
- Directs the CYBERCOM Commander to develop a roadmap for industry collaboration on AI-enabled cyber capabilities for cyberspace operations.
- Boost AI coordination across the government by establishing a steering committee with senior leadership, a cross-functional team focused on standardizing evaluation and collaboration of AI models employed by DoD, a task force (AI sandbox environments), and a public private partnership body to address cyber threats against AI systems.
Cybersecurity:
- Directs DoD to develop a strategy to deter hacking of critical infrastructure by expanding cyber personnel, elevating Cyber Policy leadership, directing IG reviews of U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) acquisitions, and mandating additional reporting requirements.
- Invests $20 million for research to improve cybersecurity.
Small Business:
- Cuts red tape to enable more small businesses in defense to compete for government contracts.
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