[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 184 (Wednesday, December 11, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H7101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              SUPPORTING SERVICEMEMBERS AT HOME AND ABROAD

  (Ms. KAPTUR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, today the House passed the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025.
  I voted for the legislation, as this body upholds again the over 60-
year bipartisan tradition, ensuring partisan politics does not put 
America's national security at risk.
  As a senior Member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I 
greatly appreciate the bipartisan work of the defense authorizing 
committee. Their collaboration has resulted in a bill that supports our 
patriotic servicemembers at home and abroad, and the legislation meets 
that call through its 14.5 percent pay raise for junior enlisted 
servicemembers and a 4.5 percent increase for all other members of our 
military.
  Our State of Ohio is home to over 31,000 servicemembers including 
those on Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard duty. They have 
earned this much-needed increase in pay at a time when too many of our 
citizens are struggling to afford basic needs.
  This legislation also authorizes $121 million for defense-related 
upgrades in Ohio to further strengthen avenues of collaboration between 
the Department of Defense and Ohio's installations.
  Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and Kwanzaa to our dear 
servicemembers who are serving liberty at home and abroad.

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