Bennet Priorities Passed in the National Defense Authorization Act Authorizes $270 Million for Colorado
Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet celebrated the passage of major investments in Colorado military bases, protections for children’s hospitals serving military families, and pay increases for military personnel in the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25). Bennet helped secure over $270 million for Colorado including funding for Colorado Space Force installations and investments in U.S. space and defense capabilities.
This year’s NDAA also includes language requiring the Department of Defense (DoD) to brief Congress on the effects of a recent Defense Health Agency (DHA) rule change decreasing TRICARE reimbursement rates for children’s hospitals by 40 percent. This requirement follows Bennet’s push for the DoD to reverse the rule and advocate for hospitals serving military family communities such as Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Bennet priorities passed in the FY25 NDAA include:
- Buckley Power Independence Project – $68 million in military construction for Buckley Space Force Base’s power resiliency project which will support all of Colorado’s Space Force installations.
- TRICARE Children’s Hospitals Reimbursements Briefing – The DoD is now required to brief the Senate and House Armed Services Committees on the effects of a recent DHA rule change decreasing TRICARE reimbursements to children’s hospitals by 40%. The DoD must also provide a military contingency payment adjustments plan for assisting affected children’s hospitals.
- Military Personnel Pay Increase – Junior enlisted service members (E-1 to E-4) will receive a 14.5% pay raise. All other service members will receive a 4.5% basic pay increase.
- Colorado Defense and Aerospace Industry Investments – $216.1 million for research, development, and deployment of national defense and aerospace technology. This funding will improve U.S. military readiness and capabilities in the space domain.
- Rip and Replace Funding – $3.08 billion for cellular companies to remove and replace sensitive telecommunications equipment. This funding will allow providers to fulfill the requirements set out in the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019. Over 120 companies faced shortfalls that jeopardized cellular coverage for Americans across the country, including in Colorado.
- Contraception Coverage Parity Under the TRICARE Program – This legislation provides coverage parity and eliminates copays for contraceptives for eligible TRICARE beneficiaries acquired through retail pharmacies and the national mail-order pharmacy.
- Coordinating AUKUS Engagement with Japan – This amendment requires the DoD and State Department to evaluate Japan’s export control systems and engage relevant Japanese stakeholders on AUKUS-relevant issues. The DoD is required to brief Congress on those discussions and potential technical cooperation with Japan on Pillar II of AUKUS, which focuses on jointly developing advanced capabilities between Australia, the UK, and the U.S.
A list of Bennet priorities secured in the FY25 NDAA is HERE.