Ft Wayne Times

On June 21, 2023, Military Personnel Subcommittee Chairman Jim Banks introduced two en bloc packages that passed by voice vote to be included in the House Armed Service's Fiscal Year 24 National Defense Authorization Act.

“Rep. Jim Banks has been a steadfast ally for our servicemembers and their families,” Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) said. “As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Military Personnel, he has worked tirelessly to ensure that the FY24 NDAA provides our servicemembers with the support and resources they need and deserve.”  

Key Wins:

• Military Pay: Supports an increase in military basic pay by 5.2% for service members, the largest troop pay increase in decades. 
• Establishes the Space National Guard: Establishes a Space National Guard limited to those states and territories with Air National Guard units currently performing the space mission.
• One-year extension of certain expiring bonus and special pay authorities: Extension of critical recruitment and retention incentive programs. 
• Combating deaths related to fentanyl: Requires naloxone, a medication used to reverse opioid overdose, be made available on military installations and operational environments.
• Mental health & suicide prevention: To address the growing behavioral health demands across the Military Health System, this bill would review timelines for provider credentialing and payment processing, explore innovative treatments for treating depression, and increase awareness across DOD to the new 9-8-8 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
• JROTC Restriction: Prohibits the establishment or maintenance of a unit of the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps at an educational institution owned, operated, or controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.

Original source can be found here.