(The Center Square) — The annual national defense bill always includes benefits not only to the American military but specifically to Virginia service members and facilities, with this year no different.
The nearly $1 trillion fiscal year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act authorizes 14 military construction projects in Virginia totaling over half a billion dollars, including projects at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Joint Expeditionary Base at Little Creek-Fort Story, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Navy at Little Creek, Naval Air Station Oceana, naval stations at Norfolk and Yorktown and Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
It also authorizes $33.5 billion for “the procurement of seven battle force ships, including one Virginia-class submarine, with incremental funding authority for a second ship and funding for additional material and support; and full funding of the Columbia class ballistic missile submarine program,” according to a press release from Virginia Sen. Mark Warner’s office.
For the military at large, the bill authorizes a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% pay raise for all other service members. In addition, it raises standards for military facilities and housing.
“I’m glad to see the Senate vote to pass our nation’s annual defense bill, which delivers critical funding to equip our nation’s military, provide for our veterans, and strengthen our national security amid a complicated landscape of emerging threats,” Warner said in a statement.
