Victor Valley Times

U.S. Congressman Jay Obernolte (CA-23) has secured significant wins for High Desert military bases and surrounding communities in the Fiscal Year 2025 Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), passed by the U.S. House of Representatives this week.

The legislation includes several amendments authored by Rep. Obernolte, such as support for home-based businesses for military spouses on military installations, modernization of U.S. solid rocket motor production, increased investment in domestic sourcing of rare earth elements, and ensuring adequate healthcare for civilian and military workforces around Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake and Edwards Air Force Base.

“This year’s House-passed NDAA will improve the quality of life for our military families and servicemembers, and I’m proud to have had the opportunity to make important changes to this critical legislation,” said Rep. Obernolte. “The NDAA will enhance our nation’s military readiness, support our warfighters, and increase the military’s recruitment and retention rates. With my provisions, it will also improve the quality of life on remote and isolated bases, including those located in California’s 23rd Congressional District. It’s critical that the military has the talent it needs to do its work of ensuring our nation’s security.”

One pressing issue facing the U.S. military is recruitment and retention. One of Rep. Obernolte's amendments directs the Department of Defense (DoD) to explore solutions addressing employment opportunities for military spouses through programs like Home-Based Business (HBB). This program allows military spouses living on base to create commercial businesses out of their housing.

Another amendment focuses on reducing U.S. reliance on imported Rare Earth Elements (REE), with over 95% currently sourced from abroad, particularly China. The amendment directs the DoD to identify high-potential REE sites within the United States to secure domestic supply chains.

Rep. Obernolte also addressed healthcare challenges at remote installations like NAWS China Lake and Edwards AFB by securing an amendment requiring a DoD report on regional healthcare issues faced by both civilians and military personnel.

Additionally, an amendment was passed to increase U.S. production capability for solid rocket motors (SRMs) while modernizing related technology—an effort aimed at helping defense companies transition from research to production.

Beyond these specific amendments, the FY25 NDAA aims to rapidly deploy innovative technologies needed by servicemembers through streamlined processes and enhanced private sector collaboration. It also seeks to strengthen research security and innovation workforce capabilities while improving partnerships between the DoD, educational institutions, and small businesses.

To further support servicemembers, a pay raise is included in the bill: a 19.5% increase for junior enlisted members and a 4.5% raise for all other service members—a move intended to address inflation-driven cost increases that have forced many families to rely on food banks or assistance programs like SNAP and WIC.

The FY25 NDAA builds upon gains made in previous years’ acts with a continued focus on national defense priorities.

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