Tampa Republic

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Laurel Lee has expressed her approval following the House's passage of H.R. 5009, known as the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (NDAA).

"This year's NDAA has critical wins for our nation's military to make sure they are taken care of while also ensuring they remain a world-class fighting force in the world," stated Rep. Lee. The act includes a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers and a 4.5% increase for all other ranks, alongside improved housing and additional benefits aimed at supporting Florida servicemembers and their families.

Rep. Lee emphasized her support for the FY25 NDAA, stating, "I am proud to support the FY25 NDAA to ensure our military is taken care of and has the resources needed to keep our nation safe."

Additionally, one of Rep. Lee's legislative priorities included in the NDAA is the Parity for Child Exploitation Offenders Act. This measure aims to close legal loopholes by ensuring that repeat child predators face federal penalties equivalent to those applied to all sexual predators.

"I am pleased to see the Parity for Child Exploitation Offenders Act included in the FY25 NDAA," Rep. Lee continued, "which will close loopholes to ensure repeat child predators are held accountable and face the same federal penalties that apply to all sexual predators." She stressed the importance of holding perpetrators accountable: "We owe it to survivors of child sex abuse and exploitation to put an end to these crimes and make sure these perpetrators answer for their actions."