{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2937", "Annual Defense Policy Bill Improves Quality of Life for Servicemembers, Veterans and Military Families in the Pacific Northwest", "2024-12-11", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Rick Larsen", "L000560", "larsen.house.gov", "larsen", "https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the below statement after voting for the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bipartisan NDAA passed the House by a final vote of 281 to 140 and now heads to the Senate for consideration.\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the below statement after voting for the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bipartisan NDAA passed the House by a final vote of 281 to 140 and now heads to the Senate for consideration.\n\n\u201cI supported the NDAA because it improves the quality of life for servicemembers, veterans and military families in the Pacific Northwest and around the world,\u201d said Larsen, who served for 22 years on the Armed Services Committee (2001-2023). \u201cThis bipartisan bill gives servicemembers a raise, delivers Impact Aid to school districts that serve military communities, enables wounded servicemembers to start a family, strengthens national security and the NATO alliance, and educates servicemembers on artificial intelligence.\n\n\u201cThere was a specific provision in the final bill that limits gender affirming care for military families. I oppose this provision, and I will work to change it.\u201d\n\nSeveral of Larsen\u2019s priorities were included in the House-passed version of the NDAA:\n\nSupporting Servicemembers, Veterans and Military Families\n\nA Raise for Servicemembers \u2013 The NDAA included a 14.5 percent pay raise for junior enlisted and a 4.5 percent pay raise for all other servicemembers.\n\nImpact Aid for WA-02 School Districts \u2013 The NDAA included a total of $70 million in Department of Defense (DoD) Supplemental Impact Aid payments to school districts that serve military-connected students, including Oak Harbor School District.\n\nEnabling Wounded Servicemembers and Veterans to Start a Family \u2013 Larsen has met with servicemembers and veterans who struggle with having children due to medical complications because of their service. Larsen supported a provision to establish a pilot initiative to cryopreserve gametes, which will enable servicemembers to start a family should a dramatic injury occur.\n\nBoosting Servicemembers\u2019 Education\n\nAI Education for Servicemembers \u2013 Larsen is focused on ensuring servicemembers have expertise in emerging technology and have a basic understanding of artificial intelligence (AI). Larsen authored provisions in the NDAA to require the DoD to establish a foundational AI course and to require all branches of the Armed Forces to participate in the DoD\u2019s Digital On-Demand education initiative.\n\nStrengthening U.S. Involvement in NATO\n\nU.S. Involvement in NATO Innovation Fund \u2013 As a member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Larsen is a champion of U.S. involvement in the alliance. The NDAA includes Larsen\u2019s provision that authorizes the U.S. to participate in and contribute up to $200 million over five years to the NATO Innovation Fund, which plays a crucial role in fostering innovation and collaboration across the alliance to strengthen NATO defense and security and enhance resilience against strategic competitors.\n\nInvesting in Pacific Northwest Navy Bases\n\nHomeporting Frigates at Naval Station Everett \u2013 Larsen has long supported efforts to homeport more Navy and Coast Guard vessels at Naval Station Everett. Larsen included language in the NDAA in support of the Navy\u2019s commitment to homeport 12 Constellation-class frigates and crew at Everett, which is part of the Navy\u2019s broader mission of keeping the country safe and investing in Indo-Pacific security.\n\n###\n\nRelated News\n\nLarsen Announces $17.5 Million Investment in Skagit Transit\n\nMarch 12, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nLarsen Announces Washington Selected as Testing Partner for Next-Generation Aircraft\n\nMarch 11, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nLarsen Rejects Trump\u2019s Reckless War; Supports U.S. Military\n\nMarch 5, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nLarsen Reintroduces Bill to End Dark Money in Elections\n\nMarch 5, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nLarsen Joins Leader Jeffries in Statement on Iran Strikes\n\nFebruary 28, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2937"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9025740437209606, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}