{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410886", "Womack Votes for Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Steve Womack", "W000809", "womack.house.gov", "womack", "https://womack.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 July 22, 2026\u2026Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) today voted in support of H.R. 8800, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 National Defense Authorization Act that was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nCongressman Womack said, \u201cPeace through Strength requires us to address supply chain vulnerabilities, strengthen competition and innovation across the defense industry, and provide manufacturers with the certainty needed to replenish our arsenal. The Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act is instrumental in advancing these goals by implementing critical reforms to enable our defense industrial base to produce at speed and scale. I look forward to building on the authorities established in this bill through the defense appropriations process to ensure our warfighters are equipped to meet the challenges of tomorrow and the decades ahead.\u201d\n\nBill highlights:\n\nStrengthens Arkansas defense equities by:\n\nIncluding Congressman Womack\u2019s amendment to direct the Department of War (DoW) to conduct and publish an analysis evaluating the full life-cycle costs of F-35 basing options for aircraft delivered between FY30-FY35.\n\nAuthorizing the Secretary of the Army to conduct a no-cost land exchange between the Arkansas National Guard (ARNG) and the U.S. Army Reserve to provide the ARNG with a new Joint Force Headquarters building.\n\nExtending a 2024 project authorization for a 3-bay maintenance hangar at Ebbing Air National Guard Base to support the force beddown of F-35 aircraft.\n\nStrengthens readiness and efficiency by:\n\nIncreasing end-strength across the DoW to support national security priorities, homeland security, and disaster response.\n\nAuthorizing multi-year procurement authority for certain munitions, the F-35 aircraft, and F-15EX aircraft, and constrains the retirement of legacy aircraft like the E-3 and MQ-9 before replacements are ready.\n\nAuthorizing the establishment of Joint Task Force Audit to support achieving an unmodified financial statement audit opinion by 2028.\n\nRevitalizes the defense industrial base by:\n\nProviding the capital needed to expand and accelerate production by providing multiyear procurement authority for critical systems, munitions, and components, including those for F-35 Aircraft and spares.\n\nInvesting in research, development, testing, and evaluation of innovative technologies, including autonomous capabilities, cybersecurity, biotechnology, and advanced materials.\n\nImproves servicemember quality of life by:\n\nAuthorizing appropriators to increase servicemember pay by 5 to 7 percent.\n\nAuthorizing over $1.8 billion for new construction of barracks and family housing.\n\nExpanding eligibility for the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA), an initiative closely related to Congressman Womack\u2019s BNA Fairness Act of 2025.\n\nImproving DoW school assistance, increasing access to childcare, and authorizing programs to recruit and train military spouses to teach in DoW schools.\n\nExpanding access to healthcare by developing further dental and women\u2019s health care at Military Treatment Facilities.\n\nA summary of the bill is available HERE.\n\nThe bill text is available HERE.\n\nCongressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas\u2019s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.\n\nwomack.house.gov\n\n###\n\nRelated News\n\nWomack Votes to Bolster Defense and Election Security\n\nJuly 22, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nWomack Votes to Pass Amended Full-Year Spending Package\n\nFebruary 3, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nWomack Votes for Full-Year Spending Package to Fund Departments of State, Treasury, and More\n\nJanuary 14, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nWomack Votes to Pass Final FY26 NDAA, Raising Pay for Troops and Bolstering National Security\n\nDecember 10, 2025 | Posted in Press Releases", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"]], "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://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410886"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7273713126778603, "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"}