{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2024/12/18/bennet-secures-bipartisan-wins-for-colorado-military-bases-military-family-health-care-and-personnel-pay/", "Bennet Secures Bipartisan Wins for Colorado Military Bases, Military Family Health Care, and Personnel Pay", "2024-12-18", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "Bennet Priorities Passed in the National Defense Authorization Act Authorizes $270 Million for Colorado\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet celebrated the passage of major investments in Colorado military bases, protections for children\u2019s hospitals serving military families, and pay increases for military personnel in the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25). Bennet helped secure over $270 million for Colorado including funding for Colorado Space Force installations and investments in U.S. space and defense capabilities.\n\nThis year\u2019s NDAA also includes language requiring the Department of Defense (DoD) to brief Congress on the effects of a recent Defense Health Agency (DHA) rule change decreasing TRICARE reimbursement rates for children\u2019s hospitals by 40 percent. This requirement follows Bennet\u2019s push for the DoD to reverse the rule and advocate for hospitals serving military family communities such as Children\u2019s Hospital Colorado.\n\nBennet priorities passed in the FY25 NDAA include:\n\nBuckley Power Independence Project \u2013 $68 million in military construction for Buckley Space Force Base\u2019s power resiliency project which will support all of Colorado\u2019s Space Force installations.\n\nTRICARE Children\u2019s Hospitals Reimbursements Briefing \u2013 The DoD is now required to brief the Senate and House Armed Services Committees on the effects of a recent DHA rule change decreasing TRICARE reimbursements to children\u2019s hospitals by 40%. The DoD must also provide a military contingency payment adjustments plan for assisting affected children\u2019s hospitals.\n\nMilitary Personnel Pay Increase \u2013 Junior enlisted service members (E-1 to E-4) will receive a 14.5% pay raise. All other service members will receive a 4.5% basic pay increase.\n\nColorado Defense and Aerospace Industry Investments \u2013 $216.1 million for research, development, and deployment of national defense and aerospace technology. This funding will improve U.S. military readiness and capabilities in the space domain.\n\nRip and Replace Funding \u2013 $3.08 billion for cellular companies to remove and replace sensitive telecommunications equipment. This funding will allow providers to fulfill the requirements set out in the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019. Over 120 companies faced shortfalls that jeopardized cellular coverage for Americans across the country, including in Colorado.\n\nContraception Coverage Parity Under the TRICARE Program \u2013 This legislation provides coverage parity and eliminates copays for contraceptives for eligible TRICARE beneficiaries acquired through retail pharmacies and the national mail-order pharmacy.\n\nCoordinating AUKUS Engagement with Japan \u2013 This amendment requires the DoD and State Department to evaluate Japan\u2019s export control systems and engage relevant Japanese stakeholders on AUKUS-relevant issues. The DoD is required to brief Congress on those discussions and potential technical cooperation with Japan on Pillar II of AUKUS, which focuses on jointly developing advanced capabilities between Australia, the UK, and the U.S.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"]], "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://www.bennet.senate.gov/2024/12/18/bennet-secures-bipartisan-wins-for-colorado-military-bases-military-family-health-care-and-personnel-pay/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6230251640081406, "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"}