Rep. Nancy Mace Secures 26 Major Legislative Wins In FY26 NDAA Markup In House Armed Services Committee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Washington, D.C., July 18, 2025) – Congresswoman Nancy Mace (SC-01) secured 26 substantive amendments to the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) during the House Armed Services Committee markup. 

Representative Mace's 26 adopted amendments, over double the committee average, underscores her leadership and results-driven approach to defense policy.

Her proposals reflect a clear, America First focus: supporting service members, strengthening national defense, restoring accountability in government, and safeguarding taxpayer dollars. These reforms align with longstanding conservative principles and address real, pressing needs within the Department of Defense.

“We made our mark on this year’s NDAA,” said Congresswoman Nancy Mace. “From improving mental health care and preventing military sexual trauma to pushing for transparency, accountability, and emerging technology, these amendments reflect real priorities for our service members, our national security, and the American people.”

Highlights of Rep. Nancy Mace’s Adopted Amendments Include:

Protecting Survivors & Modernizing Military Justice

1. Sexual Assault Forensic Exams – Requires the Department of Defense to provide forensic exams for civilian employees and contractors affected by sexual assault.
2. VA Support Training for MST Survivors – Requires Department of Defense to update sexual assault prevention and response training to include available VA resources for survivors of military sexual trauma.
3. Capital Punishment for Child Rape – Authorizes the death penalty under the Uniform Code of Military Justice for those convicted of raping a child.
4. Protocols for Screening for Unwanted Sexual Conduct – Requires DoD to establish uniform procedures for handling reports of non-consensual sexual behavior.
5. 24/7 Access to Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners  – Mandates all Military Treatment Facilities maintain constant access to certified sexual assault nurse examiners.
6. Sexual Assault Review Commission Implementation – Requires updates on implementation of the recommendations from the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault.
7. Modernized Revenge Porn Law – Updates the Uniform Code of Military Justice to modernize the prohibition of revenge porn and prohibit sexually explicit deepfakes.

Mental Health, Family Support & Veterans Care

1. Digital Health Records for Veterans – Creates a pilot program for separating service members to retain a digital copy of their health records.
2. Suicide Prevention Strategy Update – Mandates a detailed update on efforts to reduce suicide among service members and veterans.
3. Mental Health Access Review – Reviews current mental health services, barriers to access, and needed improvements.
4. Childcare Access Evaluation – Requires an update on military childcare resources, barriers to access, and steps being taken to improve the provision of childcare.
5. Maternal Health Resources Online – Directs the Department of Defense to compile and share maternal health care resources on Military OneSource.

Defense Modernization & National Security

1. Army Prepositioned Stocks Protection – Prevents the Department of the Army from operational reductions in the Army Prepositioned Stocks-Afloat (APS-3) program until further planning is submitted.
2. Eastern Range Regional Complex Authorization –Would create an Eastern Range Regional Complex across 24 eastern states, including South Carolina, for joint training, testing, and experimentation hub for multi-domain operations and autonomous systems.
3. Cybersecurity for Federal Contractors – Incorporates Rep. Mace’s bill to require federal contractors to adopt vulnerability disclosure policies.
4. Blockchain for Inventory Management – Authorizes a pilot program using distributed ledger tech to improve inventory accuracy and security.

Science, Research, & Animal Welfare

1. Ban on Gain-of-Function Pathogen Research – Halts Department of Defense funding of risky gain-of-function research on potential pandemic viruses in FY26.
2. Flood Mitigation & Resilience Update – Requires the Department of Defense to provide a report on infrastructure upgrades and flood risk planning.
3. Permanent Ban on Dog & Cat Testing – Permanently bans painful animal testing involving dogs and cats.
4. Shift to Non-Animal Testing Methods – Directs a report on progress toward alternative scientific testing models to move away from animal testing.

Government Accountability & Reform

1. Extended Lobbying Restrictions for Generals – Increases post-retirement lobbying bans for general and flag officers from 1–2 years to 3–5 years.
2. Degree Requirement Reduction Plan – Directs a review of degree requirements and moves toward skills-based hiring across Department of Defense positions.

End ‘Woke’ DEI Initiatives

1. Ban on DEI Offices and Programs – Prohibits creation or implementation of any DEI initiatives within the Department of Defense, and abolishes existing DEI offices.
2. Report on DEI & Transgender Medical Costs – Requires cost transparency on DEI-related initiatives and transgender medical procedures under the Biden administration.
3. Military Academy Admissions Reform – Reforms the admissions process to prioritize standards and competitive excellence in selecting cadets and midshipmen.
4. Merit-Based Personnel Policy – Ensures military hiring and promotion decisions are based solely on merit, without regard to race, ethnicity, or national origin.

In addition to her 26 adopted amendments, Congresswoman Nancy Mace secured several key victories included in the NDAA base text, including:

1. Joint Base Charleston Nuclear Training Expansion: Secures a long-term authorization of $357.9 million, $65.4 million of which is allocated for FY26, for the construction of a Nuclear Power Training Facility at Joint Base Charleston.
2. Maternal Health Access: 5-year TRICARE pilot treating pregnancy as a qualifying life event and requires a maternal health access briefing.
3. Adversarial Country Animal Testing Ban: Ends taxpayer funding for cruel experiments and prohibits funding animal research facilities located in, owned, or controlled by countries of concern, including China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia.
4. U.S.-Israel Defense Cooperation: Extends joint counter-UAS, anti-tunnel, and tech development efforts through 2028.
5. Military Housing Reform Study: Directs a review of how Basic Allowance for Housing rate is calculated to reflect real housing costs, better reflecting regional market trends in high-cost areas.
6. Advancing Nuclear Readiness: Directs the Department of Defense to establish a working group focused on transitioning to advanced nuclear technologies and requires a formal briefing on nuclear propulsion simulation training.

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