The Senate, following House passage, approved the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (NDAA, H.R. 5009) on Dec. 18. The compromise between the House and the Senate versions of the bill provides authorization of appropriations and sets policies for the Department of Defense (DOD) and omits a number of problematic research provisions included in earlier versions.
The final bill does not include a provision that would limit the ability of the DOD to conduct canine and feline research. The AAMC joined 15 research and higher education organizations calling on lawmakers to oppose the provision, stating that if implemented, it “will limit the ability of academic and veterinary institutions to conduct life-saving biomedical research and weaken the DOD’s capabilities to safeguard U.S. national security and maintain biomedical progress” [refer to Washington Highlights, Oct. 4]. However, the bill does include a provision prohibiting DOD health care coverage of certain medical care to transgender family members of military service members, a provision over which medical organizations, including the AAMC, expressed concern (PDF).
The House passed the final bill by a vote of 281-140, followed by the Senate voting 85-14.