MilCon-VA Subcommittee Focuses on Quality of Life for Troops and Military Families
Washington, D.C. – As America honors April as the “Month of the Military Child,” the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee underscored its commitment to supporting troops and their families by holding a hearing on quality-of-life issues for U.S. armed forces. When one wears the uniform, the loved ones behind them help carry the weight of serving this great nation, and lawmakers reiterated the importance of childcare and parental leave resources, housing and infrastructure, and recruitment and training as essential pillars of military readiness and family well-being.
Subcommittee Chairman Judge Carter said, "We remain committed to providing high-quality barracks and family housing, but military quality of life is broader. It includes where service members work, train, and eat. It includes where their children go to school and where their families receive health care. So, this is an opportunity to discuss the important connection between facilities, readiness, and quality of life. Investing in infrastructure bolsters the military’s ability to train and fight, while also ensuring our service members and their families are taken care of at home, every day. We owe that to them."
Subcommittee Chairman Carter’s full remarks as prepared for delivery are available here.
Rep. John Rutherford said, "We have a lot of use for TRICARE in Jacksonville... our family members there in Jacksonville, deserve to have these outside providers available, but when I see providers not being paid by the Defense Health Agency (DHA)... myself and Congressman Bean sent a joint letter to DHA trying to get to the bottom of what is going on with these payments when we've got providers - one is I think $100,000 upside down with DHA. We potentially can lose some of these providers that our men and women need... How can we improve TRICARE's relationship with these providers? How do we write better contracts, so we can force these guys to pay their bills on time?"
Rep. Michael Guest said, "I am proud to represent the Meridian Naval Air Station. Sergeant Major, I understand that you have recently visited the Meridian Naval Air Station. Last year in the FY25 budget hearing, I raised the fact that there was an important barracks repair project on the facility, and I'm proud to say that, based upon calling attention to that, the project has been moved up into the FY26 budget cycle. Planning is already underway for that. My question is, not just for the project there at the Meridian Naval Air Station, but for all of our military installations, how do we ensure that the throughput of students at those facilities is not adversely impacted during times of major renovations or repairs?"
Rep. Stephanie Bice said, "Master Chief, I want to start with you. My colleague and I - Chrissy Houlahan - worked to extend parental leave for our service members. We realized that sometimes it is a challenge for our service members to be able to take that leave within a one-year time frame. We are looking to extend that to a 2-year time frame. Could you talk a little bit about the benefit that your service members could have by extending that time and how it would be easier for you to manage the workflow?"
Rep. Scott Franklin said, "I do want to dive a little bit into retention and recruitment. I brought this up in previous hearings in past years... Sergeant Major Ruiz, [in the] Marine Corps, it looks like everything is going very well from what you were just sharing there; but you exceeded your 2024 goals and retention which, as we know, retention is just as important as bringing them in. If we can't keep them, then we're going to have problems down the line. Then so far through Fiscal Year 2025, you're at 98% of first-term retention... Sounds like you've got everything going well. If there's more to that, I'd love to come back and hear what still may concern you."
Rep. Scott Franklin said, "I do want to dive a little bit into retention and recruitment. I brought this up in previous hearings in past years... Sergeant Major Ruiz, [in the] Marine Corps, it looks like everything is going very well from what you were just sharing there; but you exceeded your 2024 goals and retention which, as we know, retention is just as important as bringing them in. If we can't keep them, then we're going to have problems down the line. Then so far through Fiscal Year 2025, you're at 98% of first-term retention... Sounds like you've got everything going well. If there's more to that, I'd love to come back and hear what still may concern you."
Testimony before the MilCon-VA Subcommittee was heard from military leaders, including Sergeant Major of the Army Michael R. Weimer (testimony), Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James M. Honea (testimony), Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Carlos A. Ruiz (testimony), Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David A. Flosi (testimony), Chief Master Sergeant of Space Force John F. Bentivegna (testimony).
As the House Appropriations Committee advances its FY26 process, insights and priorities gathered during hearings will be utilized to support effective policies and investments.
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