The U.S. Senate has approved the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, which includes several initiatives led by Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) and other provisions benefiting Louisiana.
Senator Kennedy highlighted the importance of the legislation, stating, “This critical defense authorization bill helps ensure America’s military stays the best in the world at full strength—not second to anybody—and it delivers major wins for Louisianians. I’m especially proud that it also advances three of my top priorities in the Senate: ending the foolish practice of paying dead people, helping young families finally afford their first homes and forcing foreign insiders to play by the same set of rules as American investors.”
The NDAA features three key bills spearheaded by Kennedy:
– The Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act, co-led with Senators Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), aims to address government waste after $1.3 billion was sent to deceased individuals in 2023. The act seeks to make permanent an earlier law that enabled data sharing between agencies to prevent improper payments. According to Kennedy’s office, a similar measure recovered $31 million within its first five months.
– The Build Now Act, developed with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), addresses housing affordability challenges that have increased the median age of first-time homebuyers to 38 years old. This bill would change incentives within HUD’s Community Development Block Grant Program by reallocating funds based on cities’ rates of homebuilding compared to national medians. Cities lagging behind could lose up to 10% of their funding while those exceeding benchmarks would gain more resources.
– The Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act, co-sponsored with Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), targets disparities in insider trading regulations between domestic and foreign executives. It requires executives from public companies outside the U.S. to disclose stock trades electronically within two business days so that information becomes publicly available through the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Additionally, the NDAA contains measures specific to Louisiana interests:
– It establishes safeguards around any potential changes affecting Air Force Global Strike Command at Barksdale Air Force Base.
– Funding is provided for upgrades at Barksdale’s Child Development Center and dormitories at its weapons generation facility.
– The bill supports local manufacturing through purchases such as Ship-to-Shore Connectors from Slidell, patrol boats from Jeanerette, and YRBM vessels from Morgan City.
Senator Kennedy contributed opinion pieces on these legislative efforts in outlets including The Hill and The Wall Street Journal.
