Van Orden Secures Multiple Wins in FY25 NDAA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, former Navy SEAL Congressman Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) announced the securement of multiple wins in the House Armed Services Committee’s Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). A large focus in the FY25 NDAA was improving the quality of life for servicemembers and their families during and after their time of service – an issue that Rep. Van Orden has played a key role in addressing as Chairman of Veterans’ Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee in collaboration with the Armed Services Committee. 

“I dedicated 26 years to serving the United States and defending freedom around the world,” said Congressman Van Orden. “As such, I have gone through the transition of active-duty servicemember to veteran, and I can say that it is not an easy transition to go through. That is why we must start transition assistance before servicemembers separate from the military. My number one goals in Congress is to reduce veteran suicide, and as Chairman of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, I have worked diligently to create upstream solutions to address this deeply troubling issue. I am very proud to have had a number of my policies and priorities included in the committee's FY25 NDAA that invest in our troops while they depart from their military duties, and I thank Chairman Rogers for his support on these important provisions.”

Congressman Van Orden’s priorities in the FY25 NDAA include:

• The TAP Promotion Act, introduced by Rep. Van Orden, which allows representatives of Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) to provide information to military members participating in pre-separation counseling under the Transition Assistance Program (TAP).
• The Ensuring Military Access to Higher Education Benefits Act of 2024, introduced by Rep. Van Orden, which streamlines the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program application process and makes it easier for current and former military servicemembers to have their direct loans forgiven.
• Increasing the rate of leave for National Guardsmen and Reservists from 15 days to 20 days, based on language found in Rep. Van Orden’s Reserve and National Guard Military Leave Enhancement Act.
• Extending financial counseling for servicemembers going through TAP and establishing a counseling pathway in TAP specific for Reservists, based on language found in Rep. Van Orden’s Enhancing the Transitioning Servicemember’s Experience Act.