Magaziner Secures House Passage of Amendment in Annual Defense Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) secured House passage of his amendment language to help address workforce shortages and improve recruitment in the submarine industrial base in the annual defense bill, H.R.8070: the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025. The NDAA now heads to the Senate for passage and is expected to be signed into law by President Biden.

“America’s submarine program is one of the most important and strategic advantages we have against our adversaries, and I am proud to announce that my amendment to support this vital program has been adopted by the House,” said Rep. Seth Magaziner. “This amendment will help connect departing servicemembers with careers in the submarine industrial base to strengthen our nation’s maritime capabilities and keep Americans safe.”

Rep. Magaziner’s amendment was among the less than 25% approved out of all 1,381 submitted amendments in the House. The included language instructs the Department of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of Navy, to report on how the Department is using the SkillBridge program to connect separating military personnel with careers in the submarine industrial base to improve recruitment and address workforce shortages. 

The Department of Defense SkillBridge program is a program that allows active-duty service members to gain civilian work experience during their last 180 days of service. The program offers apprenticeships, internships, or industry training to help service members find meaningful employment after they are discharged. Many SkillBridge authorized partners also offer pathways to training and employment to veterans, National Guard, reserve and military spouses.

Rep. Magaziner also introduced another amendment that was originally included in the House-passed NDAA in June, but not in the final reconciled version of the bill. This amendment requires TRICARE's managed care support contractors to keep provider directories up to date. TRICARE is the uniformed services health care program for active duty service members, active duty family members, National Guard and Reserve members and their family members, retirees and retiree family members, survivors, and certain former spouses worldwide.

While this amendment was not adopted, the new TRICARE health care contracts that take effect on January 1, 2025, will impose more stringent requirements for provider directories—including a requirement to refresh network provider directories with any updated information at least once every 24 hours, closely mirroring language from Rep. Magaziner’s amendment.