Congressman Don Davis Steadfast in Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Support as Defense Bills Advance
July 18, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman DonDavis (NC-01), the vice ranking member of the powerful U.S. House Armed Services Committee, voted for the two annual defense bills to authorize and appropriate funding for the military.
On July 15, 2025, as part of the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Davisvoted in support H.R. 3838, Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery (SPEED) Act, the legislative vehicle for the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes funding for defense and energy military programs, which passed out of the committee by a margin of 55-2.
“Keeping Seymour Johnson Air Force Base intact remains my priority, and our brave servicemembers who are responding to threats across the globe deserve a pay raise,” said Congressman Davis. “The FY26 National Defense Authorization Act advances a 3.8% pay raise for our servicemembers, support for our military families, and common-sense policies to create jobs and strengthen our national defense in eastern North Carolina.”
In addition to the contents of the underlying bill, Congressman Davis advanced amendments to support eastern North Carolina military installations, strengthen the domestic defense industrial base, and defend servicemembers and their families from public health and biological threats.
Congressman Davis introduced 24 amendments at the Fiscal Year 2026 committee meeting, including the following, which have taken effect:
- F-15E Maintenance Improvement: Requires a report on the optimal allocation of maintenance dollars for the fighter fleet, including the F-15Es at Seymour Johnson, including the best ratio and prioritization between spare parts and pilot training
- F-15E Engine Propulsion Upgrades: Requires a report on the benefits of upgrades to F-15E Strike Eagle engine propulsion capabilities
- Non-lethal De-escalation Devices: Requires the Secretary of the Army to brief Congress on the capabilities of mounted, dismounted, and portable non-lethal de-escalation equipment for law enforcement and base security personnel stationed at Air Force Bases like Seymour Johnson
- Protecting Troops from Bioterrorism: Requires the Department of Defense to brief Congress on plans to ensure a stable, secure, and sustainable stockpile of Anthrax countermeasures in the event of a biological attack on the homeland
- Enhancing Fuel Shipments: Requires a report on possible improvements to fuel logistics and transportation abroad
- Supporting Advanced Army Equipment: Requires the Army to report on the positive outcomes associated with Army load-carrying technological advancements, including systems developed by NC manufacturers
- Improving Soldier Quality of Life: Requires the Army to provide an assessment of upgraded field-feeding technology developed by an NC-01 company for Army personnel
- Advancing Radar Technology: Requires a briefing to assess how the military can strengthen the fire control radar industrial base, to improve detection and safety for fighter aircraft, benefiting NC entities that produce the technology
- Innovative Medicine: Supports emerging and innovative biologic vascular repair therapies for servicemembers suffering from acute trauma or chronic conditions**
- Preventing Public Health Threats: Requires a briefing on what Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) is currently available and what can be applied for civilian use within military stockpiles
- Improving Quality of Life: Requires a report on pathogen transmission inside military housing to ensure adequate indoor air quality
Additional amendments introduced by Congressman Davis that are advancing to conference include:
- Defending Seymour Johnson Air Force Base: Stopped a proposal to transfer F-15E aircraft from Active Duty Air Force Bases like Seymour Johnson without replacing them one for one with other aircraft
- Supporting Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point: Extended the authorization of the A Street Utilities Project for Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
- Supporting American-made Textiles: Repeals a loophole that currently allows the military to make purchases of less than $150,000 from foreign textile suppliers, including the People’s Republic of China, therefore strengthening the domestic textile industrial base, including in NC
- Keeping Troops Safe: Authorizes $10 million for base security technology at three Air Force Bases, including Seymour Johnson
- Supporting American-made Military Gear: Authorizes $10 million for domestic ultra-lightweight molecular fiber production in eastern North Carolina, which is used in military and tactical gear
- Improving Military Recruiting: Raises the cap on how many cadets or midshipmen attending military service academies can be drafted for professional sports teams while fulfilling their service obligation in the reserves
- Enhancing Air Force Target Engagement: Authorizes $6 million for live-fire target engagement at Air Force Combat Training Ranges, including at Seymour Johnson
- Supporting NC Medical Innovation: Authorizes $4 million for musculoskeletal regenerative medicine to prevent injuries in the ranks, with funds available for a top NC employer
- Supporting Faster Aircraft Repairs: Authorizes $20 million to integrate AI into Air Force maintenance programs, improving the delivery of maintenance dollars for equipment and weapons systems
- Tobacco Harm Reduction: Allows the Department of Defense to establish a pilot program for the smoking military population by providing them with non-combustible tobacco alternatives, including nicotine patches and gum
- Biotechnology Advancements: Establishes a feasibility study of cloud laboratories to modernize how biotechnology data is stored
- Improving Health Outcomes for Servicemembers: Supports for a modernized flu immunization strategy for servicemembers, highlighting the work of medical innovators in the space, including in NC
- Promoting American Battery Production: Supports securing the domestic critical mineral and battery supply chain to prevent influence from the PRC
H.R. 4016 builds on the FY26 NDAA priorities by allocating $831.5 billion for national security. The legislation includes a 3.8 percent increase in basic pay for all military personnel effective January 1, 2026, continuing historic pay increases enacted in Fiscal Year 2025 for junior enlisted servicemembers. It also improves quality of life, readiness, and continuity for servicemembers by slowing permanent change of station (PCS) moves, saving over $662 million. Most importantly, H.R. 4016 takes a meaningful step to preserve F-15 aircraft, including the 94 F-15Es based at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, by prohibiting the Air Force from divesting them without a one-for-one replacement.
Congressman Davis voted in favor of H.R. 4016, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, which passed by a vote of 221-209.
As part of H.R. 4016, Congressman Davis successfully advanced the following five amendments:
- Supporting American-made Military Gear: Appropriates $10 million for domestic ultra-lightweight molecular fiber production in eastern North Carolina, which is used in military and tactical gear
- Enhancing Air Force Target Engagement: Appropriates $6 million for live-fire target engagement at Air Force Combat Training Ranges, including at Seymour Johnson
- Modernizing Technology at Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point: Appropriates $10 million for unmanned ground robotics systems to be deployed at Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
- Enhancing American-made Drone Technology: Appropriates $10 million forground-to-ground vehicle-aided target recognition
- Optimizing Automation for Innovation: Appropriates $10 million to enhance machine learning applications for breakthrough combat support technology
Congressman Davis also advocated for funding to backfill the F-15E squadron that the Air Force had previously tried to divest, including $127.5 million to prevent the retirement of F-15E aircraft and introduced H.R. 4027, Frontline Fighter Force First Act that would require the Air Force provide a report on the plans to replace legacy aircraft at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.
Military installations in eastern North Carolina include Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, the U.S. Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City, Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, and Fort Bragg. Nearly 10,000 active duty personnel and 56,000 veterans are based in North Carolina’s First Congressional District.
Congressman DonDavis is a 1994 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and a U.S. Air Force Veteran. He serves as the vice ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee and on the House Armed Services Readiness and Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittees.
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Issues:Veterans