Speaking in favor of the FY26 NDAA

Last week, the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act passed with my support by a vote of 231-196. The bill does critical work to reform the defense acquisition process, improves the lives of our men and women in uniform, provides a pay increase to our servicemembers, equips our troops with the tools they need to counter emerging threats, saves taxpayer money through several reforms, and secures our southern border.

The FY 2026 NDAA included major wins for both Moody AFB and Robins AFB, as well as amendments I authored that were adopted on the floor of the House of Representatives. 

The amendments adopted on the floor included the establishment of a system of official Air Force and Space Force museums within the Department of the Air Force; adding Young Marines, Naval Sea Cadet Corps, and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary to the list of youth and charitable organizations eligible to receive assistance from the Department of Defense; and authorization for the Baltic Security Initiative, to strengthen the armed forces of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to deter Russian aggression.

Watch my full floor remarks on the FY26 NDAA here.

Giving remarks at the Georgia Chamber Fly-In

I was also honored to speak to business leaders with the Georgia Chamber about the hard work being done on the FY 26 NDAA, how important our public-private partnerships are in the defense industry, and how we can work with Georgia's universities to improve our military's capabilities.

This was a great event and I was happy to share the stage with Cosby Johnson and share my thoughts.

Speaking on the Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2025

Last week, the House of Representatives Reauthorized the U.S. Grain Standards Act. This legislation will ensure transparency, market confidence, and fair price discovery, all of which are essential elements to a functioning agricultural market. 

Specifically, the legislation establishes consistent grading standards for corn, wheat, soybeans, sorghum, barley, oats, canola, and other grains. The bill defines measurable quality attributes (test weight, damage, foreign material) used to assign official grades, and provides official certificates of grade and weight through licensed personnel to ensure market integrity.

Watch my full floor remarks here.

Rep. Austin Scott on Floor Passage of FY26 NDAA

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- U.S. Representative Austin Scott (GA-08), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), released the below statement H.R. 3838, the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, passed the U.S. House of Representative by a vote of 231-196 with his support. The NDAA sets Department of Defense (DoD) policies and authorizes funding levels for defense programs. 

"The entire state of Georgia plays a key role in implementing President Donald Trump’s strategy of Peace Through Strength," Rep. Scott said. "The FY26 NDAA strengthens the U.S. military and enhances the quality of life for our warfighters and their families. I am proud of my work on this important piece of legislation to support our armed forces in their mission of defending the United States." 

“Once again, I want to thank Congressman Austin Scott for being a steadfast voice for our servicemembers and their families as a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee. Throughout the entire FY26 NDAA cycle, his leadership has been vital in my efforts to produce a bi-partisan bill to ensure our warfighters have the resources and support they need to defend our nation. Congressman Scott is always fighting to take care of the men and women who wear the uniform," said Chairman Mike Rogers (AL-03).

"We are deeply honored by Representative Austin Scott's amendment, adopted by the House, which aims to establish a formal Air Force and Space Force Museum System under Title 10. This landmark provision, including the recognition of the National Museum of the United States Air Force and the potential for additional museums like ours at Warner Robins, ensures the enduring legacy of our Airmen and Guardians. The criteria for designation and closure, along with support for public-private partnerships, will strengthen our ability to educate, preserve, and engage the community. This is a historic step forward for our mission and heritage preservation. We look forward to watching this provision progress in Congress," said Daniel Rhoades, President and CEO of the Museum of Aviation Foundation.

Rep. Scott had 10 initiatives included in the base text of the bill, 18 amendments adopted during the HASC markup of the FY26 NDAA, and another 9 adopted on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. Amendments adopted on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives authored by Rep. Scott include language that: 

• Establishes a system of official Air Force and Space Force museums within the Department of the Air Force; 
• Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of the Navy should name an aircraft carrier USS United States;
• Authorizes the Baltic Security Initiative to strengthen the armed forces of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to deter Russian aggression, increase interoperability, and support modernization;
• Adds Young Marines, Naval Sea Cadet Corps, and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary to the list of youth and charitable organizations eligible to receive assistance from the Department of Defense;
• Enables the Chief of the National Guard Bureau to be eligible to be appointed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff;
• Requires each company with $1 billion of revenue or greater seeking a contract with DOD to provide data relating to the numbers of veterans hired in the past 12 and 36 months and that number still with that company 12 and 24 months after hiring - to focus on veteran hiring AND retention;
• Directs the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a strategy by January 1, 2030, to eliminate the acquisition of computer displays by the Department of Defense from nations such as Russia or China;
• Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from entering into, renewing, or extending a contract or other agreement for the procurement of organic light emitting diode (OLED) display technologies that are fabricated in a foreign adversary, by a foreign adversary entity, or by a covered OLED display technologies company.