Rep. Vince Fong Supports Passage of National Defense Authorization Act - Includes 2 Rep. Fong Provisions
Washington D.C. – Today, Rep. Vince Fong (CA-20) voted in support of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2025, which passed the House by a strong bipartisan vote of 281-140. The NDAA includes important provisions, including well-deserved cost-of-living increases for our servicemembers who courageously sacrifice for our nation and new investments to our warfighting capabilities at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Edwards Air Force Base, and Naval Air Station Lemoore to protect our national defense against foreign adversaries. The NDAA also includes two pieces of legislation that Fong had previously introduced and sponsored: the STOP TRANQ Act and the STAR Act.
The STOP TRANQ Act was included in the NDAA as the “Strengthening tracking of Tranq” provision and originally introduced by Rep. Fong in August 2024. This provision will require the annual International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) to include an analysis of xylazine or “tranq” trafficking within the country-by-country report.
The STAR Act was included in the NDAA as the “Extension of learning period for certain safety regulations relating to space flight participants” provision. This provision would extend the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) learning period for regulating commercial human spaceflight until 2028, allowing for more time for the FAA and commercial space industry to develop consensus standards for human safety in spaceflight. Rep. Fong assumed first sponsorship of this legislation in July 2024.
“Today, I voted in support of the National Defense Authorization Act. This bill ensures that we will continue to support our military in their efforts to protect our national security,” said Rep. Fong. “I am honored to see two important pieces of my legislation included in the NDAA. These proposals are critical because we must stay diligent in preventing the drug and fentanyl crisis in America, and encourage the commercial space industry in our community and across California to fly, innovate, and grow. Thank you to all those who helped ensure these important provisions were included.”
Background
STOP TRANQ Act
The INCSR is released on March 1st annually, in accordance with the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. This report provides a country-by-country analysis of drug trafficking, money laundering, and financial crimes in an effort to effectively combat all aspects of these illegal activities.
The drugs currently tracked in the INCSR report include synthetic opioids, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin, among others. Xylazine (tranq) is currently classified as a “drug cutting agent” in the most recent INCSR report.
STAR Act
The act, originally introduced in September 2023 by former Representative Kevin McCarthy, was created to extend the learning period to 2031. The provision included in the NDAA will instead extend the period to 2028. Extending the learning period is critical to provide sufficient time for the commercial space industry to conduct the launches needed to inform the FAA’s standards for safe human spaceflight.