The House of Representatives has passed H.R. 3838, known as the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026. This legislation includes provisions introduced by Congressman Robert Aderholt, who represents Alabama’s 4th district in Congress since 1997 after replacing Tom Bevill (source). Among the included measures are the DUAL (Defense United Access to Learning) Act and a proposal aimed at supporting America’s domestic textile industry.
The NDAA is intended to speed up delivery of advanced capabilities and equipment to military personnel, with the goal of ensuring critical gear reaches service members more quickly.
Congressman Aderholt expressed his appreciation for House Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers, stating: “I would like to thank fellow Alabamian, House Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers, for spearheading legislation that secures our borders, streamlines procurement and delivery of military equipment, and implements President Trump’s peace through strength agenda.”
In June, Aderholt introduced the DUAL Act. The bill would allow the Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) to partner with accredited colleges and universities so high school students from military families can access dual enrollment programs. Such programs already exist for most public school students nationwide. The DUAL Act does not require new funding but permits DODEA to use existing Department of Defense funds.
According to Aderholt, “House passage of the FY26 NDAA is a critical step towards codifying the DUAL Act, and in turn, removes an unnecessary barrier and allows DODEA to invest in the future of its students, without increasing federal spending.” He added: “Military families make tremendous sacrifices for our country, and their children deserve the same educational opportunities that are available to other students nationwide.”
“It’s a commonsense fix that will make a meaningful difference in the lives of thousands of military families,” Aderholt said.
Another amendment authored by Aderholt focuses on strengthening domestic textile manufacturing by directing the Department of Defense to consider American-made textiles more closely when procuring materials. This move reflects Alabama’s long history in textile production—particularly in its 4th Congressional District—and seeks to address reported shortfalls while supporting local jobs.
“At a time when national security demands are growing, it is necessary to examine how we can once again rely on our own manufacturers for critical defense-related textile production,” said Congressman Aderholt.
Aderholt was born in Haleyville, Alabama in 1965 and continues to reside there (source). He holds degrees from Birmingham–Southern College (BA) and Samford University (JD).
