ND North News

The U.S. Senate has approved the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with a vote of 77 to 20. Included in the bill is the Servicemembers’ Credit Monitoring Enhancement Act, sponsored by Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). The NDAA, which passed the House in September, will proceed to negotiations between the House and Senate to resolve any differences.

The new provision expands free credit monitoring to all service members and their families, including non-active-duty reservists and traditional National Guard members. Previously, only active-duty service members and full-time National Guard members were eligible for this benefit.

“Our service members put so much on the line and are frequently deployed or regularly moving, leaving them more vulnerable to financial fraud,” said Senator Cramer. “The inclusion of the Servicemembers’ Credit Monitoring Enhancement Act in this year’s NDAA is an important step to protecting their financial security.”

Senator Klobuchar added, “Servicemembers are heroes who put their lives on the line for our nation and we must support them in every way we can. By making free credit monitoring available for every single member of our armed forces, this bipartisan legislation will improve the financial security of military families and give them greater peace of mind.”

The legislation received unanimous approval in the Senate in November 2024. It is supported by The Military Coalition, 24 of its servicemember organizations, and credit reporting agencies TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian.