The compromise version of the National Defense Authorization Act does not include a House-passed proposal to expand aid for thousands of military families facing food insecurity, CQ reported.

The final bill does not significantly expand the Basic Needs Allowance, a program that the Pentagon said earlier this year had helped about 1% of an estimated 286,800 food-insecure service members, according to CQ.

“We’re obviously disappointed that Congress has once again failed to take meaningful action to expand military families’ access to the Basic Needs Allowance,” said Eileen Huck, senior deputy director of government relations at the National Military Family Association.

The bill does give the service secretaries a little more discretion to increase aid payments.

The Senate is expected to pass the NDAA over the next few days and send it to the House.

Navy photo by Shaina O’Neal