WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today voted with a bipartisan majority of the U.S. Senate to pass the National Defense Authorization Act, which authorizes U.S. Department of Defense funding levels and helps set defense policy.

Heitkamp successfully included three provisions she wrote to protect our national security and support North Dakota by:

Helping veterans join the workforce: Heitkamp’s amendment expands a Department of Defense program known as SkillBridge to allow service members to participate in an internship at a federal agency during their final 180 days of service, giving them skills to help them succeed in the workforce. 

Boosting Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) research: Heitkamp’s amendment calls for the military to use facilities such as the Northern Plains UAS Test Site in Grand Forks to research and develop capabilities to defend against the threat that unmanned aircraft could pose to military installations like those in North Dakota. 

Defending against the North Korea threat: Heitkamp’s amendment reassures our allies of America’s steadfast commitment to protecting against the North Korea nuclear threat. As North Korea continues to threaten regional stability and peace with its missile and nuclear weapons tests, Heitkamp’s amendment makes clear that the United States stands ready to provide its full range of capabilities in the defense of our allies.

“When veterans return to the workforce, their strong work ethic and specialized skills are an asset to many employers, but we must do everything possible to connect them with jobs and opportunities that match their unique abilities and career goals,” Heitkamp said. “The Senate passed my amendment to help servicemembers gain valuable internships which will give them a jump start on a new career to support themselves and their families.”

Heitkamp continued, “With the increased threat from North Korea, it’s more important than ever to make clear that the United States stands ready to respond to any attack against us or our allies to keep American families safe. North Dakota’s military installations are critical players in supporting our national security and boosting our economy, and this bill includes many wins for our state, especially our Air Force bases, and our nation while supporting tough, smart national security strategies. Key defense capabilities that are aging require upgrades, including our B-52 bombers, ICBMs, and the UH-1N helicopters at Minot Air Force Base that defend our missile fields, and I’m working to make sure they get the updates they need. This bill is a needed step to make sure our military has the defense resources and capabilities it needs to protect American families.”

The legislation also includes several provisions pushed by Heitkamp to defend North Dakota priorities, including support for modernizing Minot Air Force Base’s B-52s and ICBM squadrons, Grand Forks Air Force Base’s RQ-4 Global Hawks, the North Dakota Air National Guard’s MQ-9 Reaper mission, and strengthened missile defense systems to defend against emerging North Korean threats.

Heitkamp, a cofounder of the bipartisan Senate Defense Communities Caucus, successfully fought to include in the National Defense Authorization Act several provisions that help bolster North Dakota’s defense efforts by:

• Modernizing our nuclear capabilities. The legislation includes support for B-52 squadrons and ICBM squadrons, and also extends special pay and bonus authorities for nuclear officers. This is an important step forward in Heitkamp’s years-long efforts to bolster critical nuclear deterrence missions.

• Protecting our missile fields. The bill directs the Secretary of the Air Force to expedite procurement of replacement UH-1N aircraft, used to protect our missile fields. It urges the Department of Defense, to use existing production lines to field this capability as soon as possible. It also directs the Secretary to pursue a rapid acquisition strategy, and encourages the Air Force to consider the benefits of a common helicopter airframe across the Air Force to reduce supply, logistics, training, and lifecycle costs. For years, Heitkamp has pushed for the replacement of the aging UH-1N helicopters, and sent a letter to Defense Secretary Mattis pressing the need for replacement earlier this year.

• Supporting RQ-4 Global Hawks. Recognizing the critical importance of the missions performed by Grand Forks Air Force Base’s Global Hawks, Heitkamp pushed to include a prohibition on the retirement, divestment, realignment, or transfer of RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft or the disestablishment or conversion of units associated with such aircraft. Heitkamp has long-supported the Global Hawks mission and the Grand Sky business and aviation park.

• Funding an Indoor Firing Range at Minot Air Force Base. This funding will enable the Air Force to build a fully-enclosed firing range to ensure that airmen can complete their arms training in safe conditions. A new range will reduce air quality concerns, provide higher quality training with lower maintenance costs and ensure the range is available regardless of winter weather conditions. The new facility would provide greater capacity than the current range, consolidating four existing buildings into one fully-enclosed firing range.

• Strengthening our missile defense in the face of the North Korean threat. Following her October 2016 Asia-Pacific fact-finding trip focused on ballistic missile defense, Heitkamp pushed to enhance defenses against emerging North Korean ballistic missile threats. The National Defense Authorization Act includes several provisions from Heitkamp’s bill to bolster our defenses, including authorizing more interceptors.

• Enhancing Asia-Pacific Stability.  To further strengthen U.S. posture to deal with North Korea as well as threats from China, the legislation calls for the expansion of exercises, investments in infrastructure, and additional U.S. military presence in Asia, as Heitkamp called for in a letter to Defense Secretary Mattis. 

 

###