WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today welcomed Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson to North Dakota. Secretary Wilson visited Minot Air Force base after Heitkamp secured a commitment from her to visit the state prior to her Senate confirmation earlier this year.

“Today I called Secretary Wilson to welcome her to North Dakota and thank her for keeping her commitment to visit our state’s great Air Force bases,” said Heitkamp. “Secretary Wilson is getting an up-close look at Minot Air Force Base and meeting the top-notch men and women in North Dakota who work tirelessly to keep our nation safe. As our nation faces numerous security threats, including from North Korea, it’s critical that our defense infrastructure is maintained and modernized through tough, smart national security policies, and that our ICBMs and B-52 bombers are prioritized. From her visit, Secretary Wilson will gain an even deeper appreciation for the work being done at Minot as we work to position North Dakota’s strategic military installations to continue to carry out their vital national security missions. She and I will continue to work together to stand up for North Dakota’s Air Force bases and those who serve at them, and I hope she will soon be able to visit Grand Forks Air Force Base and our other installations.”

After meeting with Secretary Wilson in March and securing her commitment to visit the state, Heitkamp voted for her confirmation in May.

Heitkamp has consistently fought to support both of North Dakota’s Air Force bases, and is a cofounder of the Senate Defense Communities Caucus. Last month, at Heitkamp’s request, General Lori J. Robinson, Commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), visited with leaders and airmen at Grand Forks Air Force Base to see the base’s potential for Arctic missions, work with the Global Hawk, and its innovation in remotely piloted aircraft operations and training up close.

Last September, Heitkamp helped host then-U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter at Minot Air Force Base and secured his continued support for nuclear modernization in Minot. Heitkamp has long pushed the Defense Department to commit to supporting the nuclear deterrent at Minot, and during his speech Carter reinforced the importance of the nuclear missions at the base and emphasized the $10 billion in investments nationally over the last two years to make improvements to those missions – including at Minot Air Force Base. Heitkamp will continue pushing this administration for needed upgrades.

Heitkamp’s work to boost North Dakota’s bases includes efforts to promote:

• Minot’s nuclear missions: The defense authorization Congress passed in December 2016 included a provision Heitkamp pushed for to keep development of the next generation of long-range strike bombers—like those in Minot—on track. The previous defense bill included parts of Heitkamp’s bipartisan Long Range Bomber Sustainment Act to make sure long-range bomber aircraft such as Minot’s B-52 bombers stay in service as long as they are needed. Heitkamp has also led the push to invest in new engines for the B-52 bombers, as she laid on in an op-ed in March.

• Grand Forks’ Global Hawk mission: In February 2016, Heitkamp spoke with General Herbert “Hawk” Carlisle, who oversaw the remotely-piloted Global Hawk missions, before he visited the base to stress that Grand Forks is ideal for Global Hawk and other missions. The 69th Reconnaissance Group at Grand Forks Air Force Base flies combat support missions as well as training and sensor operating missions.

• Grand Sky business and aviation park: Heitkamp has long advocated public-private partnerships like the Enhanced Use Lease that paved the way for Grand Sky opening as the first UAS business park of its kind in the nation. In December 2015, Heitkamp met with then-Air Force Assistant Secretary Miranda Ballentine about the importance of Grand Sky for both the Air Force and North Dakota.

• Arctic missions: Heitkamp successfully amended the defense authorization bill Congress passed in 2015 to improve the military’s Arctic strategy and make Grand Forks attractive for future Arctic missions. The bill required DOD to submit a report on protecting national security in the Arctic region. Heitkamp’s amendment strengthened the report, which was released recently, and positions North Dakota to play a significant role in Arctic missions.

 

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