{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=3A20C7C9-4A9E-4BE9-907A-2AE7360C8908", "On Minot Visit, Heitkamp Secures Defense Secretarys Continued Support for Nuclear Modernization", "2016-09-26", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "ND", "Heidi Heitkamp", "H001069", "www.heitkamp.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MINOT, N.D. \u2013 U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today helped host U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter for his first visit to Minot Air Force Base, as Secretary Carter reaffirmed his commitment to modernizing the base\u2019s intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and long-range strike bombers \u2013 two vital legs of the country\u2019s nuclear triad.\r\nSecretary Carter\u2019s visit comes two months after Heitkamp and U.S. Senator John Hoeven sent a bipartisan letter calling on Secretary Carter to clarify his department\u2019s position on nuclear modernization efforts, including those in Minot. The senators\u2019 request responded to concerns that the administration was falling behind schedule on nuclear modernization.\r\n\u201cMinot\u2019s airmen have shown Secretary Carter today how committed they are to our nuclear missions, and I\u2019m glad Secretary Carter has demonstrated that he remains committed to modernizing our nuclear arsenal,\u201d said Heitkamp. \u201cNow more than ever, smart investments in deterrence can keep our communities and families safe. Earlier this month, after North Korea launched another nuclear test, I urged Congress to commit to modernizing our nuclear arsenal. Our defense leaders owe it to our airmen \u2013 and to families and communities across America \u2013 to keep nuclear modernization efforts on track.\u201d\r\nLast week, Heitkamp spoke at the 5th annual Nuclear Triad Conference organized by Minot\u2019s Task Force 21 in Washington, detailing her extensive work to protect and strengthen the U.S. nuclear arsenal. Earlier this month Heitkamp and her North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming colleagues urged House and Senate Armed Services Committee leaders for strong nuclear modernization provisions in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act \u2013 on the heels of North Korea successfully launching another nuclear test \u2013 reinforcing that a robust nuclear deterrent is key to maintaining national security.\r\nHeitkamp announced in August that \u2013 as she had long called for \u2013 the U.S. Air Force hit key milestones in modernizing Minot\u2019s ICBMs and developing the Long-Range Stand-Off (LRSO) cruise missile for Minot\u2019s B-52 long-range strike bombers. The ICBMs and B-52 bombers in Minot are vital pieces of the country\u2019s efforts to deter national security threats and keep the country safe. Heitkamp has been a strong supporter and defender of the ICBM and B-52 bomber missions since joining the U.S. Senate.\r\nWhen U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General Jack General Weinstein visited Minot and Grand Forks Air Force Bases earlier this year he agreed to stay engaged with Heitkamp on nuclear issues impacting Minot Air Force Base. Heitkamp has since worked with General Weinstein \u2013 including a meeting in May \u2013 to make sure the Air Force is on track in updating the base\u2019s ICBMs and helicopters, so the airmen in Minot have the tools they need.\r\nAs a\u00a0co-founder of the bipartisan Senate Defense Communities Caucus, Heitkamp has consistently worked to find innovative solutions to improve conditions for servicemembers, their families, and the communities they serve.\r\nHeitkamp\u2019s work to support ICBMs, B-52s, and the airmen at Minot Air Force Base includes:\r\n\r\n \r\nJoining U.S. Secretary of Defense and top Air Force official at Minot AFB.\u00a0In 2014, Heitkamp\u00a0joined\u00a0then-U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James at Minot Air Force Base. During the visit, Hagel committed to investing billions of dollars to maintain and modernize our nation\u2019s nuclear forces by improving and sustaining infrastructure and equipment, boosting servicemember morale, and increasing oversight.\r\n \r\n \r\nPressing top Air Force officials to improve support for Minot AFB\u2019s nuclear missions.\u00a0In January 2015, Heitkamp highlighted the importance\u00a0of bolstering the missions at Minot Air Force Base in a meeting with Miranda Ballentine, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment, and Energy.\r\n \r\n \r\nLeading efforts to strengthen support for ICBMs.\u00a0Opposing efforts to reduce nuclear forces, Heitkamp and her colleagues in the Senate ICBM Coalition\u00a0successfully convinced\u00a0the Department of Defense to back off a plan to potentially reduce the number of ICBM silos.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=3A20C7C9-4A9E-4BE9-907A-2AE7360C8908"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9307479485869408, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}