releases: https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=82E42E53-1771-4EB5-8B8D-06C90C21D941
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=82E42E53-1771-4EB5-8B8D-06C90C21D941 | Heitkamp Helps Senate Pass Bipartisan Defense Authorization Bill to Support Security & Jobs in North Dakota | 2017-11-16 | 2017 | 2017-11 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | 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 – including several key provisions Heitkamp pushed for to support North Dakota defense priorities and jobs. Heitkamp helped pass an earlier version of the bill in September, and she successfully pushed for several provisions to support North Dakota by: 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. Helping veterans join the workforce: The legislation encourages the expansion of a Department of Defense program known as SkillBridge, a key provision of legislation Heitkamp introduced, 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: The bill encourages 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. Heitkamp has long advocated to expand and strengthen Grand Forks’ UAS mission. “This strong, bipartisan defense bill includes many wins for North Dakota’s military installations, which support our national security and boost our economy,” Heitkamp said. “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. That’s why I fought to include a provision to make clear that we stand ready to provide our full range of capabilities to defend ourselves and our allies. In North Dakota, key defense capabilities that are aging require upgrades, including our B-52 bombers, ICBMs, and the UH-1N helicopters at Minot Air Force Base. This bill is a needed step to make sure our military has the resources it needs to modernize our defenses, support our servicemembers, and protect American families, and it takes additional steps to ensure our reservists deployed to protect our country receive the health care they deserve.” Heitkamp, a cofounder of the bipartisan Senate Defense Communities Caucus, also successfully fought to include 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 urges the Secretary of the Air Force to expedite procurement of replacement UH-1N aircraft, used to protect our missile fields. 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 secure funding and long-term support for the RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft. The final bill notes that the Global Hawks are essential for providing warfighters with the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance they need and should remain in the Air Force inventory as long as they provide such unique capabilities. Heitkamp has long-supported the Global Hawks mission. 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 to bolster our defenses, including authorizing more interceptors. Supporting reservists. The bill includes a provision Heitkamp supported to allow deployed Reserve Component members to receive pre-mobilization and transitional TRICARE health care. This is another step forward to support reservists like the North Dakotan’s currently deployed to Washington, D.C., after Heitkamp helped pass the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act earlier this year. 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. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |