releases: https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=bbf22b19-7df9-403b-959c-9e71f9ed39c4
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=bbf22b19-7df9-403b-959c-9e71f9ed39c4 | Heitkamp Statement on Senate Passage of Bipartisan Defense Bill | 2015-11-10 | 2015 | 2015-11 | 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 Senate to pass the National Defense Authorization Act, which sets policy and authorizes funding levels for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). The legislation is a compromise, bipartisan bill negotiated between the Senate and House. This bipartisan bill will help keep our country safe, and includes provisions I fought for to bolster North Dakota military missions that are critical to our national security, said Heitkamp. Its good news that both sides of the aisle have worked together to finally reach a compromise on the budget that though far from perfect balances military spending with domestic spending. Striking such a balance guarantees that our military will stay strong, but not at the expense of programs that educate our kids, fix our highways, and help Native families. Now we need to shift our attention to domestic priorities, like Head Start and crop insurance, that keep North Dakota communities and families strong and safe. The National Defense Authorization Act includes several provisions that Heitkamp pushed for to benefit North Dakota, including: A Heitkamp amendment to improve the militarys Arctic strategy. The bill requires DOD to submit a report on the strategy to protect national security interests in the Arctic region. Heitkamps amendment, which was included in the final bill, would strengthen this report and better position Grand Forks Air Force Base to play a significant role in future Arctic missions. Her amendment makes sure DODs Arctic strategy will focus on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) as well as inter-service, interagency, and international partnerships such as those leveraging the facilities at Grand Forks Air Force Base. Language Heitkamp introduced to support the B-52 mission at Minot Air Force Base. The bill includes a provision Heitkamp pushed for restricting the retirement of B-1, B-2, or B-52 bomber aircraft, including the B-52s at Minot Air Force Base. The provision is based on the Long Range Bomber Sustainment Act, bipartisan legislation Heitkamp introduced with Republican Senator Mike Rounds from South Dakota in May to help support our nations nuclear deterrence posture. A provision to improve support for the North Dakota Air National Guards mission. The bill authorizes $7.3 million in funding which Heitkamp specifically pressed to include for the North Dakota Air National Guard to build a new facility in Fargo for its intelligence targeting mission. The current facility is outdated and ill-suited to handle the extensive volume of classified information required by the mission. Provisions to bolster support for unmanned aircraft mission. The bill strongly supports ISR conducted by the military by authorizing funding for unmanned aircraft missions, including those performed at Grand Forks Air Force Base and those performed by the North Dakota Air National Guard. The bill also authorizes significant increases in the procurement of MQ-9 Reaper aircraft, which will help improve operational capability, as well as capability improvements and a faster procurement schedule. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |