WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), the first North Dakotan to ever serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), outlined the benefits to North Dakota and our national defense found in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed by Congress today.

“Providing for the defense of our nation is the top priority of the federal government,” said Senator Cramer. “This NDAA meets the needs of our state’s military community, improves life for those in uniform, continues nuclear modernization efforts, and stands up a Space Force. I am glad the final version contains these important provisions and more. I look forward to the President signing it and it being fully implemented.”

North Dakota Priorities

This NDAA authorizes specific priorities for North Dakota at the Minot and Grand Forks Air Force bases, as well as the North Dakota National Guard, including:

Minot Air Force Base

  • Awards Minot Air Force Base $5.5 million for work on a consolidated Helicopter/Tactical Response Force Operations/Aircraft Maintenance Unit and Alert Facility. This is added to the $66 million previously awarded for this project.
  • Fully funds the UH-1N “Huey” Replacement Program for helicopters which will eventually operate out of the Minot Air Force Base.
  • Fully Funds the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (Minuteman III ICBM Replacement) at $552,395 million.
  • Fully funds President Trump’s request for B-52 Commercial Engine Replacement Program at $325,974 million.

Grand Forks Air Force Base

  • Increases Global Hawk spares and repairs funding by $25 million thanks to legislation introduced by Senator Cramer. 
  • Creates a Space Force, giving space programs like the one at the University of North Dakota more opportunities and guidance for training the next generation of space leaders.

North Dakota National Guard

  • Funds President Trump’s request for MQ-9 Reaper procurement.
  • Fully funds the Army and Air National Guard and sets manning at 336,000 (Army) and 107,000 (Air National Guard).
  • Provides an early retirement credit for certain Guardsmen and Reservists.
  • Fully funds the President’s budget request of 73 UH-60 Black Hawk M-model helicopters, including 64 for the Army Guard.
  • Authorizes the National Guard to establish a pilot program allowing members to receive immediate access to mental health professionals through a smartphone application.

Additionally, this year’s NDAA includes language submitted by Senator Cramer to direct the Secretary of Defense to study the use of bases in the northern latitudes, including North Dakota, for implementing an Arctic Strategy.

“North Dakota’s military community played an important role in shaping this legislation,” said Senator Cramer. “We made sure their needs were met and their voices were heard.”

Improving Service Members’ Livelihood

This NDAA includes reforms to improve the livelihood of our military service members. Specifically, this legislation:

  • Improves military housing, helps military spouses access job opportunities, and expands access to childcare.
  • Secures a 3.1% pay raise for uniformed personnel, the largest pay raise for our nation’s service members in a decade.
  • Phases out the “Widow’s Tax” over three years, similar to legislation Senator Cramer cosponsored.
  • Implements a landmark overhaul to the military privatized housing system, including a tenant bill of rights and measures to prioritize safe housing for the health and welfare of our military families.

In the Senate’s version of the NDAA passed earlier this year, Senator Cramer included language encouraging the Air National Guard (ANG) to provide tuition assistance. Following that bill’s passage, ANG announced in October they were conducting a regional pilot project in states like North Dakota to use tuition assistance as a recruitment tool.

“Those willing to offer their lives in service to our country deserve the best we can give,” said Senator Cramer. “These improvements both help those serving now, as well as our military leaders competing for new, talented recruits.”

Space Force

This NDAA stands up a United States Space Force, an issue Senator Cramer fought to include. Specifically, this legislation:

  • Establishes the U.S. Space Force as a sixth military service within the Air Force.
  • Creates the chief of space operations who may serve as the commander of U.S. Space Command for the first year.
  • Establishes an assistant secretary of defense for space policy within the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
  • Creates an assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration.
  • This office will oversee and be responsible for all space acquisition activities as the service acquisition executive beginning in 2022.
  • Additionally, this assistant secretary will serve as the chair of the Space Force Acquisition Council and will oversee and direct the Space and Missile Systems Center, Space Rapid Capabilities Office, and Space Development Agency.
  • Requires U.S. Space Force to utilize Air Force military and civilian personnel and prohibits adding additional bureaucracy without reductions elsewhere.

As he led the effort to include Space Force in this year’s NDAA, Senator Cramer met with President Trump to highlight the importance of creating a Space Force, stressed the need for it in SASC Committee hearing, publicly advocated for his colleagues to support it.

“The United States is the leader in space, and our enemies know it,” said Senator Cramer. “Maintaining American dominance in this realm is not a luxury, it is a necessity. I look forward to ensuring this new military branch is stood up properly and effectively.”  

Nuclear Modernization

This NDAA continues nuclear modernization efforts requested by President Trump. Specifically, this legislation:

  • Fully funds the President’s request for nuclear modernization and ensures the Department of Defense (DOD) maintains the replacement modernization plans for all three legs of the nuclear triad.
  • The NDAA contains no restrictions on the military’s ability to deploy low-yield nuclear weapons.
  • Authorizes funding for the Department of Energy’s warhead-life extension programs and modernizes and replaces its aging infrastructure.
  • Prohibits, in FY 2020, procuring or deploying of new ground launched intermediate-range nuclear force missiles that would have been prohibited under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty.

Despite strong opposition to nuclear modernization from House Democrats, Senator Cramer remained a strong advocate for supporting deterrence methods and bolstering our nuclear triad.

“Weakening the weapons that keep us safe would not make us any more safe,” said Senator Cramer. “Deterrence works. This NDAA advances our nuclear modernization efforts and bolsters the nuclear triad.”

National Security

This year’s NDAA contains several measures to strengthen our national security. Specifically, this bill:

  • Includes provisions supported by Senator Cramer to impose sanctions on companies and individuals assisting with construction of the Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream natural gas pipeline project which, if completed, will give Russia more control over Europe’s energy supplies and threaten our allies in the region.
  • Does not impede the President’s authority to build physical barriers along the southern border.
  • Increases funding for DOD to develop the capability to acquire rare earth minerals instead of relying on China.
  • Requires the Pentagon to analyze and provide a list of academic institutions in China and Russia with significant military research as part of their overall research and development.
  • Increases research and development for rapid testing of new transformational weapons systems such as hypersonic weapons.
  • Limits military cooperation with Russia and prohibits any funds relating to the recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea.
  • Advances missile defense capabilities and technology to counter ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic missiles being contemplated by Russia and China.
  • Prioritizes America’s cybersecurity strategy in response to the 2018 DOD Cyber Strategy and Cyber Posture Review.
  • Expands provisions in the Never Contract with the Enemy Act.
  • Declares Turkey’s acquisition of the S-400 missile defense system to be a significant transaction under the Countering Russian Influence in Europe and Eurasia Act and that the president should implement sanctions under that act.

“Our legislation sends a clear message to our friends and to our foes,” said Senator Cramer. “Whether it is a threat from across the world or just beyond our border, this bill shows we are prepared to keep America safe.”

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