05.21.15

Hoeven Announces $7.3 Million Appropriation for Facility to Support Air National Guard's New Intel Mission

Senator Worked to Include Funding in 2016 Budget and in Committee to Appropriate Funds

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has approved $7.3 million for a new facility in Fargo to support the 119th Air Wing’s new intelligence targeting mission. The intelligence targeting group is tasked with assisting military commanders in identifying and eliminating enemy threats, but the mission is already outgrowing its facilities.

Hoeven worked to include the new facility in the 2016 budget and then worked to make sure funding for it was appropriated in committee. The new facility will expand the space available for the mission and include a secure area to handle classified information.

“A top priority for the North Dakota Air National Guard is a new headquarters facility at Hector for their new intelligence targeting group, so we’ve included funding – $7.3 million – to begin construction this year,” Hoeven said. “This appropriation takes them a big step closer to building and occupying their new, modern facility by 2017.”

The NDANG worked to modify existing facilities at Hector to ensure they could begin the mission on time in 2015, but as newly trained staff are assigned to the base, the wing will need a facility with the capacity to accommodate more than 200 personnel. The facility will include a Sensitive Compartmentalized Information Facility (SCIF), where sensitive data can be securely stored, discussed or electronically processed. The intelligence mission will also serve to provide targeting training after technical school for all Air National Guard intelligence personnel.

Senator Hoeven has worked in his capacity on the Appropriations Committee to support the missions at North Dakota’s military bases. The senator also chairs the Appropriations Committee for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees an approximately $40 billion budget.

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