12.13.23

Hoeven: Senate Passes FY2024 NDAA with Important Priorities for ND Missions

Senator Secured Provisions for Air Force, Space Force & National Guard Operations across North Dakota

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, today issued the following statement after voting for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Hoeven worked to ensure the final bill provides strong support for our men and women in uniform, including authorizing a 5.2 percent pay increase for servicemembers. Additionally, the senator included provisions in the bill to support missions in North Dakota.

“North Dakota plays a vital role in defending our nation now and will continue to do so well into the future,” said Hoeven. “We’ve worked to ensure that this year’s NDAA provides our men and women in uniform with a pay raise, while authorizing key upgrades to Air Force, Space Force and National Guard operations across North Dakota. That includes advancing the modernization of our nuclear forces at Minot Air Force Base, strong support for the ISR and Space Development Agency missions in Grand Forks and improving the capabilities of the MQ-9 based in Fargo. The bill also provides continued investment for our Guard Readiness Center in Dickinson and housing at Camp Grafton.” 

Specifically, Hoeven worked to include the following provisions:

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE

  • Fully authorizes updates to the nuclear triad for Minot Air Force Base, including:
    • Authorizing $891 million for the new Long Range Stand Off (LRSO) nuclear cruise missile to replace the Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) carried on the B-52.
    • Requiring at least 150 missile launch facilities at Minot be upgraded and maintained under the Sentinel program, which is authorized at $4.28 billion and will replace the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic missiles (ICBM).
    • Authorizing $993 million for continued upgrades to the B-52 bomber, including the new engine program, to keep it operating well into the future.
    • Ensuring towers such as wind turbines do not encroach on ICBM facilities or pose safety hazards to helicopter pilots who keep those facilities secure.
  • Pushes the Department of Defense (DoD) to prioritize nuclear deterrence in professional military education.
  • Includes Hoeven language requiring the Departments of Defense and Energy to report on how they will coordinate the development of the W80-4 warhead that will be deployed on the LRSO.

GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE

  • Fully authorizes the Space Development Agency (SDA) and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions at Grand Forks Air Force Base.
    • Prohibits retirement of the RQ-4 Global Hawk.

CAVALIER SPACE FORCE BASE

  • Authorizes $8 million in additional funds to continue modernization efforts on the radar system at Cavalier Space Force Base.

NORTH DAKOTA NATIONAL GUARD

  • Authorizes $179 million to support continued upgrades for the MQ-9 Reaper flown by the Air National Guard in Fargo.
  • Authorizes $5.4 million for the Dickinson Readiness Center. This is in addition to the $15.5 million in funding Hoeven previously secured for the facility.
  • Authorizes $1.9 million for housing at Camp Grafton.

In addition, the legislation includes Hoeven-supported language to:

  • Blocks implementation of proposed regulations requiring defense contractors to report greenhouse gas emissions, similar to Hoeven’s Focus on the Mission Act.
  • Mandate that the DoD use or transfer to border states any unused construction materials for the construction of a border wall between the United States and Mexico.
  • Adjust the threshold amount for minor medical facility construction projects of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), benefitting future projects at the Fargo VA Medical Center.
  • Grant a Federal charter to the National American Indian Veterans, Inc.
  • Require the military services to develop a process for protecting sensitive locations from foreign investments that represent national security risks.

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