Defense Funding Legislation Invests in North Dakota Missions, Accelerates Nuclear Modernization

Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, today announced that he has secured important priorities for North Dakota in the Senate’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 defense funding legislation. The bill will fully fund a 2.6 percent pay raise for military members, help modernize the nation’s nuclear forces by providing new engines and other upgrades for the B-52 as well as replacements for the nation’s cruise missiles and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) and will advance unmanned aerial systems (UAS) operations in the state. The full Senate Appropriations Committee recently advanced the bill and it now awaits consideration on the Senate floor.

“North Dakota’s military members serve in critical missions around the world,” Hoeven said. “Our defense funding legislation helps provide the pay they deserve, while also delivering the resources they need to be effective in their important work. That includes accelerating our efforts to modernize our nuclear forces, ensuring our bombers, cruise missiles and ICBMs remain a credible deterrent. We also invested in our UAS surveillance and reconnaissance operations in Grand Forks as well as research in unmanned traffic management to help advance the safe integration of UAS into our national airspace. This is about supporting our service members and protecting our nation against increased threats across the globe.”