Heitkamp Discusses Invaluable Role North Dakota Air Force Bases play in National Security Mission with Air Force Secretary

Press Release

During a meeting with U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James, U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp spoke with James about the contribution that Minot and Grand Forks Air Force bases, as well as the servicemembers who work there, play in our nation's defense and national security missions.

Heitkamp, a member of the Senate Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Coalition, discussed the Nuclear Oversight Board meeting that James attended last week at Minot Air Force Base. That meeting addressed critical needs in our nuclear enterprise and the Air Force's ongoing efforts to sustain and modernize this essential part of our national security -- while improving resources for the servicemembers who maintain and execute our nuclear mission.

Additionally, Heitkamp and James spoke about the Air Force's role in supporting the development and expansion of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) technology at Grand Forks Air Force Base through the recent signing of an official Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) agreement between Grand Forks County and the U.S. Air Force earlier this month at Grand Forks Air Force Base. This unique public-private partnership between the Air Force and Grand Forks County will lead to the opening of the Grand Sky Business Park, creating economic opportunity and allowing North Dakota to continue to be a national leader in the developing UAS industry. Heitkamp also highlighted the unique nature of Grand Forks Air Force Base, with its multiple interagency missions and its well-kept, state-of-the-art infrastructure. This infrastructure and the geographical position of Grand Forks as a Northern Tier Base, makes Grand Forks Air Force Base an ideal location for the KC-46 Tanker as well as for any emerging Arctic missions which will help secure our country's interests in this increasingly important area.

Building on her efforts to address recruitment and retention issues for federal employees, Heitkamp also reiterated to James the importance of supporting civilian employees at both bases to ease the burden of rising housing costs throughout North Dakota.

"North Dakota's servicemembers make a commitment every day to keeping our state and nation safe, and it's equally important that we honor our commitment to them," said Heitkamp. "For the men and women serving at Minot and Grand Forks Air Force Bases, we have to make sure they have the resources and support they need. Secretary James and I had a great discussion about the Air Force's pledge to further bolster and modernize our nuclear forces, the need to improve support for civilian employees and our servicemembers, and how together, we can support the emerging and exciting UAS industry being developed in the Grand Forks area -- which we recently saw with the Enhanced Use Lease agreement. The service of these brave men and women -- and all their families -- is an essential part of who we are as North Dakotans and the role they play is invaluable to our national defense, and I will continue to do everything in my power to stand up for them and the missions they support, each and every day."

As co-founder of the Senate Defense Communities Caucus, Heitkamp has been a vocal advocate for servicemembers and their families, and has led efforts to make sure they get the resources they need to defend our country and help build strong military communities. Last fall, Heitkamp joined James and then-U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel at Minot Air Force Base, where Hagel committed to investing billions of dollars to maintain and modernize our nation's nuclear forces. He also noted the need for additional investments to improve and sustain infrastructure and equipment, boost troop morale, and increase oversight.

After the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) selected Grand Forks as one of six official UAS test sites nationwide, Heitkamp brought FAA Administrator Michael Huerta to North Dakota last April to see firsthand the state's unmanned aerial potential, where he announced it was the first UAS test site to be officially up-and-running. Last November, Heitkamp announced that Northrop Grumman formally signed the Enhanced Use Lease to become a tenant at Grand Sky.

Heitkamp has also led the push to make sure civilian federal workers at Minot Air Force Base and federal employees throughout North Dakota are treated fairly, and that these essential jobs are filled. Last September, Heitkamp brought U.S. Office of Personnel Management Director Katherine Archuleta to Minot Air Force Base to learn firsthand the challenges federal employees on the base face. Less than three months later, Heitkamp announced significant pay rate increases for more than 150 civilian employees at Minot Air Force Base to help offset the high cost of living and to help the base retain and recruit workers.

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