Conrad Supports National Defense Policy Bill

Press Release

Senator Kent Conrad voted today to support the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act. The bipartisan legislation -- which the Senate approved 86-13 -- authorizes funding for and advances policy on key national and North Dakota defense initiatives, including Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) modernization, and the nuclear triad as a whole.

"This legislation will help ensure that the men and women in our military have the resources necessary to complete their mission," Senator Conrad said. "The authorization of vital funding for UAS and the nuclear triad also serves as evidence of the key role North Dakota continues to play in our nation's defense."

In addition to meeting or exceeding the Pentagon request for funding for the ICBM fleet and UAS aircraft, the legislation includes a series of provisions to protect the nation's ICBM and B-52 fleets. Specifically, the legislation would require the Department of Defense to provide regular reports to Congress on the status of America's nuclear force structure and implementation of the New START arms control treaty, as well as reporting months in advance any plans to change America's nuclear employment strategy or cut nuclear forces.

Minot Air Force Base hosts 150 Minuteman III missiles as well as two squadrons of nuclear-capable B-52H bombers. As the nation's only dual nuclear mission base, Minot Air Force Base plays a key role in America's powerful nuclear deterrent.

The authorization legislation also advances a requirement that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) establish pilot projects for testing the integration of UAS into national airspace, and a report on the process of government-wide integration efforts. Senator Conrad and former Senator Byron Dorgan worked to ensure similar provisions were included in the FAA Authorization Act, but that legislation has stalled in negotiations between the House and Senate on unrelated policy issues.

Grand Forks Air Force Base was designated in 2005 as a nationwide hub for emerging UAS missions, and is today the home to the Air Force's Global Hawk Block 20 and 40 missions, Customs and Border Protection's northern border Predator mission, and a University of North Dakota UAS training center.

The defense bill also includes legislation sponsored by Senator Conrad calling for an independent assessment of the overseas basing of United States forces. The report is intended to find savings in closing outdated overseas military bases with an eye toward reinvesting in bases in the U.S.

Finally, the bill included the National Guard Empowerment Act, legislation supported by Senator Conrad at the request of the North Dakota National Guard that would -- for the first time -- give the National Guard a permanent seat on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Source