Cramer's Huey Helicopter And ICBM Amendments Part Of National Defense Authorization Bill
Press Release
Two amendments co-sponsored by Congressman Kevin Cramer were approved during the consideration of H.R. 4909, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017. This bill, which passed the House today by a vote of 277-214, authorizes and prioritizes funding for the Department of Defense and military activities and construction, and sets military personnel strengths.
The first amendment directs that there be an acquisition strategy for replacing the Vietnam-era UH-1N (Huey) helicopters by FY 2018. The Hueys are assigned out of the 91st Missile Wing at Minot Air Force Base, as well as Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming and Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana and are responsible for securing the three missile fields covering an area of approximately 32,0000 square miles. These helicopters must be able to respond to an imminent threat to the missile fields in a moment's notice. The bill includes $14.1 million requested in Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation funds, as well as $98.3 million for procurement to replace the helicopters.
"The Air Force identified deficiencies in speed, range, and payload limitations back in 2003 and has been neglecting the issue ever since," said Cramer. "Now due to a failure to act in a timely manner an undue burden has been placed on taxpayers and it has created a major gap in our security."
The other amendment, co-sponsored by Cramer, Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) and Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) prohibits funds from being expended to reduce, or prepare to reduce the responsiveness or alert level of U.S. intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM). In addition, the amendment requires a report on the ability of the Air Force to ensure the ICBM force is capable of deploying multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles on Minuteman III ICBMs.
"Reducing our ICBM alertness is reducing our readiness," Cramer said during floor debate on the amendment today. "The whole point of the National Defense Authorization Act is to ensure our military readiness. The ICBMs have been a very effective deterrent to enemy aggression for decades. This amendment is simply a deterrent to those who would try to reduce our readiness by reducing our alertness and reducing the number of ICBMs. This would be a dangerous step contrary to longstanding policies of our defense and a certainly bad posture."
Other provisions in the bill that relate to North Dakota are:
Directs the Secretary of Defense to develop a technology roadmap for addressing gaps to counter potential threats from terrorists using small Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) technology, with an emphasis on technology to support tactical level units, and fixed, high-value defense assets.
Encourages the Department of Defense, the FAA, and NASA to continue collaborative efforts to solve UAS research issues.
Directs the Air Force, for remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) basing decisions, to assess the ability of a military installation and its associated or adjacent training areas to support the unit or mission, the capacity of a military installation to accommodate the unit or mission, the costs associated with the stationing, basing, or laydown action, and encroachment and environmental considerations. Further, the bill is supportive of basing criteria that leverage available Air Force infrastructure and existing quality of life and base support facilities, and pairs RPA units with related missions.
Includes $575.6 million for MQ-9 Reaper UAS procurement and recommends an increase of $14.0 million for the development, non-recurring engineering, and integration of a tactical datalink capability onto the MQ-9 platform. The Air National Guard out of Fargo is transitioning to the MQ-9 from the older MQ-1.
Prohibits any military installation from being used to house unaccompanied alien children. The Grand Forks Air Force Base was under consideration for housing unaccompanied alien children, which Cramer opposed. On January 12, Cramer met with officials from the White House, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Health and Human Services to discuss his concerns with this proposal. On February 8, Cramer announced the Grand Forks Air Force base was no longer being considered.
Encourages continued planning and establishment for the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node system, which acts as a critical communications gateway and data relay on the EQ-4B Global Hawk flown out of the Grand Forks Air Force Base.
Encourages the Secretary of Defense to expedite and complete the fielding of modern radiation detection equipment across the force to meet existing critical requirements for personal dosimeters. Maintaining adequate equipment is of critical importance for the safety of U.S. forces in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear environments. Arrow-Tech, Inc., in Rolla, N.D, is an experienced manufacturer of personal dosimeters.
Affirms Congressional intent to reject the budget request to authorize any additional Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) rounds.
Extends the authority for the special pay for nuclear-qualified officers extending a period of active service, the nuclear career accession bonus, and the nuclear career annual incentive bonus until December 31, 2017.
Eliminates the different treatment under the Survivor Benefit Plan accorded members of the Reserve Component who die from an injury or illness incurred or aggravated in the line of duty during Inactive-Duty training, as compared to the treatment of members of the Armed Forces who die in the line of duty while on Active Duty.
Directs the Secretary of Defense to report on the feasibility of allowing disabled veterans with a 30 percent disability rating or higher; or who have been awarded a Purple Heart the use of the commissary and exchange stores on the same basis as a member of the armed forces entitled to retired or retainer pay. Cramer is a cosponsor of H.R.1292, the Disabled Veterans Commissary and Exchange Store Benefits Act, which permits a veteran with any compensable service-connected disability, and the veteran's dependents, to use commissary and exchange stores on the same basis as a member of the Armed Forces entitled to retired or retainer pay.
Other highlights of H.R. 4909:
Includes a total of $610.5 billion, which includes $574 billion for base defense requirements and $35.7 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO)
Makes key investments into critical programs the military services identified that will improve troop readiness but were unfunded in the president's budget
Maintains Army end strength at 480,000 and provides for additional Marines and Airmen
Includes a 2.1 percent military pay raise, 14 additional F/A-18 E/F Hornets, 11 more F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, and fully funds additional unfunded requirements
Prohibits the transfer of detainees at Guantanamo Bay to the U.S., prohibits the closure of the facility, and prohibits the transfer of the naval base to Cuba
Improves Congressional oversight of the Pentagon and counterterrorism operations
Includes reforms to the Goldwater-Nichols Act to increase accountability
Requires additional counterterrorism operational briefs to Congress
Provides the resources to combat Islamic extremists and to assist foreign security forces through the Counterterrorism Partnerships Fund
Provides direct funding to Kurdish, Sunni, and other local forces combatting ISIS
Supports the train and equip programs for Iraqi Security Forces and vetted Syrian forces
Maintains reprogramming requirements and withholds 25 percent of funds for Iraqi train and equip until a comprehensive plan is submitted to Congress
Increases funding for the European Reassurance Initiative to support our European allies and counter Russian aggression
Authorizes $150 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative
Increases funding for Israeli cooperative missile defense to $600 million and includes funding for the Iron Dome, David's Sling coproduction, and Arrow 3 coproduction
Improves access to health care for troops and their families
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