Cramer: House Passes Amended National Defense Authorization

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today Congressman Kevin Cramer announced the House of Representatives passed an amended National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) after a compromise was released by the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. The House passed NDAA with a bipartisan majority in June, however the legislation has been stalled in the Senate. The Senate is now expected to take up the amended NDAA before year end.

Last week Cramer called on the Senate to join the House in authorizing and funding critical military priorities by passing NDAA and its corresponding appropriations bills for fiscal year 2014. The House passed all three pieces of legislation with bipartisan majorities this summer.

North Dakota defense operations

The amended NDAA maintains most of the provisions important to North Dakota's military bases and personnel from the original House passed version. The bill supports increased troop pay, rejects the Administration's proposals to increase or establish new TRICARE fees, prohibits base closure, addresses sexual assault in the military, and includes the new KC-46 tanker to be potentially stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base, the new Long Range Strike Bomber to replace the B-52 bomber currently stationed in Minot, and preventing the premature retirement of the Global Hawk Bock 30 unmanned aircraft.

The amended NDAA does not contain a Cramer amendment to the House version which would have kept the 450 active Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) silos in a warm status. Instead, the amended version provides the language in a Sense of the Congress provision, which is not enforceable law. The 91st Missile Wing at Minot Air Force Base is one of three bases controlling this element of America's strategic deterrent.

"We've passed another NDAA in the House with many important provisions, but I am disappointed the nuclear missile language important to Minot is not as strong as it is in the original House bill," said Cramer. "I will continue to advocate for our nuclear triad and work to prevent the Obama Administration's misguided attempts at unilateral nuclear disarmament. The cost of maintaining this important force is far less than the price tag of rebuilding it should it become necessary."

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