Sen. Kevin Cramer says ND makes ‘incredible contributions’ to nation’s security
Senator: ND makes ‘incredible contributions’ to nation’s security
Submitted Photo Airmen with the 5th Maintenance Squadron non-destructive inspection section review a maintenance technical order at Minot Air Force Base on Jan. 25, shown in this photo by Senior Airman Jonathan McElderry. NDI technicians are responsible for inspecting aircraft and equipment to ensure it isn’t defective.
Submitted Photo Senior Airman Ty Haaland, front right, leads a group of thirteen 219th Security Forces Squadron members, of the North Dakota Air National Guard, into the terminal at Minot International Airport on Nov. 3, 2018, as they are greeted by North Dakota National Guard leaders upon their return home from a six-month deployment to southwest Asia. The unit provides security to the missile fields of Minot’s 91st Missile Wing while working jointly with its active duty counterparts. Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp.
Submitted Photo Airmen with the 5th Maintenance Squadron non-destructive inspection section review a maintenance technical order at Minot Air Force Base on Jan. 25, shown in this photo by Senior Airman Jonathan McElderry. NDI technicians are responsible for inspecting aircraft and equipment to ensure it isn’t defective.
Submitted Photo Senior Airman Ty Haaland, front right, leads a group of thirteen 219th Security Forces Squadron members, of the North Dakota Air National Guard, into the terminal at Minot International Airport on Nov. 3, 2018, as they are greeted by North Dakota National Guard leaders upon their return home from a six-month deployment to southwest Asia. The unit provides security to the missile fields of Minot’s 91st Missile Wing while working jointly with its active duty counterparts. Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp.
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With the new unmanned aerial vehicles mission at Grand Forks, the space station at Cavalier, the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission of the North Dakota Air National Guard in Fargo, the engineers and bridge builders in Bismarck and Minot Air Force Base's nuclear missions, "we've never been positioned better for the future," said Sen. Kevin Cramer.
Cramer said he wanted to be on the Senate Armed Services Committee because of the "incredible assets" this state has in the defense of freedom. He said he is the first North Dakotan to serve on that committee.
Cramer made a tour of North Dakota's military several days ago, including at Minot Air Force Base with Congressman Kelly Armstrong on Feb. 20. Cramer also was the keynote speaker at the annual meeting of the Minot Area Development Corporation on Feb. 20, speaking extensively about the military.
"I never cease to be impressed and honored by the real sacrifice in this country for our freedom," he said. "Thank you all who serve and served for making it all possible."
He said his first classified briefing made it quite clear on the emerging threats.
"It's never become more clear than my very first classified briefing on emerging threats - China and Russia," he said. "Now Russia isn't exactly an emerging threat, it's a reemerging threat. Isn't it interesting how what goes around comes around? And China, let's face it, China is trying to take over the world and not even bashful about it and they're using everything including trade policy. They're building their own islands in the South China Sea."
Cramer said China has tested hypersonic missiles. "Do you know what hypersonic is? It's an invention of the United States that they've taken and perfected while we've sat on our laurels with budget caps and sequestration and long decision-making processes in a bureaucracy that's almost become unworkable. So we've got our work cut out for us," he said.
"But Minot as much as anybody is well positioned," Cramer added.
Cramer has posts on three subcommittees of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He said there are benefits to North Dakota by having a seat on each of the subcommittees.
The Strategic Forces subcommittee, according to a news release issued in early February, has wide jurisdiction over the nuclear forces, space programs and missile defenses. Serving on this committee is a benefit to the intercontinental ballistic missile and B-52 bomber missions at Minot Air Force Base, the space research projects at the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, and the 119th Air Guard "Happy Hooligans" Wing in Fargo.
"Thanks to the Minot Daily News for putting the picture today (Feb. 20) on the front page to remind us of the newly commissioned Space Force that will be part of the Air Force," Cramer said during his speech at the MADC meeting. "To me that's the perfect strategy for the Space Force. I never really liked the idea of another branch, I always thought that Space Force belonged in the Air Force.
President Trump on Feb. 19 signed "Space Policy Directive 4," which called for the creation of a Space Force and temporarily placing the new service under the Department of the Air Force.
Cramer said he also wanted to be on the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities. This subcommittee, according to a news release, is responsible for programs related to emerging technologies, which includes space research projects that have a nexus to UND and cyber capabilities.
He also serves on the Airland Subcommittee. This committee, according to a news release, oversees the entire U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force, giving Cramer direct nexus to North Dakota's bases at Minot and Grand Forks. The subcommittee also oversees the National Guard. North Dakota has nearly 4,000 Guard soldiers and airmen located across the state in units such as the 188th Air Defense Artillery Unit out of Grand Forks and the 119th Air Guard Wing in Fargo.
Cramer said he feels the committees that he and Sen. John Hoeven serve on position them well "to maximize the incredible contributions that this state makes to the security of our country."
North Dakota's military has heroes at work every day, Cramer said.
"No matter what you invent, no matter what the process, no matter how spectacular a B-52 bomber is when it's 100 years old, and it will be some day I have no doubt sitting in that 60-year-old cockpit today (Feb/ 20) that's going to be 100 years old some day delivering a different kind of payload. No matter how much you modernize the ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) and B-52, the thing that matters the most are the heroes that work there every single day and that's our edge. And that's why the way this community embraces that community - the military community.
Cramer said military friendliness is a significant matter. He said communities embrace the military but there is some work that needs to be done, noting North Dakota is one of very few states that tax military retirement pay and North Dakota also is one of few states that does not cross license professionals. He said the state Legislature is working on these matters.
"Thank you again to the community that embraces the Air Force the way that you do," Cramer said.