WASHINGTON – Critical water projects and a bill to advance nuclear modernization at Minot Air Force Base are included in a bill approved by the U.S. Senate Thursday, Jan. 15, according to U.S. Sens. John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, both R-ND.

The legislative package includes the fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills for Energy and Water Development; Commerce, Justice and Science; and Interior-Environment.

It includes $1.91 billion for nuclear modernization of systems to be deployed at Minot AFB, including developing the warheads for the Air Forces’ Long range Stand Off missile and Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile.

It also includes $18.5 million in planning, engineering and design funding to support the Garrison Dam Safety Modification Project. Hoeven has secured $45.7 million for the project’s design phase to date. Another $14.1 million is included for the Army Corps Section 594 program, which supports small water infrastructure projects such as sanitary sewer systems in rural areas.

Additionally, the bill includes $5.5 million for the continued operation and expansion of the Advanced Training Center at Camp Grafton and to address law enforcement needs on the Native American reservations.

This is a major victory for getting back to regular order in the United States Senate,” Cramer said. “This bill prioritizes the safety of our nation, our highest priority, boosts economic growth and it maintains our competitive edge by prioritizing things that really matter to us in North Dakota. Things like space exploration, domestic energy production, sound land management policies, and of course, critical infrastructure. It was a vote that was really important because it helps avert the shutdown potential on January 30 and it reduces discretionary spending and waste. Congress has the Constitutional power of the purse, and we have an obligation to get our work done on behalf of the American people.”

Other bill highlights include:

-Hoeven’s SURVIVE Act, which sets aside $97.5 million, or 5%, from the U.S. Department of Justice Crime Victim Fund to assist with tribal victim services.

-$44 million for the Regional Information Sharing System Program, which supports secure communications and information sharing services to combat multi-jurisdictional crime.

-$50 million for the Eastern North Dakota Area Water Supply project, and ability to use existing infrastructure which will save $200 million.

-Hoeven-sponsored legislation directing the Corps to apply $100-120 million in federal savings to reduce the local cost share of flood protection in the Red River Valley.

-Maintains $1 million for the National Rural Export Center in Fargo and up to $1 million for the Rural Export Centers nationwide.

-Fully funds Payment in Lieu of Taxes payments for tax-exempt federal lands administered by Department of Interior bureaus. North Dakota received nearly $2.1 million in PILT for Fiscal Year 2025. It also continues the prohibition of an Endangered Species Act listing of sage grouse.

The bill allocates $720 million to the DOE Fossil Energy Office; $10 million for gas post-combustion capture, $10 million for coal and gas pre-combustion capture, $25 million to support all applications of carbon capture technologies, $75 million for Point Source Capture, at least $19 million for enhanced oil recovery, and $25 million for regional carbon sequestration partnerships.

The bill encourages the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to evaluate interconnection queue prioritization proposals from transmission providers to expedite adding dispatchable power resources onto the grid.