Hoeven Secures North Dakota Defense, Housing & Transportation Priorities

Hoeven Secures North Dakota Defense, Housing & Transportation Priorities

Senator Worked Through Regular Order to Reduce Spending Below Last Year While Supporting National Defense & Accomplishing Vital ND Priorities

WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed five additional annual appropriations bills for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. The Senate has now approved 11 of the 12 appropriations bills, and reduced spending below last year, spending less than under a continuing resolution. At the same time, the legislation increases support for the military and key North Dakota priorities. The legislation, which now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration, includes the Defense; Labor, Health and Human Services and Education; Transportation, Housing and Urban Development; Financial Services and General Government; and National Security, State and Related Agencies funding bills.

"We've now passed 11 of the 12 appropriations bills through regular order to fund the government while finding savings and supporting our priorities. Importantly, we've spent less overall than last year, while providing more funding for defense and accomplishing vital North Dakota priorities. That includes funding for comprehensive flood protection in the Red River Valley and to advance the water supply project for eastern North Dakota passed earlier this month. The legislation passed today continues these efforts and will enhance our national defense and help strengthen our economy and quality of life," said Hoeven. "Importantly, this legislation builds upon the historic investment we made into nuclear modernization with the One Big Beautiful Bill to keep modernization efforts in Minot on track. We also continue advancing the SDA's LEO satellite mission in Grand Forks with funding and legislation to support the development of the transport layer. At the same time, these bills maintain support for programs North Dakota has relied upon to make important improvements across our state, from expanding our airports to building the affordable housing our communities need."

"We'll continue working to pass the final appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security, which funds FEMA, TSA and other national security needs while also funding equipment like bodycams and measures to improve officer safety and training."

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Hoeven worked to advance key priorities for North Dakota as the legislative package was negotiated between the House and Senate. Among other priorities, Hoeven worked to ensure the legislation:

DEFENSE

• Funds a nearly 4 percent pay raise for servicemembers.
• Advances nuclear modernization, including at Minot Air Force Base. The bill provides:
  • $2.6 billion for the development of the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
    • This comes in addition to the $2.5 billion that Hoeven worked to secure for Sentinel in the One Big Beautiful Bill.
  • More than $1 billion for development and procurement of the B-52 upgrades.
  • Nearly $800 million for the Long Range Stand Off (LRSO) development and procurement.
  • $67 million for procurement of the MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopter.
• Supports the Space Development Agency (SDA) low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite mission in Grand Forks.
  • This includes $50 million in additional funding that Hoeven worked to secure for the LEO transport layer of satellites, which will be operated by Grand Forks Air Force Base.
• $98 million to develop a hybrid electric propulsion system for next-generation military unmanned aerial systems (UAS) platforms.
• $43 million to bolster UAS and counter-UAS research, development and operations in the state, including:
  • $25 million to support UAS research and testing activities by eligible entities in North Dakota, including Ideal Aerosmith, the University of North Dakota, Q-Station, Space Dynamics Laboratory, Anno.Ai and Vidrovr.
  • $10 million and report language to advance the goal of conducting U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) MQ-9 operations to Grand Forks.
  • $8 million to develop military applications for UAS and counter-UAS technology through initiatives like Senator Hoeven's Project ULTRA.
• $22 million to support development of protective coatings for DoD equipment and vehicles, as well as training the workforce required to meet this need, through eligible entities including Technology Applications Group (TAG), NDSU and Elinor Coatings.
• $18.5 million for research and development of hypersonic technology through eligible projects and entities in North Dakota, including Aerovironment, Stratolaunch, NDSU and a partnership between UND and Auriga.
• $37.5 million for additional defense research and development projects in the Red River Valley:
  • $10 million in additional funding for battery research and manufacturing for the Navy through Packet Digital.
  • $8.5 million to support proposed research projects at UND and NDSU.
  • $7 million in additional funding for the development of fuel cell electric engines for the Army in conjunction with the Energy and Environmental Research Center at the University of North Dakota.
  • $7 million for the development of graphene applications, including the graphene-based firefighting foam developed by Vorbeck.
  • $5 million to evaluate technology for upgrading the PARCS Radar at Cavalier Space Force Station.

HOUSING

• Includes a Hoeven-authored measure allowing the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to forgive or restructure Grand Forks Housing Authority's $2 million loan for the LaGrave Place project.
• Directs HUD to automatically renew expired and soon-to-expire Continuum of Care (CoC) grants, which enable local providers, like the YWCA in Fargo, to offer comprehensive support services and housing to homeless individuals and families.
• Maintains funding for programs that have supported construction of affordable housing in the state, such as Monterey and Brighton Place in Fargo and Century View in Bismarck. These programs include the:
  • Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).
  • Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME).
  • Housing Trust Fund (HTF).
  • Native American Housing Block Grants.
• $10 million to help house and provide wrap around services for Native American veterans.
• Provides an additional $366 million in funding to help local service providers assist individuals and families experiencing homelessness. This supports programs such as:
  • Continuum of Care.
  • Emergency Solutions Grants.
  • Youth Homeless Demonstration Programs.

TRANSPORTATION

• Provides $3 million for UND's Vets2Wings program, which expands and helps cover the costs of flight training for veterans.
• Continues the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) exemption for livestock haulers.
• Maintains funding for programs that support improvements to transportation infrastructure and services in North Dakota, including the:
  • Airport Improvement Program (AIP), to support the redevelopment and improvement of airports, including the Fargo Airport Terminal project.
  • Competitive Bridge Bundling grant program, to support the rehabilitation and reconstruction of bridges across the state.
  • Essential Air Service (EAS) program, to ensure continued air service to the communities of Jamestown, Devils Lake, and Dickinson.
  • Small Community Air Service Development program, to support new air service routes, including in Grand Forks.

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