Senator Cramer’s Weekly Update October 6 - 10

Senate Passes ND Delegation Resolution to Overturn Biden-Era North Dakota RMP

The U.S. Senate voted to pass a Congressional Review Act (CRA) Joint Resolution of Disapproval to overturn the Biden-era Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Resource Management Plan (RMP) for North Dakota.

Under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, the BLM must adopt RMPs to govern how the agency will manage its acreage. In North Dakota, the BLM is the landlord of 58,500 surface acres and 4.1 million acres of mineral estate. BLM lands are supposed to be managed under a “multiple use” framework, meaning oil, gas, coal, grazers, and recreationists alike can use the land in a sustainable manner.

The Biden administration released its final RMP for North Dakota in August 2024, and adopted it in January without incorporating changes the State of North Dakota and its Congressional delegation requested. Instead, the RMP prohibits coal leasing on over four million acres, or nearly 99 percent of federal coal acreage. It also blocks 213,000 acres, or 44 percent, of federally owned fluid mineral acreage, reducing state revenues and weakening American energy dominance.

Following the BLM’s refusal to listen to North Dakotans’ concerns regarding the RMP, I led the delegation in requesting the Government Accountability Office (GAO) determine if the RMP qualified for repeal under the CRA. Once the GAO determined the RMP qualified for repeal. I introduced a Joint Resolution of Disapproval in the Senate with U.S. Senator John Hoeven (R-ND). Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak introduced its companion in the U.S. House of Representatives. The CRA passed the House in September and the resolution will now advance to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature.

Prior to passage of the resolution, I delivered a floor speech highlighting the disastrous RMP and the need to repeal it.

Senate Passes FY26 NDAA, Investing in National Security and North Dakota’s Defense Capabilities

By a vote of 77 to 20, the United States Senate passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), authorizing more than $900 billion in FY26 for defense-related initiatives. The annual bill accelerates the rebuilding of the United States’ arsenal of democracy by reforming the Pentagon’s budgeting and acquisition process to spur innovation, returning the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to its warfighting mission, and increasing military readiness. Additionally, it strengthens military recruitment and improves service member quality of life, and more.

The bill included several amendments I supported, including language tightening restrictions on United States investments in China. Specifically, the measure authorizes the Secretary of Treasury to prohibit certain transactions and require notification of U.S. investment in sensitive technologies in China. In addition, the Secretary can impose sanctions on Chinese entities affiliated with the country’s military or intelligence sectors.

This NDAA provides $22 million for modernizing the Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System (PARCS) at Cavalier Space Force Station (SFS). PARCS tracks over half of all earth-orbiting objects. This funding will improve the single-faced, multi-function, UHF-Band, and phased-array radar system’s detection of intercontinental and sea-launched missile threats and space domain awareness capabilities.

Cavalier SFS will play a pivotal role in President Donald Trump’s Golden Dome layered missile defense shield for America, which calls for the modernization and expansion of U.S. missile defense capabilities across all domains to protect the homeland against ballistic, cruise and hypersonic missiles, and drone threats. I introduced the bicameral Ground and Orbital Launched Defeat of Emergent Nuclear Destruction and Other Missile Engagements (GOLDEN DOME) Act with U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), a sweeping legislative initiative which complements President Trump’s executive order directing the implementation of a next-generation missile defense shield for the nation.

This bill includes major investments in Grand Forks Air Force Base’s (GFAFB) intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. Among other provisions, the bill ensures the base maintains inventory requirements of RQ-4 Global Hawks. Specifically, it provides $17 million for the development of corrosion resistant coatings produced by Technology Applications Group (TAG) in Grand Forks. TAG is a leader in magnesium surface protection and inventor of the Tanite anodize coating.

Additionally, the FY26 NDAA designates $277 million for Tranche 3 of the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. According to SDA, Tranche 3 satellites will “accelerate the capability to provide global, persistent indications, detection, warning, tracking, and identification of conventional and advanced missile threats, including hypersonic missile systems.” I visited Vandenberg Space Force Base with Secretary of the Air Force Dr. Troy Meink and viewed 21 satellites from SDA’s Tranche 1 prior to their launch.

The NDAA secures $2 billion for the Sentinel Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) program. The Sentinel ICBM, which will replace 50-year-old Minuteman IIIs, is a key component of the nation’s nuclear deterrence. This is in addition to the $2.5 billion investment included in the budget reconciliation bill, which was signed into law on July 4. The NDAA requires the ICBM count to be a minimum of 400 to adequately deter nuclear aggression.

North Dakota’s “Happy Hooligans” in Fargo operate MQ-9 Reapers, which are central to the state’s growing role in operating Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). The NDAA establishes a formal combat identifier to recognize the participation of RPA crew members who conduct operations in direct support of combat missions. This identification would enable the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to administer benefits and services for RPA combat-related service. I introduced the Combat Action Recognition and Evaluation (CARE) for Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Crews Act with U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (R-NV) which ensures provides RPA crew members with the recognition and access to services they deserve.

The legislation authorizes $5.2 million for the planning and designing of an Armory in Jamestown. The planned project is a top priority of the NDNG.

Senate Passes Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act

The U.S. Senate passed legislation I introduced with U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) to ensure all first responders who die or become disabled due to service-related cancers are covered under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program. While the program recognizes those who made the ultimate sacrifice due to 9/11-related cancers, it does not cover other first responders who lose their lives due to other service-related cancers.

Air Force Chief of Staff Nominee General Wilsbach Questioned on Importance of Airborne ISR, Modernizing Nuclear Triad

The Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing to discuss the nomination of General Ken Wilsbach, former Air Combat Command (ACC) leader and fighter pilot, to be the 24th U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff. Upon confirmation, General Wilsbach will be responsible for the organization, training and equipping of 689,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve, and civilian forces serving both in the United States and abroad.

I thanked General Wilsbach for answering the call to serve. I can’t imagine a person better prepared and equipped than he is for this job. I’m really grateful he said yes, and I’m really grateful he got the call.

I thanked General Wilsbach for his commitment to the Sentinel program, which was established to replace the 50-year-old Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM) weapon system with the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM. Minot Air Force Base (AFB) in North Dakota is the only base in the nation to house two legs of the nuclear triad, including B-52 bombers and Minuteman III ICBMs.

It’s really important to us in Minot, having two of the three legs [of the nuclear triad], to know that we’re going to see it all the way through. We’re not going to stop two-thirds of the way. In fact, I maintain that if you’re going to stop anywhere along the way of developing Sentinel and putting those new missiles in the ground, you shouldn’t start. […] I really appreciate your commitment to Sentinel.

I questioned General Wilsbach about his plan for maintaining or acquiring airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities as “space catches up to the demand.” For the last two years, I have sent a bipartisan letter to the Secretary of Defense in both the Biden and Trump administrations, highlighting concerns over the Air Force’s escalated retirement of airborne ISR capabilities and emphasizing the necessity of the platforms. My letter echoes concerns expressed by combatant commanders on the need for airborne and the insufficiency of space-based ISR alone.

“You’re exactly right,” said General Wilsbach. “The RQ-4, the MQ-9, both are really important to us, especially prior to the conflict. Admittedly, if they go into a high threat environment, they could be shot down. But, if it’s not a high threat environment, we can get great value out of those platforms to do missions that if we didn't have them, and you didn’t have that capability on space, you would have to go without. So as we go forward into the future, we need to balance that. And frankly, it’s a simple math problem, right? You take the entirety of the collection that you wish to have, and you determine what you’re actually collecting. And if you have a big gap, then you can easily make decisions, resource decisions, on what you want to keep and what you can afford to get rid of, because you have, you know, have that capability to collect elsewhere.”

Israel and Hamas Agree to Phase 1 of Trump Peace Plan, Remembering the October 7 Terror Attacks in Israel

President Trump announced Israel and Hamas signed off on the first phase of his administration's peace plan. This would result in Hamas releasing all remaining hostages and Israel beginning to withdraw troops.

It has been two years since Hamas perpetrated its unprovoked, horrific attacks on Israel. The Hamas terrorists killed over 1,200 Israeli citizens and took 250 people hostage.

Nick Chase Confirmed to Serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota

The Senate confirmed Nicholas W. Chase to serve as United States Attorney for the District of North Dakota. Chase serves as a North Dakota District Court Judge for the East Central Judicial District appointed by Governor Doug Burgum. He previously served for 20 years in the U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of North Dakota, including as Acting U.S. Attorney and First Assistant U.S. Attorney. Chase has also worked in private practice and as a federal judicial law clerk.

"The Takeout" on CBS News

I joined Major Garrett on "The Takeout" to discuss government funding and the Schumer Shutdown. For Democrats, funding the government is like falling off a log. I'm surprised Chuck Schumer has been able to hang on this long.

It's hard to imagine Democrats are going to allow our police officers and military men and women to not get paid. I just have to believe once Democrats accept the fact we will negotiate in good faith, the government can reopen.

General Kenneth Wilsbach, Air Force Chief of Staff Nominee

General Ken Wilsbach is exactly the decisive and insightful leader we need at the helm of the Air Force. His distinguished career exemplifies unwavering commitment to putting the mission first, prioritizing readiness, and making sure we don’t just keep our warfighting edge, but redefine it. North Dakota provides incredible defense capabilities, including two of the three legs of the nuclear triad. I look forward to working with him to advance these priorities.

Patrick Witt

I started my week meeting with Patrick Witt, the Executive Director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, to talk about digital asset market structure and pending legislative efforts.

CDM Smith

I met with CDM Smith and had a great discussion on addressing Highway Trust Fund (HTF) shortages in the next highway bill. It’s far past time to get infrastructure funding on more solid footing. Future investments in North Dakota’s roads and bridges are counting on it.

Daniel García Peña, Colombian Ambassador to the U.S.

Whether it’s American soybeans or Colombian eggs, the U.S. and Colombia share a strong, bilateral trade relationship. Grateful for my discussion with Colombian Ambassador to the U.S. Daniel García-Peña about our growing agricultural partnership to support food security and innovation across both nations.

Rodney Davis, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

It was great to see my friend Rodney Davis with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to discuss permitting reform and the upcoming highway reauthorization bill.

L3Harris

I enjoyed meeting with L3Harris leadership to discuss the company’s space capabilities and how it could enhance America's Golden Dome missile defense architecture.

Alistair Carns, U.K. Member of Parliament

The United States and United Kingdom have a deep defense partnership, grounded in shared values. I had a productive conversation with Alistair Carns, U.K. Member of Parliament and Minister for the Armed Forces, about modernizing our forces and strengthening alliances.