Press Releases
November 8, 2005
Senate to Pass Conrad Bill Preserving Missile Force
Senator's Amendments Boost Both Minot and Grand Forks AFB
Washington — The United States Senate is expected to unanimously approve legislation today written by Senator Kent Conrad that helps preserve the nation's Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) force, one wing of which is deployed at Minot Air Force Base.
Senator Conrad's legislation, part of the Defense Authorization bill, declares that it is U.S. policy to maintain a 500 ICBM missile force as part of our nation's strategic defense structure.
"While the Cold War has ended, we still live in a changing and uncertain world. Make no mistake, there are nations actively seeking nuclear weapons, posing a serious threat to America's security," Senator Conrad said. "It is critical that the U.S. maintain a missile force of 500 ICBMs to serve as a strong nuclear deterrent."
The Pentagon is currently conducting the "Quadrennial Defense Review," a top-to-bottom review of the Defense Department's war-fighting ability. According to reports, the Pentagon is considering possible changes to the nation's ICBM force, including reducing the number of nuclear-armed missiles.
Senator Conrad, the chairman of the Senate ICBM Coalition, has led the fight to maintain a 500 ICBM missile force. His amendment to the annual national defense bill, which will be approved by the Senate today, explicitly affirms the 500 ICBM force level.
The current fleet of Minuteman III missiles is located at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, and Minot Air Force Base, which controls 150 Minuteman III missiles spread across North Dakota's northwestern landscape.
The Senate Defense Authorization bill also includes an amendment written by Senator Conrad allowing the Pentagon to direct an additional $218 million for Predator unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), many of which will be based at Grand Forks Air Force Base.
The House of Representatives has already approved their version of the bill. Once signed off on by the Senate, the two chambers of Congress will appoint a "conference committee" that will negotiate the details of a new bill, which will then be voted on again by the House and Senate for final approval.
Senator Byron Dorgan, a member of the Senate ICBM Coalition, is a cosponsor of Senator Conrad's amendment.
