U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) on Jan. 1 applauded the U.S. Senate vote to override President Donald Trump’s veto of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021, noting the legislation supports servicemembers and key missions in North Dakota.
“The NDAA provides vital support for our men and women in uniform, including a 3-percent pay raise, while also continuing the modernization of the dual nuclear missions in Minot and strengthening the UAS missions in Grand Forks and Fargo,” Sen. Hoeven said on New Year’s Day following the Senate’s 81-13 vote in favor of H.R. 6395. The U.S. House of Representatives on Dec. 28 voted 322-87 to override the president’s veto of the bill.
Now that the legislation has received the two-thirds majority needed in both chambers of Congress, it will be entered into law. Trump on Dec. 23 vetoed H.R. 6395 because it includes Section 230, which he says allows social media companies to act with bias against him and other conservatives.
“We agree with the president that Section 230 needs to be addressed and will work with our colleagues to make needed reforms,” said Sen. Hoeven. “At the same time, we approved the NDAA again to ensure that our military has the support it needs, just as has been done every year for the last 59 years.”
In addition to the 3-percent pay raise for service members, Sen. Hoeven was responsible for other provisions that were included in H.R. 6395, such as a restriction on the retirement of the Global Hawk surveillance aircraft, and the continued authorization for nuclear modernization efforts that support the missions at Minot Air Force Base.
Such modernization efforts include the authorization of B-52 upgrades; a new nuclear cruise missile, the Long Range Stand Off missile; authorization for new cruise missile warheads; and $1.5 billion in funding authority for the new Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD).
Among other provisions, Sen. Hoeven also included an amendment to the NDAA that will prevent delays in deploying the GBSD and prohibit the reduction of intercontinental ballistic missiles to any lower than the currently deployed 400 missiles, according to his office.