WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today applauded the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2023. The bill contains numerous priorities that benefit South Dakota and the future B-21 bomber mission at Ellsworth Air Force Base, including nearly $336 million for new facility construction and the revival of a program to help school districts accommodate significant increases in students as a result of additional military families moving to the area to prepare for mission growth.
“Providing for our nation’s defense is one of the most serious and consequential responsibilities for members of Congress,” said Thune. “I am committed to ensuring that Ellsworth Air Force Base and its surrounding communities have everything they need for the B-21 bomber mission so Ellsworth can continue to serve as one of our nation’s essential military assets for decades to come.”
The NDAA includes a modified version of Thune’s Dynamic Airspace Pilot Program Act of 2022, legislation that requires the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Defense (DoD) to establish a pilot program to support the development of “dynamic airspace” to improve how airspace boundaries are managed to accommodate modern military training requirements like longer engagement distances.
NDAA priorities for South Dakota include:
- $3.25 billion for B-21 bomber development and $1.78 billion for low-rate initial production of the aircraft
- $335.9 million for military construction, including:
- LO Restoration Facility, $41 million
- Radio Frequency Facility, $84.9 million
- Weapons Generation Facility, $50 million
- Increased authorization to address inflation
- $15 million for school districts serving military families’ students to accommodate enrollment changes due to base closures, force structure changes, or force relocations
- Extends DoD authority to increase Basic Allowance for Housing in regions of high demand
- Extends prohibition on reducing B-1 maintenance personnel or further reduction in aircraft unless replaced with B-21s
- Establishes a dynamic airspace pilot program that would bolster training ranges like the Powder River Training Complex
- $23 million for B-1 bomber squadrons, including $10 million for hypersonic integration validation testing
- Extends $12 million authorization for Joe Foss Field aircraft maintenance shops
- Multi-year procurement authority for Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles and Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles used by the B-1
