Central ND News

The Senate Armed Services Committee convened for a hearing to review four nominations for key Department of Defense positions. Nominees included Troy Meink for Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, Michael Duffey for Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Emil Michael for Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, and Keith Bass for Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs.

Senator Kevin Cramer raised questions on several critical topics, such as maintaining competitiveness with adversaries and supporting innovators. He also brought attention to legislation he has supported to improve rural mental health care access.

Cramer mentioned that he heard about the potential cancellation of solicitations for the Space Development Agency’s Transport satellite layers, in favor of SpaceX’s Starshield. He argued that this could hinder small and mid-sized companies, crucial for the U.S. space industrial base. Addressing Dr. Meink, Cramer emphasized, “One of the things that I've pushed for, particularly over the last 10 years, is expand competition and expand the industry base.”

In response to Cramer’s inquiries, Dr. Meink highlighted the importance of remaining adaptable, “We always have to look at how we're operating, how we're executing as technology changes.” Despite past challenges, he noted progress in system acquisition speed compared to Chinese programs.

The discussion then moved to legislation deriving from the loss of two airmen at the Grand Forks Air Force Base. Cramer advocated for this legislation within the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, emphasizing the need for improved mental health services access for military personnel in rural areas. If TRICARE standards aren't met for 12 months, military members must be ensured timely care.

Cramer directed a poignant question to Mr. Bass, highlighting the tragic impact of gaps in mental health care access: “The reason this became important to me is because I know of two airmen...who are no longer with us because they ultimately chose to take their own lives.” Bass committed to prioritizing mental health access for service members, stating, “The mental health access for our service members in our total force has to be a priority.”