Cramer Calls for Defense Department to Follow the Law

BISMARCK, N.D. – Congressman Kevin Cramer today called on the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to follow the law and cease its action against the nation’s intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) fleet. In a letter to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel with Representatives Steve Daines (MT), Doug Lamborn (CO), Cory Gardner (CO), and Cynthia Lummis (WY), Cramer responded to reports the Pentagon is requesting the Air Force move forward with environmental studies necessary for the destruction of the ICBM fleet. In the recently passed 2014 consolidated appropriations law, Congress included a provision specifically preventing funds from being used to conduct such environmental studies.

"With the ink barely dry on the bill, the Department of Defense has chosen to ignore the clear letter and spirit of the law. Unfortunately this type of blatant disregard for the law has become the hallmark of the current administration," said Cramer.

The United States military has nuclear ICBMs located around Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, and F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. Other elements of the U.S. nuclear fleet include missiles aboard submarines and aircraft bombers, also located at Minot Air Force Base.

Last year, Cramer sponsored successful amendments to both the National Defense Authorization Act and the Defense Appropriations bill requiring the 450 active ICBM silos be kept at a minimum of warm status and prohibiting the environmental studies currently being pursued by the DoD. Video of Cramer discussing these protections on the House floor can be seen here.

Cramer’s letter to Secretary Hagel may be viewed here. The text is below:

Dear Secretary Hagel:

We write to express our strongest concern that the Defense Department has requested the Air Force to begin an environmental assessment related to our country’s intercontinental ballistic missile force, even though Congress expressly precluded funding for such an assessment in the fiscal year 2014 consolidated appropriations measure. We urge the Defense Department to categorically cease from pursuing this misguided and premature action.

We strongly believe maintaining our current ICBM capability is vital to promoting peace and keeping our country and allies safe from current and emerging threats. Accordingly, we are deeply concerned that moving forward with an environmental assessment could foreshadow ill-advised efforts to reduce our ICBM force beyond those required by the New START Treaty. We are also concerned that beginning an ICBM environmental assessment could significantly damage the morale of airmen working on this crucial mission. We therefore request the Defense Department to withdraw its request for the Air Force to begin an environmental assessment.

We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and look forward to your timely response.