Securing the Future:

His seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee has enabled Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) to push for—and get—committee approval for $18.2 million in military construction appropriations for 2008 for Minot AFB, N.D. In a statement, Dorgan says the money will go toward a new 144-room enlisted dormitory. He says, “This is an important investment that shows the commitment the Air Force has to maintaining Minot Air Force Base as a dual-mission facility for decades to come.” Minot has B-52 bombers and Minuteman III ICBMs. The Air Force wants to trim back its B-52 force but has yet to secure Congressional approval; it does have approval to cut one Minuteman squadron, but that will happen at Malmstrom AFB, Mont.