Senate Passes Appropriations Package, Short-Term Homeland Security Funding

Measure Heads Back to the House for Final Consideration

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - By a vote of 71 to 29, the U.S. Senate passed a package of bipartisan Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 appropriations bills, completing nearly 92% of the appropriations process. Today's vote delivers on President Donald Trump's America First agenda and secures full-year funding for the departments of Defense, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Labor, Education, and other related agencies. The package also includes a continuing resolution to fund Department of Homeland Security operations for two weeks while lawmakers finalize the appropriations bill.

The package strengthens America's military and funds a 3.8% pay raise for all service members and a 10% additional pay raise for junior enlisted service members. It strengthens the nation's workforce, promotes national security, supports tribal nations, and combats violent crime. The measure prioritizes funding to help make Americans healthier, modernize the country's transportation infrastructure, reinforce the nation's education system, and enhance emergency preparedness.

"Well, it was a long time coming but boy this was a big package, and really good for North Dakota, really good for the country in so many respects," said U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND). "It strengthens our military, first of all, that's item number one for all of us, it upgrades some critical infrastructure, supports education, health care, and emergency response. I'm really grateful to Leader Thune and our Senate appropriators; they've restored some of regular order back. It's a long way from the way it's supposed to be, but it's a lot further than it has been, and it does prove that accountability, and fiscal discipline, and conservative principles really do still matter. I certainly hope the House passes these measures quickly, they've already voted on the vast majority of this, as it is. We need to keep this government running and then prepare for a robust new year of appropriations for the next fiscal year."

Defense

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The FY26 Defense Appropriations section leverages North Dakota's contributions to national security and space-defense ecosystem, by fully funding future intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance programs at Grand Forks Air Force Base (AFB) and providing $50 million to expand the Space Development Agency's (SDA) Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. SDA's Operations Center North is located on Grand Forks AFB. It appropriates $5 million to Technology Applications Group in Grand Forks for the development of magnesium coatings for aerospace platforms and an additional $4.5 million to accelerate drone production by the Grand Forks company Ideal Aerosmith. Cramer secured authorization for funding these programs in this year's National Defense Authorization Act.

The appropriations measure secures several wins for the University of North Dakota (UND) in Grand Forks and North Dakota State University (NDSU) in Fargo. UND receives more than $2 million to support the Food Resilience for Enhanced Safety and Health initiative and $2 million for the development of geotechnical intelligence and terrain analytics network.

NDSU receives $2.5 million for research of hypersonic and high-speed aerodynamics to support the U.S. Department of War Test Resource Management Center (TRMC). The university acquires $6 million for an Innovative Coatings Research and Workforce Development Center in coordination with the Office of Naval Research, $2.5 million for a project examining electrically responsive surface textures for autonomous platforms, and $2 million for design and manufacturing of advanced composites and multi-material protective systems.

It secures $5 million for SkyRange to support reusable hypersonic test bed integration and testing, and $7 million for a low-cost recoverable testing solution to support establishment of a TRMC lab-scale hypersonic electromagnetic accelerator and the Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed program, which rapidly increases hypersonic testing capacity conducted in Grand Forks.

President Donald Trump's 2026 National Defense Strategy calls for a "strong, secure, and effective nuclear arsenal," with renewed focus on deterrence and the three legs of the nuclear triad. Minot AFB is the Air Force's only dual-wing nuclear-capable installation, which houses both the air-based and land-based legs. The funding bill keeps the re-engining of Minot AFB B-52s on track. The long-range, heavy bomber can fly at high subsonic speeds and carry precision guided nuclear and conventional ordinance. The bill provides further support for B-52 squadrons with $26.2 million for modernized B-52H flight simulators. It provides an additional $60 million for the procurement of MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopters to replace the aging UH-1N Hueys at Minot AFB and fully funds the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) modernization program. The Sentinel ICBM, which will replace the 50-year-old Minuteman III, is a key component of the nation's nuclear deterrence.

The bill provides $5 million for the modernization of the Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System (PARCS) at Cavalier Space Force Station. PARCS tracks over half of all earth-orbiting objects and will play an important role in President Donald Trump's Golden Dome layered missile defense shield for America. Cramer and U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) introduced the bicameral Ground and Orbital Launched Defeat of Emergent Nuclear Destruction and Other Missile Engagements (GOLDEN DOME) Act which compliments President Trump's executive order directing the implementation of a next-generation missile defense shield for the nation. The bill funded a total of $2.1 billion in critical investments for near-term air and missile defense requirements and for Golden Dome.

In addition to reinforcing North Dakota's prominence in the national security landscape, the bill includes $3.7 billion to strengthen security cooperation programs around the globe. It designates $41 million for Project Pele. As energy usage for military operations increases, this program provides reliable, resilient, and safe mobile nuclear power to keep pace with growing energy demands.

Beyond infrastructure, hardware, technology, and war material investments needed to recover from years of negligence under the Biden administration, the bill prioritizes the men and women who do the work to keep their country safe. Troops throughout North Dakota will benefit from the $193 billion to support service members and their families, including a 3.8% pay raise for all service members and a 10% additional pay raise for junior enlisted service members.

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD)

The FY26 THUD provision provides funding to revitalize infrastructure across the United States, strengthen aviation safety, while addressing housing affordability and supply challenges.

Specifically, it includes $64.3 billion to the Federal Highway Administration for formula programs consistent with the fully-paid-for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). To date, North Dakota has received over $400 million in FY26 formula dollars.

The legislation increases funding in several programs which benefit North Dakota's air travel industry. It includes $4 billion for Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants, which assist airports nationwide with planning, capital, and safety enhancement projects. In 2025, Cramer and U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) sent a letter to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford requesting he expedite the disbursement of AIP entitlement funds to help airports across North Dakota and the nation operate more efficiently to better serve travelers.

Additionally, the bill appropriates $513 million for Essential Air Service (EAS), which provides commercial air service to Devils Lake, Jamestown, and Dickinson airports, as well as $279 million for the FAA Contract Towers Program, which serves airports such as Minot International.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP), which Grand Forks International Airport utilized to add pursue a United Airlines direct flight to Denver, will receive $15 million. Additionally, the bill provides $145 million for the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program, which combines with the BIL to provide a total of $1.7 billion in FY26. North Dakota has received eight grants through the BUILD program, previously known as Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE), totaling more than $80 million.

The bill provides $137 million for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program, which totals $1.1 billion when combined with funds from the BIL. Cramer led a letter to the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban requesting it provide robust funding for the CRISI program, writing, a "well-funded CRISI program will ensure that more worthy projects are funded and promote a safer and more efficient rail system for shippers, consumers, workers, and passengers alike." This program has helped the Red River Valley and Western Railroad make critical track upgrades and better serve agriculture shippers in North Dakota.

The bill provides $200 million for commercial motor vehicle public parking projects, a cause Cramer supported in 2023 by cosponsoring the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act to provide dedicated funding for truck parking. The bill also provides $350 million for a competitive bridge bundling grant program for which North Dakota is eligible.

The bill corrects the mistakes of the Biden administration by requiring $878 million provided through the BIL for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program be permanently repurposed to support priorities within the Highway Infrastructure program as well as rail infrastructure and safety grants.

It rescinds more than $928 million in wasteful spending from the California High Speed Rail project. The project has faced significant delays, cost overruns, and questions surround its viability and transparency of its funding.

The bill provides $77.3 billion for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This funding goes towards rental assistance and self-sufficiency support for low-income working families, seniors, and the disabled as well as housing and services for homeless individuals. It will support economic vitality and community development.

It includes $3.1 billion for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to assist state and local governments in specific housing and infrastructure needs. In addition to the $3.1 million awarded to the North Dakota CDBG program in FY25, Grand Forks, Minot, Fargo, and Bismarck also received direct funds from the CBDG.

The bill funds $1.2 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships program, which supports low-income households to access affordable housing. North Dakota received $3 million in FY25 for the HOME program.

Labor, Health and Human Services, Education

The FY26 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations section funds efforts to combat the opioid epidemic, provides investments in biomedical research, and supports rural health, early education, and more.

It provides full funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including $7.4 billion for the National Cancer Institute and $3.9 billion for Alzheimer's disease and related dementia research. The bill allocates $373.9 million for the Health Resources and Services Administration's rural health programs and delivers funding increases to support critical health research programs including for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, cancer, diabetes, and other rare disease programs.

The legislation provides $145 million for the Rural Communities Opioid Response program to combat the opioid epidemic and other substance use disorders in rural communities. It delivers more than $5.5 billion for mental health research, treatment, and prevention, through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) suicide prevention lifeline, and additional mental health programs.

Among other provisions, the bill funds more than $373.9 million for rural health programs, including $70 million for the Rural Hospital Flexibility program, $13.5 million for State Offices of Rural Health, $5.5 billion for mental health research, treatment, and prevention, $8.8 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, nearly $12.4 billion for Head Start, $1.5 billion for Career and Technical Education, and $729 million for Adult Education.

The bill contains several health care extensions and reforms, including extending telehealth flexibilities through Dec. 31, 2027, including removal of geographic restrictions for patients, and supporting audio-only services. The legislation extends and provides full funding for the Community Health Center Fund and the National Health Service Corps through Dec. 31, the Special Diabetes Programs through Dec. 31, and the Conrad 30 waiver program to support rural health care workforce needs.

It adds multi-cancer early detection screening tests as a covered benefit under the Medicare program, implementing lifesaving reforms in legislation cosponsored by Cramer. The Act modernizes oversight of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) through enhanced audits and information sharing requirements, delinks PBM compensation from drug prices under Medicare Part D, and requires PBMs to fully pass through 100 percent of drug rebates and discounts to the employer or plan sponsor.

The legislation delivers $285 million for the Apprenticeship Grant Program, maintains the maximum Pell award at $7,395 for the 2026-2027 school year, and provides $18.4 billion for Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies and $15.2 billion for IDEA State Grants.

The Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations maintains long-standing policy riders, including Hyde and Hyde-Weldon conscience protections preventing federal funds from paying for abortions, needle exchange prohibition, and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) electronic voting prohibition.

The bill provides $225 million for the Rural Education Achievement Program, $45 million for the Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development Grant Program, and more than $3 billion for Higher Education programs to meet the needs of current and future students. This includes $1.2 billion for TRIO and $388 million for GEAR UP to support college access and success for low-income students. It includes up to $500 million for grants for the startup, replication, and expansion of high-quality charter schools to increase educational choice for students. Additionally, the legislation extends the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program under Part A of Title IV of the Social Security Act through Dec. 31.

Financial Services

The Financial Services section of the appropriations package provides $21 million to support the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) in reviewing sensitive foreign investments to safeguard national security. Cramer has been at the forefront of expanding CFIUS' jurisdiction to protect our national security. He joined fellow Senate Banking Committee members in introducing the Protect Our Bases Act to address foreign adversary investment near sensitive national security sites in the United States. He led a bipartisan effort to permanently add the Secretary of Agriculture to CFIUS for agriculture transactions to prevent foreign interference in food production.

The Act provides $21.4 million for small business grants through Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs), such as one hosted by UND serving both North Dakota and South Dakota. This funding supports the Boots to Business Program, which helps veterans and their spouses start businesses after military service.

It strengthens the Taxpayer Advocate Service by scaling back Internal Revenue Service enforcement activities while increasing resources to help taxpayers meet their obligations. The bill authorizes the National Flood Insurance Plan through Sept. 30 and invests in the nation's infrastructure by providing more than $934 million for new construction and repairs to courthouses, federal buildings, and land ports of entry. It funds $9.2 billion in federal court activities, including efficiently processing federal cases, court security, and defender services, and $892 million for court security, particularly for protection services and equipment to secure courthouses for judicial officers, employees, and visitors.

Under the General Services Administration, the bill provides $9.7 billion to support the Federal Buildings Fund, and $933 million to address repairs to federal courthouses and office buildings and accelerate the disposal of outdated properties.

State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs

The State and Foreign Operations section provides $3.3 billion for foreign military financing for Israel and $9.4 billion for Global Health Programs, including those supporting maternal and child health, nutrition, vulnerable children, and combating HIV/AIDS. It provides $40 million to support international religious freedom and secures $8.9 billion for international security assistance, including peacekeeping operations, counter-narcotics, foreign military financing for U.S. partners, and combatting human trafficking.