ND Pols Back New US Defense Bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — North Dakota lawmakers are expressing support for a comprehensive defense bill passed by Congress that provides military funding and takes aim at sexual assaults in the military. They say it will also help protect North Dakota's missile silos.

Republican Sen. John Hoeven and Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp both voted for the annual defense policy bill. The roughly $633 billion bill passed the Senate late Thursday and now goes to President Barack Obama.

Heitkamp says she's particularly pleased that the bill contains a provision protecting North Dakota's Intercontinental Ballistic Missile silos. Hoeven also says the language on missile silos is important and will protect the state's interests.

GOP Rep. Kevin Cramer backs the bill — he voted for it in the House last week.