WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate has approved $2 million in the final Homeland Security Appropriations bill for a Grand Forks, N.D., air wing to provide security along the nation's northern border, according to a news release from Sen. Kent Conrad.
The appropriations bill, approved by a congressional conference committee, allocates funding for the development of an air wing stationed in Grand Forks, with a flying mission to monitor the northern border.
The Grand Forks base is the final air wing to be established in a string of defense posts across the northern border. Additional bases will be in Michigan and Montana.
The final bill will be returned to Congress for final passage before being sent to President Bush for his signature.
