{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-trump-to-appoint-bob-wefald-to-american-battle-monuments", "CRAMER: Trump to Appoint Bob Wefald to American Battle Monuments Commission", "2017-12-06", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "ND", "Kevin Cramer", "C001096", "cramer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Recording: Audio\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013\u00a0Congressman Kevin Cramer announced today that President Trump intends to appoint Robert \u201cBob\u201d Wefald of North Dakota to the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC).\nEarning his B.A. from the University of North Dakota and his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School, Wefald has served the people of North Dakota in several public positions including North Dakota Attorney General from 1981 to 1984. He also served in the U.S. Navy for 27 years including during the Vietnam War.\n\u201cIt was really easy to recommend Bob to President Trump for this role,\u201d said Cramer. \u201cAs a former Navy Captain, North Dakota Attorney General, and a District Court Judge, he checks all the boxes for a member of this honorable commission. Bob\u2019s unwavering commitment to veterans and veteran issues is well known, and his personal record of military experience and his dedication to North Dakota will serve him well as he begins his time on the American Battle Monuments Commission. I\u2019m very happy for Bob.\u201d\nThe American Battle Monuments Commission, established by the Congress in 1923, is an agency of the executive branch of the federal government. Charged with guarding America\u2019s overseas commemorative cemeteries and memorials, the agency honors the service, achievements and sacrifice of U.S. Armed Forces.\nABMC\u2019s commemorative mission includes:\n Designing, constructing, operating and maintaining permanent American cemeteries in foreign countries.\n\tEstablishing and maintaining U.S. military memorials, monuments and markers where American armed forces have served overseas since April 6, 1917, and within the United States when directed by public law.\n\tControlling the design and construction of permanent U.S. military monuments and markers by other U.S. citizens and organizations, both public and private, and encouraging their maintenance.\n ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-trump-to-appoint-bob-wefald-to-american-battle-monuments"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4233291149139404, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}