Press releases
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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2,178 rows where chamber = "House", party = "Democrat" and state = "ND" sorted by date descending
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| url | title | date ▲ | year | month | party | chamber | state | member_name | bioguide_id | domain | scraper | source | date_source | text | has_text | collected_at | updated_at |
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| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=7B4F5F7A-E603-45A8-9DFD-552CD8FEB362 | Heitkamps Bipartisan Bill to Support Native Youth Education Passes in the U.S. Senate & U.S. House, Headed to Get Signed into Law | 2018-12-20 | 2018 | 2018-12 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Approximately 500,000 Eligible Native American & Alaska Native Students Are Excluded from Education Resources they are Promised Under Federal Law Senator's Bipartisan Legislation Will Require an Accurate Count of All Eligible Students, Push for Greater Access to Culturally Relevant Learning Programs WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced that her bipartisan bill to make sure Native American students receive the federal education support they need has now passed in both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House. The legislation will now head to the President's desk to be signed into law. According to recent Census Bureau estimates, about 500,000 potentially eligible Native American students are excluded from accessing federal resources to address their academic needs. Heitkamp's bill would make sure more Native American students can receive federal learning resources that they are eligible to obtain under law. Studies have indicated that culturally relevant learning programs help Native students perform better in the classroom" said Heitkamp. "But too often, these federal programs meant to address the specific needs of American Indian and Alaska Native students are underfunded or poorly implemented. It's a huge deal that my bipartisan bill -- that just passed in Congress and will soon be signed into law -- willrequire that accurate counts of Native American students are performed, so that these underserved students and schools can receive the support they deserve. This important and needed legislation continues my decades-long work to stand up for Native children and families, and it comes soon after my bill, Savanna's Act also passed in Senate and we're trying to get it across the finish line in the U.S. House to help address the crisis of missing and murderedNative women. Congress must continue to pass critical legislation to support tribal communities and I'll continue to advocate to help make that happen. Currently, the federal government relies on two-decade old Bureau of Indian Affairs' … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=0BB79682-EF50-4297-9A95-4261F6E81C73 | Heitkamp Releases Final Podcast as U.S. Senator, Answers Questions from former U.S. Senator Kent Conrad about Her Time Serving North Dakota | 2018-12-17 | 2018 | 2018-12 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Last Week, Heitkamp Delivered her Farewell Speech on the Floor of the U.S. Senate WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today released the latest episode of her podcast, The Hotdish,' in which she was interviewed by former U.S. Senator Kent Conrad. This episode is Heitkamp's seventeenth and final podcast as a U.S. senator. In this episode, the tables were turned and Conrad interviews Heitkamp about her time serving the people of North Dakota, her legislative accomplishments and legacy, and the future of bipartisanship. Conrad served North Dakota in the U.S. Senate from 1987 to 2013, where he twice served as Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. Prior to his time in the U.S. Senate, Conrad served as Tax Commissioner of North Dakota. Heitkamp followed Conrad as Tax Commissioner in 1986, and she succeeded him as a United States Senator in 2013 following his retirement. The Hotdish is available on Spotify, iTunes and Anchor. Current episodes are also available on Soundcloud. When I began my career in public service, I wanted to follow in the footsteps of North Dakota leaders who had demonstrated a commitment to getting things done for our state, no matter how tough the task may have seemed and one of those elected officials was Kent Conrad. Over the years, Senator Conrad has been an invaluable political mentor, confidant, and friend, and I'm honored to have him join me on this episode of The Hotdish,' to talk about the importance of public service and the need to work with those on both sides of the aisle to get results which is particularly important during these divisive times, said Heitkamp. During my time in the U.S. Senate, I've tried to see the world through the eyes of those I am here to serve working families, Native youth, those with chronic health conditions, retirees, and many more. And I decided from the get-go that I wouldn't be afraid to roll up my sleeves and help address the challenges they face every day. This podcast has been an insightful way of diving deeper into issues af… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=0BB79682-EF50-4297-9A95-4261F6E81C73 | Heitkamp Releases Final Podcast as U.S. Senator, Answers Questions from former U.S. Senator Kent Conrad about Her Time Serving North Dakota | 2018-12-17 | 2018 | 2018-12 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Last Week, Heitkamp Delivered her Farewell Speech on the Floor of the U.S. Senate WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today released the latest episode of her podcast, The Hotdish,' in which she was interviewed by former U.S. Senator Kent Conrad. This episode is Heitkamp's seventeenth and final podcast as a U.S. senator. In this episode, the tables were turned and Conrad interviews Heitkamp about her time serving the people of North Dakota, her legislative accomplishments and legacy, and the future of bipartisanship. Conrad served North Dakota in the U.S. Senate from 1987 to 2013, where he twice served as Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. Prior to his time in the U.S. Senate, Conrad served as Tax Commissioner of North Dakota. Heitkamp followed Conrad as Tax Commissioner in 1986, and she succeeded him as a United States Senator in 2013 following his retirement. The Hotdish is available on Spotify, iTunes and Anchor. Current episodes are also available on Soundcloud. When I began my career in public service, I wanted to follow in the footsteps of North Dakota leaders who had demonstrated a commitment to getting things done for our state, no matter how tough the task may have seemed and one of those elected officials was Kent Conrad. Over the years, Senator Conrad has been an invaluable political mentor, confidant, and friend, and I'm honored to have him join me on this episode of The Hotdish,' to talk about the importance of public service and the need to work with those on both sides of the aisle to get results which is particularly important during these divisive times, said Heitkamp. During my time in the U.S. Senate, I've tried to see the world through the eyes of those I am here to serve working families, Native youth, those with chronic health conditions, retirees, and many more. And I decided from the get-go that I wouldn't be afraid to roll up my sleeves and help address the challenges they face every day. This podcast has been an insightful way of diving deeper into issues af… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=77B1F498-EC80-4C54-A2DA-77DC2F84F885 | U.S. Senate Unanimously Passes Heitkamps Bill to Help Lower U.S. Maternal Mortality Rates; Legislation Heads to Presidents Desk to be Signed Into Law | 2018-12-14 | 2018 | 2018-12 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Bipartisan Legislation Would Encourage Additional Research into Maternal Death Cases & Seek Local Solutions to Curtail an Increase in Preventable Deaths WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced that the U.S. Senate unanimously passed her bipartisan legislation to examine and combat the escalating maternal mortality crisis in the United States. Her bill will now head to the President's desk to be signed into law. More women in the United States die from pregnancy-related complications than in most other developed nationsand the number of maternal deaths is rising. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pregnancy-related deaths in the United States increased by 250 percent from 1987-2014. And to highlight the urgent need to tackle this problem, another study found that 60 percent of the nation's maternal deaths could have been prevented with proper care. Heitkamp's bipartisan bill would strengthen on-the-ground resources to combat this growing crisis by expanding maternal mortality review committees (MMRCs) that study and address the causes of maternal death cases and work to increase the number of safe and successful pregnancies. MMRCs do not exist in 18 states, including North Dakota. Especially in an industrialized country like the United States, no mother should have to worry about life-threatening complications during childbirth. Rising maternal mortality rates are simply unacceptable, and we need to develop a better understanding of this crisis, so that we can effectively identify risk factors and prevent further deaths, said Heitkamp. The U.S. Senate passing my legislation is a major step toward averting these heartbreaking tragedies and protecting the next generation of mothers and infants. By investing in cutting-edge research, giving physicians the tools they need to protect patients, and beefing up information sharing, my bill would help facilitate healthier pregnancies for so many moms and families in North Dakota and across the coun… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=77B1F498-EC80-4C54-A2DA-77DC2F84F885 | U.S. Senate Unanimously Passes Heitkamps Bill to Help Lower U.S. Maternal Mortality Rates; Legislation Heads to Presidents Desk to be Signed Into Law | 2018-12-14 | 2018 | 2018-12 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Bipartisan Legislation Would Encourage Additional Research into Maternal Death Cases & Seek Local Solutions to Curtail an Increase in Preventable Deaths WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced that the U.S. Senate unanimously passed her bipartisan legislation to examine and combat the escalating maternal mortality crisis in the United States. Her bill will now head to the President's desk to be signed into law. More women in the United States die from pregnancy-related complications than in most other developed nationsand the number of maternal deaths is rising. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pregnancy-related deaths in the United States increased by 250 percent from 1987-2014. And to highlight the urgent need to tackle this problem, another study found that 60 percent of the nation's maternal deaths could have been prevented with proper care. Heitkamp's bipartisan bill would strengthen on-the-ground resources to combat this growing crisis by expanding maternal mortality review committees (MMRCs) that study and address the causes of maternal death cases and work to increase the number of safe and successful pregnancies. MMRCs do not exist in 18 states, including North Dakota. Especially in an industrialized country like the United States, no mother should have to worry about life-threatening complications during childbirth. Rising maternal mortality rates are simply unacceptable, and we need to develop a better understanding of this crisis, so that we can effectively identify risk factors and prevent further deaths, said Heitkamp. The U.S. Senate passing my legislation is a major step toward averting these heartbreaking tragedies and protecting the next generation of mothers and infants. By investing in cutting-edge research, giving physicians the tools they need to protect patients, and beefing up information sharing, my bill would help facilitate healthier pregnancies for so many moms and families in North Dakota and across the coun… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=61EC0FD9-436D-40D9-BBFE-294E4677FD33 | Heitkamp Delivers Farewell Speech on Floor of U.S. Senate | 2018-12-12 | 2018 | 2018-12 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | During Her Six Years in the U.S. Senate, Heitkamp has Fought for the Priorities of Rural America, Children, Working Families & Indian Country WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today delivered her final speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate. During the speech, she highlighted her accomplishments in the Senate, the work that still needs to happen on many issues, and a call for bipartisanship and compromise in the chamber. Click here to watch Heitkamp's full remarks on YouTube. Click here to watch her full remarks on Facebook. Below are excerpts from Heitkamp's U.S. Senate farewell address: Beating the Odds In 2000, I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. My oncologists told me you have a 28 percent chance of living more than ten years. Think about that. So I knew right away that I had a chance to use what time God gave me for good and noble purposes. To try and do the things that I always thought needed to be done in this country. It's an important lesson for all of you. The greatest gift you have is not your bank account. Your greatest gift that you have is the amount of time you have left on this earth and what you do with that time. And I chose for good or for bad to come to the United States Senate. My family struggled to get by and when you look at it, you think about this, you think about a country where somebody from my background could actually become a United States Senator. I'm a Democrat from a very conservative state, but against all odds, in fact the prediction was only 8 percent, I got elected to the Senate. A Legacy of Bipartisan Achievement When you look at the time and the opportunity to rise above partisanship and rancor, I have found so much common ground with so many members of this body. I am incredibly proud of what we've been able to accomplish. I've advocated for Native American communities in my bill to stand up for Native American children, which I did with Lisa [Murkowski] from the very beginning. The first bill I introduced and it was symbolic for… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=61EC0FD9-436D-40D9-BBFE-294E4677FD33 | Heitkamp Delivers Farewell Speech on Floor of U.S. Senate | 2018-12-12 | 2018 | 2018-12 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | During Her Six Years in the U.S. Senate, Heitkamp has Fought for the Priorities of Rural America, Children, Working Families & Indian Country WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today delivered her final speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate. During the speech, she highlighted her accomplishments in the Senate, the work that still needs to happen on many issues, and a call for bipartisanship and compromise in the chamber. Click here to watch Heitkamp's full remarks on YouTube. Click here to watch her full remarks on Facebook. Below are excerpts from Heitkamp's U.S. Senate farewell address: Beating the Odds In 2000, I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. My oncologists told me you have a 28 percent chance of living more than ten years. Think about that. So I knew right away that I had a chance to use what time God gave me for good and noble purposes. To try and do the things that I always thought needed to be done in this country. It's an important lesson for all of you. The greatest gift you have is not your bank account. Your greatest gift that you have is the amount of time you have left on this earth and what you do with that time. And I chose for good or for bad to come to the United States Senate. My family struggled to get by and when you look at it, you think about this, you think about a country where somebody from my background could actually become a United States Senator. I'm a Democrat from a very conservative state, but against all odds, in fact the prediction was only 8 percent, I got elected to the Senate. A Legacy of Bipartisan Achievement When you look at the time and the opportunity to rise above partisanship and rancor, I have found so much common ground with so many members of this body. I am incredibly proud of what we've been able to accomplish. I've advocated for Native American communities in my bill to stand up for Native American children, which I did with Lisa [Murkowski] from the very beginning. The first bill I introduced and it was symbolic for… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=63E7D184-040B-4195-A8D0-E980C46E4A8B | Heitkamp Statement on Release of 2018 Farm Bill Conference Report | 2018-12-11 | 2018 | 2018-12 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Final Bill Includes Provisions Heitkamp Pushed for to Support Beginning Farmers & Ranchers, Boost Exports to Cuba, Remove Lifetime Easements, & Fix ARC-CO WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and the Farm Bill Conference Committee, today issued the following statement after leaders of the Senate and House Agriculture Committees released the final text of the 2018 Farm Bill. One of my top priorities during my time in the U.S. Senate has been to pass a strong Farm Bill that strengthens support for North Dakota crop and livestock producers. In 2014, I helped write, negotiate, and pass a Farm Bill that did just that and I've been working on the Farm Bill conference committee to make sure the final version of the 2018 Farm Bill reflects the strong, bipartisan bill that was passed overwhelmingly by the Senate earlier this year, said Heitkamp. Fundamentally, this final legislation is the Senate Farm Bill with a few minor tweaks and it rebuffs many of the purely partisan provisions in the House version. I'm proud that priorities I fought to include such as programming for young and beginning farmers, trade promotion dollars for Cuba, commonsense fixes to ARC-CO, and the elimination of permanent easements have all been included in the final version of the bill. Particularly during a time of uncertainty in farm country due to the administration's ongoing trade war, it's critical that we get this important piece of legislation across the finish line before the end of this Congress to provide much-needed peace of mind for the rural economy, a robust safety net for growers, and expanded not limited access to important global markets for our producers. Background Heitkamp helped secure Senate passage of a bipartisan Farm Bill, which passed by a historic margin of 86-11. The Senate Farm Billwas widely praised by North Dakota agriculture leaders. The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passeda partisan Farm Billalong party lines in June. The final … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=B64E4C25-5F0B-4189-B897-76FB2D60D7A3 | Heitkamp Helps U.S. Senate Pass Strong, Bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill; Legislation Includes Major Wins Heitkamp Fought for to Support North Dakotas Farm Economy | 2018-12-11 | 2018 | 2018-12 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Final Bill Includes Provisions Heitkamp Pushed for to Support Beginning Farmers & Ranchers, Boost Exports to Cuba, Remove Lifetime Easements, & Fix ARC-CO WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and the Farm Bill Conference Committee, today voted with a bipartisan majority to pass the final version of the 2018 Farm Bill out of the U.S. Senate. The legislation will now head to the U.S. House and will thenif passed proceed to the President's desk to be signed into law. As one of nine senators on the bipartisan Farm Bill Conference Committee, Heitkamp fought to include several provisions to support North Dakota farmers and ranchers. Among other wins, Heitkamp successfully worked to include her fix to the ARC-County program, her amendment to boost agricultural exports to Cuba, her provisions to help young and beginning farmers, and her priority to protect and expand crop insurance. The North Dakota agricultural economy is experiencing a moment of great uncertainty and one of my top priorities since arriving in the U.S. Senate has been to pass a robust Farm Bill that gives farm and ranch families the peace of mind they need during times like these, said Heitkamp. This final bill largely reflects the strongly bipartisan bill I helped craft and pass in the Senate earlier this year and it rejects many of the partisan provisions found in the House version of the bill. The legislation passed in the Senate today includes major victories I fought to include to strengthen support for North Dakota's crop and livestock producers, including fixes to ARC-County, expanded Tribal Promise Zones, the elimination of permanent easements, and trade promotion resources for U.S.-Cuba trade. Every day I wake up thinking about rural America, and this Farm Bill would give our rural communities additional opportunities for economic growth. Now, it's critical that the House votes to push this bill across the finish line before the close of this Congress. Earlier this year… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=63E7D184-040B-4195-A8D0-E980C46E4A8B | Heitkamp Statement on Release of 2018 Farm Bill Conference Report | 2018-12-11 | 2018 | 2018-12 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Final Bill Includes Provisions Heitkamp Pushed for to Support Beginning Farmers & Ranchers, Boost Exports to Cuba, Remove Lifetime Easements, & Fix ARC-CO WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and the Farm Bill Conference Committee, today issued the following statement after leaders of the Senate and House Agriculture Committees released the final text of the 2018 Farm Bill. One of my top priorities during my time in the U.S. Senate has been to pass a strong Farm Bill that strengthens support for North Dakota crop and livestock producers. In 2014, I helped write, negotiate, and pass a Farm Bill that did just that and I've been working on the Farm Bill conference committee to make sure the final version of the 2018 Farm Bill reflects the strong, bipartisan bill that was passed overwhelmingly by the Senate earlier this year, said Heitkamp. Fundamentally, this final legislation is the Senate Farm Bill with a few minor tweaks and it rebuffs many of the purely partisan provisions in the House version. I'm proud that priorities I fought to include such as programming for young and beginning farmers, trade promotion dollars for Cuba, commonsense fixes to ARC-CO, and the elimination of permanent easements have all been included in the final version of the bill. Particularly during a time of uncertainty in farm country due to the administration's ongoing trade war, it's critical that we get this important piece of legislation across the finish line before the end of this Congress to provide much-needed peace of mind for the rural economy, a robust safety net for growers, and expanded not limited access to important global markets for our producers. Background Heitkamp helped secure Senate passage of a bipartisan Farm Bill, which passed by a historic margin of 86-11. The Senate Farm Billwas widely praised by North Dakota agriculture leaders. The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passeda partisan Farm Billalong party lines in June. The final … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=B64E4C25-5F0B-4189-B897-76FB2D60D7A3 | Heitkamp Helps U.S. Senate Pass Strong, Bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill; Legislation Includes Major Wins Heitkamp Fought for to Support North Dakotas Farm Economy | 2018-12-11 | 2018 | 2018-12 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Final Bill Includes Provisions Heitkamp Pushed for to Support Beginning Farmers & Ranchers, Boost Exports to Cuba, Remove Lifetime Easements, & Fix ARC-CO WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and the Farm Bill Conference Committee, today voted with a bipartisan majority to pass the final version of the 2018 Farm Bill out of the U.S. Senate. The legislation will now head to the U.S. House and will thenif passed proceed to the President's desk to be signed into law. As one of nine senators on the bipartisan Farm Bill Conference Committee, Heitkamp fought to include several provisions to support North Dakota farmers and ranchers. Among other wins, Heitkamp successfully worked to include her fix to the ARC-County program, her amendment to boost agricultural exports to Cuba, her provisions to help young and beginning farmers, and her priority to protect and expand crop insurance. The North Dakota agricultural economy is experiencing a moment of great uncertainty and one of my top priorities since arriving in the U.S. Senate has been to pass a robust Farm Bill that gives farm and ranch families the peace of mind they need during times like these, said Heitkamp. This final bill largely reflects the strongly bipartisan bill I helped craft and pass in the Senate earlier this year and it rejects many of the partisan provisions found in the House version of the bill. The legislation passed in the Senate today includes major victories I fought to include to strengthen support for North Dakota's crop and livestock producers, including fixes to ARC-County, expanded Tribal Promise Zones, the elimination of permanent easements, and trade promotion resources for U.S.-Cuba trade. Every day I wake up thinking about rural America, and this Farm Bill would give our rural communities additional opportunities for economic growth. Now, it's critical that the House votes to push this bill across the finish line before the close of this Congress. Earlier this year… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=EE552A51-E9AE-4DAA-A942-14C1DE7D2371 | U.S. Senate Passes Heitkamps Savannas Act to Shed Light on Nationwide Epidemic of Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women | 2018-12-06 | 2018 | 2018-12 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Heitkamp Named the Legislation in Memory of Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, Who Was Tragically Killed Last Year in North Dakota WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced that the U.S. Senate unanimously voted to pass Savanna's Act, a landmark bill she introduced to help address the epidemic of missing and murdered Native American women. On some reservations, Native women are murdered at ten times the national average, and 84 percent of Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime. In 2016, North Dakota had 125 reported cases of missing Native women according to the National Crime Information Center, but numbers are likely much higher as cases are often under reported and data isn't officially collected. Named for Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, who was abducted and tragically killed last year in Fargo, Savanna's Act builds on a bill Heitkamp and former U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) introduced and got signed into law to expand Amber alert warnings in Indian Country where such alerts often do not exist to help stop abductions. The Indian Affairs Committee held a hearing on Savanna's Act after Heitkamp introduced it last fall. When I introduced this bill last year, I wanted to honor the memory of Savanna and spark a nationwide call to action against the growing crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. For tar too long, this crisis in our Native American communities has been unnoticed, ignored, and unreported, said Heitkamp. Today's unanimous passage of Savanna's Act in the U.S. Senate is a major step in raising awareness about this growing epidemic. By improving tribal access to federal law enforcement databases, we are protecting some of our most vulnerable citizens and putting guidelines in place to potentially save lives. And as we remember the life of Savanna and the unimaginable pain of those eight days of friends and family searching for her, this legislation will help law enforcement agencies better collect and maintain data on those missing and help our … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=EE552A51-E9AE-4DAA-A942-14C1DE7D2371 | U.S. Senate Passes Heitkamps Savannas Act to Shed Light on Nationwide Epidemic of Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women | 2018-12-06 | 2018 | 2018-12 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Heitkamp Named the Legislation in Memory of Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, Who Was Tragically Killed Last Year in North Dakota WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced that the U.S. Senate unanimously voted to pass Savanna's Act, a landmark bill she introduced to help address the epidemic of missing and murdered Native American women. On some reservations, Native women are murdered at ten times the national average, and 84 percent of Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime. In 2016, North Dakota had 125 reported cases of missing Native women according to the National Crime Information Center, but numbers are likely much higher as cases are often under reported and data isn't officially collected. Named for Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, who was abducted and tragically killed last year in Fargo, Savanna's Act builds on a bill Heitkamp and former U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) introduced and got signed into law to expand Amber alert warnings in Indian Country where such alerts often do not exist to help stop abductions. The Indian Affairs Committee held a hearing on Savanna's Act after Heitkamp introduced it last fall. When I introduced this bill last year, I wanted to honor the memory of Savanna and spark a nationwide call to action against the growing crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. For tar too long, this crisis in our Native American communities has been unnoticed, ignored, and unreported, said Heitkamp. Today's unanimous passage of Savanna's Act in the U.S. Senate is a major step in raising awareness about this growing epidemic. By improving tribal access to federal law enforcement databases, we are protecting some of our most vulnerable citizens and putting guidelines in place to potentially save lives. And as we remember the life of Savanna and the unimaginable pain of those eight days of friends and family searching for her, this legislation will help law enforcement agencies better collect and maintain data on those missing and help our … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=53D6B25D-4726-4B4C-A830-6878D35F407C | Heitkamp Nominates Six ND Students to Military Service Academies | 2018-11-27 | 2018 | 2018-11 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced that she nominated six outstanding North Dakota students to the nation's military service academies. Heitkamp nominated Ian Pytlik of Horace, Ruby Romsland from a North Dakota military family, Spencer Weisgram of West Fargo, Colton Willits of Walhalla, Morgan Adams of Richland County, and London Lambrecht of Bismarck. North Dakota knows how to honor service to our nation and raise outstanding leaders for our military, Heitkamp said. This impressive group of nominees should be applauded for their desire to serve, and I know they'll represent North Dakota and our nation well. Members of Congress are able to nominate students to attend the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado; the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York; the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York; and the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Below are further details on the students Heitkamp has nominated: Ian Pytlik United States Naval Academy Ian, from Horace, is active in various athletics, clubs and organizations, including student council, Key Club, hockey, football, baseball, and the Boy Scouts. He is currently working on his Eagle Scout project. Ruby Romsland - United States Military Academy, West Point Ruby is from a North Dakota military family, and her dad is a Navy Seal. She aspires to attend medical school and continue her family's tradition of military service. Spencer Weisgram United States Military Academy, West Point Spencer, from West Fargo, currently attends Culver Academies in Indiana. Spencer is on Honor Council, plays in the Culver hockey program, and is a member of the Culver Cadet Club and drill team. Colton Willits United States Air Force Academy Colton, from Walhalla, attends North Border Walhalla High School. He serves as Secretary of State and is on the Color Guard for North Dakota Boys State, participated in the North Dakota Leadership Seminar, in on the North Dakota S… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=53D6B25D-4726-4B4C-A830-6878D35F407C | Heitkamp Nominates Six ND Students to Military Service Academies | 2018-11-27 | 2018 | 2018-11 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced that she nominated six outstanding North Dakota students to the nation's military service academies. Heitkamp nominated Ian Pytlik of Horace, Ruby Romsland from a North Dakota military family, Spencer Weisgram of West Fargo, Colton Willits of Walhalla, Morgan Adams of Richland County, and London Lambrecht of Bismarck. North Dakota knows how to honor service to our nation and raise outstanding leaders for our military, Heitkamp said. This impressive group of nominees should be applauded for their desire to serve, and I know they'll represent North Dakota and our nation well. Members of Congress are able to nominate students to attend the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado; the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York; the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York; and the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Below are further details on the students Heitkamp has nominated: Ian Pytlik United States Naval Academy Ian, from Horace, is a senior at NAME OF HIGH SCHOOL. Ian is active in various athletics, clubs and organizations, including student council, Key Club, hockey, football, baseball, and the Boy Scouts. He is currently working on his Eagle Scout project. Ruby Romsland - United States Military Academy, West Point Ruby is from a North Dakota military family, and her dad is a Navy Seal. She aspires to attend medical school and continue her family's tradition of military service. Spencer Weisgram United States Military Academy, West Point Spencer, from West Fargo, currently attends Culver Academies in Indiana. Spencer is on Honor Council, plays in the Culver hockey program, and is a member of the Culver Cadet Club and drill team. Colton Willits United States Air Force Academy Colton, from Walhalla, attends North Border Walhalla High School. He has participated in Boys State and the North Dakota Leadership Seminar, and served as captain of the varsity football tea… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=5C9E2737-4D92-4CAA-A651-425DA2EEFB03 | Heitkamps Savannas Act Advances in Senate Committee as New Report Sheds Light on Epidemic of Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women | 2018-11-14 | 2018 | 2018-11 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs today voted to advance Savanna's Act, U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp's legislation to help address the epidemic of missing and murdered Native American women. Today's hearing comes as a new report from the Urban Indian Health Institute finds extensive underreporting and shortcomings in understanding the crisis, reinforcing the need for urgency and broadened awareness to address it. Named for Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, who was abducted and tragically killed last year in Fargo, Savanna's Act builds on a bill Heitkamp and former U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) introduced and got signed into law to expand Amber alert warnings in Indian Country where such alerts often do not exist to help stop abductions. The Indian Affairs Committee held a hearing on Savanna's Act after Heitkamp introduced it last fall. When I introduced Savanna's Act, one of the main goals was to raise the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women to a national level and begin the conversation of how to address it. Today's passage of Savanna's Act in the Indian Affairs Committee is another important step forward, and a sign that this issue is closer to gaining the attention it deserves, Heitkamp said. Not only will the bill help make sure law enforcement has guidelines in place to respond to cases of those who go missing or are murdered, but it will also encourage law enforcement agencies to submit data on those cases annually to the Department of Justice. I was proud to help pass the AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act into law earlier this year to help protect Native children, and through Savanna's Act and the #NotInvisible campaign the effort to give these issues the attention they deserve will continue. Also today, Heitkamp helped introduce a Senate resolution designating this November as National Native American Heritage Month. Last November, Heitkamp she launched a social media campaign using #NotInvisible to raise awareness about the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=5C9E2737-4D92-4CAA-A651-425DA2EEFB03 | Heitkamps Savannas Act Advances in Senate Committee as New Report Sheds Light on Epidemic of Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women | 2018-11-14 | 2018 | 2018-11 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs today voted to advance Savanna's Act, U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp's legislation to help address the epidemic of missing and murdered Native American women. Today's hearing comes as a new report from the Urban Indian Health Institute finds extensive underreporting and shortcomings in understanding the crisis, reinforcing the need for urgency and broadened awareness to address it. Named for Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, who was abducted and tragically killed last year in Fargo, Savanna's Act builds on a bill Heitkamp and former U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) introduced and got signed into law to expand Amber alert warnings in Indian Country where such alerts often do not exist to help stop abductions. The Indian Affairs Committee held a hearing on Savanna's Act after Heitkamp introduced it last fall. When I introduced Savanna's Act, one of the main goals was to raise the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women to a national level and begin the conversation of how to address it. Today's passage of Savanna's Act in the Indian Affairs Committee is another important step forward, and a sign that this issue is closer to gaining the attention it deserves, Heitkamp said. Not only will the bill help make sure law enforcement has guidelines in place to respond to cases of those who go missing or are murdered, but it will also encourage law enforcement agencies to submit data on those cases annually to the Department of Justice. I was proud to help pass the AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act into law earlier this year to help protect Native children, and through Savanna's Act and the #NotInvisible campaign the effort to give these issues the attention they deserve will continue. Also today, Heitkamp helped introduce a Senate resolution designating this November as National Native American Heritage Month. Last November, Heitkamp she launched a social media campaign using #NotInvisible to raise awareness about the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E14D1C10-3365-4036-9AF8-0235A310719B | New USDA Data Show No U.S. Soybean Exports to China Last Week; Exports Down 97% This Marketing Year | 2018-10-25 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Data released today from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show the administration's trade war is creating an increasingly critical situation for U.S. soybean growers, with zero exports to China last week in what is typically the peak season for shipments. During the same week last year, the U.S. exported 1.74 million metric tons of soybeans to China. About 70 percent of North Dakota soybeans are typically exported to Asia, primarily China. U.S. soybean exports to China this marketing year, which began September 1, total 201,685 metric tons, compared to 6.4 million metric tons at this time last year, a 97 percent decrease. According to reports this week, in response to the trade war, China is moving to cut U.S. soybeans out of their market, shifting their supply chain to U.S. competitors like Brazil and cutting soybeans out of animal feed. These numbers are staggering and unprecedented since North Dakota farmers have spent decades developing the Chinese market for their soybeans. The loss of the Chinese market due to the administration's trade war is an unfolding disaster for North Dakota soybean farmers, Heitkamp said. North Dakota farmers work hard all season and take huge financial risks to get their crops from seed to the combine. But instead of a payday, they're facing financial hardship and uncertainty as they struggle to store their beans. It's time for the administration to realize that there are no winners in a trade war. The decline in U.S. soybean exports to China is illustrated in the following graph: Weekly Exports of U.S. Soybeans to China Source: USDA/FAS/Export Sales Reporting, 10/25/2018 As North Dakota farmers struggle to find a market for this year's crop, reports show that the administration's trade war is continuing to worsen the outlook for North Dakota soybean farmers. As CNBC recently reported, farmers are having trouble finding a place for this year's crop, leaving unsold beans occupying grain elevators and bins rather than heading overseas. The trade war's impa… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E14D1C10-3365-4036-9AF8-0235A310719B | New USDA Data Show No U.S. Soybean Exports to China Last Week; Exports Down 97% This Marketing Year | 2018-10-25 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Data released today from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show the administration's trade war is creating an increasingly critical situation for U.S. soybean growers, with zero exports to China last week in what is typically the peak season for shipments. During the same week last year, the U.S. exported 1.74 million metric tons of soybeans to China. About 70 percent of North Dakota soybeans are typically exported to Asia, primarily China. U.S. soybean exports to China this marketing year, which began September 1, total 201,685 metric tons, compared to 6.4 million metric tons at this time last year, a 97 percent decrease. According to reports this week, in response to the trade war, China is moving to cut U.S. soybeans out of their market, shifting their supply chain to U.S. competitors like Brazil and cutting soybeans out of animal feed. These numbers are staggering and unprecedented since North Dakota farmers have spent decades developing the Chinese market for their soybeans. The loss of the Chinese market due to the administration's trade war is an unfolding disaster for North Dakota soybean farmers, Heitkamp said. North Dakota farmers work hard all season and take huge financial risks to get their crops from seed to the combine. But instead of a payday, they're facing financial hardship and uncertainty as they struggle to store their beans. It's time for the administration to realize that there are no winners in a trade war. The decline in U.S. soybean exports to China is illustrated in the following graph: Weekly Exports of U.S. Soybeans to China Source: USDA/FAS/Export Sales Reporting, 10/25/2018 As North Dakota farmers struggle to find a market for this year's crop, reports show that the administration's trade war is continuing to worsen the outlook for North Dakota soybean farmers. As CNBC recently reported, farmers are having trouble finding a place for this year's crop, leaving unsold beans occupying grain elevators and bins rather than heading overseas. The trade war's impa… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=4A464AB8-4596-4094-8F8E-4B40A41FA0FF | Heitkamp: With Exports Plummeting, ND Edible Bean Growers Need Relief from Trade War | 2018-10-24 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Heitkamp Urging Administration to Address Agriculture Issues in Talks with EU Over New Free Trade Agreement WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today urged the administration to push the European Union (EU) to drop retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural products like edible beans as they move forward with negotiations for a new free trade agreement. The EU declared that it doesn't intend to address agriculture in any new trade agreement as long as the administration's tariffs on EU goods, imposed in June, are in place. After the U.S. imposed tariffs on imports from the EU, the EU enacted retaliatory tariffs that are hurting North Dakota farmers like edible bean producers a predictable consequence of the administration's trade war. North Dakota farmers suffering losses may have to decrease production due to the trade war's impact on their markets. The administration's trade war isn't just hurting soybean farmers retaliatory tariffs are putting North Dakota edible bean producers at risk and decreasing their exports, a bad sign for our weakening farm economy, Heitkamp said. As the administration begins the process of negotiating a new trade agreement with the EU, they must do so in a way that addresses the concerns of agriculture and protects American workers. With farmers already looking with concern toward 2019, there's no time to waste we need these issues addressed quickly to protect our farmers, markets for our goods, and the rural communities that rely on a strong ag economy. Heitkamp pointed to data showing a 23 percent decrease in edible bean exports to the EU this year compared to 2017. North Dakota farmers grew 35 percent of total U.S. edible bean production in 2017, and lead the nation in the production of navy and pinto beans, underscoring how vulnerable North Dakota farmers are to the downturn in agriculture caused by the trade war. Last year, the value of U.S. edible bean exports to the EU was $170.6 million. Click here to read Heitkamp's letter to U.S. Trade Representativ… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=62F4D3AA-26BF-483F-9A33-4A026E87B40D | President Signs into Law Comprehensive Bill to Address Opioid Epidemic, Includes Heitkamps Provisions to Combat Childhood Trauma, Fight Addiction Crisis in Rural America | 2018-10-24 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced that the President signed into law bipartisan legislation she helped pass to address the opioid and methamphetamine epidemic in North Dakota and across the country. The comprehensive bill includes several of Heitkamp's provisions that will help mitigate the detrimental effects exposure to trauma, like a parent's drug abuse, can have on children. Traumatic experiences such as those related to addiction can lead to severe health and behavioral complications that can negatively impact children throughout their lives, especially in rural or underserved areas. Young people who experiencefour or moretraumatic eventsarethree times more at riskof heart disease or lung cancer, while those who experiencesix or moretraumatic eventsare30 times more likelyto attempt suicide. Heitkamp's trauma-related provisions in the opioid law will establish a task force to identify the best ways to combat trauma, boost awareness about the prevalence of trauma, give North Dakota schools the mental health resources they need, and address shortages of trauma-informed workers in rural America. As more North Dakota families are devastated by the scourge of addiction, we need to dramatically increase our support for prevention, treatment, and first responder effortsand this bill is a major step in that fight, said Heitkamp. As part of a full-court press against this public health crisis, I've long pushed for legislation that addresses the impacts of childhood exposure to trauma, because we have far too many kids who could be scarred for life due to this epidemic. With this bipartisan bill now signed into law, my provisions will help promote successful interventions and boost the mental and behavioral health workforce in Indian Country and rural areas. By putting more kids and families on the road to recovery and improved mental health, we are building stronger and safer communities long into the future. Over the past few years, drug abuse and drug-related deaths have steeply risen… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=4A464AB8-4596-4094-8F8E-4B40A41FA0FF | Heitkamp: With Exports Plummeting, ND Edible Bean Growers Need Relief from Trade War | 2018-10-24 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Heitkamp Urging Administration to Address Agriculture Issues in Talks with EU Over New Free Trade Agreement WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today urged the administration to push the European Union (EU) to drop retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural products like edible beans as they move forward with negotiations for a new free trade agreement. The EU declared that it doesn't intend to address agriculture in any new trade agreement as long as the administration's tariffs on EU goods, imposed in June, are in place. After the U.S. imposed tariffs on imports from the EU, the EU enacted retaliatory tariffs that are hurting North Dakota farmers like edible bean producers a predictable consequence of the administration's trade war. North Dakota farmers suffering losses may have to decrease production due to the trade war's impact on their markets. The administration's trade war isn't just hurting soybean farmers retaliatory tariffs are putting North Dakota edible bean producers at risk and decreasing their exports, a bad sign for our weakening farm economy, Heitkamp said. As the administration begins the process of negotiating a new trade agreement with the EU, they must do so in a way that addresses the concerns of agriculture and protects American workers. With farmers already looking with concern toward 2019, there's no time to waste we need these issues addressed quickly to protect our farmers, markets for our goods, and the rural communities that rely on a strong ag economy. Heitkamp pointed to data showing a 23 percent decrease in edible bean exports to the EU this year compared to 2017. North Dakota farmers grew 35 percent of total U.S. edible bean production in 2017, and lead the nation in the production of navy and pinto beans, underscoring how vulnerable North Dakota farmers are to the downturn in agriculture caused by the trade war. Last year, the value of U.S. edible bean exports to the EU was $170.6 million. Click here to read Heitkamp's letter to U.S. Trade Representativ… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=62F4D3AA-26BF-483F-9A33-4A026E87B40D | President Signs into Law Comprehensive Bill to Address Opioid Epidemic, Includes Heitkamps Provisions to Combat Childhood Trauma, Fight Addiction Crisis in Rural America | 2018-10-24 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced that the President signed into law bipartisan legislation she helped pass to address the opioid and methamphetamine epidemic in North Dakota and across the country. The comprehensive bill includes several of Heitkamp's provisions that will help mitigate the detrimental effects exposure to trauma, like a parent's drug abuse, can have on children. Traumatic experiences such as those related to addiction can lead to severe health and behavioral complications that can negatively impact children throughout their lives, especially in rural or underserved areas. Young people who experiencefour or moretraumatic eventsarethree times more at riskof heart disease or lung cancer, while those who experiencesix or moretraumatic eventsare30 times more likelyto attempt suicide. Heitkamp's trauma-related provisions in the opioid law will establish a task force to identify the best ways to combat trauma, boost awareness about the prevalence of trauma, give North Dakota schools the mental health resources they need, and address shortages of trauma-informed workers in rural America. As more North Dakota families are devastated by the scourge of addiction, we need to dramatically increase our support for prevention, treatment, and first responder effortsand this bill is a major step in that fight, said Heitkamp. As part of a full-court press against this public health crisis, I've long pushed for legislation that addresses the impacts of childhood exposure to trauma, because we have far too many kids who could be scarred for life due to this epidemic. With this bipartisan bill now signed into law, my provisions will help promote successful interventions and boost the mental and behavioral health workforce in Indian Country and rural areas. By putting more kids and families on the road to recovery and improved mental health, we are building stronger and safer communities long into the future. Over the past few years, drug abuse and drug-related deaths have steeply risen… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=A725A64E-01D9-4631-896E-39AC413ED24B | President Signs Bipartisan Water Resources Bill into Law, Includes Heitkamps Provisions to Support Devils Lake Flood Protection & FM Diversion | 2018-10-23 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Bill Includes Support for FM Diversion, Heitkamp's Legislation to Help Small and Rural Water Systems Meet Federal Wastewater Rules WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced that the president signed into law a comprehensive water infrastructure bill that includes several provisions she fought for, including strengthened support for critical water projects in Devils Lake, Fargo, and across rural North Dakota. The bipartisan legislation includes Heitkamp's provision to provide federal funding for long-term maintenance and operation costs related to the permanent levee protecting the City of Devils Lake and the surrounding area from flood waters.Additionally, the bill includes a provision that provides authority to build flood protections on several deed-restricted properties as part of the construction of the Fargo-Moorhead (FM) Area Diversion Project. North Dakota is no stranger to devastating floods, and families in the Lake Region and the Red River Valley are rightfully concerned about the life-threatening dangers they could face from the next major flood event. That's why we need to advance smart, cost-effective, and permanent flood protection that keeps our communities strong and safe, said Heitkamp. As President Trump signs this bipartisan water infrastructure bill into law today, we are another step closer to making sure the federal government pays its fair share to operate and maintain the Devils Lake Embankment a critical component of the area's resiliency against flooding. And this bill also includes an amendment I fought to include, which would allow the Fargo-Moorhead area to overcome burdensome federal restrictions, build important infrastructure, and sufficiently protect homes and businesses in the region. I'll keep fighting to strengthen our defenses against flooding and to keep our rural water clean, because all North Dakotans deserve that peace of mind. From 1993 to 2011, Devils Lake rose more than 30 feet and quadrupled in size, underscoring the urgent need to main… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=BAF394C1-C530-490C-BF23-1E4AB251EAA4 | New Report: 21,000 U.S. Wind Energy Jobs at Risk from Administrations Trade War | 2018-10-23 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today released the following statement on the risk to jobs and economic growth in North Dakota's wind energy industry posed by the administration's trade war. Wind energy is part of North Dakota's all-of-the-above energy success story but that success is at risk by the administration's trade war, Heitkamp said. Rising input costs are hurting manufacturers and putting future wind projects in doubt, which is bad news for workers in manufacturing and trucking. The trade war could stifle the serious growth our state has seen in wind energy development and jobs after Congress passed a deal I negotiated in 2015 to provide a long-term extension of a tax credit to support wind energy, providing needed certain for producers and workers. And North Dakota farmers and ranchers who benefit from lease payments especially at a time of reduced commodity prices and uncertainty due to the trade war could also feel the pain if the trade war continues and new projects are delayed or cancelled. Steel and aluminum tariffs have increased costs for manufacturers, clouding the outlook for the wind energy industry. According to a recent American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) report, the administration's trade war has put up to 25 percent of future U.S. wind projects at risk. Nationwide, 21,000 jobs in the industry are at risk from the trade war. In North Dakota, nearly 3,000 jobs are supported by the industry, according to the report. According to a recent report in Bloomberg, the tariffs on steel, aluminum, and parts like blades, gearboxes, and crank shafts will ultimately lead to higher energy costs for consumers. Heitkamp helped negotiate a long-term extension of federal Production Tax Credit (PTC) for wind energy in 2015 as part of her successful effort to build a bipartisan coalition around her plan to lift the ban on exporting domestic oil. That effort boosted wind energy development jobs across the state in the past several years, and in August, AWEA presented Heitkamp with the … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=A725A64E-01D9-4631-896E-39AC413ED24B | President Signs Bipartisan Water Resources Bill into Law, Includes Heitkamps Provisions to Support Devils Lake Flood Protection & FM Diversion | 2018-10-23 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Bill Includes Support for FM Diversion, Heitkamp's Legislation to Help Small and Rural Water Systems Meet Federal Wastewater Rules WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced that the president signed into law a comprehensive water infrastructure bill that includes several provisions she fought for, including strengthened support for critical water projects in Devils Lake, Fargo, and across rural North Dakota. The bipartisan legislation includes Heitkamp's provision to provide federal funding for long-term maintenance and operation costs related to the permanent levee protecting the City of Devils Lake and the surrounding area from flood waters.Additionally, the bill includes a provision that provides authority to build flood protections on several deed-restricted properties as part of the construction of the Fargo-Moorhead (FM) Area Diversion Project. North Dakota is no stranger to devastating floods, and families in the Lake Region and the Red River Valley are rightfully concerned about the life-threatening dangers they could face from the next major flood event. That's why we need to advance smart, cost-effective, and permanent flood protection that keeps our communities strong and safe, said Heitkamp. As President Trump signs this bipartisan water infrastructure bill into law today, we are another step closer to making sure the federal government pays its fair share to operate and maintain the Devils Lake Embankment a critical component of the area's resiliency against flooding. And this bill also includes an amendment I fought to include, which would allow the Fargo-Moorhead area to overcome burdensome federal restrictions, build important infrastructure, and sufficiently protect homes and businesses in the region. I'll keep fighting to strengthen our defenses against flooding and to keep our rural water clean, because all North Dakotans deserve that peace of mind. From 1993 to 2011, Devils Lake rose more than 30 feet and quadrupled in size, underscoring the urgent need to main… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=BAF394C1-C530-490C-BF23-1E4AB251EAA4 | New Report: 21,000 U.S. Wind Energy Jobs at Risk from Administrations Trade War | 2018-10-23 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today released the following statement on the risk to jobs and economic growth in North Dakota's wind energy industry posed by the administration's trade war. Wind energy is part of North Dakota's all-of-the-above energy success story but that success is at risk by the administration's trade war, Heitkamp said. Rising input costs are hurting manufacturers and putting future wind projects in doubt, which is bad news for workers in manufacturing and trucking. The trade war could stifle the serious growth our state has seen in wind energy development and jobs after Congress passed a deal I negotiated in 2015 to provide a long-term extension of a tax credit to support wind energy, providing needed certain for producers and workers. And North Dakota farmers and ranchers who benefit from lease payments especially at a time of reduced commodity prices and uncertainty due to the trade war could also feel the pain if the trade war continues and new projects are delayed or cancelled. Steel and aluminum tariffs have increased costs for manufacturers, clouding the outlook for the wind energy industry. According to a recent American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) report, the administration's trade war has put up to 25 percent of future U.S. wind projects at risk. Nationwide, 21,000 jobs in the industry are at risk from the trade war. In North Dakota, nearly 3,000 jobs are supported by the industry, according to the report. According to a recent report in Bloomberg, the tariffs on steel, aluminum, and parts like blades, gearboxes, and crank shafts will ultimately lead to higher energy costs for consumers. Heitkamp helped negotiate a long-term extension of federal Production Tax Credit (PTC) for wind energy in 2015 as part of her successful effort to build a bipartisan coalition around her plan to lift the ban on exporting domestic oil. That effort boosted wind energy development jobs across the state in the past several years, and in August, AWEA presented Heitkamp with the … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E8153147-3E1B-40B2-A981-3694709279A6 | Administrations Trade War Already Dampening Farm Forecast for 2019 Growing Season | 2018-10-22 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today released the following statement on new reports that the administration's trade war is already dampening prospects for North Dakota farmers in 2019, as commodity prices slump and access to the critical Chinese market for important crops like soybeans has been essentially cut off. According to an article from Politico this morning, The Agriculture Department's Economic Research Service has estimated that 2018 net farm income will be $9.8 billion, or 13 percent, lower than the year before. Adjusting for inflation, farm income is barely above the lowest level since 2002. If current trends continue, some agriculture economists predict that farm income will fall again in 2019. There's no such thing as short term pain for farmers in a trade war, and new predictions for 2019 are very worrying for our ag economy and the communities that depend on this vital industry, Heitkamp said. North Dakota farmers spent decades building a market for soybeans in China, and they're seeing it evaporate before their eyes because of the administration's shortsighted trade policies. We can't be silent in the face of this self-inflicted wound to North Dakota's largest industries, and I'll keep fighting smart trade policies that protect workers and expand markets for the goods we proudly grow and produce for the world. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently predicted that the pullback in U.S. soybean sales to China appears likely to continue well into 2018/19 as China shifts its purchases to U.S. competitors like Brazil. North Dakota had been exporting nearly 70 percent of its soybeans to Asia, primarily China, but U.S. growers have effectively been shut out of the world's largest soy market in China since those retaliatory tariffs went into effect in July, according to a recent report in Politico. According to a North Dakota State University professor's analysis recently reported in Agweek, without the trade war with China, soybean prices would be near $13 instead of the c… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E8153147-3E1B-40B2-A981-3694709279A6 | Administrations Trade War Already Dampening Farm Forecast for 2019 Growing Season | 2018-10-22 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today released the following statement on new reports that the administration's trade war is already dampening prospects for North Dakota farmers in 2019, as commodity prices slump and access to the critical Chinese market for important crops like soybeans has been essentially cut off. According to an article from Politico this morning, The Agriculture Department's Economic Research Service has estimated that 2018 net farm income will be $9.8 billion, or 13 percent, lower than the year before. Adjusting for inflation, farm income is barely above the lowest level since 2002. If current trends continue, some agriculture economists predict that farm income will fall again in 2019. There's no such thing as short term pain for farmers in a trade war, and new predictions for 2019 are very worrying for our ag economy and the communities that depend on this vital industry, Heitkamp said. North Dakota farmers spent decades building a market for soybeans in China, and they're seeing it evaporate before their eyes because of the administration's shortsighted trade policies. We can't be silent in the face of this self-inflicted wound to North Dakota's largest industries, and I'll keep fighting smart trade policies that protect workers and expand markets for the goods we proudly grow and produce for the world. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently predicted that the pullback in U.S. soybean sales to China appears likely to continue well into 2018/19 as China shifts its purchases to U.S. competitors like Brazil. North Dakota had been exporting nearly 70 percent of its soybeans to Asia, primarily China, but U.S. growers have effectively been shut out of the world's largest soy market in China since those retaliatory tariffs went into effect in July, according to a recent report in Politico. According to a North Dakota State University professor's analysis recently reported in Agweek, without the trade war with China, soybean prices would be near $13 instead of the c… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=D69EBD64-D560-4FBD-8D6F-97FDEB8F7FC6 | Heitkamp: Administrations Proposed Cuts to USDA Put Crop Insurance at Risk | 2018-10-19 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today released the following statement after U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced he'd seek to cut the agency's budget by five percent, despite a farm economy at risk from the administration's trade war. The administration has proposed steep cuts to crop insurance in recent budgets, an indication that USDA may look to cut safety net programs to achieve the five percent cut. Heitkamp, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, fought against those proposed cuts, which received bipartisan criticism. With a trade war threatening farm country and an anemic bailout package that doesn't take into account North Dakota's needs and geography, it's shameful to consider throwing our farmers yet another wrench of uncertainty, Heitkamp said. If past budgets from this administration are any indication of what they'll cut, then crop insurance is at risk, which should worry everyone. It's not only bad policy, it sends the wrong message to the farmers who are already bearing the brunt of the administration's reckless trade war. USDA needs to respect rural America and reject these harmful and unnecessary cuts. Earlier this year, Heitkamp spoke out against the administration's proposed budget for the 2019 fiscal year, which would have reduced the average premium subsidy for crop insurance from 62 percent to 48 percent and put an income cap on commodity, conservation, and crop insurance subsidies. Heitkamp helped write, negotiate, and pass the2014 Farm Bill, which strengthened crop insurance while reducing the deficit by $23 billion and providing five years of certainty for farmers.When crop insurance faced dramatic cuts as part of a budget deal 2015, Heitkamp worked with members of the Agriculture Committee to reverse the cuts and helped pass a bipartisan fix to protect crop insurance and other agricultural programs. Heitkamp fought to protect crop insurance in the Senate's bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill, and successfully included her provisions to improve … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=D69EBD64-D560-4FBD-8D6F-97FDEB8F7FC6 | Heitkamp: Administrations Proposed Cuts to USDA Put Crop Insurance at Risk | 2018-10-19 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today released the following statement after U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced he'd seek to cut the agency's budget by five percent, despite a farm economy at risk from the administration's trade war. The administration has proposed steep cuts to crop insurance in recent budgets, an indication that USDA may look to cut safety net programs to achieve the five percent cut. Heitkamp, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, fought against those proposed cuts, which received bipartisan criticism. With a trade war threatening farm country and an anemic bailout package that doesn't take into account North Dakota's needs and geography, it's shameful to consider throwing our farmers yet another wrench of uncertainty, Heitkamp said. If past budgets from this administration are any indication of what they'll cut, then crop insurance is at risk, which should worry everyone. It's not only bad policy, it sends the wrong message to the farmers who are already bearing the brunt of the administration's reckless trade war. USDA needs to respect rural America and reject these harmful and unnecessary cuts. Earlier this year, Heitkamp spoke out against the administration's proposed budget for the 2019 fiscal year, which would have reduced the average premium subsidy for crop insurance from 62 percent to 48 percent and put an income cap on commodity, conservation, and crop insurance subsidies. Heitkamp helped write, negotiate, and pass the2014 Farm Bill, which strengthened crop insurance while reducing the deficit by $23 billion and providing five years of certainty for farmers.When crop insurance faced dramatic cuts as part of a budget deal 2015, Heitkamp worked with members of the Agriculture Committee to reverse the cuts and helped pass a bipartisan fix to protect crop insurance and other agricultural programs. Heitkamp fought to protect crop insurance in the Senate's bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill, and successfully included her provisions to improve … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=1BB0A881-9564-43BF-8538-9CB863BACA87 | Pace of Soybean Exports to China Down Nearly 96% in New Marketing Year Amid Administrations Damaging Trade War | 2018-10-18 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | At Risk: 71% of North Dakota Soybeans are Typically Exported to Asia, Primarily China, Bringing $1.5 Billion in Revenue to North Dakota Farmers Last Year USDA Data Show U.S. Soybean Farmers Struggling to Find Markets to Fill Void Left by China WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today released the following statement after new USDA data show a nearly 96 percent drop in the pace of U.S. soybean exports to China this marketing year, which began September 1. About 70 percent of North Dakota's soybeans have typically been exported to Asia, primarily China, but the administration's trade war has crippled this important market for North Dakota farmers. North Dakota farmers are not at fault for China's unfair trade practices, yet they're being asked to bear the brunt of the pain caused by the administration's trade war. That's not fair to our farmers or to our rural communities who rely on agriculture to keep them strong, Heitkamp said. North Dakota soybean farmers have all but been cut off from the Chinese soybean market, the outcome farmers have been warning about for months. It's a shame the administration didn't listen to North Dakota farmers, who know their business and the importance of exports far better than anyone in Washington. From day one, I've been echoing the concerns I'm hearing from farmers and pushing for smart trade policies that hold China accountable while preserving markets for North Dakota goods. That's the responsible approach the administration should take to protect our farmers, workers, and rural economy. At this time last year, the U.S. had exported 4.66 million metric tons of soybeans to China since September 1, according to USDA. This marketing year, a mere 201,700 metric tons of U.S. soybeans have been exported to China, a nearly 96 percent drop illustrating the damaging impact that the administration's trade war is already having on North Dakota agriculture. While a small amount of U.S. soybeans were exported to China last week, the total 134,700 metric tons paled in com… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=1BB0A881-9564-43BF-8538-9CB863BACA87 | Pace of Soybean Exports to China Down Nearly 96% in New Marketing Year Amid Administrations Damaging Trade War | 2018-10-18 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | At Risk: 71% of North Dakota Soybeans are Typically Exported to Asia, Primarily China, Bringing $1.5 Billion in Revenue to North Dakota Farmers Last Year USDA Data Show U.S. Soybean Farmers Struggling to Find Markets to Fill Void Left by China WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today released the following statement after new USDA data show a nearly 96 percent drop in the pace of U.S. soybean exports to China this marketing year, which began September 1. About 70 percent of North Dakota's soybeans have typically been exported to Asia, primarily China, but the administration's trade war has crippled this important market for North Dakota farmers. North Dakota farmers are not at fault for China's unfair trade practices, yet they're being asked to bear the brunt of the pain caused by the administration's trade war. That's not fair to our farmers or to our rural communities who rely on agriculture to keep them strong, Heitkamp said. North Dakota soybean farmers have all but been cut off from the Chinese soybean market, the outcome farmers have been warning about for months. It's a shame the administration didn't listen to North Dakota farmers, who know their business and the importance of exports far better than anyone in Washington. From day one, I've been echoing the concerns I'm hearing from farmers and pushing for smart trade policies that hold China accountable while preserving markets for North Dakota goods. That's the responsible approach the administration should take to protect our farmers, workers, and rural economy. At this time last year, the U.S. had exported 4.66 million metric tons of soybeans to China since September 1, according to USDA. This marketing year, a mere 201,700 metric tons of U.S. soybeans have been exported to China, a nearly 96 percent drop illustrating the damaging impact that the administration's trade war is already having on North Dakota agriculture. While a small amount of U.S. soybeans were exported to China last week, the total 134,700 metric tons paled in com… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=B7477523-95F5-4051-B72C-12E4D6221FFE | Heitkamp Introduces New Bill to Support Healthier Moms & Families in North Dakota & across Rural America | 2018-10-17 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Last Month, Heitkamp Met with Mothers & Maternal Health Advocates in Grand Forks to Discuss New Ways to Protect Mothers & Infants WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced that she introduced wide-ranging legislation to help address rising nationwide maternal mortality rates and to strengthen access to maternal health resources and data in rural communities. Morewomen in the United States diefrom pregnancy-related complications than in most other developed nations and the number of maternal deaths is rising. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pregnancy-related deaths in the United Statesincreased by 250 percentfrom 1987-2014. And another study found that60 percentof the nation's maternal deaths could have been prevented with proper care. Heitkamp's Rural Maternal and Obstetric Modernization of Services (MOMS) Act would improve maternal health data sharing in rural communities and promote successful delivery models for North Dakota's rural health care providers, including through the creation of regional Rural Obstetric Collaborative Improvement & Innovation Networks (COIINs). Additionally, her legislation would help train the next generation of rural maternal and obstetric care providers and would require a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on ways to improve rural maternal health outcomes. At a discussion in Grand Forks last month, I heard from several North Dakota mothers who have experienced complications either during their pregnancies, during childbirth, or during their post-partum periods. Their stories were harrowing, and no mother no matter their zip code should have to experience the physical and emotional distress of preventable pregnancy complications, said Heitkamp. To help combat the growing maternal mortality crisis in rural America and Indian Country, my bill would prioritize collecting rural maternal health data, expanding information-sharing between rural obstetricians, and increasing access to high-qual… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=B7477523-95F5-4051-B72C-12E4D6221FFE | Heitkamp Introduces New Bill to Support Healthier Moms & Families in North Dakota & across Rural America | 2018-10-17 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Last Month, Heitkamp Met with Mothers & Maternal Health Advocates in Grand Forks to Discuss New Ways to Protect Mothers & Infants WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced that she introduced wide-ranging legislation to help address rising nationwide maternal mortality rates and to strengthen access to maternal health resources and data in rural communities. Morewomen in the United States diefrom pregnancy-related complications than in most other developed nations and the number of maternal deaths is rising. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pregnancy-related deaths in the United Statesincreased by 250 percentfrom 1987-2014. And another study found that60 percentof the nation's maternal deaths could have been prevented with proper care. Heitkamp's Rural Maternal and Obstetric Modernization of Services (MOMS) Act would improve maternal health data sharing in rural communities and promote successful delivery models for North Dakota's rural health care providers, including through the creation of regional Rural Obstetric Collaborative Improvement & Innovation Networks (COIINs). Additionally, her legislation would help train the next generation of rural maternal and obstetric care providers and would require a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on ways to improve rural maternal health outcomes. At a discussion in Grand Forks last month, I heard from several North Dakota mothers who have experienced complications either during their pregnancies, during childbirth, or during their post-partum periods. Their stories were harrowing, and no mother no matter their zip code should have to experience the physical and emotional distress of preventable pregnancy complications, said Heitkamp. To help combat the growing maternal mortality crisis in rural America and Indian Country, my bill would prioritize collecting rural maternal health data, expanding information-sharing between rural obstetricians, and increasing access to high-qual… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=4EB52213-A1B2-4DD1-965F-7A6E22FF3BEF | Heitkamp Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Encourage More Employers to Hire Student Veterans | 2018-10-15 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Bill Builds on Heitkamp's Work to Increase Education & Career Opportunities for Student Veterans following their Service WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced that she introduced bipartisan legislation that would allow more student veterans in North Dakota and across the country to take advantage of paid internships and part-time work while furthering their educations after their military service. Many student veterans have difficulty finding educational opportunities, internships, and employment that correspond to skills they've gained while serving in the military. According to a 2016 survey, 62.5 percent of student veterans found that their current field of study was not similar to their specialization in the military. And another report found that more than 43 percent of veterans leave their first post-separation job in less than one year. To increase student veterans' exposure to suitable careers, Heitkamp's bipartisan Hire Student Veterans Act would incentivize employers to hire student veterans by expanding a key tax credit. Her legislation would reduce the work hour requirement for businesses hiring student veterans, so that more veterans can be hired on a paid part-time or internship basis while pursuing their education. Once a veteran takes off the uniform, they deserve the benefits they've earned through their selfless service and that includes making sure they have the skills and education they need to succeed in new careers, said Heitkamp. Internships and part-time work help student veterans determine which line of work is the right fit for their civilian career path. My bipartisan bill would incentivize businesses to hire North Dakota veterans, including for part-time work opportunities, allowing these dedicated men and women to take advantage of valuable work experience and help support businesses across our state and the country. This bill builds on my work to help veterans get internships at federal agencies at the end of their military service, so they ca… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=4EB52213-A1B2-4DD1-965F-7A6E22FF3BEF | Heitkamp Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Encourage More Employers to Hire Student Veterans | 2018-10-15 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Bill Builds on Heitkamp's Work to Increase Education & Career Opportunities for Student Veterans following their Service WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced that she introduced bipartisan legislation that would allow more student veterans in North Dakota and across the country to take advantage of paid internships and part-time work while furthering their educations after their military service. Many student veterans have difficulty finding educational opportunities, internships, and employment that correspond to skills they've gained while serving in the military. According to a 2016 survey, 62.5 percent of student veterans found that their current field of study was not similar to their specialization in the military. And another report found that more than 43 percent of veterans leave their first post-separation job in less than one year. To increase student veterans' exposure to suitable careers, Heitkamp's bipartisan Hire Student Veterans Act would incentivize employers to hire student veterans by expanding a key tax credit. Her legislation would reduce the work hour requirement for businesses hiring student veterans, so that more veterans can be hired on a paid part-time or internship basis while pursuing their education. Once a veteran takes off the uniform, they deserve the benefits they've earned through their selfless service and that includes making sure they have the skills and education they need to succeed in new careers, said Heitkamp. Internships and part-time work help student veterans determine which line of work is the right fit for their civilian career path. My bipartisan bill would incentivize businesses to hire North Dakota veterans, including for part-time work opportunities, allowing these dedicated men and women to take advantage of valuable work experience and help support businesses across our state and the country. This bill builds on my work to help veterans get internships at federal agencies at the end of their military service, so they ca… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=5EFBEDFA-6CFA-42C3-8750-A8E6283FB800 | Heitkamp: Administrations Trade War Hurting U.S. Oil Exports | 2018-10-12 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | China Second Largest Buyer of U.S. Crude Stopped Importing U.S. Oil in August After Successfully Lifting 40-Year Old Oil Export Ban in 2015, Senator Pushing for Smart Trade Policies that Expand Markets for ND Products, Including Oil WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today released the following statement amid reports that exports of U.S. crude oil to China have been dramatically reduced in the wake of the administrations' trade war. With U.S oil production on the rise, our oil industry should be seeing a boon in exports to countries like China where demand is high, Heitkamp said. Instead, the administration's trade war has caused China to curtail imports of U.S. oil, and it is instead buying oil from our competitors and adversaries like Saudi Arabia and Iran. This isn't just a missed opportunity it's a self-inflicted wound to one of the most important industries to North Dakota's economy. After I helped lead the fight to successfully lift the 40-year old ban on exporting U.S. oil, I'll continue to fight to protect access to markets for North Dakota's oil industry to protect jobs and prosperity in our state. CNBC reports that China, the second largest buyer of U.S. crude, completely stopped importing U.S. oil in August, a bad sign for oil producing regions like the Bakken. Tariffs have also depressed the price of crude oil, threatening prosperity in regions that depend on a robust energy industry. With the U.S. refineries at capacity and unable to process much more crude oil, growth in the industry is dependent on exporting U.S. crude, and the Bakken is poised to help drive that growth if there's a market for U.S. oil in countries like China. The administration's tariffs on aluminum and steel arealso having negative ripple effects across the industry, which relies on machinery and equipment produced in countries singled out for tariffs, raising costs for U.S. producers. Earlier this year Heitkamp cosponsored bipartisan legislation to repeal the steel and aluminum tariffs, and she helped int… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=A3566BFD-EC23-42E2-BD8D-FE41BB3F669D | Heitkamp Pushes USDA to Waive or Delay Interest on Crop Insurance Premiums Due to Snowstorm | 2018-10-12 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Interest on Premiums Began Incurring October 1, but Snowstorm Delaying Harvest & Causing Financial Hardship for Farmers Senator Also Urges USDA to Revise Eligibility for Market Facilitation Program in Wake of Weather and Trade War Disruptions WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to waive or at least delay interest on crop insurance premiums for farmers affected by this week's snowstorm, which dumped up to 19 inches of snow on parts of eastern North Dakota. Interest began incurring on Multiple-peril Crop Insurance (MCPI) premiums on October 1, but the delayed harvest due to the recent snowstorm will cause many producers financial hardship as they lack cash flow to pay their crop insurance premiums. Heitkamp asked USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue to waive or at minimum extend the date for which interest incurs to give farmers more time to get their crops out of the field and to market. Heitkamp also urged Perdue to allow farmers who haven't been able to harvest their crop to participate in the Market Facilitation Program (MFP). MFP was intended to help producers impacted by depressed commodity prices due to the administration's trade war, but they can only apply for assistance after they've harvested their crop. Farmers who are unable to harvest or lose their crop due to weather face significant hardship, and the program should be designed to fulfill its purpose and help them, Heitkamp told Perdue. The recent snowstorm and the administration's trade war have been a double whammy for farmers in eastern North Dakota, and USDA programs intended to help them need to be adjusted to take into account the difficult situation farmers have found themselves in, Heitkamp said. USDA needs to improve its assistance program for farmers affected by the trade war, and this snowstorm reinforces why farmers can't wait to harvest their crop to get assistance they're hurting now, and their livelihoods depend on USDA getting this right. Click here to view Heitkamp's l… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=5EFBEDFA-6CFA-42C3-8750-A8E6283FB800 | Heitkamp: Administrations Trade War Hurting U.S. Oil Exports | 2018-10-12 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | China Second Largest Buyer of U.S. Crude Stopped Importing U.S. Oil in August After Successfully Lifting 40-Year Old Oil Export Ban in 2015, Senator Pushing for Smart Trade Policies that Expand Markets for ND Products, Including Oil WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today released the following statement amid reports that exports of U.S. crude oil to China have been dramatically reduced in the wake of the administrations' trade war. With U.S oil production on the rise, our oil industry should be seeing a boon in exports to countries like China where demand is high, Heitkamp said. Instead, the administration's trade war has caused China to curtail imports of U.S. oil, and it is instead buying oil from our competitors and adversaries like Saudi Arabia and Iran. This isn't just a missed opportunity it's a self-inflicted wound to one of the most important industries to North Dakota's economy. After I helped lead the fight to successfully lift the 40-year old ban on exporting U.S. oil, I'll continue to fight to protect access to markets for North Dakota's oil industry to protect jobs and prosperity in our state. CNBC reports that China, the second largest buyer of U.S. crude, completely stopped importing U.S. oil in August, a bad sign for oil producing regions like the Bakken. Tariffs have also depressed the price of crude oil, threatening prosperity in regions that depend on a robust energy industry. With the U.S. refineries at capacity and unable to process much more crude oil, growth in the industry is dependent on exporting U.S. crude, and the Bakken is poised to help drive that growth if there's a market for U.S. oil in countries like China. The administration's tariffs on aluminum and steel arealso having negative ripple effects across the industry, which relies on machinery and equipment produced in countries singled out for tariffs, raising costs for U.S. producers. Earlier this year Heitkamp cosponsored bipartisan legislation to repeal the steel and aluminum tariffs, and she helped int… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=A3566BFD-EC23-42E2-BD8D-FE41BB3F669D | Heitkamp Pushes USDA to Waive or Delay Interest on Crop Insurance Premiums Due to Snowstorm | 2018-10-12 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Interest on Premiums Began Incurring October 1, but Snowstorm Delaying Harvest & Causing Financial Hardship for Farmers Senator Also Urges USDA to Revise Eligibility for Market Facilitation Program in Wake of Weather and Trade War Disruptions WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to waive or at least delay interest on crop insurance premiums for farmers affected by this week's snowstorm, which dumped up to 19 inches of snow on parts of eastern North Dakota. Interest began incurring on Multiple-peril Crop Insurance (MCPI) premiums on October 1, but the delayed harvest due to the recent snowstorm will cause many producers financial hardship as they lack cash flow to pay their crop insurance premiums. Heitkamp asked USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue to waive or at minimum extend the date for which interest incurs to give farmers more time to get their crops out of the field and to market. Heitkamp also urged Perdue to allow farmers who haven't been able to harvest their crop to participate in the Market Facilitation Program (MFP). MFP was intended to help producers impacted by depressed commodity prices due to the administration's trade war, but they can only apply for assistance after they've harvested their crop. Farmers who are unable to harvest or lose their crop due to weather face significant hardship, and the program should be designed to fulfill its purpose and help them, Heitkamp told Perdue. The recent snowstorm and the administration's trade war have been a double whammy for farmers in eastern North Dakota, and USDA programs intended to help them need to be adjusted to take into account the difficult situation farmers have found themselves in, Heitkamp said. USDA needs to improve its assistance program for farmers affected by the trade war, and this snowstorm reinforces why farmers can't wait to harvest their crop to get assistance they're hurting now, and their livelihoods depend on USDA getting this right. Click here to view Heitkamp's l… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=16C9B15A-9184-44BA-A8D0-862532596BE2 | Bipartisan Heitkamp, Flake Bill to Improve Hiring in Rural & Remote Areas, Boost Border Security Passes U.S. Senate | 2018-10-11 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Legislation Builds on Heitkamp's Efforts to Protect, Grow a Strong, Vibrant Border Security Workforce As Illegal Border Crossings Increase and Drug & Human Trafficking Persist, Heitkamp has Focused Attention on Unique Hiring and Security Challenges Posed by Northern Border WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced that her bipartisan bill to help address chronic challenges Customs and Border Protection (CBP) faces with hiring and retaining workers in rural and remote areas, including at the Northern Border, to secure our country's borders passed the Senate. Heitkamp introduced her bipartisan bill, the CBP Hiring and Retention (CBP HiRe) Act, with U.S. Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) last year. It would help strengthen border security and remedy personnel challenges that are common in rural or remote areas, and was introduced in response to Heitkamp's frequent meetings with CBP agents and officers in North Dakota. In recent years, CBP has experienced difficulties recruiting, hiring, and retaining both Border Patrol agents to secure the border and CBP officers to staff trade-facilitating ports of entry. These positions remain unfilled due to high attrition rates, a lengthy hiring process, and difficulty finding applicants willing to work in remote locations. Our Customs and Border Protection officers and agents are on the front lines of keeping North Dakota and America safe but especially in rural areas like North Dakota, CBP faces unique challenges in hiring and retaining the workforce we need to protect our borders, Heitkamp said. After hearing firsthand about the challenges CBP faces, we introduced this bipartisan bill to help the agency attract and retain the best workforce possible, and it's an important win for North Dakota communities, our Customs and Border Protection workforce, and our national security that it has now passed the Senate. Along with the new Northern Border strategy recently released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)that was prompted by my bipartisan bill th… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=4425536B-82F6-4A0A-9172-CB2FDC54A4BF | Heitkamp Announces USDA Rural Development Funding for North Dakota | 2018-10-11 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | FARGO, N.D. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced one federal grant of $200,000 for the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Coops and a federal loan of $1,253,000 for New Salem that will help to support initiatives in rural communities. Every morning, I come to work in the U.S. Senate fighting for rural communities, said Heitkamp. When communities have the resources to invest in their infrastructure they can make sure their neighborhoods stay strong and safe. That is what these federal dollars will do when they support the ND Association of Rural Electric Coops effort to make investments in rural services and help the city of New Salem repair streets as part of their work to improve water and sewer. These federal funds are distributed as follows: ND Association of Rural Electric Coops: $200,000 in federal grant funding to support services in rural communities such as finding opportunities to develop rural home care in partnership with the University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health, working with a meat processing facility near Pettibone, supporting other food initiatives, and supporting training for newly formed coops. These federal funds are made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development's Rural Cooperative Development Grant program. New Salem: $1,253,000 federal loan to replace asphalt streets in New Salem as part of water and sewer infrastructure replacement. These federal funds are made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development's Community Facilities Direct Loan program. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=9288293B-3D57-4426-97F7-35DC73D5B841 | Heitkamp Introduces New Bill to Keep North Dakota Coal Competitive | 2018-10-11 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today introduced legislation to improve and clarify the utilization of a tax credit to advance technology that would make coal power generation cleaner and more efficient, helping to build a bright future for North Dakota's lignite coal reserves through investment in carbon capture projects in the state. The legislation, the Advancing Carbon Capture in Energy Generation Act, improves the Credit for Investment in Clean Coal Facilities tax credit, which was established in 2005. In its current form, the tax credit does not incentivize implementation of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technology at new and existing coal plants in the near term, but Heitkamp's bill would remove certain requirements and clarify others in order to speed up the adoption of CCS technology that is critical to the future of coal. The legislation also removes unreasonable and unworkable emissions limits that prevent older coal plants from investing in cleaner technologies. Coal remains North Dakota's primary source of electricity and a vital part of our all-of-the-above energy strategy, Heitkamp said. To secure a bright future for coal and the jobs and communities it supports in North Dakota, we must find ways to help the industry innovate to compete in a carbon-constrained world. That's why I built a bipartisan coalition to pass the FUTURE Act, my bill to incentivize carbon capture technology that will have wide-ranging benefits for coal and other carbon reliant industries, and helped bring the same bipartisan group together to introduce the USE IT Act. This new legislation will build on that progress by further incentivizing carbon capture technology at new and existing coal power plants. Innovation is key to the future of North Dakota's leadership in energy, and this bill will give a needed boost to advancements in carbon capture. Cosponsors of Heitkamp's new legislation include U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Joe Manchin (D-WV). Heitkamp has been fighting to secure a future for… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=B9C6430F-8C92-40F4-946E-EA0B4E8D8AFC | Heitkamp Congratulates Longtime ND Law Enforcement Official Dallas Carlson after U.S. Senate Confirms his U.S. Marshal Nomination | 2018-10-11 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today congratulated North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) Director Dallas Carlson after the U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed his nomination to serve as U.S. Marshal for the District of North Dakota. Dallas Carlson has dedicated his entire public service career to keeping our state's families and communities safe, and his distinguished record is well-respected among North Dakota law enforcement officials. During my time as Attorney General, I saw firsthand Dallas's outstanding ability to fight crime, seek justice for victims, and maintain the highest levels of professional integrity, said Heitkamp. I'm proud to see Dallas confirmed, and I'm equally proud of our friendship over the years. I know that his on-the-ground experiences with issues like human trafficking, illicit narcotics, and domestic violence will greatly impact the work of the U.S. Marshals in North Dakota as they maintain the rule of law and prevent major crimes. Dallas was my first choice for this job, and I want to congratulate him on his well-deserved confirmation. I wish him the best of luck as he works to protect and serve all North Dakotans. Carlson was nominated to the U.S. Marshal post in March 2018, and his nomination was advanced by the Senate Judiciary Committee last month. Prior to serving as the Director of the North Dakota BCI, Carlson supervised drug investigations in Dickinson and worked as a special agent and then chief agent in the BCI's Criminal Division. Before joining the BCI, he first worked in law enforcement in 1977 as a Deputy Sherriff with the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office and then served in the Devils Lake and Mandan police departments. Carlson is a native of Warwick, North Dakota. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=23F0E176-F3B5-4605-8F76-9CE1BFA5A685 | Heitkamp: Bipartisan Water Resources Bill Includes Wins for Devils Lake Flood Protection & FM Diversion | 2018-10-10 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Bill Also Includes Support for FM Diversion, Heitkamp's Legislation to Help Small and Rural Water Systems Meet Federal Wastewater Rules WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today joined a bipartisan majority of the U.S. Senate to pass a comprehensive water resources bill that includes several provisions she fought for, including strengthened support for critical water infrastructure projects in Devils Lake, Fargo, and across rural North Dakota. The bill now goes to the President's desk to be signed into law. The bipartisan legislation includes Heitkamp's provision to provide federal funding for long-term maintenance and operation costs related to the permanent levee protecting the City of Devils Lake and the surrounding area from flood waters.Additionally, the bill includes a provision that provides authority to build flood protections on several deed-restricted properties as part of the construction of the Fargo-Moorhead (FM) Area Diversion Project. The Lake Region and the Red River Valley have seen firsthand the immense devastation a flood can cause to a community. As a result, North Dakotans are very aware of the need to advance permanent flood protection that defends our homes and businesses from future disasters, said Heitkamp. Today, Congress passed a strong, bipartisan water resources package, which includes my provision that I fought to include which would hold the federal government accountable for paying its fair share to maintain the Devils Lake embankment. Additionally, the bill includes my amendment to allow the FM Diversion to overcome bureaucratic hurdles to build the infrastructure necessary to advance a viable flood mitigation strategy in the region. Our state has experienced decades of challenges related to flooding and keeping our rural water clean, and this bill will ease financial burdens, keep families safe, and give residents much-needed peace of mind when waters start to rise. From 1993 to 2011, Devils Lake rose more than 30 feet and quadrupled in size, underscoring t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=931356E1-FFD5-45C9-BD58-0EEC4311F7D8 | Heitkamp Announces Federal Funding for NDSU Plant Research | 2018-10-10 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced $182,200 in federal funding to North Dakota State University that supports canola research that could enhance production, better strategies for pest management, and provide better information to canola farmers. North Dakota is home to some of the best farm land in the world and making sure farmers and ranchers have access to the best possible information and technology only helps to increase their productivity, said Heitkamp. When you couple that with the research abilities of NDSU, we can improve crops across the agricultural sector like this federal funding will help do for canola research. These federal funds are made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture Supplemental and Alternative Crops Competitive Grants Program. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=C9F23127-1642-4148-80D2-B679EBED27E5 | Heitkamp: Trade War Worsens as North Dakota Soybean Farmers Struggle to Secure Storage for Bumper Crop | 2018-10-10 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | New Reports Show Ripple Effects of Cancelled Orders on Farmers, Grain Elevators 71% of North Dakota Soybeans Typically Exported to China But Zero Orders for 2018 Crop Have Been Placed Trade War Impacts Could Hurt Farmers for 5 Years, According to NDSU Researcher WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today released the following statement as reports show that the administration's trade war is continuing to worsen the outlook for North Dakota soybean farmers. It took North Dakota soybean farmers decades to build relationships and market their product in China, but the trade war threatens to derail that hard work over the course of just one season, Heitkamp said. With zero orders from China which is typically the largest buyer of North Dakota soybeans and a surplus of last year's crop still occupying bins and grain elevators, this year's crop literally has nowhere to go. Farmers working hard all year toward a payday are instead worrying about how they'll make ends meet. North Dakota farmers are some of the most hardworking people you'll ever meet, and I won't sit back silently while they're being treated like collateral damage in this trade war. According to a North Dakota State University analysis reported in Agweek, without the trade war with China, soybean prices would be near $13 instead of the current $7 per bushel. As CNBC reports, farmers are having trouble finding a place for this year's crop, as China cancelled contracts for 2017's crop when the trade war began to escalate, leaving the beans occupying grain elevators and bins. Elevators are holding 68 percent more of the previous season's crop than at this time last year, limiting space available to store the 2018 crop, which hasn't had a single order from China. Soybeans are particularly hard to store, especially if grain bins are not an option for a farmer. NDSU recently released resources and helpful tips on soybean storage for farmer tackling soybean storage for the first time. The trade war's impact could have negative consequences f… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=DC8CA25A-9723-4115-8EEB-DB8385E69CF8 | Heitkamp Helps Introduce Native Voting Rights Act to Remove Barriers to Voting in Indian Country | 2018-10-10 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, helped introduce the Native Voting Rights Act to increase voter protections and address barriers to voting in Indian Country. Due to the rural locations of many tribes, higher poverty rates on many reservations, and transportation barriers, American Indian voters face unique challenges in casting their ballots. According to the National Congress of American Indians, turnout among American Indian and Alaska Native voters in the 2012 election was a full 17 percent lower than white voters. Native Americans only fully gained the right to vote in 1957. Native communities face unique challenges in our electoral process, and their voices deserve to be heard, Heitkamp said. After the Supreme Court declined to hear an emergency appeal based on the confusion created by reverting back to North Dakota's burdensome voter ID law that makes it harder for Native Americans to vote, our bill is especially needed to prevent Native voters from being disenfranchised. Voting should be an accessible, simple, and fair process for every American, but that has not been the case everywhere in Indian Country. Given the number of Native Americans who have served, fought, and died for this country, it is appalling that some people would still try and erect barriers to suppress their ability to vote. Native Americans served in the military before they were even allowed to vote, and they continue to serve at the highest rate of any population in this country. We need to put an end to every form of voter discrimination, and our bill would be an important starting point to bring equal access and equal rights to voters in Indian Country and Native Americans around the country. Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied an emergency appeal to prevent North Dakota's strict voter ID law from discriminating against Native voters who don't have a physical address listed on their ID. About 70,000 North Dakota residents lack a qualifying ID to vote in this… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=1A45149D-D7D7-4D54-869A-05EC9D06ED23 | Why I voted against Judge Kavanaugh to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court | 2018-10-09 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | In 2000, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Back then, I was given a 28 percent chance of living 10 years and I beat the disease. One of the many lessons I learned from that experience is that we each have a bank of time in our lives, and it's up to us to determine how we spend it. I promised myself that I wouldn't waste my time. It's one of many reasons that my vote against Judge Brett Kavanaugh wasn't about politics. Rather, it was about a duty and responsibility I have as a U.S. senator to exercise my judgement to support and protect our institutions and country when determining a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court. Fully considering and vetting Supreme Court nominees is one of the most important jobs of any U.S. senator. I did my job by meeting with Judge Kavanaugh, closely watching his hearings, and reviewing his available record during this evaluation process, including the nonpartisan FBI investigation which I called for. Unfortunately too many politicians on both sides of the aisle announced their support or opposition to the nominee the minute he was announced before we learned anything about him or his record. That's not advice and consent that's putting party over country and abandoning your job. We need to take politics out of the Supreme Court, and it takes Republicans and Democrats to help make that possible. Both sides horribly handled the process around this nomination. We must learn from these mistakes. I voted for Justice Gorsuch because I felt his legal ability and temperament qualified him to serve on the Supreme Court. Judge Kavanaugh was different. He and I had a good meeting. But the hearing during which he and Dr. Christine Blasey Ford testified was a turning point. In addition to the concerns about Judge Kavanaugh's past conduct, the hearing called into question his current temperament, honesty, and impartiality critical traits for a Supreme Court justice. I was particularly disturbed when I saw his exchange with Senator Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota. She asked him a to… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=0B412278-AC0C-49D8-992A-CA979771A213 | After Heitkamp Push, Administration Announces Plan to Allow Year-round Sale of E15 | 2018-10-09 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today released the following statement after the administration announced plans to allow year-round sale of E15, which Heitkamp has strongly pushed for to support North Dakota farmers and biofuel producers. In my longstanding fight for North Dakota farmers, I've repeatedly told the President and everyone in this administration who would listen that year-round E15 would be a boost for rural America, and I'm encouraged they finally listened, Heitkamp said. This victory has been a long time coming for North Dakota farmers and biofuel producers. At a time when the trade war is threatening commodity prices, we need to do everything we can to support farmers, and upholding our commitment to biofuels is one way to give ag producers some much needed certainty. After working in a bipartisan way to build support for E15 and protect the RFS, I look forward to continuing to work with the President and the administration to make sure this policy is implemented in a way that protects farmers and biofuel producers in North Dakota. Heitkamp has long pushed the President and administration officials to strongly support biofuels and allow year-round sale of E15. In 2016, she met with EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and secured a commitment from him to live up to the administration's stated support of a strong Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to support farmers and biofuel producers. Last March, Heitkamp spoke out forcefully against reports that the administration was considering an artificial cap on Renewable Identification Number (RIN) prices, threatening to sink the price of biofuels like ethanol, and pushed for year-round sale of E15. After helping to secure a commitment from the President to enact the policy last April, Heitkamp repeatedly pushed former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to carry it out. When Andrew Wheeler took over as Acting EPA Director in July, Heitkamp immediately pushed him to make year-round E15 a top priority and urged him to visit North Dakota to see firsthand… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=F96202C9-7B9F-4D47-98E2-BDD7A440C198 | In Speech to Air Force Officials & Minot Community Leaders, Heitkamp Champions Minot AFBs Role in Keeping Nation Strong & Safe, Touts Major Win for B-52s in Bipartisan Funding Bill | 2018-10-09 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Earlier this Year, Heitkamp Successfully Led Push to Secure Funding for the Modernization of Minot's B-52s, Brought Top Generals to Minot to Highlight Need for Upgrades WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today stressed Minot Air Force Base's critical national security role and pushed leaders to maintain and modernize the base's nuclear arsenal, including its B-52 long-range strike bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). In a speech to Minot community leaders and Air Force officials at Minot Task Force 21's annual nuclear deterrence symposium, Heitkamp highlighted her work to successfully secure funding to upgrade and modernize Minot's B-52 fleet and ICBMs. Last month, Heitkamp helped pass a bipartisan funding bill that was signed into law that includes $455 million for upgrades to the bomber. In January, Heitkampled a bipartisan group of senators in calling for new or upgraded engines on the Air Force's B-52swhile the next generation of bombers is being developed. Following Heitkamp's push,the Air Force announced that Minot Air Force Base will continue to host bomber missions. Modernizing the engines on the B-52 bomber would substantially extend aircraft lifespan, reduce the cost to maintain older engines, increase fuel efficiency and flying time, and reduce the bomber's carbon footprint. North Dakotans are proud of our airmen and their families, which we can see in community groups like Minot's Task Force 21. The brave men and women of Minot conduct vital missions that protect our allies, hold adversaries accountable, and effectively maintain peace. But to make sure they can continue to carry out their jobs effectively, we need to give our airmen the cutting-edge technology they deserve, said Heitkamp. Last month, Congress passed a bipartisan defense funding bill that was signed into law by the President, and it includes funding for the B-52 re-engining push I've been leading in the Senateallowing Minot's bombers to patrol our skies long into the future. Additionally, the… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=16CC9A60-BCF5-4AB9-B3FB-F2BB17D8E0B4 | Heitkamp: North Dakota at Forefront of All-of-the-above Energy Strategy | 2018-10-08 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | BISMARCK, N.D. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today highlighted the success of North Dakota's all of the above energy strategy and her bipartisan work to support growth and innovation in the industry at the 12th annual Great Plains & EmPower ND Energy Conference at Bismarck State College. Heitkamp participated in a roundtable discussion with Lt. Governor Brent Sanford and the North Dakota congressional delegation, and spoke with top researchers, entrepreneurs, and energy industry leaders about how to keep North Dakota on the cutting edge of energy development in the wake of North Dakota's oil and gas boom and the growth of the wind energy industry, spurred by Heitkamp's successful attempt to couple renewable tax credits with her bill to end the decades-long ban on domestic oil exports. All across North Dakota, our diverse energy industry is creating jobs, strengthening communities, and leading to innovations that make our nation more secure. This is all possible because Congress has been able to come together in a bipartisan way to promote common sense policies that boost domestic energy production and I've been at the forefront of building the bipartisan coalitions necessary to get key policy wins across the finish line, Heitkamp said. After working with Republicans and Democrats to lift the ban on domestic oil exports, we're now seeing record levels of exports and a thriving oil industry that now has the conditions present to innovate and continue to become more efficient with long term certainty on access to global markets. At the same time, we extended renewable energy tax credits that are supporting North Dakota's wind energy industry, which is benefiting rural communities across the state. And facing a carbon constrained future, I worked in a bipartisan way to expand and extend tax credits that are forging a viable future for North Dakota's lignite coal industry and coal-fired power, while also continuing to fight for biofuels and North Dakota farmers by making sure the Administration adheres to the la… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=17392AA0-39B9-47A8-942F-6CCBD18DA87D | Senate Passes Bills Heitkamp Cosponsored to Allow Dickinson & Jamestown Homeowners to Purchase Lots | 2018-10-05 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced that the U.S. Senate has passed bipartisan legislation she helped introduce and cosponsor to allow homeowners around the Jamestown Reservoir and Patterson Lake to buy the lots on which their homes sit. The bipartisan bills would transfer lot ownership at Patterson Lake to the Dickinson Parks and Recreation Department. Additionally, lots along the Jamestown Reservoir would be transferred to the Stutsman County Park Board. After this process has completed, North Dakotans with homes on these lots would be able to purchase the land. The legislation was introduced by U.S. Senator John Hoeven (R-ND). For many years, folks along Lake Paterson and the Jamestown Reservoir have wanted to purchase the lots on which they've built homes, spent time with their kids and grandkids, and made priceless memories, said Heitkamp. Alongside Senator Hoeven, we worked to make sure these North Dakotans can continue to enjoy the swimming, fishing, and boating these bodies of water provide. With these bipartisan, commonsense bills now moving through Congress, we're allowing homeowners to invest in their properties, take real ownership of the land, and keep our state's recreational opportunities affordable for all. This legislation builds on Heitkamp's efforts to support permit holders along North Dakota reservoirs. In December 2016, she worked to pass a water resources bill that included provisions to benefit North Dakota homeowners on Lake Patterson, Lake Tschida, and the Jamestown Reservoir. The provisions helped limit a planned increase in permit costs for lots on these reservoirs. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=48AFC88B-36F5-45E9-A239-E4FA8CDB8841 | Heitkamp to Vote Against U.S. Supreme Court Nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh | 2018-10-04 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced she will vote against confirming U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. As I said after Judge Kavanaugh was nominated, and as I've continued to say throughout this process, I consider vetting nominees to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court as one of the most important jobs of any U.S. senator and I take that job very seriously, said Heitkamp. That's what North Dakotans expect of their senators, which is why I met with Judge Kavanaugh, closely watched his hearings, and reviewed his available record during this evaluation process including the nonpartisan FBI investigation which I called for. After doing my due diligence and now that the record is apparently closed, I will vote against his confirmation. We need to take politics out of the Supreme Court as much as possible, and it takes Republicans and Democrats in the Senate, the administration, and individuals around the country to help make that possible. We live in a very divisive time, but we can change that. Both sides horribly handled the process around this nomination. We must learn from these mistakes. I voted for Justice Gorsuch because I felt his legal ability and temperament qualified him to serve on the Supreme Court. Judge Kavanaugh is different. When considering a lifetime appointment to Supreme Court, we must evaluate the totality of the circumstances and record before us. In addition to the concerns about his past conduct, last Thursday's hearing called into question Judge Kavanaugh's current temperament, honesty, and impartiality. These are critical traits for any nominee to serve on the highest court in our country. There has been much public debate about Thursday's hearing, and it has furthered a national discussion about stopping sexual assault that is long overdue and we must continue to have. I have spent much of my time in public service including as North Dakota's Attorney General focused on combating domestic violence and p… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=6D586E1B-BBDA-4D41-8962-844E638CA744 | Heitkamp Helps Pass Bipartisan FAA Bill to Support Rural Airports and Boost UAS Development in ND | 2018-10-03 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today voted with a bipartisan majority of the Senate to pass a long-term reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) which included an amendment Heitkamp fought for to boost North Dakota's unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) industry and preserved funding for the Essential Air Service (EAS), which many North Dakota airports rely on. The bill is now expected to be signed into law. The FAA supports critical aviation projects and programs that help maintain and improve airports across North Dakota, and the long-term reauthorization will ensure the agency can continue to support air service to North Dakota's airports. These programs include the EAS a vital federal support program that enables airlines to serve many rural communities, like those in Devils Lake, Jamestown, and Dickinson which Heitkamp has long advocated to protect from cuts, including in the administration's proposed budget. As a result, these funds help support small business growth and local jobs, make it possible for residents to travel, and boost tourism to the area. A fully functioning FAA supports the economy and makes life easier in North Dakota's rural communities, Heitkamp said. I fought to include important provisions for our state's growing UAS industry, and this bill will help North Dakota colleges and universities prepare students for careers in UAS. The bill gives long-term certainty to our airports and the communities they serve, and will make sure access to air service is protected across our state. The bill also maintains the Essential Air Service program, which many North Dakota airports rely on to stay competitive and preserve service to rural areas. I've fought to protect EAS from the administration's proposals to eliminate it, and this bill preserves funding that will continue to support air service to rural communities across the state. Heitkamp successfully included an amendment that will improve access to special use airspace for public UAS to assist federal, state,… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=C2716600-ABA5-4E65-98BB-72E1EA3DDB35 | Heitkamp Welcomes 8 interns to Washington and North Dakota Offices | 2018-10-03 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced eight new interns in her Washington, D.C. and North Dakota offices. Internships provide students and recent graduates with real, on-the-job skills that help them learn about the legislative process and serve North Dakota, said Heitkamp. All young folks deserve to be able to grasp opportunities that come their way, but unfortunately some students aren't able to afford to take internships that don't offer stipends. As the daughter of a school cook and seasonal construction worker, I understand the importance of working hard, but also what it means to struggle to get by. I want every North Dakota student to have every opportunity and that's why I want to make it so students from any economic background are able to intern in my offices. I encourage more North Dakota students to apply for internships in my offices in North Dakota or in our nation's capital. Watch this video to learn more about internship opportunities in Heitkamp's offices. Washington, D.C. Office Anthony Walsh, from Edina, MN, is a recent graduate from the University of North Dakota who double majored in history and interdisciplinary studies. Click here for photo. Hassan Chehem Ali, from the Netherlands, studied political science at South Dakota State University and currently is a graduate student in international relations at the University of Groningen. Katlyn Weiser, from Pittsburgh, PA, is a currently a junior at George Mason University studying government and international politics with an emphasis in communications. Click here for photo. Sophia Oen, from Grand Forks, is currently a sophomore at American University in Washington, D.C. studying international relations and biology. Click here for photo. Bismarck Office SaNoah LaRocque is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and is currently a rising senior at Harvard University where she is a pre-med student while also studying the history of art and architecture. Click here for photo.… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=CAE60EF5-514B-4B49-8024-C861AD62C402 | Heitkamp Statement on New Trade Agreement with Canada & Mexico | 2018-10-01 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today issued the following statement on the new trilateral trade agreement with Canada and Mexico. From the beginning of the renegotiation of NAFTA, which has been going on for over a year, I've been pushing for a deal that maintains North Dakota's critical trade relationships with Canada and Mexico, our largest trading partners, Heitkamp said. The renegotiation was an opportunity to address several issues important to North Dakota agriculture. Over the past year, I've had many helpful and substantive meetings with the Canadian ambassador to talk through issues in NAFTA that I hoped could be addressed to support North Dakota farmers and ranchers. The new agreement is good news for wheat growers who would no longer face an unfair Canadian grading system a change I've been pushing for but it's disappointing the concerns of cattle ranchers and potato farmers were not addressed. Additionally, this agreement doesn't address the steel and aluminum tariffs which are still putting North Dakota's energy industry and agriculture manufacturing equipment companies in jeopardy. Throughout the negotiation, I've been working with North Dakota agriculture producers to help them maintain their relationships with their buyers in Canada and Mexico, and I hope we can now move forward in a way that's good for North Dakota's ag economy. From the beginning on the NAFTA renegotiation in 2017, Heitkamp outlined her top priorities for North Dakota agriculture including wheat grading, which was ultimately addressed in the final agreement. Heitkamp consistently pushed U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to deal with the wheat grading issue that puts North Dakota growers at a disadvantage. Heitkamp also pressed Canadian officials in numerous meetings about this issue and urged them to come to the table to talk about fair grading practices for North Dakota producers. Under Canada's grading system, wheat grown in North Dakota is unable to receive a premium grade, even if the wheat was … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=5A6D684A-2761-41C3-A16C-6175DAAAA75A | Heitkamp Statement on Farm Bill Negotiations Reaching Deadline | 2018-09-30 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and the Farm Bill conference committee, today issued the following statement on the status of Farm Bill negotiations as the current bill is set to expire at midnight tonight. After the Senate passed a strong Farm Bill with historic and overwhelming support from Republicans and Democrats, it's disappointing that House Republicans continue to push for partisan and regional provisions that have no chance of building the bipartisan coalition necessary to pass a final bill and give certainty to our farmers, ranchers, and rural America. Particularly at a time of turmoil in farm country due to the administration's trade war, it is also disappointing that the House took a break in August and much of September and has now adjourned until mid-November," said Heitkamp. "Americans expect members of Congress to get to work and do their jobs, but passing a strong Farm Bill is clearly not the priority it should be for House Republicans who want to keep pushing partisan provisions including provisions that leave North Dakota farmers behind. We're working to make sure many of these farm programs are able to operate for another few months, but Congress is sending the wrong message to farmers and ranchers in the middle of harvest who desperately need certainty and are instead now being told they won't get it.Chairman Roberts and Ranking Member Stabenow are working in good faith to get a deal done quickly, and we need House Republicans to commit to coming to the table to compromise so Congress can do its job to support farmers and ranchers. I'll continue to work toward passing a final bill as soon as possible, and House Republicans should join the Senate to put politics aside and get back to work on behalf of farm country. Background Heitkamp helped secure Senate passage of a bipartisan Farm Bill, which passed by a historic margin of 86-11. The Senate Farm Billwas widely praised by North Dakota agriculture leaders. The U.S. House of Repres… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=19BAADCA-A753-4289-AF8F-CBE710AB65D2 | After Decades-long Heitkamp Effort, North Dakota to Begin Collecting Sales Tax from Online and Out-of-State Vendors | 2018-09-26 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. Beginning Monday, October 1, North Dakota will begin to collect sales and use tax from online and out-of-state vendors, a huge victory for the state and small businesses that have been at a competitive disadvantage. The change comes as a result of a decades-long effort by Heitkamp to level the playing field for brick-and-mortar business in North Dakota. As North Dakota's Tax Commissioner, she brought Quill v North Dakota before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1992 in an effort to require catalog retailers to collect state sales and use taxes. The case was not decided favorably, but Heitkamp has been fighting to overturn that decision ever since. At Heitkamp's urging, the Supreme Court took up a new case to resolve the issue earlier this year, and in its decision in South Dakota vs Wayfair, Inc. in June, the Court finally overturned its decision in Quill. In additional to putting brick-and-mortar business on a level playing field with online vendors, the ruling will help increase state revenues, adding much needed resources that can support critical investments in education, infrastructure and other state projects. The state estimates that it could collect $50 million in additional revenue annually. In 2015 alone, the total uncollected sales and use taxes in the U.S. was nearly $26 billion. Retailers without a physical presence have a price advantage over brick-and-mortar businesses of up to 8.5 percent in North Dakota. After a long battle, this is a major victory to help level the playing field for the brick and mortar businesses our rural communities rely on, Heitkamp said. This effort was all about getting fairness for the Main Street businesses that are so important to our way of life. I started this fight as North Dakota's Tax Commissioner in 1992, and it's great news for our state to finally see the issue resolved in a way that will make small businesses more competitive and boost state revenue, which benefits every community. In Quill v North Dakota, Heitkamp fought to allow the state of No… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=BAB36A88-C5E2-4D4B-8060-3BE50E6D8B92 | Heitkamp Submits Thousands of Stories from Workers & Retirees Impacted by Multiemployer Pension Crisis to Congressional Pension Committee | 2018-09-26 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Senator is Encouraging Workers, Retirees, & Employers to Submit their Stories to the Committee via Email until September 30 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp a member of the bipartisan Joint Select Committee tasked with solving the nationwide multiemployer pension plan crisis today submitted thousands of personal stories penned by workers and retirees whose families would be devastated by the sudden loss or reduction of their pensions.The submission includes 115 stories from North Dakotans. These letters build on Heitkamp's efforts to share the stories of North Dakotans who could face financial ruin due to the collapse of their pension funds including over 2,000 North Dakotans who paid into the Central States Pension Fund. In July, Heitkamp hosted a video livestream on Facebook featuring workers, retirees, and their representatives in Congress sharing stories about how the nationwide pension crisis is currently impacting them. Click here to watch the full stream. Heitkamp also hosted livestreams with pensioners in Bismarck and Fargo in September. Without action from Congress, a total of 1.5 million retirees nationwide who are part of various pension funds could see their retirement savings drastically cut. To gather input about the potential challenges faced by retirees and to help craft a legislative solution to the pension crisis, the Committee has been gathering feedback from workers, retirees, and employers through an email inbox. Heitkamp is encouraging all impacted workers, retirees, and business who have not already sent their stories and suggestions to email JSCSMPP@finance.senate.gov by September 30, 2018. The personal stories we submitted today are powerful. They're stories shared by men and women across the country who worked hard for decades, often in physically demanding jobs, and played by the rules to provide for the long-term futures of their families. Even though they were responsible and saved for retirement, they're finding themselves stiffed through no fault of the… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E55B6C22-41BE-47B0-A45F-DCC0800F8649 | Heitkamp Backs New Bill to Boost Funding for Tribal Colleges and Universities | 2018-09-26 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced she is supporting legislation to permanently extend and increase federal funding for minority-serving higher education institutions like North Dakota's five tribal colleges. The Strengthening Minority-Serving Institutions Act would increase mandatory funding levels from $255 million to $300 million for minority-serving institutions of higher education. A majority of the mandatory funding for Tribal Colleges and Universities is set to expire in the next year, leaving schools without the resources needed to serve their students. The funds would be used for capital improvement needs, faculty and curriculum development, and student services. American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities would receive $35 million, a $5 million increase from the current funding level. North Dakota's tribal colleges are vital institutions that help prepare the next generation of Native American students for fulfilling careers, Heitkamp said. Often, students that attend Tribal Colleges are the first in their families to seek a higher education. Adequate funding is essential to help these important institutions carry out their mission, which is why I've been pushing for increased funding for schools that serve minority populations. Every North Dakota community is stronger when we work to build a skilled workforce and make sure a good education is in reach for every student. Heitkamp supported an increase in funding for Tribal Colleges and Universities in the bipartisan government funding bill that passed the Senate last week, and is expected to become law soon. Heitkamp offered an amendment to boost this funding even more to help North Dakota's colleges, but it was not included in the final bill. This new legislation would permanently boost funding to the level Heitkamp requested. As a small, rural, tribal college, Cankdeska Cikana Community College (CCCC) relies on the Title III funding as essential funding to operate our institution, said Cynthia Lindquis… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=0E40FAFF-1575-4920-90EB-265F463FCFE7 | Heitkamp Announces Federal Funding to Fight Drug Abuse in Indian Country | 2018-09-25 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced four federal grants totaling over $1.2 million to help fight drug addiction such as the ongoing opioid and meth epidemics. We have to take every action possible to fight drug abuse across Indian Country and across North Dakota, said Heitkamp. Almost every family and community in North Dakota has been impacted by drug and substance abuse, and we need to change that trajectory. This federal funding will help support efforts to fight drug addiction on reservations in North Dakota and I'll continue to fight to make sure the federal government is doing its part in stopping the opioid, meth, and addiction epidemics. These federal grants are distributed as follows: Standing Rock Sioux Tribe: $510,756 Turtle Mountain Tribe: $368,266 Spirit Lake Tribe: $182,438 Mandan, Hidatsa, & Arikara Nation: $179,233 These federal funds are administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Mental Health & Substance Abuse Service Grants. Recently, Heitkamp voted with a bipartisan majority of the U.S. Senate to pass the comprehensive, bipartisan Opioid Crisis Response Act to combat the ongoing, national substance abuse crisis. This legislation also included several key provisions that Heitkamp fought to include that address the ripple effects that drug abuse has on children, families, and rural communities. As part of her efforts to combat the opioid epidemic, Heitkamp has hosted seven meetings including in Bismarck, Grand Forks, Fargo, Jamestown, Minot, Dickinson, and Hazen. Heitkamp also helped pass a bipartisan funding bill that would help to make sure rural communities have the tools they need to combat the opioid and meth epidemic. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=5F518BA9-E285-470C-8C5F-0317C81DD18E | Heitkamp Helps Donate Computers to James River Special Education Cooperative in Jamestown | 2018-09-25 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced that she is donating five U.S. Senate computers to be used in classrooms at the James River Special Education Cooperative in Jamestown. The U.S. Senate Computers for Schools Program helps public schools take advantage of the information age by channeling surplus Senate computers into classrooms countrywide. All registered public schools in the United States and territories are eligible. Heitkamp selected the James River Special Education Cooperative to receive the five gently-used computers so the school can meet students' technology needs without having to buy all new equipment. For our students to learn, grow, and reach their full potential, they need access to updated technology and computers, that enable them to do research, access critical learning tools, and reach communities far distances away, said Heitkamp. We live in a digital world and I'm thrilled that some of our U.S. Senate computers will be put to good use to support students in the Jamestown region. It's critical that all schools across North Dakota have access to updated technology, and that's particularly the case in rural communities and I'll keep looking for opportunities to support our state's schools, students, and teachers. Thank you Senator Heitkamp for your technology donation to the James River Special Education Cooperative. The nearly new computers will provide students access to 21st century learning and skills, said Heidi Budeau, James River Special Education Director. I know students and staff are excited to use the computers and are very thankful for your thoughtfulness and kindness in assisting in the advancement of their education. Heitkamp also selected the Oliver-Mercer Special Education Unit in Hazen, the Turtle Mountain Special Education Unit, and the GST Multidistrict Special Education Unit to receive gently-used U.S. Senate computers. In 2015, Heitkamp visited Flasher Public Schools and Ed Clapp Elementary in Fargo that received computers through the same U.S. Sen… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=A582093C-C592-4822-8FE7-D1754A59D257 | Heitkamp Helps Introduce Bill to Address Womens Retirement Gap, Boost Financial Security for ND Women & their Families | 2018-09-25 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Builds on Bipartisan Package of Bills Heitkamp Introduced in July to Improve Retirement Security for North Dakota's Working Families WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp helped introduce a bill to extend critical protections for women's retirement security and provide tools and resources to help women better prepare for retirement. Across the country, women often find themselves significantly behind their male counterparts in preparing for retirementand they are more likely to face financial uncertainty during retirement. In 2014, the median female retirement income was just 55 percent of the average male retirement income. Additionally, women over 65 are 80 percent more likely to fall into poverty during retirement and are more likely to leave the workforce during their income-earning years to become caregivers for loved ones. The bill would address several financial challenges that disproportionately impact female workers, retirees, and their families. It would help bolster the retirement security of North Dakota women by strengthening consumer protections, improving access to retirement savings plans for female employees, encouraging financial literacy, and supporting low-income women and survivors of domestic violence. Too often, women face challenges in the workplace with gender pay disparities and lack of access to paid leave to care for family members or newborns. We need to address those issues and also make sure that the barriers they face don't follow them into retirement, said Heitkamp. It's clear that women face poverty in retirement at rates drastically higher than men. No one should be forced to worry about losing their retirement savings or falling into poverty during their golden years, and our bill would help more North Dakota women enjoy the long-term retirement security they've earned through their hard work. This legislation would take needed steps to assist women in building secure and longer-lasting retirements. Additionally, the bill includes a provision that would ex… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=A9EC9477-D9D3-4056-87E1-B40379FF76AA | Heitkamp Announces Federal Support for Pediatric Mental Health | 2018-09-25 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today $445,000 in federal funding to the North Dakota Department of Health to help support the integration of behavioral health care into pediatric primary care. It's so important that we address mental and behavioral health for children as early as possible to achieve the best outcomes, said Heitkamp. When pediatricians have resources to address mental health, issues can be identified earlier to make sure parents and their children are connected to the services and support they need. That is why this federal funding is critical as it will use telehealth technology to help integrate behavioral health care into pediatric care. We can and must do better for all children, so that their futures remain bright. This federal funding is administered through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration's Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program. This federal grant program works to integrate behavioral health care into pediatric primary care through statewide and regional access programs through telehealth. Heitkamp has been a strong advocate of supporting mental and behavioral health by addressing the impacts of trauma in children. Traumatic experiences can lead to severe health and behavioral complications that can impact children throughout their lives and recently several key provisions from Heitkamp's Trauma-informed Care for Children and Families Act were included in the Opioid Crisis Response Act. The key pieces from her legislation would help to address and mitigate the detrimental impacts that exposure to trauma can have on children. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=6EDE5E19-5609-4F11-ADEF-E4298F3265B1 | As Trade War Escalates, New Retaliatory Tariffs Starting Today Target Commodities Important to ND Ag Economy | 2018-09-24 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today issued the following statement after the administration officially escalated its trade war with China, causing China to impose retaliatory tariffs on goods that are vital to North Dakota's agriculture economy. The trade war and retaliatory tariffs are going into high gear at the worst possible time for North Dakota farmers, Heitkamp said. As harvest is in full swing, farmers should be focused on getting their crop off the field not worrying about plummeting prices and disappearing markets. The administration's trade war is a drag on our entire rural economy. We can hold China's feet to the fire on trade while also protecting American agriculture, but the administration has chosen a scorched earth approach that treats our farmers like collateral damage. I'll keep pushing for solutions and action to end to this trade war and for smart trade policies that hold China accountable while also protecting markets for North Dakota goods. The retaliatory tariffs imposed on U.S. goods include commodities important to North Dakota's ag economy, such as beef and pork based products, frozen peas and soybean and corn oil. The trade war is already hurting farmers and ranchers by causing commodity prices to fall and orders to be cancelled. Not a single order for North Dakota soybeans has been placed by China, which was the biggest customer of the state's crop. North Dakota soybean farmers are losing hundreds of millions of dollars in the trade war. North Dakota commodities affected by this round of retaliatory tariffs include: In addition to spurring retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, the administration's escalation of the trade war led the Chinese to cancel talks aimed at ending the dispute, potentially prolonging the economic pain being felt by North Dakota's biggest industries. From the beginning of this administration, Heitkamp has been proactively fighting for smart trade policies to protect North Dakota producers by: Pressing top officials since the beginning of … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=39DE7CAF-49BA-441F-81ED-803611E6D665 | Heitkamp Addresses Maternal Health Issues with Health Care Providers & New Mothers in Grand Forks, Outlines Her Bipartisan Bill to Help Lower U.S. Maternal Mortality Rates | 2018-09-21 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | This Week, Heitkamp Secured $12 Million for Efforts to Reduce Maternal Mortality, $38 Million for Maternal Health Programs in Rural & Tribal Areas GRAND FORKS, N.D. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today convened health care providers, families, and maternal health advocates in Grand Forks to examine the causes of rising nationwide maternal mortality rates and to discuss ideas, like a bill she introduced, to better support the health and well-being of mothers and newborn children across North Dakota. More women in the United States die from pregnancy-related complications than in most other developed nationsand the number of maternal deaths is rising. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pregnancy-related deaths in the United States increased by 250 percent from 1987-2014. And to highlight the urgent need to tackle this problem, another study found that 60 percent of the nation's maternal deaths could have been prevented with proper care. During the roundtable discussion, Heitkamp outlined her bipartisan bill to help combat the ongoing maternal mortality crisis in the United States, which passed out of a key Senate committee in June 2018. Her legislation would strengthen on-the-ground resources by expanding maternal mortality review committees (MMRCs) that identifying contributing factors to maternal deaths and offer recommendations to improve outcomes for expecting mothers. MMRCs currently do not exist in 15 states, including North Dakota. Earlier this week, Heitkamphelped pass a bipartisan funding bill that includes $50 million in funding to be used for a new initiative aimed at reducing maternal mortalitywhich Heitkamp successfully pushed for. The bill also includes $12 million for expanded data collection at State Maternal Mortality review boards and $38 million to expand evidence-based programs to advance maternal health equity in rural, tribal, and historically underserved areas. No mother in the United States should have to worry about dying due to pregnancy… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=07600572-294C-40E0-8127-9CC11E47CF51 | Heitkamp Announces Federal Funding to Combat Opioids | 2018-09-20 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced $250,000 in federal funding to the City-County Health District in Valley City to combat the ongoing opioid epidemic. Combating opioid abuse will take an all-hands-on-deck approach that involves all members of the community, said Heitkamp. By traveling to each corner of North Dakota and listening to folks who are impacted by this crisis I have been working to pass policies that will help communities fight opioid and drug abuse. This federal funding will help Valley City combat opioid addiction by supporting health care services to help folks in need. These federal funds are made available through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Federal Office of Rural Health Policy's Rural Health Opioid Program. This federal grant program works to promote rural health care services to combat opioid related deaths in rural communities. Heitkamp recently voted with a bipartisan majority of the U.S. Senate to pass comprehensive, bipartisan legislation to combat the ongoing, nationwide substance abuse crisis. The legislation includes provisions Heitkamp successfully fought for to address the ripple effects of North Dakota's overdose epidemic among children, families, and rural communities. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=6549CF81-5A1C-4DCC-9141-FE0E00041FA2 | Heitkamp Helps Donate Computers to Turtle Mountain Special Education Unit | 2018-09-20 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | GRAND FORKS, N.D. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced that she is donating five U.S. Senate computers to be used in classrooms at the Turtle Mountain Special Education Unit. The U.S. Senate Computers for Schools Program helps public schools take advantage of the information age by channeling surplus Senate computers into classrooms countrywide. All registered public schools in the United States and territories are eligible. Heitkamp selected Turtle Mountain Special Education Unit to receive the five gently-used computers so the school can meet students' technology needs without having to buy all new equipment. For our students to learn, grow, and reach their full potential, they need access to updated technology and computers, that enable them to do research, access critical learning tools, and reach communities far distances away, said Heitkamp. We live in a digital world and I'm thrilled that some of our U.S. Senate computers will be put to good use to support students on Turtle Mountain. It's critical that all schools across North Dakota have access to updated technology, and that's particularly the case in rural communities and I'll keep looking for opportunities to support our state's schools, students, and teachers. Technology has becoming increasingly important to students' education and when tech is constantly changing and being updated, it becomes difficult to keep up, said Dr. Lana DeCoteau, Superintendent of Turtle Mountain Community Schools. That's why the computers that have been donated to Turtle Mountain's Special Education Unit from the U.S. Senate will make a positive difference in their education. Thank you so much to Senator Heitkamp for helping with these donations, I just know the students will be excited to learn and grow by using these newer computers. Heitkamp also selected the Oliver-Mercer Special Education Unit in Hazen, the GST Multidistrict Special Education Unit in Portland, the Dickinson Special Education Unit, and the James River Special Education Cooperative to receive ge… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=DC4509F8-4450-4431-8B08-352713D0C162 | Heitkamp Helps Donate Computers to Oliver-Mercer Special Education Unit in Hazen | 2018-09-20 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | GRAND FORKS, N.D. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced that she is donating five U.S. Senate computers to be used in classrooms at the Oliver-Mercer Special Education Unit in Hazen. The U.S. Senate Computers for Schools Program helps public schools take advantage of the information age by channeling surplus Senate computers into classrooms countrywide. All registered public schools in the United States and territories are eligible. Heitkamp selected the Oliver-Mercer Special Education Unit to receive the five gently-used computers so the school can meet students' technology needs without having to buy all new equipment. For our students to learn, grow, and reach their full potential, they need access to updated technology and computers, that enable them to do research, access critical learning tools, and reach communities far distances away, said Heitkamp. We live in a digital world and I'm thrilled that some of our U.S. Senate computers will be put to good use to support students in the Oliver Mercer region of North Dakota. It's critical that all schools across North Dakota have access to updated technology, and that's particularly the case in rural communities and I'll keep looking for opportunities to support our state's schools, students, and teachers. It was an unexpected, but welcome surprise when the Oliver-Mercer Special Education Unit received five computers with the help of Senator Heitkamp, said Linette Irwin, Director of Special Education for Oliver-Mercer. This donation will go a long ways toward making a direct and positive impact on our student's education as we serve three school districts in our part of North Dakota. I'm so grateful to Senator Heitkamp for thinking of rural students to receive these computers, because as we all know technology is constantly changing and becoming a more integral part of education. I know these computers will really make a difference in their education. Heitkamp also selected the GST Multidistrict Special Education Unit in Portland, the Turtle Mountain Spec… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E1650F60-EA57-4F1A-9802-C6731C6A4317 | After Heitkamp Bill Becomes Law, North Dakota Consumers Will Now be Able to Freeze & Unfreeze Their Credit for Free | 2018-09-20 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced that because of bipartisan legislation she wrote and helped pass into law, as of tomorrow, September 21, consumers will have access to free credit freezes and unfreezes from all three credit agencies to protect themselves from fraud and identity theft. The provision requiring free credit freezes and unfreezes was part of a bipartisan bill Heitkamp wrote and introduced to boost economic growth in rural communities and protect North Dakota consumers. After five years of negotiations that Hetikamp helped lead, the bill was signed into law by President Trump in May, with Heitkamp present at the signing ceremony at the White House. The reason I wrote and fought to pass this law was to protect consumers and spur economic growth in rural communities like North Dakota's. It's exciting to see an important provision from my bill go into effect that will help protect North Dakotans from identity theft and other factors that could unfairly hurt credit scores, Heitkamp said. Good credit is essential to everything from getting a small business loan, a home mortgage, or simply applying for a new credit card and consumers have enough challenges without having to worry about criminals impacting their credit scores. When the provision in the law goes into effect tomorrow, the three credit agencies Equifax, Experian and TransUnion must each set up a webpage for requesting fraud alerts and credit freezes. The Federal Trade Commission will also post links to those webpages on IdentityTheft.gov. Freezing prevents activity that could impact a consumer's credit score such as fraudulent loans taken out by someone who has stolen your identity. Heitkamp, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, began working on the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act in 2013. The bill strengthens consumer protections for seniors, veterans and servicemembers, and those who are vulnerable or have fallen victim to identity theft. Heitkamp's bill is also providi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E9A444B2-DDAE-47DD-8017-D7AD20C0669D | Heitkamp Helps Donate Computers to GST Multidistrict Special Education Unit | 2018-09-20 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | GRAND FORKS, N.D. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced that she is donating five U.S. Senate computers to be used in classrooms at the GST Multidistrict Special Education Unit in Portland. The U.S. Senate Computers for Schools Program helps public schools take advantage of the information age by channeling surplus Senate computers into classrooms countrywide. All registered public schools in the United States and territories are eligible. Heitkamp selected GST Multidistrict Special Education Unit to receive the five gently-used computers so the school can meet students' technology needs without having to buy all new equipment. For our students to learn, grow, and reach their full potential, they need access to updated technology and computers, that enable them to do research, access critical learning tools, and reach communities far distances away, said Heitkamp. We live in a digital world and I'm thrilled that some of our U.S. Senate computers will be put to good use to support students in Portland. It's critical that all schools across North Dakota have access to updated technology, and that's particularly the case in rural communities and I'll keep looking for opportunities to support our state's schools, students, and teachers. The donation of U.S. Senate computers to our school came as quite the surprise to my colleagues and me, and we're thrilled, said Mary Stammen, Director of the GST Multidistrict Special Education Unit. As technology continues to become more and more integrated into the daily learning of students we need to have the resources to meet their needs. We are very grateful to Senator Heitkamp for making this donation possible and we want to make sure these computers are used in an appropriate and special way that will facilitate students learning for years to come. Heitkamp also selected the Oliver-Mercer Special Education Unit in Hazen, the Turtle Mountain Special Education Unit, the Dickinson Special Education Unit, and the James River Special Education Cooperative to receive gently… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=0D33B00A-F0D2-49D1-B03C-319C11D74210 | Heitkamp Announces Federal Investment in North Dakota Agriculture | 2018-09-19 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced two federal grants totaling over $3.3 million to North Dakota State University (NDSU) for specialty crops and for Dakota College to help promote farmers markets. North Dakota's farmers know what it takes to grow some of the best quality crops in the world, said Heitkamp. These federal investments through the U.S. Department of Agriculture will continue to support the hard working men and women who grow the very food we consume through investments in specialty crops and farmers markets. These federal funds are dispersed as follows: North Dakota State University: $3,010,862 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program that supports the competitiveness of specialty crops. Dakota College, Bottineau: $297,325 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farmers Market Promotion Program to support Farmers Markets as they sell fresh produce to local communities. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=150A1EB0-B47B-4C7C-8E1A-EBFC5AB4A46D | Heitkamp to Perdue: Make Farm Aid Work for North Dakota | 2018-09-19 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp continued pushing U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to improve the trade aid package so it better supports North Dakota agriculture, while also advocating for smart trade policies that open markets for North Dakota producers and a quick end to the trade war. The administration dramatically escalated its trade war with China this week, putting North Dakota farmers and ranchers who are already suffering from lower commodity prices and a lack of soybean orders from China at further risk. In a phone call with Secretary Perdue, Heitkamp reiterated requests she made of USDA earlier this month and urged him to continue working with Congress to get a strong Farm Bill passed as quickly as possible. In frequent phone calls and meetings with Secretary Perdue, I always emphasize the importance of trade to North Dakota's ag economy, and I'm continuing to push him to make our farmers whole as the cost of the trade war is mounting, Heitkamp said. Our local FSA offices need support to deal with the implementation of USDA's new program, and there are many commodities soybeans, corn, and wheat among them that aren't adequately compensated for, or in the case of canola, not compensated at all. North Dakota farmers want markets, but as long as the administration continues its trade war we have to do everything we can to mitigate the impact. I urged Secretary Perdue to continue working with Congress to get a Farm Bill done as quickly as possible to give certainty to our ag producers that important safety net programs will remain in place. A member of the Farm Bill conference committee, Heitkamp has been fighting to quickly pass a strong Farm Bill for North Dakota to give ag producers needed certainty. In June, Heitkamp helped secure Senate passage of a bipartisan Farm Bill, which passed by a historic margin of 86-11. The Senate Farm Billwas widely praised by North Dakota agriculture leaders. Heitkamp has been proactively fighting for smart trade policies to pr… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=3FED5D36-B01C-4B10-B31A-D10B0505BAA4 | In Meeting with Top U.S. Forest Service Official, Heitkamp Urges Agency to Listen to Concerns of ND Ranchers, Promote Smarter Management of Grasslands | 2018-09-19 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | As a Member of the Farm Bill Conference Committee, Heitkamp is Working to Include Her Provisions Supporting Ranchers in Times of Drought, Crisis WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp met with U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Interim Chief Vicki Christiansen and called on her agency to collaborate with North Dakota ranchers to maintain fair grazing fees and develop smarter management strategies that strengthen the state's rural economy. During their meeting, Heitkamp pressed Chief Christiansen on concerns she has heard from ranchers across North Dakota including challenges related to proposed grassland fee increases and USFS management of prairie dogs on grazing allotments. Additionally, Heitkamp encouraged Chief Christiansen to review several public road and access issues near federal lands and to work with local leaders when planning prescribed burns. North Dakota livestock producers play by the rules when it comes to grazing on federal lands. But too often, the Forest Service doesn't adequately respond to ranchers' management concerns, said Heitkamp. Our state's ag economy depends on the hard work of ranchers, and I pressed Chief Christiansen to speak directly with these North Dakotans to answer their questions about fire prevention, prairie dogs, and maintaining affordable grazing fees. Particularly as last year's drought and this year's trade war have weakened cattle prices, our ranchers need certainty and by building stronger relationships with North Dakota's grazing associations and gathering feedback from rural communities, the agency can accomplish this goal. Heitkamp has long advocated for the USFS to implement commonsense management policies that benefit both ranchers and the long-term preservation of North Dakota's grasslands. In December 2016, the president signed into law a bipartisan bill Heitkamp introduced with U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD) that requires collaboration between USFS and local officials before initiating a prescribed burn on USFS lands when fire danger is rated as ext… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/featured-items?ContentRecord_id=423BA32A-3066-4410-B850-362688A185AC | Heitkamp Announces Federal Funding for Bismarck Airport Infrastructure | 2018-09-18 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Pursuant to Senate Policy, petitions, opinions, polls and unsolicited mass electronic communications cannot be initiated by this office for the 60-day period immediately before the date of a primary or general election. Subscribers currently receiving electronic communications from this office who wish to unsubscribe may do so here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=680622C8-574C-4A55-9699-D28C975FE709 | Heitkamp Helps Pass Bipartisan Bill to Support ND Defense Missions, Give Servicemembers a Raise, Protect Rural Health Care, & Support Educators & Workers | 2018-09-18 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today voted with a bipartisan majority of the U.S. Senate to pass a funding bill that includes major wins for North Dakota's defense communities, rural health care and education priorities, tribal colleges, and workers. The legislation also authorizes government funding through December 7, preventing a government shutdown at the end of September. The bill must now pass the U.S. House of Representatives before it becomes law. The bipartisan bill includes a provision Heitkamp successfully fought for that builds off her SOAR Act -- to make sure North Dakota health providers have the training they need to identify, treat, and protect victims of human trafficking. Recent studies suggest thatnearly one-thirdof women trafficked in America saw a health care professional while they were still captive to these crimes and thatincreased training of health professionals to identify red flagsof human trafficking could allow victims to receive resources and services to get the protection and care they require. The bill also includes a short-term extension of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the first bill Heitkamp cosponsored and helped pass in 2013. This bipartisan bill supports our military, access to rural health care, and a good education for our children, and I fought to include several provisions to keep North Dakota communities strong and safe, Heitkamp said. It also includes an amendment I'm proud to have successfully incorporated that makes sure North Dakota doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals have the proper training to identify and get help for victims of sex trafficking.And as a member of the Senate Defense Communities Caucus, I fought for a pay raise for our troops and for vital funding to support North Dakota's national security missions like modernizing B-52s, upgrading our nuclear arsenal, and supporting UAS development. Heitkamp continued, Congress has made important strides by funding many federal agencies on time, but there are still … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=68B6FAF0-8A49-42C5-9F76-A8870A6F3A65 | Heitkamp Helps Introduce New Bipartisan Bill to Combat Suicide Epidemic in North Dakotas Native Communities | 2018-09-18 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Last Week, Heitkamp Held Her Summit to Stop Suicide to Address the Sharp Rates of Suicide Increase in ND, Indian Country, & Rural America WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today helped introduce bipartisan legislation that would help address the suicide crisis on Indian reservations in North Dakota and across the country. Indian Country is experiencing a suicide epidemic that is claiming the lives of a disproportionate number of Native youth and adults. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is the second-leading cause of death among Native youth, and the overall suicide rate among American Indians and Alaska Natives was more than 3.5 times higher than the rate of any other ethnic group. But too often, local and statewide suicide prevention programs do not fully meet the needs of Indian Country, particularly when it comes to addressing the mental health challenges caused by poverty, abuse, addiction, or lack of educational or employment opportunities on reservations. The bipartisan Native American Suicide Prevention Act would specifically help tackle the suicide crisis in Indian Country by requiring states to collaborate with tribal communities to design and implement new statewide suicide intervention and prevention strategies that are culturally-sensitive toward Native populations. On reservations in North Dakota and across the country, we have seen a disturbing trend of tribal citizens particularly Native youth experiencing serious mental health struggles caused in part by factors like poverty, domestic abuse, and fewer educational opportunities. And far too often, these generational issues lead to a disproportionate number of deaths by suicide, said Heitkamp. Our bipartisan bill would work to address this issue head on by giving tribes a much-needed seat at the table as cutting-edge, evidence-based early intervention and prevention strategies are developed. Far too often Native children and families are left behind, and we cannot allow that… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E42512C3-F698-4694-BC20-5F9C4095A4F3 | Heitkamp: Senate Passes Temporary Extension of Violence Against Women Act, but Long-term Renewal Needed | 2018-09-18 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today voted with a bipartisan majority in the Senate to extend the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) for two months to prevent it from expiring at the end of September. But she also called on Congress to quickly pass a long-term reauthorization to give certainty to victims of domestic violence and law enforcement agencies that depend on VAWA programs to crack down on abuse. Since serving as Attorney General for North Dakota in the 1990's, I've committed to never stop fighting to end domestic violence and protect victims of these horrible crimes, Heitkamp said. That's why VAWA was the first bill I cosponsored in the U.S. Senate in 2013 and ensured that provisions for landmark protections of Native women and tribal authority were included. For too long, crimes of domestic violence hid in the shadows and VAWA helped make major changes so abusers could no longer get away with such terrible actions. But there is still much work to do. Now, Congress must quickly pass a long-term extension of VAWA to give victims of abuse the resources they need to seek justice and recover from the trauma they've endured. Law enforcement agencies and victim service providers rely on VAWA to bring justice to criminals. It is also critical that we continue to increase the protections for Native women and look at expanding tribal authority where appropriate so that abusers can no longer escape punishment in Indian Country. VAWA wasthe first billHeitkamp cosponsored and helped pass as a U.S. Senator in 2013, building on her longstanding work to implement the first VAWA in the 1990s when she served as Attorney General for North Dakota. Since joining the U.S. Senate, one of Heitkamp's top priorities has been combating domestic violence and stopping those who seek to harm adults and children. Heitkamp authored a key provision in the 2013 VAWA reauthorization to address the continuing crisis of violence against women in tribal communities. The provision strengthens the existing programs and pro… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=3377F38C-9D1A-43A6-BB18-67F6314D2A12 | U.S. Senate Passes Comprehensive Legislation to Address Opioid Crisis, Includes Heitkamps Provisions to Address Childhood Trauma & Fight Addiction in Rural America | 2018-09-17 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Since Serving as ND's Attorney General, Senator Has Been Leading Efforts to Tackle the Long-Term Impacts of Substance Abuse and Trauma Among Children, Provide Additional Resources to Support ND Communities WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today voted with a bipartisan majority of the U.S Senate to pass comprehensive, bipartisan legislation to combat the ongoing, nationwide substance abuse crisis. The legislation includes provisions Heitkamp successfully fought for to address the ripple effects of North Dakota's overdose epidemic among children, families, and rural communities. Over the past few years, drug abuse and drug-related deaths have steeply risen across rural America. In North Dakota,drug-related deaths increased by nearly 400 percent from 2013 to 2016. And from 1999 to 2015,opioid deaths in rural America quadrupled among 18-25 year olds. Thebipartisan Opioid Crisis Response Actincludes key pieces from a billHeitkamp introduced to address and mitigate the detrimental impact exposure to trauma, like opioid and methamphetamines abuse, can have on children. Traumatic experiences such as those related to addiction can lead to severe health and behavioral complications that can impact children throughout their lives. Young people who experiencefour or moretraumatic eventsare three times more at risk of heart disease or lung cancer, while those who experiencesix or moretraumatic eventsare 30 times more likely to attempt suicide. The prevalence of addiction and overdoses in rural America has reached beyond crisis levels, said Heitkamp. This comprehensive package will provide significant resources to communities that urgently need assistance, including to North Dakotans suffering from addiction in Indian Country. Right now, we're witnessing an entire generation of American children who could be scarred for life due to the substance abuse they've witnessed in their families. That's why it's so important that this bipartisan bill also includes my provisions to mitigate the impacts of child… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=6B46902B-5435-4507-B6C0-03339E0B18C5 | Heitkamp Announces Federal Investment in New Town & Beach Waste Water Infrastructure | 2018-09-17 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced two federal grants totaling over $2,637,243 and $3,339,000 in two federal loans to support Beach and New Town that would make improvements to their sewage and waste water infrastructure to meet the communities growing needs. Basic city infrastructure needs must be met for communities across North Dakota to remain strong and keep everyone safe, said Heitkamp. These federal funds will help both New Town and Beach make improvements to their water and waste water infrastructure that will help these communities thrive. The federal funding will be distributed as follows: New Town: $2,330,000 in federal grant funding and a $2,857,000 federal loan will be used to make improvements to the city's lagoon that will help with continued disposal of sewage to meet population needs. Beach: $307,243 in federal grant funding and a $482,000 federal loan will help make waste water infrastructure improvements by installing a new master lift station and install about 4,000 feet of 8 inch force main to replace the city's aging water and waste water infrastructure. These federal funds are made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development's Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants program. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=B3A41D45-24C9-4B42-845E-680661C0FF5E | Heitkamp Statement on Escalation of Trade War | 2018-09-17 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today issued the following statement after the administration announced it is dramatically escalating its trade war, which is already hurting North Dakota's largest industries and has left North Dakota farmers without any soybean orders from China, which is usually the largest market for North Dakota soybeans. The reckless escalation of the administration's trade war is having serious consequences for rural America, which is already suffering from the uncertainty and low commodity prices caused by the disruptions to our markets, Heitkamp said. Many family farms are afraid they won't be able to pay the bills if this misguided trade war continues. Our ag economy, and the families whose livelihoods depend on it, cannot afford further disruption. There are smart ways to deal with China's cheating on trade but stepping on our farmers is not one of them. Heitkamp has been proactively fighting for smart trade policies to protect North Dakota. She recently outlined concerns to Secretary Perdue that the administration's trade war mitigation assistance for soybean farmers is inadequate because it doesn't take into account the increase in basis the cost of getting a crop to market that farmers are facing. Heitkamp also urged Perdue to consider more assistance for canola, wheat and corn growers, and to ensure FSA offices are adequately staffed to meet increased demand. Heitkamp recently introduced legislation that would take action to help mitigate some damage caused by retaliatory tariffs imposed on U.S. goods. It would direct the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to direct funds collected by the Treasury from tariffs on imported goods toward trade promotion programs that help U.S. farmers and ranchers, including the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD). The government has already collected over $3.5 billion from tariffs, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. In July, she introduced legislation to help farmers and ranchers recover losses… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=903D7806-FCE1-4EB6-9386-B983CC1F5E0E | To Stop Suicide in North Dakota, We Need All Hands on Deck | 2018-09-14 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | The ongoing mental health crisis in rural America is nothing short of an epidemic. On farmsteads, on reservations, in our schools, and in our homes, we are seeing an alarming uptick in those thinking about or attempting suicide. According to a recent study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, North Dakota saw a 58 percent increase in the rate of death by suicide between 1999 and 2016the largest statewide increase in the country. Additionally, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in North Dakota across all ages, as well as the 2nd leading cause of death for youth. Over the last few years, Cindy Miller has witnessed that disturbing trend firsthand in North Dakota. As the Executive Director of First Link an organization that answers phone calls on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Cindy has heard from a rapidly growing number of North Dakotans who feel they are alone, confused, or helpless. In 2016, First Link volunteers fielded just over 2,500 calls. But in 2017, they received more than 6,500 callsa 160 percent increase. These calls are more than just random figures. They are cries for help from our loved ones, neighbors, and colleagues. In a state where we pride ourselves on our willingness to lend a helping hand and take care of each other, why are so many feeling backed into a corner with nowhere to turn? We need to do a better job of pooling our resources, putting our heads together, and figuring out why this is happening. And we need to build a robust, long-term strategy in our communities that significantly lowers the number of North Dakotans we are losing to this preventable epidemic. On World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th, I held my Summit to Stop Suicide alongside over 100 fellow North Dakotans in West Fargo. My mission that day was to raise awareness about this crisis, provide support to survivors, and educate our friends and relatives about the prevalence of suicide in our towns. And to help in this effort, I gathered a panel of local, state, and nation… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=15F35D61-D2BE-40F0-BCE4-9111A7E2EAFC | Heitkamp Tours NDSU Soil Lab, Stresses Importance of Strong Conservation Title in 2018 Farm Bill | 2018-09-14 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Senator is Working to Preserve Strong Support for Conservation & Research in 2018 Farm Bill Negotiations FARGO, N.D. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today toured the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Soil Testing Lab with Howard G. Buffett to learn more about the innovative research NDSU is undertaking to improve soil conservation practices across North Dakota and rural America. As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Heitkamp fought for a strong, bipartisan Farm Bill which included a strong conservation title. As one of nine senators on the Farm Bill conference committee, Heitkamp is fighting against the effort in the House Farm Bill which narrowly passed with only partisan support to phase out the Conservation Stewardship Program, which supports soil health research and best practices. During the visit, Buffett a farmer, county sheriff, and businessman shared his perspective on the role of philanthropy in promoting sustainable agriculture practices and reducing poverty. One of the focuses of his Howard G. Buffett Foundation is to improve global food security by promoting adoption of conservation-based agricultural practices including no-till, cover crops, and nutrient management in the United States and the developing world. Buffett wrote a bestselling book, Forty Chances: Finding Hope in a Hungry World, about his experiences as a farmer and philanthropist working to combat hunger around the world. He is the son of Warren Buffett. With 90 percent of North Dakota's usable land dedicated to production agriculture, keeping our soils healthy is vital to the success of our state's economy, said Heitkamp. For decades, soil conversation has been an important aspect of our state's farming heritageand NDSU has played a major role in training the next generation of farmers in conservation methods that prevent over-usage, limit erosion, and mitigate the impacts of drought. Today, I got to show Mr. Buffetta champion of forward-thinking, sustainable farming practices some of NDSU's cutting-edge soi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=CE9B66D7-CF40-49C5-8F5C-DF05A9FD83C3 | Heitkamp Holds Roundtable Discussion on Addiction Crisis with Law Enforcement Officials and Health Care Professionals | 2018-09-14 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Heitkamp Has Been Working to Tackle the Long-Term Impacts of Substance Abuse and Trauma among Children, Provide Additional Resources to Support Communities FARGO, N.D. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today held a roundtable discussion on combatting the substance abuse and addiction crisis in North Dakota with community leaders, law enforcement officers, and health care professionals. Over the past few years, drug abuse and drug-related deaths have steeply risen across rural America. In North Dakota,drug-related deaths increased by nearly 400 percent from 2013 to 2016. And from 1999 to 2015,opioid deaths in rural America quadrupled among 18-25 year olds. At the Dakota Medical Foundation, Heitkamp gathered community leaders and advocates to discuss local efforts to decrease rates of substance abuse-related deaths and to recognize the toll that addiction is having in communities across North Dakota, including Fargo. Howard G. Buffett a philanthropist, county sheriff, and businessman joined Heitkamp to share his views on the negative effects of the opioid epidemic, particularly those he has witnessed during his time as a rural law enforcement official in Macon County, Illinois. Far too many families and towns in North Dakota have experienced the crippling effects of the raging addiction crisis. And our state's dedicated law enforcement and health care workers urgently need increased support and training to adequately tackle the range of problems caused by this scourge and to keep our communities strong and safe, said Heitkamp. To tackle the damaging impacts of opioids, methamphetamines, and other illicit drugs in our communities, I'm fighting in the Senate to bring more resources to the front lines while looking for new, innovative ways to address and limit the long-term consequences of a spiraling epidemic and providing wraparound comprehensive services to those suffering from addiction. Today's discussion was an important opportunity to hear from those who deal with this crisis every day, and I'll continu… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=D17BE7F4-7807-4B07-8607-392E1CFCC042 | Heitkamp Encourages High School Students to Apply for the Senate Youth Program | 2018-09-14 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | FARGO, N.D. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp is encouraging North Dakota high school students to apply for the United States Senate Youth Program that provides students with an in-depth experience of our nation's democracy during the week they spend in Washington, D.C. Heitkamp met with North Dakota's 2018 U.S. Senate Youth Delegates - Brandon Prichard of St. Mary's High School and Erica Solberg of Century High School both from Bismarck. Every year, two ambitious and motivated North Dakotans are selected as North Dakota's delegates to the U.S. Senate Youth Program, said Heitkamp. These high school students represent the best of their class and have proven they are committed to bettering their schools, communities, state, and country. I encourage students to apply before the October 15 deadline to be delegates in 2019. North Dakota's delegates have always shown the best of our state they are eager, passionate, and ready to learn and I hope students apply to take advantage of this opportunity. The U.S. Senate Youth Program is a competitive merit based program that was established in 1962 through a U.S. Senate Resolution to support the next generation's understanding of our nation's three branches of government and why it's important to be involved in our democracy. The U.S. Senate Youth Program awards two students from each state with a $10,000 scholarship and a week long experience in Washington, D.C. to experience our democracy in action. Students interested in applying must have their application in by October 15, 2018 and should reach out to Patricia Laubach at the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction by phone at (701)328-4525 or by e-mail at plaubach@nd.gov for application information. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=D8C1FF8C-5D83-46BF-ABF3-A478F7E7B5A8 | Heitkamp Announces Federal Investment in UTTC for Research | 2018-09-14 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | FARGO, N.D. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, announced a $2.6 million dollar federal grant to United Tribes Technical College (UTTC) to establish an Intertribal Research and Resource Center (IRRC) with the goal of addressing community needs and improve the sustainability of natural resources and agricultural sustainability in Indian Country. The tribal colleges and universities across North Dakota are important resources for students from across Indian Country to gain an education that will help them grow and succeed, said Heitkamp. UTTC in Bismarck is one of these important institutions that has proven to set students on the path to success with new research and development that takes place right on campus. These federal funds will support UTTC's efforts to establish a research center that will help tribal communities meet their needs. These federal funds are made available through the National Science Foundation's Tribal Colleges and Universities Program. This federal grant is expected to continue through 2023 with an additional $900,000 in federal funds expected to be made available. Heitkamp has been a staunch advocate for tribal colleges and universities. In May, Heitkamp worked to pass legislation that granted a waiver to UTTC allowing the school to continue to participate in the Federal Pell Grant Program which is critical for helping low-income students afford a higher education. Should UTTC have lost its ability to participate in the Pell Grant Program it would have significantly impacted their ability to operate. In February she led a bipartisan group of Senators to recognize the week of February 11, 2018 as National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week. This recognition highlights the unique and critically important role these institutions of higher education play in supporting students from Indian Country. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=3268B3A0-BB67-46D2-AF03-CD1EBC46B340 | Heitkamp Statement on Advancement of Dallas Carlsons Nomination to Serve as U.S. Marshal | 2018-09-13 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today issued the following statement after North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) Director Dallas Carlson's nomination to serve as U.S. Marshal for the District of North Dakota passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Carlson's nomination now moves to the full Senate for a vote. Dallas Carlson is a trusted public servant who has made it his life's mission to keep North Dakota families and communities strong and safe, Heitkamp said. I worked with Dallas during my time as Attorney General for North Dakota, when he was first starting out on the front lines of fighting crime at BCI. He has the integrity, ethics, and tenacity that are needed to enforce the law and hold criminals accountable, which is why I strongly advocated for his nomination to the U.S. Marshal post earlier this year. From human trafficking to illicit drugs, there are a wide range of law enforcement issues facing North Dakota right now, and Dallas has the skills and experience to get results to help fix them. Carlson was nominated to the U.S. Marshal post in March. Prior to serving as the Director of the North Dakota BCI, Carlson supervised drug investigations in Dickinson and worked as a special agent and then chief agent in the BCI's Criminal Division. Before joining the BCI, he first worked in law enforcement in 1977 as a Deputy Sherriff with the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office and then served in the Devils Lake and Mandan police departments. Carlson is a native of Warwick, North Dakota. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=36E37A47-2789-4641-BE84-5EE2202CAF70 | Heitkamp: Bipartisan Funding Bill Includes Major Wins for ND Servicemembers, Water Projects, & Energy Development | 2018-09-12 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Senator Successfully Pushed to Include Strengthened Funding for the VA Office of Rural Health, Allowing More Veterans to Access Affordable Care in their Communities WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today voted with a bipartisan majority of the U.S. Senate to pass a funding bill that includes big wins for North Dakota water projects, energy jobs, military installations, and veterans. The legislation is a compromise bill reached between the Senate and House. Since arriving in the U.S. Senate, I've fought to support hardworking families in rural America by making sure their communities remain strong and safeand this bill includes important funding that helps our towns receive the clean water they need, improves access to affordable health care for our rural veterans, and gives much-needed security to our state's energy workers, said Heitkamp. This bipartisan bill would improve support for our state's servicemembers by strengthening protection for the B-52s and ICBMs at Minot Air Force Base and providing funding to start a new National Guard training center in Fargo. And increased support in this bill for commonsense energy projects like carbon capture technology means that we're one step closer to securing a long-term, viable future for good-paying North Dakota energy jobs. In this bill, we also pushed back against proposed cuts to the Army Corps' budget, so that we can protect more homes and businesses in communities like Fargo-Moorhead from severe flooding events. The bipartisan bill to support energy, water, and military construction projects includes key provisions Heitkamp fought for to advance permanent flood protection, build new facilities on North Dakota's military installations, and promote an all-of-the-above energy strategy across the state, including: Flood Control and Water Infrastructure Supporting construction of flood protection projects in North Dakota through increased support for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The legislation rejects the President's proposed cut t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=44DFE9E6-830F-4D83-B958-81330284E519 | Heitkamp Announces Federal Investment in Bismarck & Dickinson Airports | 2018-09-12 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced two federal grants totaling over $3 million in federal funding for infrastructure improvements in Bismarck and Dickinson. Transportation infrastructure for a state as geographically large as North Dakota is key to keep every community connected, enable businesses to thrive, and make it possible for residents to travel, said Heitkamp. That can be achieved when we make investments in North Dakota's airports like this federal funding will do for the Bismarck and Dickinson airports. These federal funds are dispersed as follows: Bismarck Airport: $2,204,696 in federal funding to reconstruct part of the existing runway and taxiway. Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport, Dickinson: $1,000,000 in federal funding to extend the runway, construct an extension of the taxiway, and the acquisition of additional land. Heitkamp also announced $9,870,000 in federal funding to the Dickinson Airport last week for infrastructure improvements. This federal funding comes through the U.S. Department of Transportation. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E5360E06-3853-48A6-A74C-A542B967D81F | Heitkamp Looks Back & Ahead on Fourth Anniversary of Launch of her Strong & Safe Communities Initiative | 2018-09-12 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Since Senator Started her Initiative in 2014, Effort has Raised Awareness about Key Challenges in ND, Offered Ways to Help Address Many of them & Incorporated Newer Issues Facing the State to Seek Solutions Heitkamp's Initiative has Worked to Keep ND Communities Strong & Families Safe Long into the Future by Addressing Crime, Drugs, Trafficking & Other Safety Challenges WASHINGTON, D.C. On the fourth anniversary of the launch of her Strong & Safe Communities Initiative, U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced several milestones that have been reached and several more that remain on the horizon as she works to address emerging safety challenges in North Dakota. Heitkamp's Strong & Safe Communities Initiative is about tackling increases in crime, drugs, human trafficking, and cyber security and border security challenges by bringing a greater focus to keeping North Dakota's communities strong and families safe in their homes. First responder training and resources have also been a critical piece of Heitkamp's initiative, especially following the derailment of a crude oil train in Casselton in 2013. Working with community leaders across the state, Heitkamp has effectively worked to raise awareness about these issues in North Dakota and offered solutions to address them. She has held many meetings with community leaders to come up with solutions to these challenges, including hosting a statewide summit she convened with 150 community leaders from across the state, and a report she issued on the initiative. Through her Strong & Safe Communities Initiative, Heitkamp has also introduced and passed legislation in the U.S. Senate building off feedback from North Dakotans. For example, her RESPONSE Act, which became law in 2016, is helping to make sure first responders have access to the resources and training they need to handle hazardous incidents on the rails, like crude oil derailments. Her bipartisan bill to crack down on websites like Backpage.com that knowingly facilitate human traff… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=859AD302-0132-4C40-A84C-28B381E5515E | Heitkamp Announces Federal Funding To Help Stop Domestic Violence | 2018-09-11 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced $875,232 in federal funding to the North Dakota Department of Health to help bring an end to domestic violence by strengthening the criminal justice system for victims and making sure services are in place to help women recover. Domestic violence continues to plague too many people in North Dakota and across the country, said Heitkamp. Since my work to combat domestic violence in the 1990s as North Dakota's Attorney General, I've vowed to never stop fighting to protect victims and end this violence once and for all. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which authorizes these federal funds to help strengthen law enforcement efforts to combat domestic violence and supports victim services, will soon expire. Congress must come together to renew VAWA and make sure these critical programs and protections are continued. These federal funds are made available through the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Violence Against Women's Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors (STOP) Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program. This federal program is authorized by the VAWA that Heitkamp worked reauthorize in 2013 and was the first bill she cosponsored in the U.S. Senate. She also worked to implement the first VAWA in the 1990s when she was Attorney General for North Dakota. Heitkamp and Senator Sullivan (R-AK) recently announced that their bipartisan Pro Bono Work to Empower and Represent (POWER) Act was signed into law. Their bill will help provide access to pro bono legal services and information to victims of domestic and sexual violence victims. For victims of domestic, dating, or sexual violence legal assistance can make the difference as they try to get away and move forward with their lives. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=FAFC31BA-357E-4F06-9629-8076A439EBC4 | Heitkamp Releases New Podcast on Protecting the Northern Border | 2018-09-11 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today released the latest episode of her podcast, The Hotdish,' on the need to secure the Northern Border. In this episode, Heitkamp speaks with Mary Delaquis, who was on the front lines of securing North Dakota's busiest port of entry for 16 years as Pembina's Area Port Director. Then, Heitkamp talks to author Porter Fox, who traveled the Northern Border by canoe, car, freighter, and foot. Fox illustrates the vastness of the border and challenges we face to secure it in his book, Northland: A 4,000-Mile Journey Along America's Forgotten Border. The Hotdish is available on Spotify, iTunes and Simplecast. Current episodes are also available on Soundcloud. The border between the United States and Canada presents a unique national security challenge, Heitkamp said. While we must continue to address the security shortfalls on the Southern Border, we can't lose sight of what lies to the north a 5,500 mile long, largely remote border that sees the largest exchange of goods and people of any border in the world. That's why I worked on a bipartisan bill to require a comprehensive threat assessment of the border, which led the Department of Homeland Security to release an updated Northern Border strategy this past June. In this episode of The Hotdish, I speak with two people who have intimate knowledge of the Northern Border and the challenges we face in defending it. Their stories and experiences offer a captivating window into what makes the Northern Border unique, and why we must strategically defend it to keep our communities strong and safe. In June, Heitkamp announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a new strategic plan to tackle chronic and emerging security issues along the Northern Border. The new strategy flows froma comprehensive assessmentof the Northern Border and its challenges that was required by Heitkamp's bipartisan legislation, the Northern Border Security Review Act, which was signed into law in December 2016. The legislat… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=7429F84B-5F9A-4CDE-9AEB-53C5836BD289 | Heitkamp: Bureau of Reclamation Approves Central North Dakota Water Supply Project | 2018-09-10 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has released a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Central North Dakota Water Supply Project, an important step forward for a project that would help spur economic development in the region by supporting industries that need reliable sources of water. The Central North Dakota Water Supply project would provide water from the McClusky Canal for industrial purposes for Stutsman Rural Water District, Jamestown, Carrington, Central Plains Water District, and Tuttle and South Central Regional Water District. Last week, Heitkamp met with leaders of the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District to discuss the importance of moving the Central North Dakota Water Supply Project forward, and other water management issues facing North Dakota. She also helped facilitate a meeting between the Bureau of Reclamation and the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District to press for the FONSI. At our meeting with Garrison Diversion last week, we talked about the critical need to get this project moving forward in a way that supports every community in the region, Heitkamp said. Rural communities need infrastructure to attract industries that create jobs. Properly managing North Dakota's water resources and providing new infrastructure helps keep every community strong. Heitkamp has long been working to improve flood protection and access to clean water in rural communities in North Dakota and across the country.In May, Heitkamp announced $29.2 million in federal funding she helped to secure to expand and improve water supply infrastructure in North Dakota through the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Heitkamp pressed the commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation to provide significant resources for North Dakota to support rural water projects, including those that will now receive funds. Heitkamp helped secure $24.4 million for water infrastructure last year and $24.8 million in 2016 for rural water infrastructure improvements. L… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=F271394A-86D2-4959-BFB1-7201BB67B817 | Heitkamp Hosts Summit to Stop Suicide, Gathers Over 100 Statewide Leaders to Address Increasing ND Suicide Rate and Help Keep ND Communities Strong & Safe | 2018-09-10 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WEST FARGO, N.D. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today hosted her Summit to Stop Suicide, which brought together over 100 North Dakota community leaders, educators, law enforcement officers, farmers, veterans, advocates, health care professionals, and youth from across the state to discuss how to improve North Dakota's efforts to prevent deaths by suicide. Over the past several years, North Dakota and rural America have experienced a sharp increase in suicides. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of death by suicide jumped by 58 percent in North Dakota between 1999 and 2016 the largest statewide increase in the country. Currently, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in North Dakota across all ages, and the 2nd leading cause of death for youth. Heitkamp's summit featured panel discussions with national mental health experts, including leaders from the National Institute of Mental Health and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. After discussions on how to best tackle this public health emergency, Heitkamp facilitated comprehensive breakout sessions between experts and community leaders on the key topics of prevention, community engagement, survivor support, and preventing suicide for both youth and adults. Deaths by suicide have dramatically increased in towns, reservations, and farmsteads across our stateand that's why it's so important for local leaders to reexamine North Dakota's response to this growing public health threat, said Heitkamp. My Summit to Stop Suicide is a way to redouble our commitment to combating this crisis, and today I heard from health care workers, educators, advocates, law enforcement, and youth about new ideas and strategies that could prevent more loved ones from being lost to suicide. I'm so proud of the nationally-recognized activities of our North Dakota advocates to provide survivor support, raise awareness, and educate our neighbors about suicide. But we need to understand that prevention can't just be left to those who specia… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=0DAE21F2-5188-496E-961B-8DC6B0A5A60F | Heitkamp Announces Federal Investment in Williston & Dickinson Airports | 2018-09-07 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | BISMARCK, N.D. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced two federal grants totaling over $20 million in federal funding that will continue to support the new Basin International Airport in Williston and the Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport in Dickinson. Investing in airports throughout North Dakota keeps our rural communities strong and supports economic development throughout the state, said Heitkamp. I have been working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make sure the new Williston Airport receives the federal investments it needs to complete construction, and to support airports like Dickinson. These federal funds will help continue construction at the new Williston Airport and extend the runway in Dickinson. These federal funds are dispersed as follows: Williston: $10,758,110 in federal funding for continued support for airport construction. Dickinson: $9,870,000 in federal funding for efforts to extend the runway. The new Williston Airport has been a key transportation priority for Heitkamp. She has been advocating for the construction of the new airport in Williston that will meet the demands of the expanding region. In July, Heitkamp as part of her bipartisan efforts announced that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will maintain Williston Basin International Airport's international airport designation. In October 2016, Heitkamp attended the ground breaking ceremony for the new airport where she reinforced the need for continued and strong support for western North Dakota as it continues to grow. The ground breaking ceremony came after years of work. In April 2014, Heitkamp brought in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta to western North Dakota to see firsthand the impact the energy boom has had on the state's transportation infrastructure. Following up on this visit, Heitkamp urged him to approve the construction of a new airport for Williston and advocated for the funding to move forward on construction. In addition to the funding an… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=1F1EB839-BA7C-4483-A27A-C0B1A8EF89B2 | After Administration Threatens to Escalate Trade War, Heitkamp Pushes for Improvements to Trade Aid Package to Support North Dakota Farmers | 2018-09-07 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. After the president today threatened to escalate the administration's trade war, U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp urged U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to improve the aid package to farmers suffering from slumping commodity prices and an uncertain future for this season's crop. Heitkamp outlined concerns to Secretary Perdue that support for soybean farmers is inadequate because it doesn't take into account the increase in basis the cost of getting a crop to market that farmers have faced as a result of the trade war. Basis varies by region, and North Dakota farmers have seen their basis increase more than farmers in other regions. Heitkamp urged Secretary Perdue to consider regional variations in price and the widening basis for soybean farmers when calculating how much assistance to provide. While canola has not yet been hit with retaliatory tariffs, the price of canola is closely tied to the price of soybeans, and Heitkamp urged Secretary Perdue to make canola an eligible commodity for assistance due to the depressed prices farmers are facing. Heitkamp also expressed concerns that corn growers will be inadequately compensated for their losses. The farmer aid package proposes to compensate corn growers at one cent per bushel, much less that the decrease in price for a bushel of corn since June 1. Click here to read Heitkamp's letter to Secretary Perdue. Today's threat to escalate the trade war is a threat to North Dakota farmers. I've long pushed to hold China accountable for its trade violations, but we can't do it on the backs of hardworking North Dakotans, Heitkamp said. The administration acknowledged the damaging impact of its trade war and developed a package to provide some aid to our hurting farmers and ranchers, but more must be done to alleviate the pain North Dakota agriculture is feeling, which is what I pressed Secretary Perdue about today. Secretary Perdue has acknowledged that this aid won't make farmers whole. In many cases, it won't even come close. As f… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=39C79437-349D-402E-BA63-7329F8629DD9 | Heitkamp, Sullivan Bipartisan Bill to Protect Victims of Domestic Violence Signed into Law | 2018-09-07 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp along with Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) today announced that their bipartisan bill, the Pro Bono Work to Empower and Represent (POWER) Act, to help provide access to pro bono legal services and information to victims of domestic and sexual violence victims has been signed into law. Domestic violence continues to be a major problem in too many homes across North Dakota and around the country, said Heitkamp. Since my time as Attorney General for North Dakota in the 1990s, I have been working to treat it like the serious crime that it is while also working to make people more aware of what's happening, what services are needed and available, and how to stop it from happening in the first place. I have been on the front lines since day one on this issue, leading the implementation of the original Violence Against Women Act in North Dakota as attorney general. I have continued my fierce advocacy on this issue in the United State Senate, and the POWER Act continues to build upon this work by making sure information of free legal services are readily available to victim of domestic, dating, or sexual violence, especially for those in Indian Country who face staggering rates of sexual and domestic violence. Years ago I told a county sheriff that as long as people continue to beat and abuse their partners that I was going to continue working to try and stop it and I will continue to keep that promise by fighting for victims and pushing to arrest the cowards who commit these crimes. We must get serious about reducing the rates of sexual assault and domestic violence in Alaska and across the country,Senator Sullivan said. The statistics are horrific. Roughly 25 percent of American women will be victims of domestic assault in their lifetime. On average, every day in our country, three women are killed by a current or former partner. Research has shown that when abused victims are represented by an attorney, their ability to break out of the cycle of violence increases dramatic… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=B970D521-DD14-4A1C-B90E-3995A87DCBA7 | In U.S. Senate Hearing on Russia Sanctions, Heitkamp Calls for Tougher Enforcement & Smarter Strategy to Counter Russian Aggression | 2018-09-06 | 2018 | 2018-09 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today called on the administration to toughen its efforts to punish Russia for its ongoing threats against U.S. citizens, elections, businesses, and critical infrastructure. During a U.S. Senate Banking Committee hearing on the effectiveness of U.S financial and trade sanctions against Russia, Heitkamp questioned national security experts on how the United States can improve its use of sanctions to counter Russian efforts to destabilize U.S. institutions and divide western democracies. Additionally, she warned against a national security strategy that grants sanctions waivers to entities that could benefit the business interests of Putin-linked Russian oligarchs. Last month, Heitkamp pressed administration officials to reevaluate their sanctions strategy and urged them to closely coordinate with U.S. allies as they work to contain Russian interference and influence operations. Over the last few years, Russian foreign policy has aggressively violated the sovereignty of U.S. elections and the privacy of American companies and citizens and there's no sign that President Putin is backing down any time soon, said Heitkamp. Through state-run companies, nefarious social media accounts, and the spreading of disinformation, Putin has increased his willingness to threaten U.S. national security. In response, we need to increase our resolve to deter these activities while also preventing future cyberattacks on our elections and businesses. I've long said that our government needs to punish Russian bad actors, and we can't take our boot off the neck of those who benefit economically from Russian advances in Eastern Europe, Syria, or across the internet. We must take the appropriate steps to keep North Dakota communities strong and safe from the threat of Russian activities, and that must include a robust sanctions strategy and a redoubled commitment to strengthening our cooperation with our European allies. Heitkamp has long pushed for tough, smart national security policies … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |
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