Press releases
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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619 rows where party = "Republican", state = "ND" and year = 2023 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.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-continues-working-to-ensure-usps-fixes-mail-and-newspaper-delivery-issues-in-north-dakota-receives-commitment-to-address-dickinson-delivery-issue-minot-box-repairs | Hoeven Continues Working to Ensure USPS Fixes Mail & Newspaper Delivery Issues in North Dakota, Receives Commitment to Address Dickinson Delivery Issue, Minot Box Repairs | 2023-12-28 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven Continues Working to Ensure USPS Fixes Mail & Newspaper Delivery Issues in North Dakota, Receives Commitment to Address Dickinson Delivery Issue, Minot Box Repairs Senator Calls on USPS Meet with Communities before Moving Forward with Processing Changes ***Click here for Hoeven’s letter to USPS. Click here and here for USPS’s responses to Hoeven.*** BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven continued his efforts to ensure that the United States Postal Service (USPS) is fixing mail and newspaper delivery issues in North Dakota, and again called on the Postal Service meet with communities in the state before moving forward with mail processing changes. “From receiving the local newspaper to refilling prescriptions, paying bills, and sending packages to family and friends during the holiday season, our residents rely on the essential services provided by USPS,” said Hoeven. “We continue working to ensure that USPS is fixing delivery issues and at the same time have reiterated our concerns with proposed changes to mail processing in the state. USPS must meet with the impacted communities to answer any questions or concerns North Dakotans may have about the proposed change before moving forward with any processing changes.” Hoeven has repeatedly raised concerns regarding delayed delivery of mail, packages and newspapers, as well as concerns about proposed changes to mail processing facilities, to USPS officials including, Director of Midwest Processing Operations Kathy Hand and Minnesota/North Dakota District Manager Angela Bye. In response to Hoeven, the USPS: Committed to ensure that local newspapers are not sent to Fargo for processing but rather remain within their respective communities for prompt delivery. Committed to address delivery issues, particularly with mail and local newspapers, that are concentrated in an area located in downtown Dickinson. Committed to repair all USPS-owned cluster box units (CBUs) in Minot, North Dakota no later than January 5. -###- | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:56:20Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-nifa-awards-262500-to-ndsu-to-empower-women-leaders-in-agribusiness-education | Sen. Cramer: NIFA Awards $262,500 to NDSU to Empower Women Leaders in Agribusiness Education | 2023-12-21 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded $262,500 to North Dakota State University to address the shortage of experts in agricultural management and economics. It will also empower women and underrepresented groups in the agriculture and food production sector. These funds are part of a larger investment of $3.2 million in Food and Ag Sciences National Needs Graduate and Post-grad Fellowship Grants. NIFA’s National Needs Fellowship program trains students pursuing masters and doctoral degrees and provides additional education for the next generation of policy makers, researchers, and educators in the food and agricultural sciences. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-colleagues-call-on-dol-to-utilize-schedule-a-shortage-occupation-list-address-workforce-shortages | Sen. Cramer, Colleagues Call on DOL to Utilize Schedule A Shortage Occupation List, Address Workforce Shortages | 2023-12-20 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined his colleagues in a letter to Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su, encouraging the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to use its Schedule A Shortage Occupation list as a tool to address the workforce shortages our country is facing in critical high-skill industries, including Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math occupations (STEM) and professional healthcare occupations. Established in 1965, the Schedule A Shortage Occupation List was created to simplify the process of hiring international talent. Occupations on the Schedule A list may be filled by immigrants sponsored for employment-based green cards without their sponsor being required to obtain a permanent labor certification. The list has not been updated since 2005 and currently includes only two professions—professional nurses and physical therapists—failing to meet evolving workforce needs. Since its creation, the Schedule A list has included a variety of high-skill occupations, including positions in healthcare, scientific research, advanced manufacturing, and more. The senators explained vacancies in these high-skill industries threaten the U.S. national security and readiness. “While this undoubtedly points to a need for greater investment in our domestic STEM and healthcare workforce, which we look forward to working with your agency to address, there remains a significant need for individuals who can fill these gaps now,” the senators wrote. “Lengthy processing delays at the Department of Labor prevent international professionals from being part of the solution. In September 2023, your agency reported the average processing time for PERM labor certification applications had reached 326 days. If an audit of the application is performed, the average rises to 489 days.” “For too long, unnecessary red tape has prevented skilled immigrants from helping us fill vacancies and maintain U.S. competitiveness in vital industries. The Department of Labor has tools at its disposal to address some of these cha… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-colleagues-condemn-inaction-of-un-regarding-hamas-sexual-violence-against-women | Sen. Cramer, Colleagues Condemn Inaction of UN Regarding Hamas’ Sexual Violence Against Women | 2023-12-20 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined a bipartisan letter led by U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) to Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), condemning the response to Hamas’ widespread sexual violence against women in Israel on October 7, 2023. The senators also called for the immediate launch of an independent investigation into sexual violence committed by Hamas. “As multiple UN Security Council Resolutions affirm, the use of sexual violence is a war crime under international law. Hamas’s premeditated campaign of systematic sexual violence on October 7 clearly meets this standard,” the senators wrote. “Given that the Commission of Inquiry (COI) has a history of bias and unfairly singling out Israel, we urge you to move swiftly to seek the establishment of an independent fact-finding effort through a separate mechanism, tasked with collecting testimonies from survivors and witnesses of Hamas’s sexual violence. An independent investigation is a necessary step to hold perpetrators accountable, support survivors, and provide justice for victims.” “The UN’s delay in denouncing Hamas’s sexual violence and rape on October 7 is a moral failure,” the senators continued. “Tasking the one-sided COI to investigate these atrocities undermines the effort’s credibility, creates the strong potential for biased outcomes, and provides no measure of justice for the victims and survivors. In addition to holding UN Women’s leadership accountable for their weeks-long failure to condemn sexual violence committed by Hamas, we call on you to immediately launch a full and independent investigation into Hamas’ brutal campaign of sexual violence committed against Israeli women. We thank you for your attention to this matter and look forward to your response.” The letter was cosigned by Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Susan Collins (R-ME), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Katie Boyd Britt (R-AL), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), James Risch (R-ID), Maggi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-epa-awards-nearly-100000-to-safetyspect-inc-in-grand-forks | Sen. Cramer: EPA Awards Nearly $100,000 to SafetySpect, Inc. in Grand Forks | 2023-12-20 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced an award of $99,093 through its Small Business Innovation Research program to SafetySpect, Inc., a biotechnology company located in Grand Forks, North Dakota. This funding will go towards the development of a device which will establish shelf-life for red meat, allowing management of storage, transportation, and dynamic pricing of food close to expiration. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-faa-awards-890535-to-minot-international-airport-for-drainage-improvements | Sen. Cramer: FAA Awards $890,535 to Minot International Airport for Drainage Improvements | 2023-12-20 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced an award of $890,535 to the Minot International Airport to complete the final phase of 9,000 feet of drainage improvements. This project installs 17,000 feet of drainage upgrades as recommended by a Wildlife Hazard Management Plan to reduce wildlife attractants. These funds will be administered through the FAA’s Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) Program, which was established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The AIG program provides funding to airports for modernization and safety projects. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-hhs-awards-more-than-15-million-for-health-care-services | Sen. Cramer: HHS Awards More Than $1.5 Million for Health Care Services | 2023-12-20 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK – The U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded a total of $1,501,596 to the Northland Health Partners Community in Turtle Lake, North Dakota. This grant is funded through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Health Center Cluster grant program, which provides funding to community health centers across the United States. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-nifa-awards-200000-to-nueta-hidatsa-sahnish-college | Sen. Cramer: NIFA Awards $200,000 to Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College | 2023-12-20 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced the award of $200,000 to Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, a tribal community college in New Town, North Dakota. The award will go towards the advancement of NHS College’s existing extension program objectives by creating capacity to extend services in remote and underserved tribal segments on the Fort Berthold Reservation. This includes offering informal equine education, community equine activities, therapeutic riding, and expanding the capacity and reach of NHS College’s Agriculture Department recruitment efforts for equine education. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/-sen-cramer-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-address-lack-of-accountability-transparency-within-atfs-classification-review-process | Sen. Cramer, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Address Lack of Accountability, Transparency Within ATF’s Classification Review Process | 2023-12-19 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – Following rising concerns over the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms’ (ATF) classification review process, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined his colleagues in introducing the ATF Accountability Act of 2023. Among other provisions, the legislation will establish an appeals process to classification reviews, allowing gun manufacturers to challenge classification decisions they believe to harm businesses or violate the Second Amendment. The existing classification review determines whether a particular firearm is regulated by the National Firearms Act, shaping the manufacturing, sale, and possession of various firearms and related items. The ATF's approach to this process lacks transparency, often issuing decisions and justifications to manufacturers through private correspondence with little options for recourse. "Ensuring fair administrative procedures is vital for law-abiding gun owners. The Biden administration's use of crushing regulatory tactics, like the ATF's secretive classification process, has deprived citizens' constitutional right to bear arms and created uncertainty for manufacturers,” said Cramer. “We need to ensure transparency within the ATF, promote timely access to classification decisions, and fix the absence of an appeal process for manufacturers facing classification errors." The ATF Accountability Act of 2023 is supported by the Firearms Regulatory Accountability Coalition and backed by the National Rifle Association, further highlighting its importance to the firearms community. Senator Cramer has been vocal about the constitutional right to bear arms. In November, he co-led a bicameral amicus brief with U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) to uphold the rights of all Americans to keep and bear arms, especially veterans and disabled individuals who need assistance to exercise their rights. In June, he issued a statement after voting for a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to block the ATF from reclassifying pistols with stabilizing braces as short-barrele… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-joins-introduction-of-atf-accountability-act | Hoeven Joins Introduction of ATF Accountability Act | 2023-12-19 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven Joins Introduction of ATF Accountability Act Legislation Would Protect 2nd Amendment Against Federal Overreach, Provide Transparency on ATF Rulings WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven joined Senator Mike Braun (R-Ind.) in introducing legislation to provide transparency on rulings made by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and establish a formal appeals process. Currently: The ATF engages in a secretive classification review process to determine whether a particular firearm is regulated by the National Firearms Act. Justifications for decisions are often only made available to manufacturers in private correspondence, creating uncertainty for both gun-owning Americans and firearm manufacturers. Contrary to regular administrative procedure, gun manufacturers have no way to appeal if they believe that a classification decision was reached in error or is not reflective of a comprehensive review. Accordingly, the ATF Accountability Act: Creates an appeals process for firearm classification or legal status determinations made by the ATF, with specific timeframe requirements. Permits gun manufacturers to make appeals to the Director of Industry Operations with jurisdiction, after which, the appeal is directed to an administrative law judge. “Our legislation would better protect the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans from federal overreach and provide an important check on the ATF’s classification process,” said Senator Hoeven. “American gun owners and manufacturers have been left in the dark for far too long with closed-door rule changes by the ATF,” said Senator Braun. “Americans exercising their Second Amendment rights shouldn’t be the last to know the classification status of firearms, or what licenses or tax stamps they need to avoid running afoul of the law. The ATF needs accountability and transparency, which this bill accomplishes.” In addition to Hoeven and Braun, the legislation is cosponsored by Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Cra… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:56:20Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/-sen-cramer-colleagues-raise-concerns-over-the-basel-iii-endgame-proposal | Sen. Cramer, Colleagues Raise Concerns Over the Basel III Endgame Proposal | 2023-12-18 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined his colleagues in a letter to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, Vice Chair Michael Barr, and Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu, expressing concerns over the impacts of proposed capital requirements for mortgage loans. The mortgage capital requirements in the Basel III Endgame proposal would increase borrowing costs and hinder families from achieving homeownership. The senators called on regulators to adopt the Endgame mortgage capital requirements based on loan-to-value ratio, drop the 20% surcharge imposed by the proposal, restore appropriate credit for private mortgage insurance, and reconsider the impact of the operational risk component on mortgage securitization markets for agency and non-agency borrowers. “The U.S. bank regulators played a central role in the development of these requirements through multiple administrations. The Endgame mortgage capital requirements appropriately provide a more granular treatment of mortgage credit risk exposures that are empirically derived and defensible, whereas, your proposal does the opposite,” the senators wrote. The letter notes the proposal does not adopt the Endgame mortgage capital requirements, and instead contemplates adding a significant surcharge to these requirements. “We strongly encourage you to carefully consider all of these recommendations, along with the various stakeholder comments you receive with an eye to maintaining a deep, liquid, and competitive market for mortgages, in which banks can prudently participate in helping American homeowners achieve the dream of sustainable homeownership,” the senators concluded. The letter was led by U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN). Additional cosigners include U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), JD Vance (R-OH), Katie Boyd Britt (R-AL), Michael Rounds (R-SD), and Mike Crapo (R-ID). | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-north-dakotas-dapl-lawsuit-against-feds-ordered-to-proceed | Sen. Cramer: North Dakota’s DAPL Lawsuit Against Feds Ordered to Proceed | 2023-12-16 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK – This week, U.S. District Judge Daniel M. Traynor issued an order stating the federal government will have to face North Dakota's claims at trial for $38 million in emergency response costs after protestors attempted to block the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) project in 2016 and 2017. Judge Traynor again ruled the federal government owed a “duty of care” to North Dakota. North Dakota filed a lawsuit in 2019 against the federal government, seeking damages for emergency response costs and argued the Obama administration failed to control protests after allowing protestors to unlawfully “set up shop” on federal land. Additionally, the lawsuit claims the federal government violated a “nondiscretionary duty by failing to follow its mandatory special use permitting process.” "Judge Traynor’s ruling is further confirmation of what North Dakotans have known all along: the federal government should be held responsible for inviting and harboring DAPL protestors and the millions of dollars of damage they caused,” U.S. Senator Cramer (R-ND) said. “These reckless, uncontrolled protesters have no respect for the rule of law, and there must be accountability. It is only right the government compensate North Dakota for the destruction it caused to our citizens.” According to the order, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers indicated it issued a permit and sent a letter informing an official from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe it had established a free speech zone which allowed protesters to gather. However, the process was abandoned, and a permit was never issued. In his order, Judge Traynor stated while the Court has determined as a matter of law the governing duty owed by the U.S. to North Dakota, “resolution of the question of duty is wrapped up in the foreseeability of harm question, which is inherently factual in nature to be resolved at trial.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-statement-on-judges-order-ensuring-north-dakotas-dapl-protest-damages-lawsuit-can-proceed | Hoeven Statement on Judge’s Order Ensuring North Dakota’s DAPL Protest Damages Lawsuit Can Proceed | 2023-12-16 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven Statement on Judge’s Order Ensuring North Dakota’s DAPL Protest Damages Lawsuit Can Proceed BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after U.S. Federal Judge Daniel Traynor issued an order rejecting the federal government’s motion for summary judgement in North Dakota’s lawsuit claiming damages from the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) protests. The state is seeking $38 million to cover its emergency response costs resulting from the federal government negligence during the protests. This comes in addition to the $10 million that Hoeven secured in 2017 as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee to help reimburse the state. “The federal government’s refusal to enforce the law and properly police illegal activity occurring on federal lands during the DAPL protests resulted in significant costs to the state, above and beyond the $10 million that we secured to reimburse these expenses,” said Hoeven. “We appreciate Judge Traynor’s continued insistence that the lawsuit be allowed to proceed, helping to ensure accountability for federal officials who neglected their responsibilities during these protests.” Hoeven has been working to provide certainty for DAPL’s operations, which are critical to North Dakota and the Three Affiliated Tribes’ energy industry. The senator has repeatedly pressed U.S. Army Corps officials to complete the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process as quickly as possible, with the draft EIS having been issued in September. Hoeven also worked to ensure DAPL’s continued operation while the Corps completes the court-ordered review. -###- | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:56:20Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-working-to-keep-the-farm-in-the-farm-bill-outlines-key-agriculture-priorities-at-farmers-union-annual-meeting | Hoeven Working to Keep The Farm in the Farm Bill, Outlines Key Agriculture Priorities at Farmers Union Annual Meeting | 2023-12-16 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven Working to Keep The Farm in the Farm Bill, Outlines Key Agriculture Priorities at Farmers Union Annual Meeting BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today addressed the North Dakota Farmers Union annual meeting, where he outlined key priorities that he is working to include in the next Farm Bill. As a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and the ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, Hoeven has been gathering input from North Dakota producers and working to secure enhancements for the nation’s farm policy, including: Maintaining and strengthening crop insurance, the primary risk management tool for many producers. Improving the affordability of higher levels of coverage will better enable producers to weather natural disasters and reduce the need for ad-hoc disaster assistance. Ensuring adequate access to credit by passing his legislation to modernize Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan limits as part of the Farm Bill. Updating and improving the counter-cyclical safety net, including the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. Strengthening livestock disaster programs, including the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), the Livestock Forage Program (LFP) and the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP). Hoeven is sponsoring legislation, which he is working to include in the Farm Bill, to better align coverage between LFP and ELAP and make these improvements permanent. Make sure programs are voluntary and farmer-friendly, instead of one-size-fits-all, to reduce the regulatory burden on producers. “As we continue to negotiate our nation’s agriculture policy, my top priority is keeping the farm in the Farm Bill,” said Hoeven. “In the meantime, we’ve provided stability and predictability for our producers by passing a year-long extension of the current Farm Bill. That gives us time to ensure we pass the strongest bill possible, making needed improvements to crop insurance, the counter-cyclical safety net, loan programs and livestock … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:56:20Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/12/15/2023/sen-cramer-rail-companies-issue-status-reports-on-grain-car-backlog | Sen. Cramer: Rail Companies Issue Status Reports on Grain Car Backlog | 2023-12-15 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced BNSF Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) publicly filed weekly grain backlog status updates as required by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB). A summary of the reporting data specific to North Dakota from the last 10 weeks is below. Following STB’s April 2022 hearing on “Urgent Issues in Freight Rail Service,” BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway, and Union Pacific submitted service recovery plans, which identified actions to improve service and metrics to track progress toward such improvements. On June 3, 2022, the STB started requiring BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway, and Union Pacific to file service progress reports further explaining efforts to correct service deficiencies. On June 15, 2022, the STB started requiring all Class I railroads to report employment data. The STB extended the initial six-month reporting period for weekly performance and employment data until December 31, 2023. It has since modified CSX's reporting requirements to exempt the railroad from weekly progress reports, as it consistently meets the STB's service improvement targets. Grain Car Backlog Status Report: Click here to access the data. Background: In May 2022, Senator Cramer led 20 colleagues in a letter urging the STB to ensure reliable, consistent rail service for American industries and shippers. “We are very concerned over the significant rail service disruptions occurring throughout the U.S. freight rail network. Reports from rail customers, including our manufacturers, farmers, ranchers, and energy producers, indicate reliable rail service is not being provided in many situations,” wrote the senators. The letter also outlines concerns and issues raised by customers and labor organizations at STB’s April hearing on “Urgent Issues in Freight Rail Service” from agricultural producers and grain shippers unable to get empty railcars leading to significant delays in delivering commodities to energy produc… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-fema-awards-more-than-15-million-to-mountrail_-williams-electric-cooperative | Sen. Cramer: FEMA Awards More Than $15 Million to Mountrail - Williams Electric Cooperative | 2023-12-15 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded a total of $15,888,022.70 in federal funding to Mountrail - Williams Electric Cooperative for electric distribution repairs as a result of a severe winter storm and flooding which caused ice accumulation between April 22 and May 25, 2022. Damages from the storm and flood include utility poles, transformers, crossarms, assemblies, conductors, and associated components. “Last year’s spring storms caused severe damage and power outages for over 10,000 residents throughout North Dakota,” said U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND). “This award will help cover some of the costs Mountrail - Williams Electric Cooperative incurred to make much needed repairs after the spring storm. I appreciate FEMA’s attention to this matter and its willingness to work with North Dakotans.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-usda-rural-development-awards-84-million-for-projects-in-north-dakota | Sen. Cramer: USDA Rural Development Awards $8.4 Million for Projects in North Dakota | 2023-12-15 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development awarded a total of $8,470,000 to the following programs and initiatives: $6,560,000 to the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians to replace and repair the existing wastewater collection system serving a portion of the city of Belcourt, North Dakota $352,000 to remove and replace concrete at Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College $352,000 to Turtle Mountain Community College to remove and replace the current concrete $352,000 to Sitting Bull College to purchase and install seating for their outdoor classroom and engineering/architecture fees $352,000 to Cankdeska Cikana Community College to make improvements, including heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units repair and replace in the daycare classrooms; replace flooring in the student services center, carpentry wing, and adult education center; roof repairs above nursing station; and purchase and install a surge protector for the technology wing $352,000 to United Tribes Technical College to finance street improvements $50,000 to Rebuilding Together to provide funding to four single-family occupied homes $50,000 to Red River Regional Council to provide home repairs to two single-family occupied homes in Nelson County $50,000 to the North Central Planning Council to replace roofs and windows for two multifamily housing buildings, in the city of Maddock, North Dakota. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-introduces-legislation-to-improve-security-at-va-facilities-help-ensure-safety-of-patients-and-staff | Hoeven Introduces Legislation to Improve Security at VA Facilities, Help Ensure Safety of Patients & Staff | 2023-12-15 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven Introduces Legislation to Improve Security at VA Facilities, Help Ensure Safety of Patients & Staff WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven this week introduced the VA Medical Center Security Report Act, legislation led by Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) to address security challenges at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities. Specifically, the bill would direct the VA to study and report to Congress on the following issues impacting VA Medical Centers and other sites under the jurisdiction of VA Police: The type and frequency of criminal activity experienced at VA facilities; The number of vacant positions for VA police officers; and The availability and adequacy of equipment, resources and training for VA police officers, among other priorities. “Our veterans, their families and the staff that serve them deserve to have a safe environment at VA facilities,” said Senator Hoeven. “Our bill is about identifying security risks, particularly at facilities that have seen an increase in incidents, and helping ensure law enforcement have the tools they need to keep our VA medical centers, clinics and other facilities secure.” “I have heard from VA providers in Kansas about the security challenges they are facing that could jeopardize the safety and security of veterans seeking care at VA facilities and VA’s health care workforce,” said Senator Moran. “This legislation will help VA law enforcement investigate and report on those challenges so that they can be addressed to make certain veterans and VA staff have a safe environment to work in and receive the health care they have earned.” “Our veterans and dedicated VA staff deserve safe conditions when they seek care and work at VA Medical Centers,” said Senator Blumenthal. “This bipartisan, bicameral measure ensures the VA has the resources to review security challenges and address them to safeguard these essential facilities.” In addition to Hoeven, Moran and Blumenthal, the legislation was cosponsored by Senators Jac… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:56:20Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-colleagues-call-on-epa-to-reconsider-flawed-methane-reporting-rule-proposal | Sen. Cramer, Colleagues Call on EPA to Reconsider Flawed Methane Reporting Rule Proposal | 2023-12-14 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined his colleagues on the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee in writing a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan, calling for the agency to reconsider its August 1, 2023 proposed rule on methane emissions reporting. This proposed rule, more commonly known as “subpart W” of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP), excessively increases the tax burden on North Dakota’s energy producers under the new Methane Emissions Reduction Program (MERP) established in the Inflation Reduction Act. The letter states EPA’s proposed subpart W revisions “blatantly disregard and overstep even the partisan mandates of the statute as enacted” and will “excessively increase the tax burden on American energy under the new MERP.” “The proposal would not only radically expand the scope of emissions required to be reported by each facility under the GHGRP, but also unduly expand the number of facilities that are covered by subpart W and thus liable for the methane tax,” the senators wrote. “If finalized as proposed, it is likely that the revisions would artificially overestimate U.S. methane emissions.” This rule makes it more difficult and expensive to produce, transport, and consume American energy, and inevitably passes these costs on to consumers. “The EPA must significantly revise the proposal to establish a pathway to allow every facility subject to reporting under subpart W the option of using demonstrated empirical methods to calculate their liability for the methane tax as an alternative to previous emission factors, without undue preference for a particular methodology,” the senators continued. The letter was led by U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Ranking Member of the EPW Committee. Additional cosigners include U.S. Senators Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK). | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-us-department-of-energy-awards-up-to-350-million-for-project-tundra | Sen. Cramer: U.S. Department of Energy Awards Up To $350 Million for Project Tundra | 2023-12-14 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded $350 million for the development of Project Tundra, one of the world’s largest carbon capture projects located near Center, North Dakota. These funds will be distributed through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s (IIJA) Carbon Capture Demonstration Projects Program, which supports the development of community-informed integrated carbon capture, transport, and storage projects. “North Dakota is a global leader in the deployment of carbon capture solutions. Today’s announcement is another major win from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for our state,” said Senator Cramer, member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee. “Congratulations to Minnkota. Once Project Tundra is completed, it will be a major feather in the cap for North Dakota’s innovative energy system, keeping miners on the job while putting clean, reliable electricity on the grid.” Project Tundra is designed to capture up to 4 million metric tons of CO2 annually from the Milton R. Young Station, a lignite coal-based power plant. The CO2 would then be safely stored in geologic formations, roughly a mile underground. While construction of the project is anticipated to begin in 2024, the facility’s commercial operation is set to begin in 2028. Project Tundra is being developed by Minnkota Power Cooperative, TC Energy, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kiewit. Senator Cramer has vocally supported DOE’s research and development appropriations for CCUS technologies. In June, he announced Project Tundra entered into the final stage of development and congratulated the effort to scale up carbon capture in North Dakota. In May, the North Dakota delegation wrote a letter of support in Minnkota Power Cooperative’s Project Tundra Community Benefits Plan. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-secures-350-million-doe-grant-to-advance-project-tundra | Hoeven Secures $350 Million DOE Grant to Advance Project Tundra | 2023-12-14 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven Secures $350 Million DOE Grant to Advance Project Tundra WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today announced he has helped secure $350 million in federal funding for Project Tundra, a carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) project on a traditional coal-fired power plant. Project Tundra is led by Minnkota Power Cooperative and partners TC Energy, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kiewit. Hoeven has been working to advance Project Tundra to provide a way forward for the state’s coal-fired electric industry. The senator led the North Dakota delegation in outlining the benefits of the project to Department of Energy (DOE). Today’s funding is in addition to the $43 million in federal funding Hoeven previously helped secure for the project, as well as loan guarantees and the 45Q tax credit necessary to make the CCUS projects commercially viable. “Project Tundra is a vital component to the future of our coal-fired electric industry. North Dakota has led the way in reducing SOx, NOx and mercury emissions, and now with Project Tundra, we’re leading the technology development of carbon capture and storage on a traditional coal-fired power plant. We started working on this in 2008 and are one of only two places in the country that can do it,” said Hoeven. “This federal investment along with the 45Q tax credit we have put in place will enable Minnkota and its partners to advance this project to help ensure the next generation of coal-fired power is here today and for future generations.” Today’s funding is awarded through DOE’s Carbon Capture Demonstration Projects Program. -###- | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:56:20Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-shaheen-introduce-status-act-to-establish-permanent-air-guard-tuition-assistance-program | Hoeven, Shaheen Introduce STATUS Act to Establish Permanent Air Guard Tuition Assistance Program | 2023-12-14 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven, Shaheen Introduce STATUS Act to Establish Permanent Air Guard Tuition Assistance Program Senators Worked to Establish, Fund Air Guard FTA Pilot Program WASHINGTON – Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) this week introduced legislation to establish a permanent federal tuition assistance (FTA) program benefitting Air National Guard members. The Air Guard Standardizing Tuition Assistance to Unify the Services (STATUS) Act requires the Secretary of the Air Force to provide tuition assistance to members of the Air National Guard, consistent with the program available to the Army National Guard. The legislation is supported by the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS). “Our Air National Guard provides invaluable service to communities across the nation, and also performs critical missions alongside their active-duty counterparts,” said Hoeven. “Our legislation would provide drill status Air Guard members with the same educational benefits as those serving in the Army National Guard. With the recruiting challenges facing our military, it’s vital that we have a strong tuition assistance program in place to help our Air Guard attract and retain the best and brightest.” “All those serving in the Air National Guard deserve access to the educational benefits they deserve so we can continue attracting and retaining elite talent,” said Shaheen. “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation that would help make tuition more affordable and ensure that the Air National Guard has access to the same educational benefits as the Army National Guard.” “When an individual joins the National Guard, they invest in our national security. In return, as a small token of our gratitude, we invest in their future through federal tuition assistance,” said retired Brig. Gen. J. Roy Robinson, NGAUS president. “We must equally provide for our Soldiers and our Airmen. This bill corrects a long-standing gap in National Guard benefits and will empower our Airmen to reach new heights in knowled… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:56:20Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/-sen-cramer-fema-awards-16-million-to-spirit-lake-tribe | Sen. Cramer: FEMA Awards $1.6 Million to Spirit Lake Tribe for Flood Protection, Interior Drainage Scoping | 2023-12-13 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded a total of $1,620,000 to the Spirit Lake Tribe in North Dakota. This award will allow the Spirit Lake Tribe to develop the engineering and technical studies needed to support a future mitigation project application to benefit the community of St. Michael. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-colleagues-call-on-president-to-enforce-sanctions-on-iranian-steel-exports-oil-sales | Sen. Cramer, Colleagues Call on President to Enforce Sanctions on Iranian Steel Exports, Oil Sales | 2023-12-13 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), joined his colleagues in sending three letters to President Biden, calling for the enforcement of sanctions on Iranian steel exports and oil sales. The letters were sent weeks after Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israel. The first letter, led by U.S. Senator Katie Boyd Britt (R-AL), implores the President to target Iran’s steel and metal industries by enforcing all direct sanctions on Iran and secondary sanctions on other countries who seek economic engagement with them. In September 2023, the World Steel Association announced Iran is the 10th largest steel producer in the world. “In 2020, the United States sanctioned Iran’s metals industries and steel producers, massively impacting their exports the following year. The enforcement of these sanctions decreased Iranian steel exports from 9 million metric tons in 2020 to 4.2 million tons in 2021,” the senators wrote. “However, Iranian steel exports rebounded to 10 million tons in 2022. This correlates to the United States reengaging with Iran to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), along with a decrease in enforcement of existing sanctions by the Treasury Department.” “Sanctions enforcement, when executed properly, is an effective tool against regimes that do not share our values and, as in Iran’s case, have a proven track record of sponsoring terrorism. In this instance, relaxing sanctions enforcement resulted in economic enrichment for the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism,” the senators continued. Additional cosigners include U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-SC), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Marco Rubio (R-FL), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mike Braun (R-IN), John Boozman (R-AR), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ron Johnson (R-WI), John Kennedy (R… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/strong-bipartisan-national-defense-authorization-act-passes-congress-securing-major-wins-for-north-dakota | Strong, Bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act Passes Congress, Securing Major Wins for North Dakota | 2023-12-13 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | ***Click here to download video and here for audio.*** WASHINGTON – Today, the Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) with a vote of 87 to 13. For 62 years in a row, Congress has prioritized and passed a National Defense Authorization Act, ensuring our troops have the necessary equipment and resources they need to carry out their missions. This year’s bill fully funds nuclear modernization efforts, supports efforts to develop increased intelligence capabilities, grows the Space Force, and authorizes multiple North Dakota military projects. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), was appointed to the NDAA Conference Committee which reconciles the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill before final passage. “From our Air Force bases to our guard and reserve components, North Dakota has contributed mightily to our first constitutional responsibility: the common defense of the nation,” Senator Cramer said. “This bill makes critical investments in the wellbeing of our troops and their families, while remaining mission-focused and pushing back against political distractions like DEI and climate change reporting. It reflects our state’s legacy of service and prioritizes its future role in the defense of the nation.” The FY24 NDAA provides for the national defense of the United States by authorizing a total of $886.3 billion in Fiscal Year 2024 funding for national defense, a 3% increase over 2023 levels. This NDAA provides a 5.2% pay raise for both military servicemembers and the DOD civilian workforce, the largest increase since 2002. Within the topline, this bill authorizes $841.2 billion for the Department of Defense (DOD) and $32.6 billion for national security programs within the Department of Energy (DOE). The legislation also includes Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Senator Cramer’s Military Merit, Fairness, and Equality Act of 2023 (Merit Act), which helps preserve the performance-based war… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-senate-passes-fy2024-ndaa-with-important-priorities-for-nd-missions | Hoeven: Senate Passes FY2024 NDAA with Important Priorities for ND Missions | 2023-12-13 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven: Senate Passes FY2024 NDAA with Important Priorities for ND Missions Senator Secured Provisions for Air Force, Space Force & National Guard Operations across North Dakota WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, today issued the following statement after voting for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Hoeven worked to ensure the final bill provides strong support for our men and women in uniform, including authorizing a 5.2 percent pay increase for servicemembers. Additionally, the senator included provisions in the bill to support missions in North Dakota. “North Dakota plays a vital role in defending our nation now and will continue to do so well into the future,” said Hoeven. “We’ve worked to ensure that this year’s NDAA provides our men and women in uniform with a pay raise, while authorizing key upgrades to Air Force, Space Force and National Guard operations across North Dakota. That includes advancing the modernization of our nuclear forces at Minot Air Force Base, strong support for the ISR and Space Development Agency missions in Grand Forks and improving the capabilities of the MQ-9 based in Fargo. The bill also provides continued investment for our Guard Readiness Center in Dickinson and housing at Camp Grafton.” Specifically, Hoeven worked to include the following provisions: MINOT AIR FORCE BASE Fully authorizes updates to the nuclear triad for Minot Air Force Base, including: Authorizing $891 million for the new Long Range Stand Off (LRSO) nuclear cruise missile to replace the Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) carried on the B-52. Requiring at least 150 missile launch facilities at Minot be upgraded and maintained under the Sentinel program, which is authorized at $4.28 billion and will replace the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic missiles (ICBM). Authorizing $993 million for continued upgrades to the B-52 bomber, including the new engine program, to keep it operating well into the future. En… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:56:20Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-fra-awards-500000-to-big-sky-passenger-rail-authority | Sen. Cramer: Federal Railroad Administration Awards $500,000 to Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority | 2023-12-12 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, announced a $500,000 grant from the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Corridor Identification and Development (Corridor ID) Program to the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority (BSPRA). The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) established the Corridor ID program to facilitate the development of intercity passenger rail corridors. BSPRA’s efforts to restore passenger rail service on Amtrak’s North Coast Hiawatha Chicago to Seattle route could result in the restoration of service to several communities in North Dakota left unserved since 1979, including Jamestown, Bismarck, Mandan, and Dickinson. With the announcement of this grant, BSPRA is eligible to proceed to the first phase of the Corridor ID Program, which involves developing a scope, schedule, and cost estimate for preparing, completing, or documenting its service development plan. Earlier this year, Senator Cramer wrote a letter to the FRA in support of the project, stating the new route will provide more transportation options for travelers in North Dakota as well as communities across the Midwest and northwest regions. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-cramer-rosen-introduce-the-bipartisan-bicameral-never-again-education-reauthorization-act-of-2023 | Sens. Cramer, Rosen Introduce the Bipartisan, Bicameral Never Again Education Reauthorization Act of 2023 | 2023-12-12 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) introduced the bipartisan Never Again Education Reauthorization Act of 2023, reauthorizing the 2019 legislation which dedicated a fund through the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to provide teachers and parents with accurate, relevant, and accessible resources to improve awareness and understanding of the Holocaust. The reauthorization of this bill would extend the program through 2030. “The alarming rise of antisemitism across our country is a stark reminder we need to do more than just simply say ‘never again,’ and educate our young people,” said Senator Cramer. “In the wake of the horrific attacks in Israel just a few months ago, educating Americans and the world about the horrors of the Holocaust is more important now than ever before.” The Never Again Education Act, which was first introduced in July of 2019, passed the House on January 29, 2020, and passed the Senate by voice vote on May 13, 2020. The legislation was then signed into law on May 29, 2020 by former President Donald Trump. This bill is supported by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and is endorsed by the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, and the National Education Association. U.S. Representatives Buddy Carter (R-GA-01) and Kathy Manning (D-NC-06) introduced companion legislation in the House. In addition to Senators Cramer and Rosen, cosponsors include U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Ben Cardin (D-MD). | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/north-dakota-state-university-receives-3-million-retains-region-8-university-transportation-center-leadership | North Dakota State University Receives $3 Million, Retains Region 8 University Transportation Center Leadership | 2023-12-11 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded a total of $3,000,000 to North Dakota State University’s (NDSU) Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute to continue operating the Region 8 University Transportation Center (UTC). This funding was made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The Center focuses on maintaining the extensive public infrastructure system of Region 8, which encompasses 410,387 miles of public road and 30,318 highway bridges. This grant will help the Center with resources to research and advance innovative solutions to enhance our region’s transportation infrastructure. NDSU has served as the lead university for the Region 8 UTC since 1987, when the program was first created. “Congratulations to NDSU and the Center for Transformative Infrastructure Preservation and Sustainability for its selection as the Region 8 University Transportation Center. I spoke with Secretary Buttigieg in October about the valuable research done at NDSU and the role they play in our state and region, representing the needs of rural America,” said Senator Cramer. “I am grateful to see the Department of Transportation recognize their work with this award.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-ndsu-receives-3-million-dot-grant-to-continue-leading-region-8-transportation-center | Hoeven: NDSU Receives $3 Million DOT Grant to Continue Leading Region 8 Transportation Center | 2023-12-11 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven: NDSU Receives $3 Million DOT Grant to Continue Leading Region 8 Transportation Center WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $3 million to North Dakota State University’s (NDSU) Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute to continue leading the Region 8 University Transportation Center (UTC). The Center for Transformative Infrastructure Preservation and Sustainability led by NDSU conducts research valued by transportation agencies in the region and helps prepare the transportation workforce of the future through flexible education and professional development opportunities. Their main focus is sustaining the extensive public infrastructure system for the region. Region 8 has 410,387 miles of public road and 30,318 highway bridges that must be well-maintained. “This grant will allow NDSU to continue its leadership of the Region 8 University Transportation Center, as they advance new and innovative transportation solutions for North Dakota and the surrounding region. We have supported NDSU’s leadership in this capacity over the years, and encouraged DOT to continue to invest in the smart and innovative transportation solutions coming out of NDSU,” said Hoeven. In September, Senator Hoeven sent a letter with the North Dakota delegation urging U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to support North Dakota State University’s grant application to continue operating the Region 8 University Transportation Center. -###- | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:56:20Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-addresses-nd-student-councils-conference-holds-qanda-and-encourages-student-leaders | Hoeven Addresses ND Student Councils Conference, Holds Q&A and Encourages Student Leaders | 2023-12-10 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven Addresses ND Student Councils Conference, Holds Q&A and Encourages Student Leaders BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today addressed the North Dakota Association of Student Councils state conference, where he thanked the students for taking on leadership roles in their schools and encouraged them to continue embracing the challenges facing their generation to help build a better future for their communities, state and nation. Hoeven also held a question and answer session with the student leaders, discussing a wide range of priorities important to North Dakota and the U.S. “North Dakota’s students are the future of our state and nation. It takes drive and determination for young people to pursue leadership roles, and we appreciate the contributions they already make to their communities,” said Hoeven. “We had a great discussion with our state’s student leaders today, including on ensuring they have the opportunity to pursue their passions and build a prosperous life. This includes our efforts to expand STEM education, support our entrepreneurs and improve college affordability, especially for those students who most need financial assistance.” Among other efforts, Hoeven discussed efforts to expand opportunities for students to gain training in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and pursue careers in the critical industries of the future. To this end, the senator is: Working to empower schools to expand access to STEM education, while supporting STEM education initiatives for young children. Supporting greater college affordability, including through measures such as: The Employer Participation in Repayment Act, which was signed into law and allows employers to provide tax-free student loan repayment up to $5,250 per year. The Jumpstart Our Businesses by Supporting Students (JOBS) Act, a bill to make Pell grants more flexible by extending eligibility to high-quality, shorter-term job training programs that meet regional workforce needs. Working as a member of the Senate Appr… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:56:20Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/nd-delegation-secures-55-million-for-expansion-of-theodore-roosevelt-expressway | ND Delegation Secures $55 Million For Expansion Of Theodore Roosevelt Expressway | 2023-12-08 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | ND Delegation Secures $55 Million For Expansion Of Theodore Roosevelt Expressway BISMARCK, N.D. – Senators John Hoeven, Kevin Cramer and Congressman Kelly Armstrong today announced a $55 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for the expansion of US Highway 85, also known as the Theodore Roosevelt Expressway, in western North Dakota. The funding will be used to widen more than 13 miles of the roadway in McKenzie County from two lanes to four lanes, as well as to widen shoulders and reduce roadway curves from Watford City to I-94. Earlier this year, the delegation outlined the project’s benefits in improving transportation efficiency and safety to DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The delegation worked to secure the funding, which was awarded under the Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant (MPDG) program, a highly competitive program that during this application window, awarded $1 for every $10 in applications received by DOT. “The Theodore Roosevelt Expressway is the primary north-south roadway in western North Dakota, serving as a vital corridor to help connect our region’s energy and agricultural sectors to other parts of the country,” said Senator Hoeven, a member of the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Committee. “We worked to advance this critical transportation project, as the existing two-lane highway is narrow and does not meet the needs of travelers and local industry. By expanding US 85 to four lanes, as well as widening shoulders and straightening the roadway, this project will help reduce traffic delays, saving time and money for the traveling public, while improving safety and supporting the region’s economic growth for years to come.” “As Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I am especially pleased to see funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act come to the Theodore Roosevelt Expressway. The expressway stretches from Canada to South Dakota and connects us… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:56:20Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-statement-on-mercer-county-sheriff-deputy-killed-in-the-line-of-duty | Hoeven Statement on Mercer County Sheriff Deputy Killed in The Line Of Duty | 2023-12-07 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven Statement on Mercer County Sheriff Deputy Killed in The Line Of Duty BISMARCK - Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement after the death of a Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputy in the line of duty last night: “The events in Mercer County last night are a stark reminder of the heroic actions of our law enforcement officials each and every day. Deputy Paul Martin made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our community, and Mikey and I send our sincerest condolences to the Deputy Martin’s loved ones and the entire Mercer County Sheriff’s Department. We are praying for comfort and peace for all those impacted by this tragic event.” -###- | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:56:20Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-colleagues-express-concerns-over-doi-spokespersons-anti-police-rhetoric | Sen. Cramer, Colleagues Express Concerns Over DOI Spokesperson's Anti-Police Rhetoric | 2023-12-06 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined his colleagues in a letter to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland expressing concerns over the lack of action taken following Tyler Cherry, Department of the Interior's (DOI) spokesperson, posting several anti-police statements online. Cherry’s statements were released amid record-low recruitment and retention for the U.S. Park Police (USPP), an agency within DOI. The letter notes the staffing crisis at USPP is a public safety issue which merits Congressional oversight. “As you may be aware, between 2014 and 2018, your Department’s spokesperson, Tyler Cherry, posted a number of offensive and derogatory statements towards law enforcement officers online. We are appalled by these statements, which have come to light amid near-record low staffing at the U.S. Park Police (USPP)—a federal law enforcement agency housed within your Department,” the senators wrote. “We are deeply concerned that the following statements made by Cherry have had a negative impact on the morale of USPP officers and, in turn, contributed to the staffing issues within your Department.” “Making hateful and divisive public statements towards law enforcement officers is directly counter to the goal of improving police-community relations, increasing officer morale, and recruiting and retaining a high-quality police force,” the senators continued. “Cherry’s conduct is unbecoming of a senior Department of the Interior (DOI) official. Accordingly, we urge you and your Department to immediately condemn these repugnant statements and take appropriate remedial action.” U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) led the letter to Interior Secretary Haaland. Additional cosigners include U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Mike Braun (R-IN), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Ted Budd (R-NC), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Mike Rounds (R-SD). | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-colleagues-request-gao-review-of-usda-emergency-relief-program-2022 | Sen. Cramer, Colleagues Request GAO Review of USDA Emergency Relief Program 2022 | 2023-12-06 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined his colleagues in a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting a review of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Emergency Relief Program (ERP) for 2022, which provides $3.74 billion to assist farmers and ranchers impacted by natural disasters in 2022. On November 17th, over 140 agricultural groups sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, raising concerns about the implementation of a new “progressive” payment factor in place of a single, uniform factor that the USDA has used in the past. Among the cosigners were several North Dakota agricultural groups including the North Dakota Corn Growers Association, the North Dakota Grain Growers Association, and the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association. “Our intent was for the Department to administer the program in a manner consistent with the previous iteration of ERP and its predecessor program, the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+). Both programs were generally well received and should have served as the template for a 2022 disaster program,” the senators wrote. “Unfortunately, several policy changes made by USDA run counter to our intent to provide assistance fairly to all producers based on their loss. These changes include the reimbursement of crop insurance premiums for only certain producers, along with a new “progressive” payment factor,” the senators continued. The letter was led by U.S. Senator John Hoeven (R-ND). Additional cosigners include U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Steve Daines (R-MT), James Lankford (R-OK), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), John Thune (R-SD), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL). | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-votes-on-supplemental-funding-bill-demands-action-to-secure-borders | Sen. Cramer Votes on Supplemental Funding Bill, Demands Action to Secure Borders | 2023-12-06 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) released the following statement today after voting on the supplemental funding bill which includes financial aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan as well as provisions aimed at bolstering border security. “The United States has a vested interest in Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan defending their borders, but Democrats and the Biden administration disregard the lawless national security risk at our own. In this year alone, the equivalent of more than three North Dakotas has overrun our southern border. Cartels, terrorists, and adversaries are breaching the gaps, and the American people are feeling the pain. Over 100,000 died from fentanyl overdoses during the last year. This threat demands action. We do not need vague promises and increased funding to help process illegal immigrants faster, but real policy changes and enforcement mechanisms focused on Americans’ security. This should not be so hard.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-cramer-discusses-supplemental-package-ukraine-aid-negotiations-and-banking-hearing-on-mornings-with-maria | Senator Cramer Discusses Supplemental Package, Ukraine Aid Negotiations, and Banking Hearing on Mornings with Maria | 2023-12-06 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | ***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined Fox Business’ Mornings with Maria to discuss the current status of Senate border security and Ukraine aid negotiations. Additionally, Senator Cramer previewed Wednesday’s Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs hearing which featured testimony from big U.S. bank CEOs. Excerpts and video below. On Possible Border Policy Changes in Supplemental Funding: “I think for the first time after yesterday's briefing, Chuck Schumer knows that there's no bill. So, he kept telling us we can have an amendment with 60 votes, and I told him, ‘You can't have a bill without 60 votes. So, you had better put it in. You better agree to it, and if you do, I think there's a chance that you'll get a large majority in the Senate to pass the package and probably several hundred votes in the House. But without it, I'm afraid we won't move forward.’” “How about getting back to the pre-pandemic numbers? How about Remain in Mexico, if you're going to apply for asylum, you have to apply in a third country, the first safe country that you're in, not get into the United States and be turned loose into the interior of the United States? How about a reduction in this very liberal parole policy, which paroles people into the United States? Those numbers that Senator Lankford just gave you earlier in the show, 12,000 […] the previous record was the day before at 10,218, the day before his 10,200. It's obviously trending the wrong direction. “I can't go home to North Dakota and explain to my northern border constituents that we're going to take care of Ukraine's national security needs and their border, but we're going to neglect ours while drugs and human trafficking come in at the tune of 12,000 a day.” On Senate Border Security and Ukraine Aid Negotiations: “The President in his package, which did include some border security, was largely aimed at what you talked about, that is processing the illegals faster, getting… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-cramer-issues-personal-statement | Senator Cramer Issues Personal Statement | 2023-12-06 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement regarding the Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputy killed in the line of duty. “Earlier this evening, our 42-year-old son Ian was involved in a police chase which resulted in an accident that killed an officer. Ian suffers from serious mental disorders which manifest in severe paranoia and hallucinations. Kris was with Ian when he insisted on going to his brother Ike. Ike died in 2018. Kris took Ian to the Sanford Health emergency room in Bismarck. When she got out of our vehicle, Ian jumped into the driver’s seat and fled. Our daughter was able to track the car through Kris’ cell phone and lead officers to him in Mercer County, ND. We don’t have more details right now but will work with authorities to properly inform the public. “I will take the first flight I can to be with our family as we grieve what has happened. We grieve especially for the family of the hero who tried to help Ian, and we pray for our gracious God to show up as He always does in tragedy. We ask the public for prayers for the lost officer’s family and colleagues who serve us every day and are grateful for all they do for us. “We also ask God for healing for Ian. We love him and hurt deeply.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-border-security-is-national-security-supplemental-funding-bill-needs-strong-border-provisions | Hoeven: Border Security is National Security; Supplemental Funding Bill Needs Strong Border Provisions | 2023-12-06 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven: Border Security is National Security; Supplemental Funding Bill Needs Strong Border Provisions WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement after Senate Majority Leader Schumer tried to advance a supplemental funding bill without concrete provisions to secure the nation’s southern border. “I opposed moving forward on the president’s security supplemental request because it does not adequately secure our border. The Biden administration has refused to enforce our immigration laws and has failed to secure the border. Given the record number of individuals illegally crossing our border, any supplemental funding must include concrete border security provisions and should include benchmarks to ensure the administration is enforcing the law. Border security is vital to our national security, and the American people want to know that our border is secure.” -###- | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:56:20Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-leads-effort-requesting-gao-review-of-usdas-2022-disaster-assistance-implementation | Hoeven Leads Effort Requesting GAO Review of USDA's 2022 Disaster Assistance Implementation | 2023-12-06 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven Leads Effort Requesting GAO Review of USDA's 2022 Disaster Assistance Implementation Senator Worked to Secure Broad-Based Assistance for Producers, Has Been Pressing USDA to Roll Back Changes That Limit ERP Effectiveness WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, this week led a group of senators in requesting a Government Accountability Office (GAO) review of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s implementation of disaster assistance for producer losses occurring in 2022. This builds upon a recent effort Hoeven led with House Agriculture Appropriations Committee Chairman Andy Harris (R-Md.) urging USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to roll back the agency’s changes to the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) 2022. The changes made by USDA run counter to statute and Congressional intent, while undermining the effectiveness and reach of the $3.7 billion that Hoeven worked to secure to help farmers and ranchers recover from natural disasters. “In the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, Congress included $3.7 billion for USDA to assist farmers and ranchers impacted by natural disasters in 2022. Our intent was for the Department to administer the program in a manner consistent with the previous iteration of ERP and its predecessor program, the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+). Both programs were generally well received and should have served as the template for a 2022 disaster program,” wrote the senators. “Unfortunately, several policy changes made by USDA run counter to our intent to provide assistance fairly to all producers based on their loss.” The senators specifically requested that GAO review USDA’s decision to: Apply a “progressive” payment factor that penalizes the producers with the largest losses. In 2020 and 2021, ERP utilized a flat payment factor, which ensured producers were reimbursed at the same rate regardless of losses. Provide a crop insurance premium reimbursement only to a select group of farmers and ranch… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:56:20Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-sponsoring-legislation-to-weaken-irans-ties-to-china-push-back-on-sponsorship-of-terrorist-groups | Hoeven Sponsoring Legislation to Weaken Iran’s Ties to China, Push Back on Sponsorship of Terrorist Groups | 2023-12-06 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven Sponsoring Legislation to Weaken Iran’s Ties to China, Push Back on Sponsorship of Terrorist Groups Bill Prohibits Use of U.S. Taxpayer Dollars for Iran Nuclear Deal, Requires Senate Ratification WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven this week helped reintroduce legislation led by Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) to weaken Iran’s ties with Communist China and push back on its sponsorship of terrorist groups, like Hamas. Specifically, the Iran China Accountability Act: Requires any Iran nuclear agreement to be ratified by a two-thirds vote of the U.S. Senate. Prohibits obligation or expenditure of any funds for an Iran nuclear agreement until: Iran terminates all agreements involving the transfer of funds from China and terminates strategic security and military partnerships with China. Iran terminates all ties and transfers of cash to Iranian proxy forces, including Hamas. Iran verifies the destruction of all chemical weapons, materials, and infrastructure. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) ceases the incarceration of Uyghurs. Requires a report from the Secretary of State to Congress detailing how any future agreement with Iran meets each requirement listed above. Condemns Hamas-incited terrorist attacks on Israel. “We need to be strong and stand up to both Iran and China. Our legislation will ensure that we hold these two adversaries accountable for their destabilizing activities, support for terrorism and human rights abuses,” said Senator Hoeven. “Given its attacks against our military and our allies like Israel, its support for Hamas and other terrorist organizations, and its cooperation with China, Iran must never be allowed to have nuclear weapons. This legislation would prevent taxpayer dollars from being used to advance a nuclear agreement with Iran and require that any agreement be ratified by two-thirds of the Senate.” “Iran would love nothing more than to enter into another nuclear deal that props up their terrorist activity and also benefits their fellow New Axis of Evil partner - Comm… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:56:20Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/icymi-sen-cramer-op-ed-bidens-fhwa-tries-to-pull-regulation-from-thin-air | ICYMI: Sen. Cramer Op-Ed: Biden’s FHWA Tries to Pull Regulation From Thin Air | 2023-12-05 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, penned an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal on the Federal Highway Administration’s illegal, unrealistic rule requiring state Departments of Transportation and Metropolitan Planning Organizations to reduce tailpipe emissions on our highway system. Before the rule was finalized, Senator Cramer introduced a bipartisan amendment to the Transportation Appropriations Bill defunding it. Senate Democrats knew it would pass but ensured its defeat by requiring a 60-vote threshold to pass. This rule places an illegal and impractical burden on large rural states like North Dakota, and Senator Cramer remains committed to overturning it. “Few things are more frustrating in government than the federal executive branch asserting authority it doesn’t have and foisting mediocrity on the states. Despite definitive losses in court, the Biden administration refuses to pump the brakes on executive overreach and instead has hit the gas on more illegal, costly regulations. Case in point: the Federal Highway Administration’s rule requiring state transportation departments to reduce tailpipe emissions on highways,” wrote Senator Cramer. “Why does Congress exist if the bureaucracy can assert legal authority solely because it wasn’t explicitly prohibited? If federal agencies can invent power to dictate their preferred policies to circumvent Congress, we no longer have three coequal branches of government. This problem is larger than the FHWA. Bureaucracies routinely assert authority they don’t possess. […] I remain committed to doing everything I can to block this unworkable, illegal rule. The Biden administration better buckle up,” concluded Senator Cramer. Few things are more frustrating in government than the federal executive branch asserting authority it doesn’t have and foisting mediocrity on the states. Despite definitive losses in court, the Biden administration refuses to pu… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-hold-china-iran-accountable | Sen. Cramer, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Hold China, Iran Accountable | 2023-12-05 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined his colleagues in introducing U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn’s (R-TN) Iran China Accountability Act. This legislation would block any taxpayer dollars from being used to advance an Iran nuclear agreement until they terminate cash ties with China and terminate ties to terrorist groups such as Hamas. “We know the pursuit of the Iranian nuclear deal has done nothing to deter Iran’s nuclear proliferation, it has only emboldened and enriched them. We also know our adversaries love working together and it’s time we recognize it,” said Senator Cramer. In March 2021, Iran and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) signed a 25-year, $400 billion strategic economic agreement to advance Chinese influence in the Middle East. This legislation would require Iran to destroy all chemical weapons and materials, and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to cease the incarceration of Uyghurs. Additional cosponsors include U.S. Senators John Hoeven (R-ND), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Rick Scott (R-FL). | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-discusses-energy-transition-at-lppc-thought-leadership-event | Sen. Cramer Discusses Energy Transition at LPPC Thought Leadership Event | 2023-12-05 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, was the keynote speaker at the Large Public Power Council (LPPC) Thought Leadership event. He was invited to discuss the practical implications of an energy transition, particularly on the resilience, affordability, and reliability of the grid. Senator Cramer has utilized his experience as a former North Dakota utility regulator as Congress debates permitting and transmission reforms. Founded in 1987, the LPPC encompasses 28 of the nation's largest locally owned and controlled, not-for-profit power systems and serves roughly 30.5 million American electricity consumers. “Whether you are an investor-owned utility or a public power provider, you have to report to your consumers. There’s a responsibility to deliver reliable, affordable electricity. I get concerned when people put the generation before transmission or even the demand,” said Senator Cramer. “If you’re on the monkey bars, you can’t let go of the rung you’re on while reaching for the next. Too often, policymakers rush to what looks good to the public, but they are extreme utopias not based in reality. An energy transition must be done responsibly, prioritizing reliability and affordability, but there can be wins for both sides of pendulum.” Senator Cramer is engaged in ongoing debates surrounding legislative and administrative proposals to overhaul transmission policy. In September, he wrote a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regarding its ongoing rulemakings on transmission planning, cost allocation, and federal backstop siting authority. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-colleagues-call-on-biden-administration-to-address-antisemitism-in-k-12-schools | Sen. Cramer, Colleagues Call on Biden Administration to Address Antisemitism in K-12 Schools | 2023-12-04 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined his colleagues in a letter calling on the Biden administration to address rising rates of antisemitism directed at Jewish and Israeli students in K-12 schools since the Hamas-led massacre against Israel on October 7, 2023. In the letter to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, the senators requested the U.S. Department of Education enforce the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and ensure students are not subjected to discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. Less than half of Gen Z and millennials believe the U.S. should publicly voice support of Israel compared with 63 percent of Gen X, 83 percent of baby boomers, and 86 percent of members of the Silent Generation. Over half of voters under the age of 35 do not support sending weapons and military equipment to Israel in response to the Hamas terrorist attacks, compared with 77 percent of those 50 and over. The letter states the rise “…in antisemitic incidents is a symptom of growing antisemitism amongst our nation’s young people who are a product of our K-12 education system.” “As children continue to grapple with the aftermath of this violence, incidents of antisemitic violence are picking up in our K-12 schools. Antisemitism in high schools is uniquely concerning as teenagers are particularly impressionable, deeply affected by the social dynamics of their peers and by the authority of their teachers,” the senators wrote. “Young students are still developing emotionally and are less equipped to handle and process incidents of antisemitism, making recent reports all the more concerning.” “America’s K-12 schools must be a safe learning environment for all students. School officials are supposed to be the adults in the school building. They should be setting an example for our students and ensuring a safe learning environment rather than undermining it,” the senators concluded. “We look forward to an update regarding your efforts on the Antisemitism Awareness Campaign and broader enforc… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-colleagues-request-transparency-on-taxpayer-funded-voter-mobilization-plans | Sen. Cramer, Colleagues Request Transparency on Taxpayer-Funded Voter-Mobilization Plans | 2023-12-04 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined his colleagues in a letter to President Biden, requesting a full accounting of federal funding used to-date to implement Executive Order 14019 on “Promoting Access to Voting,” which directs federal agencies to submit plans to the White House describing how it will use taxpayer-funded resources to engage in voter mobilization. On May 10, 2023, a group of senators first submitted an inquiry regarding Executive Order 14019. The initial deadline for providing this information was May 23, 2023, so the response is now 27 weeks overdue. "The Order outlines various activities in which agencies are to engage, including promoting mail-in voting and partnering with third- party organizations to register voters,” the senators wrote. “Federal agencies should be focused on their defined missions in a nonpartisan manner, not using taxpayer funds for voter mobilization efforts with potentially partisan impacts. In other words, it's not the job of the federal government to drive voter turnout. Reviewing these agency plans is crucial to determining whether this order has or may lead to the improper use of federal resources.” “Using appropriated funds for a purpose that Congress did not expressly authorize would constitute a violation of the Antideficiency Act (31 U.S.C. § 1341(a)(1)(A)), which prohibits agencies from expending or obligating funds in a manner not authorized by law. Violating this statute carries administrative and potential criminal penalties, highlighting the need for transparency. Unfortunately, the White House has kept these plans hidden despite numerous requests from Congress,” the senators continued. The letter was led by U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN). Additional cosponsors include U.S. Senators Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Katie Britt (R-AL), Rodger Wicker (R-MS), Mike Lee (R-UT), Mike Braun (R-IN), Rick Scott (R-FL), JD Vance (R-O… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-colleagues-call-on-department-of-education-to-protect-students-from-antisemitism | Hoeven, Colleagues Call on Department of Education to Protect Students from Antisemitism | 2023-12-04 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven, Colleagues Call on Department of Education to Protect Students from Antisemitism WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven joined an effort led by Senators Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) calling on the U.S. Department of Education to ensure Jewish students in K-12 schools are not subjected to harassment, discrimination, and abuse. In recent years, antisemitic incidents have significantly increased in K-12 schools, even before Hamas’ October 7th attack. In 2022, 494 incidents of antisemitism were reported in non-Jewish K-12 schools, a 49 percent increase compared to 2021. ““We are deeply concerned that the Department of Education is not ensuring American K-12 schools are fostering a safe learning environment for all students following the terrorist organization Hamas’ violent attack on civilians, including Americans and Israeli citizens” wrote the senators. “Parents should feel confident that their children’s school will be safe and the focus will be on education. Instead, parents are beginning to fear that not only is school not safe for their students, but school officials are actively working to undermine the safety of their children. Parents cannot trust their students are safe if they fear school officials are key perpetrators in spreading anti-Semitic rhetoric. “America’s K-12 schools must be a safe learning environment for all students. School officials are supposed to be the adults in the school building. They should be setting an example for our students and ensuring a safe learning environment rather than undermining it…Some schools seem unwilling or unable to uphold their legal obligations under Title VI. Therefore, the Department should use its full resources to enforce the law.” In addition to Hoeven, Cassidy and Ernst, the letter is co-signed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Shelley Moore… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:56:20Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-statement-epa-publishes-final-rule-increasing-oil-and-natural-gas-emissions-regulations | Sen. Cramer Statement: EPA Publishes Final Rule, Increasing Oil and Natural Gas Emissions Regulations | 2023-12-02 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK — U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, issued the following statement after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule expanding methane regulations. “The Biden administration has piled on another massive regulatory burden designed to encumber and even shut down American energy production. I led all of my Republican colleagues on EPW in warning the EPA its proposal oversteps their authority with third-party enforcement, disregards foundational principles of the Clean Air Act, establishes duplicative well-plugging requirements, and forces new burdens on small, independent producers. There’s no good time for a terrible rule, but this seems like a crude joke in the wake of heightened geopolitical tensions and global oil instability caused by OPEC.” In April, Senator Cramer led Republican members of the Senate EPW Committee in a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan against the rule. In the letter, the senators outlined impending consequences of the rule and asked the EPA Administrator to engage with producers, as well as listen to the states that would bear the brunt of these regulations. The letter was supported by stakeholders such as the North Dakota Petroleum Council; American Petroleum Institute; Independent Petroleum Association of America; American Exploration and Production Council; Domestic Energy Producers Alliance; Western Energy Alliance; and the U.S. Oil and Gas Association. In July, Senator Cramer, Senator John Hoeven (R-ND), and Congressman Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) sent a letter to EPA Administrator Regan, highlighting North Dakota’s concerns and calling for the EPA to withdraw or significantly revise the proposed regulation. The Congressional Delegation highlighted the rule’s restrictive approach to flaring associated gas, impacts on small producers, and conflicts with state regulatory programs which would be saddled with additional costs. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-cramer-participates-in-reagan-national-defense-forum-panel-on-boosting-military-recruitment-readiness | Senator Cramer Participates in Reagan National Defense Forum Panel on Boosting Military Recruitment, Readiness | 2023-12-02 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | ***Click here for photos.*** SIMI VALLEY – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), participated in the 10th annual Reagan National Defense Forum in California which brings together political leaders and stakeholders in the defense community to discuss ways the U.S. can strengthen its national defense and global leadership. The forum is centered on President Reagan’s doctrine of “peace through strength.” During the forum, Senator Cramer joined a panel to discuss increasing national service, boosting recruitment, and ensuring military readiness. The panel featured Under Secretary of the U.S. Army Gabe Camarillo, Chief of the U.S. National Guard Bureau General Daniel Hokanson, and former Deputy Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush, Karl Rove. The panel was moderated by Ben Kesling of the Wall Street Journal. “Good recruitment is based on a sense of mission. Whether it is the national guardsman serving their neighbor during a flood or a Marine seeking to be a member of an elite group of fighters, both are aspirational. Public leaders need to stop focusing on what divides and be driven by the mission of sustaining the most lethal fighting force in the world and deterring our adversaries. Recruiting should be focused on the continuum of a career so young men and women see their best options at the beginning and understand they won’t be forgotten at the end. The cumulative positive reputation of military service is incumbent on all of us. “I’d like a president like Ronald Reagan who won the Cold War. He convinced the public we should go into debt to do it, and won it decisively by identifying the adversary, inspiring the solution, having a strategy, and communicating it every single day in a positive, cheerful manner. He won the war without ever firing a single shot.” The panelists highlighted the similar challenges America’s all-volunteer force faced in 1973 after the U.S. withdrew from Vietnam. At the time, the U.S. military failed to meet recruitment goals an… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-statement-on-biden-administrations-burdensome-rules-for-oil-and-natural-gas-producer | Hoeven Statement on Biden Administration’s Burdensome Rules for Oil and Natural Gas Producers | 2023-12-02 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven Statement on Biden Administration’s Burdensome Rules for Oil and Natural Gas Producers BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today issued the following statement after Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan finalized the agency’s methane emissions rule imposing burdensome and duplicative regulations on energy producers. “Instead of unleashing more domestic energy production, the Biden administration continues to put the handcuffs on our producers through burdensome and duplicative regulations,” said Hoeven. “This EPA rule will drive up energy costs for consumers and increase U.S. reliance on energy imports, including from adversarial foreign nations with little to no regard for environmental or labor standards. The Biden administration needs to reverse course and start empowering energy and natural gas producers here at home, for the good of our economy and our national security.” Earlier this year, Hoeven and the North Dakota delegation pushed back on the rule’s one-size-fits-all approach and outlined how it would force energy producers to shut down operations due to unworkable mandates, harming the nation’s energy security, reducing revenues to states, tribes and local governments and eliminating good-paying jobs. The EPA’s proposed rule is duplicative of the gas capture goals set by the North Dakota Industrial Commission (NDIC) without providing the same regulatory flexibility. Under the NDIC goal, North Dakota’s gas production grew to record levels and operators currently are achieving a gas capture rate of 95%. -###- | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:56:20Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/12/01/2023/sen-cramer-rail-companies-issue-status-reports-on-grain-car-backlog | Sen. Cramer: Rail Companies Issue Status Reports on Grain Car Backlog | 2023-12-01 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced BNSF Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) publicly filed weekly grain backlog status updates as required by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB). A summary of the reporting data specific to North Dakota from the last 10 weeks is below. Following STB’s April 2022 hearing on “Urgent Issues in Freight Rail Service,” BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway, and Union Pacific submitted service recovery plans, which identified actions to improve service and metrics to track progress toward such improvements. On June 3, 2022 the STB started requiring BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway, and Union Pacific to file service progress reports further explaining efforts to correct service deficiencies. On June 15, 2022, the STB started requiring all Class I railroads to report employment data. The STB extended the initial six-month reporting period for weekly performance and employment data until December 31, 2023. It has since modified CSX's reporting requirements to exempt the railroad from weekly progress reports, as it consistently meets the STB's service improvement targets. Grain Car Backlog Status Report: Click here to access the data. Background: In May 2022, Senator Cramer led 20 colleagues in a letter urging the STB to ensure reliable, consistent rail service for American industries and shippers. “We are very concerned over the significant rail service disruptions occurring throughout the U.S. freight rail network. Reports from rail customers, including our manufacturers, farmers, ranchers, and energy producers, indicate reliable rail service is not being provided in many situations,” wrote the senators. The letter also outlines concerns and issues raised by customers and labor organizations at STB’s April hearing on “Urgent Issues in Freight Rail Service” from agricultural producers and grain shippers unable to get empty railcars leading to significant delays in delivering commodities to energy produce… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-colleagues-call-on-biden-administration-to-reverse-course-on-digital-trade | Sen. Cramer, Colleagues Call on Biden Administration to Reverse Course on Digital Trade | 2023-12-01 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined his colleagues in a letter calling on President Biden to reverse the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) decision to abandon positions at the World Trade Organization (WTO) which allow the free flow of information across borders, protect against the forced transfer of American technology, and promote open markets for digitalgoods exported by creators and businesses. American advocates, small businesses, and major industries have warned this move by USTR will allow unfair trade practices targeting U.S. employers, further China’s model for digital protectionism, and give regimes such as China and Russia an opening to advance censorship and surveillance policies. “These commitments reflect bipartisan principles that, until now, the United States has strongly supported across political parties, administrations, and the federal government: an open internet that promotes the flow of information across borders to support American exports and American values. USTR’s decision to abandon these commitments at the WTO creates a policy vacuum that China and Russia will fill,” the senators wrote. “Retreating from our longstanding principles without offering a viable alternative does not help U.S. workers, it does not help U.S. consumers, it does not help U.S. businesses, and it does not help U.S. allies; it only helps our adversaries.” The letter was led by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Mike Crapo (R-ID). Additional cosigners include U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-DE), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chris Coons (D-DE), John Barrasso (R-WY), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), James Lankford (R-OK), Angus King (I-ME), Ted Budd (R-NC), Patty Murray (D-WA), Todd Young (R-IN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Steve Daines (R-MT), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Alex Padilla (D-CA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Jim Ri… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-address-federal-government-overreach-on-farmers-ranchers-and-landowners | Sen. Cramer, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Address Federal Government Overreach on Farmers, Ranchers, and Landowners | 2023-12-01 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined his colleagues in introducing the Farmers Freedom Act of 2023, legislation requiring the Biden administration to revert to the definition of prior converted cropland (PCC) from the Trump administration’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. During the Trump administration, the definition in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) of 2020 determined a PCC must be used for production at least once every five years to maintain exemption from the Clean Water Act (CWA). Under the Biden administration’s definition, the land may lose its exclusion if it undergoes a “change in use,” including when the area is unavailable for the production of crops. The new definition lacks the clarity farmers and ranchers need to ensure they can remain compliant and their land is not subjected to greater regulation through the CWA. “Landowners need more freedom to use their land as they see fit without excessive, burdensome environmental regulations. The Biden administration is deferring to a loosely-defined and arbitrary definition for prior converted croplands which creates uncertainty for landowners, especially those in the Prairie Pothole region,” said Senator Cramer. “Our producers will always be better caretakers of the land than federal bureaucrats in Washington, and the administration should acknowledge it.” U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) led the legislation. Additional cosponsors include U.S. Senators John Thune (R-SD), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Mike Braun (R-IN), John Hoeven (R-ND), John Barrasso (R-WY), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS). | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:14:16Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-calls-for-concrete-border-security-measures-benchmarks-to-prove-law-is-being-enforced | Hoeven Calls for Concrete Border Security Measures, Benchmarks to Prove Law Is Being Enforced | 2023-12-01 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven Calls for Concrete Border Security Measures, Benchmarks to Prove Law Is Being Enforced CBP Reports Nearly 250,000 Encounters at Southern Border in First Month of FY2024, More Than 23,000 Gotaways WASHINGTON – During remarks delivered on the Senate floor this week, Senator John Hoeven outlined the need to secure the nation’s borders. The senator highlighted that, since the beginning of October, nearly 250,000 individuals have attempted to illegally cross the southern border, which does not include those who have evaded U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This comes in addition to the almost 2.5 million individuals that illegally entered the U.S. in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, a record high. Hoeven stressed the national security risk this poses to the country, given that known individuals from the terror watch list are among those attempting to illegally cross into the country. Accordingly, the senator is calling for the Biden administration to enforce the law, secure the border and that concrete border security measures be included in any supplemental funding package considered by Congress. “The cause of this crisis is clear, and the numbers do not lie,” said Hoeven. “After just over a month into Fiscal Year 2024, nearly a quarter of a million people have tried to illegally enter the United States via the southern border. And these are the just the individuals that we know about. “The American people can see the problem even if the Biden administration can’t, or worse, just continues to choose to ignore it. This crisis is the result of the Biden administration’s failure to secure our border, pure and simple… The administration’s current policies prioritize processing migrants who illegally come across the southern border, and then providing them with housing, transportation, and other services once they enter the United States. The administration is turning CBP into one of the most well-funded government-run travel agencies in the world. “Any supplemental funding must secure our own border. That mean… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:56:20Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-rounds-introduce-legislation-to-protect-farmers-ranchers-and-landowners-from-federal-overreach | Hoeven, Rounds Introduce Legislation to Protect Farmers, Ranchers and Landowners from Federal Overreach | 2023-12-01 | 2023 | 2023-12 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven, Rounds Introduce Legislation to Protect Farmers, Ranchers and Landowners from Federal Overreach WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven this week introduced the Farmers Freedom Act of 2023, legislation led by Senator Mike Rounds, to provide regulatory certainty for farmers, ranchers and landowners. The legislation would codify the definition of prior converted cropland (PCC) from the Trump administration’s Navigable Wates Protection Rule. For the last several decades, wetlands converted to cropland before 1985 have remained exempt from regulation under the Clean Water Act and Waters of the United States (WOTUS). Under the Biden administration’s expanded WOTUS rule, PCC could revert to a wetland status if it is unavailable for commodity production. Specifically, if a section of PCC floods and is unable to produce commodities, it could be subject to regulation under the authority of the Clean Water Act. “Our producers know their lands best and are better stewards of their land than bureaucrats in Washington. This legislation is about respecting private property rights and providing our agriculture producers with flexibility and certainty regarding their lands,” said Hoeven. “The Biden administration’s new WOTUS rule is a costly federal overreach and we’re doing all we can to stop these unworkable mandates.” “For far too long, South Dakota producers have been subject to a number of complex and burdensome WOTUS rule changes,” said Rounds. “While past administrations have issued problematic WOTUS rules, the previous Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) worked to protect owners of prior converted cropland from undue regulation while providing producers with needed flexibility. This legislation seeks to restore this definition of PCC and prevent further overreach on South Dakota farmers and ranchers, who know their land better than any D.C. bureaucrats.” In addition to Hoeven and Rounds, the Farmers Freedom Act of 2023 is cosponsored by Senators John Thune, Pete Ricketts, Roger Marshall, Mike Braun, John Barrass… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:56:20Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-delivers-remarks-at-space-force-birthday-celebration | Sen. Cramer Delivers Remarks at Space Force Birthday Celebration | 2023-11-30 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | *** Click here for photos.*** WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Co-Chair of the Senate Space Force Caucus and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), delivered remarks at the Space Force’s Fourth Birthday Celebration. Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall, Chief of Space Operations General Chance Saltzman, and House Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers also attended the event. Senator Cramer reflected on the establishment of the Space Force and the need to keep up with our adversaries. “Here I was, a brand-new senator and freshman on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and the White House calls me up because they couldn’t find anyone in the Senate to carry the ball,” said Senator Cramer. “We have a space school at the University of North Dakota and a space radar station, which is now the Space Force Station, so I thought, why not? It took about four months for people to get on board, but there is nobody who thinks creating the Space Force was a bad idea four years later. As we celebrate the Space Force’s fourth birthday, let us remember it’s not an infant anymore, but it’s not a toddler either. The Force has graduated well into the PhD program. We need to do everything at the speed of our adversaries, and the Space Force helps us do exactly that. Thank you for letting me play in your sandbox because I like it a lot. God bless and happy birthday.” Background: | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-continues-pressing-for-timely-mail-service-working-to-address-mail-and-newspaper-delivery-delays-in-dickinson | Hoeven Continues Pressing for Timely Mail Service, Working to Address Mail and Newspaper Delivery Delays in Dickinson | 2023-11-30 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven Continues Pressing for Timely Mail Service, Working to Address Mail and Newspaper Delivery Delays in Dickinson WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven this week continued working to ensure timely mail service in North Dakota. Following up on a call yesterday between Hoeven and Angela Bye, U.S. Postal Service (USPS) District Manager for North Dakota and Minnesota, Hoeven’s office today reiterated concerns with delays in the delivery of mail, packages and newspapers in the Dickinson area. “After hearing about issues with mail and newspaper delivery in the Dickinson area, our office raised the issue directly with USPS leadership including District Manager Bye. They indicated they will look into these issues and work to address them. We’ll continue pressing USPS to ensure timely delivery for our residents, especially with the holiday season and winter weather approaching.” Today’s call follows Hoeven’s call earlier this week with Bye. The senator continues to: Stress the importance of ensuring timely mail, newspaper and package delivery service across the state. Urge USPS to promptly work through the backlog of repairs for USPS-owned cluster box unit (CBU) mailboxes, including in Minot. Address the need to make the Minot post office more accessible, particularly during the winter. -###- | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:49:58Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-hosts-meeting-between-fargo-leaders-faa-to-advance-hector-international-terminal-expansion | Hoeven Hosts Meeting Between Fargo Leaders, FAA to Advance Hector International Terminal Expansion | 2023-11-30 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven Hosts Meeting Between Fargo Leaders, FAA to Advance Hector International Terminal Expansion WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven this week hosted a meeting between Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Administrator Shannetta Griffin and members of the Fargo Airport Authority to advance progress on the Hector International Terminal Expansion project. The project is estimated to cost $155 million and includes expanding the current terminal building to nine gates, an apron expansion and a new parking garage with an elevated walkway. Hoeven is working to secure more than $80 million in federal funding for the project, which is expected to begin in the spring of 2024. “The Fargo-Moorhead region is rapidly growing, both in terms of population and in economic activity. This growth means greater demand for air service and the need for updates and added facilities at Hector International to ensure safe and efficient travel for the region’s residents,” said Hoeven. “We organized this meeting between FAA Airport Administrator Griffin and members of the Fargo Airport Authority to advance the terminal expansion project at Hector International.” The meeting was attended by Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney, Fargo Airport Executive Director Shawn Dobberstein, North Dakota Aeronautics Commission Executive Director Kyle Wanner, Airport Authority Board Chair John Cosgriff, Airport Authority Board Member Rick Berg, Tom Schauer and Jeff Klein of Mead & Hunt, and representatives from the offices of Senator Kevin Cramer and Congressman Kelly Armstrong. -###- | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:49:58Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-discusses-opec-meeting-unleashing-domestic-energy-production-on-fox-business | Sen. Cramer Discusses OPEC Meeting, Unleashing Domestic Energy Production on Fox Business | 2023-11-29 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | ***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, joined Larry Kudlow on Fox Business to discuss expectations ahead of tomorrow’s Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) meeting. Additionally, they discussed rare earth development and whether the U.S. will be able to unleash domestic energy production and mine for these minerals. Excerpts and video below. On Electric Vehicle Sales: “You cannot have a market that is heavily subsidized, full of mandates, producing a product that nobody wants to buy. Sure, it produces, to quote President Biden's letter, ‘a lot of good paying union jobs’ if that's your goal, but they're going to be short-term jobs because no one's buying them off of the lot. And this is just another attempt to manipulate the market, manipulate the supply by changing the demand. Only the market can do that. You can’t force it.” On Expectations Ahead of OPEC+ Meeting: “Well, it looks to me like they're prepared to either keep status quo or even reduce production, which I think the recent drops in price have anticipated an increase in OPEC production. And now the tea leaves are looking the other way, which is why prices are coming up a little bit. […] As the United States of America, with all of our resources in the Bakken and the Eagle Ford and other places…and a quarter of our oil on federal lands, why aren't we determining the world price of oil instead of allowing OPEC+ to do it? If we're producing more and cleaner and better and exporting it to our allies and friends, then we aren't so subject to these [OPEC+] prices.” On Domestic Production of Vehicles and Minerals: “We should be producing more automobiles, combustion engine automobiles, using cleaner production here in the United States of the very product that they run on, because then you get to the next story about Wyoming in this big find of rare earth elements and we have rare earth elements in No… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-urges-usps-district-manager-to-ensure-timely-mail-service-promptly-address-mailbox-repairs-and-accessibility-in-minot | Hoeven Urges USPS District Manager to Ensure Timely Mail Service, Promptly Address Mailbox Repairs & Accessibility in Minot | 2023-11-29 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven Urges USPS District Manager to Ensure Timely Mail Service, Promptly Address Mailbox Repairs & Accessibility in Minot Senator Highlights Thursday, November 30 USPS Job Fairs in North Dakota to Help Address Understaffing WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today spoke with Angela Bye, U.S. Postal Service (USPS) District Manager for North Dakota and Minnesota, to discuss the status of postal operations in the state. Among other priorities, the senator: Stressed the importance of ensuring timely mail delivery service, including in the lead up to the holiday season and in preparation for winter weather. Urged USPS to promptly work through the backlog of repairs for cluster box unit (CBU) mailboxes, including in Minot. Hoeven also addressed the need to make the Minot post office more accessible, particularly during the winter. Discussed upcoming job fairs in North Dakota to help resolve understaffing. Job fairs are being held on Thursday, November 30 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm at USPS facilities in the following communities: Williston, Mandan, Dickinson, Bismarck, Devils Lake, Grand Forks, Fargo and Fargo-Prairiewood. “We need to do all we can to ensure that North Dakotans are receiving their mail on time, as my office continues to hear from local residents about delays and other service issues,” said Hoeven. “Importantly, we discussed with USPS District Manager Bye the need to repair CBU mailboxes in Minot and other communities, so residents aren’t forced to wait in line at the post office just to collect their mail. At the same time, USPS is holding job fairs across North Dakota this week, and we want to make sure North Dakotans are aware of these job opportunities as these roles are important to providing for this essential service in our state.” -###- | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:49:58Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/-sen-cramer-colleagues-request-strong-ndaa-language-to-improve-screening-of-outbound-investments | Sen. Cramer, Colleagues Request Strong NDAA Language to Improve Screening of Outbound Investments | 2023-11-27 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), joined his colleagues in a letter to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, requesting strong language in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to address the national security threat posed by sensitive technologies with dual-use applications being acquired by America’s adversaries. Specifically, the letter implores the leadership of the Committees to address the threat of outbound American investment to the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) in this year’s NDAA. The letter states the last thing the United States should be doing is facilitating technology which could one day be used against us, whether through espionage at home or against our servicemen and women deployed to fight for their nation. “There is strong bipartisan consensus in both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives that Congress must act to address the national security threat posed by these outbound investments. The Administration is also focused on the issue. On August 9, 2023, the President issued an Executive Order (E.O. 14105) titled Addressing United States Investments in Certain National Security Technologies and Products in Countries of Concern, seeking to deal with this same issue set. In fact, the E.O. goes beyond notification to consider prohibition of investment in some sectors,” the senators wrote. “We have known for some time that U.S. companies are sending capital, intellectual property, and innovation to the PRC, fueling its advance in dual-use critical technology areas. To safeguard our national security, the U.S. needs visibility into our vulnerabilities by requiring, at a minimum, notification of sensitive investments by U.S. firms in these countries,” the senators continued. “In the interest of U.S. national security, we urge you to ensure that robust language addressing the threat posed by outbound investments in countries like the PRC is included in the 2… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-protect-faith-based-child-welfare-providers/child | Sen. Cramer, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Protect Faith-Based Child Welfare Providers | 2023-11-27 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined his colleagues in introducing the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act to protect child welfareproviders from being discriminated against for acting in accordance with their religious beliefs. Additionally, the legislation would prohibit federal, state, and local government agencies that receive federal adoption assistance from discriminating against child service providers based on their unwillingness to take action due to their religious beliefs. “Bureaucratic nonsense should never get in the way of helping kids in need,” said Senator Cramer. “Activists on the left have tried for years to discriminate against child welfare agencies for their religious beliefs. We need to support faith based adoption and foster agencies, recognizing their faith compels compassion and their call to service.” U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) led the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act in the Senate. Additional cosponsors include U.S. Senators James Risch (R-ID), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Roger Marshall (R-KS), James Lankford (R-OK), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Mike Braun (R-IN), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Cornyn (R-TX) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE). This legislation has also been endorsed by the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Heritage Action, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee and the Family Research Council. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-cramer-blackburn-lead-bicameral-amicus-brief-to-support-the-second-amendment | Sens. Cramer, Blackburn Lead Bicameral Amicus Brief to Support the Second Amendment | 2023-11-27 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) co-led members on a bicameral amicus brief to uphold the rights of all Americans to keep and bear arms, especially veterans and disabled individuals who need assistance to exercise their rights. The members state the Second Amendment is a fundamental protection of liberty which is deeply rooted in our nation’s history and tradition. The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced a final rule reclassifying pistols with stabilizing braces as short-barreled rifles. This change subjects purchasers of these pistols – often people with disabilities or in need extra stability to safely use the weapon – to a burdensome regulatory scheme. The amicus brief states the rule infringes Americans’ Second Amendment liberties, and Congress did not grant ATF the authority to criminalize the exercise of a constitutional right. The Firearms Regulatory Accountability Coalition (FRAC), based in Bismarck, North Dakota, filed its challenge to ATF’s final rule in District Court. The District Court denied the request for a preliminary injunction, and FRAC has filed an emergency appeal in the Eight Circuit Court of Appeals. “The Rule is especially concerning for Americans with disabilities or otherwise lacking physical strength to comfortably fire pistols, including veterans. Importantly, the Second Amendment protects the rights of all law-abiding adult citizens—not just the strong and able-bodied,” the brief notes. “ATF’s Rule threatens that guarantee in a way that Congress never authorized. Article I of the Constitution vests all legislative power in Congress. Federal agencies may exercise only that power that Congress has granted them. And Congress never granted ATF the authority to regulate pistol braces. It is for Congress—not ATF—to decide whether to regulate them. Thus, amici urge the Court to reverse the district court, grant Appellants’ motion a preliminary injunction, and vacate the ATF Rule,” the brief continues. … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-statement-celebrating-thanksgiving-day | Hoeven Statement Celebrating Thanksgiving Day | 2023-11-23 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven Statement Celebrating Thanksgiving Day BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement today to wish all North Dakotans a happy Thanksgiving: “Thanksgiving Day allows us the opportunity to gather with loved ones and reflect on our many blessings. Today especially, we take time to give thanks for the many blessings this great nation offers us and look to the future with even greater optimism. From Mikey, me and our entire family, we wish everyone in North Dakota and across the country a very happy Thanksgiving.” -###- | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:49:58Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-colleagues-call-on-un-to-designate-hamas-a-terrorist-organization-impose-sanctions | Sen. Cramer, Colleagues Call on UN to Designate Hamas a Terrorist Organization, Impose Sanctions | 2023-11-22 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), joined his colleagues in a bipartisan letter calling on the United Nations (UN) to bring a resolution to the UN Security Council recognizing and imposing sanctions on Hamas as a terrorist organization. The letter highlights Hamas’ continued diversion of aid meant for civilians to fund its operations. They impose import "taxes" on humanitarian consignments; seize and illicitly sell donated goods intended for Palestinian civilians; confiscate donated supplies; and dismantle and repurpose humanitarian facilities to create rockets and missiles, some of which misfire and land in Gaza, causing Palestinian civilian casualties and posing threats to aid workers. “There are multiple consequences of the UN not recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization. First, the lack of a unified voice among the international community risks eroding the UN’s credibility in response to one of the worst terrorist attacks in history. Additionally, as the largest financial contributor to the UN, the U.S. must take urgent action to prevent the flow of funds into the hands of Hamas,” the senators wrote. “The absence of UN sanctions on Hamas is a glaring loophole, circumventing U.S. financial controls, such as the rigorous standards set by the U.S. Department of Treasury, potentially allowing Hamas to evade U.S. sanctions.” “Furthermore, the lack of UN sanctions on Hamas enables them to bolster their capabilities by exploiting international financial channels, including accessing financial systems and soliciting donations from charities,” the senators continued. “We are also concerned that a lack of UN sanctions enables Hamas to divert humanitarian aid for malicious intent, which deprives innocent Palestinian civilians of crucial assistance while simultaneously strengthening offensive capabilities used to attack Israel.” U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), James Lankford (R-OK) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) led the letter in the Senate. Addition… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-statement-fhwa-publishes-final-rule-imposes-greenhouse-gas-emissions-performance-measures-on-state-departments-of-transportations | Sen. Cramer Statement: FHWA Publishes Final Rule, Imposes Greenhouse Gas Emissions Performance Measures on State Departments of Transportations | 2023-11-22 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK — U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, issued the following statement after the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published its final rule, imposing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions performance measures on state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations. Earlier this month, Senator Cramer delivered remarks on the Senate floor regarding his amendment (#1241) to the bipartisan Transportation Appropriations Bill, which would have defunded the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) proposed rule. Click here to watch the full floor speech. The amendment was germane and bipartisan, requiring only 50 votes for passage, but Senate Democrats demanded a 60-vote threshold to ensure its defeat. After he withdrew the amendment, Senator Cramer said he will introduce a Congressional Review Act (CRA) Joint Resolution of Disapproval if the Biden administration finalizes the rule. “As the ranking member of the Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee, I was intimately involved in negotiating and passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The committee specifically debated whether to grant DOT this authority, and the Committee’s unanimously-passed bill chose not to include this poison pill. Once again, the Biden bureaucracy is returning to their stale playbook of inventing illegal, punitive regulatory schemes. They clearly have learned nothing from the Supreme Court, which has made clear: the absence of a prohibition is not a license. This final rule is contrary to congressional intent, usurps state authority by putting the federal government in the driver’s seat, and is fundamentally unworkable in rural states like North Dakota. I look forward to leading a Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval overturning it.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-statement-after-biden-administration-imposes-costly-overreaching-mandates-on-state-dots | Hoeven Statement After Biden Administration Imposes Costly, Overreaching Mandates on State DOTs | 2023-11-22 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven Statement After Biden Administration Imposes Costly, Overreaching Mandates on State DOTs BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement after the Biden administration finalized costly, overreaching emissions mandates on state departments of transportation (DOTs). Specifically, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is reinstating an Obama-era rule to require state DOTs to set and enforce targets for reducing CO2 emissions from vehicle traffic, which would significantly burden state-level investments in roadways, bridges, highways and other transportation projects. Earlier this year, Hoeven and his colleagues called on the FHWA to rescind the proposed rule, stressing that the agency does not have the required authority from Congress to impose such a mandate. “This rule undermines our nation’s ability to make cost-effective upgrades and repairs to our roads, bridges and other transportation systems, increasing the burden on taxpayers and hampering our economic growth,” said Hoeven. “The Biden administration continues to force our nation down the wrong path, while reaching well beyond the authority provided by Congress. Instead, we should be providing regulatory relief and respecting states’ role in building the safe and efficient transportation infrastructure needed to support our economy and quality of life.” -###- | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:49:58Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-hhs-awards-2059750-to-southeastern-north-dakota-community-action-agency | Sen. Cramer: HHS Awards $2,059,750 to Southeastern North Dakota Community Action Agency | 2023-11-21 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded a total of $2,059,750 to the Southeastern North Dakota Community Action Agency (SENDCAA) for Head Start projects. The SENDCAA Head Start and Early Head Start programs provide comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to children from birth to five years of age and their families. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-speaks-with-general-allvin-denounces-political-activism-in-the-military | Sen. Cramer Speaks with General Allvin, Denounces Political Activism in the Military | 2023-11-21 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | ***Click here to download audio.*** BISMARCK — U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), spoke with Chief of Staff of the Air Force General David Allvin regarding Minot Air Force Base’s biased and misguided official communication warning Airmen against participating in the Dakota Patriot Rally held in Minot on Friday, November 17. The rally celebrated traditional conservative values, yet the Air Force message labeled the organizers as “alt-right” and stated participation “could jeopardize their continued service in the U.S. military.” During their conversation, General Allvin described the sequence of events which led to the misinformation and stated Minot Air Force Base issued an internal correction 52 minutes after the message was sent. However, Minot Air Force Base did not issue a statement on its official website and Facebook page until Tuesday at 2:19 p.m. Eastern time, four days later. Senator Cramer believes the base should have made the correction on its official channels right away instead of waiting until mainstream media issued a story. He remains frustrated with the extreme, left-leaning political activism alive in the Department of Defense and is concerned with the military’s inability to prioritize warfighting. “I had a cordial, intense telephone call with the Chief of Staff of the Air Force General David Allvin, about troublesome communications from the Minot Air Force Base. It's disgusting to me that anybody in our Air Force today would consider a Turning Point USA event anything other than a pro-American, patriotic, and frankly, pro-military group. During our call, General Allvin laid out the timeline of events and corrections, but it wasn’t adequate, and a greater apology is needed. The Air Force should apologize to Turning Point, to the greater Minot community, and to the God-fearing Americans who hold the same traditional conservative values. “The continued leftward march of our military is exactly what our adversaries and enemies of liberty w… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-cramer-statement-minot-afb-leaders-were-wrong-to-dissuade-servicemembers-from-politically-conservative-rally | Senator Cramer Statement: Minot AFB Leaders Were Wrong to Dissuade Servicemembers from Politically Conservative Rally | 2023-11-21 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | ***Click here to download audio.*** BISMARCK — U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), issued the following statement after Minot Air Force Base leadership sent a message to servicemembers warning them of the dangers associated with being near the Dakota Patriot Rally held at the state fairgrounds in Minot. The message warned that “participation with groups such as Turning Point Action could jeopardize their continued service in the U.S. military.” “First of all, if somebody disguised as a ‘leader’ at Minot Air Force Base actually put out this hyper partisan left wing political message, they need to rescind it immediately. They need to apologize for it profusely and then they need to encourage the airmen at Minot Air Force Base who are inclined to attend a conservative, traditional American values rally to do exactly that and bring a friend. Then that leader, the so-called leader needs to be removed from their position. “Unfortunately, these left wing political messages are way too common in our military these days, and that needs to be stopped. We need to get our military focused on what they’re supposed to be doing, and that is their own mission. They all have a collective mission and individual missions. At Minot, they just happen to carry the heavy burden, responsibility, and great honor of having two of the three legs of the nuclear triad. In other words, they are as responsible, if not more responsible than anybody in the world for deterring our enemies: the enemies of freedom, the enemies of America, and the enemies of America’s allies. We need them to get focused on that and get off of the DEI woke nonsense that’s infiltrated our military, and now infiltrated North Dakota. Let’s get to the mission.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-commonspirit-health-to-provide-investment-plan-for-devils-lake-hospital | Hoeven: CommonSpirit Health to Provide Investment Plan for Devils Lake Hospital | 2023-11-21 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven: CommonSpirit Health to Provide Investment Plan for Devils Lake Hospital Senator Convenes Community Meeting in Devils Lake with CommonSpirit Health Midwest CEO, State, Local, Tribal & Health Care Leaders DEVILS LAKE, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today held a community meeting in Devils Lake to discuss the need for improved access to quality health care in the region. The discussion builds on a series of meetings that Hoeven has held with local leaders and health care professionals to identify and advance community-driven solutions to ensure the best possible care for residents in the area: Hoeven secured an agreement from CommonSpirit Health to provide the community with an investment plan for hospital facilities in the Lake Region. Enhancements to the Devils Lake Hospital will start in December, including a new emergency room. A master plan will be provided for the community to review by February. In addition, representatives from Essentia Health attending the meeting agreed to provide a plan by February of what a new health care facility could look like for the Lake Region. Participants in today’s discussion included: Tim Bricker, President and CEO, CommonSpirit Health Midwest Division. Mariann Doeling, President, CHI St. Alexius Health Devils Lake. Jim Moe, Mayor, City of Devils Lake. Spencer Halvorson, City Administrator, City of Devils Lake. Kevin Dauphinais, Director, Spirit Lake Tribal Health. Dixie Omen, CEO, Spirit Lake Health Center. Sarah Aker, Executive Director, North Dakota Medical Services Division. Maria Neset, Senior Policy Advisory for Governor Burgum. Dr. Mark Thompson, President, Essentia Health–West Market. Todd Forkel, CEO, Altru Health System. Hoeven insisted on holding this community meeting, following a visit he arranged with Bricker to Devils Lake Hospital last month, to ensure local residents can give direct feedback to CommonSpirit Health. Earlier this year, Hoeven also met with CommonSpirit Health CEO Wright Lassiter III in Washington, D.C. to outline the commu… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:49:58Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/11/17/2023/sen-cramer-rail-companies-issue-status-reports-on-grain-car-backlog | Sen. Cramer: Rail Companies Issue Status Reports on Grain Car Backlog | 2023-11-17 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced BNSF Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) publicly filed weekly grain backlog status updates as required by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB). A summary of the reporting data specific to North Dakota from the last 10 weeks is below. Following STB’s April 2022 hearing on “Urgent Issues in Freight Rail Service,” BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway, and Union Pacific submitted service recovery plans, which identified actions to improve service and metrics to track progress toward such improvements. On June 3, 2022 the STB started requiring BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway, and Union Pacific to file service progress reports further explaining efforts to correct service deficiencies. On June 15, 2022, the STB started requiring all Class I railroads to report employment data. The STB extended the initial six-month reporting period for weekly performance and employment data until December 31, 2023. It has since modified CSX's reporting requirements to exempt the railroad from weekly progress reports, as it consistently meets the STB's service improvement targets. Grain Car Backlog Status Report: Click here to access the data. Background: In May 2022, Senator Cramer led 20 colleagues in a letter urging the STB to ensure reliable, consistent rail service for American industries and shippers. “We are very concerned over the significant rail service disruptions occurring throughout the U.S. freight rail network. Reports from rail customers, including our manufacturers, farmers, ranchers, and energy producers, indicate reliable rail service is not being provided in many situations,” wrote the senators. The letter also outlines concerns and issues raised by customers and labor organizations at STB’s April hearing on “Urgent Issues in Freight Rail Service” from agricultural producers and grain shippers unable to get empty railcars leading to significant delays in delivering commodities to energy produce… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-discusses-china-climate-deal-10-billion-iran-sanctions-waiver-on-fox-business | Sen. Cramer Discusses China Climate Deal, $10 Billion Iran Sanctions Waiver on Fox Business | 2023-11-17 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | ***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, joined David Asman on Fox Business to discuss the climate agreement between the U.S. and China to reduce emissions of methane and other greenhouse gases. The agreement was announced following a meeting this week between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping. Additionally, they discussed the administration’s recent move to reissue a sanctions waiver, giving Iran access to more than $10 billion. Excerpts and video below. On the U.S., China Climate Agreement: “I am disgusted by it. If you're leaning on John Kerry for counsel, it doesn't matter how tough you are, or how bright you might think you are. John Kerry has been on a mission to transfer his climate guilt and environmental guilt to polluting countries for a couple of decades now. […] Once again, we get rolled by dictators, despots, and terrorists, while our president runs around the country pretending he's some sort of geopolitical expert, and all he does is he just caves to them, and they roll over us. It's disgusting.” “It's very much a subsidy for China while they pollute the world and so we're going to feel better about ourselves by having more electric vehicles and battery charged, battery run cars, solar panels—all of which are made by very, very filthy operations in China—making us further dependent on an enemy, another critical supply chain that we've acquiesced to our adversary. By the way, this deal they're bragging about has no teeth. It's unbinding in every way, and even if it was binding, David, as we know, the Chinese Communist Party does not keep up their end of the bargain. So, there is no deal with them that’s good.” On U.S. Reducing Green House Gas Emissions: “We should also just stop beating up on ourselves. The United States has reduced greenhouse gas emissions more in the last decade than the next eight reducing countries combined. We literally now have less than a third of… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-epa-awards-over-400000-to-reduce-diesel-emissions-in-north-dakota | Sen. Cramer: EPA Awards Over $400,000 to Reduce Diesel Emissions in North Dakota | 2023-11-17 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, announced the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a total of $410,409 to the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality. This grant, through the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Program seeks to reduce diesel emissions and exposure throughout North Dakota. This project will support the replacement of highway vehicles and school buses with newer, cleaner vehicles to reduce emissions of diesel particulate matter and other pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-cramer-leads-bicameral-to-epa-abide-by-eighth-circuit-ruling-allow-safe-use-of-chlorpyrifos | Senator Cramer Leads Bicameral Letter to EPA: Abide by Eighth Circuit Ruling, Allow Safe Use of Chlorpyrifos | 2023-11-17 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, led a bicameral letter with U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) and U.S. Representative Mark Alford (R-MO-04) to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), regarding the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit’s recent ruling in Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association et al. v. Michael Regan. The Eighth Circuit’s ruling vacated the EPA’s August 2021 Final Rule which revoked all tolerances for chlorpyrifos. The Eighth Circuit found EPA’s ban to be “arbitrary and capricious.” The ruling noted the use of chlorpyrifos has played a large role in American agriculture for more than half a century. Before the EPA’s 2021 ban, agricultural use of chlorpyrifos had passed multiple safety reviews. “The court has spoken and, consistent with its decision, we believe farmers should have access to this critical tool for the 2024 growing season. EPA should follow the court’s ruling and immediately allow safe uses of chlorpyrifos,” wrote the senators. “EPA should move expeditiously to follow the court’s direction that vacates the revocation rule,” continued the senators. “Protecting the use of critical crop protection tools, like chlorpyrifos, is of the utmost importance as our nation continues to make strides towards bolstering a strong domestic food supply, especially in the wake of a global pandemic and record inflation. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.” Additional cosigners include U.S. Senators Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Katie Britt (R-AL), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Boozman (R-AR), James Lankford (R-OK), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Mike Braun (R-IN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), John Thune (R-SD), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), John Barrasso (R-WY), Mike Rounds (R-SD), John Hoeven (R-ND), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and Steve Daines (R-MT), and U.S. Re… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-harris-urge-ag-secretary-to-revise-2022-disaster-relief-policies-ensure-broad-based-assistance | Hoeven, Harris Urge Ag Secretary to Revise 2022 Disaster Relief Policies, Ensure Broad-Based Assistance | 2023-11-17 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven, Harris Urge Ag Secretary to Revise 2022 Disaster Relief Policies, Ensure Broad-Based Assistance Ranking Member and Chairman of Senate & House Ag Appropriations Push Back on Policies Limiting Disaster Aid, Shortchanging Producers with Worst Losses WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Congressman Andy Harris (R-Md.) this week urged Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to reconsider policies that will limit the effectiveness of disaster relief that Congress provided to agriculture producers for losses occurring in 2022. In their roles as ranking member and chairman of the Agriculture Appropriations Committees in the Senate and House, Hoeven and Harris worked to secure more than $3.7 billion in annual funding legislation to help farmers and ranchers recover from natural disasters, mirroring assistance provided under the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) in 2020 and 2021. However, under ERP 2022, USDA made significant changes to the program that run counter to statute and Congressional intent, including: Applying a “progressive” payment factor that penalizes the producers with the largest losses. In 2020 and 2021, ERP utilized a flat payment factor, which ensured producers were reimbursed at the same rate regardless of losses. Providing a crop insurance premium reimbursement only to socially-disadvantaged, limited-resource, beginning and veteran farmers and ranchers. In contrast, statute requires that USDA provide a crop insurance premium reimbursement to all producers receiving ERP assistance, as was done under previous iterations of the program. “Farmers and ranchers faced a myriad of weather-related challenges in 2022. Wildfires, hurricanes, drought and other natural disasters caused billions in losses for American producers,” wrote Hoeven and Harris. “We are deeply concerned about recent program modifications announced for ERP 2022. This includes the department’s decision to reimburse crop insurance premiums for only a select group of producers. Congress intended for all producers to receive a p… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:49:58Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-joins-moran-hagerty-colleagues-in-calling-on-biden-administration-to-enforce-sanctions-on-iran | Hoeven Joins Moran, Hagerty, Colleagues in Calling on Biden Administration to Enforce Sanctions on Iran | 2023-11-17 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven Joins Moran, Hagerty, Colleagues in Calling on Biden Administration to Enforce Sanctions on Iran WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven joined U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and colleagues in calling on President Biden to immediately enforce oil sanctions on Iran as mandated by Congress and permanently freeze the $6 billion funding mechanism established in September’s hostage agreement with Iran. Joining Hoeven, Moran and Hagerty in signing this letter are Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R- W.V.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.). The full letter can be read here and below: Dear President Biden: We write to you during a time of global outrage and sorrow following Hamas’s unprecedented massacre in Israel which has left 1,400 dead, including at least 33 Americans. Iran’s fingerprints are all over the events of October 7th and ensuing escalations across the Middle East. Its leaders have provided Hamas and Hezbollah hundreds of millions of dollars in funding, weapons, and training, bolstering terrorists on Israel’s borders. For far too long, Iran has evaded consequence for its complacency in funding radical terror. To prevent further atrocities and to fulfill our promise of providing unwavering support to our most important ally in the Middle East, we urge your administration to take the necessary means in severing financial avenues available to Iran, specifically cracking down on oil exports. We ask that you take immediate action to permanently freeze the funding mechanism established in September’s hostage deal with Iran. This $6 billion would free up money for Iran to use not for the well-being of its own people but for nefarious purposes in the region and beyond. Block… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:49:58Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-applauds-motor-coach-industries-decision-to-continue-operations | Sen. Cramer Applauds Motor Coach Industries Decision to Continue Operations | 2023-11-16 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement after the NFI Group, which is the parent company of Motor Coach Industries (MCI), announced it will continue operations at its facility in Pembina, North Dakota. “Reversing the previously-planned closure of the MCI plant is a significant win for the Pembina area. I am grateful the NFI Group recognized the value we provide in North Dakota and reconsidered their decision.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-fema-awards-more-than-13-million-to-dakota-valley-electric-cooperative | Sen. Cramer: FEMA Awards More Than $1.3 Million to Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative | 2023-11-16 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) applauded the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) award of $1,378,043.21 to Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative. The award will go towards permanent repairs as a result of a severe winter storm, snowstorm, and straight-line winds from November 9, 2022 through November 11, 2022. The Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative provides power service throughout parts of three counties in North Dakota. This severe weather caused damage to the power generation, transmission, and distribution system, leaving residents without power within their jurisdiction. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-cramer-named-as-ndaa-conference-conferee-unanimously-passed-motion-to-instruct-in-support-of-isr | Senator Cramer Named as NDAA Conference Conferee, Unanimously Passed Motion to Instruct in Support of ISR | 2023-11-16 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), was appointed to be a conferee to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Committee. The NDAA Conference Committee is tasked with reconciling the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill authorizing the nation’s defense priorities for Fiscal Year 2024 before final passage. Senator Cramer was able to get several North Dakota priorities in the Senate’s bill which passed on July 27, 2023. Last night, he succeeded in passing a strong Motion to Instruct (MTI), in support of development and funding for future airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities in the Air Force. The passage of this MTI is an instruction to his fellow Senate Conferees: ISR must remain a high priority in the final bill. Cramer’s motion passed the Senate unanimously. Senator Cramer authored the MTI out of concern the Air Force is quick to divest ISR platforms even in the face of long timelines to develop replacement capabilities, and there is risk future airborne ISR programs will not be fully funded. For years, the Air Force has pushed to divest older airborne ISR platforms such as the MC-12, MQ-1, RQ-4, MQ-9, U-2, while not investing in anything to replace them. The Happy Hooligans in Fargo and the 319th Reconnaissance Wing in Grand Forks provide much-needed ISR to the military. Both the House and Senate versions of the NDAA include critical language in support of the Air Force’s ISR mission. The MTI reemphasizes the need to maintain these investments throughout the negotiation. “We have recently seen what happens when ISR fails to predict an attack. Providing the President, Congress, and the Pentagon the tools they need to prevent and mitigate future conflicts and enable the warfighter to win the battle is critical to our national security,” said Senator Cramer. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to create a strong, comprehensive defense bill both chambers can supp… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-cramer-klobuchar-co-lead-legislation-supporting-national-adoption-month-and-day | Sens. Cramer, Klobuchar Co-Lead Legislation Supporting National Adoption Month and Day | 2023-11-16 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK – U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Senate co-chairs of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption (CCA), introduced the Supporting Adopted Children and Families Act to enhance pre- and post- adoption support services. Senator Cramer also co-led a resolution recognizing November as National Adoption Month and November 18th as National Adoption Day. “As adoptive parents, my wife Kris and I are keenly aware of the many blessings of adoption. It is crucial to pass policies ensuring children receive the support and unconditional love of a permanent family,” said Senator Cramer. “Recognizing National Adoption Month and Day is an important opportunity to promote adoption, and these pieces of legislation will offer adoptive families and their children the resources and support before, during, and after the process.” “We’re grateful for the dedication and commitment of adoptive families who open their homes and hearts to children,” said Senator Klobuchar. “Every child deserves a safe, stable, and loving place to call home. That’s why as co-chair of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, I will continue to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to raise awareness about adoption and improve the adoption process for families and children across our country.” The Supporting Adopted Children and Families Act The Supporting Adopted Children and Families Act, co-led by Senators Cramer and Klobuchar, aims to decrease failed adoptions by enhancing pre- and post- adoption support services and clarifying the definitions for eligible uses for federal adoption funding. The legislation also authorizes a program to award grants and cooperative agreements to states and tribes supporting mental health services for adoptees and their families. National Adoption Month and Day Resolution This resolution marks November as National Adoption Month and November 18th as National Adoption Day, promotes national awareness of adoption and the children awaiting families, while also celebrating childr… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-notified-by-mci-that-operations-will-continue-at-pembina-facility | Hoeven Notified by MCI that Operations Will Continue at Pembina Facility | 2023-11-16 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven Notified by MCI that Operations Will Continue at Pembina Facility Senator Welcomes Decision to Maintain, Invest in North Dakota Facility PEMBINA, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after being notified by Motor Coach Industries’ (MCI) parent company, NFI Group, that it will continue operations at its facility in Pembina, North Dakota. Hoeven has spoken repeatedly with MCI President Chris Stoddart since the company announced the planned closure, outlining the importance of the facility to the region’s economy and working to identify ways to keep it in operation. Hoeven also led the North Dakota congressional delegation in urging MCI to reconsider closing the plant. “This is tremendous news for the community of Pembina and the surrounding region, which will not only have the existing jobs maintained, but will see additional investment brought to the MCI facility,” said Hoeven. “We are pleased that MCI has listened to our calls and decided to remain in North Dakota, and we look forward to our continued efforts together to meet the workforce and operational needs of this and other businesses. This is exactly why we worked to build a good business climate in our state that enables us to both attract and retain skilled workers and companies.” -###- | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:49:58Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-epa-awards-15-million-to-spirit-lake-tribe-for-solid-waste-infrastructure-recycling | Sen. Cramer: EPA Awards $1.5 Million to Spirit Lake Tribe for Solid Waste Infrastructure, Recycling | 2023-11-15 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a total of $1,500,000 to the Spirit Lake Reservation to reduce waste collection, increase recycling, and improve transportation and disposal programs. This grant, funded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), will support the hiring and training of transfer station staff, the acquisition of materials and equipment, and expand recycling opportunities. “Our lands and reservations must be preserved and protected, and this critical funding will help Spirit Lake with the resources it needs to have an efficient waste and recycling collection system,” said Senator Cramer. Overall, EPA Region 8 has announced six selectees to receive more than $6.9 million through the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Program. This program provides funding to states for the solid waste infrastructure and outreach projects. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-highlights-his-bipartisan-prove-it-act-at-epw-committee-hearing | Sen. Cramer Highlights His Bipartisan PROVE IT Act at EPW Committee Hearing | 2023-11-15 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | “Looks to me like PROVE IT is sort of the low hanging fruit in this group.” ***Click here to download video. Click here to download audio.*** WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), during a Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee hearing, questioned Dr. Abigail Regitsky, Senior Manager of U.S. Policy and Advocacy at Breakthrough Energy, Dr. Leah Ellis, CEO and Co-founder of Sublime Systems, Inc., and Shannon Angielski, President of the Clean Hydrogen Future Coalition, on his bipartisan Providing Reliable, Objective, Verifiable Emissions Intensity and Transparency (PROVE IT) Act. The PROVE IT Act will protect and reward American workers for their contributions to our economic, environmental, and national security strengths by providing the data to show the United States’ carbon advantage. Click Here to Watch From 2000 to 2016, the U.S. reduced emissions more than the next eight emissions-reducing countries combined. According to data compiled by CLC, goods manufactured in the U.S. are 40% more carbon-efficient than the world average, but the U.S. imports 75% of its goods from less carbon-efficient countries. Senator Cramer reiterated our domestic energy policy is often punitive towards the U.S. and turns a blind eye to the worst global polluters. Senator Cramer began his questioning by asking all three witnesses to share their thoughts on the value of the PROVE IT Act and its impact on domestic production. “I don't know that we can move forward as easily until we start proving that we are more carbon efficient than the rest of the world,” said Senator Cramer. “We've actually done a lot to bring down CO2 emissions in the United States, we really have been innovative. Rather than buying more steel from China, how about more steel from West Virginia or Indiana? Or how about proving that a Bakken barrel of oil is cleaner than a Venezuelan barrel of oil… I think we beat ourselves up too much.” “Data is really the kind of first piece of the puzzle to start proving that indeed much of U.S. prod… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-statement-senators-vote-for-resolution-in-disapproval-of-unconstitutional-loan-repayment-plan | Sen. Cramer Statement: Senators Vote for Resolution in Disapproval of Unconstitutional Loan Repayment Plan | 2023-11-15 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) released the following statement after voting in favor of S.J.Res.43, a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval of the U.S. Department of Education’s final rule, which overhauled Income Driven Repayment (IDR) plans for student loan borrowers. Upon implementation, this rule will be the administration’s most expensive student loan repayment plan to date. The resolution, introduced by U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), failed the Senate by a vote of 49 to 50. “The Biden administration was undeterred after its Supreme Court student loan forgiveness loss, so it concocted unlawful changes to the loan repayment program without the legal authority do so. Instead of reserving the program for borrowers who actually struggle to repay their loans, it opened the floodgates to effectively guarantee no borrower will ever fully repay their loans. Today’s vote was a vote to put an end to this backdoor loan forgiveness nonsense and to send a clear signal that responsible borrowing matters.” On July 3, 2023, the Department of Education published this rule, which has already led to nearly $50 billion in loan forgiveness. The Department estimates this rule will cost $156 billion over the next 10 years, an increase from their $137 billion estimate in the proposed rule. The plan significantly reduces the amount students have to repay the federal government by 40%. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-cramer-statement-on-senate-passage-of-funding-bill-to-avert-a-government-shutdown-and-extension-of-the-farm-bill | Senator Cramer Statement on Senate Passage of Funding Bill to Avert a Government Shutdown and Extension of the Farm Bill | 2023-11-15 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statements after voting for the Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. This continuing resolution (CR), which passed the Senate by a vote of 87 to 11, extends funding in the Agriculture, Energy and Water, Military-Construction/Veterans, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriation bills until January 19, 2024 and extends the remaining funding through February 4, 2024. “Passing this continuing resolution gives Congress more time to work through regular order and pass legislation all members had a role in debating and amending, instead of being jammed with a massive, partisan omnibus crafted by only a few. Congress should have finished these bills months ago, but I remain committed to doing the hard work needed to get the job done.” Additionally, the continuing resolution extends the 2018-passed Farm Bill through September 30, 2024. This extension maintains existing policy and prevents a reversion to permanent law under the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 and the Agricultural Act of 1949. By preventing a reversion to permanent law, Congress protected critical commodity programs which provide financial support to producers in the event of price or revenue declines, extended trade facilitation programs designed to expand markets for American crops, and continued providing specialty crop block grants to state departments of agriculture. “The Farm Bill is an essential piece of legislation for North Dakota. 90 percent of our state’s land is dedicated to farming and ranching, and we lead the nation in the production of a dozen commodities. I am dedicated to the passage of a comprehensive farm bill reauthorization, but this one-year extension is much better than a lapse in programs. The committee now has more time and room to negotiate a complete farm bill, benefitting all of North Dakota’s agriculture community.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-joins-risch-colleagues-in-calling-on-president-biden-to-hold-china-accountable-not-make-concessions | Hoeven Joins Risch, Colleagues in Calling on President Biden to Hold China Accountable, Not Make Concessions | 2023-11-15 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven Joins Risch, Colleagues in Calling on President Biden to Hold China Accountable, Not Make Concessions WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven joined Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senate Republican colleagues in releasing the following statement ahead of the meeting between President Biden and President Xi Jinping during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit. “There is no such thing as ‘healthy’ economic competition with China. That reality should be obvious to the casual observer after decades of China’s rampant intellectual property theft, massive subsidization of key industries, and coercive treatment of U.S.-based and international firms. “The United States should not throw any sort of economic lifeline to Xi Jinping after the mess he has made of the Chinese economy. If we are serious about competing with China, we should focus on hardening our economy against China’s abuses and on pursuing initiatives with willing partners that actually create opportunity. China wants not only to harm U.S. national security, but also to undermine our economic prosperity. For the CCP, there is no distinction. The Biden Administration’s belief otherwise shows it thinks we can still change China – a belief that is divorced from reality. “Biden agreeing to another Xi meeting without the release of wrongfully detained Americans and any commitments by China on fentanyl is astounding. Lopsided economic engagement should not be of greater priority than securing the release of Mark Swidan, David Lin, and Kai Li. These men have suffered for far too long and deserve to come home to their families immediately. The parade of Biden Administration officials through China in the nine months since it sent a surveillance balloon across the United States has not yielded the release of these Americans – and sadly it does not appear that the Biden-Xi meeting will yield their release either. “Finally, it is paramount that Biden and his administration don’t give an inch on U.S… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:49:58Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-votes-for-resolution-to-repeal-biden-administrations-costly-student-loan-repayment-overhaul | Hoeven Votes for Resolution to Repeal Biden Administration’s Costly Student Loan Repayment Overhaul | 2023-11-15 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven Votes for Resolution to Repeal Biden Administration’s Costly Student Loan Repayment Overhaul WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after voting for a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval to repeal the Biden administration’s costly student loan repayment overhaul. Under the administration’s plan, taxpayers would pick up the full cost for nearly two-thirds of student loan borrowers. The resolution was blocked by a vote of 49-50. “There are real steps we can take to help workers pay off their student debt, get assistance to those who need it and make college more affordable. However, this costly and overbroad proposal from the Biden administration would provide blanket loan forgiveness regardless of ability to pay while requiring taxpayers and those who already paid back their loans to pick up the tab,” said Hoeven. Hoeven has worked to advance measures that will improve the affordability of higher education while giving workers more options to help repay their student loans. His efforts include: Cosponsoring the following legislation: Employer Participation in Repayment Act, which was signed into law and allows employers to provide tax-free student loan repayment up to $5,250 per year. Jumpstart Our Businesses by Supporting Students (JOBS) Act, a bill to make Pell grants more flexible by extending Pell eligibility to students pursuing high-quality, shorter-term job training programs that meet regional workforce needs. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, working to ensure strong support for Pell grants to help get financial assistance for higher education to those who need it most. -###- | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:49:58Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/-icymi-sen-cramer-op-ed-immigration-reform-promotes-a-healthy-workforce | ICYMI: Sen. Cramer Op-Ed: Immigration Reform Promotes a Healthy Workforce | 2023-11-14 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), penned an op-ed in the Forum emphasizing the need for merit-based immigration reform to better support rural states like North Dakota in hiring highly-skilled, foreign-trained doctors to help fill open positions in hospitals and clinics across the country after introducing the bipartisan Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act. This legislation makes a limited number of green cards available to qualified immigrant doctors and nurses to address critical healthcare workforce shortages, allotting up to 25,000 immigrant visas for nurses and up to 15,000 immigrant visas for physicians. Additionally, this legislation requires employers to attest immigrants from overseas who receive these visas will not displace an American worker. Eligible immigrant medical professionals will need to meet licensing requirements, pay filing fees, and clear rigorous national security and criminal history background checks before they can receive recaptured green cards. “Most of the conversation around immigration to the United States gets caught up in the lawlessness of the southern border, and rightfully so. The Biden administration has turned a blind eye to the law of the land, making legal, commonsense immigration reforms all the more difficult. But real needs exist, and bipartisan solutions are available if Washington would follow the law and focus on policies designed to welcome the workforce our communities need,” wrote Senator Cramer. “In North Dakota, we rely on thousands of highly-skilled immigrants, especially for our rural health care. About a quarter of the physicians in our state are foreign-trained doctors who disproportionately serve in rural areas. We still have fewer physicians per 10,000 residents than most of the country, and we have more than 15 counties without a single primary care physician. This creates a challenging environment for a patient’s consistent and timely access to care. However, it also provides an opportunity to connect foreign trained healthcare professio… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-cramer-delivers-remarks-to-american-highway-users-alliance | Senator Cramer Delivers Remarks to American Highway Users Alliance | 2023-11-14 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | ***Click here for photos.*** WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, delivered remarks at the American Highway Users Alliance’s annual meeting. He spoke about the EPW Committee’s work developing the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act, which later became the foundation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), emphasizing the importance of this investment for our nation’s economy. “One of the greatest aspects of being the Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee is I get to work on supply side economics aimed at tamping down this administration’s terrible inflation. It was a blessing to work on the bipartisan infrastructure law to promote projects to improve North Dakotans' lives and the movement of goods across the country,” said Senator Cramer. “Implementation of the bill is now critical, reigning in bureaucrats’ wishes by keeping them within the confines of the law. The Department of Transportation must remember the absence of a prohibition is not a license. Thank you to Highway Users Alliance for your engagement, guidance, and persistence with me and my colleagues, advocating for supply side economics and the efficient delivery of goods to consumers.” Senator Cramer also spoke on the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Performance Measure rule and highlighted his recent efforts to prevent the administration from promulgating this illegal and disastrous policy mandate. He reiterated his commitment to introducing a Congressional Review Act (CRA) Joint Resolution of Disapproval if the Biden administration finalizes the rule and discussed spearheading an Amicus Brief should the rule be litigated in court. Earlier this month, Senator Cramer led an amendment to the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2024 to defund the proposed rule. The amendment was germane and bipartisan,… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-cramer-hickenlooper-introduce-legislation-to-eliminate-ineffective-per-country-visa-caps-prioritize-merit-based-immigration | Sens. Cramer, Hickenlooper Introduce Legislation to Eliminate Ineffective Per-Country Visa Caps, Prioritize Merit-Based Immigration | 2023-11-14 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) introduced the Equal Access to Green Cards for Legal Employment (EAGLE) Act, legislation which would allow employers in the United States to focus on hiring immigrants based on their merits, rather than their birthplace. Most prospective employment-based immigrants currently live and work in America on temporary visas while waiting for a visa to become available. Some of these individuals remain in temporary status for several years due to the caps applied to their country of nationality. This legislation would ease the backlog for those who wait the longest. Specifically, the EAGLE Act would phase out the 7% per-country limit on employment-based immigrant visas, while raising the 7% per-country limit on family-sponsored visas to 15%. “In rural states like North Dakota, highly skilled immigrant doctors and nurses play a critical role in our healthcare workforce, sometimes providing the only specialty care available in the area,” said Senator Cramer. “Per-country caps are nonsensical, and it’s past time our immigration policies reflected a skills-based approach.” “Arbitrary caps on employment-based visas are holding back our economy when so many industries are hurting for workers,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “This bill is a commonsense fix to our immigration system that will reduce visa backlogs, and fill gaps in our workforce.” “The EAGLE Act is a win-win for America and Americans. Similar common-sense provisions passed both bodies of Congress with broad bipartisan support in 116th Congress. This bill makes the system more merit based. The bill transitions the allocation of employment based green cards to a first-come, first served application while not unduly burdening foreign nationals from countries that were accustomed to special treatment and having no wait time at all to receive green cards due to discriminatory per country limits. The bill ensures that American workers are made the top-priority for hiring by all U.S. companies… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-cramer-king-introduce-legislation-to-protect-gi-educational-benefits | Sens. Cramer, King Introduce Legislation to Protect GI Educational Benefits | 2023-11-14 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) in co-leading the Safeguarding VA Dependent Education Benefits Act of 2023. This legislation protects the GI educational benefits of a spouse or dependent whose benefits would be terminated as a result of a servicemember being convicted or dishonorably discharged for domestic or sexual assault. Under current law, dependent victims may lose transferred education benefits if their servicemember perpetrator is discharged due to dishonorable service. “Families of servicemembers make many sacrifices in the service of supporting our country. These dependents rely on transferred GI educational benefits and stripping this benefit revictimizes them. Our support for servicemembers extends to their families, and this is a small step to support victims of domestic violence,” said Senator Cramer. “Education should never come at the expense of one’s safety or wellbeing,” said Senator King. “The Safeguarding VA Depending Education Benefits of 2023 will help survivors of abuse feel empowered to speak up while ensuring they’re still able to access critical education benefits. The entire family serves when a military member signs up to serve and we owe it to them to provide the upmost support and protection.” "Victims of domestic abuse have already been physically and emotionally betrayed. They shouldn't also have to lose the education benefits they were counting on to make their lives better," said Besa Pinchotti, CEO of the National Military Family Association. "Senators King and Cramer introducing this bill gives hope to military spouses and children who silently serve our country and are fighting for a better future." "Protect Our Defenders fiercely supports Senators King and Cramer in their recognition and efforts to reinstate educational benefits for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence,” said Adelaide Kahn-Fowler, Director of Programs & Policy, Protect Our Defender. “Too often family members of service members who experience… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-lujan-introduce-legislation-to-improve-doe/usda-coordination-address-ag-research-needs | Hoeven, Luján Introduce Legislation to Improve DOE/USDA Coordination, Address Ag Research Needs | 2023-11-14 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven, Luján Introduce Legislation to Improve DOE/USDA Coordination, Address Ag Research Needs WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) today introduced the Department of Energy (DOE) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Interagency Research Act to require interagency collaboration on key agricultural research needs as well as on issues such as electric grid modernization, rural technology development and environmental science. The bipartisan legislation leverages the DOE National Lab system to help USDA meet the wide-ranging challenges facing the agricultural sector, stewardship of public lands and economic opportunity in rural America. This legislation will also improve U.S. competitiveness on agricultural research and development compared to China and the EU, and build on successful DOE-USDA initiatives. “In North Dakota, our two biggest industries are energy and agriculture, and we’ve found innovative ways to connect these industries and create value-added opportunities for both our agriculture and energy producers,” said Senator Hoeven. “This legislation will help strengthen the research partnership between the Department of Energy and the U.S Department of Agriculture to expand the nexus between the two foundational industries of ag and energy.” “New Mexico is blessed to have a thriving agriculture sector, expansive public lands, and National Labs right in our backyard. With such resources at our disposal, it’s critical we capitalize on every opportunity to harness the power of our National Labs to further groundbreaking research,” said Senator Luján. “That’s why I’m proud to join Senator Hoeven to introduce this bipartisan bill that will boost our public lands and agricultural industry by improving coordination with DOE and USDA. This legislation will help codify this partnership and ensure our Labs are being used to their full potential to support the USDA and the challenges facing our farmers, ranchers, and producers.” Representatives Frank Lucas (R-Ok… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:49:58Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-colleagues-request-withdrawal-of-basel-iii-endgame-proposal | Sen. Cramer, Colleagues Request Withdrawal of Basel III Endgame Proposal | 2023-11-13 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, joined his colleagues in a letter regarding the recent Basel III Endgame proposal issued jointly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. In response to the financial crisis from 2007 to 2009, Basel III Endgame was created to set the standards for capital reserves, liquidity, and leverage at financial institutions. As proposed, Basel III Endgame would restrict billions of dollars in capital from the institutions who need it most, resulting in more limited access to credit for millions of Americans. “This would create severe, adverse impacts on the entire U.S. economy, from every day American consumers to the small businesses that are the backbone of our economy,” the senators wrote. “Ultimately, these large increases in capital have not been shown to be evidentially based as the Federal Reserve, FDIC, and OCC have failed to provide proper analysis or data to justify their merits, particularly around the costs they will impose throughout all sectors of the economy. In fact, we have heard widespread concerns regarding the negative impacts that Basel III could have not only on affordable housing but on mortgage lending writ large, small business lending, and consumer lending.” “As American consumers continue to struggle with persistently high inflation, reduced access to affordable homeownership, and a slowing economy driven by the reckless spending of the Biden administration, any proposed changes to our bank regulatory framework must be based on demonstrable benefits and needs, not pre-determined agendas which will only serve to harm the economy and consumers alike,” the senators concluded. “Accordingly, we urge you to withdraw the Basel III Endgame proposal as written and urge the Federal Reserve, the FDIC, and the OCC to operate in a more transparent and justified manner.” Additional … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-travels-to-israel-in-show-of-support-pledges-to-work-with-key-ally-to-defeat-terrorist-threats | Hoeven Travels to Israel in Show of Support, Pledges to Work with Key Ally to Defeat Terrorist Threats | 2023-11-13 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven Travels to Israel in Show of Support, Pledges to Work with Key Ally to Defeat Terrorist Threats Senator, Bipartisan, Bicameral Delegation Meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israeli Leaders WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, this weekend traveled to Tel Aviv as part of a bipartisan, bicameral group in support of Israel, a key U.S. ally that is responding to recent terrorist attacks from Hamas. During his visit, Hoeven met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The senator also met with families of Israelis who have been taken hostage by Hamas. “When times get tough, friends stick together. I traveled to Israel in support of our ally, and its efforts to defeat Hamas and stand firmly against terrorism. We also talked about how we can work together to oppose Iran and its attempts to destabilize the region,” said Hoeven. “We had good meetings with Prime Minister Netanyahu and Israeli leaders to outline our support as they work to remove Hamas from power.” Hoeven traveled to Tel Aviv as part of a bipartisan, bicameral delegation that included Senator Jerry Moran, Hoeven’s colleague on the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, as well as House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, Ranking Member Gregory Meeks and other members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The Senators presented Prime Minister Netanyahu with a signed copy of S.Res.417, a resolution in support of Israel that passed the Senate unanimously last month. -###- | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:49:58Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-cramer-attends-annual-veterans-day-observance-in-bismarck | Sen. Cramer Attends Annual Veterans Day Observance in Bismarck | 2023-11-11 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | ***Click here for media resources.*** BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Committees on Armed Services and Veterans Affairs, delivered remarks at the annual Veterans Day observance at the North Dakota Heritage Center. He spoke to North Dakota veterans on the uniqueness and rich heritage of service in the state as well as the need to work across the aisle to support veterans. “Today we celebrate the rich history of the cost of freedom,” said Senator Cramer. “Support for our veterans has always been bipartisan in Congress. North Dakota is a naturally patriotic pro-military state. We love our God, we love our state, and we love our country. For centuries, men and women have worn the uniform in defense of our freedom. In light of current events, it’s important now more than ever to project strength, not weakness. When America is strong, the world is safer.” The observance was hosted by a group of North Dakota Veterans Service Organizations, including the American Legion, AMVETS, Dakota Leathernecks, Dakota Sisterhood of Women Veterans, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Vietnam Veterans of America. Background: In September, Senator Cramer and U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) introduced the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Promotion Act, which allows veterans service officers to participate in TAP classes to help servicemembers file expedited claims and complete medical evaluations before leaving service. Last Congress, Senator Cramer led several bills to support our nation’s veterans and fund efforts by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Among them, these became law: | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-statement-honoring-veterans-day | Hoeven Statement Honoring Veterans Day | 2023-11-11 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven Statement Honoring Veterans Day WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Committee, today issued the following statement in recognition of Veterans Day. Since he was elected as Governor, Hoeven has normally spent Veterans Day with North Dakota veterans; however, he was unable to attend events in North Dakota today as the Senate is in session this week. To pay tribute to our veterans, Hoeven visited the war memorials on the National Mall. “Our nation would not be free without the selfless sacrifice of our veterans, and today, our nation honors the bravery of the men and women in uniform who have fought to preserve our way of life,” said Hoeven. “We are grateful for our servicemembers in North Dakota and across this nation, as well as their families, who serve right alongside them. I remain committed to ensuring veterans receive the recognition, benefits and care they have earned as we are thankful not only on Veterans Day, but every day, for the countless sacrifices they have made.” As a member of the Senate Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Committee, Hoeven has worked to ensure that our veterans receive the care and services they have earned. That includes: Strengthening the VA’s ability to provide care for veterans and give veterans more options to seek care in their home communities. Enabling more long-term care (LTC) providers to accept veteran patients. Securing an expansion of the VA’s hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) clinical demonstration program to include the Fargo VA, the fifth such location in the nation, making this alternative treatment for PTSD available to veterans who have not experienced positive outcomes from traditional treatments. Click here to watch video. -###- | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:49:58Z |
| https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/11/10/2023/sen-cramer-rail-companies-issue-status-reports-on-grain-car-backlog | Sen. Cramer: Rail Companies Issue Status Reports on Grain Car Backlog | 2023-11-10 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | Kevin Cramer | C001096 | www.cramer.senate.gov | cramer | https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases | scraper | BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced BNSF Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) publicly filed weekly grain backlog status updates as required by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB). A summary of the reporting data specific to North Dakota from the last 10 weeks is below. Following STB’s April 2022 hearing on “Urgent Issues in Freight Rail Service,” BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway, and Union Pacific submitted service recovery plans, which identified actions to improve service and metrics to track progress toward such improvements. On June 3, 2022 the STB started requiring BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway, and Union Pacific to file service progress reports further explaining efforts to correct service deficiencies. On June 15, 2022, the STB started requiring all Class I railroads to report employment data. The STB extended the initial six-month reporting period for weekly performance and employment data until December 31, 2023. It has since modified CSX's reporting requirements to exempt the railroad from weekly progress reports, as it consistently meets the STB's service improvement targets. Grain Car Backlog Status Report: Click here to access the data. Background: In May 2022, Senator Cramer led 20 colleagues in a letter urging the STB to ensure reliable, consistent rail service for American industries and shippers. “We are very concerned over the significant rail service disruptions occurring throughout the U.S. freight rail network. Reports from rail customers, including our manufacturers, farmers, ranchers, and energy producers, indicate reliable rail service is not being provided in many situations,” wrote the senators. The letter also outlines concerns and issues raised by customers and labor organizations at STB’s April hearing on “Urgent Issues in Freight Rail Service” from agricultural producers and grain shippers unable to get empty railcars leading to significant delays in delivering commodities to energy produce… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-08T01:01:09Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-nominates-six-students-to-us-military-academies-class-of-2028 | Hoeven Nominates Six Students to U.S. Military Academies Class of 2028 | 2023-11-10 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven Nominates Six Students to U.S. Military Academies Class of 2028 WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven announced today that he has nominated six North Dakota students for appointments to the U.S. military academies. Hoeven nominated Ayden Frohlich and Ethan Kawecki of Bismarck to the U.S. Naval Academy, Nicholas Borowski, Joshua Messelt and Thomas Lemen of Fargo to the U.S. Air Force Academy, and Saxon Weaver of Fargo to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. “Our state has a strong history of military service, and we are proud to nominate these six talented young students from North Dakota to our nation’s exceptional military academies.” said Hoeven. “Ayden, Ethan, Nicholas, Joshua, Thomas and Saxon will do an outstanding job representing our state and nation as they have the attributes, character and educational accomplishments needed to earn these nominations. We wish them the best of luck as they endeavor to serve our country.” Students applying for military academies are required to receive a Congressional nomination as part of the application process. These six students have now fulfilled that requirement and their names will be submitted to the respective academies. Each service academy admission board will determine final appointments. Those appointed receive a scholarship and military appointment, and must serve in the military for at least five years upon graduation. Information on the students Hoeven nominated for academy appointments follows: Ayden Frohlich, Bismarck - U.S. Naval Academy Ayden is from Bismarck and graduated from Legacy High School in 2023. Currently, he is attending Northwestern Preparatory School. The son of Billie Jo Lorius, Ayden was involved in golf, swimming and served on North Dakota Superintendent’s Student Cabinet. He graduated with a 3.5 GPA. Ethan Kawecki, Bismarck - U.S. Naval Academy Ethan graduated from Annapolis High School 2022. He currently lives in Bismarck and attends Bismarck State College. The son of Marshal and Beth Kawecki, Ethan was involved in footbal… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:49:58Z |
| https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-introduces-turtle-mountain-chairman-at-scia-hearing-discusses-efforts-to-stop-flow-of-fentanyl-into-us-and-tribal-communities | Hoeven Introduces Turtle Mountain Chairman at SCIA Hearing, Discusses Efforts to Stop Flow of Fentanyl into U.S. and Tribal Communities | 2023-11-09 | 2023 | 2023-11 | Republican | Senate | ND | John Hoeven | H001061 | www.hoeven.senate.gov | hoeven | https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases | scraper | Hoeven Introduces Turtle Mountain Chairman at SCIA Hearing, Discusses Efforts to Stop Flow of Fentanyl into U.S. and Tribal Communities WASHINGTON – At a hearing of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA) this week, Senator John Hoeven introduced Jamie Azure, Chairman of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, as part of a discussion on efforts to stem the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs into the U.S. and tribal communities. As the former chairman of the committee, Hoeven has worked to bolster public safety in Indian Country and give tribal law enforcement the tools and resources they need to bring offenders to justice. To this end, Hoeven: Sponsored legislation with: Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) to support Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) law enforcement recruitment and retention, among other priorities. Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) to support law enforcement efforts to combat the drug epidemic and boost border security. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) to reauthorize the Drug Elimination Program for tribal housing authorities as part of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act. Worked to fund and open the U.S. Indian Law Enforcement Advanced Training Center at Camp Grafton. Hoeven initially secured $2.5 million in Fiscal Year 2020 for BIA law enforcement to conduct the specialized training courses at Camp Grafton. Classes include advanced courses on complex subject matter, such as missing persons investigations, drug interdictions, forensics and the Bridge Program. The Bridge Program allows local or state trained officers to become federally certified, providing additional law enforcement to Indian Country. Continues pressing the Biden administration to enforce the law and secure the border in order to combat drug and human trafficking. “The fentanyl that’s pouring across our southern border, much of it originating in China, is impacting every tribe, state and community in the nation,” said Hoeven. “We need to find w… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T18:49:58Z |
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