url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=CBBE033F-9C48-42B9-8B20-4DC43FFD4B3D,Heitkamp Announces Federal Economic Development Funds for Standing Rock,2017-12-28,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced $51,000 in federal funding for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe that will establish tribal economic development planning and a strategy to support long-term investment and job creation on the reservation. On North Dakotas tribal lands, access to economic opportunity remains a critical challenge, especially for young people looking to start their careers and for those having difficulty finding steady work, said Heitkamp. We know that strong economic conditions grow existing tribal businesses, provide greater security to lower income families, and help build a roadmap to a better future. But too often tribes lack the support they need to plan for sustainable growth. Thats why this award is so important in helping to lay the groundwork for increased private investment and job creation on Standing Rock. These federal funds are made available through the Economic Development Administration (EDA) a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce. This EDA funding helps communities establish economic development strategies that aid North Dakota economic development councils across the state in bringing together both public and private resources that will help small businesses, create jobs, and stimulate long-term growth. Heitkamp has long advocated for entrepreneurship and economic development on Standing Rock. In 2015, Heitkamp brought then-U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet to the reservation, where they spoke with tribal leaders and business students at Sitting Bull College about opportunities for training, technical assistance, and programs to spur job growth on the reservation. Heitkamp received the Spirit of Enterprise Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for her work in the U.S. Senate to support startups in rural areas and small cities to help them get off the ground, and her support of small businesses through commonsense regulatory reform, making sure small businesses have a seat at the table when rules are made. The Chamber also gave Heitkamp a 100 percent rating for her voting record in the U.S. Senate in 2016 supporting North Dakota small businesses. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/featured-items?ContentRecord_id=954F4EA8-406E-48C8-B4ED-3B1FFB56C0ED,"Heitkamp, Carper Urge Administration to Fill Census Bureau Leadership Vacancies",2017-12-27,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senator Heidi Heitkamp Home Meet Heidi Constituent Services Issues North Dakota News Contact Featured Items Home / News / Featured Items Contact Senator Heitkamp Washington Office SH-516 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Phone: (202) 224-2043 Fax: (202) 224-7776 Bismarck Office 228 Federal Building 220 East Rosser Avenue Bismarck, ND 58501 Phone: (701) 258-4648 Fax: (701) 258-1254 Fargo Office 306 Federal Building 657 Second Avenue North Fargo, ND 58102 Phone: (701) 232-8030 Fax: (701) 232-6449 Dickinson Office 40 1st Ave West, Suite 202 Dickinson, ND 58601 Phone: (701) 225-0974 Fax: (701) 225-3287 Grand Forks Office 33 South Third Street Suite B Grand Forks, ND 58201 Phone: (701) 775-9601 Fax: (701) 746-1990 Minot Office 105 Federal Building 100 First Street SW Minot, ND 58701 Phone: (701) 852-0703 Fax: (701) 838-8196",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=78143605-F2D8-4D60-AEC6-0EB915784021,Heitkamp Votes to Avoid Government Shutdown,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today released the following statement after voting for a short-term agreement to avoid a government shutdown. Lurching from deadline to deadline is no way to govern, and its unfortunate that Congress is once again kicking the can down the road for another few weeks. North Dakota families and small businesses understand the importance of budgeting and planning for their year ahead because they need to make sure they can put food on the table and support their kids, so theres no excuse for Congresss failure to do the same. Im disappointed that the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) was only extended for three months. Thats little consolation to families with sick children who rely on the program for their health care needs. This program is about life and death, and the families who rely on it need long-term certainty to know that their kids will be protected. This bill waived the PAYGO law, meaning that vital programs like Medicare and agricultural assistance are not cut which is good, but it means Congress is still adding a $1.5 trillion tax bill to our nations credit card, to be paid for by our children and grandchildren. And experts and academics have said the Republican tax bill wont pay for itself. Unfortunately, the options arent good either cut critical programs families rely on or push huge costs onto future generations. North Dakotans expect and deserve more fiscal responsibility than that. Since before joining the U.S. Senate, Ive called for Congress to pass a balanced budget amendment, and I cosponsored a bill to do just that because the federal government needs to gets its fiscal house in order. While Congress avoided a government shutdown, which would be damaging to our economy and disruptive to many North Dakotans, it must end this cycle of short-term spending bills that just kick the can down the road, and instead give our economy the certainty it needs to grow. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=7F7DCA12-B483-46E8-A487-33A28B1B2B01,"New Heitkamp Podcast: On Tax Reform, Bipartisanship Would Make Better Policy",2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today released the latest episode of her podcast, The Hotdish, interviewing former U.S. Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Phillip Swagel, a Republican economist and former economic advisor in the Bush administration. North Dakotans want to know that people from different political parties can sit down and have an honest discussion about the best way forward for our economy, said Heitkamp, North Dakotas former tax commissioner. Unfortunately, that didnt happen as the Republican tax bill was crafted even though I, and many others, tried to be at the table. As a result, it created policies that wont support North Dakotas workers, families, and retirees in the long-term. But from my conversations with a bipartisan pair of guests in this edition of The Hotdish, its clear that theres plenty of common ground to be found we just have to be willing to talk to each other, just as I try to do every day in the Senate. The Hotdish is available on iTunes and SoundCloud. Click here to subscribe to The Hotdish on iTunes. Like Heitkamp, Conrad is a former North Dakota Tax Commissioner, and in his 26 years in the U.S. Senate he played a vital role in shaping our nations fiscal policies and worked on a bipartisan basis on solutions to deal with our deficits and debt, including as the former chairman of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee. He is now a senior fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center and co-chair of its Commission on Retirement Security and Personal Savings. Heitkamp and Conrad discussed the nearly $1.5 trillion cost of the tax reform bill and the impact of mounting debt on future generations. Heitkamp recalled a recent conversation with a Vietnam veteran in North Dakota who told her he wanted a tax cut but not if his grandkids were going to have to pay for it. Heres a veteran who put on a uniform and served his country, and he was still thinking about whats really good for his country, and not just good for him, Heitkamp said. And you know, I thought, thats a North Dakota attitude, isnt it? Conrad said, Thats the North Dakota I know. I used to tell my colleagues, if on fiscal matters we let North Dakotans decide for the nation, our country would be in much better shape because North Dakotas people have common sense. They know when somebody tells them a story thats too good to be true, that its too good to be true. And they know that you shouldnt just pile up debt on top of debt that thats a dangerous thing. It may not hit you immediately, but over time when you take on too much debt, it leads to bad outcomes. And the people of North Dakota understand that I think better than almost any people in the country. In her conversation with Republican economist Phillip Swagel, they agreed that adding to the deficit to pay for the tax cut was concerning. The monster I see coming at us is the debt and deficit, Heitkamp said. Swagel responded, Absolutely. This bill is going to add $1.5 trillion over 10 years to the deficit but really, once you take into account the gimmicks here, were talking $2 trillion over 10 years. So its a big impact on the deficit, and its got to be a big risk. Swagel was Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy at the Treasury Department during President George W. Bushs second term, and was previously chief of staff and a senior economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisers, as well as an economist at the International Monetary Fund and the Federal Reserve Board. Hes currently a Professor in International Economic Policy at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. Heitkamp discussed the cost of the tax reform bill and claims that it will pay for itself, despite every nonpartisan analysis disproving that claim. Heitkamp said, I think it will have an impact on economic growth, but I think it is not telling the truth to say that this is going to pay for itself. Do you agree? Swagel responded, I do agree. As you said, there will be growth. I think 2018 is going to surprise people, that growth is really going to be pretty good, and even into 2019. But not enough to raise the revenue to pay for itself. Theres just no way. Additional excerpts from this edition of The Hotdish are below. Click here to read Senator Heitkamps statement on her vote on the tax reform bill. Heitkamp has long said she wanted to work with Republicans and Democrats on tax reform that supports workers, families, and retirees, while growing the economy and remaining fiscally responsible. InSeptemberandOctober, she held four listening sessions across the state to get feedback from North Dakotans about what they wanted to see in a tax reform bill. Shejoined President Trumpduring his visit to North Dakota on tax reform. She alsomet with him and a bipartisan group of senatorsat the White House in September on the issue. And she joineda dinner with a bipartisan group of senators at the home of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump in October to discuss tax reform. Additional excerpts: Conrad: One thing we know is, when you have high levels of debt and you do tax cuts that are not paid for, over time because you have higher debt that puts upward pressure on interest rates. That means people have to pay more for a mortgage. That means they have to pay more on a college loan. That means they have to pay more on a car loan. Those increases in interest rates hurt long-term economic growth. ............. Heitkamp: The other piece of this that Im very concerned about, Phil, is that it was not a sit down and everybody work through the discussion the way Ronald Reagan did in 86 so that when you get done, everybody owns it Swagel: I agree, thats a key risk here, which is the uncertainty. As you said, on the personal side, the provisions expire, and who knows what will happen what the Congress will look like, who will be in charge. I certainly would have liked everything to be permanent, and to be bipartisan. ............. Heitkamp: We could have done some really excellent work to try to make our system simpler, which this does not do. To make it fairer, which this does not do. And try to make it respond to the global economy better, and I dont think this does it. So it misses it on so many marks, and on top of that, it just misses the mark of fiscal accountability. ............. Conrad: I guess the thing thats so disturbing when youve got this large debt $20 trillion in debt, more than 100 percent the size of our economy and now were going to borrow money, much of it from the Chinese, to give a tax cut that disproportionately goes to the wealthiest among us, it just doesnt make much sense. And the thing thats the most troubling is it could have been paid for. We could have a middle class tax cut, we could reduce the corporate rate to make us more competitive, and we could have paid for it by shutting down some of these offshore tax scams that are so prevalent, that are benefitting people who already have tremendous assets. About The Hotdish: Heitkamp kicked off her podcast in February with an episode on her efforts to combat human trafficking, interviewing anti-human trafficking leader Cindy McCain and North Dakota journalist Kevin Wallevand. Since then, Heitkamps podcast has covered a wide range of topics, including negotiations for the next Farm Bill, the role of moderates in Congress, U.S.-Russia relations, health care, her bipartisan bill that would promote carbon capture, the role of refugees and immigrants in our communities, the threat posed by North Korea, and tackling the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=35A6A3FE-57C6-46D6-8126-56373F0DE397,Heitkamp Announces More Affordable Housing Options are Coming to Minot,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced today that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved the Minot Housing Authoritys waiver request to adjust their fair market rent (FMR) payment standards, which will give more Minot residents access to affordable housing programs. In September, Heitkamp pressed HUD Secretary Ben Carson to support the waiver to help those in need of affordable housing. Heitkamp has been working closely with HUD to see this process through and to advocate for Minot Housing Authoritys request. FMRs are a measurement which help low-income families afford decent housing in certain areas. In October 2013, HUD increased FMRs in Ward, Mountrail, and Williams counties in response to the housing crisis in the region. As the oil boom in western North Dakota slowed, rent prices rapidly decreased in these countiesyet due to a rule published by HUD last fall, FMRs cannot be less than 90 percent of the FMR amounts from the previous year. As a result, an estimated 100 to 150 fewer low-income families are able to find affordable housing in the Minot area. Rents in the Minot area have decreased somewhat from record highs yet HUDs funding formula to help families afford homes is far too slow to reflect conditions on the ground. The agencys one-size-fits-all approach has left many North Dakota families who urgently need support to afford homes without any assistance putting them and their families at risk, Heitkamp said. Todays decision means that more families in the Minot area will have the resources needed to find adequate housing, and Im proud to have helped push for this waiver. All families should have a safe place to call home, and seeking out ways to make housing more affordable across our state must be a priority. Heitkamp has advocated for affordable housing throughout North Dakota, and in 2015, she pushed back on proposals from the previous administration that would negatively impact the ability of families to obtain decent, safe housing at a reasonable cost and eliminate federal funds for local surveys used to calculate FMRs. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=99D99DBD-51E2-46E3-AA81-2DF2F945448D,Heitkamp: Republican Tax Bill is Full of Broken Promises,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today voted against the House-Senate Republican tax bill because it will impact North Dakotans by increasing the debt by nearly $1.5 trillion, raising costs for most middle income families in the long-term, and not growing the economy or creating jobs in the way Republicans say it will. Yesterday, Heitkamp joined a local tax attorney, small business owner, senior citizen, farmer, and the president of the North Dakota Building and Construction Trades Council in Fargo to explain how the bill will hurt North Dakotans in the long-term. As North Dakotas former tax commissioner, I know taxes are complicated, and Ive wanted to work on a bill that cuts taxes for working men and women who need a break, said Heitkamp. In fact, Ive been almost begging Republicans to work with me on a bipartisan bill that could serve North Dakota. I held meetings in North Dakota on tax reform, and met with top White House officials, including the president, on the issue. Unfortunately, I never got a seat at the table, nor did many others. As a result, it produced a partisan tax bill that hurts North Dakota and is full of broken promises to the American people. We were promised middle income tax cuts without cuts for the wealthy. But this bill gives huge, permanent tax cuts to corporations and millionaires while middle income families will see relatively modest cuts in the short-term and their costs go up in the long run. We were promised a fiscally responsible bill. But this bill charges nearly $1.5 trillion on a credit card account to our children and grandchildren without a plan to pay for it. We were promised a simpler tax code so we could file taxes on a postcard. But this bill makes the tax code even more confusing and more difficult for families to understand their tax liability. We were promised no loopholes. But this bill is full of loopholes for real estate moguls, private jet companies, and others, enabling large corporations and the wealthy to pay lower taxes. And we were promised a bill that would grow the economy. But experts and academics agree it wont boost the economy the way Republicans say it will, and many executives have said they will use corporate tax cuts to pad their shareholders profits, not create jobs or boost wages. Congress cant build a successful bill if it is quickly crafted behind closed doors without input from both parties. I know that because Ive crafted many bipartisan bills that serve North Dakota including lifting the ban on exporting oil, finding a viable path forward for coal, and giving community banks and credit unions relief. Those bills didnt happen overnight they took good faith negotiations, compromises from all sides, and a mutual effort to work across the aisle. That didnt happen here. And it shows. Every day, I come to work in the U.S. Senate to fight for North Dakota and rural America. Sadly, this bill leaves them behind. The Republican tax bill will explode the countrys debt, adding nearly $1.5 trillion on the nations credit card and thats before accounting for various budget gimmicks forcing those huge costs onto future generations. On top of that, academics and conservative experts have concluded that under the bill, the countrys debt will grow much faster than the economy. And, the Republican tax bill wont grow the economy or create jobs in the way Republicans say it will, as many large companies have said they will pass most tax savings on to shareholders, and not use the majority of the tax cuts to create jobs or boost wages. The Republican bill will also specifically impact many North Dakotans: Middle income families: The bill provides permanent tax cuts to corporations and large tax cuts for the wealthy, while middle income families lose out in the long-term because the relatively modest tax cuts they initially receive will expire after 2025. According to the Joint Committee on Taxation, the net effect of all individual provisions in the tax reform bill will raise taxes on individuals by a total of $83 billion in 2027. On the other hand, businesses will get a $49.4 billion tax cut that same year. Small businesses: The bill will widen the gap between large and small businesses, just as it will between wealthy individuals and middle income individuals. According to a group of 13 tax law experts from December 7, the bill will essentially punish smaller businesses that cant afford to pay high priced tax attorneys and accountants to exploit loopholes and glitches in the rules.The largest loopholes enable the wealthy to declare their income as business income to benefit from the new lower corporate tax rates. And because of the loopholes, the bill enables businesses to effectively hide income overseas and it could lead to companies shifting American jobs abroad. Seniors: According to AARP, the bill will provide a large tax cut for corporations while raising taxes and health care premiums for millions of older Americans. It will also drastically increase the nations debt by nearly $1.5 trillion, which could lead to $400 billion in cuts to Medicare over 10 years, and slash other programs that support seniors. Farmers and ranchers: Middle income families across rural America, including many farmers, will lose out under the bill as the temporary, relatively modest tax decreases they receive will disappear after 2025, while the wealthy and corporations will reap permanent rewards. Additionally, the huge cost of the tax reform bill could require Congress to pay for it by reducing spending elsewhere. Such action could lead to $20 billion in cuts to vital agriculture programs and hinder the negotiation of the 2018 Farm Bill. The bill also adds complexity and uncertainty for farmers because the full expensing provisions will expire in 2022 and the favored pass through rates will expire by 2025. Millennials: The structure of the tax bill will be particularly devastating for young men and women entering the workforce who will face a nearly $1.5 trillion bill in the next 10 years, just as they are entering their prime working years.Although millennials will be paying for these tax cuts, they wont see much in terms of tax reductions because these cuts are geared toward higher earning workers who are more developed in their careers. And by the time most millennials will be entering into their prime earning years, the tax cuts will be completely phased out.At the same time, millennials will face higher tax brackets because the tax bill will permanently index tax brackets to a lower rate of inflation, resulting in more middle class income going into higher brackets over time.Finally, provisions in this tax bill will do little to address the myriad of challenges young Americans face, from higher education and housing costs to a lack of retirement planning. Heitkamp has long said she wants to work with Republicans and Democrats on tax reform that supports workers, families, and retirees, while growing the economy and remaining fiscally responsible. In September and October, she held four listening sessions across the state to get feedback from North Dakotans about what they wanted to see in a tax reform bill. She joined President Trump during his visit to North Dakota on tax reform. She also met with him and a bipartisan group of senators at the White House in September on the issue. And she joined a dinner with a bipartisan group of senators at the home of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump in October to discuss tax reform. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=18F298AD-D62E-4462-93F5-76F8112C161D,"With Heitkamp Support, Four Export-Import Bank Board Nominees Advance in Senate who would Enable Bank to Fully Operate",2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Congress Passed Heitkamps Bipartisan Bill to Reauthorize the Bank in 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today helped pass out of the Senate Banking Committee four nominees to serve on the Export-Import Banks Board of Directors, getting the Banks board one step closer to having the quorum it needs to fully operate and support American jobs and businesses, including many in North Dakota. Heitkamp also joined Republicans and Democrats in blocking the nomination of Scott Garrett to lead the board. As a Congressman, Garrett voted to kill the Bank, making him unqualified to lead it. Heitkamp spoke out against Garretts nomination at a hearing last month. Today we took a long-awaited step toward helping manufacturers and small business owners across the country including many in North Dakota get the support they need to compete on a global scale, Heitkamp said. The Export-Import Bank provides capital for American businesses to invest and create jobs, and has turned a profit for taxpayers since its inception more than 80 years ago. But for years, it has been crippled by congressional inaction, which has forced some businesses to move American jobs abroad. Congress needs to support American workers and businesses, and thats why getting the Bank fully functioning is so important. The full Senate must now vote to confirm these nominees so that the Bank can fully operate and help our businesses compete in the global economy. In North Dakota alone, businesses have $50 million of authorizations from the Bank that could be put at risk in the future if it doesnt have a full board seated. Across the country, hundreds of thousands of jobs have been put in jeopardy because of the uncertainty surrounding the Bank, as over $37.5 billion of deals wait in limbo to be approved by the Board. Heitkamp pressed President-elect Trump to get the bank fully functioning in a meeting at Trump Tower in December 2016, and she secured a commitment from him to get the Bank up and running in a meeting shortly after he was sworn in. Background on the Export-Import Bank In June 2015, Congress let the Export-Import Bank expire for the first time in the agencys more than 80 year history. In December 2015, Congress passed Heitkamps legislation to reauthorize the Bank with strong bipartisan support. But the agency still hasnt been able to fully function. The Export-Import Bank is an independent federal government agency and the official export credit agency of the United States. Former Senate Banking Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) had refused for a year to hold a committee vote on the then-nominee to the Ex-Im Bank Board. This inaction prevented the lack of a quorum on the five-member board and halted the agency from financing deals over $10 million. As a result, it has hindered support for American jobs and businesses including for small suppliers of companies that use the Bank and prevented them from remaining competitive in the global economy. Some American companies have already been forced to move American jobs overseas because they have not been able to access financing from the Ex-Im Bank. The Ex-Im Bank has helped North Dakota businesses grow, expand, and hire more American workers, supporting $42 million in exports since 2011 from North Dakota alone, as well as 633 jobs across the state by providing loans, loan guarantees, and insurance to facilitate overseas sales by U.S. firms. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=AE068F80-8BC2-461C-A06F-B22069B5BAA6,Heitkamp Announces Federal Funding to Further Economic Growth Strategies,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship, announced three federal grants totaling $210,000 to the Lewis & Clark Regional Development Council, Roosevelt-Custer Regional Council for Development, and the Souris Basin Planning Council to help them establish comprehensive plans to grow and diversify their local economies. Having the right economic strategy in place is key to taking on opportunities and mitigating challenges to keep local communities thriving, said Heitkamp. These federal funds will assist the regional economic development councils in central and western North Dakota so they can put together comprehensive plans that work with both the public and private sectors to leverage each communitys assets to grow their economies. These federal funds will be distributed as follows: Lewis & Clark Regional Development Council: $70,000 in federal funds to put together an economic development strategy that works with both the public and private sectors that will assist in the counties of Burleigh, Emmons, Grant, Kidder, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Oliver, Sheridan, and Sioux. Roosevelt-Custer Regional Council for Development: $70,000 in federal funds to put together an economic development strategy that works with both the public and private sectors that will assist in the counties of Adams, Billings, Bowman, Dunn, Golden Valley, Hettinger, Slope, and Stark. Souris Basin Planning Council: $70,000 in federal fund to put together an economic development strategy that works with both the public and private sectors that will assist in the counties of Bottineau, Burke, McHenry, Mountrail, Pierce, Renville, and Ward. The federal funds are made available through the Economic Development Administration (EDA) a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce. This EDA funding helps communities establish economic development strategies that aid North Dakota economic development councils across the state in bringing together both public and private resources that will help small businesses, create jobs, and stimulate long-term growth. Recently, Heitkamp announced two other federal grants totaling $140,000 to support economic development planning for the Lake Agassiz Regional Council and the North Central Planning Council.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=5DF6DE3F-D7AC-4729-B3D7-89017E52BEE0,Heitkamp Explains how Republican Tax Reform Bill will Hurt North Dakotans,2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today explained how the House-Senate Republican tax reform bill will impact North Dakotans by increasing the debt by nearly $1.5 trillion, raising costs for most middle income families in the long-term, and not growing the economy or creating jobs in the way Republicans say it will. Joining Heitkamp were a local tax attorney, small business owner, senior citizen, farmer, and the president of the North Dakota Building and Construction Trades Council. Each explained how the final bill will make the tax code more complex, disadvantage local small businesses and workers, hurt seniors and middle income families, and put at risk farm programs that producers rely on. Its Congress job to put our country on a strong path forward, said Heitkamp, North Dakotas former tax commissioner. Unfortunately, this bill does the opposite. It will put nearly $1.5 trillion on the countrys credit card, passing those costs on to our children and grandchildren. And it will increase costs for most North Dakotans in the long-term, while corporations and the wealthy reap permanent benefits. Ive long said I wanted to work on tax reform that supports workers, families, and retirees across North Dakota, but this bill was hastily crafted and pushed through by one party. That produced bad results that dont serve North Dakota or rural America. Heitkamp discussed how the final bill, released last Friday evening, will explode the countrys debt, adding nearly $1.5 trillion on the nations credit card and thats before accounting for various budget gimmicks forcing those huge costs onto future generations. On top of that, academics and conservative experts have concluded that under the bill, the countrys debt will grow much faster than the economy. And, the Republican tax reform bill wont grow the economy or create jobs in the way Republicans say it will, as many large companies have said they will pass most tax savings on to shareholders, and not use the majority of the tax cuts to create jobs or boost wages. The Republican bill will also specifically impact many North Dakotans: Middle income families: The bill provides permanent tax cuts to corporations and large tax cuts for the wealthy, while middle income families lose out in the long-term because the relatively modest tax cuts they initially receive will expire after 2025. According to the Joint Committee on Taxation, the net effect of all individual provisions in the tax reform bill will raise taxes on individuals by a total of $83 billion in 2027. On the other hand, businesses will get a $49.4 billion tax cut that same year. Small businesses: The bill will widen the gap between large and small businesses, just as it will between wealthy individuals and middle income individuals. According to a group of 13 tax law experts from December 7, the bill will essentially punish smaller businesses that cant afford to pay high priced tax attorneys and accountants to exploit loopholes and glitches in the rules.The largest loopholes enable the wealthy to declare their income as business income to benefit from the new lower corporate tax rates. And because of the loopholes, the bill enables businesses to effectively hide income overseas and it could lead to companies shifting American jobs abroad. Seniors: According to AARP, the bill will provide a large tax cut for corporations while raising taxes and health care premiums for millions of older Americans. It will also drastically increase the nations debt by nearly $1.5 trillion, which could lead to $400 billion in cuts to Medicare over 10 years, and slash other programs that support seniors. Farmers and ranchers: Middle income families across rural America, including many farmers, will lose out under the bill as the temporary, relatively modest tax decreases they receive will disappear after 2025, while the wealthy and corporations will reap permanent rewards. Additionally, the huge cost of the tax reform bill could require Congress to pay for it by reducing spending elsewhere. Such action could lead to $20 billion in cuts to vital agriculture programs and hinder the negotiation of the 2018 Farm Bill. The bill also adds complexity and uncertainty for farmers because the full expensing provisions will expire in 2022 and the favored pass through rates will expire by 2025. Millennials: The structure of the tax bill will be particularly devastating for young men and women entering the workforce who will face a nearly $1.5 trillion bill in the next 10 years, just as they are entering their prime working years.Although millennials will be paying for these tax cuts, they wont see much in terms of tax reductions because these cuts are geared toward higher earning workers who are more developed in their careers. And by the time most millennials will be entering into their prime earning years, the tax cuts will be completely phased out.At the same time, millennials will face higher tax brackets because the tax bill will permanently index tax brackets to a lower rate of inflation, resulting in more middle class income going into higher brackets over time.Finally, provisions in this tax bill will do little to address the myriad of challenges young Americans face, from higher education and housing costs to a lack of retirement planning. Heitkamp has long said she wants to work with Republicans and Democrats on tax reform that supports workers, families, and retirees, while growing the economy and remaining fiscally responsible. In September and October, she held four listening sessions across the state to get feedback from North Dakotans about what they wanted to see in a tax reform bill. She joined President Trump during his visit to North Dakota on tax reform. She also met with him and a bipartisan group of senators at the White House in September on the issue. And she joined a dinner with a bipartisan group of senators at the home of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump in October to discuss tax reform. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=B1B7D3C0-04D2-4C2B-B28B-8CDC4660C3B7,Heitkamp Announces Federal Funds to Support Students Entering STEM Fields,2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced $999,519 in federal funds for the University of North Dakota to support scholarships for lower-income, first generation, and unrepresented students so they can pursue an education in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM). Encouraging students to enter STEM education programs and supporting them throughout their college years will help increase the number of students ready to tackle the jobs of the 21st century, said Heitkamp. These federal funds will support lower income and minority students, including underrepresented students from rural areas, enabling them to pursue and further their careers in STEM. These federal funds are made available through the National Science Foundations Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics program and the Undergraduate Scholarships with Mathematics and Science Training, Exploration and Research project. These funds will support at least 36 scholarships over a five year period for students in need of financial assistance as well as to support under represented students to increase diversity in these fields. Students must be working towards a degree in Biology, Chemistry, Geography & Geographic Information Science, Mathematics, and Physics & Astrophysics.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=C6AD4AB0-373E-44F2-B0B2-5B4C1D4F4445,Heitkamp Congratulates City of Fargo on Winning National Energy Efficiency Competition,2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today congratulated the City of Fargo on winning a two-year national competition to promote energy efficiency in small- to medium-size cities. Today, the Georgetown University Energy Prize competition announced that Fargos energy efficiency initiative, eFargo, has been selected as the winner of the competitions $5 million prize. The 50 U.S. communities competing for the prize were judged based on reductions in energy use and sustainability over a two-year period, creativity, and quality of community outreach and replicability. An important piece of our nations all-of-the-above energy strategy should be implementing local and state-wide energy-saving initiatives that fit our unique weather challenges and helping residents understand the tangible benefits of reduced and efficient energy use, said Heitkamp. Fargos success shows that even under extreme North Dakota weather conditions, we can promote long-term sustainability while also lowering energy bills. Todays announcement is the culmination of two years of collaboration and innovation from many dedicated folks in the Fargo community. Congratulations to the City of Fargo and the leaders of the eFargo initiative on winning this prestigious award through truly innovative ideas and community-wide participation achieving greater energy efficiency that I hope will lead to long-term planning goals for the Fargo metropolitan region. As part of its initiative, the City of Fargo has brought together government officials, residents, and utility companies to significantly improve energy efficiency in the Fargo community, as well as increase renewable energy use. Among other things, the city has been working to incorporate biodiesel buses into its bus system, replace traffic lights to LED, and provide energy conservation tips to local residents. Click here to learn more about the eFargo project. Heitkamp has long been a supporter of Fargos efforts to advance sustained energy efficiency. Heitkamp has been in contact with the eFargo project leaders throughout the competition in 2014, Heitkamp sent a letter of support on behalf of the initiative that was included in Fargos initial application. And in 2015, Heitkamp congratulated Fargo on becoming a semi-finalist in the Energy Prize competition. ""Ultimately it was people power, designing and implementing cost-effective and creative solutions, and building partnerships that pulled together the community into an active role and empowered them to achieve the energy use reductions in their homes and schools, said eFargo Project Manager Malini Srivastava. Winning the Georgetown Prize gives us cause to celebrate but also the responsibility of national leadership. We want to thank Senator Heitkamp for her assistance during this process, and we look forward to working with her as we continue to build cost-effective, creative, and nimble solutions. We hope to inspire and be a resource for other cities and towns to achieve their own energy-efficiency goals. As winner of the competition, the City of Fargo will receive assistance from leading experts to finance new sustainable energy projects in the community. Click herefor more information about the Georgetown University Energy Prize. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E57B8866-F46B-4B8F-AE43-116727E6325F,Heitkamp Announces Federal Economic Development Funds for North Dakota,2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship, announced two federal grants totaling $140,000 to the Lake Agassiz Regional Council and the North Central Planning Council that will support efforts to develop and implement economic growth strategies in North Dakota. Laying the groundwork to grow our local economies will help North Dakota succeed well into the future, said Heitkamp. Strong economies support families, grow small businesses, and make sure that folks are able to show up to good-paying jobs each morning, and these federal funds will help counties in northeastern North Dakota develop a game plan to boost their local economies. These federal funds will be distributed as follows: Lake Agassiz Regional Council: $70,000 in federal funds to put together an economic development strategy that will assist the counties of Cass, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele, and Traill. North Central Planning Council: $70,000 in federal funds to put together an economic development strategy that will assist the counties of Benson, Cavalier, Eddy, Ramsey, Rolette, and Towner as well as Spirit Lake Nation and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indian Reservation. The federal funds are made available through the Economic Development Administration (EDA) a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce. This EDA funding helps communities establish economic development strategies that aid North Dakota economic development councils across the state in bringing together both public and private resources that will help small businesses, create jobs, and long-term growth. Heitkamp received the Spirit of Enterprise Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for her work in the U.S. Senate to support small businesses through commonsense regulatory reform, making sure small businesses have a seat at the table when rules are made, and pushing for investments to support startups in rural areas and small cities to help them get off the ground. The Chamber also gave Heitkamp a 100 percent rating for her voting record in the U.S. Senate in 2016 supporting North Dakota small businesses.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=25181411-4E57-4C68-9037-E83649485998,Bipartisanship Makes Better Policy,2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"These days, Congress is far too often a place of partisanship and grandstanding. Its apparent with the hastily written tax reform bill that is being pushed through Congress which would explode our countrys debt. But during my time in the U.S. Senate, Ive found that if I seek out Republicans and Democrats who really want to work together to find solutions, we can reach results that support North Dakota and the country. In rural America, you can buy a $60,000 pickup truck with a piece of paper, but you have to jump through hoops to buy a $40,000 house. Thats in part because mortgage regulations designed for big banks are harming small community lenders, which most North Dakotans rely on for their banking. This is just one example of how one-size-fits-all regulation hurts rural states like North Dakota. In fact, over the past several years, the number of small community lenders has declined across the country especially in rural areas as they struggle to keep up with new onerous regulations that dont make sense for their business models. By trying to fix too big to fail, weve in many ways created too small to succeed. Thats why Ive been working with Republicans and Democrats to find commonsense solutions to help rural communities like those across North Dakota get ahead. Specifically, over the past several years Ive worked with a small bipartisan group of lawmakers to construct a regulatory relief proposal for community banks and credit unions so they can better serve farmers, small businesses, and families across our state. It was crafted with input from outside experts and after more than two dozen hearings in the Senate Banking Committee. The result is a bill that already has strong bipartisan support from 11 Democrats, 11 Republicans and one Independent, which means it has a good chance to pass and a good chance to make lasting, needed change. It would enable small businesses to get financing to operate, help farmers get loans to support their farms, and help families get loans or mortgages to buy homes. It would also protect your credit by providing extended fraud alerts and free, unlimited, credit freezes. If youre a veteran, a credit bureau would be required to provide free credit monitoring services and they would be prohibited from including paid off or settled medical debt in your credit report. And if you rent your home, youll have added protections from foreclosures. The bill aims to fix overly burdensome regulations that were meant to protect our economy from risky behavior by our nations biggest banks, but have unintentionally hurt small lenders that North Dakotans rely on. If it comes up for a vote in the new year, it has enough support to pass. The thoughtful, bipartisan way we worked on this bill stands in stark contrast to the Republican tax reform bill. As North Dakotas former tax commissioner, Ive been eager to work with Republicans and Democrats on tax reform that supports workers, families, and retirees, while growing the economy and staying fiscally responsible. After holding listening sessions across North Dakota, having many discussions with top White House officials including the president, and trying to change this bill so it supports working families, this bill was crafted behind closed doors with only Republican support. And it shows. It will add more than $1 trillion on our countrys credit card which will be handed to our children and grandchildren. And it tries to buy off middle income families for almost nothing, while the wealthy get richer at their expense. Its bad for North Dakotans, our economy, and our future. Its up to Congress to set a responsible path forward for our country, but the tax reform bill is bad business. Its about a partisan political win, but the detrimental impacts of it will be felt across North Dakota and the country at a time we should be rallying around ideas to boost our economy. If Republican leaders want to make lasting, positive changes to our tax code that actually benefit middle income Americans, they should take a page from our bipartisan effort to provide regulatory relief so families, farmers, and small businesses can get ahead. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=2846CF42-EEBD-4EF8-AE1E-93B0E6F92765,"Heitkamp, Capito, Whitehouse, Barrasso Push for Passage of Bipartisan Carbon Capture Technology Bill",2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and John Barrasso (R-WY) are pushing Senate leadership to include the FUTURE Act, their bipartisan bill to encourage technological innovation in carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) while also reducing carbon emissions, in any year-end legislation to extend expiring tax provisions. Theirbipartisan legislationwould support maintaining a place in our energy mix for existing resources like coal and natural gas by encouraging development and use of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies and processeswhile also spurring adoption of low-carbon technologies to transform carbon pollution into useable products. Heitkamp and Whitehouse firstintroduced the bill in July 2016. Since then, they have worked with Capito and Barrasso, and others, to build out bipartisan support among more progressive Democratic senators and more conservative Republican senators. Awide cross-sectionof coal companies, utilities, environmental groups, and labor organizationsalso support the bill, reinforcing a willingness from all sides to come together and seek bipartisan solutions. We need more bipartisanship in this town, and this bill is proof that good ideas bridge political divides, Heitkamp said. Encouraging innovation in energy is critical to North Dakota jobs, and this bill will jump-start the innovation needed to give our nation a strong, affordable, and diverse energy mix that includes North Dakota coal. Including the FUTURE Act in a tax extenders package and ultimately in a must-pass bill in the near future would be a win for an all-of-the-above energy strategy and an investment in American energy jobs. Capito said, America is poised to lead the world in developing low-carbon technologies that will drive economic growth. Along with the broad coalition that supports this bill, it is my hope that the FUTURE Act will be included in any end-of-year legislation to extend expiring tax provisions. Turning carbon pollution into something useful ought to be part of our strategy to fight climate change. Our bipartisan bill would put a price on carbon pollution and pay facilities for emissions they keep out of the atmosphere. It would also clear a path for businesses in Rhode Island and around the country that turn carbon pollution into useful products, said Whitehouse. We should put this bipartisan legislation to work for the American people. America is the worlds leader of carbon capture technology, and we want to keep it that way, said Barrasso. In Wyoming and across America, carbon capture and other clean energy sources create jobs and grow our economy. The bipartisan FUTURE Act will spur innovation in the coal industry and will help create new technologies that transform carbon emissions into a useful product. Click here to read the text of the letter. The senators bipartisan bill would extend and expand the 45Q tax credit to provide certainty to utilities and other industrial sources, and would incentivize the build-out of industrial carbon capture projects that plan to use CO2and CO for enhanced oil recovery and carbon utilizationthe conversion of carbon dioxide into useable products. The 45Q provision is an integral part of the tax code for incentivizing carbon capture. Carbon capture cannot take off on a large scale unless there is federal support to encourage investment and implementation of the technology through tax credits and other mechanisms, which this bill would provide. The bill would also provide a crucial lifeline to coal miners by providing a pathway to maintain coal as a part of our diverse energy mix, doing so in a cleaner way, and reinforcing bipartisan support for standing up for these workers and their communities. In addition to extending 45Q, the bill would strengthen support for carbon capture technologies by increasing the commence construction window for carbon capture projects from five to seven years and by increasing the number of years to claim the credits from 10 to 12 years. Cosponsors of the bill include U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bob Casey (D-PA), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Chris Coons (D-DE), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Al Franken (D-MN), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Gary Peters (D-MI), Rob Portman (R-OH), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Mark Warner (D-VA). Background: Heitkamps work to find a realistic path forward for coal builds on her more than a decade of experience on the board of directors of Dakota Gasification, the one-of-a-kind synfuels plant in Beulah, N.D. During her service as North Dakotas Tax Commissioner, on the North Dakota Industrial Commission, and as the states Attorney General, Heitkamp was able to work on viable solutions to make sure coal remains a strong part of the North Dakotas energy mix. Since joining the Senate, Heitkamp has worked to finding a realistic path for clean coal by: Bringing together Democrats to urge strong CCUS funding, as presidents budget proposed cuts: In June,Heitkamp led a diverse group of 15 Democratic senatorsincluding liberal and conservative lawmakersin urging congressional appropriators to fund strong U.S. Department of Energy investments in carbon, capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies, which are key to coals future. Thepresidents budget threatened to cut fundingfor the U.S. Energy Department Office of Fossil Energy by 55 percent, including funding cuts of at least 84 percent to CCUS programs. Such cuts would significantly hinder the advancement of CCUS technologies, which North Dakotas rural electric co-ops, coal workers, and ratepayers rely on to support a path forward for coal-fired power through clean coal research and development. Introducing major legislation in 2013 and 2015 to put coal on a viable path forward:Heitkampsbillwould incentivize companies to invest in technologies that reduce the carbon footprint of coal-fired power. This is done through federal funding programs, federal support for private investment, and recommendations to Congress that provide insight on how best to support future CCS projects in the U.S. In May 2015, Heitkamp and U.S. Senator Joe Manchin from West Virginia introduced aseries of billsto make sure coal remains part of Americas energy mix, incorporating Heitkamps bill. Convening industry, lawmakers, and academics to discuss path forward on coal:Heitkamp co-hosted aCoal Technology Symposiumon Capitol Hill in 2014 that brought together industry, lawmakers, experts and academics including the Energy and Environmental Research Center from Grand Forks. To a crowded room, Heitkamp laid out the importance of advancing realistic energy policies and discussed the vital role coal plays in providing affordable energy in North Dakota and around the country. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=15B6F8E6-8A15-4CF8-A709-884106C2EA2A,Heitkamp Raises Concerns over FCC Decision to Roll Back Net Neutrality Protections,2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi expressed her disappointment with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decision to roll back net neutrality rules that makes sure that internet service providers (ISP) maintain fair, open, and equal access to the internet. “The decision by the FCC to roll back net neutrality protections is extremely disappointing,” said Heitkamp. “Having high-speed internet is no longer a luxury, today it’s a necessity. Each of us uses the internet daily to pay our bills, take online classes, and make routine purchases. Having strong net neutrality protections would have kept the internet on a level playing field to help allow start-up businesses to compete with large corporations and rural communities to access affordable internet service. It’s an issue of fairness. The FCC’s actions will ultimately undermine these safeguards. Going forward, I will monitor how internet service providers alter the way the internet is offered and work to find realistic solutions so that the internet can continue to thrive as an open and free platform for everyone.” Earlier this week, Heitkamp expressed to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai her strong concerns about the changes to net neutrality rules. In the letter, Heitkamp requested that the Commission provide her office with a briefing on how these changes will impact small business that rely on the internet to reach consumers and folks in rural America who often have only one option to purchase internet service from. Heitkamp has also raised concerns over how the public comment period was administered. This process allows individuals to provide their thoughts and opinions prior to preparation of the final rule. In a recent analysis, of the almost 22 million comments provided, the Pew Research Center found that 57 percent were submitted using temporary or duplicate e-mail addresses. This duplication raises serious concerns regarding the authenticity of the comments, a benchmark to measure the opinions and thoughts of the American public. Heitkamp is urging the FCC Commissioner to conduct an internal investigation to identify and highlight vulnerabilities in the FCC’s public comment portal, and to recommend updates to improve authentication and validation processes. As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Heitkamp has heard concerns from small business owners in North Dakota about the impact of repealing net neutrality protections. Many small businesses use the internet to sell their products, develop their brands, and some develop technology exclusively to be used online. If small businesses have to leverage more financial resources just to compete on an equal playing field as larger more established businesses, it could hurt these small businesses, and lead less economic activity and less job growth. As a founding member of the U.S. Senate Broadband Caucus, Heitkamp has been pushing for bipartisan solutions that would connect every North Dakota family, business, and school to high-speed internet. Last year, she brought FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel to North Dakota to see firsthand how rural areas are impacted by a lack of access to high-speed internet, and she has discussed the issue in multiple meetings with the president.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=C0AEAF5A-5459-4B98-B61D-EA00D08889D7,"Heitkamp, Cornyn Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Prioritize Transitional Housing for Domestic Violence Victims",2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"51.5 Percent of Victims Nationwide who need Emergency Housing do not Receive it WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and John Cornyn (R-TX) today introduced a bipartisan bill that would direct the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to increase transitional housing support for victims of domestic violence. According to North Dakota Council on Abused Women’s Services (CAWS North Dakota) Executive Director Janelle Moos, federal funds urgently needed for transitional housing have been shifted to other HUD housing programs in recent years, which has limited the scope of survivor-focused transitional housing and has endangered the safety of victims who face economic barriers in finding alternative housing. In one survey, 51.5 percent of U.S. domestic violence victims who sought housing services did not receive them, meaning they may have been forced to stay in or return to an abusive environment. Heitkamp and Cornyn’s bipartisan Help End Abusive Living Situations (HEALS) Act would prioritize funding for domestic violence victims’ transitional housing, increase flexibility in transitional housing programs in communities so that victims can get back on their feet, direct HUD to research more housing options to support victims of domestic violence, and bring attention to the ways transitional housing can provide safety for at-risk families and meet the trauma needs of victims. “When I talk with the folks who provide critical intervention services to victims of domestic violence, the most important issue is often victims’ need for immediate, safe refuge and supportive services that recognize the trauma they have experienced,” said Heitkamp. “By diverting funding away from transitional housing, the federal government has been inadvertently forcing communities to shutter transitional housing facilities, sometimes leaving victims of domestic violence without a safe alternative. Our bipartisan bill would fix this problem by helping to level the field for transitional housing and encouraging housing options that best support survivors — so that women and children have the residential stability to permanently escape their abusers. We must continue working to stop the spread of family violence to keep our communities strong and safe, and this bill is a step forward  in making sure victims receive the housing, safety, and trauma support they need to begin the process of healing and recovery.” “Far too many bureaucratic hurdles stand between victims of domestic violence and access to safe housing,” said Cornyn. “This bill starts to break down those barriers by prioritizing funding for and increasing flexibility of transitional housing programs so survivors can focus on getting back on their feet instead of fearing how long they’ll have a roof over their head.  I thank the many non-profits in Texas that support domestic violence victims, without whose input and support this bill would not be possible, and I urge my colleagues to join this bipartisan, common-sense effort to help victims of domestic violence.” “Many domestic violence survivors need the supportive services transitional housing offers to get them back on their feet and out of the cycle of poverty, trauma, and homelessness. However, funds have been diverted from transitional housing in recent years, which has disproportionately and negatively impacted survivors in North Dakota by decreasing victim-specific housing programs,” said CAWS North Dakota Executive Director Janelle Moos. “Providers shouldn’t have to choose between losing funding and cutting supportive services, and our communities need to have the autonomy to choose which homelessness interventions work best for their community members. That’s why the HEALS Act is so important and why I greatly appreciate Senator Heitkamp’s work to introduce it and to continue to stand up for domestic violence survivors, as she has done throughout her career.” Specifically, the HEALS Act would: Level the playing field in the HUD scoring process for transitional housing that serves domestic violence victims. Alter HUD’s selection criteria for community transitional housing providers to include evaluating an organization’s success in addressing the effects of domestic violence. Guarantee an avenue for defunded transitional housing programs to reapply for federal funding and allow programs to receive the assistance and technical support they need. Initiate research on the best housing approaches for survivors of domestic abuse and assault, taking the impact on trauma into consideration. Nationally, the HEALS Act has received support from the National Network to End Domestic Violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Across North Dakota, transitional housing providers have described increased requests for emergency residential options, emphasizing why HUD must recognize the benefits of transitional housing and find a better method of funding these critical services. On just one day in 2016, 80 percent of unmet requests for emergency domestic violence services in North Dakota were related to housing. “In the Grand Forks community, we’ve seen an uptick in the number of victims of family violence needing emergency shelter. Lack of funding is an issue we constantly face, and the need for trauma-informed housing and services for these victims and families cannot be underestimated,” said Community Violence Intervention Center (CVIC) President/CEO Kristi Hall-Jiran. “As someone who sees the effects of sustained trauma on a daily basis, I know that the HEALS Act would be a critical step in addressing this need and preventing victims from being further trapped in a cycle of abuse. I want to thank Senator Heitkamp for continuing to be a leader on the issue of domestic violence in four state and for introducing this important bill.” Heitkamp has long worked to support transitional housing for victims and bring greater attention to domestic violence and trauma in North Dakota communities. In October 2017 as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Heitkamp toured the Minot Domestic Violence Crisis Center and helped present additional funding for its transitional housing facilities.  And in January 2015, Heitkamp and Grand Forks Police Chief Mark Nelson toured the CVIC in Grand Forks to see firsthand the innovative and collaborative programs it has implemented to support survivors, counsel abusers, and combat domestic violence in the region. In the U.S. Senate, Heitkamp has built on her work as North Dakota’s Attorney General to combat domestic violence and stop those who seek to harm adults and children. One of the first bills she co-sponsored was the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which she then played a major role in pushing through Congress in 2013. Heitkamp worked to include a key provision in VAWA to address the continuing crisis of violence against women in tribal communities. The provision strengthens the existing programs and provides tribal governments the force they need to prosecute non-Indian perpetrators who commit these crimes on tribal land. In August, Heitkamp’s bipartisan legislation to combat domestic violence by promoting pro-bono legal services for victims unanimously passed the Senate. In 2014, Heitkamp launched her Strong & Safe Communities Initiative to address emerging challenges in the state – including a rise in domestic violence – in the wake of the oil and gas boom. In 2016, Heitkamp released her Strong & Safe Communities Report offering a comprehensive set of proposals to address challenges facing North Dakota, including solutions on domestic violence and trauma and a host of other issues facing the state. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=5CCD64D3-379A-4355-A5E0-DE975D6A5B0F,Heitkamp Announces Federal Funds to Help Families Facing Tough Times Get Back on their Feet,2017-12-12,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, announced two federal grants totaling over $215,000 to help families in public housing find ways to support themselves so they are able to live independent lives. “At the end of the day, all families want a safe and secure home that they are able to afford for themselves and their children,” said Heitkamp. “These federal funds will help give those in need a helping hand to get back on their feet.” The federal grants are distributed as follows: Fargo Housing and Redevelopment Authority: $110,836 The Housing Authority of the City of Grand Forks: $104,899 These federal funds are made available through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Family Self-Sufficiency Program. This program assists families living in public housing to increase their own income through a coordinated effort that addresses the need of childcare, financial literacy, home ownership, and employment assistance.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=78C8B4EF-F52D-4FE7-A646-794B32D3E26B,President Signs Bipartisan Defense Bill Heitkamp Helped Pass,2017-12-12,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp released the following statement after President Trump signed bipartisan defense legislation Heitkamp helped pass to authorize U.S. Department of Defense funding levels and set our nation’s defense policy, which includes several key provisions Heitkamp pushed for to support North Dakota’s defense installations and jobs. “Today is a win for North Dakota’s military installations, as well as our government’s ability to consistently support our nation’s servicemembers and defense operations,” said Heitkamp. “The military plays such a vital role in our state, whether it’s in keeping us safe or boosting our economy. This strong, bipartisan defense bill provides our military with the resources, technology, and training it needs to protect American families, and it provides North Dakota reservists with the health care they earned through their service. In the face of North Korean aggression, it was also encouraging that my provision to reinforce our nation’s commitment to our Pacific allies was signed into law. To address emerging global threats, this legislation recognizes that many of North Dakota’s key defense capabilities require upgrades, such as the B-52 bombers, ICBMs, and UH-1N helicopters. I’ll continue pushing for these modernization efforts, and I will not stop fighting for North Dakota’s service men and women and defense communities.” Heitkamp helped pass an earlier version of the bill in September, and she successfully pushed for several provisions to support North Dakota by: Defending against the North Korea threat: Heitkamp’s amendment reassures our allies of America’s steadfast commitment to protecting against the North Korea nuclear threat. As North Korea continues to threaten regional stability and peace with its missile and nuclear weapons tests, Heitkamp’s amendment makes clear that the United States stands ready to provide its full range of capabilities in the defense of our allies.   Helping veterans join the workforce: The legislation encourages the expansion of a Department of Defense program known as SkillBridge, a key provision of legislation Heitkamp introduced, to allow service members to participate in an internship at a federal agency during their final 180 days of service, giving them skills to help them succeed in the workforce.  Boosting Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) research: The bill encourages the military to use facilities such as the Northern Plains UAS Test Site in Grand Forks to research and develop capabilities to defend against the threat that unmanned aircraft could pose to military installations like those in North Dakota. Heitkamp has long advocated to expand and strengthen Grand Forks’ UAS mission.   Heitkamp, a cofounder of the bipartisan Senate Defense Communities Caucus, also successfully fought to include several provisions that help bolster North Dakota’s defense efforts by: ·Modernizing our nuclear capabilities. The legislation includes support for B-52 squadrons and ICBM squadrons, and also extends special pay and bonus authorities for nuclear officers. This is an important step forward in Heitkamp’s years-long efforts to bolster critical nuclear deterrence missions. ·Protecting our missile fields. The bill urges the Secretary of the Air Force to expedite procurement of replacement UH-1N aircraft, used to protect our missile fields. For years, Heitkamp has pushed for the replacement of the aging UH-1N helicopters, and sent a letter to Defense Secretary Mattis pressing the need for replacement earlier this year. ·Supporting RQ-4 Global Hawks. Recognizing the critical importance of the missions performed by Grand Forks Air Force Base’s Global Hawks, Heitkamp pushed to secure funding and long-term support for the RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft. The final bill notes that the Global Hawks are essential for providing warfighters with the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance they need and should remain in the Air Force inventory as long as they provide such unique capabilities. Heitkamp has long-supported the Global Hawks mission. ·Authorizing an Indoor Firing Range at Minot Air Force Base. This funding will enable the Air Force to build a fully-enclosed firing range to ensure that airmen can complete their arms training in safe conditions. A new range will reduce air quality concerns, provide higher quality training with lower maintenance costs and ensure the range is available regardless of winter weather conditions. The new facility would provide greater capacity than the current range, consolidating four existing buildings into one fully-enclosed firing range. ·Strengthening our missile defense in the face of the North Korean threat. Following her October 2016 Asia-Pacific fact-finding trip focused on ballistic missile defense, Heitkamp pushed to enhance defenses against emerging North Korean ballistic missile threats. The National Defense Authorization Act includes several provisions to bolster our defenses, including authorizing more interceptors. ·Supporting reservists. The bill includes a provision Heitkamp supported to allow deployed Reserve Component members to receive pre-mobilization and transitional TRICARE health care. This is another step forward to support reservists like the North Dakotan’s currently deployed to Washington, D.C., after Heitkamp helped pass the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act earlier this year. ·Enhancing Asia-Pacific Stability.  To further strengthen U.S. posture to deal with North Korea as well as threats from China, the legislation calls for the expansion of exercises, investments in infrastructure, and additional U.S. military presence in Asia, as Heitkamp called for in a letter to Defense Secretary Mattis.   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=2A005F2E-6D65-49D0-8C4D-2503CAC86FA1,Heitkamp Successfully Presses USGS to Conduct New Study of Oil & Gas in Bakken Region,2017-12-11,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today said that a decision by U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS) to conduct an updated assessment of oil and gas resources in the Bakken Formation and Three Forks Formation is a needed step, which comes after she pressed USGS to take such action. Last week, Heitkamp called on USGS Acting Director William Werkheiser to conduct a more updated assessment of the region as the last assessment was completed in 2013. Until the decision by USGS today, the next assessment wasn’t supposed to take place until 2020. Heitkamp made the case that USGS should conduct an assessment sooner than 2020 because past assessments reinforced that dramatically more oil and natural gas were available at the time because of updated technologies. “After pressing USGS to move up its timeline, it’s encouraging the agency is going to conduct a new assessment of oil and natural gas in the western part of the state sooner than it had planned,” said Heitkamp. “The most recent USGS survey of the Bakken region in 2013 more than doubled the estimated mean resources for technically recoverable oil and natural gas. And just in the past four years since then, our state has continued to be at the forefront of the development of innovative energy technologies, and it’s likely such a survey will show even more recoverable oil and natural gas is available in the region. A new USGS survey will help provide more updated data so our state can continue to lead in energy development, investment, and innovation.” The most recent USGS survey of the Bakken region in 2013 more than doubled the estimated mean resources for technically recoverable oil to 7.38 billion barrels, which included an estimated 6.7 trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas. Since mid-2014, in part because of the drop in the price of oil, the industry has been particularly innovative with its development and production to stay competitive, which has led to lower costs and more extraction. Click here to read the letter Heitkamp sent to USGS on December 8. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=906E8BA7-F725-46F8-A787-E9998AE49D45,"Heitkamp Voices Strong Concerns, Requests Briefing on Net Neutrality Rollback Proposal",2017-12-11,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi today expressed her strong concerns about a proposal to roll back net neutrality rules that protect basic fairness on the internet and the impact it will have on rural communities. In a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai, Heitkamp requested a briefing on the Restoring Internet Freedom Order, a proposal under consideration by the FCC to allow internet service providers to block, throttle, or prioritize certain content, which could hurt consumers and small businesses in rural America. “Strong net neutrality rules protect consumers – especially in rural areas – and I’m very concerned about the FCC’s plan to repeal protections that ensure basic fairness on the internet,” Heitkamp said. “North Dakotans and small businesses lose out if their internet provider is allowed to infringe upon these basic principles – particularly if there is only one internet provider in a given area. I’ve heard from many North Dakota startup companies worried that repeal of net neutrality could lead them to pay higher costs to do business on the internet, and I share their concerns. Repealing net neutrality could leave North Dakota’s rural communities more vulnerable, and the FCC needs to fully explain the impact of these changes.”  Click here to read the letter. As a founding member of the U.S. Senate Broadband Caucus, Heitkamp has been pushing for bipartisan solutions that will connect every North Dakota family, business, and school to high-speed internet. Last year, she brought then-FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel to North Dakota to see firsthand how rural areas are impacted by lack of access to high-speed internet, and she has discussed the issue in multiple meetings with the president. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=A49824B9-5C07-44BE-B27B-0929CB4ED4EE,"Heitkamp Meets with Army Assistant Secretary Nominee, Presses for Lasting Flood Protections",2017-12-07,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senator Secures Commitment from James to Visit North Dakota to Observe Challenges Facing Flood-Prone Communities WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today met with R.D. James, the nominee to serve as the Assistant Secretary of the Army - Civil Works—the top civilian official overseeing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In her meeting with Mr. James, Heitkamp discussed North Dakota’s flood protection priorities, reinforced the critical need to maintain federal support for ongoing Army Corps projects in North Dakota, such as permanent flood protections in Minot and Fargo, and highlighted the need for the administration to include water projects in its infrastructure proposal. Heitkamp also secured a commitment from James to, if confirmed, visit North Dakota to see firsthand the challenges facing flood-prone communities.    “The memories of sandbagging never really go away, and for too many families, they’re still struggling to recover from the devastating floods they’ve experienced,” said Heitkamp. “Today, I sat down with the nominee to head the Army Corps of Engineers to talk about our state’s priorities for protecting our cities, residents, and businesses. I updated him on the progress we’ve made in securing support for critical projects like the Fargo-Moorhead diversion, but I warned Mr. James that the federal government can’t neglect its responsibility to fully protect communities in the Souris River Basin and the Red River Valley. I also invited Mr. James to travel to North Dakota to see firsthand the flooding challenges facing our residents, and he expressed his commitment to visit so that he can fully understand the flood risks and work with us on strategies to prevent future disasters.” Heitkamp has long been a champion for strong, permanent flood protections to protect North Dakota communities. In Minot, the Army Corps of Engineers has been tasked with evaluating a proposed flood control project in partnership with the city. In May, Heitkamp helped secure $900,000 in the Army Corps’ 2017 work plan for the continued study of potential long-term flood protections for the city of Minot and the Souris River Basin. Last year, Heitkamp successfully pushed the White House and Army Corps to advance such options for permanent flood protections. This followed Heitkamp’s efforts to bring Minot officials to Washington to meet with OMB and Army Corps officials to discuss the next steps in securing federal funding for permanent flood protection in Minot.   And in April, Heitkamp joined Fargo leaders and the Army Corps to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Fargo-Moorhead diversion. Earlier this year, she urged Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Mick Mulvaney and the Army Corps of Engineers to continue funding for the Fargo-Moorhead Diversion project. Heitkamp successfully secured a new construction start for the diversion in 2016. Click here for a photo from the meeting. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=CF78F8E3-D4FC-4FEC-A933-C45B8310E869,Heitkamp Helps Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Sexual Harassment in the Workplace,2017-12-07,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp helped introduce bipartisan legislation to provide increased protections for victims of sexual harassment in the workplace. The Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Act of 2017 would void forced arbitration agreements that prevent sexual harassment survivors from getting the justice they deserve. Heitkamp joined Senators Lindsay Graham (R-SC), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and others to introduce the bill. “For too long, victims of sexual harassment and assault in some workplaces have been forced into an arbitration process that sweeps systemic issues of abuse under the rug and denies victims the justice they deserve,” Heitkamp said. “Forced arbitration gives employees no choice in how to legally address mistreatment in the workplace that causes lasting personal and mental pain and damage to their careers. We must end this unfair practice and give all workers full access to justice in the face of sexual harassment and abuse.” If an employee’s contract or employee handbook includes a forced arbitration clause, the employee is likely to have signed away his or her right to a jury trial whether or not they are aware of the clause. Forced arbitration clauses typically prevent victims of sexual harassment from discussing the nature or basis of their complaint – which can keep other employees in the dark about a workplace culture that allows sexual harassment and abuse to continue unabated. Employees are far more likely to win cases that go to trial than cases that go through the arbitration process. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=F2840A00-E026-4443-95E7-949C16A59FC6,Heitkamp Helps Introduce Bill to Help Recruit More Volunteer Firefighters & EMS Personnel by Expanding Education Incentives,2017-12-07,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"ND Fire Chiefs Have Looked for Ways to Increase First Responder Recruitment and Retainment; 96 Percent of ND’s Firefighting Forces are Volunteer WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today helped introduce a bill that would incentivize more young men and women in rural America to become volunteer firefighters and emergency medical responders by giving them access to a student loan forgiveness program for public servants. Across North Dakota, 96 percent of firefighting forces are volunteer. But according to North Dakota Firefighter’s Association Training Director Robert Knuth, those numbers are dwindling as the average age of a volunteer increases and the average number of years each volunteer serves decreases. The bill would help encourage more men and women in rural America to volunteer as firefighters by expanding student loan forgiveness to eligible volunteer first responders by allowing them to qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program through the U.S. Department of Education. PSLF provides loan forgiveness for the balance of any principal and interest that remains due after 120 full payments on federal loans. Under this bill, individuals would need to be both certified as a first responder as well as a volunteer in a community public safety organization to qualify for the PSLF program. “Volunteer first responders sacrifice a great deal to protect our communities. They have our back, so we should have theirs,” Heitkamp said. “This legislation will help make sure our fire departments and EMS teams are adequately staffed by encouraging more men and women to volunteer for these needed roles across our state. A program already exists to help public servants pay off their student loans, so it’s just common sense that firefighters and first responders should qualify as well. By making it easier for departments to recruit and retain volunteers, we can help our first responders focus on keeping our communities strong and safe.”      Heitkamp has repeatedly heard North Dakota fire chiefs describe the challenges of recruiting and retaining volunteer first responders, especially in rural areas. Several fire chiefs and firefighter associations in North Dakota have supported the bill, including the North Dakota Firefighter’s Association and the North Dakota Fire Chief’s Association. Click here for a list of quotations from first responders and fire chiefs in North Dakota who support the bill. “The vast majority of North Dakota’s firefighters are volunteers, and they seldom ask for any form of recognition for all their hard work to keep our homes and businesses safe. I think it’s a shame that they don’t currently qualify for something as commonsense as federal student loan forgiveness. That’s why the North Dakota Firefighter’s Association Executive Board appreciates the work Senator Heitkamp has done in helping introducing this bill,” said North Dakota Firefighter’s Association Training Director Robert B. Knuth. “Her Volunteer First Responder Loan Forgiveness Act seems like part of the solution to boosting rural volunteer firefighter and EMT recruitment, and I hope the loan forgiveness aspect will incentivize volunteers to stay committed for long periods of time. It’s not always easy for firefighters to settle down in rural towns, give hours of their time to rigorous training, or be away from their families in sometimes life-threatening situations—I’m glad our volunteer first responders are being addressed through genuinely beneficial legislation.” The Volunteer First Responder Loan Forgiveness Act is being led by U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), Heitkamp, and Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO). This bill is also supported by the International Association of Fire Chiefs, National Volunteer Fire Council, Sergeants Benevolent Association, and Major County Sheriffs of America. This legislation builds on Heitkamp’s ongoing efforts to help North Dakota’s first responders find affordable housing and education. In September, Heitkamp introduced the Volunteer First Responder Housing Act  to promote housing opportunities for volunteer first responders. In 2015, Heitkamp brought the number two top official of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to North Dakota to discuss training and recruitment for volunteer firefighters and how the federal government can better respond to the needs of rural first responders. This effort also builds on Heitkamp’s Strong and Safe Communities Initiative, which she launched in 2014. The initiative aims to address some of the emerging challenges facing the state by bringing focus to ideas that keep North Dakota’s communities strong and families safe in their homes. She issued her Strong & Safe Communities Report in August of 2016. Among the goals of her initiative includes making sure North Dakota communities are supported by well-trained and robust emergency responder forces, and that they are equipped with the necessary tools and resources. Last year, Heitkamp’s Railroad Emergency Services Preparedness, Operational Needs, and Safety Evaluation (RESPONSE) Act was signed into law. This bill— which was introduced by Heitkamp following the derailment of a crude oil train in Casselton in December 2013— helps first responders get the quality training and access to appropriate resources and effective communications they need to handle potential hazardous incidents. In addition to her RESPONSE Act, Heitkamp has worked to improve first responder safety by helping secure $5 million in federal funding to support a one-of-a-kind federal training facility in Pueblo, Colorado that prepares first responders to handle hazmat incidents on the rails, such as crude oil train derailments. At the end of 2016, nearly 310 North Dakota first responders had participated in training at the Pueblo facility – more than 130 of which were trained to specifically handle crude-by-rail incidents. She has also worked closely with federal, state, and local officials, including bringing then-U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx to North Dakota and holding a U.S. Senate hearing on first responder safety.   Click here for video and audio.  ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=60F60759-A85D-4498-88D5-8908383EBEB7,Heitkamp Leads Bipartisan Effort to Delay New Regulations for Livestock & Insect Transporters,2017-12-06,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp led a bipartisan effort to delay implementation of electronic logging devices (ELDs) for commercial vehicles transporting livestock or insects. The regulations are due to go into effect early next year, but the unique safety and animal welfare challenges of livestock hauling still need to be addressed. Heitkamp joined U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) in leading a bipartisan group of colleagues in sending a letter to Senate leadership supporting a provision in the U.S. House-passed Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill delaying implementation of ELDs and providing the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) time to make the necessary adjustments to hours of service rules. “Transporting livestock in a humane and timely manner is critical to jobs in rural communities across North Dakota, so we must make sure livestock haulers have the ability to get their goods to their destinations quickly and safely,” Heitkamp said. “We must look critically at any new regulation that could harm rural jobs, so it’s encouraging that a bipartisan group has joined me in calling for a reasonable delay in ELD implementation so that we can better protect livestock, motorists, and the jobs livestock production supports.” Full text of the letter is below and available here. Senator Heitkamp has been fighting for livestock and honey bee producers, especially as they continue to face the effects of a severe drought. This week, she introduced legislation to expand assistance available to livestock and honey bee producers as they recover from drought. In August, Heitkamp conducted a two-day drought and Farm Bill tour across western North Dakota to hear directly from farmers, ranchers, researchers, and FSA workers about the solutions they need now to weather the drought, and the critical programs that need to be protected and strengthened in the 2018 Farm Bill. The tour built on a listening session Heitkamp convened in July with ranchers, local leaders, and experts on the ground in Bowman to talk about solutions to address challenges they currently face related to the drought, and discuss how to best prepare down the road. The letter was also signed by U.S. Senators John Hoeven (R-ND), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Barrasso (R-WY), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Jon Tester (D-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Jim Risch (R-ID), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Mike Lee (R-UT), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Dean Heller (R-NV) and James Lankford (R-OK). ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=8DB38284-E1FA-4164-B594-DF084BE0C2B0,Heitkamp Bipartisan Bill to Protect Consumers & Boost Economic Growth in Rural Communities Passes Senate Committee,2017-12-06,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp helped pass bipartisan legislation she wrote and negotiated with Republican Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) and a bipartisan group of senators out of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.   The bill comes after three years of bipartisan negotiations that Heitkamp helped lead that would give community banks and credit unions the relief they need to better serve consumers across North Dakota, while also strengthening consumer protections. In the past 30 years, the number of community banks and credit unions has dropped by about two-thirds, yet more than 80 percent of North Dakota deposits still go to community banks, reinforcing that small financial institutions remain a key resource for North Dakota families. Heitkamp announced the agreement last month after several years of work with Crapo, the Chairman of the Banking Committee, and Banking Committee members Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Jon Tester (D-MT) and Mark Warner (D-VA). The bill so far has support from 12 Republican senators, 11 Democrat senators, and one Independent senator. “When Congress puts partisanship aside and works across party lines, we can forge ahead with real solutions that help our economy and rural communities – that’s how I try to work every day in the U.S. Senate,” Heitkamp said. “Unlike tax reform, which was written behind closed doors with zero input allowed from Democrats, this regulatory relief bill was written in good faith by members from across the political spectrum and it shows. For years, I’ve been working with my Republican colleagues on a plan to reduce red tape and give community banks and credit unions the freedom to focus on their customers, especially in rural areas where their services are needed the most. It’s a significant step forward that our bill passed in committee, and I’m proud to lead this bipartisan coalition fighting for families, farmers, and small businesses.” “Community banks like Cornerstone Bank support small businesses, families, and farmers across North Dakota, but our efforts to grow and support our communities have been challenged by burdensome regulations,” said Gary Petersen, Chairman of Cornerstone Bank. “For years, Senator Heitkamp has fought to make sure we have the relief we need to support consumers, and we greatly appreciate her bipartisan work in the U.S. Senate to reach a deal that serves North Dakota and addresses our concerns.” “This is a major victory for consumers not only across the United States, but especially in rural areas such as the Dakotas,” said Jeremiah Kossen, President and CEO of Town & Country Credit Union. “Senator Heitkamp’s bipartisan bill will ease the burden of regulation for credit unions and allow millions of Americans better access to mortgages and other loans, and we appreciate her efforts to strengthen the local financial institutions that keep rural America strong.” Click here for additional statements of support from North Dakota and national financial institutions. In a recent op-ed published in Roll Call, the Bipartisan Policy Center wrote that the legislation is “one of the first significant pieces of financial regulatory legislation in years with real bipartisan support,” and that it “should provide greater incentives to extend credit, particularly to Main Street small businesses, without undermining the progress made since the crisis in making the financial system safer.” Click here to read the op-ed in Roll Call. In 2015, Heitkamp and a bipartisan group of senators came close to finalizing a deal, and she’s been working to find a path forward ever since. The bill comes after more than 20 Senate Banking Committee hearings on regulatory reform and economic growth since 2015 that Heitkamp has been part of, and more than 30 discussions she has had with top financial regulators about the issue. The bipartisan bill would: Improve consumer access to mortgage credit; Provide regulatory relief for small financial institutions and protects consumer access to credit; Tailors regulations for banks to better reflect their business models; Protect consumers’ credit by including a fraud alert in consumers’ files for one year and providing a free credit freeze alert for parents to put on their children; Protect veterans’ credit by prohibiting a credit reporting agency from including medical debt in reports; Protect seniors by extending immunity from liability to certain people who disclose suspected exploitation of seniors; Protect tenants from foreclosure by a re-imposing bill to protect tenants that was repealed in 2014; and Protect consumers from cyber security threats by requiring the Treasury Department to submit a report to Congress on the risks of cyber threats to financial institutions and the U.S. capital markets. Click here for a section-by-section summary. In the U.S. Senate, Heitkamp has been a leader in supporting local banks and making sure they have opportunities to succeed without facing undue regulations. Last year, Heitkamp brought former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray to Bismarck to hear directly from small banks and credit unions about the regulatory burdens they face that can deter their focus on relationship lending. In March 2014, Heitkamp urged President Obama to carefully consider the concerns of community banks when naming a nominee for the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, and called on him to nominate someone to the Board who understands the lifelines community banks play in rural areas so those voices are heard. In August 2013, she brought Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Chairman Martin Gruenberg to North Dakota to hear directly from bankers in the state about the importance of local and community banks to helping small businesses and communities thrive. In 2015, Heitkamp brought the head of the federal agency overseeing credit unions to North Dakota to hear directly from local credit union leaders about their concerns with potentially burdensome federal regulations, and to learn more about the positive impact these smaller financial institutions have on communities and businesses across the state. Also in 2015, legislation introduced by Heitkamp was signed in to law to reduce unnecessary burdens on community banks and local financial institutions by eliminating redundant, costly, and often ignored annual banking notifications, and instead require banks to alert customers only when privacy and information-sharing changes actually occur. Heitkamp has long worked to improve how regulations are developed through her role as the ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management, which oversees the federal regulatory process. In April, she joined with Republican Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) to introduce the bipartisan Regulatory Accountability Act to make federal regulations smarter and more effective so they better support businesses, families, and jobs by modernizing the federal regulatory process that hasn’t been significantly reformed in 70 years. She has also fought against burdensome regulations for farmers and retailers, leading an effort to reverse across-the-board restrictions on agricultural retailers that sell anhydrous ammonia, a common fertilizer. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=07EF2937-F7B5-4656-9F80-62E0C2D498B6,Heitkamp Votes to Confirm New Secretary to U.S. Department of Homeland Security,2017-12-05,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp voted with a bipartisan majority of the U.S. Senate to confirm Kirstjen Nielsen as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). “During Kirstjen Nielsen’s nomination process, she committed to me that she would prioritize security improvements along our Northern Border – including quickly implementing the new Northern Border Strategy that came as a result of my bipartisan bill being signed into law,”said Heitkamp. “Nielsen also brings important expertise on cybersecurity to her new position. Our nation needs to take additional steps to make our systems and networks more secure and resilient, and I hope Nielsen can be a key part of that effort. The United States must have a strong Homeland Security Secretary that will act as an independent voice and not be swayed by political pressure. I pressed Nielsen on this at her confirmation hearing – and I plan to hold her to those commitments as Secretary, as well as her promises to prioritize the Northern Border and address some of the long-term challenges there, so we can keep North Dakota and our nation safe.” As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs, Heitkamp questioned Nielsen during her confirmation hearing in November. Heitkamp underscored the need to recognize the security and personnel challenges along the nation’s 5,500 mile Northern Border and secured a commitment from Nielsen that she would quickly review and implement the new Northern Border security strategy. This new strategy was recommended by DHS’s recently completed Northern Border Threat Assessment – an analysis that was a result of Heitkamp’s Northern Border Security Review Act that was signed into law last year. As part of Nielsen’s commitment to the Northern Border, Heitkamp encouraged her to visit North Dakota’s border to see firsthand the unique challenges that a border in remote and rural areas face to keep our nation safe. In October, Heitkamp first met with Nielsen to discuss her nomination. Heitkamp has long been working to make the Northern Border a priority for DHS as it impacts national security, trade, jobs, and quality of life along our border with Canada. More details about the work Heitkamp has done to make sure the Northern Border receives the proper attention include: Visiting the Northern Border multiple times. In 2014, Heitkamp brought the then-Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee Tom Carper (D-DE) to North Dakota to raise awareness and bring more attention to the Northern Border. In 2015, Heitkamp brought then-DHS Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to see the Northern Border for himself when they visited the Pembina border crossing. In 2016, Heitkamp visited the Portal Point of Entry where she met with Customs and Border Protection Officers, agents, and management to learn more about the challenges they face in helping secure the border. Making the Northern Border a priority for a U.S. Senate Committee. Following Mayorkas’ visit, Heitkamp successfully called for a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on the Northern Border during which she questioned federal border security officials about the issues she heard about firsthand in Pembina with Mayorkas. In March 2016, Heitkamp urged then-DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson on the need to pay closer attention to the border. Additionally, in November 2016 Heitkamp stressed the importance of additional resources and support for the border during a U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security hearing with chief and deputy chief of U.S. Border Patrol. Securing long-term Northern Border efforts at Grand Forks Air Force Base. Heitkamp pushed DHS to secure a long-term Air and Marine Operations presence at the Grand Forks Airforce Base and in September 2017 DHS and Customs and Border protection heeded her call to maintain the their presence on the base. Reducing drug crime and flow at the border. In August 2014, Heitkamp joined then-White House Drug Czar Michael Botticelli to unveil a new national strategy to fight drug crimes in the Bakken and at the Northern Border that she specifically pushed for. Addressing the personnel staffing along the Northern Border. In October 2017, Heitkamp’s bipartisan bill, the CBP Hiring and Retention Act, passed in committee with the intent of alleviating chronic challenges Customs and Border Protection face in hiring and retaining a qualified workforce. During a U.S. Senate Homeland Security Hearing in March 2017, Heitkamp stressed the importance of improving the recruitment and retention of qualified employees at the ports of entry to key union U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=3164D537-0420-4639-B6B2-2ADBB29FBAEF,Heitkamp: New Crackdown on Unfairly Subsidized Biodiesel Imports will Boost ND Jobs,2017-12-05,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today released the following statement on the U.S. International Trade Commission’s (ITC) approval of import duties on biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia, following Heitkamp’s testimony at a recent ITC hearing where she made the case that imports from those countries were unfairly subsidized and threatening jobs in North Dakota.  “This decision is a win for North Dakota farm and biodiesel production jobs, and a powerful signal that we won’t tolerate unfair trade practices that hurt American jobs,” Heitkamp said. “Our farmers and those employed by the biodiesel industry work hard every day to grow this important part of our domestic energy strategy. Producers like ADM based out of Velva – which produces 75 million gallons of biodiesel a year – are at the forefront of innovation in the renewable fuel industry, and we must continue to support this home-grown source of energy and jobs.” In addition to her testimony at the ITC hearing last month, Heitkamp sent a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in September, urging him to take action to protect U.S. producers from these unfairly subsidized imports. Click here to read her letter to Secretary Ross.  According to a study conducted last year by LMC International and released by the National Biodiesel Board, the 2.1 billion gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel used by Americans in 2015 supported 47,400 jobs and $1.9 billion in wages, and had an $8.4 billion economic impact. In North Dakota, about 50 percent of corn is turned into ethanol, according to the North Dakota Corn Growers Association, reinforcing how important it is that we maintain a robust biofuels market through the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In October, Heitkamp successfully fought to protect biofuel production targets in the RFS, leading a bipartisan letter to the administration opposing proposed cuts to production levels in 2018.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had proposed holding the biomass-based diesel volume stagnant for 2019 and reducing the advanced biofuel volume for 2018, leaving potential growth in the industry on the table and threatening near-term job losses in rural America. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt had previously pledged to support the RFS, and Heitkamp reinforced the need to protect it in a meeting with Pruitt prior to his confirmation.   A member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Heitkamp has been a vocal advocate for biodiesel and ethanol – industries that support over 400,000 American jobs, including many in North Dakota. Heitkamp has fought for the EPA to provide certainty to farmers and biofuels workers, and has continually pressed the agency to issue a strong RFS rule.  ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=FE875240-90CD-4024-84DC-18696BE711FA,"Heitkamp Introduces Bill to Help Farmers, Ranchers, Beekeepers Recover from Drought",2017-12-05,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today introduced legislation to expand assistance available to farmers, ranchers, and honey bee producers who have been impacted by the drought. Heitkamp’s legislation, the Livestock and Honey Bee Disaster Assistance Act, would permanently remove the funding cap for the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP), which provides financial assistance to producers of livestock and honeybees for losses due to weather events and disease. The program is currently capped at $20 million, but demand has been nearly $40 million and is expected to grow. The bill would also allow the Secretary of Agriculture to temporarily raise the cost-share assistance provided by the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) from 75 percent to 90 percent in counties that receive an extreme drought designation by the U.S. Drought Monitor Index. ECP is used by farmers and ranchers to recover from disasters like drought, which can lead to wildfires that destroy fences and require expensive installation of watering systems for livestock. “North Dakota’s severe drought has been a real challenge for farmers and ranchers, and it has strained programs that provide much-needed assistance to support our agriculture community,” Heitkamp said. “As I’ve talked to farmers and ranchers across the state, it’s clear that Congress can improve the way it provides assistance in times of drought and other hardship. That’s why I’ve put forward some common sense reforms to make sure our disaster relief programs work when they’re needed the most.”  Heitkamp has been working to address challenges farmers and ranchers face from low commodity prices and drought, and make sure the next Farm Bill focuses on these issues as well. She recently introduced bipartisan legislation with Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) to strengthen and improve the Agriculture Risk Coverage-County Level program (ARC-CO), which helps farmers when commodity prices fall to damaging levels. In August, Heitkamp conducted a two-day drought and Farm Bill tour across western North Dakota to hear directly from farmers, ranchers, researchers, and FSA workers about the solutions they need now to weather the drought, and the critical programs that need to be protected and strengthened in the 2018 Farm Bill. The tour built on a listening session Heitkamp convened in July with ranchers, local leaders, and experts on the ground in Bowman to talk about solutions to address challenges they currently face related to the drought, and discuss how to best prepare down the road. A member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Heitkamp helped write, negotiate, and pass the 2014 Farm Bill and has worked to implement and protect the Farm Bill for producers across North Dakota. Heitkamp has been working to make sure North Dakota farmers and ranchers can weather the drought, as she seeks to implement lasting solutions to provide some relief and strengthen existing programs in the 2018 Farm Bill that will protect them during extreme weather over the long term. Heitkamp has worked to: Successfully press USDA to provide additional staffing at FSA offices across North Dakota. After Heitkamp called on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue to quickly provide workers for understaffed offices, USDA agreed and announced it would temporarily provide more staff at FSA offices around North Dakota to help farmers and ranchers get immediate drought assistance. As FSA offices continue struggling to handle the volume of applications fast enough to serve farmers and ranchers, Heitkamp in October requested additional support from Secretary Perdue. Meet with farmers and ranchers across North Dakota to hear more about the comprehensive solutions they need, including a roundtable in Bowman with a ranchers, local leaders, and experts, and a drought and farm bill tour across western North Dakota.  Provide key federal, state, and local informational resources. In June, Heitkamp launched her drought resources webpage to make sure farmers and ranchers can access local, state, and federal tools and assistance. These resources include haying and grazing options, tax information, mental health services, and resource eligibility requirements.   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=267DAC98-7CB3-4671-A9E0-282379853F3C,The Truth about the Senate Republican Tax Reform Bill,2017-12-04,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today released the following information explaining the truth about the Senate Republican tax reform bill. Click here to read Heitkamp’s statement about her vote against the bill. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE SENATE REPUBLICAN TAX REFORM BILL FACT: The Senate Republican tax reform bill will explode our country’s debt, adding nearly $1.5 trillion on the nation’s credit card – and that’s in the best-case scenario. WHAT THIS MEANS: The bill will put our kids on the hook to pay for its exorbitant cost without substantially growing the economy. We need to have an honest conversation about what American families are getting for that $1.5 trillion, because that’s a really big bill to put on our kids’ shoulders. And it will have a huge impact on their futures. [CBO, 12/2/17] With $1.5 trillion, there are so many better, smarter ways the Senate could invest that money that would actually support working families and stand up for our kids’ futures. With this same amount of money, the Senate could give every taxpayer making less than $200,000 per year a $9,000 tax cut, rather than disproportionately helping the wealthy as this bill does. Or the Senate could invest that money, in priorities such as finding a cure for Alzheimer’s and cancer, rebuilding our country’s degraded infrastructure, expanding opioid abuse prevention and treatment programs, or fixing the country’s pension crisis. All of these priorities will be crowded out by the Senate’s deficit financed tax bill. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget concludes that the real cost of the Senate bill could be $2.2 trillion, and debt would exceed the size of the economy in just over a decade. [CRFB, 11/15/17] The drastic increase in the federal debt will likely require Congress to pay for it by reducing spending elsewhere. As a result, there could be to severe cuts to and the elimination of critical programs that middle income families rely on. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, Republicans’ bill would trigger automatic spending cuts, including: [The Hill, 11/14/17] Cutting $400 billion from Medicare that would take away health care from seniors. AARP opposes the bill. Wiping out $20 billion from agriculture programs that farmers and ranchers depend on like commodities, livestock assistance, conservation, specialty crop research initiative, beginning farmer and rancher development program, rural energy for America program, and specialty crop block grants. Plus, because of these costs, the federal government risks making it unaffordable to do a Farm Bill next year. [Politico, 11/30/17] Reducing Customs and Border Patrol operations that protect our borders and keep communities safe. Cutting student loan assistance that enables students to afford college. Slashing Essential Air Service, a vital federal program which enables North Dakota’s smaller airports to serve rural communities, support local jobs, and boost economic development. The program invests $4.2 million in Dickinson’s airport, $4 million in Devils Lake’s, and $2.8 million in Jamestown’s each year. Eliminating federal oil, gas and coal payments to states. States currently receive 50 percent of the revenues from minerals extracted from federal lands in the state. These funds are used by states to pay for road, schools, firefighters, and other public services. For North Dakota, it would mean the loss of $40 million next year. [U.S. Interior Department] CONSERVATIVES AGREE: 37 top economists from the University of Chicago said that the Republican tax reform bills would cause the U.S. debt to increase much faster than the economy would grow. [University of Chicago, 11/21/17] The conservative American Enterprise Institute stated, “This tax bill is also terribly flawed. Its benefits are too tilted toward wealthier Americans. It would increase deficits and debt at a time when both are already high and headed higher. And the changes to business taxes are hardly constructed to optimize economic growth.” [AEI, 11/29/17] FACT: The Senate Republican tax reform bill won’t grow the economy or create jobs in the way Republicans say it will. WHAT THIS MEANS: Republicans’ claims that this bill will provide robust, sustained economic growth are not true, and many large companies have admitted it. Many companies have said they will turn over most of the gains from corporate tax cuts to their shareholders rather than hiring more workers – creating more have and have nots and disproportionately hurting families across North Dakota. Some economics and company executives are making clear that bringing their tax rate down won’t cause them to hire more workers. [Politico, 11/30/17] CONSERVATIVES AGREE: Bruce Bartlett, a senior Treasury and White House economic official under two Republican presidents, said, “Virtually everything Republicans say about taxes today is a lie. Tax cuts and tax rate reductions will not pay for themselves; they never have.” [USA Today, 9/27/17] Phillip Swagel, President George W. Bush’s top economist at the U.S. Department of Treasury, called Treasury Secretary Mnuchin’s claims that the tax cuts will pay for themselves “just implausible.” [WSJ, 11/17/17] FACT: The Senate Republican tax reform bill gives the vast majority of tax cuts to wealthy Americans while middle and low income families get the crumbs. WHAT THIS MEANS: With this bill, Republicans are buying off middle income families by giving them almost nothing, while wealthy Americans get the vast majority of the tax cuts. Tax reform must support workers, families, and retirees – but this bill does the opposite. Instead, this tax bill is just unfair -- providing permanent tax relief for corporations and the wealthy, while making tax credits for middle income families temporary, phasing them out in 2025. According to the Joint Committee on Taxation, with this bill, $34 billion in tax cuts will be invested in in 572,000 Americans who make over $1 million – averaging $59,000 per person. On the other hand, $14 billion in tax cuts will go to 90 million taxpayers who make under $50,000 per year – averaging $160 per person. [JCT, 11/11/17] According to the Institute of Taxation and Economic Policy, in North Dakota, the top one percent – those making over $604,800 – will see an average tax cut of $46,870. Meanwhile, North Dakotans making under $75,220 – 60 percent of those in North Dakota -- will get an average tax cut of just a few hundred dollars. [ITEP, 11/17] Then, in 2027, on average, North Dakotans will see a tax increase of almost $10,000. On the other hand, rather than disproportionately helping the wealthy as this bill does, with $1.5 trillion, the Senate could give every taxpayer making less than $200,000 per year a $9,000 tax cut. [ITEP, 11/29/17] Because the tax breaks for middle income families are only temporary, the non-partisan Tax Policy Center concluded that half of all households nationwide would face a tax increase in 2027, including two-thirds of households making between $54,700 and $93,200. In North Dakota, the nearly 90,000 households earning under $105,000 per year would receive a tax increase under the proposal. [CBPP, 11/21/17] The bill punishes middle income families because the tax credits for them are only temporary and go away in five years. But the tax cuts for corporations are permanent. For families across the country, that creates economic uncertainty, while rewarding big corporations. On top of this, the bill would eliminate or drastically reduce many important tax breaks that support middle income families like the personal exemption, and state and local property tax deduction. FACT: The Senate Republican tax reform bill encourages outsourcing. WHAT THIS MEANS: The bill won’t bring jobs back to the U.S. because it supports foreign investors by giving them tax cuts for keeping jobs overseas, rather than incentivizing them to bring jobs to the U.S. and hire American workers.  Rather than supporting families and workers, many of the biggest beneficiaries of this bill will actually be foreign investors, who according the Institute of Taxation and Economic Policy, will get $22 billion in tax cuts in 2027, while American families making under $90,300 will pay an additional $18 billion in aggregate taxes that year. [ITEP, 11/18/17] FACT: The Senate Republican tax reform bill will make the tax code more complex. WHAT THIS MEANS: Families need a tax code that is easier to understand and comply with. Right now there are six huge books that make up the tax code. And independent analysists have said this bill will add another book to that stack because of all the complications it will create. [WSJ, 11/14/17] This bill creates potential loopholes that will invite further abuses in the tax code and complicate tax filing for businesses. For example, it includes a loophole that supports companies that shift jobs overseas. [NYT, 11/13/17] On the business side, the bill will likely increase tax compliance costs for small businesses and pass throughs as a result of its new, untested pass through deduction model. On the international side, the changes are also untested and could significantly increase opportunities for gamesmanship of the tax code and/or lead to off-shoring of U.S. jobs.  FACT: The Senate Republican tax reform bill will create uncertainty and losses for homeowners because the tax system will favor renting over owning a home. WHAT IT MEANS: The bill could have longstanding negative impacts on homeownership by reversing a century worth of tax policy that has valued homeownership as a key driver of retirement security for families across the country. The North Dakota Association of Realtors and North Dakota Homebuilders oppose this bill because it will take away incentives for people to purchase homes by nearly doubling the standard deduction which eliminates most itemized deductions. If fewer people buy homes, home values will decrease, hurting property values for those who already own homes.[Washington Post, 9/27/17] Homeowners in every state will be double taxed for state and local taxes because the bill will drastically reduce how much homeowners can deduct on their property taxes. According to the National Association of Realtors, the direct result of these changes will be a plunge in home values across America in excess of 10 percent, and likely more in higher cost areas. The provision in the bill that will restrict the use of the exclusion of gain on the sale of a principal residence would exacerbate the effect, especially for young homeowners seeking a starter home.  FACT: The Senate Republican tax reform bill will hurt farmers and ranchers. WHAT THIS MEANS: The bill could lead to drastic cuts in farm programs and make a new Farm Bill unaffordable. The drastic increase in the federal debt will likely require Congress to pay for it by reducing spending elsewhere. As a result, there could be severe cuts and the elimination of critical programs including wiping out $20 billion from agriculture programs that farmers and ranchers depend on like commodities, livestock assistance, conservation, specialty crop research initiative, beginning farmer and rancher development program, rural energy for America program, specialty crop block grants. Plus, because of these costs, the federal government risks making it unaffordable to do a Farm Bill next year. [Politico, 11/30/17] The rushed process and the resulting lack of clarity on key agricultural provisions could be harmful to North Dakota agricultural producers, by making substantial changes to critical provisions like accelerated depreciation (Section 179), carryback provisions, “like kind” exchanges, and Section 199 for cooperatives, all of which could be capped or reduced depending upon the outcome of Senate floor procedures. The North Dakota Farmer’s Union opposes the bill. FACT: The Senate Republican tax reform bill will directly hurt millennials who will face tougher futures. WHAT THIS MEANS: The bill targets millennials through changes to home ownership, increased rates on lower income brackets, the child tax credit, and by drastically adding to the country’s debt – which will have a cumulative effect on young adults. [Cosmopolitan, 11/29/17] Millennials, in part because they tend to have lower incomes and are saddled with student loan debt, will see almost zero benefit from this bill. Median income for millennials across the country is relatively low, at about $24,000 per year in North Dakota. Under this bill, tax cuts for those earning less than $75,000 a year will phase out by 2027, leaving many of those Americans with tax hikes instead. [Washington Post, 11/16/17] Analysis from the Joint Committee on Taxation shows that for those making less than $30,000 per year, nearly 50 percent won’t see any significant benefit from the bill by 2019. And only 39 percent will see a tax decrease of $100 to $500. [JCT, 11/27/17] The bill makes it hard for millennials to buy homes and puts those at a disadvantage if they recently bought a home. Homeowners in every state would be double taxed for state and local taxes because the bill will drastically reduce the amount homeowners can deduct property taxes. The bill will take away incentives for people to purchase homes by nearly doubling the standard deduction which eliminates most itemized deductions. If fewer people buy homes, home values will decrease, hurting property values for those who already own homes. The bill will also require homeowners to stay in their homes for five years before receiving the capital gains exemption, which may prevent millennials from buying a first home. [Washington Post, 9/27/17] The child tax credit won’t fully apply to many millennials. Even though the tax credit is doubled under the bill, the tax credit is limited to just 15 percent of an individual’s income. Therefore, only high income earners, which tend to not be millennials, will get the full $2,000 tax credit. [Vox, 11/15/17] Additionally, millennials and younger generations will have to deal with the impact of this bill on future budgets. It will increase the national debt by nearly $1.5 trillion. FACT: The Senate Republican tax reform bill will hurt North Dakota’s energy industry. WHAT THIS MEANS: Wind, oil, gas, and coal will see decreased support because of the bill. The drastic increase in the federal debt will likely require Congress to pay for it by reducing spending elsewhere. As a result, there could be severe cuts to and the elimination of critical programs including federal oil, gas and coal payments to states. States currently receive 50 percent of the revenues from minerals extracted from federal lands in the state. These funds are used by states to pay for road, schools, firefighters, and other public services. For North Dakota, it would mean the loss of $40 million next year in federal oil, gas, and coal payments. [U.S. Interior Department] Provisions in the bill will weaken the effectiveness of the Production Tax Credit (PTC) that supports the development of wind energy, including in North Dakota. Heitkamp specifically worked to extend the PTC in a deal she helped negotiate that Congress passed in December 2015 to lift the decades-old ban on exporting oil and pair it with tax credits for renewable energies, including extending the PTC. For more than a year and a half, she worked with U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) to build support in Congress for lifting the ban, reach a deal with Democrats that included support for renewable energies like wind to gain bipartisan support for the deal, and get enough votes to change this outdated policy. As a result, North Dakota’s wind sector has expanded since 2015. FACT: The Senate tax reform bill will lead to a decrease in charitable donations to nonprofit organizations. WHAT THIS MEANS: Nonprofits that support education, health care, financial literacy, and many other causes that impact every part of North Dakota will lose out. The bill could curtail up to $18 million per year in charitable giving and subject nearly 50,000 non-profit jobs in North Dakota to uncertainty. [JEC, 11/28/17]  ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=9618D0C0-E7B7-48D2-81E0-4D31E0205BAB,Heitkamp Statement on Vote Against Senate Republican Tax Reform Bill,2017-12-02,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senator: “With this bill, Congress is handing our children a credit card bill with nearly $1.5 trillion of debt – and that’s in the best-case scenario”  North Dakotans will see an Average Tax Increase of almost $10,000 in 2027 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today issued the following statement explaining her vote against the Senate Republican tax reform bill that would add nearly $1.5 trillion to the country’s debt. “As North Dakota’s former tax commissioner, I’ve been eager to work with Republicans and Democrats on tax reform to give hard working men and women a needed tax break,” said Heitkamp. “Tax issues are important and complicated, and that’s why Congress needed to work together, Republicans and Democrats, on tax reform. After holding listening sessions across North Dakota, having many discussions about tax reform with top White House officials including the president, and trying to change this bill so it supports working families, it’s discouraging that Senate Republicans weren’t willing to work with us on it. Instead, this bill was crafted at the last minute behind closed doors. And it shows – this bill is bad for North Dakota. “With this legislation, Congress is handing our children a credit card bill with nearly $1.5 trillion of debt – and that’s in the best-case scenario. We need to have an honest conversation about what that means for us long-term. Now, we won’t be able to spend that money on finding a cure for Alzheimer’s and cancer, addressing the opioid epidemic, fixing the country’s pension crisis, boosting national security, rebuilding degraded infrastructure, supporting agriculture research, or providing disaster assistance. All that money will have been spent on tax reform. “Additionally, this bill tries to buy off middle income families for almost nothing, while the wealthy get richer at their expense. In North Dakota, the top one percent – those making over $604,800 – will see an average tax cut of $46,870. The president and most members of Congress will benefit from this bill. Meanwhile, North Dakotans making under $75,220 – 60 percent of those in our state -- will get an average tax cut of just a few hundred dollars. Look at that disparity – there’s nothing fair about it. Then, in 2027, on average, North Dakotans will see a tax increase of almost $10,000. On the other hand, if these tax cuts were given out evenly across the board rather than disproportionately to the wealthy, every American would get a $9,000 tax cut, but that isn’t what is happening. “I wanted to be able to support a responsible, permanent tax reform bill that stands up for workers, families, and retirees while staying fiscally responsible. I wanted to help write it. But this bill gives large corporations a permanent tax cut, while the tax cuts for working families expire in a few years. It could hurt North Dakota seniors by cutting $400 billion from Medicare. It puts farm programs and the Farm Bill at risk. It makes it more difficult for young families to buy homes. It will be harder for students to afford a college education. It makes it more complicated for small businesses to file taxes. It will take health care away from 13 million families. Teachers won’t be able to buy the school supplies they need. Nonprofit organizations will receive fewer donations to operate and help struggling families. The bill could force cuts for federal oil, gas, and coal payments to North Dakota by $40 million per year. And all the top academics – Republicans and Democrats – say it won’t grow the economy or create jobs in the way Republicans say it will. “It’s up to Congress to set a responsible path forward for our country. This bill is bad business and it’s about a political win, but the detrimental impacts of it will be felt across North Dakota and the country. Every day when I come to work in the U.S. Senate, I’m fighting for families across rural America – the workers, parents, retirees, and children -- who are counting on us to stand up for them and do the right thing for them. But under this bill, they will lose, and that’s why I can’t vote for it.” ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=84D83486-26C1-42F9-9B78-27E6FEDE06E8,Bismarck Tribune: Senate approves bill to expand AMBER Alerts to Indian Country,2017-12-01,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bismarck Tribune Staff A bill to expand AMBER Alerts in Indian Country has passed the U.S. Senate. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., who introduced the bill with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said Thursday she hopes the House will approve the bill as soon as possible so the president can sign it into law.  “Native American children are some of the most vulnerable children in the country, yet there isn’t an AMBER Alert system in much of Indian Country, and that makes it very difficult to recover children who have been abducted or who have run away,” Heitkamp said.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=67230C10-C980-4314-8FFF-928852270CBB,Heitkamp Announces Federal Funds for Family Healthcare Center in Fargo,2017-12-01,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced $431,077 in federal funds to support the Family Healthcare Center in Fargo to help deliver primary care services for North Dakotans. “Every North Dakota family deserves to stay healthy and safe,” said Heitkamp. “These federal funds will help the Family Healthcare Center in Fargo provide needed primary care services so families in Fargo can stay healthy by accessing needed health care services.” These federal funds are authorized through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=8A72D79A-77E7-4A2B-84E8-7F02488B562E,KFYR: US House introduces version of 'Savanna's Act',2017-11-30,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Joe Skurzewski WASHINGTON, D.C. - A bipartisan bill named in honor of a slain Native American woman from North Dakota is now making its way through the US House of Representatives, aimed at addressing the increase in murders and disappearances of Native American women. The bill, introduced by Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-CA) and Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), is named ""Savanna’s Act"" in honor of the late Savanna Greywind. The bill is intended to accompany a similar one introduced in the US Senate by Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND). The bills would work to close the gaps between tribal, local, and federal law enforcement agencies. Heitkamp’s bill is currently before the Senate’s Committee on Indian Affairs, and Torres is a ranking member of a House subcommittee on Native American affairs. Greywind’s body was found along the Red River in August, more than a week after she disappeared. Greywind was pregnant at the time of her disappearance, though authorities found the child in a Fargo apartment. The child is said to be in good health and living with Greywind’s boyfriend. Two people face charges of conspiracy to commit murder and kidnapping in Greywind’s disappearance and death. Thirty-eight-year-old Brooke Crews intends to change her plea, while 32-year-old William Hoehn awaits another court appearance.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=E4E816C3-6C6C-416D-B03E-0BC2F533C06F,"Opinion Editorial: The Hill: Congress, here's a CO2-smart tax fix to protect, create jobs",2017-11-30,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bob Perciasepe, D. Michael Langford, John Risch As the Senate approaches a vote this week on tax reform legislation, there’s a proposal with bipartisan support that unions, environmental groups, and industry are all backing. Incentives to support more investment in carbon capture use and storage technology would spur new job growth, but they will also mean that manufacturers and energy producers have the ability to preserve jobs at existing facilities, while reducing carbon emissions at the same time. The NRG Energy Petra Nova carbon capture project at the W.A. Parish coal-fired power plant about 25 miles southwest of Houston is an example of the potential to both cut emissions and protect workers. That’s because the retrofit adopting post-combustion carbon capture technology will annually extract more than 1.6 million tons of carbon dioxide that would otherwise be exhaled into the Texas sky. The project, which is the largest of its kind in the world, was also completed with more than 1,000 workers contributing to the project. But successes like this in the private sector can — and must — be bolstered by partners on Capitol Hill. Leaders of both parties agree that the investments will create and preserve high-paying jobs while helping to reduce carbon emissions over the long term. Legislation to do just that has been cosponsored by a bipartisan group of 25 senators. The FUTURE Act, as introduced by Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) would encourage investment in carbon capture projects, direct air capture projects, and the development of technology to convert carbon into useful products. We already know this practical technology works. In Decatur, Illinois, the Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) Illinois Industrial Carbon Capture and Storage Project became the world’s first commercial-scale ethanol plant retrofitted with carbon capture. Retrofitting facilities with carbon capture technology, like those projects in Decatur and Houston, creates near-term construction jobs in communities where employment is sorely needed. Two thousand workers were involved in the Shell Quest Project in Alberta with 900 working daily on the construction, and the SaskPower Boundary Dam Project in Saskatchewan employed roughly 600 people for construction. But, perhaps more importantly, these projects preserve the long-term jobs in communities that have depended on them for decades with the retrofits ensuring many more years of employment as upgraded plants emit far fewer carbon emissions than before. New projects in the U.S. can replicate those successes. To help maintain American leadership in this critical area of energy infrastructure, now is the time to support adding more carbon capture projects to the development pipeline. That means providing the financial incentives for investment in these projects.    Carbon capture applications go beyond the power sector, including great potential in steel, cement, and fertilizer production plants, natural gas processing plants, and at refineries. On the other side of the world, the Emirates Steel “Abu Dhabi CCS project” became the world’s first steel plant retrofitted with carbon capture technology. Low-carbon and zero-carbon technologies have benefited in the past from similar financial incentives. Federal tax credits and state portfolio standards drove deployment of wind and solar energy and helped dramatically reduce costs. What’s important for Members of Congress and people concerned about carbon emissions to know is that carbon capture technology works. Petra Nova and the ADM projects are just a couple of examples. For those examples to be replicated broadly though, we need now to make these projects more economical and to identify additional uses for repurposing the captured carbon in addition to enhanced oil recovery. Scaling up carbon capture technology would set the stage for cost reductions that could open the door for new industries. Last fall, the Carbon XPRIZE recognized 27 semi-finalists who are developing promising uses for captured carbon dioxide, from enhanced concrete to plastics and carbon nanotubes for higher capacity batteries. In analyzing these finalists, making sure that the carbon stays out of the atmosphere will be an important factor. Capturing carbon from sources — like power plants or industrial processes — can be a bridge to ambitious technologies, like direct atmospheric capture of CO2 to pull the greenhouse gas directly out of the air above. These exciting new industries provide opportunities for American innovation and new jobs. The sky is the limit with carbon capture; it’s that varied and diverse. We’ve seen increased levels of deployment, improved technology performance, and reduced costs in the wind and solar energy industries thanks, in part, to financial incentives. While we’re right to celebrate these American successes, we must not stop there. Let’s apply the same winning formula of financial incentives and state portfolio standards to drive deployment of new American energy infrastructure. As the Senate deliberates over a tax extenders package, we encourage them to include the FUTURE Act — and its financial incentives for carbon capture technology — to open the door for American innovation. Bob Perciasepe is president of the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization working to forge practical solutions to climate change. He is also a former deputy administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. D. Michael Langford is the national president of the Utility Workers Union of America, which is committed to ensuring that its members are the safest, most productive, and highest skilled utility workers in the world. John Risch is the national legislative director of the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers, the largest union of railroad employees in North America.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=225DEC6B-C871-4978-AB7C-9E5B8E269C90,Heitkamp-McCain Bill to Expand AMBER Alerts in Indian Country Passes U.S. Senate,2017-11-30,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and John McCain (R-AZ) today announced that her bipartisan bill to expand AMBER Alerts in Indian Country has passed the U.S. Senate. Heitkamp and McCain introduced the AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act of 2017 earlier this year to expand the child abduction warnings in Indian Country. Such alerts are critical for law enforcement efforts to quickly disseminate information to the public about abducted children to generate leads as quickly as possible, but currently such alerts in many parts of Indian Country are limited to tribal lands – if they exist at all. By making tribes eligible for AMBER Alert system resources, law enforcement in state, local, and tribal governments will better be able to coordinate to find and rescue missing or abducted children, particularly if they have been taken off of their reservation. “Native American children are some of the most vulnerable children in the country, yet there isn’t an AMBER Alert system in much of Indian Country, and that makes it very difficult to recover children who have been abducted or who have run away,” Heitkamp said. “That must change, and that’s why I introduced this bipartisan bill with Senator John McCain to expand this lifesaving system to some of the most vulnerable children in our country – those in Indian Country. The Senate passing this bill is an important step forward, and I encourage the House of Representatives to pass it as soon as possible so the president can sign it in to law. This is part of a broader effort raise awareness and bring better systems of justice to Indian Country, and to give law enforcement agencies at all levels the tools they need to prevent crime and bring criminals to justice so we can keep all our communities strong and safe. Both this bill and Savanna’s Act which I introduced to help address the crisis of missing and murdered native women and girls would make important strides.” “Last year, Navajo Nation was devastated by the abduction and murder of 11-year old Ashlynne Mike,” said Senator McCain. “In that high profile case, authorities did not issue an AMBER Alert for Ashlynne until the day after family members reported her abduction. According to FBI statistics, more than 7,500 Native American children are listed as missing in the United States today. We must protect the most vulnerable individuals in Indian Country, and this legislation is an important step forward in that effort.” The House version of the AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act recently passed out of the House Judiciary Committee. The legislation must now pass the full House before being sent to the president’s desk to be signed in to law. Heitkamp has long been working to build a more robust response to addressing crime and human trafficking in Indian Country and of Native Americans. This week, Heitkamp launched a social media campaign using #NotInvisible to raise awareness about the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women and bring it out of the shadows. Click here for video of Heitkamp discussing the initiative. Heitkamp has also featured the stories of missing and murdered women on her Facebook page to raise awareness about the crisis. Click here to read their stories. In October she introduced Savanna’s Act to ensure North Dakota’s tribes have the information and resources they need to protect women and girls from violence, abduction, and human trafficking. The U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held a hearing on the legislation, and it has attracted strong bipartisan support. Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives this week by U.S. Representatives Norma Torres (D-CA) and Tom Cole (R-OK) In September 2013, Heitkamp led an initial hearing to sound the alarm on the prevalence of human trafficking, especially in Indian Country. Since then, Heitkamp has pushed for legislative action to fight human trafficking, playing a key role in introducing and passing bipartisan legislation on the issue in 2015 in the U.S. Senate, and continuing to introduce more bills on the issue to provide resources for health care providers to stop human trafficking and protect runaway and homeless youth from trafficking. In September of this year, Heitkamp and a group of nine bipartisan senators called for federal agencies and organizations to provide specific training to federal government employees in Indian Country to spot, stop, and respond to human trafficking and domestic violence in the communities they serve. Click here to read the letter. Building on her work to protect every Native child and community from criminals seeking anonymity on their lands, Heitkamp brought then-Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James B. Comey to Fort Berthold in 2016 to continue to press him on the urgent need for a permanent federal law enforcement presence and an improved federal response on the ground in Indian Country, as she had been doing for years. As North Dakota’s former Attorney General, Heitkamp has worked to raise awareness about the need for a permanent federal law enforcement presence across Indian Country. Since joining the U.S. Senate, she has continued to call for a permanent FBI office in western North Dakota and Indian Country. There is now an FBI office in Williston and she continues to press for an office on tribal lands.   The first bill Heitkamp co-sponsored was the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which she played a major role in pushing through Congress in 2013. Heitkamp worked to include a key provision in VAWA to address the continuing crisis of violence against women in tribal communities. The provision strengthens the existing programs and provides tribal governments the force they need to prosecute non-Indian perpetrators who commit these crimes on tribal land. Through her Strong & Safe Communities Initiative, which Heitkamp launched in September 2014, Heitkamp has worked to address the emerging challenges in North Dakota as a result of the state’s population boom, including crime, exploitation, and trafficking issues in Indian Country. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=C9411CBF-EE71-4F51-B178-D4D0851EC03F,Heitkamp Statement on Final Renewable Fuel Standard,2017-11-30,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “The EPA’s final RFS rule is an improvement from the original proposal in July, supporting strong ethanol production, but I’m disappointed that biodiesel targets were not raised,” Heitkamp said. “The failure to raise biodiesel targets is discouraging to private investment in the industry and to jobs in rural America. The EPA should make sure the RFS remains a forward looking program that encourages growth and drives new investment in the industry while supporting good jobs.” The EPA had proposed holding the biomass-based diesel volume stagnant for 2019 and reducing the advanced biofuel volume for 2018, leaving potential growth in the industry on the table and threatening near-term job losses in rural America. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt had previously pledged to support the Renewable Fuel Standard, and Heitkamp reinforced the need to protect it in a meeting with Pruitt prior to his confirmation.   According to a study conducted last year by LMC International and released by the National Biodiesel Board, the 2.1 billion gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel used by Americans in 2015 supported 47,400 jobs and $1.9 billion in wages, and had an $8.4 billion economic impact. In North Dakota, about 50 percent of corn is turned into ethanol, according to the North Dakota Corn Growers Association, reinforcing how important it is that we maintain a robust biofuels market through the Renewable Fuel Standard. A member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Heitkamp has been a vocal advocate for biodiesel and ethanol – industries that support over 400,000 American jobs, including many in North Dakota. Heitkamp has fought for the EPA to provide certainty to farmers and biofuels workers, and has continually pressed the agency to issue a strong Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rule. Last year, EPA released final 2017 renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for ethanol and advanced biofuels, and 2018 RVOs for biodiesel under the RFS. As Heitkamp had long pushed for, the corn ethanol blend levels met the statutory requirements for the first time in years. The EPA is required by law to set fuel blending levels annually so biodiesel and ethanol producers can plan for the future, but the agency failed to do so for years, creating uncertainty for farmers as well as advanced biofuels research and development. After the EPA released its proposed RVOs in May 2016, Heitkamp called on the Administration to set more ambitious targets, as the law requires. She followed up on this in a call with Director of the Office of Management and Budget Shaun Donovan. Heitkamp also helped lead 40 senators in urging the Administration to increase biodiesel RVOs to encourage continued industry growth and diversity in the nation’s energy supply. Heitkamp led the charge in the Senate to successfully push the EPA to set timely RVOs in 2015 for the first time in years. When the RVOs released in May 2015 were lower than levels needed to comply with law and promote the ethanol and biofuels industries, Heitkamp led a bipartisan group of 36 senators in calling on the EPA to increase the RVOs, and joined a bipartisan group of more than 40 senators to put pressure on the EPA for strong corn ethanol blend levels in June 2016.     ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=DA81E26D-AC4F-4EC8-95D3-878FAEDE7A70,"Heitkamp, Ernst Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Government Efficiency and Accountability",2017-11-30,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Legislation would Strengthen Congressional Oversight and the Public’s Ability to Evaluate How Federal Agencies are Tackling Problems WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) today introduced a bipartisan bill to hold federal agencies accountable to act on recommendations that save taxpayer money and make government more efficient. The legislation requires that all open recommendations from inspectors general (IG) at federal agencies that have remained unimplemented for more than a year be posted to a single, searchable website. This legislation would allow Congress and the public to keep better tabs on the problems that have been identified at the federal agencies where IGs conduct audits to combat waste, fraud, and abuse – and keep track of whether or not steps have been taken to resolve those problems. IGs serve as federal watchdogs within government agencies by investigating agencies and recommending how to improve operations and transparency on issues ranging from cybersecurity to federal hiring practices. For the third consecutive year, the IGs identified in their recommendations over $20 billion in potential taxpayer savings. However, there is currently no standard requirement for how IGs organize and maintain open recommendations on their websites, and the quality of publicly available information varies from agency to agency. “Each year, our government invests in the important work of inspectors general. Unfortunately, it’s often difficult for taxpayers to assess whether a federal agency is listening to inspector general recommendations and making good-faith efforts to correct major issues that could help the federal government work better,” said Heitkamp. “Our bipartisan bill would allow the public to better hold government agencies and their leadership accountable by making sure the work of inspectors general gets the full and public analysis it deserves. That way recommendations are put to good use and tax dollars are used efficiently.” “Inspectors General play a critical role in the oversight of our federal agencies,” said Ernst. “I am glad to join Senator Heitkamp in this bipartisan effort to make the recommendations made by the Inspectors General more accessible and transparent so we can better combat waste and abuse in our federal agencies.” Today’s announcement follows the October launch of Oversight.gov—a federal website that hosts thousands of IG reports. The launch responded to Heitkamp’s repeated calls for greater transparency and accountability across federal agencies – including in bipartisan legislation she introduced last year that would have required IGs to post unimplemented recommendations on their websites. The Inspector General Recommendation Transparency Act is endorsed by the Project on Government Oversight. Before the launch of this legislation, Heitkamp met with U.S. Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz to discuss ways to improve Congressional oversight of his agency’s recommendations. During the meeting, Heitkamp reinforced how improving the way open recommendations are posted online could motivate federal agencies to fulfill the recommendations, and help keep Congress better informed about ways to improve operations at federal agencies. Heitkamp has been consistently working with the IG community on ways to implement key elements of her bill to help improve transparency and accountability across the federal government. As a leader of the Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management Subcommittee within the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security, Heitkamp helped lead a subcommittee hearing on how federal departments and agencies implement recommendations from the U.S. Government Accountability Office and the offices of inspectors general. At the hearing, Horowitz testified that for every dollar invested in IGs, there is the potential for $18 in savings for taxpayers, and Heitkamp expressed concern about the need for more transparency and visibility in agencies’ efforts to resolve issues of waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement as identified by IGs. In March 2015, Heitkamp and U.S. Senator James Lankford (R-OK) launched their #CutRedTape Initiative to gather feedback about how federal regulations are impacting Americans across the country every day, and work to improve these regulations by reducing waste, stopping backlogs, and cutting red tape. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=07BB38BB-0B49-46D5-A8E7-E22B2A119039,KVRR: Senator Heitkamp Raises Awareness About Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women,2017-11-29,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"TJ Nelson WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Heidi Heitkamp is recognizing Native American Heritage Month by launching a social media campaign about missing and murdered indigenous women. Heitkamp said, “It can only end when we raise awareness. That’s why I’m asking you today to join me in making sure these women are not invisible. That we are not going to let this happen in our communities and in our country.” Across the country, 84 percent of Native American women experience some kind of violence in their lifetime. On some reservations, Native American women are murdered at 10 times the national average. In 2016, North Dakota had 125 reported cases of missing Native women according to the National Crime Information Center, but numbers are likely much higher as cases are often under reported and data isn’t officially collected. Heitkamp has introduced “Savanna’s Act”, named after slain Fargo woman Savanna Greywind, to keep Native women and girls safe.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=A1E1E23E-0718-424F-889B-B23A58B3A6BB,Fargo Forum: Savanna's Act introduced in U.S. House,2017-11-29,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Heitkamp, D-N.D., introduced ""Savanna's Act"" to the Senate in October. It received a hearing in the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs later that month, but has not progressed beyond that. California Rep. Norma Torres and Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole introduced Savanna Act's into the House on Wednesday, Nov. 29. Heitkamp introduced the bill in response to what she has called an ""epidemic"" of missing and murdered native women. The bill is named for Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, the 22-year-old Fargo woman who was killed in August. She was a member of the Spirit Lake Nation. The bill would create standard protocols for responding to cases of missing and murdered American Indians, improve the collection and dissemination of statistics about missing and murdered natives, and enhance tribal access to federal crime databases. Heitkamp on Wednesday also launched a social media campaign to raise awareness about the issue of missing and murdered native women. She asked native women, their families, advocates and others to post photos of themselves on Facebook and Twitter holding a sheet of paper saying #NotInvisible.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=6DC01F16-7BE1-498E-A094-9F48E8EB7EC5,"Choose Your Health Care Plan Now, Open Enrollment is Almost Over",2017-11-29,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"As we approach the holidays and a new year, it’s important to count our blessings and focus on the health and well-being of ourselves and those we care about. And perhaps the single most important thing you can do for your health and financial security is to make sure you have adequate health insurance. Health care open enrollment is going on right now and North Dakotans can sign up for or change their health care plans to make sure they’re getting a plan that works best for them and their families. But this year, you have much less time to research and choose a plan through healthcare.gov, known as the health insurance marketplace, than in past years. Open enrollment ends on December 15 – a month and a half earlier than last year – so time is running out to choose a plan for those who don’t get coverage through your job, Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare. That’s why it’s so important that you act quickly to secure coverage – and remind your friends and family to do the same. The administration drastically cut the length of the open enrollment period this year, and also slashed federal funding for in-person assistance known as navigators who help you select a plan and sign up for coverage. We’re seeing the direct impacts in North Dakota. Minot State University, for example, saw its federal funds to help North Dakotans find care slashed by 96 percent. And Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board doesn’t have enough funds to help North Dakotans sign up for coverage as it has done in previous years. Since 2013, the uninsured rate in North Dakota has been reduced from 11 percent to 8 percent, in  large part due to the work of organizations like these that helped families sign up for coverage. Because of the shorter enrollment period and reduced resources, I created a new webpage to help folks explore their health care options and choose the best plan for their individual needs. Please visit it to find resources at www.heitkamp.senate.gov. North Dakotans can shop for plans, determine financial assistance eligibility, sign up for coverage, and receive application assistance or appeal a decision by visiting www.healthcare.gov or calling 1-800-318-2596. There are five ways to apply for coverage: online, by phone, with in-person help, through an agent, or by mail. Despite the administration’s misguided decision to cut open enrollment period and support for assistance like North Dakota’s navigators, enrollment across the country has actually risen compared to previous years. That’s because families know how important it is to have health insurance – whether you have a preexisting condition or are in perfect health. You never know when you’ll need medical care, and no one should be saddled with a debilitating bill from the emergency room simply because they missed the open enrollment period and don’t have health care. I have long said that the health reform law isn’t perfect. But there are many pieces in it that are helpful, and for years I’ve been pushing to make it work better for North Dakota families and small businesses. For example, I’m leading an effort to delay the Health Insurance Tax to prevent burdensome premium increases. And I recently helped put forward a bipartisan plan to immediately make health insurance more affordable and accessible for North Dakota families. Every individual and family should be able to get access to affordable, quality health care, and no one should have to go bankrupt to pay for health care for a child with disabilities, a sick family member, or just an emergency that you never thought could happen. I encourage every North Dakotan who lacks health insurance or needs to make changes to their coverage to do so before the December 15 deadline. There isn’t time to waste as protecting your health is too important.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=B80A2612-BA2E-4B76-91A2-BFD1F6111AD9,Heitkamp Shines Light on Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women with #NotInvisible during Native American Heritage Month,2017-11-29,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today recognized Native American Heritage Month and launched a social media campaign to raise awareness about the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women and bring it out of the shadows. Heitkamp is encouraging Native women, their families, advocates, and others to show their support and help raise awareness about this epidemic by posting a photo holding a sheet of paper with #NotInvisible. Click here for video of Heitkamp discussing the initiative. Across the country, 84 percent of Native American women experience some kind of violence in their lifetime, and on some reservations, Native American women are murdered at 10 times the national average. In 2016, North Dakota had 125 reported cases of missing Native women according to the National Crime Information Center, but numbers are likely much higher as cases are often under reported and data isn’t officially collected.  “Native American Heritage Month is a time to reflect on the history and traditions of Native Americans, and it’s also a reminder that indigenous populations face many challenges that urgently require awareness and solutions,” Heitkamp said. “Folks in Indian Country across our nation know all too well about the epidemic of missing and murdered Native women as so many of them are directly impacted by it every day. But outside those communities and reservations, the issue lacks the awareness it deserves. With this effort, we’re standing with Native women, their families, advocates, and supporters to bring this crisis out of the shadows and say that Native women are not invisible. Only once we raise awareness about this epidemic can we then help implement solutions to stop these tragedies from occurring. This is a crisis that requires more federal resources and attention, which is why I’ve introduced Savanna’s Act to keep our Native women and girls – and all of our communities – strong and safe.” Heitkamp introduced Savanna’s Act in October. It has received bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate and already received a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.  Click here for a fact sheet on Savanna’s Act.  Today, U.S. Representatives Norma Torres (D-CA) and Tom Cole (R-OK) will introduce companion legislation in the House of Representatives. Heitkamp launched a website with key resources and information on missing and murdered indigenous women, including offering steps to take if you know or suspect a person has gone missing by force. Click here for more information.  Heitkamp has also featured the stories of missing and murdered women on her Facebook page to raise awareness about the crisis. Click here to read their stories. Earlier this month, Heitkamp released the latest episode of her podcast, “The Hotdish,” interviewing two experts and advocates who have dedicated their lives to helping indigenous women overcome obstacles and hardship. Click here for details. “The Hotdish” is available on iTunes and SoundCloud, as well as on Heitkamp’s Senate website. Click here to subscribe to “The Hotdish” on iTunes.   Background Heitkamp has long worked to stop violence, exploitation, and trafficking of Native women and children by: Combating human trafficking in Indian Country. Heitkamp held an initial Senate hearing in September 2013 on stopping human trafficking with a focus on Indian Country. She has worked closely with Cindy McCain, a global leader in the effort to stop human trafficking. McCain testified at a Senate hearing earlier this month on human trafficking in Indian Country and highlighted Heitkamp’s work on the issue. In 2015, Heitkamp brought Cindy McCain to Fort Berthold, to talk about how to combat human trafficking. In September, Heitkamp called forfederal agencies and organizations to provide specific training on human trafficking to federal government employees in Indian Country. Heitkamp also played a key role in passing bipartisan legislation in 2015 to fight human trafficking, and introduced multiple other bills on the issue. Calling for a permanent federal law enforcement presence in Indian Country. When she served as North Dakota’s Attorney General and now as a U.S. senator, Heitkamp has worked to raise awareness about the need for a permanent federal law enforcement presence across Indian Country. In 2016, she brought then-Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James B. Comey to Fort Berthold to press him on the issue. Just a few weeks ago, Heitkamp spoke with the current FBI director about law enforcement challenges in Indian Country and pressed the agency to make these issues a priority. Protecting Native women from violence. In the U.S. Senate, Heitkamp has built on her work as North Dakota’s Attorney General to combat domestic violence. The first bill she cosponsored was the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which she then played a major role in passing in 2013. Heitkamp worked to include a key provision in the bill to address the continuing crisis of violence against women in tribal communities. The provision strengthens the existing programs and provides tribal governments the force they need to prosecute non-Indian perpetrators who commit these crimes on tribal land. Keeping communities strong and safe. Through her Strong & Safe Communities Initiative, which Heitkamp launched in September 2014, she has worked to address the emerging challenges in North Dakota as a result of the state’s population boom, including crime, exploitation, and trafficking issues in Indian Country.   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=0F633CCA-2D12-49DB-831C-15203166AB05,Bismarck Tribune: ND could be one of the most affected states if US withdraws from NAFTA,2017-11-27,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Jenny Schlecht FARGO — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce released a list of the states most likely to be negatively affected if the U.S. withdraws from the North American Free Trade Agreement, placing North Dakota at third, behind only Michigan and Wisconsin. Rounding out the list were Texas, Missouri, Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, Arizona, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. North Dakota’s position on the list sounds about right to officials in the North Dakota Trade Office. “Absolutely,” says Lindsey Warner, director of marketing and events at NDTO. “The unfortunate thing is, if NAFTA goes away, no matter how you look at it, it’s going to hurt a lot of our exporters.” NAFTA, implemented in 1994, over time eliminated almost all agricultural tariffs and quota restrictions among the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The three countries have undergone several rounds of negotiations in an effort to produce a modernized version of the agreement. The chamber report explains North Dakota leads the nation in terms of the share of its exports going to Canada and Mexico, at 84 percent, with $3.5 billion in exports sent to the two countries. It estimates withdrawing from NAFTA would put 33,000 jobs at risk in the state. While the report specifically mentions North Dakota as being a big provider of soybeans to Mexico, Nancy Johnson, executive director of the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association, says that’s not exactly the case. North Dakota sends 66 percent of its soybeans whole to the Pacific Northwest, where they are shipped to Asian countries, primarily China, Thailand, the Philippines and Taiwan, according to North Dakota Soybean Council statistics. However, Johnson says, Mexico is a major importer of soybean meal, which is used as swine and poultry feed. So while North Dakota itself crushes a very small amount of soybeans at this time, the soybean industry as a whole does send a substantial amount of meal to Mexico. The location for a soybean crushing plant in Spiritwood, N.D., being planned by Minnesota Soybean Processors, was chosen in part because of access to rail to take products like soybean meal to Mexico or Canada, Johnson says. Relationships with buyers and sellers of various products over the years have been built in the years since NAFTA was approved, Johnson says. “There’s a whole generation of traders who work at these big companies who really haven’t done anything but trade under these rules,” she says. And while those relationships are strong, she says adding tariffs into the equation would change trade substantially. Right now, someone in Mexico who feeds swine reliably buys soybean meal from U.S. sources, in part because of the convenience of train delivery. But if the price of the meal goes up, “he’s going to be looking around,” possibly to sources in Argentina or Brazil, Johnson believes. The NDTO’s purpose is to help North Dakota exporters build relationships with potential customers outside U.S. borders. Warner and Sharon May, director of business development, say the organization is educating North Dakota exporters on the possibility of NAFTA withdrawal and what their options are if it happens. It’s not just North Dakota agriculture that would be affected. Manufacturing, including food processors, ag machinery and small companies that have a primary market in Canada, could be devastated, May says. She adds that about 50 percent of North Dakota exports go to Canada. Without NAFTA, a portion of those products still could potentially qualify for duty deferral, but not all of them. Though much of the rhetoric surrounding the potential withdrawal from NAFTA has focused on loss of U.S. jobs, May says North Dakota has many jobs supported by exports. Warner and May say the trade office has had discussions with the state’s congressional delegation about NAFTA — and they say the state’s representation has a strong grasp on the issue. Both of North Dakota’s U.S. senators, Republican John Hoeven and Democrat Heidi Heitkamp, have signed onto a letter to Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross stressing the importance of NAFTA to agriculture. The Nov. 20 letter has been signed by 18 senators. “With 95 percent of consumers residing outside of the U.S., farmers and ranchers must have access to export markets to sell their high-quality product,” the letter, spearheaded by Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., said. “Free trade agreements have allowed the U.S. agriculture industry to establish itself as a trusted supplier. International markets have taken years to build, and it is imperative that no steps be taken to jeopardize these gains. We must continue to move the global presence of U.S. agricultural products forward, not backward.” Johnson does believe there will be a price impact for soybeans if the U.S. leaves NAFTA. Though the Trump administration has said negotiations would have a “do-no-harm” goal for agriculture, Johnson says Mexico already has been seeking out other trade partners. “Right now, the rhetoric about the willingness to pull out is already doing harm,” she says.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=5EAEB05A-A251-497A-AE26-F1C7093A5D1B,Editorial: It's time to level the retail playing field,2017-11-23,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"We should all agree that competition should be fair, and that government policies should not skew the marketplace strongly in favor of one type of business. Yet that's exactly what's happening in retail, thanks to a 1992 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Quill Corp. vs. North Dakota. The justices held that a business must have a physical presence in a state before it can be required to collect state sales and use taxes. It's one of the reasons online sales have skyrocketed in recent years, as many consumers have developed the habit of avoiding sales taxes by ordering over the internet. That helped Amazon become a retail behemoth, though it now pays sales taxes in all states. Amazon, founded in Seattle in 1994, now accounts for almost 4 percent of retail sales in the United States. E-commerce sales grew 15.1 percent in 2016 and represented 8.1 percent of total retail sales for the year, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. By one estimate, online sales represented almost 42 percent of the growth in retail sales last year. The trend will undoubtedly continue. Online sales are expected to reach 12 percent of retail sales by 2020. So retail players who have an unfair competitive advantage due to an uneven playing field are racking up the score—at the expense of traditional retail stores, many of which have strong roots in the community. Traditional retailers are a source of jobs in their communities. They pay taxes and are often involved in the civic life of their communities, becoming a vital part of the social fabric. But out-of-state e-commerce giants contribute essentially nothing to support local communities, even as they hollow out the local retail sector. This is a problem that requires a federal solution. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., has been an advocate of leveling the retail playing field. She is a co-sponsor of the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2017, which would enable states to require out-of-state businesses or online retailers to collect the sales and use taxes already owed under current law. A similar bipartisan handily passed the Senate in 2013, but did not become law. This should not be controversial. Heitkamp's Senate and House colleagues should join the co-sponsors of the bill and pass it into law. And, meanwhile, shoppers should remember to patronize their local merchants. We value the convenience of being able to buy products locally. We shouldn't assume that convenience will always be available without our support.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=DFEF1F27-A01C-4203-9D18-3AE784215AB0,Forum News Service:Costs of opioid abuse much higher than previously believed,2017-11-23,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sydney Mook The opioid crisis which has been affecting families across North Dakota and the region for the past few years has also hit homes across the country. According to new data compiled by President Donald Trump’s Council of Economic Advisers, the costs of opioid abuse are much higher than previously thought. The data states that opioid-involved overdose deaths have doubled in the past 10 years and quadrupled in the past 16 years. The number of opioid-involved overdose deaths has risen by nearly one-third since 2013. Illegally imported fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid, and fentanyl analogs, are thought to be main culprits in the rise of overdose deaths. Drug overdoses are now the leading cause of injury death in the United States, outnumbering traffic crashes or gun-related deaths. The council said evidence suggests that up to 24 percent of drug overdoses related to opioids are not reported, which could raise the estimated 2015 opioid overdose death toll to over 40,000. Preliminary analysis shows that more than 64,000 lives were lost to drug overdoses in 2016, a rate of 175 deaths a day in 2016, according to the council The CEA estimates the cost of the opioid crisis in 2015 to be $504 billion, when the number of lives lost in the crisis are accounted for. The CEA’s high estimate puts the cost of opioid misuse at $622.1 billion while the most conservative estimate suggests the cost is $293.9 billion. On Oct. 26, President Trump directed the acting Secretary of Health and Human Services to declare a nationwide public health emergency to bring the full war chest of the U.S. government to fight the opioid crisis. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., said although North Dakota does not have the overdose and use rates like West Virginia, opioid use in the state is an “escalating problem.” While Heitkamp was pleased that Trump declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency, she said she wished the declaration came with more resources attached. “Saying it’s an emergency is one thing, actually tackling the problem is another,” she said. “... We need additional resources and we need strategic thinking and I think the President’s declaration will lead to some of the structure pieces, but if we don’t fund best practices I think we won’t get ahead of this problem.” Earlier this year Heitkamp reintroduced the Budgeting for Opioid Addiction Treatment Act, known as the LifeBOAT Act, which would provide funding for substance abuse treatment. It would be funded by charging a 1 cent fee on every milligram of opioid ingredient in a prescription pain pill, estimated to generate more than $1 billion a year, Heitkamp said. “We think nothing about taxing cigarettes, we think nothing about taxing alcohol,” she said. “This is a product that has led to (many) social ills and we would love to see an ongoing and dedicated source of revenue.” Heitkamp said it’s important for members of Congress to remember that addiction cannot be solved in a day. Heitkamp noted that looking at preventive measures is also important. “We have to look at addiction differently than we have in the past,” she said. “That means building workforce. We need more doctors that are trained in medically-assisted treatment, social workers who can assist families and work through the follow-up. We need more boots on the ground and the federal government could do to a lot to incentivise those people to go in that direction.” Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said it has be a coordinated federal, state and local effort to tackle the opioid crisis. In July 2016, former President Barack Obama signed the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) into law, the first major federal addiction legislation in 40 years. Hoeven said the bill encompasses prevention, enforcement and treatment when it comes to opioid addiction. Last week Hoeven and U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at combatting substance use disorders in rural communities. The bill would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program to prioritize applicants in rural communities using the grants for substance abuse education, treatment, and prevention efforts. Hoeven said bills like CARA and others passed by Congress in the past few years are a good step forward. “Opioid abuse is the cause of great loss and heartache for too many families and a terrible strain on our communities,” Hoeven said in a recent press release. “Action has been taken by Congress and across the administration to address this crisis, and (the President’s) declaration is another important step to help reduce the incidence of opioid abuse and drug overdose. At the same time, we continue working in Congress to pass additional legislation and provide the necessary funding to adequately address this crisis, make services available to those who are struggling with opioid abuse and prevent drug trafficking.” Heitkamp agreed that the passage of CARA is also a good step forward, but noted that she did not believe there was enough money or personnel to fully address the current crisis Heitkamp believes that Medicaid, a health care program for low-income Americans, is an important tool for fighting opioid addiction as 60 percent of people seeking treatment for opioid-related addiction are on Medicaid. She said that proposed cuts to Medicaid were one of the reasons she opposed efforts to repeal the ACA. Additionally Heitkamp said it is important for law enforcement and other levels of government to work together. “If you do not fund law enforcement the price goes down and the access to it increases,” she said. “This needs to be done in conjunction with a robust law enforcement response.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=2BAA1403-EAC7-490B-B636-5C8D1B6A1C96,Bismarck Tribune: Teamsters pin hopes on legislation to save pension,2017-11-22,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Jessica Holdman Members of North Dakota Teamsters are rallying around legislation meant to stabilize their pension fund, which is approaching insolvency within the decade. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., visited Bismarck Tuesday to drum up grassroots support for the Butch Lewis Act, of which she is a co-sponsor. The Central States Pension Fund, which benefits about 2,000 Teamsters in North Dakota, as well as other states, took a hit as a result of the 2008 recession, along with having more retired than active members. Heitkamp called the potential 20 percent to as much as 80 percent declines in pensions an “injustice.” “This has to get fixed,” she said. A Mandan story Tony Goetzfried, 70, of Mandan, started driving trucks and served as the local Teamsters business agent for 20 years. He said he and his fellow workers gave up pay raises to pay into the fund. As a result, it was lucrative and had a lot of money for years. “You did the smart thing,” Heitkamp said. But things changed, and despite the bailout of Wall Street’s financial institutions, which the union says squandered their pensions, nothing was paid back into the fund. Driving in Fargo Donna Mattson, of Fargo, said her husband worked as a UPS driver for 30 years. “He worked hard and earned his pension. He also gave up a great deal to be able to do his job. He missed out on many of our kids’ basketball and soccer games because he worked so much,” she said. Then, in 2013, Mattson’s husband was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy, requiring physical, speech and occupational therapies, as well as in-home nursing, which Mattson said can cost $26 per hour once Medicare benefits run out. She said, without the pension, there is a chance they may not be able to afford to stay in their home. Retirement in Rugby Before his 30-year career as a UPS driver, Wayne Odegaard, of Rugby, was a science teacher. But UPS offered to double his salary and give him the best retirement in the industry, so he took the job despite the long hours that came with it. “It’s a constant stress on my wife and me, especially since I have arthritis, wear braces on both ankles and have three stents after a recent heart attack, which can be expensive to manage,” Odegaard said of the pension fund’s uncertainty. At age 72 and with his health problems, he doesn’t think he’d be able to find another job to support he and his wife. They could be forced to sell their home and rely on government assistance. Bismarck shortcomings Mark Rothschiller, of Bismarck, drove for 27.5 years for UPS, also missing his kids’ plays and sports games. “I’ve had five back surgeries and other rotator cuff surgeries, which forced me to retire early,” said Rothschiller, adding that many of his health issues resulted from the labor intensive nature of his job. His doctor told him he can’t work anymore and, rather than traveling with his wife and grandkids as they had planned, he has to worry about how to cover the medical bills, he said. “Disability and Social Security help, but it doesn’t cover everything,” he said. Call for solvency The Butch Lewis Act would implement the sale of Treasury bonds to provide long-term solvency, as well as allocate $20 billion in federal funding over 10 years, so that union members would continue to receive the benefits for which they bargained, Heitkamp said. Heitkamp said the legislation, which she and the other co-sponsors hope to attach to a larger spending bill or other end-of-year legislation, would help this and other pension funds into the future. “It’s going to require an influx in cash,” she said. The legislation has the support of the Central States Pension Fund and the investment community, according to Heitkamp, who said the United Mine Workers union has also vowed its support, which she hopes will bring more lawmakers’ on board. “We need to have a few Republicans here,” she said. Heitkamp said she thinks the 48-member Democratic Caucus is behind the bill, but 12 more votes would be needed. She called on the Teamsters to go to lawmakers such as Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., who had spoken in support of the pensioners during a rally in April 2016. There are more than 1,000 retired Teamsters locally, along with 502 active members and 705 previous members that may no longer work in the industry but met years of service requirements to draw a pension upon retirement. Present and past Teamsters affected were employed locally by the SuperValu warehouse, Holsum Bakery, Kemps and Deans Foods.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=37CB72D8-396A-478D-B021-2ABDA60B3671,Editorial: Our view: Keep up the efforts to curb sex trafficking,2017-11-22,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"For example, ads openly tout women who are in town for a few days and looking for company. These ads exist in cities throughout the nation — again, including Grand Forks. Under pressure from the government, Backpage.com took down its adult section earlier this year, but many of the ads simply migrated to the website's dating section. In a CBS News report last week, a young woman who says she was coerced into sex trafficking said Backpage.com ""is letting all this happen on their website."" And her mother told CBS that ""Backpage has a primary purpose — to sell sex."" Ads currently exist on Backpage.com's Grand Forks dating section, including one that proclaims ""Ayisia is back. ... Let me be your everything and more. I can make all your fantasies come true."" The ad includes a phone number. That doesn't sound like a ""date"" to us. However, it's also possible that ""Ayisia"" is simply a police sting in process. The CBS report last week noted that police often set up fake accounts to nab, and arrest, the men who respond in person to the ads. CBS noted that some police departments conduct stings often through Backpage.com, and they say the website accommodates them. Still, the company is earning money off what appear to be prostitution ads, child slavery and sex trafficking, and it's not right. During a Senate committee hearing in January, Backpage.com officials invoked their Fifth Amendment rights and refused to testify. The company says federal law protects websites from liability for publishing content from third-party users. New legislation, called the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, may help. A Senate subcommittee earlier this month approved a proposal that would revise the Communications Decency Act to specify that it does not provide protection for sex trafficking and that websites can be held liable. Some fear it will make it more difficult to catch dangerous criminals. We suppose that may be true, since police use Backpage.com for stings; but Backpage's existence contributes much more to the problem than to the solution. Senators from the region — including Minnesota's Amy Klobuchar and North Dakota's Heidi Heitkamp and John Hoeven — have thrown their support behind the bill. Sex trafficking and prostitution may seem like a back-alley problem in metro areas. But if nothing else, Backpage.com has shown us these evils exist in places like the Red River Valley, and right out in the open. It needs to stop, and the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act is a good step.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=3E54463C-CB9A-4307-A4E3-9881FB5490FF,Prairie Public: Heitkamp holds Bismarck rally for pension protection,2017-11-22,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Dave Thompson Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) held a ""pension rally"" at the North Dakota Teamsters' Union headquarters in Bismarck Tuesday (11-21). Heitkamp said she’s helped to write a bill that would protect retirees -- mainly UPS drivers, other truckers and grocery workers -- who depend on the Central States Pension Fund for their pensions. The fund became insolvent, and the federal government had to take it over.  Pensioners may face benefit cuts. The federal Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation will also become insolvent, if the Central States Fund and other pension plans fail. Heitkamp said the workers want what they were promised. She said the bill – called the “Butch Lewis Act” – would provide government financing to put the plans back on solid financial ground, prevent benefit cuts, and put safeguards in place. ""How inequitable it is to basically take away someone's pension, or dramatically cut someone's pension, when those people have done nothing wrong themselves,"" Heitkamp said. ""Why is it that you can bail out the big banks, but when it comes to solving this problem, there can't be any government resources?"" Tony Goetzfried of Bismarck is a retired truck driver, and former North Dakota Teamsters president. He said employers have been putting money into that pension fund since the 1960s, and the employees gave up raises to put money into that fund. ""If it (Central States) goes broke, it's going to cost the taxpayers money,"" Goetzfried said. ""We're going to have people filing for heating assistance, food stamps."" Goetzfried said this was never a gift to the workers. ""We all earned it,"" Goetzfried said. ""We worked hard to put the money in there. Now we want to retire."" Heitkamp is hoping Congress will pass the Butch Lewis act before year’s end.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=5825C64E-B3DD-4BDE-8BD6-E380FEF0D55D,Minot Daily News: Retirees rally for bill to save pensions,2017-11-22,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"BISMARCK — Former UPS driver Wayne Odegaard of Rugby spent 30 years making deliveries in the familiar brown truck. The wear and tear on his body had consequences, and now the looming loss of his pension has added new worries in his retirement years. “We knew our retirement income would be modest but we would be able to make ends meet,” said Odegaard, 72, who retired in 2007. “I worked long, hard hours and I counted on my pension in retirement.” Odegaard, spoke in a Bismarck Teamsters union hall Tuesday at a rally attended by Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-ND, and more than 100 workers and retirees from around the state who are impacted by pension cuts from the Central States Pension Fund. The fund is a multi-employer pension that covers a range of fields, including thousands of North Dakota workers and retirees in the trucking, UPS package delivery and grocery supply industries. About 2,000 retired North Dakotans and 40,000 retired workers around the country receive payments from the fund. Heitkamp helped write the Butch Lewis Act, which would allow the Treasury Department to loan money, leveraged by safe investments, to pension plans to ensure that retirees and their families are guaranteed their promised benefits. “If we lose that pension, we will be forced to sell our home. We would end up having to rely on government assistance,” Odegaard said. “How I ever would find a job at my age with my health conditions, I don’t know. We need this bill to pass to secure our retirement for the rest of our years and to live with our dignity.” If the Central States Teamsters Pension Plan and other pension plans are allowed to fail, taxpayers would be at risk of having to pay billions when the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation, the government-sponsored insurance company for multi-employer pensions, reaches an exposure of $59 billion and is projected to become insolvent by 2025, according to information from Heitkamp’s office. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the cost of backstopping the PBGC, should it fail, would be $101 billion over 20 years. “These workers and retirees followed the rules and did everything right. They worked for years, if not decades, in jobs that took tolls on their bodies, saving for retirement the whole way and expecting those savings to be there for them. Now, through no fault of their own, the rug will be pulled out from under them,” Heitkamp said. “If Congress doesn’t act, the impacts on workers and families will be devastating. As a country, we must value work and keep our promises to workers and retirees. That’s what our bill would do.” Heitkamp urged workers and retirees to lobby on behalf of the bill. She noted workers face 50 to 70 percent cuts to their pensions if Congress fails to arrive at a solution.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=19BC8794-5C8B-4D14-9DE0-6D6A0F605512,KXMB: Rally held to protect North Dakota pensions,2017-11-21,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Shelby Rose Cuts to a government pension plan are threatening retirement security for thousands of North Dakotans. But Senator Heidi Heitkamp is fighting against it, and has brought forth a new bill to try and fix the problem. ""This is just plain wrong,"" said pension advocate Dennis Kooren. Emotions ran high as over a hundred union teamsters rallied to keep their pensions. It's something that's being threatened to dissolve due to budget cuts and underfunding.  Fargo resident Donna Mattson said, ""It's just unheard of that this could possibly happen."" Mattson is talking about the possibility losing her husband Mike's pension. He was a UPS worker for 30 years and is currently facing serious medical problems that have confined him to a wheelchair. Without the pension, they could lose their home. ""It would be devastating to us if we lose that pension,"" said Mattson. 2,000 North Dakotans have paid into the Central States Pension Plan for over 30 years to secure their retirement. To make sure they see that money, Senator Heidi Heitkamp along with other congressmen have created the Butch Lewis Act.  ""The plan would be basically to try and provide an influx of cash into the Central States Pension Fund by selling bonds that then would have to be repaid by the pension plan itself,"" said Senator Heitkamp. She's still in the process of seeking support from fellow congressmen, especially Republicans. Senator Heitkamp added, ""When they say, 'Well,you know, it's not our problem.' It definitely is their problem. The government took over this fund. The government promised that they were going to maintain and do a good job with this fund and that didn't happen."" She urges all teamsters to attend rallies and contact their congressmen like Dennis Kooren has done. He has been fighting this battle for the last three years, and won't give up. ""This will literally save the country by doing this. It's not going to cost the country, it's going to save the country for nothing. Nothing,"" said Kooren. The bill is named after Butch Lewis, a teamster and leader in the pension protection movement. He passed away in late 2015.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=2BBB478A-C9A4-4D79-8D6A-64F11276F27C,KFYR: Heitkamp introduces bill to fix Central States Pension Fund,2017-11-21,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Andrew Horn BISMARCK, N.D. - Thousands of North Dakotans with pension plans through Central States Pension Plan might lose their benefits after paying into the plan while they worked. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., announced a bill Tuesday that would make that fund solvent again. More than 70 people came to the Teamsters Union Hall in Bismarck, some of them giving emotional speeches about how they rely on the pension. The bill would give the fund cash by selling bonds backed by the treasury department and prevent any cut in benefits. Heitkamp says she wants to give retirees stability. “If the pension fund goes insolvent, and we tap into the guaranteed fund and that doesn't cover it. It means people won't have pension,” said Heitkamp. Central States Pension Plan has about 400,000 retirees that could be affected.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=BBB1321E-0D60-4A7B-AE19-57D671422E20,Fargo Forum: Heitkamp unveils bill to support pension plans,2017-11-21,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Heitkamp, D-N.D., announced the bill that she helped write at the Bismarck Teamsters Union hall. Her office noted the government-sponsored insurance company for multiemployer pensions, the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corp., is projected to become insolvent by 2025. ""These workers and retirees followed the rules and did everything right. They worked for years, if not decades, in jobs that took tolls on their bodies, saving for retirement the whole way and expecting those savings to be there for them,"" Heitkamp said in a statement. ""Now, through no fault of their own, the rug will be pulled out from under them."" The Central States Pension Fund covers workers and retirees in the trucking, UPS package delivery and grocery supply industries, according to Heitkamp's office. Across the country, 400,000 retirees have paid into the plan. The Butch Lewis Act would prevent cuts to retiree benefits and put in place safeguards ""so pension plans remain strong so they will be there for today's workers when they retire,"" the senator's office said. It would allow the Treasury Department to loan money to pension plans.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=D0D4A62B-953E-459D-BAE2-8EB4FE00EA61,Fargo Forum: North Dakota senators nominate 11 to service academies,2017-11-21,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Heitkamp's nominations include: • Morgan Adams, Wahpeton, to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. She is a graduate of Richland 44 High School, a North Dakota National Guard member and a first responder with Abercrombie Fire and Rescue. • Daniel Carroll, Dickinson, to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y. He attends Dickinson High School and is a member of the Civil Air Patrol. • Tony Heidelberg of Underwood to the Air Force Academy. He serves in the Air Force at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. He graduated from Underwood High School. • Jarek Hogue of Watford City to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. He attends Watford City High School. • Olivia Nellermoe of West Fargo to the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. She is attending the U.S. Air Force Preparatory School in Colorado. • Rowyn Schollmeyer of Bismarck to the U.S. Military Academy. She is a senior at Bismarck Century High School. • Adrianna Wilder of Minot to the Air Force Academy. She is a senior at Minot High School. • John Lynch to the Merchant Marine Academy. He is a member of a North Dakota military family. He attends Point Pleasant Beach High School in New Jersey. Hoeven's nominations include: • Elijah Stewart of Minot to the Naval Academy. Steward is a freshman at Minot State University and a graduate of Minot's Bishop Ryan High School. • Seth Hanson of Grand Forks to the Military Academy at West Point. He is a senior at Grand Forks' Red River High School. • Emily Robinson of Burke, Va., to the Air Force Academy. She is a senior at Lake Braddock High School in Virginia and attended Minot High School while her father served at Minot Air Force Base. North Dakota students interested in applying to a service academy for the 2018-2019 school year can learn more online at www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/service-academies or www.hoeven.senate.gov/serving-you/academy-nominations. Individuals interested in applying for a military academy nomination for the 2018-19 academic year should submit an application by October 2018. Each academy determines final appointments. Those appointed receive a scholarship and military appointment and must serve in the military for at least five years following graduation.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=3D2078E5-E1FB-411C-8BD6-C83ABEB3D640,Heitkamp Announces Bill to Protect ND Pensions; Keep Promise to ND Workers & Retirees of Secure Retirement,2017-11-21,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"BISMARCK, N.D. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today joined more than 100 North Dakota Teamsters -- workers, retirees, and their families -- at the Bismarck Teamsters Union hall to announce a bill she helped write that would ensure the 2,000 North Dakotans and 400,000 retirees across the country that have paid into Central States Pension Plan can keep the pensions they earned. Workers and retirees also shared personal stories to explain that if Congress doesn’t pass this bill, deep cuts to their hard-earned retirement savings would severely hurt them and their families. The bill would put the pension plans back on solid footing so current workers, retirees, and employers have the security of knowing their pensions will be available for decades to come, without cuts. Heitkamp is pushing Congress to include the bill in any year end legislative priorities. For years, Heitkamp has stood with North Dakota’s workers and retirees and fought to safeguard their retirement savings, and she has specifically fought to protect those part of the Central States Pension Fund. “These workers and retirees followed the rules and did everything right. They worked for years, if not decades, in jobs that took tolls on their bodies, saving for retirement the whole way and expecting those savings to be there for them. Now, through no fault of their own, the rug will be pulled out from under them,” said Heitkamp. “If Congress doesn’t act, the impacts on workers and families will be devastating. As a country, we must value work and keep our promises to workers and retirees. That’s what our bill would do, and I’m proud to have helped write it. Now Congress needs to pass our bill and avoid needlessly putting workers and retirees across the country in jeopardy. I refuse to allow that to happen on my watch.” “My husband, Mike, worked as a UPS driver for 30 years. He worked hard and earned his pension. He also gave up a great deal to be able to do his job. He missed out on many of our kids’ basketball and soccer games because he worked so much,” said Donna Mattson from Fargo. “In 2013, he was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy, a degenerative disease that requires regular and expensive physical, speech, and occupational therapies, and I am his full-time caretaker. That pension that he put money into was supposed to be there to support our family after Mike’s decades of labor. Now, when we need it most, it could be ripped away. I don’t know how we would survive without it. It means so much to have an advocate like Senator Heitkamp fighting for us and helping introduce this bill. Congress needs to pass it now – most of us can’t afford to wait.” “As workers, many of us Teamsters gave up decent wages and pay raises to be able to put money away into our pensions so we could save for retirement for ourselves and our families,” said Tony Goetzfried, a retired truck driver from Bismarck and former president of the joint council for North Dakota Teamsters. “If those pensions disappear, the workers, retirees, and their families relying on them will be left in the cold, and forced to seek heating and food assistance that they never imagined they would need because they worked hard and saved all of their lives. We can’t thank Senator Heitkamp enough for her work to fight for us and helping introduce this bill to make sure we aren’t left behind. We hope Congress quickly passes it.” “This fight is about dignity and justice for workers and retirees who worked hard and played by the rules, only to have their hard earned pensions ripped away from them,” said Dennis Kooren, who was a UPS driver in Fargo for 30 years. “Because of my job, I’ve endured knee and shoulder surgeries due to the sheer volume and weight of the packages I carried, as did so many other workers and retirees here today. We knew our jobs could impact our health, but we thought we would have our pensions to help us as we retired. Now, those pensions are being ripped away and it’s just cruel. Senator Heitkamp has been our advocate for years and has been fighting by our side. It’s an honor to stand with her today as she announces this bill and we hope Congress passes it as soon as possible.” “Before working as a UPS driver for 30 years, I was first a teacher and named Outstanding Educator of the Year. But UPS offered me twice the salary and, as they said, the best retirement in the country, so I took the job,” said Wayne Odegaard from Rugby. “In that job, I worked long hours, and kept working while others enjoyed Christmas vacation. Now the retirement security that I worked so hard for may disappear. It’s a constant stress on my wife and me, especially since I have arthritis, wear braces on both ankles, and have three stents after a recent heart attack which can be expensive to manage. We never imagined we would be in this position, especially when we purposely put money into my pension so we wouldn’t be. It isn’t fair or right. Senator Heitkamp has been fighting for us and making sure our voices are heard in Congress, and we hope Congress passes the bill she helped write as soon as possible. She understands how much we need the pensions we earned, and the rest of Congress should too.” “During my 27 and a half years as a driver for UPS, there was a lot that I gave up so I could support my family” said Mark Rothschiller from Bismarck. “I missed many of my kids’ plays and sports games because I often worked late. Because of the intensive labor of my work, I’ve had five back surgeries and other rotator cuff surgeries which forced me to retire early. During retirement, I hoped to take my grandchildren to Disney World. Instead, if my pension is taken away, I suddenly don’t know how I’ll pay my health care bills. We earned these pensions over many years, and it isn’t right they could be taken away. Thanks to Senator Heitkamp, we have a fighting chance, and now we need others in Congress to step up and do what’s right – make sure we get the pensions we earned by supporting this bill.” The Central States Pension Fund is a multiemployer fund that covers a range of fields, including thousands of North Dakota workers and retirees in the trucking, UPS package delivery, and grocery supply industries. The Butch Lewis Act would: Provide financing to put failing pension plans back on solid ground to ensure they can meet their commitments to retirees today and workers for decades to come. Prevent a single dollar of cuts to benefits retirees have earned. Put safeguards in place so pension plans remain strong so they will be there for today's workers when they retire. Specifically, the bill would allow the Treasury Department to loan money, leveraged by safe investments, to pension plans to ensure that retirees and their families are guaranteed their promised benefits. This new bill would put the pension plans back on solid footing, ensure they can meet their obligations to current retirees and workers for decades to come without cutting the benefits retirees earned, and safeguard them for the future. If the Central States Teamsters Pension Plan and other pension plans are allowed to fail, not only will employers no longer be able to pay promised benefits, but taxpayers would be at risk of having to pay billions when the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC), the government sponsored insurance company for multiemployer pensions, has an exposure of $59 billion and is projected to become insolvent by 2025. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the cost of backstopping the PBGC, should it fail, would be $101 billion dollars over 20 years. Such a consequence reinforces why workers, retirees, families, and communities are at risk through no fault of their own and must be protected. Background Heitkamp has been working with the Teamsters and North Dakota workers and retirees who are participants in the Central States Pension Fund to press for options from Treasury and the fund that don’t include unfair and steep cuts to benefits. Heitkamp spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate in 2016 to push the U.S. Treasury Department to reject the proposed harsh cuts, and joined retirees and workers at a rally in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. in 2016 to push back against cuts. Last year, those workers and retirees faced pension cuts of up to 60 percent under a plan to restructure the multiemployer pension plan, which is no longer solvent. After pressure from Heitkamp and workers across the country, Kenneth Feinberg -- the then-Treasury official overseeing the restructuring of the pension plan -- announced that the U.S. Department of the Treasury rejected the proposed cuts, saying they were unfair for workers and retirees who would be impacted. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=59EE5AFA-5857-438D-8025-E339A8731665,Heitkamp Announces Federal Funds to Support Law Enforcement in Fargo & West Fargo,2017-11-21,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced two federal grants totaling $500,000 that will help the Fargo and West Fargo Police Departments hire additional police officers to support community policing efforts. “The men and women who put on a uniform every day to protect North Dakota’s communities have one of the toughest jobs,” said Heitkamp. “Yet, they go out into their local communities to protect and serve our family, friends, and neighbors and build the relationships that are critical to maintaining the safety and security that we have come to rely on. As the former Attorney General for North Dakota, I saw firsthand the dedication and hard work these law enforcement officers put into their jobs and I have worked to make sure that they have the resources they need to come home safe to their families each night and I’m continuing that work in the U.S. Senate. These federal funds will help support the hiring of additional police officers in Fargo and West Fargo with the goal of increasing community policing efforts – putting cops on the street is the best way to continue to build trust with local communities while being on the frontline of crime prevention and intervention.” These federal funds are made available through the U.S Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program Awards that assist state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies in hiring law enforcement officers to prevent crime and keep communities safe through new or continuing community policing initiatives. The federal funds are distributed as follows: West Fargo: $375,000 in federal funding to hire three law enforcement officers. Fargo: $125,000 in federal funding to hire one law enforcement officer. Heitkamp, as a former North Dakota Attorney General, has a unique understanding of the COPS program’s role in supporting North Dakota’s law enforcement agencies and as a U.S. Senator has pushed the DOJ to appropriately fund North Dakota law enforcement agencies. In August 2016, Heitkamp released her Strong & Safe Communities Report to address emerging challenges in North Dakota to keep our communities safe. A key pillar of her initiative is to make sure law enforcement agencies have the resources they need to fight crime and keep North Dakota strong and safe.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=AAD97D22-0F07-49D5-B715-2AB8A34CB06C,Heitkamp Details Farm Bill Priorities at ND Association of Soil Conservation Districts Meeting,2017-11-21,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today spoke at the North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts’ annual meeting, where she discussed the importance of soil health and her priorities for the 2018 Farm Bill. “As I talk to farmers and ranchers across the state, it’s clear that we need to invest more in research and conservation as we’re also improving the safety net programs farmers rely on in times of drought or low commodity prices,” Heitkamp said. “After a historic drought impacted the state this summer, farmers and ranchers are keenly aware that good soil health practices can make all the difference for moisture retention and grass production. As we write and negotiate the 2018 Farm Bill, I will continue to fight for programs and policies that will ensure the enrichment and protection of our invaluable soil.”   A member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Heitkamp helped write, negotiate, and pass the 2014 Farm Bill and has worked to implement and protect the Farm Bill for producers across North Dakota. She is looking ahead to making sure the 2018 Farm Bill works for North Dakota. In August, Heitkmap conducted a two-day drought and farm bill tour of western North Dakota to hear more about how the drought has impacted farmers, ranchers, and businesses in western North Dakota and how she can work to strengthen the 2018 Farm Bill to protect farmers and ranchers, particularly during trying times. Heitkamp recently introduced legislation to strengthen and improve the Agriculture Risk Coverage-County Level program (ARC-CO), which helps farmers when commodity prices fall to damaging levels.  ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=9B922F47-6EBF-452E-A8A4-1AA2994A6A0D,Heitkamp Fights for Agriculture Exports Amid NAFTA Renegotiation & New Tariffs from India,2017-11-20,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp made a bipartisan push to protect agriculture exports and rural communities, leading an effort with U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) to warn of the potential impacts of a renegotiation or withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and joining U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) to protect North Dakota dry pea producers from India’s unfair trade practices. Heitkamp and Boozman requested U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross do an economic analysis of the impacts to the crop and livestock sectors as a result of any changes to NAFTA. Almost 90 percent of North Dakota’s exports are to Canada and Mexico. Heitkamp and Daines raised alarm about India imposing a sudden 50 percent tariff on dry pea imports, and called on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue and United States Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer to take action to protect farmers. “North Dakota’s farmers and ranchers need to export to survive, and it’s critical that foreign markets are available and fair, especially when 95 percent of consumers live outside the U.S. Renegotiating or withdrawing from NAFTA threatens their ability to sell their goods to Canada and Mexico,” Heitkamp said. “That would be a devastating loss for our farm families and rural economies, so we must fight to protect agriculture in the renegotiation of NAFTA and warn against the disastrous consequences of withdrawal. We can and must support American workers and level the playing field for manufacturing jobs, but not at the expense of farm jobs. Additionally, we also need fair trade practices to support American farmers and ranchers. India’s sudden decision to enact a drastic 50 percent tax on dry pea imports will hurt North Dakota farmers, which is why we’re asking Secretary Perdue and USTR Lighthizer to pressure India to reverse course and take action to support farmers who may be impacted.” Click here to read Heitkamp and Boozman’s letter to Secretary Ross about protecting agriculture in the renegotiation of NAFTA, continuing Heitkamp’s efforts to safeguard farmers and ranchers during the discussions. Click here to read Heitkamp and Daines’ letter calling on Secretary Perdue and USTR Lighthizer to address India’s unfair trade practices affecting American dry pea producers. The letter calls on Indian Prime Minister Modi to reverse or delay the implementation of a 50 percent tariff on all dry pea imports and requests that until such actions are taken, USDA take appropriate steps to mitigate the negative impacts of the tariff on farmers. Last week, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce released a report showing that North Dakota is the third must vulnerable state to a withdrawal from NAFTA. Heitkamp has long worked to expand and protect market access for North Dakota farmers and ranchers. North Dakota is the ninth largest agriculture exporting state in the country, with $4.1 billion in commodities exported each year—and Canada and Mexico are the state’s two biggest foreign markets. In a recent call with Lighthizer, Heitkamp secured his commitment to protect agriculture in the renegotiation of NAFTA. Heitkamp reinforced how NAFTA has helped farmers and ranchers in North Dakota export to Mexico and Canada, especially as recent news reports said that agriculture may get left behind during the discussions. As the latest round of NAFTA talks came to a close, Heitkamp pressed the administration to focus on the need for farmers and ranchers to export to survive. In May, Heitkamp urged Lighthizer to defend North Dakota agricultural priorities as the administration renegotiates NAFTA. Heitkamp also pressed Lighthizer to use NAFTA renegotiations to address concerns that North Dakota producers have about Canadian grain standards, Mexican sugar dumping, and country of origin labeling for meat. Starting with her one-on-one meeting with Lighthizer in February, Heitkamp has tirelessly reinforced to Lighthizer—and to other administration officials—that trade agreements should level the playing field for farmers, ranchers, and workers, while also holding other countries accountable when they cheat on trade deals. Heitkamp is committed to protecting crucial export promotion programs in the 2018 Farm Bill. The president’s budget would have slashed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s export promotion programs. She also wrote an op-ed earlier this year about the critical role of agriculture exports. Last year, Heitkamp called on the former U.S. Trade Representative to protect North Dakota grain growers from unfair treatment after a report she requested showed that Canada segregates North Dakota grain and offers unfair prices to U.S. producers at Canadian elevators. Heitkamp called on Lighthizer to resolve the issue. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=8F164F98-8F0B-4D4E-8EE2-DDA256036708,Associated Press: North Dakota ready to change online sales tax collection,2017-11-19,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Associated Press BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota could level the playing field between online retailers and brick and mortar businesses should any federal changes to sales tax collection be made. North Dakota is among several states to have joined South Dakota in pushing for the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider if retailers should be required to collect sales taxes in a state where they're not physically located. The Legislature passed a measure in its latest session that would permit the tax department to immediately require online retailers to collect sales tax, should federal law change. Mike Rud, president of the North Dakota Retail Association, said the law is critical. ""Now we're ready as soon as the case is heard by the Supreme Court,"" Rud said. ""This is a pretty serious issue and everyone is becoming quite aware something needs to be done here,"" said Rud. U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp is one of many lawmakers that wrote to the Supreme Court to ask for the issue to be considered. According to Heitkamp, retailers without a physical presence have a price advantage of up to 8.5 percent over brick and mortar stores. ""When these retailers can charge lower prices, our small businesses and jobs are at risk,"" the North Dakota Democrat wrote with other lawmakers. The state tax commissioner's office estimates up to $30 million wasn't collected in 2012 because online retailers weren't required to collect. Considering that online sales have grown by up to 50 percent since then, Rud said the recent losses are likely between $30 million to $40 million. Jeff Hinz, who owns Ace Hardware in Bismarck, said it doesn't seem fair because online retailers still use North Dakota's roads to ship their items but they don't help cover the tax burden associated with maintaining them. ""UPS, the Postal Service and Fedex are their brick and mortar,"" Hinz said.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=6EBCCE62-E8D0-4D25-90C4-51C61E23C095,Wall Street Journal: Two Weeks of Frenzied Negotiations Led to Bank-Relief Deal,2017-11-17,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Andrew Ackerman WASHINGTON—On Halloween, Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio huddled with fellow Democrats in his Senate offices to make an announcement: Months of talks between Mr. Brown and Senate Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo to roll back post-financial crisis rules had ended in failure. Unfazed, Sens. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Jon Tester of Montana and Joe Donnelly of Indiana—all moderate Democrats facing re-election next year—said they would press for their own agreement with Mr. Crapo. What followed were nearly two weeks of frenzied behind-the-scenes talks, according to people familiar with the deliberations, as lawmakers worked to cut a deal before they left town on Thanksgiving break. “It was around the clock negotiations for a couple of weeks between us and our staffs, at the lunch counter, on the Senate floor, in offices, in cloakrooms,” Mr. Donnelly said in an interview. The deal, announced Monday, marked the first significant bipartisan agreement to relieve small and regional lenders from a number of restrictions of the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial-overhaul law. A similar effort in the prior Congress, led by Sen. Richard Shelby (R., Ala.), the then-chairman of the banking panel, ended in a bill no Democrats backed, dooming its chances to advance through the Senate. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, another moderate Democrat, also took part in the talks, the details of which weren’t shared with other Senate lawmakers until just before Mr. Crapo announced a deal Monday afternoon. The deal includes provisions that could drastically cut the number of banks subject to heightened Federal Reserve oversight by raising a key regulatory threshold to $250 billion in assets from $50 billion. Lawmakers at one point considered raising the $50 billion asset threshold to as high as $350 billion, the people said, before eventually settling on $250 billion. Though Republicans and some Democrats increasingly favor abandoning an arbitrary asset threshold in favor of giving the Fed more discretion to decide which banks to reel in for stricter oversight, Democrats involved in crafting the deal insisted on an explicit threshold, as a signal of where Congress thought the Fed should draw the line. “These bright lines are an indication of Congress’ tolerance,” one of the people said. Another provision, sought by Democrats, targets credit bureaus in the wake of the hackof Equifax Inc. that would require credit bureaus to freeze and unfreeze consumers’ credit for free once a year. Still other provisions are designed to aid community banks, including allowing them to follow simpler capital requirements and to have more flexibility under federal standards for residential mortgage lending. “For me the driving factor was getting community banks back in the mortgage-lending business and out from under completely unreasonable and unnecessary regulatory costs,” Ms. Heitkamp said in an interview. Mr. Crapo must now shepherd the legislation through the Senate in the face of vocal opposition from liberal Democrats such as Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Mr. Brown—who say the bill doesn’t do enough to help consumers, among other objections—and with competing priorities in the chamber, such as tax reform and spending negotiations. The measure isn’t expected to advance through the Senate until sometime next year and faces uncertain prospects in the House, which must also approve the provisions for them to go to the president’s desk. House Republicans, who passed a more sweeping rollback of the Dodd-Frank law earlier this year, aren’t yet sure how they will respond to the legislation once it clears the Senate, according to a GOP aide. Departing House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling of Texas has favored more sweeping legislation to roll back the Dodd-Frank law. Mr. Hensarling was noncommittal when asked about the Senate deal this week, describing the agreement as “a good start.” “I’m encouraged when the Senate does anything,” he said in a statement. “There is a lot of work to be done but I applaud the progress. We’ve been waiting for progress for quite some time.” Mr. Hensarling and other House Republicans have favored eliminating the bulk of Dodd-Frank in exchange for heightened capital requirements on large banks—regulatory changes Democrats won’t agree to. House Republicans could also press for more legislation reforms, such as overhauls to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s structure, which are unlikely to win Democratic backers. Monday’s deal is co-sponsored by 10 Republicans, including Tim Scott of South Carolina and Bob Corker of Tennessee, along with nine Democrats, including Tim Kaine of Virginia and Gary Peters of Michigan. That is enough to clear both the banking panel and the full Senate, assuming all or most Republicans in the chamber support the bill. Mr. Shelby, the former banking head who was unable to strike a bipartisan deal last Congress, isn’t listed as a co-sponsor but supports the bill, a spokeswoman said.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=C6ECBF43-32C8-4D62-B875-E9347C355E7F,Valley News Live: NDDOT getting $200K in federal funds to help with road repairs,2017-11-17,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Valley News Live WASHINGTON (Valley News Live) The North Dakota Department of Transportation is getting $226,000 in federal grants to support the reconstruction of transportation infrastructure that was damaged due to natural disasters. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today said, “If we want to get anywhere in North Dakota, it usually means we’re driving there.That’s why it’s so important that our roads, highways, and bridges are repaired and safe to travel on. These federal funds will help to support the rebuilding of roads and other transportation infrastructure damaged on federal lands due to rain and snow.” Senator John Hoeven is also a member of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Committee. He says, “Today’s funds will help ensure that roads and transportation facilities in our state can continue to be used safely. These federal funds are distributed as follows: • North Dakota Department of Transportation: $100,000 in federal funding to help rebuild washout roads, bridges, culverts, and embankments in the Sheyenne and James River Basin that were damaged due to heavy rains. • North Dakota Department of Transportation: $100,000 in federal funding to support various road sites in Divide County that were damaged due to heavy rain fall. • National Park Service, McKinzie & Billings Counties: $26,474 in federal funds to help rebuild damaged federal land transportation facilities. The federal funds are made available through the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program. The program helps to provide additional federal funds to support the reconstruction of transportation infrastructure, like roads and bridges, on federal lands that were damaged as a result of a natural disaster.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=CECD7DA1-27C3-4B6D-BF54-74516255A327,Bismarck Tribune: Teamsters Union to rally in protection of pensions,2017-11-17,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bismarck Tribune Staff Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, N.D.-D, will rally with more than 40 local Teamsters Union members from across North Dakota to unveil a new bill she is helping to introduce that would protect the retirement savings of workers and retirees in the Central States Pension Plan. About 2,000 North Dakota workers and retirees have paid into the Central States Pension Plan, which is facing drastic cuts as it is no longer solvent.  The local Teamsters at the rally, scheduled for 12:45 p.m. Tuesday at Teamsters Union, Local 638, 1100 Basin Ave. in Bismarck, will tell their personal stories of how they worked their entire lives for a decent retirement and are now at risk of having their financial security ripped away from them.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=359F3E4A-79B0-49F4-8CA2-25E979F974C7,Heitkamp Nominates Eight ND Students to Military Service Academies,2017-11-17,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced that she nominated eight outstanding North Dakota students to the nation’s military service academies. Heitkamp nominated Morgan Adams of Wahpeton, Daniel Carroll of Dickinson, Tony Heidelberg of Underwood, Jarek Hogue of Watford City, Olivia Nellermoe of West Fargo, Rowyn Schollmeyer of Bismarck, Adrianna Wilder of Minot, and John Lynch from a North Dakota military family. “Our nation’s military leaders are some of the best and brightest this country has to offer,” said Heitkamp. “Many got their start at one of the military service academies and I’m privileged to announce eight incredibly talented and smart North Dakotans who I nominated to attend these military academies. Each of them have demonstrated they are hardworking, determined, and eager to serve, and I hope more young North Dakotan’s look to them as examples as they may consider careers in the military.” Members of Congress are able to nominate students to attend the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado; the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York; the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York; and the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Below are further details on the students Heitkamp has nominated: Morgan Adams – United States Air Force Academy Adams, from Wahpeton, is a graduate of Richland 44 High School and is currently enlisted in the North Dakota National Guard as well as being a first responder for the Ambercrombie Fire and Rescue in Richland County. In high school, she was actively involved in varsity softball, National Honor Society, student council, speech, academic team, band, and choir, and continues to be involved with FFA. Daniel Carroll – Merchant Marine Carroll, from Dickinson, is currently a senior at Dickinson High School where he participates in Math Club, FBLA, and Close-Up as well as plays varsity football and runs cross country. Carroll is also a Technical Sergeant in the Civil Air Patrol. Tony Heidelberg – United States Air Force Academy Heidelberg, from Underwood, is currently enlisted with the United States Air Force at the Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. He graduated from Underwood High School as Valedictorian where he was involved with 4H, band, and choir as well as playing varsity football, basketball, and baseball. Jarek Hogue – Naval Academy Hogue, from Watford City, attends Watford City High School. He has demonstrated his leadership abilities as captain of the varsity football team as well as by being active in student council and Boy Scouts. Olivia Nellermoe – United States Military Academy, West Point Nellermoe, from West Fargo, currently attends the United States Air Force Preparatory School in Colorado. Nellermoe has excelled in her academics at the U.S. Air Force Preparatory School where she has been involved with athletics. Rowyn Schollmeyer – United States Military Academy, West Point Schollmeyer, from Bismarck, is currently a senior at Century High School where she is ranked first in her class. She is a member of the National Honor Society, DECA, and plays in the orchestra as well as on the varsity soccer team. Schollmeyer has global experience from attending school in Beijing and can speak Mandarin. Adrianna Wilder – United States Air Force Academy Wilder, from Minot, is currently a senior at Minot High School where she is ranked first in her class. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Student Government, Key Club and has completed seven AP college classes. Wilder competes with the USA Track & Field as a Junior Olympic All-American for Track and Field as well as runs with her high school’s varsity track and cross country teams. She also volunteers with the Warrior Network. John Lynch – Merchant Marine Lynch, from a North Dakota military family, is currently attending Point Pleasant Beach High School in New Jersey where he is a member of the National Honors Society, is on the honor roll, and has received the Presidents Education Award. He is also involved with band, New Jersey Boys State, and plays varsity football, runs track, wrestles, and swims. North Dakota students interested in applying to one of the military service academies for the 2018-2019 school year, should send in their applications by October 2018. For more information, visit Heitkamp’s website by clicking here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=48024283-79A6-4658-9F6D-F8F6A755F91A,Heitkamp Announces Federal Funding for Road Infrastructure Improvements,2017-11-17,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced three federal grants totaling over $226,000 to support the reconstruction of transportation infrastructure that was damaged due to natural disasters. “If we want to get anywhere in North Dakota, it usually means we’re driving there,” said Heitkamp. “That’s why it’s so important that our roads, highways, and bridges are repaired and safe to travel on. These federal funds will help to support the rebuilding of roads and other transportation infrastructure damaged on federal lands due to rain and snow.” These federal funds are distributed as follows: North Dakota Department of Transportation: $100,000 in federal funding to help rebuild washout roads, bridges, culverts, and embankments in the Sheyenne and James River Basin that were damaged due to heavy rains. North Dakota Department of Transportation: $100,000 in federal funding to support various road sites in Divide County that were damaged due to heavy rain fall. National Park Service, McKinzie & Billings Counties: $26,474 in federal funds to help rebuild damaged federal land transportation facilities. These federal funds are made available through the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program. This program helps to provide additional federal funds to support the reconstruction of transportation infrastructure, like roads and bridges, on federal lands that were damaged as a result of a natural disaster.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=09A6E255-0E1D-44D2-90F1-5F2C368031CD,"Heitkamp Honored for Championing Better, Stronger Access to Health Care for Children with Special Needs",2017-11-16,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp was honored for her work to help make sure families and children with special needs and disabilities can access the health care services they need to stay healthy and safe. During a meeting with leaders of Family Voices – a national organization that is celebrating its 25th year of working to build health care resources for children with special needs and disabilities – Heitkamp was presented with the Family Voices Champions of Children’s Health Award for her steadfast work in advocating for families and children with special needs. Long a champion of protecting and strengthening the ability of North Dakota children and families to access quality health services, Heitkamp has consistently fought back against efforts to deteriorate North Dakotans’ access to health care like the Republican health care repeal bills, and pushed for reforms to improve health care that those on both sides of the aisle can agree on. “In every town I visit across North Dakota, I hear from mothers, fathers, and family members whose love, care, and devotion to their children with special needs or disabilities is truly inspirational,” said Heitkamp. “When I get up every morning, I think about how I can fight for them. Especially in rural America, families who have the most limited options in terms of accessing or paying for the health services their children need – are too often last in line when it comes to health care priorities in Congress. I will always fight for them by working to protect their access to Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program services that often make the difference between life and death for many children, or prevent families from falling into financial ruin.” “Every child in North Dakota deserves the opportunity to live life to their full potential – including those with disabilities, like my daughter Allison who was born with a rare genetic condition called MPS,” said Jennifer Restemayer, a Family Voices North Dakota family consultant. “Even though Allison is just 16 years old, she requires physical therapy and medical care that would hit any lifetime maximum within just a few years – and would likely be denied the coverage by insurance companies if they were allowed to discriminate based on her preexisting conditions. Fortunately for families like mine across North Dakota, Senator Heitkamp is working to protect Allison and children with disabilities like her. Keeping my daughter healthy and strong is something that I worry about every day, and Senator Heitkamp understands that – and I’m glad she’s fighting the health and wellbeing of all our kids.” Click here to view a Medium post with videos from North Dakota children with special needs, parents of children with disabilities, individuals with pre-existing conditions like cancer, seniors in nursing homes, and many more explaining how efforts to repeal the current health reform law would hurt them. Earlier this month, Heitkamp launched a webpage to help North Dakota individuals, families and small businesses to sign up for or change health insurance as health care open enrollment starts and lasts through December 15. Over the past three and a half years, Heitkamp has offered many reforms that would help the current health reform law work better for families and businesses. She will continue to try to work with Senate Republicans to reach compromise solutions that make health care affordable and accessible for North Dakotans. Since 2013, Heitkamp has also met regularly with her health care advisory board – comprised of health care leaders across North Dakota – to talk with them about health care in the state and improving the health reform law. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=82E42E53-1771-4EB5-8B8D-06C90C21D941,Heitkamp Helps Senate Pass Bipartisan Defense Authorization Bill to Support Security & Jobs in North Dakota,2017-11-16,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today voted with a bipartisan majority of the U.S. Senate to pass the National Defense Authorization Act, which authorizes U.S. Department of Defense funding levels and helps set defense policy – including several key provisions Heitkamp pushed for to support North Dakota defense priorities and jobs. Heitkamp helped pass an earlier version of the bill in September, and she successfully pushed for several provisions to support North Dakota by: Defending against the North Korea threat: Heitkamp’s amendment reassures our allies of America’s steadfast commitment to protecting against the North Korea nuclear threat. As North Korea continues to threaten regional stability and peace with its missile and nuclear weapons tests, Heitkamp’s amendment makes clear that the United States stands ready to provide its full range of capabilities in the defense of our allies.   Helping veterans join the workforce: The legislation encourages the expansion of a Department of Defense program known as SkillBridge, a key provision of legislation Heitkamp introduced, to allow service members to participate in an internship at a federal agency during their final 180 days of service, giving them skills to help them succeed in the workforce.  Boosting Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) research: The bill encourages the military to use facilities such as the Northern Plains UAS Test Site in Grand Forks to research and develop capabilities to defend against the threat that unmanned aircraft could pose to military installations like those in North Dakota. Heitkamp has long advocated to expand and strengthen Grand Forks’ UAS mission.   “This strong, bipartisan defense bill includes many wins for North Dakota’s military installations, which support our national security and boost our economy,” Heitkamp said. “With the increased threat from North Korea, it’s more important than ever to make clear that the United States stands ready to respond to any attack against us or our allies. That’s why I fought to include a provision to make clear that we stand ready to provide our full range of capabilities to defend ourselves and our allies. In North Dakota, key defense capabilities that are aging require upgrades, including our B-52 bombers, ICBMs, and the UH-1N helicopters at Minot Air Force Base. This bill is a needed step to make sure our military has the resources it needs to modernize our defenses, support our servicemembers, and protect American families, and it takes additional steps to ensure our reservists deployed to protect our country receive the health care they deserve.” Heitkamp, a cofounder of the bipartisan Senate Defense Communities Caucus, also successfully fought to include several provisions that help bolster North Dakota’s defense efforts by: Modernizing our nuclear capabilities. The legislation includes support for B-52 squadrons and ICBM squadrons, and also extends special pay and bonus authorities for nuclear officers. This is an important step forward in Heitkamp’s years-long efforts to bolster critical nuclear deterrence missions. Protecting our missile fields. The bill urges the Secretary of the Air Force to expedite procurement of replacement UH-1N aircraft, used to protect our missile fields. For years, Heitkamp has pushed for the replacement of the aging UH-1N helicopters, and sent a letter to Defense Secretary Mattis pressing the need for replacement earlier this year. Supporting RQ-4 Global Hawks. Recognizing the critical importance of the missions performed by Grand Forks Air Force Base’s Global Hawks, Heitkamp pushed to secure funding and long-term support for the RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft. The final bill notes that the Global Hawks are essential for providing warfighters with the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance they need and should remain in the Air Force inventory as long as they provide such unique capabilities. Heitkamp has long-supported the Global Hawks mission. Funding an Indoor Firing Range at Minot Air Force Base. This funding will enable the Air Force to build a fully-enclosed firing range to ensure that airmen can complete their arms training in safe conditions. A new range will reduce air quality concerns, provide higher quality training with lower maintenance costs and ensure the range is available regardless of winter weather conditions. The new facility would provide greater capacity than the current range, consolidating four existing buildings into one fully-enclosed firing range. Strengthening our missile defense in the face of the North Korean threat. Following her October 2016 Asia-Pacific fact-finding trip focused on ballistic missile defense, Heitkamp pushed to enhance defenses against emerging North Korean ballistic missile threats. The National Defense Authorization Act includes several provisions to bolster our defenses, including authorizing more interceptors. Supporting reservists. The bill includes a provision Heitkamp supported to allow deployed Reserve Component members to receive pre-mobilization and transitional TRICARE health care. This is another step forward to support reservists like the North Dakotan’s currently deployed to Washington, D.C., after Heitkamp helped pass the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act earlier this year. Enhancing Asia-Pacific Stability.  To further strengthen U.S. posture to deal with North Korea as well as threats from China, the legislation calls for the expansion of exercises, investments in infrastructure, and additional U.S. military presence in Asia, as Heitkamp called for in a letter to Defense Secretary Mattis.    ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=960C1ED8-D408-4504-8C0E-8AD0ED5D2370,"ND Business, National Groups Overwhelmingly Support Heitkamp Bill to Keep Health Care Coverage, Premiums Affordable for ND Families & Businesses",2017-11-16,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Since U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp introduced her bill last month to reduce the burden of the Health Insurance Tax, business groups, health care advocates, individuals, and families from across the country and the state have demonstrated an outpouring of support for her legislation. The Health Insurance Tax is a fee that directly impacts health care affordability for families and small businesses. By delaying the tax for two years, and making it tax deductible going forward should the fee go into effect – Heitkamp’s bill aims to mitigate the negative impact the tax would have on almost 71,000 small businesses and nearly 200,000 workers who would see their premiums increase and the certainty of access to affordable health services diminish. Across the country, 156 million consumers would be impacted by the tax – which has been delayed by Congress on a bipartisan basis. After Congress delayed the Health Insurance Tax in 2015, consumers nationwide benefited from an average reduction on their health care premiums of three percent. Heitkamp has long supported delaying the tax in favor of practical solutions that work better for North Dakota families and businesses. “North Dakotans are working hard to keep their businesses and their families healthy and strong – but when they can’t count on how they’re going to be taxed, their ability to do that becomes constrained,” said Heitkamp. “My bill would to delay and mitigate the impact of the Health Insurance Tax so we’re better supporting families and businesses. It’s encouraging that across the state and country, I’ve heard an outpouring of support for my bill from businesses, individuals, and families alike because they need stable premiums and health care costs they can rely on. For years, I’ve been offering proposals to make the health reform law work better for North Dakota families and businesses, and this bill builds on those efforts.” In North Dakota, Heitkamp has received support for her bill from the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber, North Dakota business groups including: The North Dakota Association of Builders, the North Dakota Retail Association, the North Dakota Petroleum Marketers Association, the North Dakota Propane Gas Association, the North Dakota Farmers Union, the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo Chamber of Commerce, the Grand Forks & East Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce, the Jamestown Stutsman Development Corporation, the NewKota Service and Rentals, and the North Dakota Watchdog Network. Heitkamp has also received support from North Dakota businesses including of Juniper Environmental Consulting in Bismarck, Trail King Industries in West Fargo, and Cookies For You in Minot, as well as North Dakota state lawmakers from both sides of the aisle – including Republican North Dakota State Representative Bob Martinson of District 35 and Democratic North Dakota State Senator Erin Oban of District 35. Across the country, other supporters of the bill include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Better Medicare Alliance, the Healthcare Leadership Council, and the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU). “At the North Dakota Association of Builders, we represent more than 2,000 small business owners – that means everyone from home builders to plumbers to painters who dedicate their careers to making sure North Dakota families have a safe and pleasant place to call home. And at the heart of every business, particularly for construction or seasonal jobs, the future of their livelihood depends on their ability to plan ahead,” said North Dakota Association of Builders Chief Executive Officer of Kim Schneider. “That’s why Senator Heitkamp’s bill to delay the Health Insurance Tax by two years – and then make it tax deductible after that – is so critical to our small businesses. Instead of waiting with the potential of a new tax looming, our home builders, plumbers, and painters will be able to plan ahead and build for the future of their businesses – and the homes of North Dakota families.” “As a small business owner, I try to do right by providing quality health care to my employees. The unpredictability in health care is making that harder, especially if we are going to be hit with this new Health Insurance Tax on the benefits we do provide,” said Beth Nodland, President and CEO of Juniper Environmental Consulting in Bismarck, North Dakota. “This HIT tax – which until now has been delayed – will raise the cost of our health care even more and give our business nothing back in return. I appreciate Senator Heitkamp's work on health care, listening to small business owners like me, and supporting a two-year delay of the HIT tax. I urge Congress to support a delay of the HIT. It’s a reasonable way to help lower costs and ensure that small business owners like myself can continue to provide for our employees and their families.” “The Health Insurance Tax not only raises the cost of health care for small businesses owners, and the employees we provide for, it also keeps us from investing in our employees, and our company,” said Perry Lubbers, Vice President of Manufacturing Operations at Trail King Industries in West Fargo, North Dakota. “Every dollar paid for the Health Insurance Tax is one less dollar than we can use to provide raises, hire additional employees, and invest in our business. If Congress wants to help small businesses grow, one of the best things they can do is pass another delay of the Health Insurance Tax.” Heitkamp has long sought ways to make sure the health reform law works better for families and businesses. Over the past few months, Heitkamp met with a group of Republican and Democratic senators led by U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), as well as governors, insurance commissioners, patients, and insurers, to talk about health care reforms. In mid-October, they announced a bipartisan deal that would help make health care more affordable and accessible for families, and restore federal funding for outreach and enrollment for 2018 and 2019 open enrollment. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued a report stating that the bill would prevent increases in uninsured Americans and reduce the deficit by $4 billion over 10 years. Earlier this month, Heitkamp launched a new webpage to help North Dakota individuals, families and small businesses to sign up for or change health insurance as health care open enrollment starts and lasts through December 15. Over the past three and a half years, Heitkamp has offered many reforms that would help the current health reform law work better for families and businesses. Since 2013, Heitkamp has also met regularly with her health care advisory board – comprised of health care leaders across North Dakota – to talk with them about health care in the state and improving the health reform law. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=C8B0CE35-46D7-4E1D-AF6E-880BB4E112A8,"Minot Daily News: Bankers support bill to ease regulations, protect consumers",2017-11-15,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Minot Daily News Area bankers are supporting a bipartisan Senate bill designed to provide regulatory relief for financial institutions and increase consumer protections. U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-ND, on Tuesday announced the bipartisan agreement coming out of the Senate Banking Committee. The legislation tailors regulations for banks to better reflect their business models, providing relief for small financial institutions. “Community banks like Cornerstone Bank support small businesses, families and farmers across North Dakota, but our efforts to grow and support our communities have been challenged by burdensome regulations,” said Gary Petersen, chairman of Cornerstone Bank, New Town. “The appraisal issue in rural areas has been a problem for a while and it needed fixing,” said Tyler Neether, vice president for business lending at Town & Country Credit Union, Minot. “We are in the relationship lending business and getting qualified appraisals in a timely matter was difficult. The process and delay was harming our members.” “This is a major victory for consumers not only across the United States, but especially in rural areas such as the Dakotas,” added Jeremiah Kossen, president of Town & Country Credit Union, Minot, who applauded provisions that would increase consumer access to mortgages and loans. Consumer protections in the legislation include: – Requires fraud alerts in consumers’ files for one year and provides a free credit freeze alert for parents to put on their children. – Protects veterans’ credit by prohibiting a credit reporting agency from including medical debt in reports. – Extends immunity from liability to certain people who disclose suspected exploitation of seniors. – Re-imposes protections for tenants that were repealed in 2014. – Requires the Treasury Department to submit a report to Congress on the risks of cyber threats to financial institutions and the U.S. capital markets. Last spring, the Senate Banking Committee issued a request for legislative proposals from organizations, companies and consumers aimed at creating economic growth. The committee subsequently held a series of hearings exploring the proposals and has been negotiating and drafting a reform package since that time. In the past 30 years, the number of community banks and credit unions have dropped by about two-thirds, yet more than 80 percent of North Dakota deposits still go to community banks, reinforcing that small financial institutions remain a key resource for North Dakota families, according to Heitkamp.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=1AA18204-3C31-4867-A855-476CD35AE0D4,Heitkamp Statement on Voting to Approve Homeland Security Secretary Nominee Kirstjen Nielsen,2017-11-15,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today released the following statement after joining a bipartisan group of senators on the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs to advance Kirstjen Nielsen’s nomination to lead the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Her nomination now heads to the Senate floor for final approval. Last week, Heitkamp invited Nielsen to North Dakota and received commitments from her to prioritize enhancing and improving Northern Border security. “Securing our Northern Border is necessary to keep North Dakota – and our nation’s – communities safe, but for too long our hardworking security personnel have been chronically understaffed and under-resourced,” said Heitkamp. “Last week when I questioned Ms. Nielsen during a Senate hearing on her nomination, she committed to prioritizing security improvements along our Northern Border – including quickly implementing the new Northern Border strategy, which was recommended by DHS as a result of my bipartisan bill becoming law – and pushing for the budgetary resources to make that strategy a reality. Our nation needs a strong DHS Secretary who will act as an independent voice and will not be swayed by political pressure or other undue influences. I plan to hold Ms. Nielsen to her commitment to do just that, as well as her promises to secure the Northern Border and address some of the long-term challenges at so we can keep North Dakota and our nation strong and safe.” During the hearing on Nielsen's nomination last week, Heitkamp underscored to Nielsen the immediate need to recognize the security and personnel challenges that exist in effectively protecting the nation’s 5,500-mile Northern Border. Nielsen confirmed that she would work to quickly review and implement a new Northern Border security strategy as recommended by DHS’ recently completed Northern Border Threat Assessment – a report that was ordered as a result of Heitkamp’s Northern Border Security Review Act being signed into law last year. Additionally, Nielsen committed to advocating for the resources in upcoming DHS budgets to execute the strategy. As part of her efforts to fully review and consider candidates nominated to serve in the administration, Heitkamp sat down with Nielsen last month to discuss a host of issues she and Nielsen agreed must be at the forefront of DHS’ agenda – including addressing cyber security threats and implementing a new Northern Border security strategy. A key piece of Heitkamp’s Strong & Safe Communities Initiative, her Northern Border Security Review Act specifically addresses the concerns and challenges she and then-DHS Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas heard about in April 2015 from federal, state, county, and local officials and law enforcement officers while visiting Pembina when she brought Mayorkas to North Dakota. Heitkamp heard similar feedback during other meetings she held in North Dakota and at a U.S. Senate hearing she pushed for on the issue. Heitkamp’s bill passed unanimously in both the Senate and House. The world’s longest common-law border, the Northern Border has 120 border crossings, many of which are small and in rural areas. According to DHS, approximately 400,000 people and $2 billion in goods and services cross the Northern Border each day – representing the largest bilateral flow of goods and people in the world. Heitkamp has been working to make sure sufficient attention is paid to protecting the Northern Border through meetings with border security officials in North Dakota and in Washington D.C. visiting the border in Pembina and Portal, raising awareness about the challenges at the border for top federal officials and agency heads, and introducing legislation. More details about action she has taken to make sure the Northern Border receives the proper attention include: Bringing then-DHS Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to North Dakota. When Heitkamp brought Mayorkas to Pembina’s Port of Entry and Border Patrol Facilities in April 2015, they spoke about ways to improve issues federal border security officials face in attracting and maintaining a strong border security workforce. During the visit, they also discussed ways to improve efforts to combat human and drug trafficking, as well as ways to expand the use of technology to help protect the border. Securing lasting Northern Border security efforts at Grand Forks Air Force Base. After multiple meetings with U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials, during which Heitkamp pushed the agency to take concrete steps toward securing a long-term Air and Marine Operations (AMO) presence at Grand Forks Air Force Base, DHS’ Customs and Border Protection (CBP) heeded her call and in September, announcing it would stay at the base in a renovated facility. Reducing drug crime and flow at the border. In August 2014, Heitkamp joined then-White House Drug Czar Michael Botticelli to unveil a new national strategy to fight drug crimes in the Bakken and at the Northern Border that she specifically pushed for.   Calling attention to chronic challenges at Northern Border ports of entry. In March, Heitkamp questioned key CBP union officials about actions that could be taken to help effectively tackle consistent challenges faced by CBP officers at the Northern Border’s 120 ports of entry. Currently, the CBP’s Office of Field Operations needs an additional 1,000 officers to adequately secure the nation’s ports of entry, which hundreds of millions of travelers  crossed last year – more than ever before – and where international travel is expected to increase exponentially. Holding border security meetings in Minot, Portal and Grand Forks. Heitkamp visited the CBP facility in Grand Forks in January 2014, and she held a discussion in June 2014 with law enforcement in Minot to discuss stressed law enforcement personnel in the border region. Last November, Heitkamp visited the Portal Port of Entry where she met with CBP officers and managers about the challenges they face in helping secure the Northern Border.  ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=6A2B67A2-0478-4BEF-9FFD-DB765B75FB99,Heitkamp: New Report a Call to Action to Combat Youth Homelessness,2017-11-15,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today called on Congress to pass the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act following the release of a new report from Voices of Youth Count, an initiative of Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, that sheds light on the extent of youth homelessness in America.  The report found that 4.2 million young people experienced homelessness in America over a 12-month period, including young people who have slept on the streets or in shelters, as well as those who were kicked out of their homes, couch surfed, or had temporary accommodations with friends or family. Homelessness is just as much of a challenge in rural communities as it is in urban communities, the study found. In predominantly rural counties, 9.2 percent of young adults reported any homelessness while, in predominantly urban counties, the prevalence rate was 9.6 percent. “Every young person deserves the chance to reach their full potential, but it’s heartbreaking that so many children and young adults lack a stable home to keep them safe and support their growth and development,” Heitkamp said. “We must do more to combat the problem of youth homelessness, and we must pass the bipartisan Runaway and Homeless Youth Act as quickly as possible. We know all too well the consequences of youth homelessness – those children are more easily exploited and at greater risk to be trafficked, and they lack the support networks they need to succeed. Everyone should be on board to combat this problem, and I’ll continue to work in a bipartisan way to combat youth homelessness and ensure every community is strong and safe for our children.” The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act provides critical community-based care, housing and counseling to homeless youth and young adults. Heitkamp supported the bipartisan legislation when it was introduced in 2015. It is set to be introduced for reauthorization soon. Heitkamp has also supported the Homeless Children and Youth Act – which would expand the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s definition of youth homelessness to include youth who are couch surfing, doubled up, or living in a motel – the past two times it has been introduced. Heitkamp has been a vocal advocate to combat human trafficking, especially of minors. Earlier this year, Heitkamp and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) reintroduced their Stop, Observe, Ask and Respond (SOAR) to Health and Wellness Act to help make sure health care providers – including doctors, nurses, and social workers – have the training they need to help identify and protect victims of human trafficking. Homeless youth are at heightened risk for trafficking and exploitation. Heitkamp and Collins have both long worked to combat human trafficking. In 2015, they worked to pave a bipartisan, compromise path forward for the successful passage of the Justice for Victims of Human Trafficking Act. Now law, the bill will help provide stronger assistance to victims of human trafficking, increase resources to law enforcement and victims services organizations, and implement stricter punishments for perpetrators of these crimes.  Heitkamp is continuing to push the Senate protect runaway and homeless youth, some of the most susceptible targets of human traffickers, and successfully secured landmark anti-human trafficking protections for children in schools in the No Child Left Behind reform legislation.  ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=7E0072EA-5471-4EE2-9ABF-661DE1EEC681,Politico: Senators reach rare bipartisan deal to ease banking rules,2017-11-14,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Zachary Warmbrodt A group of senators on Monday rolled out a rare, bipartisan agreement years in the making that would relax a number of banking regulations enacted after the 2008 financial crisis. The deal was driven by Senate Banking Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and a handful of red-state Democrats who have long argued that the rules were stifling lending for their rural constituents. The same Democrats are facing tough reelection campaigns next year. The compromise would ease regulations on small, community banks as well as several larger lenders that have been subject to stricter oversight because they have more than $50 billion in assets. The release of the deal immediately drove a wedge between moderate Democrats and others in the party who have resisted making significant changes to the post-financial crisis regulatory regime. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, the top Democrat on the Banking Committee, said he opposed the proposal because it went too far in rolling back regulations. But with nine Republicans, eight Democrats and one independent senator signing on, the package had a significant head start on the way to advancing through the Senate, where bipartisan agreement is essential to passing most laws. “Our bill is an example of how if Democrats and Republicans can put partisanship aside and work together, we can reach real compromises that support the country,” Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) said. The announcement was significant because bipartisan agreement on big changes to banking rules has been elusive in the Senate since Democrats enacted a sweeping overhaul of financial regulations in 2010. Democrats have spent years fending off attempts by Republicans to scrap major aspects of that law, known as Dodd-Frank. The deal unveiled Monday constituted the Senate's most significant attempt yet at rewriting the legislation. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he’s ""very, very supportive” of the agreement, which he praised as “a bipartisan proposal, which I think is terrific.” “Our biggest focus is making sure that community banks and regional banks can grow,” Mnuchin said at a Wall Street Journal-sponsored event on Monday night. The agreement, which was released in summary form, would ease mortgage rules for small lenders, attempt to simplify their capital requirements and let them escape a proprietary trading ban from Dodd-Frank known as the Volcker rule. The package would require credit bureaus to provide consumers with one free credit freeze per year and shield veterans from having certain medical debt from appearing on their credit reports. One of the biggest proposed changes to Dodd-Frank would benefit several banks that have been subject to stricter oversight and stress testing requirements because they have more than $50 billion in assets. A group of the banks and credit card companies, branding themselves the Regional Bank Coalition, has been lobbying Congress to scrap the asset trigger and instead have regulators tap banks for stricter oversight based on their activities. Instead of that approach, the senators who put together Monday’s agreement would raise the $50 billion threshold to $250 billion — a move that would benefit banks such as SunTrust and Regions, but not bigger firms such as U.S. Bank, Capital One or their larger global counterparts. The regulatory exemption would be immediately available upon enactment for banks in the $50 billion to $100 billion range. Banks between $100 billion and $250 billion would see the benefit after 18 months, but the Federal Reserve would have authority to accelerate the exemption or continue applying an extra layer of oversight to the lenders. The Fed would also be required to stress test the banks in the $100 billion-$250 billion range on a periodic basis. The package stopped short of bigger deregulatory proposals that many GOP lawmakers have been pushing. In June, House Republicans passed a bill known as the Financial CHOICE Act that would repeal whole sections of Dodd-Frank and scale back the authority of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — the kinds of provisions that are absent from the more targeted Senate compromise. The narrower approach in the Senate is likely to disappoint some conservatives and larger banks that wanted more. But bipartisan compromise was seen as critical to securing the kind of support that was lacking from previous efforts to undo Dodd-Frank. ""If we can find some common ground, that might very well breed more attempts in the future to get something done,” Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said in an interview last week. Monday’s announcement followed an earlier attempt by Crapo this year to cut a deal with Brown. The Crapo-Brown talks fell apart weeks ago. Brown said the discussions focused too much on rolling back regulations and not enough on helping consumers — a complaint he repeated Monday when he announced his opposition to the new agreement. ""I understand my colleagues' interest in agreeing to this legislation, but disagree on the wisdom of rolling back so many of Dodd-Frank's protections with almost no gains for working families,"" he said in a statement. When the negotiations with Brown fell apart, Crapo turned to a handful of moderate Democrats with whom he quickly worked out an agreement. The group included Heitkamp, Jon Tester of Montana and Joe Donnelly of Indiana, who are all up for reelection next year. Mark Warner of Virginia was also at the negotiating table. They were all part of a bipartisan group of lawmakers who in the previous Congress tried unsuccessfully to craft a deal on banking rules after a deregulation bill offered by the Senate Banking Committee chairman at the time, Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), failed to gain traction. Analysts said it would probably take months for Congress to enact the proposals, but that the backing of moderate Democrats made it likely to happen. A spokesman for Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he looked forward to reviewing the agreement. ""Given the package’s bipartisan support, it represents the most significant legislative step toward a regulatory realignment in the financial services sector since the Dodd-Frank Act was enacted,” Compass Point analyst Isaac Boltansky said.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=028600E9-C86C-466A-8896-5462ED8404A5,"Heitkamp & Bipartisan Group of Senators Announce Regulatory Reform Plan to Help Protect Consumers & Rural Communities in North Dakota, Support Economic Growth",2017-11-14,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – After years of bipartisan work, U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced a bipartisan agreement on legislative proposals to improve our nation’s financial regulatory framework, promote economic growth, and protect consumers in North Dakota’s rural communities.  Heitkamp announced the agreement that she worked on over several years with U.S. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Banking Committee members Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Jon Tester (D-MT) and Mark Warner (D-VA). The bill so far has support from nine Republican senators, nine Democrat senators, and one Independent senator. In the past 30 years, the number of community banks and credit unions have dropped by about two-thirds, yet more than 80 percent of North Dakota deposits still go to community banks, reinforcing that small financial institutions remain a key resource for North Dakota families. The bill comes after three years of negotiations that Heitkamp has been part of to help give community banks and credit unions the relief they need to better serve consumers across North Dakota, while also strengthening consumer protections. In 2015, Heitkamp and a bipartisan group of Senators came close to finalizing a deal, and she’s been working to find a path forward ever since. The bill comes after more than 20 Senate Banking Committee hearings on regulatory reform and economic growth since 2015 that Heitkamp has been part of, and more than 30 discussions she has had with top financial regulators about the issue. Heitkamp has also introduced individual bills over the years to help support community banks and credit unions. “Our bill is an example of how if Democrats and Republicans put partisanship aside and work together, we can reach real compromises that support the country,” said Heitkamp, a member of the Senate Banking Committee. “Every day I come to work in the U.S. Senate, I’m fighting for rural America – and that’s what our bipartisan bill is about. It would provide needed relief to community banks and credit unions, so they can continue enabling small businesses to get financing to operate, helping farmers get loans to support their farms, and allowing families to buy homes in rural communities across our state. And it does all of this while strengthening protections for consumers.” “A strong and vibrant economy is important for American consumers, businesses, and the stability of the financial sector,” said Senator Crapo, Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. “The bipartisan proposals on which we have agreed will significantly improve our financial regulatory framework and foster economic growth by right-sizing regulation, particularly for smaller financial institutions and community banks. I thank all of the senators who have joined with us to move this forward, and look forward to continuing our work to achieve a robust, bipartisan legislative product.” “Community banks like Cornerstone Bank support small businesses, families, and farmers across North Dakota, but our efforts to grow and support our communities have been challenged by burdensome regulations,” said Gary Petersen, Chairman of Cornerstone Bank. “For years, Senator Heitkamp has fought to make sure we have the relief we need to support consumers, and we greatly appreciate her bipartisan work in the U.S. Senate to reach a deal that serves North Dakota and addresses our concerns.” “This is a major victory for consumers not only across the United States, but especially in rural areas such as the Dakotas,” said Jeremiah Kossen, President and CEO of Town & Country Credit Union. “Senator Heitkamp’s bipartisan bill will ease the burden of regulation for credit unions and allow millions of Americans better access to mortgages and other loans, and we appreciate her efforts to strengthen the local financial institutions that keep rural America strong.” Click here for additional statements of support from North Dakota and national financial institutions. In the U.S. Senate, Heitkamp has been a leader in supporting local banks and making sure they have opportunities to succeed without facing undue regulations. In August 2013, she brought Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Chairman Martin Gruenberg to North Dakota to hear directly from bankers in the state about the importance of local and community banks to helping small businesses and communities thrive. In March 2014, Heitkamp urged President Obama to carefully consider the concerns of community banks when naming a nominee for the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, and called on him to nominate someone to the Board who understands the lifelines community banks play in rural areas so those voices are heard. In 2015, legislation introduced by Heitkamp was signed in to law to reduce unnecessary burdens on community banks and local financial institutions by eliminating redundant, costly, and often ignored annual banking notifications, and instead require banks to alert customers only when privacy and information-sharing changes actually occur. The bipartisan bill would: Improve consumer access to mortgage credit; Provide regulatory relief for small financial institutions and protects consumer access to credit; Tailors regulations for banks to better reflect their business models; Protect consumers’ credit by including a fraud alert in consumers’ files for one year and providing a free credit freeze alert for parents to put on their children; Protect veterans’ credit by prohibiting a credit reporting agency from including medical debt in reports; Protect seniors by extending immunity from liability to certain people who disclose suspected exploitation of seniors; Protect tenants from foreclosure by a re-imposing bill to protect tenants that was repealed in 2014; and Protect consumers from cyber security threats by requiring the Treasury Department to submit a report to Congress on the risks of cyber threats to financial institutions and the U.S. capital markets.  Legislative text is in the process of being finalized and will be released upon completion. Click here for a section-by-section summary. Last spring, the Senate Banking Committee issued a request for legislative proposals from organizations, companies, and consumers aimed at creating economic growth. The Committee subsequently held a series of hearings exploring the proposals, and has been negotiating and drafting a reform package since that time. Other U.S. Senators who helped introduce the bill include: Bob Corker (R-TN), Tom Cotton (R-AL), John Kennedy (R-LA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), David Perdue (R-GA), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Tim Scott (R-SC), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus King (I-ME), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), and Gary Peters (D-MI).   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=4A3F88B2-7708-4D75-8A67-CB93CE27641E,Heitkamp Announces Federal Funding for Early Childhood Education in Fargo,2017-11-14,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced more than $1.5 million in federal funding to support Head Start and Early Head Start programs through the Southeastern North Dakota Community Action Agency that serves students in the Fargo area. “Head Start and Early Head Start programs have time and time again shown that they support the early education needs of children across the state,” said Heitkamp. “From rural to urban school districts every child deserves an opportunity to succeed and these federal funds will help young students in Fargo get off to the right start and succeed in school and beyond.” This federal funding is made available through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Head Start. Recently, Heitkamp announced that the TGU School District will receive over $1.1 million in federal funding for early childhood education for students in Towner and Granville.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=3A612A94-18D3-42F9-A101-504849C6E391,Heitkamp Announces Federal Funding for Early Childhood Education at TGU School District,2017-11-13,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced $1,105,520 in federal funding to support Head Start and Early Head Start programs for the TGU School District that educates the students of Towner and Granville. “Starting a child’s education early will set them on the right path to success later in life,” said Heitkamp. “Helping to support early childhood education programs makes sure that the next generation of North Dakotans have the education they need. This federal funding will support the TGU School District’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs for children in Towner and Granville.” This federal funding is made available through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Head Start.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=B2C44F56-0076-417E-91B6-952726B4DE0D,Heitkamp Announces Federal Funding For Crop Management Research at NDSU,2017-11-13,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced a federal grant of $172,134 for North Dakota State University (NDSU) to support food security through better pest management strategies. “North Dakota’s agriculture industry contributes billions of dollars every year to economic activity that supports rural communities in every corner of the state,” said Heitkamp. “To make sure we continue to help farmers and ranchers succeed we must be continually adapting to new challenges like pests and disease that can decimate a crop. These federal funds will support NDSU, one of North Dakota’s top research universities, study new and innovative ways to protect crops that feed our state and the world.” This federal funding is made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agricultures’ Crop Protection and Pest Management Program.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=8B9A80C3-ECE0-495B-8732-4602D745C286,KXMB: Honoring Veterans Not Just for the Holiday,2017-11-11,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Kaley Schwab Bismarck - Veterans Day has been observed every year for nearly one hundred years. But for those who've worn the uniform, every day is veterans day and showing your support doesn't have to be reserved for a holiday. Decked out in red, white and blue , adorned in pins, and in uniform, all coming together to say,   thank you. ""If it not for the veteran, the sacrifices they've made, the ones that died as combatants in all the wars, our country would not be the country that we know today,"" Jim Nelson, commander AMVETS Post 9 Bismarck. But these veterans say this holiday shouldn't be the exception. ""It's important that we remember why we're here as a country and we do that by honoring veterans all the time,"" Nelson says And no matter if they still wear the uniform, or years have passed since their service, their sacrifice should never be forgotten. ""Most every family, every family in North Dakota, is probably affected and has a veteran in their family,"" Lt. Col. Davina French, U.S. Army says. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp says veterans of all ages still face challenges like access to healthcare, affordable housing, and finding jobs. But no matter their age, support from their community is vital. ""This is a day when hopefully, collectively, all across the country, people express their gratitude, but also recommit to doing everything that we can to make sure the promises that we made to veterans are actually honored,"" Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, (D) North Dakota says. And you probably don't have to look far to find a veteran. ""North Dakota is one of those states that veterans are the backbone of this state,"" Lt. Col. Davina French, U.S. Army says. Supporting a veteran can be as simple as reaching out to the ones you already know. ""Just to say hi, to shake a hand, and to remember their service regardless if they're young or old,"" French says. ""Every day should be veterans day,"" Nelson says. And always remember those who have served. North Dakota is home to more than 50,000 veterans.  Lt. Col. French says a great way to show your support for local veterans is volunteering at your local veterans organizations.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=4C5DB5A5-92FB-4FB0-B536-EE78CEF1662B,Heitkamp: Unfairly Subsidized Foreign Biodiesel a Threat to North Dakota Jobs,2017-11-09,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today testified at an International Trade Commission (ITC) hearing on the impact of biodiesel imports from Argentina and Indonesia, which are heavily subsidized and threaten jobs in farming and biodiesel production in North Dakota. “Unfairly subsidized imports from Argentina and Indonesia put North Dakota jobs at risk,” Heitkamp said. “Our farmers and biodiesel companies are losing money because they cannot compete against the massive subsidies being provided by these foreign governments. The ITC must take action to level the playing field, so that producers like ADM based out of Velva – which produces 75 million gallons of biodiesel a year – are able to continue to compete and support our farmers and rural communities.” Heitkamp’s testimony comes after she sent a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in September, urging him to take action to protect U.S. producers from these unfairly subsidized imports. Click here to read her letter to Secretary Ross.  According to a study conducted last year by LMC International and released by the National Biodiesel Board, the 2.1 billion gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel used by Americans in 2015 supported 47,400 jobs and $1.9 billion in wages, and had an $8.4 billion economic impact. In North Dakota, about 50 percent of corn is turned into ethanol, according to the North Dakota Corn Growers Association, reinforcing how important it is that we maintain a robust biofuels market through the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Last month, Senator Heitkamp successfully fought to protect biofuel production targets in the RFS, leading a bipartisan letter to the administration opposing proposed cuts to production levels in 2018.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had proposed holding the biomass-based diesel volume stagnant for 2019 and reducing the advanced biofuel volume for 2018, leaving potential growth in the industry on the table and threatening near-term job losses in rural America. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt had previously pledged to support the RFS, and Heitkamp reinforced the need to protect it in a meeting with Pruitt prior to his confirmation.   A member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Heitkamp has been a vocal advocate for biodiesel and ethanol – industries that support over 400,000 American jobs, including many in North Dakota. Heitkamp has fought for the EPA to provide certainty to farmers and biofuels workers, and has continually pressed the agency to issue a strong RFS rule.  ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=F8FF6341-A46F-4418-8332-D6EEBB6F11F5,U.S. Senate Committee Passes Bipartisan Bill Heitkamp Helped Write & Introduce to Hold Websites like Backpage.com Accountable for their Role in Facilitating Sex Trafficking,2017-11-09,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced that the legislation she helped draft and introduce with a group of Republican and Democratic senators to hold websites accountable for their role in knowingly facilitating sex trafficking online overwhelmingly passed in the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. In September, Heitkamp joined members of the Committee for a hearing to consider the legislation. At the hearing, Heitkamp sat alongside Cindy McCain, an international leader in the global fight against human trafficking, to underscore to her Senate colleagues that this legislation is necessary to immediately provide victims an avenue to seek justice for their exploitation – and make sure that companies will be held liable to the fullest extent of the law for profiting from this form of modern-day slavery. The Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act – which now has 44 bipartisan cosponsors – would make sure websites would no longer be able to exploit a loophole in the Communications Decency Act that has allowed them to serve as a platform for sex trafficking crimes. The legislation was crafted following a comprehensive investigation and report by the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations regarding ads placed on Backpage.com of victims of sex trafficking. As a member of the subcommittee, Heitkamp has played a key part in holding leadership of Backpage.com accountable for their role – detailed in the report – in deliberately facilitating human trafficking on its site, particularly of children. “When I heard the ugly details clearly laid out in the report we put together on how Backpage.com worked to facilitate the sale of young children for sex online – it truly made me sick to watch leaders of the site hide behind their First Amendment rights,” said Heitkamp. “We can stop websites from providing a platform for – and profiting from – this modern form of slavery by making sure victims of this hideous form of exploitation can seek justice. That’s what our bipartisan bill would do. Working with a group of Republican and Democratic senators, we negotiated a bill that clarifies the law and no longer shields cowardly criminals like Backpage.com that make money from child sex slavery. Now we are one step closer to bringing justice to the mothers I heard from that begged Backpage.com to take down postings that advertised their children for sex but were denied because they had not purchased the ad and to those children who were callously sold online.” Heitkamp helped negotiate with Republican and Democratic members of the Senate, anti-trafficking advocates and tech companies to make critical clarifications to the bill to gain the support of additional senators and the Internet Association – a trade association that includes Google, Twitter, Facebook, and many of the other major U.S. tech companies. Additionally, many companies, including Hewlett-Packard, and websites are joining the call to protect human trafficking victims from being bought and sold online. Click here to read a summary of the bill. Heitkamp helped write and introduce the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act with U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), John McCain (R-AZ), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), and John Cornyn (R-TX). The narrowly crafted legislation that would clarify that Section 230 of the Communication Decency Act does not protect websites that knowingly – as Backpage.com did – or facilitate online sex trafficking, therefore allowing victims to seek justice. Specifically, the bill would: Allow victims of sex trafficking to seek justice against websites that knowingly or recklessly facilitated the crimes against them. Eliminate federal liability protections for websites that assist, support, or facilitate a violation of federal sex trafficking laws. Enable state law enforcement officials, not just the federal Department of Justice, to take action against individuals or businesses that violate federal sex trafficking laws. Heitkamp has been working to help the Subcommittee gain information on how websites such as Backpage contribute to human trafficking and allow perpetrators to advertise their victims. In November 2015, Heitkamp blasted the CEO of Backpage.com for refusing the Subcommittee’s subpoena to testify and for his company’s refusal to provide information on its purported use of safeguards to prevent human traffickers from using the site as a platform. She then voted unanimously along with the full Committee to hold the CEO and Backpage in civil contempt of Congress. That vote preceded the U.S. Senate’s unanimous vote in March 2016, which Heitkamp joined, to launch civil contempt proceedings against site – the first time in 20 years the U.S. Senate has held anyone in contempt of Congress. Last October, Heitkamp called the arrest of Backpage.com CEO Carl Ferrer a needed step in halting his website’s role in providing a platform for human trafficking. At the hearing on the Committee’s report on Backpage.com, leadership of the company refused to testify, invoking their First and Fifth Amendment rights. Backpage.com also successfully hid behind the First Amendment when a minor, who was sold online on Backpage.com and raped repeatedly, sought to hold the site accountable. During that case, the courts made clear that for victims to seek justice, Congress needs to act. Long an advocate against human trafficking, Heitkamp led an initial hearing in September 2013 to sound the alarm on the prevalence of human trafficking right in our own backyard, including in North Dakota. Since then, Heitkamp has pushed for legislative action to fight human trafficking, playing a key role in introducing and passing bipartisan legislation on the issue in 2015 in the U.S. Senate, which included her Safe Harbor bill to make sure victims are not treated as criminals. She has continued to introduce more bills on the issue to provide resources for health care providers to stop human trafficking and protect runaway and homeless youth from trafficking. She successfully secured landmark anti-human trafficking protections for children in schools in the No Child Left Behind reform legislation. Building on that legislation, Heitkamp helped introduce a bill, which passed this fall in the U.S. Senate to boost assistance to victims of human trafficking, strengthen law enforcement and victims services organizations, and make sure perpetrators of these crimes are subject to harsher punishments. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=308EDF54-2F72-420D-82B4-BF891EBF91DD,Bismarck Tribune: Events mark Veterans Day,2017-11-08,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bismarck Tribune Staff This year’s Bismarck AMVETS Veterans Day program will remember the service of North Dakota’s veterans during World War I to recognize the 100th anniversary of the United States entry into the Great War. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., and Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., will attend with speaker Darrell Dorgan. The program begins at 1 p.m. Friday at the Bimarck AMVETS Club, 2402 Railroad Ave., in Bismarck. On Saturday, Heitkamp will speak at the VFW’s All-Veteran Centennial Memorial to recognize the men and women who have served the country. She will highlight the issues that veterans face, such as accessing health services close to home or making sure they find good-paying jobs as they transition into civilian life. The event will begin at 9:45 a.m. in the Russell Reid Auditorium at the Heritage Center, 612 E. Boulevard Ave. in Bismarck. In addition, University of Mary students will utilize letters collected from WWI to perform a Reader’s Theater inside the North Dakota Heritage Center’s Russell Reid Auditorium at 1 p.m., called “Letters from the Great War,” that will also include a lecture by Joseph Stuart, who teaches a class on the Cultural History of the Great War. The group also will be performing at the AMVETS event.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=98871505-93AB-41BF-8D89-E94D54F1639A,Heroes On and Off the Battlefield,2017-11-08,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Imagine being thousands of miles from home in a foreign country, huddled in a snow bank during a blizzard as bullets whiz past you. Private First Class Lynn Aas lived through this frozen hell for 45 days during the Battle of the Bulge in December and January of 1944-1945, when Allied troops held firm against a ferocious German offensive. And through it all, Lynn was motivated to survive by the desire to come home to North Dakota and make a difference in his community. This Veterans Day it is important to remember that heroes walk among us, and Lynn Aas is one of them. I had the privilege of being in Minot last month to attend a ceremony at which Lynn was presented with the Knight of the Legion of Honor medal, the highest honor that France can bestow, for his heroism during that critical World War II battle that saved France – and Europe – from the advance of Nazism. Lynn has received numerous other recognitions for his military service, including the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. But it’s Lynn’s work to build up his community and make North Dakota a better place for future generations that really inspires me. Lynn did not rest or retreat from service when he made it home. He served his community in a number of ways: as an active member of his church community, as a member of the North Dakota Legislature, as a supporter of Minot State University, as a member of the United Way Board of Directors, and in countless other ways. The stories of World War II veterans like Lynn – who made it home and dedicated themselves to  building our nation – need to be told over and over again. These days, when it’s easy to take for granted the hardships endured by the Greatest Generation to make our country great, our next generations need role models like Lynn who have embodied self-sacrifice for the betterment of their communities. As a nation, we owe veterans like Lynn a deep debt of gratitude and respect – not just on Veterans Day, but every day by making sure they can access the resources they need and deserve. In the U.S. Senate, I’ve been fighting for the care and services our servicemembers in North Dakota ought to have, and to make sure our communities are prepared for veterans returning home. From the VA answering my call for a Vet Center in Grand Forks and working toward reforming the Veterans Choice program, to helping Congress pass strong support for veterans’ mental health resources, I’ll keep fighting for our veterans each and every day. Putting on a uniform and fighting for our nation, and then taking off that uniform and fighting for a better community and country – that’s the kind of heroism that we need more of. This Veterans Day, I’m thankful for the contributions and sacrifices of heroes like Lynn Aas and every servicemember who embodies the sense of duty to country – on the battlefield and off. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=150B7B09-6C12-4FDF-AD0C-8C9F4E2DE74B,"Heitkamp Invites Homeland Security Secretary Nominee Kirstjen Nielsen to ND, Receives Commitment to Prioritize Northern Border",2017-11-08,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp invited Kirstjen Nielsen, the nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to North Dakota. Heitkamp also received a commitment from Nielsen to prioritize enhancing and improving Northern Border security. During the hearing on Nielsen's nomination, Heitkamp underscored to Nielsen the immediate need to recognize the security and personnel challenges that exist in effectively protecting the nation’s 5,500-mile Northern Border. Nielsen confirmed that she would work to quickly review and implement a new Northern Border security strategy as recommended by DHS’ recently completed Northern Border Threat Assessment – a report that was ordered as a result of Heitkamp’s Northern Border Security Review Act being signed into law last year. Additionally, Nielsen committed to advocating for the resources in upcoming DHS budgets to execute the strategy. “When I visit North Dakota’s Northern Border, what’s immediately apparent is the dedicated, but understaffed, security personnel who are working to secure a vast border often with insufficient resources,” said Heitkamp. “Today I invited Homeland Security secretary nominee, Kirstjen Nielsen, to come to North Dakota’s Northern Border to see these challenges for herself, and she committed to making Northern Border security a top priority. Both in my meeting with Nielsen last month, and in the hearing today, I was encouraged to hear that she shares the view that implementing a new Northern Border strategy – a DHS initiative which came as a result of my bill becoming law – must be implemented as quickly as possible – and with the necessary resources dedicated to this mission. Our nation faces a series of growing and emerging threats, and we can’t gamble with an outdated strategy on our Northern Border. Going forward, I’ll hold Nielsen, if she is confirmed, accountable for the commitments she made today so that we can keep our communities and nation strong and safe.” As part of her efforts to fully review and consider candidates nominated to serve in the administration, Heitkamp sat down with Nielsen last month to discuss a host of issues she and Nielsen agreed must be at the forefront of DHS’ agenda – including addressing cyber security threats and implementing a new Northern Border security strategy. A key piece of Heitkamp’s Strong & Safe Communities Initiative, her Northern Border Security Review Act specifically addresses the concerns and challenges she and then-DHS Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas heard about in April 2015 from federal, state, county, and local officials and law enforcement officers while visiting Pembina when she brought Mayorkas to North Dakota. Heitkamp heard similar feedback during other meetings she held in North Dakota and at a U.S. Senate hearing she pushed for on the issue. Heitkamp’s bill passed unanimously in both the Senate and House. The world’s longest common-law border, the Northern Border has 120 border crossings, many of which are small and in rural areas. According to DHS, approximately 400,000 people and $2 billion in goods and services cross the Northern Border each day – representing the largest bilateral flow of goods and people in the world. Heitkamp has been working to make sure sufficient attention is paid to protecting the Northern Border through meetings with border security officials in North Dakota and in Washington D.C. visiting the border in Pembina and Portal, raising awareness about the challenges at the border for top federal officials and agency heads, and introducing legislation. More details about action she has taken to make sure the Northern Border receives the proper attention include: Bringing then-DHS Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to North Dakota. When Heitkamp brought Mayorkas to Pembina’s Port of Entry and Border Patrol Facilities in April 2015, they spoke about ways to improve issues federal border security officials face in attracting and maintaining a strong border security workforce. During the visit, they also discussed ways to improve efforts to combat human and drug trafficking, as well as ways to expand the use of technology to help protect the border. Securing lasting Northern Border security efforts at Grand Forks Air Force Base. After multiple meetings with U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials, during which Heitkamp pushed the agency to take concrete steps toward securing a long-term Air and Marine Operations (AMO) presence at Grand Forks Air Force Base, DHS’ Customs and Border Protection (CBP) heeded her call and in September, announcing it would stay at the base in a renovated facility. Reducing drug crime and flow at the border. In August 2014, Heitkamp joined then-White House Drug Czar Michael Botticelli to unveil a new national strategy to fight drug crimes in the Bakken and at the Northern Border that she specifically pushed for.   Calling attention to chronic challenges at Northern Border ports of entry. In March, Heitkamp questioned key CBP union officials about actions that could be taken to help effectively tackle consistent challenges faced by CBP officers at the Northern Border’s 120 ports of entry. Currently, the CBP’s Office of Field Operations needs an additional 1,000 officers to adequately secure the nation’s ports of entry, which hundreds of millions of travelers  crossed last year – more than ever before – and where international travel is expected to increase exponentially. Holding border security meetings in Minot, Portal and Grand Forks. Heitkamp visited the CBP facility in Grand Forks in January 2014, and she held a discussion in June 2014 with law enforcement in Minot to discuss stressed law enforcement personnel in the border region. Last November, Heitkamp visited the Portal Port of Entry where she met with CBP officers and managers about the challenges they face in helping secure the Northern Border.  ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=1845C628-5D08-4749-9CFF-F771B54009F1,Heitkamp Raises Transparency Concerns in USDA Grant Making Process,2017-11-08,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue raising transparency issues about its grant making process after concerns were raised by the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC).  NDAREC has received a USDA Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) every year since 1994 to support its successful cooperative development center. Its application has consistently scored in the mid to high 90s, but this year it received a score of 79 by USDA’s voluntary committee. While the scoring is subjective and likely to change from year to year, the drastic reduction this year led NDAREC to request an informal review and for the public release of an awardee list, as has been standard practice for many years. USDA has refused to release a list of the 2017 RCDG Award recipients. “The decision not to make the 2017 RCDG Award recipients public, which is a significant departure from previous years, elevates my concerns,” Heitkamp wrote in her letter to Secretary Perdue. “Basic information on who received grants or loans, the amount and intended use of the federal funds is reasonable information a federal agency should disclose.” Heitkamp presented Secretary Perdue with a detailed list of questions about the RCDG grant process, and expressed the need to protect these programs against possible budget cuts. “As the USDA progresses forward with the reorganization of the Rural Development mission area and their programs continue to be targeted for cuts from the administration, I would like stress how important these programs are to rural communities across the country and especially to states like North Dakota,” she wrote. Click here for the full text of Heitkamp’s letter.  ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=5B48947C-E95D-49F7-8572-3A3B3965DBF2,Heitkamp Announces Federal Support for Mercer Water Infrastructure,2017-11-08,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced a federal grant of $1,255,000 and a federal loan of $429,000 to make needed water and waste water infrastructure improvements to help enable the city of Mercer to have reliable and safe drinking water. “Safe and reliable water infrastructure is critical to the success of rural communities all across North Dakota and to supporting healthy families,” said Heitkamp. “By making sure places like Mercer have access to safe drinking water and waste systems to keep the town clean, it allows for communities to grow and families to stay safe. These federal funds will assist Mercer as it makes needed water system upgrades that will support the community’s needs well into the future.” Specifically, these federal funds will support the city of Mercer to connect to rural water, renovate the water storage building, replace the water storage tank and meters, and update the water distribution system. These federal funds are made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Water and Waste Water Disposal Loans and Grants program to give our state’s rural and agricultural communities the security they need.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=D5C2B295-960E-415C-AF48-62DACFE9E4AC,Heitkamp Announces Federal Funding to Support the Health of Mothers & Children,2017-11-08,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced $324,938 in federal funding to the North Dakota Department of Health to support the health and wellness of mothers and children to improve access to care including prenatal care, preventive care, and care for children and families with special needs. “Healthy mothers mean healthy babies and it’s critical that both have access to quality health care,” said Heitkamp. “This federal funding will support the North Dakota Department Health as it works to make sure mothers and children in need have access to quality health care.” These federal funds are made available through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources & Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Services grant program.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=42298960-4D53-4D24-B1DC-DC4458416955,KFYR: North Dakota joins online sales tax fight,2017-11-07,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bo Evans North Dakota, along with 34 other states, joined South Dakota in a law suit that could force you to pay sales tax for purchases you make online. The nationwide fight to make online retailers pay sales tax has its origins in this state going back about 25 years ago. North Dakota is losing out on a lot of tax dollars due to online sales. ""We estimate now maybe around $40 million a year that we're losing because online retailers are not required to collect and remit online sales tax,"" said North Dakota Tax Commissioner Ryan Rauschenberger. If they don't have a brick and mortar location in the state, retailers don't pay sales tax. That can be traced back to a 1992 Supreme Court case Quill v. North Dakota. Some say that decision needs to be revisited. ""In 1992 when that decision was rendered, there were not internet sales and now we've seen that the internet transactions have taken off,"" said North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem. Stenehjem says the state has joined South Dakota in trying to get the Supreme Court to revisit the issue. He says it’s a matter of fairness. ""A lot of the local brick and mortar stores in the states, certainly here in North Dakota are feeling it's really not fair to them they collect and then remit to the state,"" said Stenehjem. Last week Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D, N.D., the tax commissioner who originally tried to collect from Quill, reiterated why she wanted the Supreme Court to take the case. The legislature passed a law last session which requires online retailers to pay sales tax if they do over $100,000 in revenue or more than 200 transactions a year, if the quill decision is overturned.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=77897371-B6B8-4EED-A99C-B3061D50FEEC,"Gray TV: Push for federal help in Washington to address issue of missing, murdered Native women",2017-11-07,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Peter Zampa WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) is pushing for more attention to be paid to missing and murdered native women. She says these women are facing murder rates well above the national average and not enough is being done to address the issue. She’s pushing legislation that would call on the federal government to implement better practices. A member of a South Dakota tribe says something needs to be done immediately. Carmen O'Leary says Native women need to see the same justice as people around the country. “Native women deserve justice too,” said Carmen O’Leary, a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota. O’Leary says she wants an end to the negligence. She says native women are being murdered and going missing at extremely high rates. O’Leary says not enough is being done to change that. “I want to take the target off Native women and that there’s consequences for the violence against native women,” said O’Leary. A federally funded study shows that on some reservations, women are murdered at 10 times the national average, and 84 percent of native women have experienced violence in their lives. O’Leary says the first step is making people aware of the issue. “If we won’t even acknowledge a problem, it’s very hard to come up with solutions,” said O’Leary. Heitkamp is trying to get those solutions. She introduced “Savanna’s Act,” named after Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, a 22-year old native woman murdered in August. The legislation calls for better response protocols for missing and murdered cases, improved access to data and reporting statistics on missing and murdered Native women. “It’s critically important that this issue be elevated to a national issue,” said Heitkamp. Heitkamp says it is up to federal law enforcement to act quickly in these situations and get justice for victims’ families. “Send the message that you can’t do this with impunity. We are going to catch you, and we are going to prosecute you,” said Heitkamp. The legislation currently awaits a vote in the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=7977AEE9-0F80-42C4-B877-529E43966144,Gray TV: White House and Senate Democrats look for common ground in tax meeting,2017-11-07,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Peter Zampa WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - An attempt to bring both sides of the aisle together for the sake of victory. White House officials met with some Senate Democrats Tuesday afternoon in hopes of coming to an agreement on tax reform. Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) was there. She says there is still work to do. “It’s not there yet,” said Heitkamp. Heitkamp is looking for common ground on tax reform. She and other Senate Democrats met with White House officials Tuesday to figure out a way forward on the issue. Heitkamp says meetings like this show cooperation rather than partisanship. “It’s a real opportunity to air a lot of concerns and see if we can get to ‘yes' on a package that could get potentially 60 votes,” said Heitkamp. She says the House Republican plan is headed in the right direction toward helping the middle class, but she says she is disappointed it gives more breaks to the top 1 percent. She says she doesn’t have enough information on the effects of the child tax credit or the impact on North Dakota farmers. “We’re going to continue to work through these kinds of issues, looking at it, again, through the lens of the North Dakota taxpayer,” said Heitkamp. “The administration has been clear from the beginning that there is no reason tax cuts for the middle class and pro-growth reform for businesses should be partisan issues. Members of the administration will continue to engage with Democrats, many of whom have expressed support for these policies in the past, throughout this process and hope that they will join us in delivering historic tax relief for the American people they came to Washington to serve,” said Raj Shah, White House Deputy Press Secretary. “For Democrats to just outright reject the current effort would be somewhat hypocritical if they truly want to provide relief for American families,” said Romina Boccia from the conservative Heritage foundation. She says it is smart for Senators like Heitkamp to take meetings with the White House. Heitkamp is up for re-election in 2018 in a state that President Trump won by nearly 36 points. And the president needs as many votes as possible to get a significant legislative victory this year. “This is a legislative win that the president wants to get and he will work with Democrats or Republicans, whoever he needs to, to make tax reform a reality,” said Boccia.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=BD495E2F-BDAD-433A-95E5-F3DB8AB09F59,"Bismarck Tribune: Spirit Lake awarded $74,000 in federal grants",2017-11-07,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bismarck Tribune Staff WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two federal grants totaling more than $74,000 were awarded to Spirit Lake to purchase equipment and cooking stations for a food distribution kitchen that will provide cooking classes to local participants and to help those in need with nutritious food, according to an announcement issued today by U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D.  “Healthy meals help lead to healthy families and reduce the risk of health problems in the future,” Heitkamp said. “Helping to provide access to nutritious foods and teaching families how to prepare them is key to helping fight hunger in communities across North Dakota, including in Indian Country."" The federal grants are administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=C0D1C4E4-A9AC-4583-9448-89DBBE850512,Bismarck Tribune: Heitkamp favors restrictions on banks doing business with North Korea,2017-11-07,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bismarck Tribune Staff WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp today voted in favor of the Banking Restrictions Involving North Korea (BRINK) Act, which passed the U.S. Senate Banking Committee today with an amendment written by Heitkamp. Heitkamp’s amendment would require the administration to provide an assessment of North Korea’s use of financial institutions to promote its acquisition of military expertise, equipment and technology.   “North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile programs threaten the safety of American families, as well as our allies and interests in the region,” Heitkamp said. “Congress must take action to counter the threat, and secondary sanctions are another important way to cut off the financial support that has allowed North Korea to advance its dangerous and illegal programs. North Korea poses the most urgent national security threat and we must hold it accountable through military, diplomatic, and economic strategies to protect our country, as I’ve long called for.” The BRINK Act imposes secondary sanctions on financial entities that do business with North Korea.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=FC89A372-A8D9-4493-9D2B-FD48BA44EC0B,Bismarck Tribune: ND retailers eyeing potential online tax law change,2017-11-07,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Jessica Holdman North Dakota will be ready to collect taxes from online retailers should federal law changes be made. South Dakota is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review whether retailers can be required to collect sales taxes in states where they lack a physical presence, according to the Associated Press. Thirty-five state attorneys general, including North Dakota’s, and the District of Columbia this week signed on to support South Dakota's legal bid. “The big thing for me personally is big items,” said Jeff Hinz, who owns Ace Hardware in Bismarck. Hinz said often customers will threaten to buy large items, such as snow blowers, online if he doesn’t agree to offer a discount. But retailers without a physical presence in the state have a price advantage over brick and mortar businesses of up to 8.5 percent, according to Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., who also joined a number of lawmakers in urging the court to consider the issue and who has introduced a number of bills trying to change the law legislatively. “When these retailers can charge lower prices, our small businesses and jobs are at risk,” Heitkamp and the other lawmakers wrote. According to the state’s most recent study, the North Dakota Tax Commissioner’s office estimates $25 million to $30 million was not collected in 2012 because online retailers were not required to collect. Online purchases since 2012 have increased by as much as 50 percent, so North Dakota Retail Association President Mike Rud estimates more recent losses at $30 million to $40 million. Hinz said it doesn’t seem fair because online retailers still use North Dakota’s roads to ship their items but they don’t help cover the tax burden associated with maintaining them. “UPS, the postal service and Fedex are their brick and mortar,” Hinz said. And even though online retail giant Amazon collect sales tax for the items it sells, third-party vendors that use the site to sell are not required to do so by the company. “The point is just for a level playing field for all our retailers,” Rud said. “We don’t care about competing with them, but we don’t want to have such a big disadvantage.” Rud said during the latest legislative session, North Dakota, as well as about 15 other states, passed a law that will allow the state tax department to immediately force sales tax collections from online retailers once a court decision or national law is passed. Rud called the state law critical, “because now we’re ready as soon as the case is heard by the Supreme Court.” “This is a pretty serious issue and everyone is becoming quite aware something needs to be done here,” said Rud, adding they are hoping for a decision or a law change within the next year.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=68761CA2-68C8-446D-BFD4-6A1ACDA80483,Heitkamp Announces Federal Funding for Spirit Lake Tribe,2017-11-07,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced two federal grants totaling over $74,000 for Spirit Lake to purchase equipment and cooking stations for their food distribution kitchen that will provide cooking classes to local participants and to help those in need with nutritious food. “Healthy meals help lead to healthy families and reduce the risk of health problems in the future,” said Heitkamp. “Helping to provide access to nutritious foods and teaching families how to prepare them is key to helping fight hunger in communities across North Dakota, including in Indian Country. These federal funds will help the food distribution kitchen that helps to fight hunger in Spirit Lake, purchase new kitchen equipment so they can continue to provide cooking classes and nutrition assistance to the local community.” These funds will be used as follows: $53,480 in federal funds to purchase six cooking stations for the food distribution kitchen. These federal grants are provided through the Community Facilities Grants program. $20,770 in federal funds to purchase additional equipment for the food distribution kitchen. These federal funds are provided through the Economic Impact Initiative Grants program. Both federal grants are administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=841A5444-3429-4027-A50C-0418C289A7FA,"With Heitkamp Support, Bill to Impose Sanctions on North Korea Sanctions Advances in Senate",2017-11-07,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today voted in favor of the Banking Restrictions Involving North Korea (BRINK) Act, which passed the U.S. Senate Banking Committee today with an amendment written by Heitkamp. Heitkamp’s amendment would require the administration to provide an assessment of North Korea’s use of financial institutions to promote its acquisition of military expertise, equipment, and technology. This provision would improve understanding of North Korea’s relationships with nations like Iran, which help North Korea commit financial crimes and enable its illegal pursuit of nuclear weapon and ballistic missile technology. “North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile programs threaten the safety of American families, as well as our allies and interests in the region,” Heitkamp said. “Congress must take action to counter the threat, and secondary sanctions are another important way to cut off the financial support that has allowed North Korea to advance its dangerous and illegal programs. My amendment would help us better understand how North Korea benefits from bad actor nations like Iran to better inform a tough, smart national security strategy to keep our nation safe. North Korea poses the most urgent national security threat and we must hold it accountable through military, diplomatic, and economic strategies to protect our country, as I’ve long called for.” The BRINK Act imposes secondary sanctions on financial entities that do business with North Korea and those who evade sanctions to assist North Korea; strengthens existing sanctions by making mandatory sanctions on entities providing North Korea with coal or iron, transferring vessels to North Korea, or purchasing seafood from North Korea; enhances oversight of administration efforts to enforce sanctions; and, requires a congressional review to lift sanctions on North Korea.  Heitkamp has long pushed for strong, smart national security policies that keep North Dakota families safe. In September, she secured passage of an amendment in the National Defense Authorization Act to reassure our allies of America’s steadfast commitment to protecting against the North Korea nuclear threat.  In July, she helped to secure passage of a bipartisan sanctions bill to hold North Korea, Russia, and Iran accountable. Those sanctions were signed in to law, but North Korea’s heated rhetoric and continued missile and weapons tests highlight the need to ramp up economic pressure on Kim Jong Un’s regime. Heitkamp has also pressed the administration to fill key positions that will aid in the diplomatic and military components of a comprehensive strategy to deal with North Korea. In a recent letter, she urged the president to appoint a Special Envoy to the Korean Peninsula, and to fill key positions such as Ambassador to South Korea and top Asia-related positions at the Defense and State Departments. Last year, Heitkamp joined in a congressional fact-finding trip to see missile defense capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region up close. She supports bipartisan legislation to enhance defenses against North Korean ballistic missiles.             Heitkamp focused the September episode of her podcast, “The Hotdish,” on the North Korea threat. The podcast is available on iTunes and SoundCloud, as well as on Heitkamp’s Senate website. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=C366FD39-81CE-4CF0-B6C6-C8017A437403,KFGO: Heitkamp Works to Protect Agriculture in NAFTA,2017-11-06,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sara Heinrich U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp works to protect agriculture in NAFTA. Heitkamp secured a commitment from U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer that he will protect agriculture in any NAFTA renegotiation. North Dakota is the ninth largest agriculture exporting state in the country, with $4.1 billion in commodities exported each year. Canada and Mexico are the state’s two biggest foreign markets.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=AE11F4E9-7D61-4302-A0D1-D69BD08E0F3E,"In Call with U.S. Trade Representative Lighthizer, Heitkamp Secures Commitment to Protect Agriculture in NAFTA Renegotiation",2017-11-06,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp secured a commitment from U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer that he will protect agriculture in any NAFTA renegotiation. During their phone call, Heitkamp urged Lighthizer to protect agriculture in the renegotiation of NAFTA and reinforced how NAFTA has helped farmers and ranchers in North Dakota export to Mexico and Canada, especially as recent news reports said that agriculture may get left behind during the discussions. “As the administration attempts to renegotiate NAFTA, there are real concerns that agriculture is getting left behind,” Heitkamp said. “USTR Lighthizer and I had a good conversation about the need to protect agriculture in these talks, and he acknowledged that pulling out of NAFTA altogether would be devastating to farm jobs in North Dakota and across in the United States. I let him know that there will be a fierce battle to make sure America continues to be the dominant agricultural producer in the world, and he pledged to continue his engagement with me and other advocates for a robust agriculture exports policy as NAFTA discussions continue. We can and must support American workers and level the playing field for manufacturing jobs, but not at the expense of farm jobs. North Dakota farmers export their top notch products around the world, and Mexico and Canada are often some of the top importers, and we can’t close that market for them.” Heitkamp has long worked to expand and protect market access for North Dakota farmers and ranchers. North Dakota is the ninth largest agriculture exporting state in the country, with $4.1 billion in commodities exported each year—and Canada and Mexico are the state’s two biggest foreign markets. As the latest round of NAFTA talks came to a close, Heitkamp pressed the administration to focus on the need for farmers and ranchers to export to survive. In May, Heitkamp urged U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to defend North Dakota agricultural priorities as the administration renegotiates NAFTA. Heitkamp also pressed Lighthizer to use NAFTA renegotiations to address concerns that North Dakota producers have about Canadian grain standards, Mexican sugar dumping, and country of origin labeling for meat. Starting with her one-on-one meeting with Lighthizer in February, Heitkamp has tirelessly reinforced to Lighthizer—and to other administration officials—that trade agreements should level the playing field for farmers, ranchers, and workers, while also holding other countries accountable when they cheat on trade deals. Heitkamp is committed to protecting crucial export promotion programs in the 2018 Farm Bill. The president’s budget would have slashed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s export promotion programs. She also wrote an op-ed earlier this year about the critical role of agriculture exports. Last year, Heitkamp called on the former U.S. Trade Representative to protect North Dakota grain growers from unfair treatment after a report she requested showed that Canada segregates North Dakota grain and offers unfair prices to U.S. producers at Canadian elevators. Heitkamp called on Lighthizer to resolve the issue. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=D4F1D93F-EB16-4CAF-AF44-C8EA6426DC89,"Bismarck Tribune: U.S. Census, state preparing for 2020 count",2017-11-04,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"April Baumgarten The U.S. Census Bureau will start its decennial count in 2½ years, and North Dakota officials are encouraging communities to sign up for a federal program that will help create an accurate picture of who lives where. But some are concerned rural and tribal populations will not get the recognition they deserve. “I was going through the data on Census 2010, and more rural areas have had a lower response rate to the census,” said Kevin Iverson, Census Office manager and procurement manager for the North Dakota Department of Commerce. North Dakota counties, cities, townships and tribes have been sent letters asking them to participate in the Local Update of Census Addresses, a federal program that allows local governments to share updated address lists with the Census Bureau. It’s a voluntary program, but it helps the Census Bureau get a clearer view of where people live so the agency can get an accurate count, Iverson said. The deadline to sign up for LUCA is Dec. 15. Twenty-one counties, fewer than half of the 53 in North Dakota, signed up for LUCA last year. Federal and state address lists sometimes have major differences. One map comparing databases from the two shows significant differences in city boundaries, especially in cities in the west and rural areas. For example, the state’s boundaries for Mandan and Bismarck have holes and gaps that the census doesn’t mark, and some lines recorded by the state extend beyond the census’s boundaries. Some information may have been communicated to the state but not the Census Bureau, and vice versa, Iverson said. “This isn’t really anybody’s fault, it just kind of happened over time,” he said. “We’ve been working on this one for quite a while. I think we’ve made a lot of progress.” There is a penalty for missing a significant number of houses during the official census count, Iverson said. That is one reason why he and others are pushing local governments to sign up for LUCA, but there is another reason. “Nobody knows the local area like the people that are living there,” he said. Local, state and national leaders from North Dakota, including Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., have expressed concerns about correctly counting rural and tribal populations. She criticized a move in 2016 to cancel a census test on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation due to lack of funding. “Too often, tribal communities exist in a blind spot for the federal government, and I worry the 2020 Census could be another example,” Heitkamp said in a statement Thursday. The test also would have been conducted in a Washington state reservation. There are no plans to implement the test. She also feared a lack of a Senate-confirmed Census director, budget problems and other issues would leave the census “woefully unprepared,” according to her statement. The tests would have helped the Census Bureau improve how it interacts and works with tribal communities, Heitkamp said. “Instead, they’re being left out again,” she said, adding “that’s unacceptable. Without a clear view and accurate count of rural America and Indian Country, the federal government will not be able to address and alleviate the challenges we face in the heartland.” Iverson agreed there is a general consensus tribal populations are undercounted, but it’s more about a lack of trust instead of a lack of trying, he said. Some people are cautious about random people who ask for information, he added. “If someone comes knocking at my door, are they really using this (information) for what they are saying they are using it for, and do I trust this person to give them information?” he asked. “I think overall it has become more difficult because there are so many scams out there. I think that is true not just with American Indians but kind of everybody.” The test that was canceled for 2017 may have been done during the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, which attracted thousands of protesters from across the country to a camp near Standing Rock. “I think logistically, even if it hadn’t been for (lack of) money, it would have been impossible for the Census Bureau to do the lead items that are necessary (for the test),” Iverson said. Scott Davis, executive director of the state Indian Affairs Commission, shared concerns of tribal populations being undercounted, but he advised communities in tribal nations to participate in LUCA. “That LUCA system is a process of trying to get a better, more accurate count,” he said in a voicemail.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=8F2476F9-B0A6-4041-AFB1-19C1FB690108,Jamestown Sun: Funds awarded to electric cooperatives,2017-11-03,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Cass County Electric Co-op was awarded $25 million to build more than 600 miles of power lines, and Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative Inc. was awarded $21 million to build more than 140 miles of power lines, according to the announcement. Both cooperatives will also use the funds to improve existing lines and make other system improvements including investments in smart grid projects, according to the announcement. “Our electric cooperatives do a tremendous job of providing reliable and affordable power to individuals and communities throughout our state,” said Sen. John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a member of the Agriculture Committee. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., said Cass County Electric Cooperative will spend $4.9 million to further smart grid projects. North Dakota counties to benefit from the support include Dickey, Barnes, Sargent, Stutsman, Richland, LaMoure, Cass, Ransom, Steele and Traill, she said. Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative will spend $2.5 million to further smart grid projects. North Dakota counties to benefit include Ransom, Stutsman, LaMoure, Sargent, Logan, McIntosh, Richland and Dickey, she said. “Our electric cooperatives help power our state so families across North Dakota, including rural communities, can heat their homes and keep their lights on,” Heitkamp said.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=8F3C62BF-151C-47F7-902B-4DE6707D690C,Forum News Service: Cara Mund Day declared as Miss America returns for homecoming,2017-11-03,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Forum News Service Cara Mund, the first Miss North Dakota to be crowned Miss America, can add another rare distinction to her credit: her own day. Gov. Doug Burgum declared Saturday as Cara Mund Day after she was crowned Miss America in September. Mund, a 2012 graduate of Bismarck Century High School, is visiting the Peace Garden State this week, including events Friday in Williston and Saturday in Bismarck. In Williston, she visited a classroom and crowned the new Miss North Dakota at the annual pageant. A homecoming celebration is planned Saturday afternoon at the Bismarck Event Center. “Cara Mund has represented her home state in an exceptional manner,” Burgum said in a statement.. “Her hard work and perseverance, dedication to public service and commitment to improving the lives of others is a source of immense pride for people across North Dakota.” U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., said Friday she plans to speak at the Bismarck event and “thank her for the great work she is doing representing North Dakota and the rest of the country.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=EEDB0E6A-4C06-43FC-BAB0-40413C4872D2,Forum News Service: Heitkamp launches website to help N. Dakotans with health insurance,2017-11-02,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Forum News Service Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) launched a website this week with resources for North Dakotans to learn about the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, and options people may have to get covered under the federal marketplace exchange. Open enrollment started Wednesday, Nov. 1 and will last through Friday, Dec. 15. “Health care open enrollment has started, and I encourage North Dakotans to use the resources on my new webpage to help answer their questions, sign up for coverage, or search for different plans,” Heitkamp said in a press release. “This year, the time frame to enroll in health insurance is a month and a half shorter with fewer federal resources available to assist folks. That’s why I’m stepping up to make sure North Dakotans can get the information and assistance they need.” Heitkamp’s website provides links to resources regarding the federal marketplace, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program and information about tax credits and lowering out-of-pocket costs. The Trump administration cut many navigator and other Obamacare outreach programs this year so fewer resources are available for potential consumers in North Dakota to get information about enrolling in an Obamacare plan.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=AC1A6671-76E7-4E50-8808-E040812B1821,Heitkamp & Bipartisan Group Urge Supreme Court to Revisit Case Preventing States from Collecting Sales & Use Tax from Out-of-State Businesses like Online Vendors,2017-11-02,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court urging the Court to reconsider and overturn a 25 year-old case determining whether states can require out-of-state businesses like online vendors to collect and remit state sales and use taxes. In 1991, when Heitkamp was North Dakota’s Tax Commissioner, the state of North Dakota attempted to make catalog retailers collect the sales and use tax the state and municipalities were already owed on sales. Heitkamp brought the case all the way to the Supreme Court, which in 1992 found in Quill Corp v. North Dakota that a business must have a physical presence in a state before it can be required to collect and remit state sales and use taxes. The Court also said that the U.S. Congress had the ultimate power to resolve the issue. Since then, the sharp increase in internet sales has sparked renewed interest from state and local governments in leveling the playing field for brick-and-mortar businesses and closing a gaping loophole in our tax system. While the members have put forward a legislative solution in the Marketplace Fairness Act, Congress has not come to an agreement to fix the loophole. Joining Heitkamp in filing the amicus brief are U.S. Senators Mike Enzi (R-WY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Lamar Alexander (R-TN), along with U.S. Representatives Kristi Noem (R-SD) and John Conyers (D-MI), “Small businesses in our states – and the workers who rely on them for jobs – have long been disadvantaged by out-of-state retailers and online vendors who aren’t required to collect sales and use taxes,” the members said. “When these retailers can charge lower prices, our small businesses and jobs are at risk. The Supreme Court should re-visit and reverse its decision in Quill that tipped the scales in favor of online retailers and against brick and mortar businesses around the country, which lose close to $26 billion every year because of a misguided decision over two decades ago. It’s past time to level the playing field for local shops across our communities.”   Retailers without a physical presence have a price advantage over brick and mortar businesses of up to 8.5 percent in North Dakota, 9.75 percent in Tennessee, 11 percent in Illinois, and 6 percent in Wyoming simply because they cannot be required to collect those state taxes.  Click here to read the full text of the amicus brief. The amicus brief – also called a “friend of the court” brief that is filed by outside parties and is used to share additional information and arguments for the Court to consider – urges the Supreme Court to grant South Dakota’s request for the Court to consider South Dakota v Wayfair, Inc. This case seeks to overturn Quill, which prevents South Dakota and 44 other states from enforcing their own state sales and use tax laws.  On April 27, Enzi, Durbin, Alexander, and Heitkamp introduced the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2017 – legislation that would give states the right to require out-of-state businesses or online retailers to collect and remit the sales and use taxes that are already owed under current law. In 2013, the Senate passed the Marketplace Fairness Act by a bipartisan vote of 69-27, but the legislation did not become law. Noem and Conyers introduced similar legislation in the House of Representatives on April 27 — the Remote Transactions Parity Act – which has 49 bipartisan cosponsors and has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=C4C875D1-563C-4502-8039-86A7DCB107CB,Heitkamp Announces Federal Support for Rural Eclectic Coops,2017-11-02,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced two federal loans totaling $46 million to Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative and Cass County Electric Cooperative to support rural electric infrastructure improvements. “Our electric cooperatives help power our state so families across North Dakota, including rural communities, can heat their homes and keep their lights on,” said Heitkamp. “These federal funds will help electric cooperatives make needed improvements to our electrical system so they can continue to deliver safe and reliable energy to North Dakotans' homes and businesses so we can continue to push our economy forward, power our homes, and keep farms running."" The federal funds are distributed as follows: Cass County Electri Cooperative: $25,000,000 in federal loans to build 617 new miles of electrical infrastructure as well as to improve 185 miles of line. Over $4.9 million of these federal funds will be used to further smart grid projects. North Dakota counties which will benefit from this federal support include Dickey, Barnes, Sargent, Stutsman, Richland, LaMoure, Cass, Ransom, Steele, and Traill. Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative: $21,000,000 in federal loans to build 146 new miles of electrical infrastructure as well as to improve 187 miles of line. Over $2.5 million of these federal funds will be used to further smart grid projects. North Dakota counties which will benefit from this federal support include Ransom, Stutsman, LaMoure, Sargent, Logan, McIntosh, Richland, and Dickey. These federal funds are made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development’s Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program that supports infrastructure improvements to rural communities.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=C54CA1A5-782F-4A6F-9C0B-1A7D8B4BFD45,"Heitkamp Presses Federal Leaders on Challenges Facing the 2020 Census, Tribal & Rural Challenges",2017-11-02,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp pressed key federal leaders on the many challenges the 2020 Census faces, including testing and reporting in rural and tribal areas as well as a lack of trust in the ability of the federal government to keep personal information safe. With budget uncertainty and increased cost projections, canceled tests, and no Senate-confirmed Director or Deputy Director, the ability for the U.S. Census Bureau to operate efficiently and effectively is in jeopardy. During a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Heitkamp – who serves as a subcommittee ranking member – drew the attention of U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, as well as leaders from the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Government Accountability Office, to the recently canceled Census tests in Indian Country. These tests would have provided the Census Bureau with the information they needed to improve how the agency works with tribal communities and ensure an accurate count at Standing Rock Reservation, and reservations across the nation. The fact that no such testing on a tribal reservation occurred in America points to an organization that is ill- prepared to face the full span of challenges that exist in Indian Country – many of which are also found in rural communities. “Too often, tribal communities exist in a blind spot for the federal government, and I worry the 2020 Census could be another example, “said Heitkamp. “Here’s where we are now: Census canceled a needed test on Standing Rock last year and doesn’t have any plans for tests in Indian Country or rural areas which would enable the Census Bureau do a better job assessing the needs in these communities for housing, job training, social services, and much more. Instead, they’re being left out again. It’s clear that with no confirmed director, and growing budgetary problems, the Census Bureau, as it exists today, is woefully unprepared – and that’s unacceptable. Without a clear view and accurate count of rural America and Indian Country, the federal government will not be able to address and alleviate the challenges we face in the heartland.” Heitkamp has long stressed the importance of the Census and tribes working together to break down barriers for people living on tribal lands in North Dakota and around the country, and to make sure Native populations are appropriately represented at all levels of government. At Heitkamp’s urging, U.S. Census Director John Thompson visited North Dakota in 2014 during which he met with Native American leaders about the importance of accurate population counts and how Census data is used to distribute federal, tribal, state, and local government funds. Thompson returned to the state in February 2016 to participate in the Tribal Consultation Meeting held at Sitting Bull College.  Shortly after the U.S. Census Bureau’s announcement in April 2016 that it would conduct a Census Test on the Standing Rock Reservation – one of just two tests nationwide in Indian Country in 2017 in preparation for the 2020 Census – the test was canceled, leaving a gaping hole in the federal government’s preparations to address challenges of an accurate Census count on reservations and in the region. Native Americans are often under-represented in Census data, which can reduce the amount of federal support that tribal communities receive. With more accurate measurements, tribes would have access to the necessary federal support for housing programs, job training, social services, and many other programs they are guaranteed under law. As a leader on the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs, which oversees the Census, Heitkamp has fought to make sure the Census works for North Dakota and Indian tribes. Heitkamp also sits on the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, where she has fought to guarantee Indian communities have access to quality homes, schools, and health care. Heitkamp has advocated that all communities are counted accurately by also drawing attention to the enormous population growth in western North Dakota. A national Census takes place every 10 years. The data gathered through the Census informs the levels of federal funding that North Dakota and other states receive for transportation infrastructure, education, medical assistance, and many other essential programs. According to 2014 Census data, at the height of the oil boom North Dakota was  the  fastest growing state in the nation. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=F7A2992A-20AF-4C85-8047-BA8CF57261A7,New Heitkamp Podcast Tackles Issue of Missing and Murdered Native Women,2017-11-02,2017,2017-11,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today released the latest episode of her podcast, “The Hotdish,” interviewing two experts and advocates who have dedicated their lives to helping indigenous women overcome obstacles and hardship. They focused on tackling the problem of missing and murdered Native American women, which has plagued indigenous communities in North Dakota and across the country. Heitkamp first interviewed Lisa Brunner, Co-Director of Indigenous Women's Human Rights Collective Inc., and Policy Consultant to Sacred Spirits First Nations Coalition. Lisa advocates for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and sex trafficking, and has worked in the field for more than 17 years. Lisa is a member of the White Earth Ojibwe Nation and lives on the White Earth Indian Reservation in Minnesota. Their conversation focused on the historical factors that led to today’s crisis, and explored policy options to address it. Heitkamp then interviewed Sadie Young Bird, Director of Three Affiliated Tribes Victim Services which empowers individuals who are abused, victimized, in economic distress, and in need of resources or emotional support. Sadie is an enrolled member of the MHA Nation and lives on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota and shared her personal experiences with women who have gone missing and been murdered, and the struggle to bring them justice. “There is a hidden epidemic of missing and murdered Native American women in America, and it doesn’t get nearly enough attention or resources to combat it,” said Heitkamp, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. “Every day I come to work in the U.S. Senate, I think about women and girls like Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, who were so needlessly and tragically lost. One idea I’ve put forward is a bill called Savanna’s Act, which aims to help tackle these challenges and improve cooperation among law enforcement agencies at all levels. We must raise awareness about this horrible epidemic to create change and fight for justice and to keep our Native communities – and every community – strong and safe.” “The Hotdish” is available on iTunes and SoundCloud, as well as on Heitkamp’s Senate website. Click here to subscribe to “The Hotdish” on iTunes.   On some reservations, Native women are murdered at 10 times the national average, and 84 percent of Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime. In 2016, North Dakota had 125 reported cases of missing Native women according to the National Crime Information Center, but numbers are likely much higher as cases are often under reported and data isn’t officially collected. In the podcast, Lisa Brunner called for a national inquiry - similar to what the Canadian government undertook to look at this issue among women and children from their First Nations - with listening sessions and field hearings to get a holistic view of jurisdictional challenges and other barriers to keeping Native populations safe. When federal laws and policies prevent tribal law enforcement from holding non-Natives accountable, she said, it sends the wrong signal to would-be criminals. Sadie Young Bird discussed her personal experience with violence against indigenous women. Sadie’s best friend went missing and was later found murdered, motivating Sadie’s fight to help other women and their families. Sadie called for greater cooperation between tribal and non-tribal law enforcement agencies, an issue that is addressed in Heitkamp’s legislation, Savanna’s Act.  Named for Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, who was abducted and tragically killed in Fargo in August, Savanna’s Act builds on a bill Heitkamp introduced earlier this year to expand Amber alert warnings in Indian Country – where such alerts often do not exist or are not tied in to statewide or regional alert systems – to help stop abductions. Savanna’s Act received a hearing in the Indian Affairs committee last week. Click here for a fact sheet on the legislation. Heitkamp also launched a website with key resources and information on missing and murdered indigenous women, including offering steps to take if you know or suspect a person has gone missing by force. Heitkamp kicked off her podcast in February with an episode on her efforts to combat human trafficking, interviewing anti-human trafficking leader Cindy McCain and North Dakota journalist Kevin Wallevand. Since then, Heitkamp’s podcast has covered a wide range of topics, including negotiations for the next Farm Bill, the role of moderates in Congress, U.S.-Russia relations, health care, her bipartisan bill that would promote carbon capture, the role of refugees and immigrants in our communities, and the threat posed by North Korea. Background Heitkamp has long worked to stop violence, exploitation, and trafficking of Native women and children by: Combating human trafficking in Indian Country. Heitkamp held an initial Senate hearing in September 2013 on stopping human trafficking with a focus on Indian Country. She has worked closely with Cindy McCain, a global leader in the effort to stop human trafficking. McCain testified at a Senate hearing earlier this month on human trafficking in Indian Country and highlighted Heitkamp’s work on the issue. In 2015, Heitkamp brought Cindy McCain to Fort Berthold, to talk about how to combat human trafficking. In September, Heitkamp called forfederal agencies and organizations to provide specific training on human trafficking to federal government employees in Indian Country. Heitkamp also played a key role in passing bipartisan legislation in 2015 to fight human trafficking, and introduced multiple other bills on the issue. Calling for a permanent federal law enforcement presence in Indian Country. When she served as North Dakota’s Attorney General and now as a U.S. senator, Heitkamp has worked to raise awareness about the need for a permanent federal law enforcement presence across Indian Country. In 2016, she brought then-Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James B. Comey to Fort Berthold to press him on the issue. Just a few weeks ago, Heitkamp spoke with the current FBI director about law enforcement challenges in Indian Country and pressed the agency to make these issues a priority. Protecting Native women from violence. In the U.S. Senate, Heitkamp has built on her work as North Dakota’s Attorney General to combat domestic violence. The first bill she cosponsored was the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which she then played a major role in passing in 2013. Heitkamp worked to include a key provision in the bill to address the continuing crisis of violence against women in tribal communities. The provision strengthens the existing programs and provides tribal governments the force they need to prosecute non-Indian perpetrators who commit these crimes on tribal land.   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z