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.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/north-dakota-awarded-nearly-200-million-for-rural-health-transformation-plan,North Dakota Awarded Nearly $200 Million for Rural Health Transformation Plan,2025-12-29,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"BISMARCK, N.D. – When Congress passed the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, it established the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) to strengthen rural health care by providing states funding to support innovation, expand access, and enhance quality of care.

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) announced the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services will receive $199 million in initial funding for its RHTP. North Dakota’s approved application includes a five-year plan to strengthen and stabilize its rural workforce, bring high quality health care closer to home, and confront immediate threats to rural health while building lasting sustainability.

“Rural hospitals are essential to the health and economic stability of their communities,” said U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND). “The creation of this fund reflects a clear commitment by the Trump administration to prioritize rural healthcare and protect access to care where it is needed most. I look forward to this money getting to North Dakota and providing the support it was designed to deliver.”

“North Dakota is taking bold steps to restore health, opportunity, and dignity to our prairies,” the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services said in its application. “North Dakota’s RHTP delivers practical investments that honor local and tribal values, protect rural independence, and get America back to what matters: healthy people, prosperous communities, and common-sense service delivery.”

The unprecedented funding provides key opportunities for North Dakota’s rural health care systems:

Strengthens and Stabilizes Rural Health Workforce:

The funding allows rural hospitals in North Dakota to expand rural healthcare training programs, improve retention in rural and Tribal communities, and use technology as an extender for rural providers.

Makes North Dakota Healthy Again:

North Dakota’s RHTP initiatives support the launch of Eat Well ND to enhance nutrition education for North Dakotans, initiates ND Moves Together to provide education on the benefits of physical activity across the state and promotes connection and resilience to improve mental health with a focus on children.

Brings High-Quality Health Care Closer to Home:

The state’s five-year plan right-sizes rural healthcare delivery systems, enhances the telehealth and mobile clinic infrastructure; and expands community health worker and paramedic infrastructure, training, and certification. It ensures rural residents have access to transportation and develops care coordination programs with payers in the state for patients with chronic disease or behavioral health conditions.

Connects Tech, Data, and Providers for a Stronger North Dakota:

North Dakota’s application outlines key initiatives to gain efficiency with modern tech and data, including cooperative purchasing agreements for technology, regulatory and financial infrastructure, use of staff, and bulk purchasing of supplies and equipment.

It also summarizes plans to harness artificial intelligence to detect early signs of chronic disease and behavioral health conditions, expand the capacity of rural providers, and utilize new technology for rapid transport, automated prescription pickup kiosks, and laboratory capability to process self-collected specimens.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-north-dakota-awarded-nearly-200-million-from-one-big-beautiful-bill-rural-health-transformation-fund,Hoeven: North Dakota Awarded Nearly $200 Million From One Big Beautiful Bill Rural Health Transformation Fund,2025-12-29,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven: North Dakota Awarded Nearly $200 Million From One Big Beautiful Bill Rural Health Transformation Fund

State Receiving Initial Funds for FY26, Expected to Receive $500 Million Over Five Years

BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today announced North Dakota will receive more than $198 million from the One Big Beautiful Bill’s (OB3) Rural Health Transformation Fund for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. The state is expected to receive a total of $500 million over five years to improve health care quality and access in rural areas, using the funds to:

Build and retain a rural health workforce.

Prevent chronic disease and reduce costs.

Leverage telehealth and care coordination to bring health care closer to home, while improving the timeliness of care.

Hoeven worked to support the state as it developed its application for the program, which was submitted in November. A summary of North Dakota’s application can be found here.

“This nearly $200 million award is a tremendous step toward implementing North Dakota’s plan for creating a more accessible and robust health care system for our rural communities,” said Hoeven. “With nearly $500 million expected to be awarded to the state over the next five years, these funds will help address staffing needs over the long-term, open up new care opportunities for local residents and improve efficiency to reduce providers’ costs. Through efforts like these, we can improve the health and well-being of North Dakotans across our state and support the continued resiliency of our rural communities.”

As chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, Hoeven has worked to empower local communities to better meet their health care needs. This includes leveraging Rural Development loans and Critical Access Hospital (CAH) reimbursement to build state-of-the-art hospitals in communities like Rugby, Grafton and Hazen and improve health care access in those regions. Hoeven also advanced a multi-year effort to ensure the best possible health care for the residents of the Devils Lake region. This resulted in the agreement between Altru and CommonSpirit Health for Altru to acquire Devils Lake Hospital, benefiting both patients and health care providers.

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https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-cramer-announces-2025-service-academy-nominees,Senator Cramer Announces 2025 Service Academy Nominees,2025-12-26,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"BISMARCK, N.D. – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced his nominees to the U.S. service academies:

“One of the great joys of serving North Dakota in Congress is nominating some of our best young patriots for appointments to our service academies,” said Cramer. “After visiting with Cormac and Oliver, I am honored and grateful they are willing to answer the call to serve. They will be great ambassadors of our state.”

The nominees are as follows:

Cormac Dunnick – U.S. Military Academy (West Point). Cormac, son of Ev and Kendra Dunnick, competes in basketball and trapshooting. He is a member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and enjoys hunting, weight-lifting, and golf. Cormac is from Grand Forks and attends Red River High School.

Oliver Schaefer – U.S. Air Force Academy. Oliver, son of Mark and Kristi Schaefer, competes in track and field and cross country. He volunteers for the Serenity Therapeutic Equine Program and enjoys reading, military history, and board games. Oliver is from Minot and attends Des Lacs Burlington High School.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cramer-alsobrooks-curtis-merkley-introduce-bill-to-reauthorize-wildlife-crossings-program,"Cramer, Alsobrooks, Curtis, Merkley Introduce Bill to Reauthorize Wildlife Crossings Program",2025-12-22,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"BISMARCK, N.D. – The Wildlife Crossings Program provides grants for infrastructure improvements designed to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions. States and tribes can apply for grants to create safe paths for wildlife to cross roads and highways, often in the form of enlarged culverts, underpasses, and bridges. The program was authorized for five years in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which is set to expire next year.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, EPW T&I Ranking Member U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced legislation to reauthorize the program.

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law created the Wildlife Crossings Program to better protect people and animals from the dangers of vehicle collisions, especially in rural states like North Dakota where the two frequently cross paths,”said Cramer. “Our bill reauthorizes and expands the program to support infrastructure projects directly aimed at improving roadway safety. I’m grateful to Senator Alsobrooks for her leadership of this bipartisan effort, which will benefit critters and communities across the nation.”

“The Wildlife Crossings Program at the Federal Highway Administration provides a unique opportunity to protect both our wildlife and our drivers – it is a true win-win,” said Alsobrooks. “I am proud of the ongoing work in Maryland to develop a comprehensive plan to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions across our state and look forward to supporting Maryland’s efforts by reauthorizing this important program. I want to thank Senators Cramer, Merkley, and Curtis for their partnership on this legislation.”

“The North Dakota Department of Transportation supports the reauthorization and improvements to this discretionary grant, as it creates safer connections to communities and provides critical passage for wildlife across North Dakota’s transportation system,” said North Dakota Department of Transportation Director Ron Henke. “These crossings will enhance year-round recreation by providing safer travel for people of all ages looking to enjoy the outdoor activities that North Dakota has to offer.”

""Reauthorizing the Wildlife Crossings Program is a priority for state fish and wildlife agencies to enhance the movement of wildlife and ensure safer roads,” said Paul Johansen, Chief of the Wildlife Resources Section of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. “Every year, more than 1 million wildlife-vehicle collisions are reported across the United States, resulting in human and wildlife fatalities and costing billions of dollars in damages. We know there are proven solutions - such as culverts, bridges and tunnels that allow animals to migrate safely - to reduce these incidents and save lives. We applaud Senators Alsobrooks, Cramer, Merkley, and Curtis for the bipartisan introduction of this important bill.”

According to the Federal Highway Administration, each year there are over 1 million wildlife vehicle collisions. These accidents result in tens of thousands of injuries, hundreds of fatalities, and cost over $8 billion.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cramer-highlights-fair-access-to-banking-at-senate-banking-committee-hearing,Cramer Highlights Fair Access to Banking at Senate Banking Committee Hearing,2025-12-19,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"***Click here for video. Click here for audio***

BISMARCK, N.D. – As part of its commitment to improve economic opportunity and rebuild the economy, the U.S. Senate held a hearing on fair access to banking. During the hearing, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) highlighted his Fair Access to Banking Act, a response to the practice commonly referred to as debanking, in which banks discriminate against law-abiding industries and groups by refusing to provide financial services to them.

In preparation for the hearing, Cramer submitted a recent report on debanking released by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency last week. The report details debanking activities practiced by some of the largest banks in America.

Cramer began his questioning by asking Dean of the University of Wyoming College of Law Julie Hill, a banking and commercial law expert, about her earlier testimony regarding reputational risk, which is sometimes created by rumors and exploited by regulators, creating uncertainty.

“As bad as bad regulation is, bad regulators are worse, and as bad as regulators are, uncertainty is even harder,” said Cramer. “And the reality is that reputation comes from rumors and rumors of rumors as much as it does from bad regulation. If we don't put some guardrails on the debanking side, we leave decisions up to a variety of views, political views and otherwise, both in the industry and with the regulators.”

Hill described her research, explaining how in a study on reputation risk, it was almost always ancillary to other risky or illegal actions.

“So they find a bank that engaged in money laundering, and they say, ‘You shouldn't have engaged in money laundering, because it's illegal, and it causes reputation risk,’ or they find a bank that opened unauthorized accounts, and they say, ‘You shouldn't open unauthorized accounts, because it's illegal, and it causes reputation risk,’” said Hill. “In those instances, reputation risk isn't really doing anything. We might 100% agree that it exists, but regulators don't need that tool to stop that illegal behavior or that risky behavior.”

Hill continued, “Reputation risk becomes troublesome when it acts all on its own. So when it's just reputation risk, when you can't point to a violation of the law or increased financial risk, that's when regulators can use it just to punish people for political reasons. And in that case, it's not doing anything to make the financial industry safer. It's just politicizing the regulators, and that's what's wrong.”

Cramer also asked about the mixed signals sent by regulators because of a lack of guardrails. “Some people would submit to you that the regulators are sort of a useful excuse for bankers to do what they want anyway. And I might ask each of you, if you think there's some truth to that, because we're seeing bankers who, on one hand, especially large banks, have said, ‘we're never going to do that.’ And then, there's a change in the administration. They say, ‘we didn't really say that.’ And then, of course, they wait later, and then they go with political winds. Do you think it's the banks as much as regulators?”

Hill explained how the secrecy surrounding financial supervision as making “it very easy for both the regulators and the banks to point at the other and cast blame, and we never really know who's telling the truth.”

Cramer referred to his Fair Access to Banking Act, which would eliminate the ability of banks to use ambiguous terms such as reputational risk to discriminate against customers and penalize banks for denying services based on anything other than empirical data consistent with the banks’ established, impartial risk-management standards. He asked witnesses for their perspective on whether “a penalty, or enforcement mechanism help hold those banks accountable […] and provide for better guidance? […] Does prohibiting debanking imply a mandate to bank?”

Kathleen Sgamma, a Principal at Multiple-Use Advocacy which represents the oil and gas sector, responded by stressing the importance of regulators refraining from encouraging debanking “the biggest issue over the last five years from my industry has been making sure the regulators can’t use all these levers. To me, that's the really important part.”

Dean Hill concluded by explaining “banks benefit from government supervision and government insurance, which they pay for. So at least in theory, you should be pricing that into your bank model. But the truth of the matter is that there are customers, which it is just difficult to profitably bank. That can be people who overdraw their account or bad credit risks, or it could be marijuana businesses, where the compliance burden is just so high that when you price that into the cost of the account, it becomes prohibitive. I think that there is something of a line between de-banking and being forced to bank, but you've got to be careful about it, because...it will be very difficult, for a bank, to bank some customers.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/us-army-corps-of-engineers-releases-final-environmental-review-for-dapl,U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Releases Final Environmental Review for DAPL,2025-12-19,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"***Click here for video. Click here for audio***

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) issued its final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Dakota Access Pipeline. After months of illegal protests and costly bureaucratic delays, Judge James Boasberg issued a highly partisan ruling in March 2020 requiring the EIS.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, released a statement following its publication:

“This announcement of the Dakota Access Pipeline’s final Environmental Impact Statement has been nearly a decade in the making, for one EIS over a couple hundred yards. The Dakota Access Pipeline has already been safely operating for over eight years, which we all know in North Dakota. It moves millions of barrels of oil every single week, which just proves that an EIS is nothing more than a very expensive formality.”

“The opposition and delay from within the Obama and Biden administrations was never about the environment or public safety, frankly everyone knows that pipelines are the safest and most environmentally friendly way to move product. But it was kowtowing to a fringe of activists and serial litigants who have as their goal nothing more than killing fossil fuels. Requiring the EIS was pure regulatory abuse, in my view, but it does confirm what we already knew: the Dakota Access Pipeline is operating safely, and it gets Bakken crude to market cleaner, safer, and quicker than any other mode of transportation. Finalizing the EIS and finally granting the easement puts this waste of time in the rearview mirror, thank goodness, so we can finally focus on what really matters: American energy dominance.”

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of major federal actions, in this case an easement covering 0.21 miles of federal land under Lake Oahe. During the Obama administration, on July 25, 2016, the USACE published a final Environmental Assessment (EA) and a Mitigated Finding of No Significant Impact for the DAPL crossing of Lake Oahe. Litigation was filed against the USACE on this determination. The Obama administration allowed thousands of protesters to illegally reside on USACE land causing serious public safety issues and environmental damage, including 9.8 million pounds of garbage and hazardous materials cleanup at taxpayer expense. After President Donald Trump took office, the USACE granted the easement on Feb. 8, 2017, allowing construction to be completed. Judge Boasberg ordered a remanded EA on June 14, 2017, which was completed in Aug. 2018, but rejected by the court on March 25, 2020. The court then ordered a full EIS.

The DAPL has safely delivered crude oil since becoming operational on June 1, 2017. Nevertheless, several federal court decisions have directed further analysis under NEPA. This is the third NEPA analysis covering the roughly 1,000-foot reservoir crossing provided by the USACE in over nine years. The Record of Decision is expected 30 days after after EIS publication in the Federal Register.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-army-corps-issues-final-eis-for-dapl-recommending-pipeline-maintain-operation-and-easement-be-reinstated,"Hoeven: Army Corps Issues Final EIS for DAPL, Recommending Pipeline Maintain Operation & Easement Be Reinstated",2025-12-19,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven: Army Corps Issues Final EIS for DAPL, Recommending Pipeline Maintain Operation & Easement Be Reinstated

Senator Worked to Advance EIS, Sets Stage for Final Approval in Q1 2026

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released the final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). Hoeven spoke with Assistant Secretary of the Army Adam Telle this morning about the EIS, which recommends that:

The pipeline operations are maintained.

The easement to cross Lake Oahe be reinstated.

Hoeven has been working to move the EIS process forward, having repeatedly discussed this issue with Army Corps officials. Today’s recommendations align with the priorities Hoeven has advanced with the Corps and will provide certainty for energy production in North Dakota and the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara (MHA) Nation.

The Record of Decision for the pipeline, which is the final approval under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, may be issued 30 days after the EIS is published in the Federal Register and is expected to be released in the first quarter of 2026.

“The Dakota Access Pipeline has been operating safely for more than eight years, moving more than a half a million barrels a day of light, sweet crude from North Dakota’s oil patch,” said Hoeven. “That’s energy we don’t need to import from our adversaries, and this is the proven, safest method for moving the oil we need to market. That’s why we’ve stayed on the Corps throughout this process to ensure they reach the right decision for our economic and national security. Today’s EIS sets up the final approval for DAPL in Q1 2026 and provides needed certainty for the continued operation of this critical infrastructure.”

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https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cramer-introduces-legislation-to-prevent-discrimination-against-energy-sources,Cramer Introduces Legislation to Prevent Discrimination Against Energy Sources,2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"***Click here for video. Click here for audio.***

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the unprecedented anti-fossil energy initiatives from the Obama and Biden administrations, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, introduced legislation to prevent discrimination against fossil energy sources when awarding Defense Production Act (DPA) funds. The Strategic Resources Non-discrimination Act amends the DPA to ensure the Executive Branch does not disadvantage projects simply because certain sources of energy are utilized.

U.S. Representative Andy Barr (R-KY-06) introduced similar legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“The reality is that the Defense Production Act is, in fact, an essential tool to secure our supply chains,” said Cramer. “Critical supply chains are critical for a reason. Discrimination against energy sources under the DPA is rich with irony. It undermines the very mission of defending our nation’s security. Remember, this is the Defense Production Act and this is national security. Our Strategic Resources Non-discrimination Act removes that discrimination from the project selection process, preventing future administrations from weaponizing our national security against ourselves to meet their political objectives.”

“API supports legislative initiatives that don’t force the government to pick winners and losers in energy policy,” said Kristin Whitman, Senior Vice President of Federal Relations, American Petroleum Institute. “If the Defense Production Act is invoked to support our national security, all forms of energy should be freely available to power industrial efforts, including oil and natural gas. We look forward to working with all stakeholders in supporting a broader all-of-the-above energy policy.”

“The Strategic Resources Non-discrimination Act is a vital step toward restoring commonsense decision making to our national security supply chain programs,” said Jonathan Fortner, President & CEO, Lignite Energy Council. “America cannot afford to disqualify domestic projects simply because their production pathways involve fossil-based energy. Our defense readiness, energy independence, and resource security depend on evaluating projects based on performance, reliability and strategic value, not political preferences. North Dakota’s lignite industry and related fossil-based energy systems provide dependable power, critical minerals recovery opportunities and industrial feedstocks that strengthen domestic manufacturing and defense supply chains. This legislation ensures these resources can be fully considered under the Defense Production Act to meet our nation’s security needs with American energy and American production.”

""The North Dakota Petroleum Council strongly supports the Strategic Resources Non-discrimination Act, Senator Kevin Cramer's companion legislation to the Strategic Resources Non-discrimination Act introduced by Congressman Andy Barr in the U.S. House of Representatives,” said Ron Ness, President, North Dakota Petroleum Council. “This set of commonsense legislation ensures that federal programs designed to support America's strategic industrial capacity are evaluated on merit and national security needs rather than discriminatory bias against essential energy sources. For too long, federal agencies have been allowed to arbitrarily exclude projects simply because they utilize fossil fuels as part of their production process, regardless of how critical those projects are to our national defense and economic security. This bill rightfully prohibits that discrimination and ensures a level playing field where all American energy resources can compete fairly. North Dakota's oil and gas industry is vital to our nation's energy security and economic strength, and federal policy should reflect that reality rather than punish it. We commend Senator Cramer for his leadership on this important issue and urge swift passage of this legislation.""

This legislation is endorsed by the American Exploration and Production Council, the American Petroleum Institute, the Independent Petroleum Association of America, the Lignite Energy Council, and the North Dakota Petroleum Council.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/department-of-education-awards-10-million-to-nddpi,Department Of Education Awards $10 Million to NDDPI,2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Education announced an award of $10,000,000 to the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction through the Education Innovation and Research Program. This grant will allow the creation, development, implementation, replication, and scaling of entrepreneurial, evidence-based, field-initiated innovations to improve student achievement and attainment for high-need students.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-votes-lower-health-care-costs-expand-affordable-coverage-options,"Fedorchak votes to lower health care costs, expand affordable coverage options",2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) today voted in favor of the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, legislation to lower prescription drug costs, reduce premiums through Cost-Sharing Reductions (CSRs), expand Association Health Plans, protect access to employer-sponsored insurance, and empower patients to make better health care decisions.

“The so-called Affordable Care Act failed to live up to its name. Fifteen years later, Americans are struggling with skyrocketing premiums, fewer options, and a broken system defined by fraud and abuse,” Fedorchak said. “The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act begins unwinding this broken model and gives working Americans a real path to affordable coverage. Our goal is a health care system that puts patients first and meets their needs with greater access, more choices, lower costs, and good-quality care.”

The Democrat-led ‘Affordable Care Act’ has failed to deliver on its core promise of affordability. The average premium for single coverage is $9,325 per year, while the average premium for family coverage is nearly $27,000.

In 2026 alone, health insurance on the ACA marketplace is rising 26 percent. At the same time, insurance revenues have increased from $245 billion when Obamacare was first passed to $1.4 trillion in 2023. Moreover, a recent report from the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) found rampant waste, fraud, and abuse in the ACA marketplace. According to a JEC study, phantom enrollees now make up 35 percent of marketplace enrollees.

Specifically, the legislation:

Lowers Prescription Drug Costs

Saves taxpayers $1.9 billion by reducing health care premiums for millions of American workers.

Cracks down on middlemen by requiring pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to be transparent with employers, empowering small businesses to negotiate better deals and lower drug costs for workers.

PBMs would be required to report each drug dispensed by an employer’s health plan, at what cost each drug was dispensed, how many participants for each drug, and the amount of rebates or other fees that are incurred because of each drug.

Lowers premium costs through Cost-Sharing Reductions (CSRs)

Appropriates cost-sharing reduction payments to stabilize the broken system and individual market.

Reduces out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and copays.

Lowers ACA Marketplace premiums by 11 percent, around double the premium reduction compared to extending the Democrats’ temporary COVID credits.

Saves patients as much as $1,871 each year across the country and saves the American taxpayers $36.7 billion.

Reduces hidden premium increases caused by “silver loading.” Lowers costs for workers and small business owners who don’t qualify for subsidies.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cramer-appointed-to-serve-on-us-air-force-academy-board-of-visitors,Cramer Appointed to Serve on U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors,2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), chair of the Senate Armed Services (SASC) Airland Subcommittee, has been appointed to the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) Board of Visitors by Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD). The Board of Visitors offers advice and recommendations on USAFA operations, including morale and discipline, curriculum and instruction, academic methods, facilities, and fiscal affairs.

Cramer represents a state with two major active-duty Air Force bases, Grand Forks Air Force Base and Minot Air Force Base, and a vital Air National Guard base in Fargo which remotely operates MQ-9 Reapers.

“It’s an honor to be appointed as a member of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Board of Visitors,” said Cramer, who has an advanced degree from the University of Mary in Bismarck and serves on its Board of Trustees.“Our nation’s service academies train future officers to operate in any environment, and their commitment to excellence is what ensures the U.S. Air Force remains the greatest fighting force in the world. I look forward to working with fellow Board members to train and educate leaders who are prepared to meet today’s threats and excited to tackle tomorrow’s challenges.”

The Board of Visitors is comprised 17 members appointed by the President of the United States, the Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, Speaker of the House, House Minority Leader, the Chair and Ranking Member of SASC, or the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senate-passes-fy26-ndaa-advances-strategic-wins-for-north-dakota-national-security,"Senate Passes FY26 NDAA, Advances Strategic Wins for North Dakota, National Security",2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Defense bill boosts readiness and modernization, locks in wins for North Dakota’s military communities

***Click herefor media resources.***

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following negotiations between House and Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) members, the Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by a vote of 77 to 20. The bill passed the House overwhelmingly last week by a vote of 312 to 112 and now advances to the White House to be signed into law.

The NDAA returns the U.S. Department of War to its first Constitutional duty to protect the American people by securing the southern border, reforming the Pentagon’s budgeting and acquisition processes to better facilitate innovation, and focusing on a peace through strength approach.

Chair of the SASC Airland Subcommittee U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) said the annual defense authorization bill not only invests in national security, but it improves North Dakota’s defense capabilities and ecosystem.

“We’re confronting some of the most consequential national security challenges, I believe, since World War II,” said Cramer. “It’s unbelievable aggression from our adversaries, a rapidly changing global security landscape, for sure, and the need to rebuild our arsenal of democracy after decades of basically retreating from modernization. This NDAA really makes one thing unmistakably clear: the United States will deter our adversaries, and we will defend our freedoms.”

“For North Dakota, the legislation delivers big because, of course, North Dakota delivers big for national defense,” continued Cramer. “It upgrades the early warning radar at Cavalier Space Force Station, it invests heavily in Grand Forks Air Force Base’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities, and really important here, it funds Tranche 3 of the Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, a big part of modernization, now these are all missions that are operated right out of Grand Forks. It also advances what’s really the number one priority, it advances the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program. It’s a cornerstone of our nuclear deterrence strategy and has been for decades. Finally, it directs the Secretary of War to provide a plan on establishing a combat status identifier or equivalent for our Remote Piloted Aircraft crews operating in Fargo. This is something I’ve been working on for a long time. Really, at every turn, this legislation prioritizes modernization, it recognizes that those Remotely Piloted Aircraft are being piloted by people, it provides innovation, and American strength. Without it, we risk losing our edge, and that’s happening quickly. Our adversaries are modernizing very fast. With this legislation, we do put the safety and security of the American people first.”

The NDAA incorporates the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, authored by Cramer and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), which provides support for families of first responders who die from service-related cancers caused by exposure to carcinogens, ensuring their sacrifice is recognized and honored.

Through his role on SASC, Cramer secured funding authorization and policy language supporting several North Dakota-based missions to strengthen national security. The FY26 NDAA will authorize the following projects across the state:

Cavalier Space Force Station (SFS)

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.***

“Well, Cavalier is a very special asset in North Dakota and in our country,” said Cramer. “By mandating modernization of that very old PARCS radar at Cavalier, the National Defense Authorization Act really advances President Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense framework, and it sharpens America’s edge against today’s threats. It delivers the legislative backing that’s needed to push the missile defense network into its next generation, and we badly need it.”

This year’s bill provides $22 million to upgrade the Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System (PARCS) at Cavalier SFS. The system, which tracks more than half of all objects orbiting the Earth, will see enhanced capabilities in detecting intercontinental and sea-launched missile threats, as well as improved space domain awareness. Cavalier SFS will be central to President Donald Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense shield, which aims to expand U.S. missile defense across all domains—protecting the homeland against ballistic, cruise, hypersonic missile, and drone threats.

Cramer and U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) introduced the bicameralGOLDEN DOME Act. The bill works together with President Donald Trump’s executive order on deploying a next-generation missile defense shield, ensuring the United States has the tools it urgently needs to defend against emerging missile threats.

Grand Forks

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.***

“We all know, don’t we, that Grand Forks Air Force Base is way more than just a base,” said Cramer. “It’s really a hub for America’s global mission. The RQ-4 Global Hawks - and their intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities - keeps our nation secure and it keeps our reach unmatched really. This year’s National Defense Authorization Act ensures these missions stay strong, keeping North Dakota at the heart of our nation’s strategic and technological excellence.”

The legislation delivers major investments in Grand Forks Air Force Base’s (GFAFB) intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. The bill ensures the base can maintain inventory requirements for its RQ-4 Global Hawks, a critical component of the U.S. Air Force’s ISR operations.

Among the provisions, the bill allocates $10 million for the development of corrosion-resistant coatings produced by Technology Applications Group (TAG) in Grand Forks. TAG, a leader in magnesium surface protection and the inventor of the Tagnite anodize coating, will enhance the durability and longevity of key aircraft systems.

The NDAA also designates $500 million for Tranche 3 of the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. Cramer recently visited Vandenberg Space Force Base with Secretary of the Air Force Dr. Troy Meink, observing 21 satellites from SDA’s Tranche 1 ahead of their launch, underscoring North Dakota’s growing role in the nation’s cutting-edge space defense efforts.

Minot

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.***

“The Minot Air Force Base is really a symbol of North Dakota’s unmatched role in national defense,” said Cramer. “As the only base to host two of the three legs of the nuclear triad, the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles and the majestic B-52 bombers, it really stands as a powerful reminder to the nation, and to the world, especially to our adversaries, of America’s deterrent might. The National Defense Authorization Act supports long-range and land-based nuclear capabilities while also driving the modernization of our nuclear arsenal to safeguard our nation not just for the time being, but for many generations.”

The FY26 NDAA secures $3.8 billion to advance the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program, a cornerstone of the nation’s nuclear deterrence strategy. The Sentinel ICBM will replace the aging Minuteman III missiles, which have faithfully served for more than 50 years, ensuring that the United States maintains a modern and reliable nuclear arsenal. This funding builds on the $2.5 billion investment included in the budget reconciliation bill, signed into law on July 4, highlighting Congress’ bipartisan commitment to maintaining America’s strategic edge.

The NDAA also mandates a minimum ICBM count of 400, reinforcing the nation’s capability to deter nuclear aggression and protect the homeland. Beyond nuclear modernization, the legislation encourages the U.S. Air Force to establish wing-level additive manufacturing facilities. These state-of-the-art facilities will support both conventional and nuclear long-range strike platforms, improving readiness while reducing repair costs and turnaround times, a key step in maintaining a nimble and technologically advanced force.

Together, these measures position the United States to stay ahead of emerging threats, modernize its strategic deterrent, and ensure the men and women defending the nation have the tools and infrastructure they need to succeed.

Fargo

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.***

“Well, what could I say about the pride of Fargo? The Happy Hooligans are a shining example of American strength and ingenuity,” said Cramer. “The Reapers flying out of Fargo don’t just fly exceptionally well, they do that for sure, but they also deliver lethal attacks against enemy targets with great precision. The missions of the MQ-9s protect our homeland, support our allies across the globe, they provide incredible ISR, they demonstrate the precision, the skill, and dedication of all our armed forces. The airmen of the 119th operate on the front lines of modern warfare, and now their service is being properly acknowledged and supported.”

The North Dakota Air National Guard's 119th Wing, nicknamed the ""Happy Hooligans,"" plays a central role in the state’s growing mission in remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) operations. These airmen conduct critical missions in support of combat operations, providing real-time intelligence and precision capability to strengthen U.S. forces at home and abroad.

The FY26 NDAA includes report language, based on an amendment introduced by Cramer and U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV). It directs the Secretary of War to provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives no later than June 1, detailing the Department’s plan to establish a status identifier or equivalent recognition for such personnel, including a plan to communicate this information to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

North Dakota National Guard

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.***

“The men and women of North Dakota’s National Guard are the finest defenders of our state and frankly, for the nation,” said Cramer. “They are well known across the country and certainly in the Pentagon for their expertise and their incredible productivity. The NDAA supports the Jamestown National Guard Armory specifically, which makes sure our guardsmen there are ready, they’retrained, they’re prepared for every mission, whether at home or across the world.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-secures-ndaa-provisions-to-bolster-north-dakotas-nuclear-uas-and-national-guard-missions,"Hoeven Secures NDAA Provisions to Bolster North Dakota’s Nuclear, UAS and National Guard Missions",2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven Secures NDAA Provisions to Bolster North Dakota’s Nuclear, UAS and National Guard Missions

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, today issued the following statement after the Senate passed the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that authorizes a just under 4% pay raise for service members, streamlines the defense acquisition process and supports North Dakota’s military missions.

“Our service members are the best in the world, and with challenges around the globe, we need to keep them ahead of our adversaries. This year’s NDAA supports our troops – providing them with a pay raise and bolstering their missions,” said Hoeven. “Importantly for our state, we secured provisions to keep our nuclear modernization efforts moving forward at Minot Air Force Base; to advance our unmanned aerial systems (UAS), hypersonic missile testing and low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite missions in Grand Forks; and authorizations for the radar upgrades at Cavalier Space Force Station and for our National Guard Readiness Center in Jamestown. North Dakota’s missions are vital to the defense of our nation, and this NDAA ensures our state has the support necessary to continue leading the way.”

Hoeven worked to secure provisions in the legislation for North Dakota, including:

Grand Forks Region

RQ-4 Global Hawks: Maintains the current inventory requirements of Block 40 RQ-4 Global Hawks through September 30, 2030.

Roadmaps: Directs the Air Force to submit a comprehensive intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance roadmap & comprehensive bomber roadmap.

Space Development Agency (SDA): Authorizes $500 million for Tranche 3 of SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.

Corrosion Resistant Coatings: Authorizes $10 million for development of coatings produced by Technology Applications Group.

Minot Air Force Base

Sentinel Program: Authorizes $4.2 billion for the Sentinel program.

ICBMs: Sets minimum inventory requirements for Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) at no less than 400.

MH-139 Grey Wolf: Authorizes additional procurement of the MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopter to modernize the aging fleet of UH-1 helicopters.

Global Strike Command: Reinforces and codifies the importance of Air Force Global Strike Command as a major command in supporting United States nuclear deterrence requirements.

Cavalier Space Force Station

PARCS: Authorizes $22 million for radar modernization to improve detection of missile threats and space domain awareness capabilities of the Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization (PARCS) radar at Cavalier Space Force Station.

North Dakota National Guard

Future MQ-9 replacement: Includes Hoeven-language directing the Air Force to analyze the feasibility of developing and deploying a next-generation version of the MQ-9, capable of performing the missions currently conducted by the MQ-9 at a comparable scale.

Jamestown Readiness Center: Authorizes $5.2 million in planning and design for the facility.

-###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-senate-enr-committee-approves-legislation-to-maintain-wild-horses-at-theodore-roosevelt-national-park,Hoeven: Senate ENR Committee Approves Legislation to Maintain Wild Horses at Theodore Roosevelt National Park,2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven: Senate ENR Committee Approves Legislation to Maintain Wild Horses at Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Senator’s Legislation Moves to Full Senate for Consideration

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today secured approval by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee of his bipartisan legislation to maintain wild horses at Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP). The bill, which now goes to the full Senate for consideration, would require the Secretary of the Interior to:

Maintain a genetically-diverse herd of no fewer than 150 horses in TRNP’s South Unit.

The Department of the Interior is prohibited from removing horses from the park except as part of a plan to improve genetic diversity, in the case of an emergency or to protect public health and safety.

Within 120 days of the bill’s enactment, develop a plan to provide for the management of horses in the park.

On an annual basis, make available to the public information regarding the population, structure and health of the horse herd.

“Securing committee approval is an important milestone in our efforts to permanently preserve the wild horses at Theodore Roosevelt National Park,” said Senator Hoeven. “The horses are an essential aspect of the park’s experience, capturing the imagination of visitors and helping maintain the historic scene from Teddy Roosevelt’s time in North Dakota. We now bring our legislation to the full Senate, where we will continue our efforts to move the bill forward and secure its passage.”

The bipartisan legislation, introduced with Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.), comes as part of Hoeven’s efforts to ensure the National Park Service (NPS) maintains a herd of free-roaming horses at TRNP on a permanent basis. The senator previously:

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, passed a provision in annual funding legislation directing NPS to maintain “the historic scene commensurate with the historic herds during the period when President Theodore Roosevelt was a rancher in the area.”

Advanced this priority with NPS officials, including Midwest Regional Director Bert Frost.

On April 25, 2024, NPS formally terminated its proposed removal of horses at TRNP under the environmental assessment process initiated in 2022, and as a result, horses continue to be maintained at the park.

-###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-vatican-approves-altru-healths-acquisition-of-devils-lake-hospital,Hoeven: Vatican Approves Altru Health’s Acquisition of Devils Lake Hospital,2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven: Vatican Approves Altru Health’s Acquisition of Devils Lake Hospital

DEVILS LAKE, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the Vatican approved Altru Health’s acquisition of the Devils Lake Hospital. As part of his efforts to address community concerns and ensure quality health care in the region, Hoeven worked to secure the acquisition agreement between Altru and CommonSpirit Health to the benefit of both patients and health care providers.

“We appreciate Altru and CommonSpirit for joining with us in this effort and for reaching agreement on the future of health care at the Devils Lake Hospital. Altru does a tremendous job and will provide quality health care for the entire Lake Region,” said Senator Hoeven. “This is the result of tremendous collaboration. We thank Devils Lake Mayor Moe, Altru CEO Todd Forkel, Altru President Dr. Josh Deere, CommonSpirit Health Central Region President Tim Bricker, and everyone in the community who worked with us to identify solutions to the region’s health care needs and make this agreement a reality.”

“We are thrilled to welcome the Devils Lake hospital team to Altru; and to continue our commitment of strengthening care for the residents of the Lake Region,” shared Todd Forkel, CEO at Altru Health System. “This would not have been possible without the steadfast leadership of Senator Hoeven, Mayor Moe and others whose efforts ensure a bright future for health care in the community.”

“Reaching this point has taken patience, partnership and a shared focus on what's best for Devils Lake,” said Tim Bricker, President of CommonSpirit Health's Central Region. “We're thankful for Senator Hoeven's engagement and for the collaboration that helped bring this process to completion.”

Today’s announcement follows Hoeven’s multi-year effort to advance community-led solutions to ensure the best possible health care for the residents of the Devils Lake region. Hoeven repeatedly met and spoke with local leaders and officials from CommonSpirit and Altru on this issue, having:

Arranged three community meetings across 2023 and 2024 with local residents, regional leaders, including from Spirit Lake Tribe, and health care providers to gather feedback and address community concerns.

After the first community meeting, Hoeven met with CommonSpirit Health CEO Wright Lassiter III in Washington, D.C., where the senator secured a commitment to work towards a solution.

CommonSpirit subsequently undertook a $10 million renovation of the hospital’s emergency department.

Held more than a dozen discussions with CommonSpirit Health Regional President Tim Bricker, Altru Health CEO Todd Forkel and Devils Lake Mayor Jim Moe to advance this priority.

-###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-votes-strengthen-grid-reliability-prevent-premature-power-plant,"Fedorchak votes to strengthen grid reliability, prevent premature power plant closures",2025-12-16,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) today voted in support of legislation to strengthen long-term electric grid reliability and prevent federal policies from undermining dependable power generation. H.R. 3632, thePower Plant Reliability Act, gives states and grid operators tools to prevent premature power plant closures and requires advance notice of retirements.

“Our grid depends on having reliable, dispatchable generation that can meet peak demand. But throughout the country, power providers are being forced to shut down massive amounts of always-available power faster than they’re able to replace it,” Fedorchak said. “This bill strengthens reliability planning and empowers states to support a grid Americans can count on.”

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H.R. 3632 enhances section 207 of the Federal Power Act to allow states and grid operators to contest the closure of a power plant retirement if the closure jeopardizes electric reliability. It also requires power plants to provide a 5-year advance notice of their plans to retire, while providing exemption waivers under FERC approval.

Earlier this year, Fedorchak introduced the Baseload Reliability Protection Act, legislation that builds on H.R. 3632 to prohibit the retirement of critical baseload generators in regions identified as being at elevated or high risk of electricity shortfalls. Click here to learn more.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/dow-awards-more-than-39-million-contract-modification-for-space-operations-in-grand-forks,DOW Awards More Than $39 Million Contract Modification for Space Operations in Grand Forks,2025-12-16,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.***

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of War (DOW) announced an increase in the size of its contract with General Dynamics, a global aerospace and defense company, by $39,307,155. This contract modification will support the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) ground management, integration, operation, and sustainment efforts.

The supplemental funding will verify and validate PWSA system capability readiness and performance and raises the contract ceiling for materials. In addition to Grand Forks, work will also be performed in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Huntsville, Ala. The Space Development Agency (SDA) is the contracting organization. Grand Forks Air Force Base hosts SDA’s ground-based Operations Center North where PWSA satellites are remotely piloted.

“We all know that North Dakota is on the front lines of innovation for our national defense, and certainly, Grand Forks is central to the mission,” said U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), chair of the Senate Armed Services Airland Subcommittee and co-chair of the Senate Space Force Caucus. “This contract modification strengthens our military presence, it really invests directly in the Grand Forks Air Force Base community, and it ensures our warfighters get the advanced capabilities they need without any delay. As we know, there’s a lot of delay in this business, but we’re finally moving along quickly on modernization, acquisition, and deployment.”

The project is expected to be completed by August 2027. The cumulative face value of the contract is $1,085,940,546.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senate-veterans-affairs-committee-considers-cramer-bill-to-improve-access-to-care-for-rural-veterans,Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Considers Cramer Bill to Improve Access to Care for Rural Veterans,2025-12-15,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.***

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) examined U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Tim Sheehy’s (R-MT) legislation to improve veterans access to local care options, the Critical Access for Veterans Care Act. This bill would allow veterans living in rural America to seek health care services at local Critical Access Hospitals or Rural Health Clinics.

“The Community Care program literally can be a lifeline,” said Cramer.“[What] prevents it from being a lifeline as often as it ought to be is all of the roadblocks that get put up. […] After hearing from veterans and rural health care providers and leaders across North Dakota, I proposed a solution with Senator Sheehy to simplify access to the Critical Access network, whether it’s a Critical Access Hospital [or] Rural Health Clinic.”

The North Dakota Rural Health Association and a coalition of 22 rural healthcare providers across North Dakota submitted letters of support for Cramer’s legislation, writing “Far too long veterans have been stuck in a system where access has been overshadowed by bureaucratic procedure. This legislation offers a streamlined, practical approach which builds on existing infrastructure and recognized designations in rural health care to meaningfully improve veteran access to care.” The bill is also supported by the American Hospital Association, America’s Warrior Partnership, and the National Rural Health Association.

North Dakota Veteran and Critical Access Hospital CEO Marcus Lewis similarlysubmitted a letter of support for the bill, writing, “My circumstances reflect those of many rural veterans. I live more than three hours from the nearest VA hospital and work more than two hours from that facility. Yet within 50 miles of my home are three community healthcare facilities, including the one I lead, First Care Health. Despite the availability of this high-quality local care, I am currently paying out of pocket for needed therapy because accessing services through the Community Care Network has proven prohibitively difficult.”

Lewis concluded, “S.1868, the Critical Access for Veterans Care Act, is an important and necessary step toward addressing these long-standing inequities.”

Many of America’s veterans live in rural or highly rural areas and face major challenges to accessing quality and timely health care. North Dakota has one VA Medical Center in Fargo and eight Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) located in Bismarck, Devils Lake, Dickinson, Grafton, Grand Forks, Jamestown, Minot, and Williston.

There are 37 Critical Access Hospitals in towns across North Dakota, but only five of those communities also have a VA CBOC.

The bill would amend the VA MISSION Act of 2018 to create a new category under which care is required to be furnished through community providers, specifically for care sought by a veteran residing with 35 miles of the Critical Access Hospital or Rural Health Clinic.

“Our VA system effectively discriminates against our veterans compared to their neighbors, their non-veteran neighbors and friends, and family, by giving them less access to care that’s readily available,” said Cramer. “The goal is to give rural veterans access to local Critical Access Hospitals without the strings attached. […] I worry if the bill is watered down, quite honestly, that we turn the authority back over to the bureaucracy to decide.”

At the hearing, Dr. Thomas O’Toole, Acting Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Clinical Services for the Veterans Health Administration, said the agency strongly supports the intent of this legislation as sees the need for it to meet the needs of rural veterans.

“I think the sticking point, which you noted, is really how do we create some clarity in language and direction as it relates to prior authorization versus clinical necessity,” said Dr. O’Toole. “That can be achievable and we’re very much looking forward to working with you on how we get appropriate language to make that work.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-votes-streamline-federal-permitting-energy-producers-builders-and,"Fedorchak votes to streamline federal permitting for energy producers, builders, and water utilities",2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) voted in favor of the Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today (PERMIT) Act, a package of reforms to streamline permitting under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and provide clarity for energy producers, farmers, builders, and water utilities.

“North Dakota developers and energy producers need a permitting process that’s predictable, efficient, and rooted in common sense,” Fedorchak said. “By limiting endless lawsuits and eliminating duplicative reviews, the PERMIT Act gives our producers the certainty they need to move projects forward and lower costs—all while upholding the strongest environmental standards in the world.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-votes-streamline-permitting-interstate-natural-gas-pipelines,Fedorchak votes to streamline permitting for interstate natural gas pipelines,2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) today voted in support of H.R. 3668, the Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act, legislation to modernize the federal permitting process for interstate natural gas pipelines and strengthen American energy security.

“To keep the lights on, our showers hot, and prices affordable, we need more pipelines in our country,” Fedorchak said. “The federal government shouldn’t stand in the way of building this critical infrastructure with endless bureaucracy. This legislation strengthens FERC’s lead role and brings the coordination needed to speed up pipeline reviews so we can keep energy reliable, affordable, and made in America.”

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BACKGROUND:

Under current law, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is designated as the lead agency for coordinating environmental reviews and associated federal authorizations for interstate natural gas pipelines. Unfortunately, pipeline infrastructure approvals are often delayed due to poor coordination or inaction among states and federal agencies.

The Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act modernizes the federal permitting process for interstate natural gas pipelines by bolstering FERC’s role as the lead agency for environmental reviews and bringing state water quality reviews under its coordination.

Under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), the issuance or waiver of a state water quality certification is required for FERC to issue authorizations for natural gas pipelines. Some activist states have used this delegated authority to block interstate natural gas pipelines, regardless of the economic and security benefits they may bring, leading to energy shortages throughout the country, especially the Northeast.

In addition to strengthening FERC’s lead agency role, the bill further defines the process for participating federal and state agencies. The legislation requires participating agencies to comply with the schedules established by FERC. It also requires agencies to conduct reviews concurrently, and in conjunction with the NEPA project-related review by FERC.

Under H.R. 3668, instead of having to get a CWA Section 401 certification from a state, FERC would incorporate the water quality certification into its existing NEPA review, including terms or conditions proposed by states that are required for compliance with the CWA. Nothing in this legislation exempts projects from abiding by the CWA for any federal or state authorization.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/first-listening-session-on-wotus-held-by-cramer-trump-administration-in-bismarck,"First Listening Session on WOTUS Held by Cramer, Trump Administration in Bismarck",2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"BISMARCK, N.D. – Not even a Midwest winter storm could keep concerned landowners, developers, farmers, and ranchers from making their voices heard as U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) hosted key Trump administration officials at the first national Waters of the United States (WOTUS) listening session.

Cramer, chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, welcomed state, local, and federal officials to North Dakota’s Capital City for the event. Held in Bismarck State College’s light-filled Frank Bavendick Stateroom overlooking the scenic Missouri River, the listening session provided an opportunity for stakeholders to provide input on the new rule to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials. The WOTUS rule was announced last month and the EPA and the Army Corps described it as “a clear, durable, common-sense definition of WOTUS.”

“Thank you to the EPA and to the Army Corps for making this the very first WOTUS listening session on the new rule,” said Cramer. “We are in the heart here of the prairie pothole region and our hydrology has vaulted North Dakota to this leadership role on WOTUS. We know the issue really well. The Clean Water Act abides by the tenets of cooperative federalism by recognizing the responsibility of the states to address water pollution and states are tasked with primacy. Past administrations have completely ignored states’ rights. We are going to get this rule right. This is the legal prescription of clarity we’ve needed for years, and I'm grateful that the Trump administration, unlike the Biden administration, crafted a rule within the confines of the law. Farmers, developers, and landowners shouldn’t need to hire expensive consultants to determine [jurisdictional waters]. Any definition of WOTUS must not impact state's primary authority over their water. And I look forward to working on this rule, and making it a durable one that will stand the test of time, and one that the Supreme Court doesn't have to fix for us every few years.”

“I am honored to join Senator Cramer and other leaders from North Dakota for the first national public listening session to gather input on our proposed definition of waters of the United States,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Jess Kramer. “This rule would fully implement the clear direction provided by the U.S. Supreme Court in Sackett v. EPA and reduce red tape to accelerate economic prosperity while protecting water quality under the Clean Water Act and state authorities. As someone who grew up in rural Wisconsin, I am excited to hear local perspectives as EPA and Army work to finalize a clear and durable definition of WOTUS that will benefit North Dakotans, including farmers, ranchers, energy producers, developers, and landowners.”

The proposed rule makes important clarifications to align WOTUS with the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Sackett v. EPA, rightsizing federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act (CWA). Specifically, it defines critical terms like “relatively permanent,” “continuous surface connection” and “tributary” to prevent future administrations from implementing expansive definitions. Prior WOTUS rules assumed authority outside the intent of the CWA, unnecessarily complicating the process of determining whether a water qualified as a WOTUS. The Trump administration’s proposed WOTUS rule would provide needed clarity, reinforce state’s rights, and adhere to the Sackett decision while still protecting water quality.

Today’s listening session is part of the EPA and Army Corps’ public outreach as the administration gathers input from stakeholders across the country ahead of the rule’s finalization. Cramer, EPA, and the Army Corps encourage the public to make their voices heard by participating in listening sessions and submitting public comments. The WOTUS rulemaking public comment page can be found here; the public comment period ends on Jan. 5.

Cramer and the Trump administration have actively worked to provide WOTUS certainty. In March, Cramer joined EPA for its announcement of WOTUS guidance to assist landowners as it began the rulemaking process. At the event, he highlighted North Dakota farmers, ranchers, and landowners who “have always managed their water with the same respect as their land.”

At his confirmation hearing before EPW, Cramer questioned Administrator Lee Zeldin on the role of cooperative federalism and the prescriptiveness of the Sackett decision. During the Biden administration, Cramer repeatedly questioned witnesses at EPW hearings on the Biden WOTUS rule.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/president-trump-signs-cramer-bill-honoring-1980-miracle-on-ice-hockey-team,President Trump Signs Cramer Bill Honoring 1980 Miracle on Ice Hockey Team,2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"***Click here for media resources.***

BISMARCK, N.D. – During a ceremony at the White House today, President Donald Trump signed U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer’s (R-ND) bipartisan, bicameral Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act into law. The legislation honors the 1980 U.S. Men’s Olympic Hockey Team and its victory over the four-time reigning champion Russian Olympic Hockey Team in the Lake Placid Olympic Games. It awards the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor Congress can bestow on civilians, to recognize their extraordinary achievement. U.S. Representative Pete Stauber (R-MN-08) introduced the Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.

***Click here for audio***

“The Miracle on Ice was such an incredible display of American excellence, of our grit, and of course of our patriotism,” said Cramer. “In the face of the challenges America was experiencing at the time, which were significant, it was especially important, and it was exactly the miracle we needed as a nation. I’m really grateful to my friend Pete Stauber for his leadership in the House, this whole thing was his idea. As a hockey player, a hockey fan, and a patriotic Minnesotan, Pete really led the charge on this, and it was my honor to join him and take the lead in the Senate. And of course [I’m grateful] to the many Senators that got on board, it was not a hard sell. It was great to get this across the finish line and of course to see President Trump sign it.”

“But more importantly, I’m really grateful we, as a nation, can remember and honor the members of this spectacular team, these incredible American patriots, these Midwesterners in many cases, and celebrate 45 years later, at a time when America could use another miracle, another boost, another moment, or event that brings us together,” continued Cramer. “These gold medals as they’re presented to the three locations on behalf of these great American icons –it’s just a great moment, and I’m glad I can be a part of it. I’m grateful to my friend Pete, to my friend President Trump, and mostly grateful to that incredible team for inspiring us 45 years ago and so many, many, many more times since.”

“This was one of the biggest moments that I’ve ever seen in sports,” said President Trump. “These are the men who gave us one of the most storied athletic wins of all time. It's called the ‘Miracle on Ice.’”

The game took place against the backdrop of political division, economic shifts, and global conflict. The Cold War loomed large, American hostages were being held in Iran, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan had stoked international anxiety, and the United States was in the midst of a painful recession at home. Reviving American patriotism and unity, the Miracle on Ice transcended the rink where 20 amateur hockey players battled for victory.

The 1980 American team was the youngest in the Olympics and consisted of amateur collegiate hockey players, including former University of North Dakota hockey player Dave Christian. Meanwhile, the juggernaut Russian team was an international force, favored to easily win gold after not having lost an Olympic hockey game since 1968. Despite being the underdog in the semifinal game, the Americans achieved the impossible and mounted a comeback in the third period to beat the Russians 4-3.

Counting down the seconds at the end of the game, ABC sportscaster Al Michaels exclaimed, “Do you believe in miracles? YES!” Team USA advanced to clinch the gold medal against Finland, and their improbable, miraculous win over the Soviet Union team forever became known as the Miracle on Ice, with this year marking the 45th anniversary.

Members of the team gathered at the U.S. Capitol before heading to the White House where President Trump signed the Congressional Gold Medal Act into law. Medals will be awarded to the Lake Placid Olympic Center in New York, the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in Minnesota, and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado.

Cramer penned an op-ed in The Hill with U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), urging their Senate colleagues to pass the legislation to honor this historic team. Along with U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Cramer hosted members of the team to Capitol Hill for a lunch with Senate colleagues.

Cramer’s bill unanimously passed the Senate in September and was supported by over 70 senators. Cosponsors include U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jim Banks (R-IN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), John Boozman (R-AR), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Curtis (R-UT), Steve Daines (R-MT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), John Hoeven (R-ND), Jon Husted (R-OH), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Jim Justice (R-WV), John Kennedy (R-LA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), James Lankford (R-OK), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Ashley Moody (R-FL), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), John Thune (R-SD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Todd Young (R-IN).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/president-trump-signs-north-dakota-delegation-bill-to-repeal-disastrous-biden-era-north-dakota-rmp,"President Trump Signs North Dakota Delegation Bill to Repeal Disastrous, Biden-Era North Dakota RMP",2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"***Click here for audio.***

BISMARCK, N.D. – During a ceremony at the White House, President Donald Trump signed a historic resolution to unwind the awful Biden-era Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Resource Management Plan (RMP) for North Dakota. The resolution was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by North Dakota U.S. Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) and in the Senate by U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND). This bill initiates the process for BLM to replace the RMP while preventing the bureaucracy from issuing a substantially similar plan in the future.

“This signing was historic, it reinforces the multiple use mandate the Biden Bureau of Land Management blatantly ignored,” said Cramer. “I mean let’s face it, it’s not a complicated term. Multiple use means multiple use, it doesn’t mean single use, it doesn’t mean a withdrawal of lands from use at all, it means multiple use. Our landowners, our energy producers, our ranchers, our farmers, really everyone who uses public lands understands this and they can celebrate now knowing the plan has been thrown out.”

“I’m looking forward to the Trump administration writing a new one that respects the mandate that Congress gives it, that doesn’t just ignore it and do whatever the heck they want,” Cramer continued. “I look forward to working with the Trump administration on writing a new one that does all of that. I also just want to congratulate Congresswoman Fedorchak for taking the lead on this. She brought it to her colleagues in the House, she was persuasive, as always, makes the case and makes the argument. As a freshman member in her very first year serving on the Energy and Commerce Committee, I could not be more honored to be her partner in all of this. This is a big day for North Dakota.”

North Dakota Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak with President Donald Trump and North Dakota Senator John Hoeven

The Federal Land Policy and Management Act instructs the BLM’s management of public lands. RMPs are the plans outlining the agency’s management of its acreage within individual areas. In North Dakota, the BLM is the landlord of 58,500 surface acres and 4.1 million acres of mineral estate. BLM lands are supposed to be managed under a “multiple use” framework, meaning oil, gas, coal, grazers, and recreationists alike can use the land in a sustainable manner.

The Biden administration released its final RMP for North Dakota in August 2024, and adopted it in January without incorporating changes the State of North Dakota and its Congressional delegation requested. Instead, the RMP prohibited coal leasing on over four million acres, or nearly 99% of federal coal acreage in the state. It also blocked 213,000 acres, or 44%, of federally owned fluid mineral acreage, reducing state revenues and weakening American energy dominance. Economic data provided by the state of North Dakota estimates the state would have been deprived of $34 million annually in oil and gas royalties and tax revenue if the Biden RMP would have been implemented.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/remains-of-north-dakota-world-war-ii-veteran-officially-identified,Remains of North Dakota World War II Veteran Officially Identified,2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"***Click here for audio statement.***

BISMARCK, N.D. – The Pentagon announced it identified the remains of North Dakotan U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Irvin C. Ellingson, 80 years after his aircraft was shot down during a combat mission to Tokyo, Japan. While Ellingson survived the crash, he was held as a prisoner of war and perished in the Tokyo Military Prison during a fire.

Near the end of World War II, 62 American service members were held captive in Tokyo. Ellingson served as a radar observer aboard a Boeing B-29 ""Superfortress"" bomber assigned to 878th Bombardment Squadron, 499th Bombardment Group.

Ellingson will be buried in his hometown, Dahlen, N.D., on June 20.

“Staff Sgt. Irvin C. Ellingson gave his life in World War II fighting for our freedom, obviously as Americans, but really for the freedom of the world,” said U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND). “It was such an incredible time in our history, and after all these years, 80 years nearly, he’s finally returning home. It’s heartwarming and it’s cause for gratitude for his family’s tireless work in identifying his remains. I just pray this gives them some closure, but more importantly even than closure at this point is that they’re able to bring him home and then to celebrate the incredible life and sacrifice of their hero, of our hero. His sacrifice is similar to the many, many that were made by so many people during World War II. We can’t ever forget any of them, but Irvin’s courage really reminds us of the extraordinary prices paid for by the Greatest Generation for our liberties. It’s why their legacies are going to endure forever, and it’s to be modeled, it’s to be emulated, it’s to be celebrated, it’s to be grateful for.”

U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Irvin C. Ellingson

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) said Ellingson’s name is recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the National Cemetery of the Pacific, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in Honolulu. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he is now accounted for.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-cortez-mastos-badges-act-to-strengthen-indian-country-public-safety-unanimously-passes-senate,"Hoeven, Cortez Masto’s Badges Act to Strengthen Indian Country Public Safety Unanimously Passes Senate",2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven, Cortez Masto’s Badges Act to Strengthen Indian Country Public Safety Unanimously Passes Senate

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.) today announced that the Bridging Agency Data Gaps & Ensuring Safety (BADGES) for Native Communities Act, bipartisan legislation he introduced with Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-N.V.), Ruben Gallego (D-A.Z.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) to strengthen Tribal public safety, unanimously passed the Senate. This legislation would support the recruitment and retention of Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) law enforcement officers, bolster federal missing persons resources, and give Tribes and states tools to combat violence.

“The BADGES for Native Communities Act will help improve and increase resources for Tribal law enforcement,” said Senator Hoeven. “By enabling the BIA to conduct its own background checks on law enforcement applicants, this legislation gives Tribes critical tools to address staffing shortages. This not only enhances public safety within Tribal communities but also helps ensure offenders are held accountable, empowering Tribes to better protect their citizens and uphold justice.”

“Since my time as Nevada’s Attorney General, I have worked closely with law enforcement to keep families safe in every corner of the Silver State, including in Indian Country,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “It is past time to get this bipartisan legislation across the finish line to provide Tribes with the resources they need to protect their communities. I urge my colleagues in the House of Representatives to quickly send this bill to the President’s desk.”

Specifically, the BADGES for Native Communities Act would:

Allow the BIA to conduct its own background checks for law enforcement officer applicants to improve officer recruitment.

Increase Tribal access to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) by requiring Tribal facilitators to conduct ongoing Tribal outreach and serve as a point of contact for Tribes and law enforcement agencies, as well as conduct training and information gathering to improve the resolution of missing persons cases.

Require a report on Tribal law enforcement needs, including staffing, replacement and repairs for corrections facilities, infrastructure and capital for Tribal police and court facilities, and emergency communication technology.

Establish a grant program to support states, Tribes, and Tribal organizations in the coordination of efforts related to missing and murdered persons cases and sexual assault cases.

Evaluate federal law enforcement evidence collection, handling, and processing crucial to securing conviction of violent offenders.

-###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-joins-wotus-listening-session-working-to-advance-rule-that-protects-private-property-rights,"Hoeven Joins WOTUS Listening Session, Working to Advance Rule that Protects Private Property Rights",2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven Joins WOTUS Listening Session, Working to Advance Rule that Protects Private Property Rights

Senator Worked to Defund Expansive WOTUS Rules, Protect Against Unworkable Mandates & Permitting Requirements

BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today joined a first-in-the-nation listening session with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Assistant Administrator for Water Jess Kramer, hosted by Senator Kevin Cramer, on the EPA’s proposed “waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule. The event comes as part of the official rulemaking process, giving North Dakotans the opportunity to provide direct feedback on this consequential regulation, which seeks to restore the traditional WOTUS definition to protect private property rights and respect the role of states in managing water resources within their borders. Specifically, rule will:

Reverse the expanded, overreaching WOTUS definition, which was advanced by both the Obama and Biden administrations.

These rules sought to expand federal regulatory authority beyond the limits established under the Clean Water Act.

This would have imposed unworkable mandates, burdensome new permitting requirements and compliance costs on landowners, energy and agriculture producers and other industries.

Bring the WOTUS rule in compliance with the Supreme Court’s Sackett v. EPA ruling from 2023.

Reduce the regulatory burden, provide certainty to a wide range of industries and limit federal authority to navigable waters, consistent with the Clean Water Act.

The senator has been working with the Trump administration to advance this new rulemaking, similar to his efforts to establish the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) during President Trump’s first term.

Hoeven also previously led the effort to defund the expansive WOTUS rule and prevent its implementation.

“Considering the tremendous impact the Obama and Biden-era WOTUS rules would have had on our state’s farmers, ranchers, energy producers and construction industry, it makes sense for the EPA to hold its first listening session on this new rule right here in North Dakota,” said Hoeven. “This is about protecting private property rights, pushing back on federal overreach and ensuring the EPA complies with the law. That means restricting WOTUS to navigable waters and not allowing federal authority to be expanded to areas like ditches, intermittent waters and other water resources that fall under the authority of state and local governments. That’s exactly what I’ve been working to achieve since I first led the effort to defund the expansion of WOTUS under the Obama administration.”

Today’s meeting follows Hoeven’s work to push back against regulatory overreach by the Biden and Obama administrations. His efforts include:

Authoring and securing provisions to defund the 2015 Obama WOTUS rule implementation in 2016 and 2017.

Helping introduce a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval, which Congress passed, to rescind the expanded WOTUS rule. The resolution was subsequently vetoed by President Biden.

Helping introduce legislation in the 117th Congress to codify the first Trump administration’s NWPR, which replaced the 2015 Obama WOTUS rule.

Joining his colleagues in submitting an amicus brief in Sackett v. EPA, urging the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) to preserve state authority to regulate local waters and lands.

Pressing the EPA and the Army Corps to suspend rulemaking on WOTUS until SCOTUS completed its consideration of Sackett v. EPA.

-###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-introduces-high-capacity-grid-act-modernize-americas-transmission,Fedorchak introduces High-Capacity Grid Act to modernize America’s transmission system,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) today introduced the High-Capacity Grid Act, legislation to modernize America’s transmission system by requiring the use of best-available transmission conductors for new interstate transmission lines and rebuilds.

“America cannot afford to build yesterday’s grid for tomorrow’s needs,” Fedorchak said. “Forecasts indicate the United States will need at least 100 GW of new power in the next five years—more than we’re anticipated to bring online. To meet this record demand, we need to optimize our existing infrastructure, which is exactly what the High-Capacity Grid Act does. Directing FERC to establish a best-available transmission conductor standard will strengthen energy reliability, maximize line capacity, improve wildfire resilience, and save billions of dollars in new transmission line costs for Americans.”

The cost of transmission is the biggest driver of increasing utility rates. According to a Brattle study and the Energy Information Administration, transmission costs have increased 181 percent since 2005. At the same time, generation costs have decreased 35 percent.

“Advanced conductors can carry double the electricity of traditional power lines. Using this new technology in every possible application is essential to meeting demand at the lowest possible cost,” Fedorchak added.

Utilities often rebuild or upgrade lines using outdated, inefficient conductors, even when far superior technologies are available. This leads to:

Underbuilt lines that require additional upgrades only a few years later.

Higher temperatures and line sag, increasing vegetation-contact and wildfire risk.

Slower project timelines and frequent line losses, increasing costs for Americans.

The High-Capacity Grid Act directs FERC to establish a best-available transmission conductor standard, requiring utilities to use the highest-capacity, highest-efficiency, and lowest-sag commercially available conductors for interstate transmission.

The High-Capacity Grid Act amends Section 205 of the Federal Power Act to:

Define Best-Available Transmission Conductor: A best-available conductor must provide the greatest feasible capacity at a given voltage, deliver the highest electrical efficiency, and mitigate thermal sag.

Apply the Standard to All Covered Projects: Includes new FERC-jurisdictional lines and upgrades, modifications, replacements, or reconductoring of existing lines.

Establish Cost-Recovery Presumptions: Utilities are precluded from recovering the costs of non-best-available conductors through consumers’ electric bills, unless the utility can clearly demonstrate that a lesser conductor is the best available in their specific context.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-joins-president-trump-white-house-bill-signing,Fedorchak joins President Trump at the White House for bill signing,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) joined President Trump at the White House today for the signing of her joint resolution, H.J. Res. 105, to overturn the Biden administration’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Resource Management Plan (RMP) for North Dakota.

“The Biden administration failed to recognize North Dakota’s record of responsible energy development and environmental stewardship when developing its resource management plan for our state,” said Fedorchak. “If not reversed, this plan would have crushed coal production and eliminated 12,000 jobs in our state. Thank you, President Trump, for signing my legislation into law and standing with innovation, American workers, and the families who power this nation.”

Image

Finalized by the Biden administration in its very last week in office, the land use plan would have significantly restricted the state’s ability to access and develop its federally managed mineral resources by closing leasing on more than four million acres (nearly 99 percent) of federal coal acreage and 213,000 acres (44 percent) of federally owned fluid mineral acreage.

Image

The bill passed the House in September in a 215-211 vote. In October, it passed the Senate in a 50-45 vote.

Click here to watch her speech on the House Floor supporting the legislation.

Click here to read more about the bill.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-votes-legislation-strengthen-reliability-and-secure-americas-energy,Fedorchak votes for legislation to strengthen reliability and secure America’s energy supply chains,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) today voted in support of two bills that prioritize long-term energy reliability and secure U.S. supply chains to help lower costs. H.R. 3628, the State Planning for Reliability and Affordability Act, directs states to prioritize reliability and affordability in power generation planning. H.R. 3638, the Electric Supply Chain Act, requires regular, transparent assessments of the supply chains that keep the electric grid running.

“If we want to be serious about reliable and affordable power, we need to identify the vulnerabilities in the system and make sure states are planning for enough dependable, dispatchable generation,” Fedorchak said. “These bills put reliability and affordability first and give policymakers the tools to make smarter, more responsible energy decisions.”

State Planning for Reliability and Affordability Act:

Utilities, co-ops, and municipal power undergo an exhaustive process to plan investments in new generation and transmission facilities to keep the lights on at an affordable price for hardworking households. Recently, many Democrat-led states have manipulated this planning process, using renewable portfolio standards to fulfill an anti-fossil fuel agenda by requiring utilities to prematurely shut down baseload power plants and use intermittent, weather-dependent sources of energy like wind and solar. These policies raise costs, weaken our ability to onshore manufacturing, and ignore the real-world impacts on reliability and affordability.

H.R. 3628 directs state Public Utility Commissions to consider requirements for utilities to have sufficient generation from reliable and dispatchable energy sources, like natural gas, nuclear, coal, and hydropower, over a 10-year period.

Electric Supply Chain Act:

The bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct periodic reviews of vulnerabilities, shortages, or disruptions affecting transformers, transmission equipment, critical minerals, and other components essential to the bulk power system. It also requires DOE to consult closely with utilities, grid operators, manufacturers, and other industry experts and provide Congress with up-to-date, actionable information.

As our grid faces real strain from the premature retirement of dependable baseload power and historic new demand from manufacturing and advanced technologies, this legislation gives policymakers tools and data to protect reliability and keep energy affordable for families, farmers, and businesses.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cramer-to-host-trump-administration-officials-for-first-in-nation-wotus-listening-session,Cramer to Host Trump Administration Officials for First in Nation WOTUS Listening Session,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have announced a proposed rule, Updated Definition of Waters of the United States (WOTUS). The proposed rule clarifies definitions after the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Sackett v. EPA limited the federal government’s jurisdiction over water according to the Clean Water Act.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, will host the U.S. EPA Office of Water and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the nation’s first WOTUS listening session in Bismarck on Friday, Dec. 12.

“North Dakotans know the impacts of a good WOTUS rule better than anyone,”said Cramer. “This listening session is a great opportunity for North Dakotans to help craft the final rule and bring their feedback directly to EPA and Army Corps officials. I encourage North Dakotans to make their voices heard at the listening session and by submitting public comments throughout the rulemaking process.”

Cramer has been a longtime supporter of a clear, durable WOTUS rule throughout his time in Congress. In March, he joined EPA at its announcement of the pre-rulemaking guidance. At the event, he highlighted the North Dakota farmers, ranchers, and landowners who “have always managed their water with the same respect as their land.”

Earlier this spring, he questioned Administrator Zeldin on the role of cooperative federalism, at his nomination hearing. During the Biden administration, Cramer repeatedly questioned witnesses at EPW hearings on the Biden WOTUS rule. Cramer also sent a letter in June 2023 calling on the Biden administration to provide a “clear and swift change in administrative direction” regarding its then-pending WOTUS rule to adhere to the Supreme Court’s ruling. In April 2022, Cramer joined 200 of his Congressional colleagues in filing an amicus brief supporting Sackett petitioners. Additionally, in February 2022, Cramer and his Republican EPW colleagues sent a letter requesting the Biden administration halt its plans to finalize its WOTUS rule until the Supreme Court decided Sackett. Weeks earlier, he joined a related effort alongside Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-of-transportation-awards-over-200000-to-north-dakota-airports,"U.S. Department of Transportation Awards Over $200,000 to North Dakota Airports",2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced an award of $202,000 through the Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) program for projects at two North Dakota airports. The funding will be distributed as follows:

$137,001 to the Grafton Municipal Airport for a 4,828 square foot hangar.

$64,999 to the Harvey Municipal Airport for a 5,625 square foot hangar.

The AIG Program was established by the fully-paid-for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to provide airports with funding for modernization and safety projects. Since its creation, airports in North Dakota have received over $50 million in program funding.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-joins-president-trump-at-white-house-as-resolution-rescinding-biden-era-resource-management-plan-for-north-dakota-is-signed-into-law,Hoeven Joins President Trump at White House as Resolution Rescinding Biden-Era Resource Management Plan for North Dakota Is Signed into Law,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven Joins President Trump at White House as Resolution Rescinding Biden-Era Resource Management Plan for North Dakota Is Signed into Law

ND Delegation Sponsored Resolution to Help Ensure Access to State’s Taxpayer-Owned Energy Resources

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven joined President Donald J. Trump at the White House for the signing of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution he sponsored with Senator Kevin Cramer and Representative Julie Fedorchak to overturn the Biden administration’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Resource Management Plan (RMP) for North Dakota. The Biden-era RMP would have closed off leasing to 45 percent of potential federal oil and gas acreage and nearly 99 percent of federal coal acreage in the state.

Accordingly, Hoeven, along with the North Dakota delegation, introduced and worked to pass the CRA resolution of disapproval, which rescinds the RMP and helps ensure access to taxpayer-owned energy resources in North Dakota.

“This Biden-era rule was an egregious overreach that would have severely locked down future energy development in North Dakota. I appreciate Senator Cramer and Representative Fedorchak for our shared efforts to advance and pass this CRA resolution, which preserves access to the vast federal coal, oil and gas acreage in our state,” said Hoeven “We welcome President Trump signing our resolution and putting an end to another of the Biden administration’s harmful policies. This comes as part of our continued work to push back on the Green New Deal-style policies of the Biden era, support a more robust energy industry in North Dakota and help advance U.S. energy dominance.”

-###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-remains-of-nd-wwii-servicemember-irvin-c-ellingson-pow-killed-in-tokyo-military-prison-fire-identified-by-dpaa,"Hoeven: Remains of ND WWII Servicemember Irvin C. Ellingson, POW Killed in Tokyo Military Prison Fire, Identified by DPAA",2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven: Remains of ND WWII Servicemember Irvin C. Ellingson, POW Killed in Tokyo Military Prison Fire, Identified by DPAA

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, today issued the following statement regarding the service of U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Irvin C. Ellingson, a Dahlen, North Dakota native who served during World War II. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that the remains of Ellingson, 25, were accounted for on June 17, 2025.

In the spring of 1945, Ellingson served as a radar observer aboard a Boeing B-29 “Superfortress” bomber assigned to 878th Bombardment Squadron, 499th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy). During a combat mission to Tokyo, Japan, the aircraft was shot down over Chiba Prefecture. Ellingson survived the crash but was captured and held as a prisoner of war. He lost his life on May 26, 1945 in the Tokyo Military Prison during a fire.

“Thank you to the DPAA for their work in identifying Staff Sgt. Ellingson. We must never forget the courage and sacrifice made by our servicemembers during WWII,” said Hoeven. “Irvin, who was killed along with thousands of other Americans during the war, continues to remind us of the bravery of the Greatest Generation. May we always honor Irvin’s sacrifice and join his family, his fellow veterans and all North Dakotans in commemorating his life and service.”

Hoeven helped advance legislation in 2014 that created the DPAA, and since that time, he has worked to support the agency as it seeks to locate and bring home the remains of missing service personnel. Additionally in 2021, Hoeven along with several of his Senate colleagues sent a letter to the Defense Secretary requesting that the Department of Defense allow DPAA to disinter U.S. servicemember remains at the Manila American Cemetery. Ultimately, the DPAA was able to conduct the disinterment that led to the identification of Ellingson and his fellow servicemembers. The DPAA identified Ellingson’s remains using anthropological and DNA analysis and other circumstantial evidence. Ellingson’s name is listed on the Courts of the Missing at the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, where a rosette will be placed next to his name to mark that he’s been identified. He will be buried in his hometown on June 20, 2026.

-###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-supports-health-care-reforms-to-put-more-money-directly-in-consumers-pockets,Hoeven Supports Health Care Reforms to Put More Money Directly in Consumers’ Pockets,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven Supports Health Care Reforms to Put More Money Directly in Consumers’ Pockets

WASHINGTON. – Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement after supporting the Health Care Freedom for Patients Act, legislation introduced by Senators Mike Crapo, chair of the Senate Finance Committee and Bill Cassidy, M.D., chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee to lower health care costs and provide money directly to families for health care needs, instead of insurance companies.

“Giving billions of taxpayer dollars to health insurance companies to mask the true cost of Obamacare is not sustainable and is inflating the cost of health care for everyone – it’s clear that reforms are needed,” said Hoeven. “Instead of providing these dollars to insurance providers, this legislation gives money directly to individuals and families, so they have more control over their own health care decisions.”

Specifically, the legislation:

Sends money to patients, not insurance companies;

Americans on bronze and catastrophic plans would access these dollars in a Health Savings Account (HSA).

Funds cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments to lower insurance premiums;

Empowers Americans to choose the insurance plan that fits their needs by increasing access to low-cost catastrophic plans;

Ensures assistance goes to American patients by requiring citizenship or immigration-status verification.

The original Obamacare tax credits will remain, however this legislation is an alternative to extending the enhanced COVID-era tax credits provided to insurance providers that have failed to lower health insurance premiums.

-###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-applauds-fy26-ndaa-passage,Fedorchak applauds FY26 NDAA passage,2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) released the following statement after voting in favor of S. 1071, The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026:

“This is a strong defense bill that reinforces peace through strength and helps maintain America’s edge by giving our service members the tools, training, and support they deserve,” Fedorchak said. “It strengthens our nuclear mission at Minot, builds on North Dakota’s growing footprint in space operations at Grand Forks and Cavalier, and delivers meaningful quality-of-life improvements for military families.""

North Dakota wins in the NDAA:

The bill authorizes full funding for ongoing nuclear modernization, including the Sentinel ICBM and critical command-and-control upgrades, while prohibiting any reduction of the ICBM fleet size below 400. These provisions safeguard Minot Air Force Base’s core nuclear mission and protect the backbone of America’s deterrence strategy.

The legislation reinforces North Dakota’s central role in the national security space. Cavalier Space Force Station remains essential to missile warning and space domain awareness, while Grand Forks Air Force Base continues expanding tracking and sensing capabilities. The FY26 NDAA accelerates next-generation space investments and expands opportunities for Space Force Guardians.

The FY26 NDAA also authorizes $5.2 million for the design of an Army National Guard armory in Jamestown—a much needed facility that will improve the readiness of our force.

Key provisions include:

Provides enlisted service members with a 3.8 percent pay raise.

Expands our counter-drone defenses and new technologies.

Advances the Golden Dome and enhances America’s nuclear deterrent and new nuclear power technologies.

Enacts guardrails to protect America’s long-term investments and economic interests.

Fully supports the deployment of National Guard and active-duty troops at the southwest border to intercept illegal aliens and drugs.

Enhances U.S. defense initiatives in the Indo-Pacific to bolster Taiwan’s defense and support Indo-Pacific allies.

Revitalizes American shipbuilding and expands the Maritime Industrial Base.

Strengthens U.S.-Israel military operations and cooperative missile defense programs.

Strengthens our defense industrial base and supply chains.

Reforms the defense acquisition process to eliminate regulatory barriers, enhance speed, and scale capacity for our Warfighters.

Accelerates the development and delivery of space capabilities to counter Chinese and Russian nuclear arsenals and space surveillance.

Streamlines operations by eliminating $20 billion in obsolete weapons, inefficient programs, and Pentagon bureaucracy.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-cosponsors-legislation-fix-obamacares-failures-health-freedom,Fedorchak cosponsors legislation to fix Obamacare's failures with Health Freedom Accounts,2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"“The last 15 years are proof: the Democrats’ so-called Affordable Care Act did not achieve its core goal of lowering costs. Instead, families face higher premiums and fewer choices,” Fedorchak said. “The More Affordable Care Act reverses the failures of this broken model by redirecting existing ACA subsidies into Health Freedom Accounts. This will give patients the freedom to shop for coverage, manage their own health care dollars, and make informed decisions that will lower costs.”

“America’s health care system is broken, defined by skyrocketing costs and declining patient outcomes. The Democrats’ Obamacare disaster completely failed to deliver on its core promises, and Republicans must fix it,” said Rep. Pfluger. “The More Affordable Care Act will lower costs, expand consumer choice, and increase transparency for patients. By establishing Health Freedom Accounts and a Health Freedom Waiver Program, we’re putting health care decisions back where they belong: in the hands of American families, not Washington bureaucrats. This legislation will also provide small businesses with critical tax relief to provide employer-sponsored coverage and lock in price transparency for patients. The American people deserve better than throwing more money at a failed system, and this legislation delivers the commonsense solutions they expect.""

“American families see clearly that Obamacare has failed to deliver on its promises – instead, it created a broken system that screwed over the American people. It’s time to fix it by allowing Americans to be the consumer so they can get care that truly fits their needs and makes health care more affordable. I’m proud to partner with Chairman Pfluger on my More Affordable Care Act that makes commonsense changes that empowers American patients, not the government, to make their own decisions,” said Senator Rick Scott. “We don’t have to replace Obamacare, we keep exchanges, we keep protections for preexisting conditions – but we can add options for families, allowing them to shop across state lines, increasing transparency in health care, and giving any financial support to them directly through HSA-style Trump Health Freedom Accounts so families can choose the care that fits their needs. With more competition, clearer pricing, and allowing Americans, not government, to be the consumer, we can transform Obamacare into a system that gives Americans the freedom to get the care they need.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/icymi-sen-cramer-op-ed-delivering-critical-access-to-care-for-rural-veterans,ICYMI: Sen. Cramer Op-Ed: Delivering Critical Access to Care for Rural Veterans,2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Veterans live in every community across the country. Yet unlike most Americans, they can’t simply use the closest health care providers. A backwards Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) requirement prevents veterans from seamlessly accessing certain health care providers in their communities. These men and women honorably served our country but must jump through bureaucratic hoops to receive the VA health care they earned.

Over three million veterans received health care outside of the VA last year while still using their VA benefits, a testament to how far the system has come since its early crises. Yet today, the VA’s implementation of the Community Care Program still falls short of its original intent, largely because of the pre-approval requirement. In some cases, this burden requires multiple phone calls and authorizations before patients ever step foot into a clinic. The VA’s power to approve care comes with the power to disapprove. Whether through a finding of disapproval or use of bureaucratic delay, the outcome is too often the same: Tragedy for a hero.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) penned an op-ed in The Washington Times promoting his Critical Access for Veterans Care Act which would allow all veterans living within 35 miles of a Critical Access Hospital to receive care locally without pre-approval.

Delivering Critical Access to Care for Rural Veterans

The Washington Times – December 10, 2025

Veterans live in every community across the country. Yet unlike most Americans, they can’t simply use the closest health care providers. A backwards Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) requirement prevents veterans from seamlessly accessing certain health care providers in their communities. These men and women honorably served our country but must jump through bureaucratic hoops to receive the VA health care they earned.

Modern VA health care began with a network of VA-run hospitals and clinics to provide care for veterans, which became the largest integrated health care system in the nation. This system was designed to deliver consistent quality care for veterans and their unique needs. But it also hardwired the agency to prioritize care within its own facilities, even when better options are available nearby. When possible, it still makes sense for veterans to seek care at a VA facility. But when it’s not, they should have the freedom to access quality and timely care in their own communities.

Over three million veterans received health care outside of the VA last year while still using their VA benefits, a testament to how far the system has come since its early crises. It’s worth remembering the VA Community Care Program was born out of tragedy. The 2014 access scandal in Phoenix revealed long wait times and systemic failures within the VA as veterans literally died waiting in line for VA care.

Yet today, the VA’s implementation of the Community Care Program still falls short of its original intent, largely because of the pre-approval requirement. In some cases, this burden requires multiple phone calls and authorizations before patients ever step foot into a clinic. The VA’s power to approve care comes with the power to disapprove. Whether through a finding of disapproval or use of bureaucratic delay, the outcome is too often the same: Tragedy for a hero.

This is especially significant in rural America, where a disproportionate share of veterans live compared to the general population. Veterans living in rural areas like those in North Dakota choose non-VA care because going to the state’s only VA hospital can require driving many hours and traveling hundreds of miles. Forcing veterans to travel to a VA facility because of government preference, while passing several capable hospitals along the way, is absurd.

To address this, I introduced the Critical Access for Veterans Care Act with U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont. This legislation allows all veterans living within 35 miles of a Critical Access Hospital to receive care locally without pre-approval. These rural hospitals can receive a Critical Access designation if they are the sole health care provider within 35 miles, have 25 or fewer inpatient beds, and provide 24/7 emergency care services. They were created to solve the challenge of health care access for residents of rural communities and offer many of the same services available at other VA facilities.

North Dakota is home to 37 Critical Access Hospitals scattered in rural communities across the state. These hospitals already exist to bridge the gap for local residents, and veterans should be able to use them as easily as their neighbors.

This legislation is a win-win solution for veterans and local health providers. Our bill reduces onerous paperwork and travel barriers, increases easy, efficient access to care for veterans, and supports rural Critical Access Hospitals.

The promise to our veterans was quality care, not government-rationed care, and reforms are needed to deliver on this promise.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/senator-hoeven-trump-administration-fighting-for-us-agriculture-producers,Senator Hoeven: Trump Administration Fighting for U.S. Agriculture Producers,2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Senator Hoeven: Trump Administration Fighting for U.S. Agriculture Producers

WASHINGTON – In a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing with U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Jamieson Greer this week, Senator John Hoeven outlined how the Trump administration is fighting on behalf of U.S. farmers and ranchers to open new markets and secure better trade deals for the long-term. Hoeven specifically highlighted:

The $12 billion in assistance announced this week to help the nation’s agriculture producers.

As chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, Hoeven has been working with the administration to advance the agriculture assistance, and joined President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Rollins in announcing the program at the White House on Monday.

The funding will serve as a bridge for producers, supporting them until the enhanced crop insurance and improvements to ARC and PLC, which Hoeven secured in the One Big Beautiful Bill, come into full effect.

The Farmer Bridge Assistance program will be administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), with assistance expected to be distributed by the end of February 2026.

China’s agreement to purchase 12 million tons of U.S. soybeans during the current crop season and 25 million tons in subsequent crop years.

Hoeven stressed that this means U.S. producers will see a total of 37 million tons of soybean sales to China in little more than a year.

Progress on securing improved trade terms, including with nations in southeast Asia.

Last month, Bangladesh committed to purchase $1.25 billion worth of U.S. soybeans over the next 12 months, a historic improvement in market access to the country for American farmers.

In addition, the Trump administration secured the near-elimination of tariffs on U.S. goods exported to Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam, benefitting commodities such as soybeans, corn, sorghum, meat, poultry and dairy.

“The Trump administration is out there fighting to get better trade terms and a level playing field for our farmers, ranchers and all of our exporters. We appreciate Ambassador Greer and all those across the administration who are doing this important work,” said Hoeven. “The $12 billion in agriculture assistance is a key part of our efforts, as it sends a strong message to China that we won’t allow them to put pressure on us by going after our farmers. At the same time, we’re securing ag purchases, opening up better long-term market access, particularly in southeast Asia, and working to enforce those agreements, including the 37 million tons of soybeans that China committed to purchase between the current and following crop year.”

-###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-joins-axios-chuck-mccutcheon-discuss-permitting-reform,Fedorchak joins Axios’ Chuck McCutcheon to discuss permitting reform,2025-12-09,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"I think the fact that the audience is almost full and it's eight o'clock in the morning on a cold day speaks to the importance of permitting reform.

When I look at the U.S. and some of our challenges, China is a country of engineers and builders, and we’ve become a country of lawyers. We have to flip that, because we have unprecedented needs for power and other goods and services in our country.

I come to this job as a 12-year state utility regulator, the most recent president of NARUC—the National Association of State Utility Regulators—and eight years as a liaison for our state to the MISO region. So, tons of experience with power. During that time, I realized how much more power we need because my state started seeing requests for more power generation for AI.

That became a big topic among state regulators across the country: how are we going to meet this demand? So, it was natural for my team to say, “Hey, you've got a unique skill set here. Why don't we start this working group to tackle this issue and try to provide some leadership on it?”

First, by asking for information. So, we made a request for information for folks, got 100 replies, and then we've taken that information and kind of consolidated it around three big issues: how do we stabilize our grid and stop the bleeding, how do we optimize what we've got, and then how do we grow?

Keystone XL was obviously the poster child for that bill. But it could also apply to transmission lines or power lines going across the border, if there was some controversial one or one that folks wanted to pull back on or try to prevent. [My bill] tries to take that off the table and provide certainty.

[During my time] as a state utility regulator, we permitted right during the Bakken oil boom. I was involved in permitting $13 billion worth of energy infrastructure, and the one message I heard loud and clear from industry was the need for certainty.

I tried to apply that as my job as a regulator, just very fairly, like apply the law. Keep it certain. Don't throw any curve balls. And that's what industry needs, and that's what we need to bake into the law in some of the processes on the federal side.

Again, coming from my experience as a state liaison to MISO for eight years, MISO is one of the biggest grid operators. Runs the grid in the central part of the country from North Dakota to Texas, a 15-state region with 32 million customers. They're in a massive build-out of power lines, which we all know are needed, but the driver of those lines is important, and who pays for them is even more important.

There's a lot of different drivers for the need for power lines, and they get baked into rates, and utilities earn money on them, so there is a vested interest in trying to build because it does help you increase your rate base and make more earnings. So, you need to balance that all out.

When it comes to cost allocation—which is not permitting reform—I wanted to have a Republican take on cost allocation in the mix, so that we could look at it from that standpoint.

The biggest thing in the energy sector is sending the right signals, and those drive investment decisions. They also drive costs and affordability, and those are all big issues.

This is an attempt to say, what are the cost causes? And if you're causing the need for a line, then you should pay for it, and that's what the FAIR Act does.

If you've got a power plant—whether it's a natural gas plant or maybe a coal facility, you want to convert its power to gas. The New Source Review could prevent you from doing that and create more inefficiencies in existing infrastructure.

One of the most obvious things we need to do quickly is maximize our existing resources—get the most out of them that we possibly can. New Source Review can prohibit that because it can trigger new environmental impact reviews for upgrading those facilities and higher standards, and that's not what you want to be doing if you're trying to maximize your existing infrastructure.

When you look at permitting reform, NEPA and the Clean Water Act are the two big buckets of environmental review processes that hinder development of every resource, whether it's wind, solar, pipelines, or power lines.

They're all impacted, so streamlining those processes, creating more certainty, limiting timelines, addressing the judicial review processes, all of those are baked into these bills and take significant strides forward.

I saw it in some big projects in my state. NEPA can be a big challenge for folks, and the processes can drag out for years.

I was one of the two people in my state that approved the Dakota Access pipeline in North Dakota. That was in 2016, and it’s still in court. A lot of that was NEPA-related. Permits were vacated and then brought back. You really couldn't write it crazier than what has happened with that one.

I think that's why it has bipartisan support. I'm hopeful that we can get that done, both the SPEED Act and the PERMIT Act as well.

I think it's part of the broader discussion that we all need to have over those rights and the need: when is it appropriate for the federal government to step in from a national security issue or reliability issue, take action, and provide higher authority?

I think it's fair for the states to be asking that of FERC. I also think it's really important that we have this conversation and come to an agreement on when that is appropriate for the feds.

It also gets to the issue of reliability, whose responsibility is reliability? The state? The states have a big role to play, but our grid is interoperated. It doesn't recognize state boundaries, and so state actions affect the reliability of the whole thing. So, I think there's broader oversight there that also needs to be considered, and all of this is part of that discussion, which we need to have quickly.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-legislation-rename-casselton-post-office-after-commander-olson,Fedorchak legislation to rename Casselton post office after Commander Olson advances to Senate,2025-12-09,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) spoke on the House Floor today in support of her legislation to rename the Casselton post office at 840 Front Street in honor of hometown hero Commander Delbert Austin Olson. The bill passed the House with unanimous support. This effort is part of a delegation-wide initiative, with Senators Cramer and Hoeven introducing the companion bill in the U.S. Senate.

Below are her remarks as prepared for delivery:

Mr./Madam Speaker,

I rise today to honor a true North Dakota hero from Casselton, North Dakota—Commander Delbert Austin Olson.

Commander Olson answered the call of duty not once, not twice, but across three major conflicts—World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

In Vietnam, he served with distinction, participating in some of the most dangerous missions of the war.

He flew low over the Ho Chi Minh Trail to gather intelligence that protected American service members on the ground.

On January 11, 1968, Commander Olson and his crew were killed in action when their plane went down.

His name is etched on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, and today we take another step to make sure future generations know his story.

My legislation will rename the Casselton Post Office as the Commander Delbert Austin Olson Post Office.

This is a small way to show how much we value his sacrifice, and to make sure his story lives on in the town he loved.

North Dakota does not forget its heroes.

Commander Olson’s life reminds us of the quiet strength and devotion that define the very best of this country.

I’m proud to bring this bill forward, and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring Commander Olson’s remarkable service and sacrifice.

CLICK HERE to watch the full speech.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-working-to-secure-senate-enr-committee-approval-of-his-legislation-to-maintain-wild-horses-at-trnp,Hoeven Working to Secure Senate ENR Committee Approval of His Legislation to Maintain Wild Horses at TRNP,2025-12-09,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven Working to Secure Senate ENR Committee Approval of His Legislation to Maintain Wild Horses at TRNP

Committee Holds Hearing on Senator’s Legislation to Ensure Future of Park’s Horses, Require Herd of No Fewer than 150 Horses

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today made the case to his fellow members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee for his legislation to maintain wild horses at Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP). Specifically, Hoeven’s bill would require the Secretary of the Interior to:

Maintain a genetically-diverse herd of no fewer than 150 horses in TRNP’s South Unit.

The Department of the Interior is prohibited from removing horses from the park except as part of a plan to improve genetic diversity, in the case of an emergency or to protect public health and safety.

Within 120 days of the bill’s enactment, develop a plan to provide for the management of horses in the park.

On an annual basis, make available to the public information regarding the population, structure and health of the horse herd.

“Wild horses have long been a living, breathing part of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota, and are a key part of the visitor experience,” said Senator Hoeven. “Unfortunately, there have been multiple attempts over the years to remove horses from the park. Each one has been met with overwhelming opposition from the public. That’s why we worked to craft this legislation, which provides a durable solution to permanently protect the horses at the park. I appreciate all of the partners and stakeholders who worked with us on this bill and urge my colleagues on the Senate ENR Committee to move to promptly approve this legislation. Doing so will bring us one critical step closer to ensuring the future of wild horses at Theodore Roosevelt National Park.”

The legislation comes as part of Hoeven’s efforts to ensure the National Park Service (NPS) maintains a herd of free-roaming horses at TRNP on a permanent basis. The senator previously:

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, passed a provision in annual funding legislation directing NPS to maintain “the historic scene commensurate with the historic herds during the period when President Theodore Roosevelt was a rancher in the area.”

Advanced this priority with NPS officials, including Midwest Regional Director Bert Frost.

On April 25, 2024, NPS formally terminated its proposed removal of horses at TRNP under the environmental assessment process initiated in 2022, and as a result, horses continue to be maintained at the park.

-###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-statement-president-trumps-farm-aid-package,Fedorchak statement on President Trump’s farm aid package,2025-12-08,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) released the following statement after President Trump announced a $12 billion aid package to support producers. The Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program provides broad relief to United States row crop farmers who produce Barley, Chickpeas, Corn, Cotton, Lentils, Oats, Peanuts, Peas, Rice, Sorghum, Soybeans, Wheat, Canola, Crambe, Flax, Mustard, Rapeseed, Safflower, Sesame, and Sunflower. Farmers who qualify for the FBA Program can expect payments to be released by February 28, 2026.

""This is important news for North Dakota farm families who are struggling with record high input costs, low prices, and trade challenges,” Fedorchak said. “Our agriculture community leads our nation in exports and has been the tip of the spear for President Trump’s efforts to correct unfair trade practices. This assistance is critical to help our producers weather these challenges while trade deals are negotiated and enacted.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/und-voyager-technologies-sign-agreement-to-drive-innovation,"UND, Voyager Technologies Sign Agreement to Drive Innovation",2025-12-08,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"***Click here for media resources.***

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The University of North Dakota (UND) and Voyager Technologies [NYSE: VOYG], a defense and space technology company, officially signed a joint investment agreement during a ceremony in Washington, D.C. UND is a leading institution for national security and aerospace education, and its Space Studies Department is the oldest and largest in the nation. The university is the first school to join the U.S. Space Force’s University Partnership Program and is the only university to house a NASA-funded lab for designing and constructing space and planetary surface exploration suits.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), chair of the Senate Armed Services (SASC) Airland Subcommittee, hosted UND President Andrew Armacost, Vice President Scott Snyder and Voyager President Matt Kuta at the event to celebrate the partnership between UND and Voyager. The agreement follows the introduction Cramer made between Voyager and UND to identify joint research and development opportunities.

The Joint Investment Agreement formalizes the partnership and builds a foundation for breakthroughs in pursuit of space dominance by establishing a framework for accelerating end-product deployment in targeted areas such as human spaceflight, planetary habitats, and orbital operations research. The partnership streamlines the use of innovative rapid prototyping and leverages shared access to UND facilities. Additional partnership work includes improving space policy and governance issues.

“When I became a senator and was able to join the Senate Armed Services Committee, I thought I achieved all that a kid from Kindred could ever achieve,” said Cramer. “I wanted to be on the Armed Services Committee because North Dakota has some important assets as I saw the future of warfare and defending freedom in the United States and around the world. The day the White House called me as a freshman member and asked if I’d be willing to carry the ball and create the Space Force, I thought they must have gotten the wrong number. But then I thought about how our state has the University of North Dakota and this world class aerospace and flight school, and people who innovate with great knowledge and experience.”

“The relationships I take the most satisfaction from are when I bring businesspeople to the University of North Dakota, when I show investors the community, and when I expose them to an incredible workforce and training,” continued Cramer. “The high-end, high level research institution is training workers for the future and the juxtaposition of the people who hire, invest, and build things, and students, researchers, and workers is the most exciting thing to me. I’m thrilled to be able to bring University of North Dakota officials and Voyager’s leadership here to sign this memorandum of understanding.”

“UND has always been a launchpad for innovation,” said UND President Andy Armacost. “This collaboration underscores our commitment to advancing spaceflight and national defense, not only extending our impact from the classroom to real-world application but preparing the future commercial space economy’s workforce.”

“Voyager’s partnership with the University of North Dakota represents a powerful convergence of academic research and commercial execution,” said Matt Kuta, President of Voyager. “We’re expanding our ability to enhance crewed missions and long-duration Starlab spaceflight while also strengthening U.S. leadership across both civil and defense sectors.”

The collaboration enables the integration of early-stage technologies into Starlab, the next-generation space station, supports Golden Dome initiatives, and advances commercial space infrastructure through Voyager’s science park.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-president-trump-announces-12-billion-farmer-bridge-assistance-for-producers,Hoeven: President Trump Announces $12 Billion Farmer Bridge Assistance for Producers,2025-12-08,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven: President Trump Announces $12 Billion Farmer Bridge Assistance for Producers

Senator Working with Trump Administration to Support Farmers and Ranchers

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, today joined an agriculture roundtable at the White House with President Donald Trump and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to announce $12 billion in assistance to help the nation’s agriculture producers. The Farmer Bridge Assistance program will be administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with assistance expected to be distributed by the end of February 2026.

“Between China targeting our producers, rising input costs and other challenges, our producers are really going through a tough stretch. That’s why we’ve been working with the Trump administration to advance agriculture assistance to serve as a bridge to the improvements we made to crop insurance, ARC and PLC in the One Big Beautiful Bill,” said Hoeven. “This assistance will not only help our producers in the short-term but will ensure they aren’t used as leverage as the administration continues to negotiate for more markets and better long-term trade agreements. We appreciate President Trump, Secretary Rollins and Secretary Bessent for their work on this and will continue working to help our producers through this tough stretch.”

During President Trump’s first term, Hoeven worked with the administration to put in place similar agriculture assistance when U.S. producers were targeted during trade negotiations. Today’s announcement builds on that program and is part of a number of initiatives Hoeven has been working on to help North Dakota and the nation’s agriculture producers. Additionally, the senator has been working with the administration to:

Secure additional agriculture sales, including the recently announced soybean purchases by China.

Advance year-round E15 sales.

Put in place better long-term trade agreements to open markets for producers.

-###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-forum-be-held-thursday-december-18,"Fedorchak Forum to be held Thursday, December 18",2025-12-05,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) will host a Fedorchak Forum: Conversations with Constituents on Thursday, December 18, at 6:30pm CT (7:30pm ET). This is the eighth in her series of statewide discussions to connect with North Dakotans, answer their questions, and discuss key legislative priorities in real time.

“Our final Fedorchak Forum of 2025 will serve as an opportunity to highlight this year’s top results for North Dakota—and if time allows, maybe even a few New Year’s resolutions for Congress. Most importantly, I’m excited to hear people’s questions and legislative ideas,” said Fedorchak.

North Dakotans who want to participate in the conversation must sign up on Rep. Fedorchak’s website by 12:00pm CT on Thursday, December 18. For those who prefer to listen in, the forum will be broadcasted on her website.

Please subscribe to Rep. Fedorchak’s newsletter and follow her on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook accounts for additional updates.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-votes-curb-ccp-influence-k-12-schools,Fedorchak votes to curb CCP influence in K-12 schools,2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"H.R. 1005, theCombatting the Lies of Authoritarians in School Systems Act, prohibits public K-12 schools from accepting funds or entering contracts with the Chinese government, the CCP, or any individual or entity acting on their behalf as a condition of receiving federal education funds. It also requires schools to disclose any funding from or contracts with a foreign source to the Department of Education.

H.R. 1069, thePROTECT Our Kids Act, prevents federal education funding from going to any elementary or secondary school that directly or indirectly receives support from the Chinese government, including those that continue to host a Confucius Classroom. Confucius Classrooms are Chinese language and learning centers in elementary and secondary schools which are funded or otherwise supported by the Chinese government.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/new-report-finds-billions-taxpayer-dollars-wasted-due-fraud-affordable-care,New report finds billions of taxpayer dollars wasted due to fraud in Affordable Care Act plans,2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – The non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report uncovering massive waste, fraud, and abuse in the Affordable Care Act marketplace plans. GAO investigators, using fake identities with no valid Social Security numbers or proof of citizenship, were approved for advance premium tax credits (APTC). Monthly subsidies paid to health insurers on behalf of GAO’s fake identities exceeded $12,300 per month—revealing how easily the system can be exploited.

“This investigation exposed that the scale of fraud in the ACA marketplace is egregious, and it’s driving up costs for Americans who properly enroll,” Fedorchak said. “Republicans are leading on commonsense safeguards to protect taxpayers and stop the exploitation that Democrat policies have enabled.”

Key findings from the GAO investigation:

Investigators created fake applicants that were repeatedly approved for taxpayer-funded benefits, even when no identification documents were requested or fake documents were submitted.

Every single fake applicant was approved by the ACA Marketplace as recently as late 2024.

90 percent of GAO’s fake applicants are still receiving coverage in 2025.

In 2023, one single Social Security number was used on applications for over 125 insurance policies, the equivalent of 71 years of health insurance coverage.

58,000 Social Security numbers receiving APTC matched Social Security death data.

$94 million in taxpayer-funded subsidies were sent to health insurers on behalf of deceased individuals.

Why it matters:

The use of fake citizenship eligibility documents confirms fraud concerns for illegal immigrants.

Insurance brokers were able to bypass verification by contacting the call center and submitting applications without the applicant present. People can be enrolled in plans without their knowledge while insurance companies collect tax credits.

CMS does not block new applications using the same SSN.

Big Insurers are still collecting subsidies for deceased individuals.

In the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, Republicans passed solutions to restore accountability to the ACA marketplace through program integrity reforms that save taxpayers billions of dollars and drive down costs:

Full income and eligibility verification before subsidies are issued, ensuring assistance goes only to those who qualify.

Ending “anytime” enrollment abuse that fueled fraudulent sign-ups and drove premiums higher.

Closing loopholes that allowed illegal immigrants and other ineligible groups to access taxpayer-funded health benefits.

The Congressional Budget Office has found that these measures have already produced $185 billion in savings for taxpayers and reduced premiums by 0.6 percent.

Congressman Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce:

“Republicans have consistently prioritized protecting patients and taxpayers by ridding our federal health programs of the waste, fraud, and abuse that ultimately drive up costs for patients. Republicans have sounded the alarm on the flawed structural integrity of Obamacare and how Democrats’ failed policies to temporarily prop up the program have exacerbated fraud, hurt patients, increased the burden on American taxpayers, and artificially masked the true health care affordability crisis plaguing Americans today. The concerning findings from GAO’s report further confirm that Republican efforts to strengthen, secure, and sustain our federal health programs are critical and necessary to ensure access to quality health care at prices Americans can afford.”

Congressman Jason Smith (R-MO), Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means:

“While Democrats defend waste, fraud, and abuse, Republicans are taking action to lower health care costs and protect care for all real, living Americans. GAO’s troubling report is the smoking gun that shows how this broken system, shielded by Democrat policies, has led to the federal government shoveling tens of billions of tax dollars to insurance companies through identity fraud and caused health care costs to skyrocket for all Americans. While Obamacare fraud is being confirmed by GAO, CMS, CBO and other outside reports, patients are suffering. They face higher health care costs and denied claims or delayed care when their providers struggle to verify which insurance is valid due to these fraud schemes. Rather than simply rubber stamp more bad spending and failed policies, we must take action to prevent further harm.”

“For years, we were told we could keep our plan, keep our doctor, and premiums would go down. None of it happened. This new report confirms what we already knew: under Obamacare, hardworking Americans saw their premiums skyrocket and their healthcare choices shrink, all while fraud benefitted insurance companies. Obamacare was built on lies and broken promises that hurt families and drove up costs.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/trump-administration-repeals-misguided-biden-era-minimum-staffing-requirements-for-long-term-care-facilities,"Trump Administration Repeals Misguided, Biden-Era Minimum Staffing Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities",2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"***Click hereto download audio.***

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) formally repealed Biden-era minimum staffing requirements for long-term care facilities (LTC), which affected nearly 1.2 million residents across the nation. The rule exacerbated workforce shortages and significantly harmed access to care in rural communities. Reversal of the mandates demonstrates a commitment to “practical, sustainable approaches to improving nursing home care, and allows for further opportunity for engagement with community and Tribal stakeholders,” according to HHS.

The 2024 rule required applicable nursing homes to provide residents with a minimum total of 3.48 hours of nursing care per day, including at least 0.55 hours from a registered nurse per resident per day, and 2.45 hours from a nurse aide per resident per day. It mandated each facility have a registered nurse onsite 24/7. HHS said these measures disproportionately burdened rural and underserved communities already grappling with critical health care workforce shortages.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) raised concerns over the harmful impact of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) staffing ratio for rural communities and North Dakota families. He led multiple efforts, including bipartisan legislation, to push back against the rule, culminating in the passage of the Working Families Tax Cut Act which included a 10-year moratorium on enforcement of the staffing mandate.

He applauded the Trump administration’s announcement this week saying, “rural America deserves solutions, not red tape.”

“Rolling back the burdensome, Biden-era staffing mandate is a major win for patients, providers, and every rural community depending on accessible, local long-term care,” said Cramer. “Congress mandated a 10-year moratorium of this debilitating rule in the Working Families Tax Cut Act, and now the administration has finished the job. Thank you, President Trump, Secretary Kennedy, and Administrator Oz, for prioritizing patients over bureaucracy.”

In a public comment before the rule was finalized, the North Dakota Long Term Care Association, North Dakota Hospital Association, North Dakota Medical Association, North Dakota Nurses Association, and the Quality Health Associates of North Dakota outlined their concerns.

The organizations highlighted CMS’ misunderstanding of nursing facilities’ operational realities and disclosed more than 500 nursing homes have closed since 2020, often due to the inability to hire qualified staff. They also noted CMS estimated the staffing rule would cost $4 billion annually, roughly $300,000 per facility.

The groups said, “North Dakota has always had one of the highest staff to resident ratios in the country. We are most concerned about the proposed 24/7 RN requirement. The number of RNs needed to fulfill this standard just simply do not exist. This mandate may force more nursing homes, many of which already operate on tight budgets, to close their doors, reducing access to care. North Dakota has had more nursing home closures in the last few years than ever before, largely due to staffing issues.”

They concluded, “the mandate's strict penalties and limited flexibility in addressing temporary staffing shortages demonstrate a lack of understanding of the operational realities of nursing homes.”

Nikki Wegner, President of the North Dakota Long Term Care Association, reacted to the Trump administration’s revocation of the rule, “The formal repeal of the mandate is a long-awaited decision that acknowledges the ongoing workforce challenges facing providers and restores essential flexibility for facilities to staff in a way that best supports resident-centered care. This outcome reflects years of persistent advocacy by long term care providers, caregivers, residents, families, and partners across the country. We want to extend special thanks to Senator Cramer for his tireless leadership on this issue and to Senator Hoeven and Congresswoman Fedorchak for their steadfast support and advocacy.”

Cramer met with CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz in July to discuss the reforms needed to improve care for North Dakotans. He delivered a floor speech highlighting dangers of the rule and sent a letter to CMS requesting the agency avoid one-size-fits-all staffing mandates for nursing homes. In the letter, Cramer and his colleagues said staffing mandates are not the only solution and a “one-size-fits-all staffing mandate would undermine access to care for patients, particularly in rural communities.” In June 2023, he questioned CMS officials at a hearing about the mandate’s impact on already stressed staffing challenges.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-introduces-legislation-to-preserve-national-coal-council-codify-mission-in-law,"Hoeven Introduces Legislation to Preserve National Coal Council, Codify Mission in Law",2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven Introduces Legislation to Preserve National Coal Council, Codify Mission in Law

Senator Working to Keep NCC Focused on Development of Coal Resources, Advancing New Innovations

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, this week reintroduced the National Coal Council Act to preserve the mission of the National Coal Council (NCC) and help secure the future of U.S. coal production. The NCC is a federal advisory committee that provides advice, recommendations and insights to the Department of Energy (DOE) on issues related to the coal industry:

The NCC was originally established in 1984 and is comprised of coal producers and consumers, carbon researchers, academics, environmentalists and policy experts.

The council’s core mission is to advance innovation and technological development, enabling the U.S. to continue making the best use of its abundant coal resources.

The Biden administration previously allowed the NCC’s charter to expire in November 2021, effectively terminating the organization.

The Biden administration then replaced the council with an agency focused on advancing Green New Deal-style policies instead of the responsible development and innovative use of coal.

The Trump administration re-chartered the NCC earlier this year, restoring the council’s original mission.

Hoeven’s legislation would permanently extend the NCC’s charter and codify it in law, preventing it from being terminated in the future and preserving the council’s core mission.

“Through innovation, regulatory relief and the right kind of pro-growth policies, we’re working to make the U.S. truly energy dominant. The affordable, reliable baseload power provided by coal is a critical part of these efforts,” said Hoeven. “That’s why we’re working to ensure the NCC stays focused on developing our coal resources and advancing new innovations, like we’re doing with Crack the Code 2.0 in North Dakota. By permanently extending its charter, our legislation would preserve the council’s mission and help keep DOE on the right track so the U.S. can continue to utilize its vast coal reserves.”

In addition to Hoeven, the legislation is cosponsored by Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.). Representative Michael Rulli (R-Ohio) sponsored companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

-###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-trump-administration-repeals-unworkable-staffing-mandate-provides-relief-for-rural-long-term-care-providers,"Hoeven: Trump Administration Repeals Unworkable Staffing Mandate, Provides Relief for Rural Long-Term Care Providers",2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven: Trump Administration Repeals Unworkable Staffing Mandate, Provides Relief for Rural Long-Term Care Providers

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the Trump administration repealed a Biden-era rule imposing unworkable minimum staffing mandates on long-term care (LTC) facilities. Hoeven opposed the rule when it was first proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in 2023, having:

Pressed the Biden administration to rescind the rule.

In a letter sent with a bipartisan group of his Senate colleagues, Hoeven stressed that the one-size-fits-all approach would force many rural LTC facilities to close their doors.

Helped introduce a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval, sponsored by Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.), to rescind the rule.

Supported a 10-year moratorium on the CMS rule, which passed as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill.

“Our rural long-term care providers already face a range of challenges, and this staffing mandate from the Biden administration only added to their burden,” said Hoeven. “This one-size-fits-all approach would have actually reduced access to long-term care in rural areas by forcing providers to shut down when they were unable to comply. That’s why we worked to rescind the CMS rule and successfully passed a moratorium to keep it from going into effect. We appreciate the Trump administration for following through on our efforts and repealing this unworkable regulation.”

-###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-votes-legislation-cut-red-tape-and-lower-costs-small-businesses,Fedorchak votes for legislation to cut red tape and lower costs for small businesses,2025-12-03,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) today voted for legislation to rein in Washington’s regulatory overreach and lower costs for North Dakota small businesses.

“Small businesses in North Dakota are paying the price for Washington’s overreach,” Fedorchak said. “These bills push back on costly federal rules and make regulators prove they’re not driving up prices. It’s a needed step toward lowering costs and letting our small businesses grow.”

H.R. 2965, the Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act, requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to certify that any new regulatory changes issued by the agency will not raise compliance costs for small businesses.

H.R. 4305, the DUMP Red Tape Act, creates a dedicated hotline for small business owners to report overly burdensome or unnecessary federal regulations to the SBA Office of Advocacy.

Both bills are part of the Republicans’ broader affordability agenda and now head to the Senate for consideration.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-introduces-fair-act-stop-states-being-forced-pay-other-states-green,Fedorchak introduces FAIR Act to stop states from being forced to pay for other states’ green energy mandates,2025-12-02,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) introduced H.R. 6336, the Fair Allocation of Interstate Rates (FAIR) Act, to prevent households from being forced to subsidize transmission projects built to satisfy another state’s green energy goals. The bill establishes a clear principle: states must bear the costs of the policies they choose, and consumers in other states should not be stuck with the bill.

“States must pay the costs of their own goals. That’s a basic principle of cost allocation—and it’s being ignored across the country right now,” Fedorchak said. “Families and businesses in states like North Dakota shouldn’t be paying higher electricity bills because other states choose unrealistic, expensive mandates. The FAIR Act restores fairness, respects state sovereignty, and reins in transmission cost-shifting that’s driving up electricity bills nationwide.”

Under current policy, regional transmission organizations spread the costs of large interstate transmission lines—designed to meet individual states’ aggressive renewable mandates—across all consumers in the region, regardless of whether those consumers need the lines. This cost-shifting raises electricity bills, encourages unnecessary permitting battles, and expands the use of eminent domain.

The FAIR Act amends Section 205 of the Federal Power Act to:

Prohibit cost allocation of policy-driven transmission to consumers in states that did not approve or benefit from the underlying policy.

Restore state authority and protect ratepayers and landowners from subsidizing projects they do not need.

Require FERC to issue implementing regulations within six months.

The legislation follows Fedorchak’s September 2025 letter, signed by North Dakota Senators Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven, to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) urging the agency to rein in unjust transmission cost-shifting practices. Senator Cramer introduced the Senate companion to the House bill and Senator John Hoeven cosponsored.

“Unrealistic energy policies hurt consumers by enabling policymakers across state borders to pass senseless climate mandates and then build expensive, redundant infrastructure on the backs of consumers. Too often, ratepayers in North Dakota are left holding the bag after the dust settles on failed energy policies enacted by other states. Our legislation protects the principle of “user pay” by ensuring if activists in Los Angeles, Chicago, or Minneapolis mandate expensive, unreliable electricity, they foot the bill for their decisions,” said Cramer.

“FERC’s 2024 cost allocation rule allows for states with expensive green energy mandates to unfairly shift costs to consumers in other states. North Dakotans shouldn’t be forced to pay higher energy costs to help other states meet their unworkable energy mandates,” said Hoeven. “Our legislation will help to stop this cost-shift while also protecting landowners and consumers from being compelled to host or subsidize new transmission lines when those lines fail to serve their needs.”

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT THE FAIR ACT:

Mark Christie, former Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission:

""Transmission costs are one of the major drivers of rising consumer power bills. Rep. Fedorchak's legislation is critically needed to ensure that consumers are paying only for the transmission needed to provide them with reliable power, not for transmission to promote public policy agendas in other states without their state's consent.

""This is a serious problem in regional planning organizations (RTOs) that have been directing billions of dollars’ worth of transmission projects to serve mandatory renewables policies of some states, and without the consent of other states who do not support such policies. Rep. Fedorchak—a former state utility regulator as I am—knows that states in multi-state RTOs should be given the authority to consent before costs are imposed on their consumers for such public policy projects.""

North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong:

“North Dakotans work hard to power this nation, and they shouldn't have to pay for misguided energy policies enacted by other states. I applaud Rep. Fedorchak for standing up for ratepayers and for state sovereignty with this common-sense legislation.”

North Dakota Public Service Commission:

“The North Dakota Public Service Commission strongly supports the Fair Allocation of Interstate Rates Act and believes this legislation is necessary to protect North Dakota consumers. This legislation ensures energy transmission facility costs are borne by those who benefit from them and prevents North Dakota utility ratepayers from subsidizing expensive renewable energy strategies advanced by policymakers in other states.

“Transmission costs have rapidly become a large portion of electric customer bills. Over the past 20 years, North Dakota customers saw the portion of their investor-owned utility bill attributed to transmission costs nearly triple. Much of this cost increase is due to the aggressive renewable energy strategies implemented in other states. By nature, renewable energy sources are built in rural locations far from the load they serve. This requires additional transmission, which drives up costs for North Dakota ratepayers, who receive minimal benefit from these facilities.”

North Dakota Farm Bureau:

“NDFB supports the FAIR Act as introduced. Our members should not bear the costs or lose productive farmland to fulfill another state’s energy policy priorities. The FAIR Act is a step toward ensuring citizens are treated fairly, landowners are respected, and states are responsible to pay for their own energy decisions.”

Paul N. Cicio, President & CEO, Industrial Energy Consumers of America:

“The manufacturing sector consumes 29 percent of U.S. electricity and employs 12.7 million people. Electricity transmission prices are escalating across the country due in part to state cost-shifting socialization of transmission costs. We need transmission capacity for reliability and cost-reduction purposes—not state policy-driven socialization of transmission costs.”

Brent Gardner, Chief Government Affairs Officer, Americans for Prosperity:

“Congress has offered a range of proposals on transmission, cost allocation, and how to ensure Americans continue receiving reliable electric service. We are at a pivotal moment for determining the path toward true energy abundance and needed transmission buildout.

“Rep. Fedorchak brings rare, practical expertise as one of the few Members to have served on a Public Service Commission—reflected in her FAIR Act. As the Energy & Commerce Committee considers transmission policy, Members should closely evaluate her legislation, especially as they weigh how differing state energy choices can shift costs onto others.

“We must also avoid unfairly socializing costs across states or demographics. The FAIR Act is a constructive contribution to this important and complex debate.”

Competitive Enterprise Institute:

""The FAIR Act is an important step towards ensuring that ratepayers in one state aren’t paying for the bad policy of neighboring states. When the costs of complying with renewable portfolio standards and other mandates can be socialized to other states, it allows states adopting those policies to avoid the true costs of their decisions. If states want to adopt such policies, then that’s their call. But they shouldn’t expect other states to help foot the bill.”

Justin Forde, State Director, North Dakota Americans for Prosperity:

“As a native North Dakotan, it is a pleasure to see Rep. Fedorchak apply her extensive experience in the utility and transmission space for the benefit of our state.

“As a newer Member of Congress, AFP–North Dakota is encouraged to see Rep. Fedorchak fully embrace her role on the Energy & Commerce Committee and advance real solutions for her constituents and for all Americans.

“The FAIR Act continues an important conversation about the future of our energy and transmission systems—one that the committee should consider in coordination with their colleagues in the U.S. Senate. We thank Rep. Fedorchak for her leadership and her willingness to champion promising solutions in the energy space.”

Mississippi Public Service Commission:

“The Mississippi Public Service Commission (Mississippi Commission) fully supports the proposed Fair Allocation of Interstate Rates (FAIR) Act. The Mississippi Commission is one of five commissions challenging the Midcontinent Independent System Operator Inc.’s (MISO) designation of twenty-two billion dollars in transmission projects as multi-value projects. The Mississippi Commission agrees with North Dakota that these cross subsidies should not be allowed.” [...]

“Cost allocation decisions should be made based on the benefit a project will provide to a state. Policies that promote these unequitable transmission expenditures and promote cross subsidization should be stopped. The Mississippi Commission is confident that the FAIR Act will restore equity and balance to transmission investment and promote fair cost allocation procedures.”

The Hon. Chuck DeVore, Chief National Initiatives Officer, States Trust – Texas Public Policy Foundation:

“This legislation takes an important step toward restoring the constitutional balance between the states and the federal government while ensuring that American ratepayers are not forced to subsidize the policy agendas of other states. This core commitment to state sovereignty and consumer protection aligns directly with the mission of States Trust.

“Texas has demonstrated the benefits of states maintaining control over their own electric systems. In recent years, however, transmission costs in Texas have more than doubled, driven largely by policy decisions that have prioritized connecting distant wind and solar generation to demand in the cities. Texas should serve as a warning to other parts of the country that are making the same mistake: when policymakers socialize transmission costs to pursue objectives other than cost and reliability, the result is higher costs, diminished accountability, and an erosion of local decision-making.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cramer-announces-inaugural-western-water-cooperative-committee-meeting,Cramer Announces Inaugural Western Water Cooperative Committee Meeting,2025-12-02,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – After years of bureaucratic delays, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, announced the first Western Water Cooperative Committee (WWCC) meeting will be held in Bismarck on Dec. 3 and 4.

The WWCC will ensure U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) projects in western states are operated consistent with congressional directives and adhere to state water rights and water laws. It also establishes a platform for western states to better coordinate and engage with the Army Corps.

“Holding this meeting is long overdue, but I’m hopeful it will lead to a more productive relationship between western states and the Army Corps,” said Cramer. “States and water users know their unique water issues better than any bureaucrat in Washington and I look forward to collaborative cooperative federalism from the Army Corps.”

“The Western Water Cooperative Committee is a forum to bring those most knowledgeable about western water challenges together to find solutions that balance diverse interests,” said Adam Telle, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. “This advisory committee is now up and running thanks to the leadership of Senator Cramer, Secretary Driscoll, Secretary Hegseth, and President Trump, and I look forward to continuing to support the committee’s work.”

Cramer introduced legislation creating the WWCC and secured its inclusion and passage in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022. His bill was endorsed by the Western Governors’ Association, Western States Water Council, and Conference of Western Attorneys General.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cramer-fedorchak-introduce-fair-act-to-stop-states-from-being-forced-to-pay-for-other-states-green-energy-mandates,"Cramer, Fedorchak Introduce FAIR Act to Stop States From Being Forced to Pay for Other States’ Green Energy Mandates",2025-12-02,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer and Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) introduced H.R. 6336, the Fair Allocation of Interstate Rates (FAIR) Act, to prevent households from being forced to subsidize transmission projects built to satisfy another state’s green energy goals. The bill establishes a clear principle: states must bear the costs of the policies they choose, and consumers in other states should not be stuck with the bill.

“States must pay the costs of their own goals. That’s a basic principle of cost allocation—and it’s being ignored across the country right now,” Fedorchak said. “Families and businesses in states like North Dakota shouldn’t be paying higher electricity bills because other states choose unrealistic, expensive mandates. The FAIR Act restores fairness, respects state sovereignty, and reins in transmission cost-shifting that’s driving up electricity bills nationwide.”

Under current policy, regional transmission organizations spread the costs of large interstate transmission lines—designed to meet individual states’ aggressive renewable mandates—across all consumers in the region, regardless of whether those consumers need the lines. This cost-shifting raises electricity bills, encourages unnecessary permitting battles, and expands the use of eminent domain.

The FAIR Act amends Section 205 of the Federal Power Act to:

The legislation follows Fedorchak’s September 2025 letter, signed by North Dakota Senators Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven, to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) urging the agency to rein in unjust transmission cost-shifting practices. Senator Cramer introduced the Senate companion to the House bill and Senator John Hoeven cosponsored.

“Unrealistic energy policies hurt consumers by enabling policymakers across state borders to pass senseless climate mandates and then build expensive, redundant infrastructure on the backs of consumers. Too often, ratepayers in North Dakota are left holding the bag after the dust settles on failed energy policies enacted by other states. Our legislation protects the principle of “user pay” by ensuring if activists in Los Angeles, Chicago, or Minneapolis mandate expensive, unreliable electricity, they foot the bill for their decisions,” said Cramer.

“FERC’s 2024 cost allocation rule allows for states with expensive green energy mandates to unfairly shift costs to consumers in other states. North Dakotans shouldn’t be forced to pay higher energy costs to help other states meet their unworkable energy mandates,” said Hoeven. “Our legislation will help to stop this cost-shift while also protecting landowners and consumers from being compelled to host or subsidize new transmission lines when those lines fail to serve their needs.”

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT THE FAIR ACT:

Mark Christie, former Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission:

""Transmission costs are one of the major drivers of rising consumer power bills. Rep. Fedorchak's legislation is critically needed to ensure that consumers are paying only for the transmission needed to provide them with reliable power, not for transmission to promote public policy agendas in other states without their state's consent.

""This is a serious problem in regional planning organizations (RTOs) that have been directing billions of dollars’ worth of transmission projects to serve mandatory renewables policies of some states, and without the consent of other states who do not support such policies. Rep. Fedorchak—a former state utility regulator as I am—knows that states in multi-state RTOs should be given the authority to consent before costs are imposed on their consumers for such public policy projects.""

North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong:

“North Dakotans work hard to power this nation, and they shouldn't have to pay for misguided energy policies enacted by other states. I applaud Rep. Fedorchak for standing up for ratepayers and for state sovereignty with this common-sense legislation.”

North Dakota Public Service Commission:

“The North Dakota Public Service Commission strongly supports the Fair Allocation of Interstate Rates Act and believes this legislation is necessary to protect North Dakota consumers. This legislation ensures energy transmission facility costs are borne by those who benefit from them and prevents North Dakota utility ratepayers from subsidizing expensive renewable energy strategies advanced by policymakers in other states.

“Transmission costs have rapidly become a large portion of electric customer bills. Over the past 20 years, North Dakota customers saw the portion of their investor-owned utility bill attributed to transmission costs nearly triple. Much of this cost increase is due to the aggressive renewable energy strategies implemented in other states. By nature, renewable energy sources are built in rural locations far from the load they serve. This requires additional transmission, which drives up costs for North Dakota ratepayers, who receive minimal benefit from these facilities.”

North Dakota Farm Bureau:

“NDFB supports the FAIR Act as introduced. Our members should not bear the costs or lose productive farmland to fulfill another state’s energy policy priorities. The FAIR Act is a step toward ensuring citizens are treated fairly, landowners are respected, and states are responsible to pay for their own energy decisions.”

Paul N. Cicio, President & CEO, Industrial Energy Consumers of America:

“The manufacturing sector consumes 29 percent of U.S. electricity and employs 12.7 million people. Electricity transmission prices are escalating across the country due in part to state cost-shifting socialization of transmission costs. We need transmission capacity for reliability and cost-reduction purposes—not state policy-driven socialization of transmission costs.”

Brent Gardner, Chief Government Affairs Officer, Americans for Prosperity:

“Congress has offered a range of proposals on transmission, cost allocation, and how to ensure Americans continue receiving reliable electric service. We are at a pivotal moment for determining the path toward true energy abundance and needed transmission buildout.?

“Rep. Fedorchak brings rare, practical expertise as one of the few Members to have served on a Public Service Commission—reflected in her FAIR Act. As the Energy & Commerce Committee considers transmission policy, Members should closely evaluate her legislation, especially as they weigh how differing state energy choices can shift costs onto others.

“We must also avoid unfairly socializing costs across states or demographics. The FAIR Act is a constructive contribution to this important and complex debate.”

Competitive Enterprise Institute:

""The FAIR Act is an important step towards ensuring that ratepayers in one state aren’t paying for the bad policy of neighboring states. When the costs of complying with renewable portfolio standards and other mandates can be socialized to other states, it allows states adopting those policies to avoid the true costs of their decisions. If states want to adopt such policies, then that’s their call. But they shouldn’t expect other states to help foot the bill.”

Justin Forde, State Director, North Dakota Americans for Prosperity:

“As a native North Dakotan, it is a pleasure to see Rep. Fedorchak apply her extensive experience in the utility and transmission space for the benefit of our state.?

“As a newer Member of Congress, AFP–North Dakota is encouraged to see Rep. Fedorchak fully embrace her role on the Energy & Commerce Committee and advance real solutions for her constituents and for all Americans.

“The FAIR Act continues an important conversation about the future of our energy and transmission systems—one that the committee should consider in coordination with their colleagues in the U.S. Senate. We thank Rep. Fedorchak for her leadership and her willingness to champion promising solutions in the energy space.”

Mississippi Public Service Commission:

“The Mississippi Public Service Commission (Mississippi Commission) fully supports the proposed Fair Allocation of Interstate Rates (FAIR) Act. The Mississippi Commission is one of five commissions challenging the Midcontinent Independent System Operator Inc.’s (MISO) designation of twenty-two billion dollars in transmission projects as multi-value projects. The Mississippi Commission agrees with North Dakota that these cross subsidies should not be allowed.” [...]

“Cost allocation decisions should be made based on the benefit a project will provide to a state. Policies that promote these unequitable transmission expenditures and promote cross subsidization should be stopped. The Mississippi Commission is confident that the FAIR Act will restore equity and balance to transmission investment and promote fair cost allocation procedures.”

The Hon. Chuck DeVore, Chief National Initiatives Officer, States Trust – Texas Public Policy Foundation:

“This legislation takes an important step toward restoring the constitutional balance between the states and the federal government while ensuring that American ratepayers are not forced to subsidize the policy agendas of other states. This core commitment to state sovereignty and consumer protection aligns directly with the mission of States Trust.

“Texas has demonstrated the benefits of states maintaining control over their own electric systems. In recent years, however, transmission costs in Texas have more than doubled, driven largely by policy decisions that have prioritized connecting distant wind and solar generation to demand in the cities. Texas should serve as a warning to other parts of the country that are making the same mistake: when policymakers socialize transmission costs to pursue objectives other than cost and reliability, the result is higher costs, diminished accountability, and an erosion of local decision-making.”

Cameron Sholty, Executive Director, Heartland Impact:

“No transmission line crossing state boundaries should be constructed, at a minimum, unless and until it has been approved by the appropriate authorities in every state along the transmission line’s proposed route. This bill puts legitimate authority back in the hands of the states.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hhs-awards-27-million-to-tgu-school-district,HHS Awards $2.7 Million to TGU School District,2025-12-02,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded $2,771,248 to the TGU School District for Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Towner and Granville. This award will bolster early childhood learning, health, and development initiatives, along with family and community support services.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/nathan-f-twining-elementary-and-middle-school-at-gfafb-receives-55-million-to-address-capacity-condition-deficiencies,"Nathan F. Twining Elementary and Middle School at GFAFB Receives $55 Million to Address Capacity, Condition Deficiencies",2025-12-02,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of War (DOW) announced the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation awarded $55,249,082 to Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB) Public School District No. 140. This grant is part of a larger project to address capacity and condition deficiencies at Nathan F. Twining Elementary and Middle School, located at GFAFB.

The Nathan F. Twining Elementary and Middle School provides an education to hundreds of children of military men and women who live or work at the base. The school is unique within the Grand Forks Public Schools system, as it is the only school with a K-8 grade configuration. After completing 8th grade, students transition to Grand Forks Central High School.

“When we talk about supporting our military families, this kind of investment is exactly what we mean,” said U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), chair of the Senate Armed Services (SASC) Airland Subcommittee. “Grand Forks Air Force Base is a durable base with a durable mission, and needs equally durable, sustained quality of life improvements. Military families make many sacrifices as they defend our freedom, and their children who attend the Nathan F. Twining Elementary and Middle School shouldn’t settle for outdated, unsafe, or overcrowded schools. Every child deserves to learn in safe and modern facilities.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-more-than-55-million-awarded-to-grand-forks-afbs-nathan-f-twining-school-project,Hoeven: More Than $55 Million Awarded to Grand Forks AFB’s Nathan F. Twining School Project,2025-12-02,2025,2025-12,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven: More Than $55 Million Awarded to Grand Forks AFB’s Nathan F. Twining School Project

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC) has awarded more than $55 million to Grand Forks Air Force Base Public School District No.140 as part of a larger $69 million project to build a new Nathan F. Twining Elementary and Middle School on Grand Forks Air Force Base in order to address capacity and condition concerns. Once completed, the new facility will support 500 pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade students, while providing students from military families with a high-quality education and a learning environment focused on the principles of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

“North Dakota is home to some of the nation’s leading U.S. Air Force bases, and it’s vital that our installations have the capacity to support the educational needs of our service members’ families. We worked to fund and advance this OLDCC grant to help ensure that students at Grand Forks Air Force Base receive the high-quality education they deserve,” said Hoeven.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-statement-observing-thanksgiving-day,Hoeven Statement Observing Thanksgiving Day,2025-11-27,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven Statement Observing Thanksgiving Day

BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement to wish all North Dakotans a happy Thanksgiving:

“Happy Thanksgiving to the people of North Dakota and families across our nation. Today we give thanks for the liberties we enjoy, the opportunities our country provides, and the hardworking spirit that defines our state. May this day bring you together with loved ones and renew a sense of gratitude and peace. From Mikey, me, and our family, we wish you a blessed and happy Thanksgiving.”

-###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-packet-digital-selected-for-us-military-procurement-award-will-receive-up-to-50-million,"Hoeven: Packet Digital Selected for U.S. Military Procurement Award, Will Receive Up to $50 Million",2025-11-26,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven: Packet Digital Selected for U.S. Military Procurement Award, Will Receive Up to $50 Million

Senator Worked to Secure Funding for Packet Digital to Expand Domestic Battery Manufacturing to Support Army, Navy, Air Force & Special Forces Operations

FARGO, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today announced that Packet Digital has been selected to receive up to $50 million to expand its domestic battery manufacturing capacity under the Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT) Program. As a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, Hoeven worked to:

Fund the APFIT initiative and advance the company’s selection under this competitive, merit-based program.

APFIT seeks to more quickly meet warfighter needs and address gaps in U.S. military capabilities by procuring mature technologies from small businesses and nontraditional defense contractors.

Build upon partnerships that the senator previously funded and established between Packet Digital and the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Space Force.

The award will enable the company to expand production lines at its Badland Batteries manufacturing facility in Fargo in order to meet demand for high-power battery packs for unmanned systems operated by the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Special Forces.

“Every day, North Dakota is finding new ways to meet the needs of our warfighters in innovative and cost-effective ways. This up to $50 million award to Packet Digital is a testament to these efforts, building on the partnerships we established between this company and the Navy, Air Force and Space Force,” said Senator Hoeven. “This funding is about expanding our domestic industrial base, ensuring our nation can produce the battery technology we need to strengthen U.S. unmanned operations, while reducing our reliance on materials from adversaries like China. Packet Digital has a proven track record, and this award will help them scale up their operations at the Badland Battery facility in Fargo.”

“Our next-generation lithium-ion cell technology delivers both high power and high energy density, making it essential for unmanned air, sea and space missions,” said Packet Digital CEO Terri Zimmerman. “This award will help us ensure our military maintains a technological edge and has a reliable domestic battery supply chain.”

-###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-and-nps-reopen-trnp-scenic-loop-following-major-restoration,Hoeven & NPS Reopen TRNP Scenic Loop Following Major Restoration,2025-11-25,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven & NPS Reopen TRNP Scenic Loop Following Major Restoration

Senator Highlights Completion of Multi-Year Infrastructure Project at Theodore Roosevelt National Park

MEDORA, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven and the National Park Service (NPS) today reopened the Scenic Loop Road in Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s (TRNP) south unit, celebrating the completion of a multi-year reconstruction project. A segment of the roadway, a key route for park visitors, had partially collapsed in 2019 due to unstable soil conditions in the Badlands.

Since then, Hoeven:

Worked to fund the 6.15-mile reconstruction through the Restore Our Parks Act, legislation he sponsored and helped pass as part of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA).

The GAOA established the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund, authorizing up to $1.9 billion in funding over five years through the end of fiscal year (FY) 2025.

The fund leverages revenue from on- and offshore energy production on federal lands, without impacting mineral and energy revenue shared with the states.

Secured $51.25 million to fund the Scenic Loop reconstruction, including $50.8 million from the Restore Our Parks Act (GAOA) and $450,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Construction began in 2022 and quickly became a major engineering effort. After the initial 4-mile section collapsed, NPS discovered an additional 2 miles were unstable and likely to fail.

The project included enhanced landslide mitigation, drainage improvements, and expanded infrastructure and parking to improve visitor accessibility.

“Reopening the Scenic Loop is an important milestone for Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the hundreds of thousands of visitors who travel here each year,” said Hoeven. “This restoration not only repairs the roadway but also strengthens the park’s infrastructure for decades to come, addressing erosion and landslide risks and preserving the park’s most iconic routes for future generations to enjoy.”

-###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-announces-december-mobile-office-hours-schedule,Fedorchak announces December mobile office hours schedule,2025-11-24,2025,2025-11,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) today announced the December mobile office hours schedule for her staff to connect with North Dakotans and assist them with federal casework.

December office hours:

Stutsman County, Alfred Dickey Public Library - Tuesday, December 2nd, 12:00 – 2:00pm CT

Traill County, Mayville City Hall - Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025, 2:00 – 4:00pm CT

Williams County, Williston State College - Thursday, December 4th, 10:30am – 12:30pm CT

Grand Forks County, The HIVE – Tuesday, December 9th, 1:00 – 3:00pm CT

Ward County, Minot Public Library - Tuesday, December 9th, 12:30 – 2:30pm CT

Stark County, Dickinson City Hall - Thursday, December 11th, 10:00am – 12:00pm MT

McKenzie County, Watford City Economic Development Corporation - Thursday, December 18th, 11:00am – 1:00pm CT

The mobile office hours are designed to ensure every North Dakotan has the opportunity to meet face-to-face with members of her team and receive assistance with federal agencies.

Constituents can sign up for a one-on-one meeting with Congresswoman Fedorchak’s staff, but walk-ins will be seen as time allows once scheduled appointments are concluded. Dates and locations will be updated regularly on Fedorchak’s official website.

Meetings will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Staff will contact participants directly to confirm their meeting time.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-announces-parshall-office-hours-constituent-meetings,Fedorchak announces Parshall office hours for constituent meetings,2025-11-24,2025,2025-11,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Bismarck, ND — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) will host in person office hours in Parshall on Wednesday, November 26, from 10:00am-11:00am CT to meet with constituents. To sign up for a one-on-one meeting with Congresswoman Fedorchak, please click here.

Meeting requests will be accepted on a first-come-first-served basis. The form will close once all slots are full. The office will directly contact constituents after sign-up closes to confirm their scheduled meeting time and location. Staff will be available following each appointment for additional assistance.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-joins-veterans-memorial-center-groundbreaking-ceremony-fargo,Fedorchak joins Veterans Memorial Center groundbreaking ceremony in Fargo,2025-11-24,2025,2025-11,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Fargo, ND – Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) today joined Senator John Hoeven (R-ND), VA Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Sam Brown, the North Dakota Honor Guard, veterans' groups, and state and local leaders to commemorate the groundbreaking ceremony of the Veterans Memorial Center at the Fargo National Cemetery.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-breaks-ground-on-veterans-memorial-center-outlines-completed-va-master-plan-for-expanding-fargo-national-cemetery,"Hoeven Breaks Ground on Veterans Memorial Center, Outlines Completed VA Master Plan for Expanding Fargo National Cemetery",2025-11-24,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven Breaks Ground on Veterans Memorial Center, Outlines Completed VA Master Plan for Expanding Fargo National Cemetery

Senator Hosts VA Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Sam Brown at Groundbreaking

HARWOOD, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven, along with members of the Fargo Memorial Honor Guard (FMHG) and federal, state and local leaders, today broke ground on the Veterans Memorial Center at the Fargo National Cemetery (FNC). Construction on the up to 6,734 sq. ft. facility will begin in earnest during the next construction season, with construction expected to take approximately seven months. A rendering of the planned facility can be found here.

In addition, Hoeven announced the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has completed its master plan for expanding the FNC from 5 to 35 acres, representing millions of dollars of federal funding for infrastructure, parking and better access, as well as for ongoing operations and maintenance. Hoeven has been working with the VA to advance a master plan that incorporates the Honor Guard’s project and brings additional enhancements to the FNC, following his efforts to secure an additional 30 acres and initial improvements to the cemetery’s facilities. The phase 1 expansion is expected to be completed by the Spring of 2028, bringing the total number of burial spaces at the FNC to more than 8,500 with 1,337 veterans having been interred at the cemetery to date. Upon completion of all 9 phases of the Master Plan, the cemetery will provide over 45,000 burial spaces, serving veterans and their families far into the future. The layout of the VA master plan can be found here.

Hoeven worked to secure approval of the conceptual design put together by ICON Architects with VA Secretary Doug Collins and VA Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs (USMA) Sam Brown, who attended today’s groundbreaking at the senator’s invitation. Hoeven stressed that these efforts will result in a first-class federal veterans cemetery, on par with the state-run North Dakota Veterans Cemetery (NDVC) in Mandan. The senator further outlined the essential role of the innovative public-private partnership, which spans all levels of government, in bringing the project to this milestone, highlighting:

The efforts of the Hoeven-led community working group and the FMHG to reach agreement with the VA National Cemetery Administration (NCA) on a plan that:

Incorporates input from local stakeholders.

Preserves the spirit and intent of the FMHG project.

Achieves the goal of ensuring the FNC has the facilities required to meet the needs of veterans, their families and volunteers over the long-term.

The support of both VA Secretary Collins and VA USMA Brown for the conceptual design.

“Today’s groundbreaking is a hard-earned achievement, requiring the cooperation of stakeholders across all levels of government and from the private sector. I truly appreciate Jason Hicks, Jim Graalum and all the members of the Fargo Memorial Honor Guard for their persistent work over the years, as well as the efforts of our community working group, to make this project a reality to the benefit of veterans, their families and the cemetery’s volunteers for decades to come,” said Hoeven. “Between the Veterans Memorial Center and the improvements coming under the VA’s master plan, we are set to build a federal veterans cemetery that matches the first-class state-run cemetery we’ve built in Mandan – a project that properly honors our veterans.”

The conceptual design, which was put together by ICON Architects and advanced by Hoeven’s working group and the FMHG, includes the following features:

Indoor committal shelter.

Gathering area to be used by family and friends of the deceased veteran prior to or following the interment.

Gallery to showcase the lives and service of our veterans.

Office space for VA staff.

Breakroom for the Honor Guard members.

Kiosk to assist with locating graves.

Kitchenette.

Indoor restrooms.

Garage to accommodate a hearse.

-###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cramer-underscores-importance-of-democracy-at-halifax-international-security-forum-meets-with-key-defense-leaders,"Cramer Underscores Importance of Democracy at Halifax International Security Forum, Meets with Key Defense Leaders",2025-11-23,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"***Click here for media resources.***

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA – Each year, global defense leaders from more than 80 countries gather in Nova Scotia, Canada, for the Halifax International Security Forum (HFX). Framed around the themes of “Dialogue, Decency, Democracy,” the 2025 forum showcases the United States’ commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the strength of the U.S.-Canada partnership, and collective security challenges facing democratic allies around the world.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and a bipartisan group of his Senate colleagues traveled to Halifax for the annual event. Cramer participated in a panel, moderated by CBC Radio host Susan Bonner, examining how democracies pair power with moral responsibility. The panel, titled, “Democracies Demand Decency,” focused on how the future of democracies is determined by the citizens who vote and the institutions, leaders, and values they vote for.

“In our unique form of democracy, a representative republic where the citizens are self-governed and the government is a true reflection of the people, the future is shaped by the citizens, not the preferences of self-ascribed world leaders,” said Cramer, chair of the Senate Armed Services (SASC) Airland Subcommittee and the Republican lead on both the American Canadian Economy and Security Caucus and the Canada-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group. “I was very encouraged over the last couple of days by the commitment and conviction of European leaders, Canadian Members of Parliament, the Minister of National Defence, and others. I’m very grateful to Senator Shaheen for thinking me worthy, frankly, and inviting me here to Halifax. But without question, as intriguing and compelling as some of the panels were, the bilateral meetings were really of the upmost importance this weekend.”

Additional panelists included Colombian Minister of Defense Pedro Sánchez, Executive Director of Campaign for Uyghurs & World Uyghur Congress Rushan Abbas, and Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Sean Fraser.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cramer-awarded-ncfas-friend-of-adoption-award,Cramer Awarded NCFA’s Friend of Adoption Award,2025-11-22,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Across North Dakota and the nation, adoption advocates recognize November as National Adoption Month. To celebrate, the National Council For Adoption (NCFA) held its Adoption Hall of Fame ceremony to honor individuals “who have made significant contributions to building a culture that supports all members of the adoption constellation.”

NCFA awarded U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) with the Friend of Adoption Award to recognize his commitment and contributions to the cause of adoption. Cramer and his wife, Kris, are adoptive parents, and he has described adoption as “one of the greatest joys of my life.”

Cramer shepherded through a provision in the Working Families Tax Cuts bill this past summer to restore partial refundability of the Adoption Tax Credit (ATC) for the first time since 2011, easing the financial cost of adoption and supporting prospective and adoptive families. As of September, significant changes to the tax credit’s refundability have already taken effect for tax year 2025 to provide relief for lower- and middle-income families. To ensure the successful administration of the restored ATC this tax filing season, Cramer and the Congressional Coalition on Adoption co-chairs sent a letter to the Internal Revenue Service urging the administration to work together to improve the process, so families can effectively utilize the credit.

In a strong show of the bipartisanship inherent in adoption advocacy, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced Cramer at the ceremony and presented him with the NCFA’s Friend of Adoption Award. Klobuchar and Cramer serve as co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Coalition on Adoption.

Cramer highlighted his relationship with Klobuchar in his remarks, explaining how their shared commitment to supporting adoption in Congress has led to partnering on other bipartisan issues.

“Adoption unites us because children are worth uniting for,” said Cramer. “It’s really an honor to receive the National Council For Adoption’s Friend of Adoption Award. Being able to work on behalf of adoption, this cause that matters so much, is a great joy.”

Cramer and Klobuchar frequently partner on adoption legislation, like the Supporting Adopted Children and Families Act to expand eligible uses of federal adoption funding, and the Safe Home Act to spread awareness of the practice of unregulated custody transfers. The co-chairs also passed this year’s National Adoption Month and Day Resolution designating November as National Adoption Month and November 22 as National Adoption Day, encouraging Americans to prioritize the safety, permanency, and welfare of all children.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cramer-klobuchar-pass-resolution-recognizing-national-adoption-month-and-day,"Cramer, Klobuchar Pass Resolution Recognizing National Adoption Month and Day",2025-11-21,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Across the United States, more than 100,000 children in foster care are waiting to be adopted. For many, adoption provides children the stability of a permanent home and the opportunity they need to thrive. To encourage families throughout the nation to consider adoption, U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), co-chairs of the Senate Congressional Coalition on Adoption (CCA), passed a resolution designating Nov. as National Adoption Month and Nov. 22 as National Adoption Day.

Since the first National Adoption Day in 2000, more than 85,000 children have joined permanent families through celebrations happening across the country. In 2023 alone, 50,193 children were adopted from foster care. Yet 36,411 children remained in foster care despite being legally free for adoption and having a primary permanency plan of adoption.

The resolution celebrates children and families involved in adoption, as well as promotes national awareness of adoption and children awaiting families. It importantly encourages Americans to prioritize the safety, permanency, and welfare of all children.

“Adoption is one of the greatest joys of my life and I am grateful for the role it played in growing my family,” said Cramer. “It’s an honor to pass this resolution with Senator Klobuchar recognizing National Adoption Month and Day. This is a great opportunity to promote adoption and the safety and stability of adoptive families.”

“We’re grateful for the dedication and commitment of adoptive families who open their homes and hearts to children,” said Klobuchar. “As co-chair of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, I will continue to work with Senator Cramer and colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure every child has a safe, loving, and permanent family.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-to-speak-at-halifax-international-security-forum,Hoeven to Speak at Halifax International Security Forum,2025-11-21,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven to Speak at Halifax International Security Forum

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, will speak on a panel at the 17th annual Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia, Canada to outline U.S. security priorities. Hoeven is part of a bipartisan Senate delegation attending the national security forum which brings together defense leaders from around the globe. Hoeven will speak on a panel today and is planning to meet with world leaders including both the Canadian and Colombian Defense Ministers.

“I look forward to joining my colleagues at the Halifax International Security Forum to meet with global leaders and build our shared security priorities,” said Hoeven. “Given the security challenges around the world and the threats facing our nation and allies, this forum provides an important opportunity to strengthen relationships and ensure our nation can meet its security challenges now and into the future.”

-###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-votes-lift-restrictions-lng-and-expand-american-refining-capacity,Fedorchak votes to lift restrictions on LNG and expand American refining capacity,2025-11-20,2025,2025-11,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) today voted in support of two bills that unleash American energy production by lifting restrictions on U.S. natural gas exports and expanding domestic refining capacity.

“By freezing LNG export permits and allowing America’s refining capacity to erode, the Biden administration left America’s energy supply vulnerable and our energy security weakened,” Fedorchak said. “These bills begin to reverse that trend by cleaning up the permitting mess, evaluating refinery closures, and putting American energy back on solid footing.”

Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act:

H.R. 1949, the Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act, lifts outdated federal restrictions on importing and exporting natural gas, overturns the Biden administration’s politically motivated freeze on LNG export permits, and streamlines the approval process for LNG imports and exports.

Under Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act, the Department of Energy is required to approve natural gas exports to non–Free Trade Agreement countries unless doing so is proven contrary to the public interest, and exports to FTA countries are automatically considered in the public interest.

In January 2024, President Biden imposed an indefinite ban on new LNG export permits to non-FTA countries while the administration reviewed the “climate impacts” of LNG exports—a political freeze that stalled investment, threatened U.S. energy production, and undermined allies in Europe seeking to move away from Russian gas.

The Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act repeals these restrictions and gives FERC sole authority over natural gas import and export applications, creating a clearer, faster permitting system.

REFINER Act:

H.R. 3109, the REFINER Act, directs the National Petroleum Council to study opportunities to expand American refining capacity and identify federal and state barriers contributing to refinery closures and declining output.

Over the last several years, America’s refining capacity has declined due burdensome federal and state policies that make it increasingly difficult to operate refineries. From 2020 to 2022, U.S. refining capacity fell by more than one million barrels per day, and the number of refineries dropped from 135 to 128. This has contributed to seasonal price spikes, greater dependence on foreign energy supplies, and strained markets in regions like the West Coast, where California is set to lose 17 percent of its refining capacity next year because of its hostile regulatory environment.

The REFINER Act directs the National Petroleum Council to study the state of U.S. refining, identify risks and regulatory barriers, and outline opportunities to expand capacity.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cramer-to-attend-halifax-international-security-forum-in-nova-scotia-canada,"Cramer to Attend Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia, Canada",2025-11-20,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) will join a bipartisan group of senators in attending the Halifax International Security forum (HFX) this weekend in Nova Scotia, Canada. Cramer is the chair of the Airland Subcommittee on the Senate Armed Services Committee and is the Republican lead on both the American Canadian Economy and Security Caucus and the Canada-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group.

The forum provides an opportunity to showcase the United States’ commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the U.S.-Canada partnership, and the shared security challenges with allies around the world. The U.S. has traditionally provided the largest portion of NATO’s military strength, but global peace is going to depend on our allies building up their military strength to meet the growing threats in their regions and across the globe.

This year’s agenda centers around the shared belief democracies are resilient on their own, but together they are unbreakable. Peter Van Praagh, HFX President, said the program declares “only democracies can create the environment in which individuals feel safe to question established ideas, leading in turn to inventions that secure the future.” As part of the forum, Cramer will participate in a panel titled, “Democracies Demand Decency – How Democracies Decide Destiny.”

“It’s an honor to join my colleagues as part of this bipartisan delegation to Nova Scotia for the Halifax International Security Forum,” said Cramer. “Events like this are a powerful reminder of why democracies are worth defending because they are a better form of government than tyranny. I look forward to learning from defense leaders and leading a panel to highlight democracy’s role in determining a nation’s future.”

The panel will take place at 8:00 a.m. CT / 9:00 a.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 23. It will be live streamed on the HFX website as well as its YouTube channel.

Global defense leaders gather each year at the forum to gain innovative insights into the nation’s security landscape and engage in a wide range of informational sessions covering paramount topics such as energy demands, disinformation, global security, defense technologies, democratic resilience, and food security. More than 80 countries are represented at the annual event.

While in Halifax, the delegation of senators is expected to meet with key defense leaders from across the globe, including Minister of Defense of Colombia Pedro Sanchez-Suarez, Minister of National Defense of Canada David McGuinty, European Union Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius, and more.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-duckworth-introduce-mental-health-in-aviation-act,"Hoeven, Duckworth Introduce Mental Health in Aviation Act",2025-11-20,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven, Duckworth Introduce Mental Health in Aviation Act

WASHINGTON – Senators John Hoeven (R-ND) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced the Mental Health in Aviation Act, bipartisan legislation to modernize the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) approach to mental health and medical certification.

The Mental Health in Aviation Act improves aviation safety by encouraging both pilots and air traffic controllers to seek mental health care, when needed, while reducing the stigma associated with mental health and the potential impact on a pilot’s career. Under current FAA regulations, pilots and air traffic controllers are required to obtain and maintain an FAA Medical Certification, which requires the disclosure of medical treatment, including for mental and behavioral health treatment. Once disclosed, even pilots with minor or well-managed conditions can face prolonged uncertainty and bureaucratic delays as they work through the existing processes that allow for treatment and safe return to operation. Further, the FAA has limited psychiatric staff to process pilot mental health evaluations, compounding the bureaucratic delays and leading to a significant backlog of special issuance applications.

In recognition of these challenges, the FAA convened the Mental Health and Aviation Medical Clearances Rulemaking Committee (ARC) in 2023 to assess barriers for pilots and controllers to acknowledge, seek care and treatment, and report mental health concerns, and to develop and implement policy and protocol recommendations. The ARC delivered 24 targeted recommendations aimed at removing obstacles to mental health care while upholding the highest of aviation safety standards. The Mental Health in Aviation Act builds on these recommendations to modernize the FAA’s approach, promote early intervention, provide additional resources to the FAA’s Office of Aerospace Medicine, and support the well-being of aviation professionals and the overall safety of our skies. Specifically, the legislation would require the FAA to:

Modernize mental health guidance regulations for pilots and air traffic controllers to encourage the early disclosure and treatment of mental health conditions, and to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health in aviation.

Annually review the FAA’s Special Issuance Medical Certification process, appropriate mental health treatments and medication use, and overall mental health training for Aviation Medical Examiners.

Allocate $15 million annually (FY2026–FY2029) to the FAA’s Office of Aerospace Medicine to expand and train additional medical examiners, including specialists, to improve the efficiency of the FAA’s Special Issuance Medical Certification process.

Allocate $1.5 million annually (FY2026–FY2029) for a public information campaign to help reduce the stigma around mental health care in aviation and encourage pilots and air traffic controllers to seek treatment.

This legislation builds upon efforts taken at the University of North Dakota (UND) after John Hauser, a UND Aviation student, took his own life in an aircraft in October 2021. These efforts include the establishment of:

The John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Initiative Fund at UND, which helped develop the UpLift Peer Support program, to offer mental health support for aviation students from their own peers. This first of its kind program for an educational aviation institution is being replicated globally.

An annual Aviation Mental Health Summit, to foster collaboration among collegiate aviation training programs, mental health professionals, industry leaders, and the FAA to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health in aviation.

The North Dakota Center for Aerospace Medicine at the University of North Dakota, which recently signed a $5 million aeromedical research agreement with the FAA.

“It’s imperative that our pilots, air traffic controllers and aviation professionals have access to the resources they need to maintain their mental health,” said Hoeven. “The Mental Health in Aviation Act seeks to address mental health issues throughout the aviation industry, promote early intervention, provide additional resources to the FAA’s Office of Aerospace Medicine, and support the well-being of aviation professionals and the overall safety of our skies.”

“I sincerely thank Senator Hoeven for his leadership in advancing the Mental Health in Aviation Act. This bill ensures members who serve in our aviation community, including pilots and air traffic controllers, have access to the critical mental-health support they need,” said Andy Armacost, President of the University of North Dakota, a global leader in aviation education, research, and safety. “We are grateful to Senator Hoeven for recognizing the vital connection between mental wellness and aviation safety. His steadfast commitment to this cause sends a powerful message about safety in the aviation industry and reinforces UND’s own efforts to strengthen mental health awareness and support among our students. Since the passing of UND student-pilot John Hauser in 2021, the University has launched several pioneering initiatives for UND aviation students, including the John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Fund, which encourages our student pilots to seek help when facing mental health challenges. John Hauser's legacy along with Senator Hoeven’s leadership, continue to inspire all of us to prioritize the well-being of every member of the aviation community.”

“Pilots and air traffic controllers often operate under immense amounts of stress—pursuing mental health care shouldn’t be a career-ending decision,” Duckworth said. “The fear and hesitancy around reporting mental health conditions and accessing care is hurting our pilots and isn’t making our skies any safer—reforms are critically needed. I’m proud to introduce the Mental Health in Aviation Act with Senator Hoeven, commonsense legislation to help improve aviation safety and reduce bureaucratic delays and overregulation that can create a dangerous culture of silence and stigma around mental health.”

Joining Senators Hoeven and Duckworth in cosponsoring this legislation include Senators Katie Britt (R-AL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Deb Fischer (R-NE), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John Curtis (R-UT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Andy Kim (D-NJ).

The Mental Health in Aviation Act is the Senate companion to Representatives Sean Casten (D-IL) and Pete Stauber’s (R-MN) bill, H.R. 2591, which passed the House of Representatives unanimously by voice vote on September 8, 2025.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-bill-streamline-broadband-permitting-advances-energy-and-commerce,Fedorchak bill to streamline broadband permitting advances Energy and Commerce Subcommittee,2025-11-19,2025,2025-11,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Committee yesterday advanced Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak’s (R-ND) CABLE Expansion Act, which now heads to the full Committee for consideration. The bill expedites broadband deployment by streamlining the permitting process for cable operators while protecting the role of local governments.

“Across the country, cable providers—especially in rural communities—face costly and unpredictable permitting delays when trying to deploy or upgrade broadband infrastructure,” Fedorchak said. “My legislation creates a consistent process by streamlining applications, requiring timely written decisions from local franchise authorities, setting firm review timelines, and giving providers the certainty they need to invest in underserved areas.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-votes-repeal-biden-era-regulations-blocking-oil-gas-and-coal,"Fedorchak votes to repeal Biden-era regulations blocking oil, gas, and coal development",2025-11-18,2025,2025-11,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"“The Biden administration shut down responsible energy development through regulations that locked up billions of barrels of oil and long-term supplies of affordable coal. Put simply, these policies were not grounded in reality—and Americans are suffering the consequences through increased energy costs,” Fedorchak said. “The United States is blessed with some of the most abundant natural resources in the world. Let's use these resources responsibly to lower energy costs for Americans. That's what this is all about.""

Earlier this year, Fedorchak led a Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn the Biden Bureau of Land Management’s proposed Resource Management Plan for North Dakota. The resolution passed both the U.S. House and Senate and now awaits the President’s signature.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-votes-transparency-and-justice-epstein-victims,Fedorchak votes for transparency and justice for Epstein victims,2025-11-18,2025,2025-11,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"“Jeffrey Epstein’s victims deserve justice, and the American people deserve answers,” Fedorchak said. “Back in September, I supported and the House passed a resolution that immediately directed the Oversight Committee to investigate, obtain, and publicly release key documents tied to Epstein’s crimes. Because of that action, the Committee has released more than 65,000 pages of records and issued multiple subpoenas of key individuals. I voted for H.R. 4405 to build on this work and the pursuit of long-awaited transparency, accountability, and justice for these victims. After multiple administrations and Congresses have kept this case in darkness, today is another big step forward into the light.”

Today’s legislation, brought to the floor through a discharge petition led by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA), directs the Department of Justice to release the records within 30 days of enactment, which requires approval by the Senate and signature of the President. This includes:

Today’s vote builds on Fedorchak’s earlier support for H. Res. 668, which directs the House Oversight Committee to obtain and publicly release key documents tied to Epstein’s crimes, detention, and death. That resolution—already in effect—includes a binding subpoena with the force of law and does not require Senate passage or presidential signature. So far, the Oversight Committee has:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/ntia-approves-north-dakotas-final-proposal-for-the-broadband-equity-access-and-deployment-program,"NTIA Approves North Dakota’s Final Proposal for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program",2025-11-18,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"***Click here to download audio.***

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced it approved North Dakota's final proposal for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, which was a product of the fully-paid-for-Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Approval of North Dakota’s proposal makes it one step closer to being the first state in the nation to be 100% connected with reliable, high-speed internet.

“Not only does approval of North Dakota’s final proposal unlock new opportunities across the state, that’s a given, but it really opens the door to a more connected future which is everything,” said U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND). “Thanks to the hard work of President Trump, our providers, the state partners, and thanks to all of those folks, our state is now on track to be the first state with 100% connectivity. None of this progress would be possible without our entrepreneurs, it starts with them, our cutting-edge technology delivered by those entrepreneurs, and of course the innovative spirit and the pioneering spirit of North Dakota.”

The state utilizes allocated funds through the BEAD program to expand access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet service. These funds will be used for infrastructure deployment projects and other initiatives to help bridge the digital divide.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/us-air-force-welcomes-general-ken-wilsbach-as-chief-of-staff,U.S. Air Force Welcomes General Ken Wilsbach as Chief of Staff,2025-11-18,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"*** Click herefor media resources.***

WASHINGTON, D.C. – General Ken Wilsbach formally assumed responsibility of serving as the U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff on Tuesday during a ceremony at Joint Base Andrews. As the 24th Air Force Chief of Staff, he oversees 665,000 active, guard, reserve, and civilian personnel, and sets the strategic direction for force modernization and global operations.

General Wilsbach previously served as the Commander of Air Combat Command (ACC), which operates more than 1,600 aircraft, 35 wings, 12 bases, and 1,371 units at more than 263 operating locations worldwide with 155,205 total force military and civilian personnel. ACC develops strategy, doctrine, concepts, tactics and procedures for air, space, and cyber-power employment.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Chair of the Senate Armed Services (SASC) Airland Subcommittee, attended the ceremony and celebrated General Wilsbach’s milestone.

“I can’t think of anyone better prepared to take the helm as Chief of Staff of the Air Force than General Ken Wilsbach, he is eminently prepared,” said Cramer in a video statement after the event. “From a warfighter to leading the Air Force in the Pacific to Air Combat Command, he’s the perfect person for the slot. By the way, Cindy [Wilsbach] is a rockstar as well. I’ve watched her with Airmen, she deeply cares about them, she serves the spouses and others with great care and compassion. They’re a dynamic team for sure, and I’m just really grateful for his knowledge of the assets in North Dakota and his commitment to building a more modern, faster, and more lethal Air Force than ever before. He already heads the greatest Air Force in the world.”

General Wilsbach joined Cramer in visiting Grand Forks Air Force Base in June 2024 to discuss base quality of life, current and future intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities, the growth of the Space Development Agency, and other potential missions. They also visited the North Dakota Air National Guard in Fargo.

After his nomination, General Wilsbach sent a letter to the Air Force where he said “readiness is fundamental” and stressed his goal of modernizing “to win today and into the future.” He said, “…air superiority is not guaranteed. It must be earned every day. […] Every Airman has a role to play in ensuring the United States Air Force remains the world’s most capable, most lethal, and most respected fighting force. I’m excited to see the ingenuity and the capability of our Airmen. Fight’s on!”

General Wilsbach succeeds General David Allvin, who retired at the beginning of the month. He was commissioned in 1985 as a distinguished graduate of the University of Florida’s ROTC program and earned his pilot wings in 1986 as a distinguished graduate from Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. He has commanded a fighter squadron, operations group, two wings, two Numbered Air Forces and held various staff assignments including Director of Operations, Combined Air Operations Center and Director of Operations, U.S. Central Command. General Wilsbach is a command pilot with more than 6,000 hours in multiple aircraft and has flown 71 combat missions in operations Northern Watch, Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-epa-issues-proposed-wotus-rule-to-protect-property-rights-bring-regulation-into-compliance-with-the-law,"Hoeven: EPA Issues Proposed WOTUS Rule to Protect Property Rights, Bring Regulation Into Compliance With the Law",2025-11-17,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven: EPA Issues Proposed WOTUS Rule to Protect Property Rights, Bring Regulation Into Compliance With the Law

Senator Worked to Protect Against Biden and Obama-Era Overreach, Prevent Implementation of Expanded WOTUS Definitions

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a proposed rule to restore the traditional definition of “waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS). Once finalized, the rule will:

Reverse the expanded, overreaching WOTUS definition, which was advanced by both the Obama and Biden administrations.

These rules sought to expand federal regulatory authority beyond the limits established under the Clean Water Act.

This would have imposed unworkable mandates, burdensome new permitting requirements and compliance costs on landowners, energy and agriculture producers and other industries.

Bring the WOTUS rule in compliance with the Supreme Court’s Sackett v. EPA ruling from 2023.

Reduce the regulatory burden, provide certainty to a wide range of industries and limit federal authority to navigable waters, consistent with the Clean Water Act.

The senator has been working with the Trump administration to advance this new rulemaking, stressing the importance of protecting both private property rights and the role of states in managing water resources within their borders.

This follows Hoeven’s efforts to protect against the implementation of previously expansive WOTUS rules.

The EPA will accept public comments on the proposed rule for 45 days. Interested stakeholders may submit their feedback here once the proposed rule has been published in the Federal Register.

“The impact of the Biden-era WOTUS rule would have been far-reaching and costly. Our farmers, ranchers and energy producers, among many others, would have been bogged down in federal permitting for everyday activities, imposing an unworkable regulatory burden and inflating not only their operating costs, but ultimately prices for consumers,” said Hoeven. “That’s why I worked to hold back this regulatory overreach under the Biden and Obama administrations and support the Trump administration in advancing a WOTUS definition that respects private property rights and the regulatory role of states. I appreciate Administrator Zeldin for working with us on this priority, and I encourage North Dakotans to submit their feedback to the EPA to ensure the final rule meets the needs of our state.”

Prior to today’s announcement, Hoeven worked to push back against regulatory overreach by the Biden and Obama administrations, having:

Helped introduce a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval, which Congress passed, to rescind the expanded WOTUS rule. The resolution was subsequently vetoed by President Biden.

Helped introduce legislation in the 117th Congress to codify the first Trump administration’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR), which replaced the 2015 Obama WOTUS rule.

Hoeven previously worked to advance the NWPR, following his efforts to defund WOTUS in 2015 and 2016 and prevent its implementation.

Joined his colleagues in submitting an amicus brief in Sackett v. EPA, urging the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) to preserve state authority to regulate local waters and lands.

Pressed the EPA and the Army Corps to suspend rulemaking on WOTUS until SCOTUS completed its consideration of Sackett v. EPA.

-###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-fy26-appropriations-provides-more-than-50-million-to-help-north-dakota-drive-future-of-ag-technology-and-policy,Hoeven: FY26 Appropriations Provides More Than $50 Million to Help North Dakota Drive Future of Ag Technology & Policy,2025-11-14,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven: FY26 Appropriations Provides More Than $50 Million to Help North Dakota Drive Future of Ag Technology & Policy

Senator Secured Increased Support for NDSU Ag Policy Center, AgTech Partnership with Grand Farm

FARGO, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today outlined how priorities he worked to include in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Agriculture Appropriations legislation will provide more than $50 million to strengthen North Dakota’s role as a driving force in the development of future agriculture technology and policy. Hoeven made the remarks as part of a roundtable he held at North Dakota State University (NDSU) with agriculture researchers, producers and commodity groups. The senator discussed his efforts as chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee to secure the following priorities in the agriculture funding legislation:

Approximately $25 million for ag research in North Dakota with NDSU and its partners, funded through the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

These programs cover a wide variety of commodities, supporting better yields and disease resistance for crops like wheat, soybeans, barley, oats, potatoes, pulse crops and canola, among others.

$18.5 million for NDSU-led research initiatives, ranging from autonomous technologies to machine learning and data security in agriculture.

Nearly $2.5 million for the NDSU Agricultural Risk Policy Center, which provides timely economic analysis on high-impact issues in farm country.

This brings the total funding Hoeven has secured for this initiative to nearly $6.5 million since FY2024.

Hoeven stressed the leading role that NDSU is now playing in agriculture policymaking for the nation, providing insights and driving policies that have a real-world benefit for producers.

For instance, the policy center’s analyses have been key in shaping the updates to crop insurance and reference prices that Hoeven advanced in the One Big Beautiful Bill, as well as ongoing work on an agriculture assistance package.

$5 million for the AgTech Cooperative Agreement between Grand Farm, NDSU and ARS.

This includes $2 million to establish an ARS work site at Grand Farm and brings total funding for the partnership to $11 million.

The partnership is working to develop the next generation of precision agriculture technologies, helping to secure U.S. farmers and ranchers’ competitive edge now and into the future.

$3 million for continued renovations at the Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center in Fargo, bringing total funding for the project to $18 million since FY2022.

“North Dakota has long been a powerhouse in agriculture, but with these latest initiatives in agriculture policy and technology, we are truly taking our leadership to the next level,” said Hoeven. “NDSU’s Ag Risk Policy Center is just over a year old, but it has already proven to be a key tool for policymakers and is shaping our nation’s ag policy to the benefit of farmers and ranchers as we speak. At the same time, the university’s AgTech partnership with Grand Farm and ARS is breaking new ground to empower our farmers to produce greater yields with fewer input costs. That’s just two examples of the cutting-edge work that we’ve funded in our FY2026 appropriations legislation.”

SUPPORT FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS

In addition, Hoeven worked to ensure the FY26 agriculture funding legislation continues to provide strong support for farmers and ranchers, which includes:

Helping ensure producer access to credit by fully funding the demand for the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) direct and guaranteed operating and ownership loans.

A measure prohibiting closure of FSA offices.

$500,000 for blackbird depredation in the Northern Great Plains.

Priorities for North Dakota livestock producers, including:

$13.5 million to help ranchers comply with electronic identification (EID) requirements.

Support for avian influenza and chronic wasting disease (CWD) prevention and research efforts.

Measures to promote competition and transparency in cattle markets, such as:

$1 million to continue Hoeven’s cattle contract library pilot program.

Funding to enforce the Packers and Stockyards Act.

-###-

Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-crack-the-code-20-supports-us-energy-dominance-helps-secure-future-of-coal-fired-baseload-power,"Hoeven: Crack the Code 2.0 Supports U.S. Energy Dominance, Helps Secure Future of Coal-Fired Baseload Power",2025-11-13,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven: Crack the Code 2.0 Supports U.S. Energy Dominance, Helps Secure Future of Coal-Fired Baseload Power

Senator Outlines Efforts to Secure Federal Support for Deploying EOR in North Dakota, Senator Outlines Efforts to Link Coal-Fired Electric Plants to Oil Production in Bakken

BISMARCK, N.D. – During the Lignite Energy Council’s (LEC) annual meeting today, Senator John Hoeven outlined his efforts to secure the future of North Dakota’s coal industry. Hoeven, who participated in a panel discussion with leaders from the LEC, North Dakota Petroleum Council, the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) and Rainbow Energy, discussed:

Advancing his Crack the Code 2.0 initiative which seeks to partner the state’s oil and gas industry, using enhanced oil recovery (EOR) to double both oil recovery in the Bakken and the life of North Dakota’s coal-fired power plants.

This is possible due to a policy Hoeven worked to include in the One Big Beautiful Bill (OB3) that properly aligned the 45Q tax credit to incentivize the use of CO2 for EOR, which:

Supports coal producers’ continued operations by providing access to a new revenue stream through selling CO2 to oil producers.

Makes EOR the clear, commercially-viable choice for improving oil recovery in the Bakken, opening access to at least 5 billion additional barrels of oil in the formation that were previously inaccessible.

Hoeven is working to secure up to $50 million to support the deployment of EOR in North Dakota, having provided $12 million for the effort to date.

The senator also recently secured a commitment from the nominee to head the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development to work with him and the electric cooperatives on using federal credit programs to accelerate this initiative.

Providing regulatory relief and continuing to roll back the burdensome federal rules imposed during the Biden administration.

To this end, Hoeven worked with the Trump administration earlier this year to rescind the Clean Power Plan 2.0 and the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) rule.

Hoeven, along with then-Congressman Kelly Armstrong, previously led bicameral legislation to block the EPA from implementing its new MATS rule.

Hoeven also joined the North Dakota delegation in sponsoring and passing legislation to rescind the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Resource Management Plan for North Dakota.

The new RMP would have locked away nearly all federal coal and the majority of oil and gas acreage in North Dakota.

“Crack the Code 2.0 is about realizing the potential of North Dakota’s vast, untapped energy reserves, particularly our oil, gas and coal resources,” said Hoeven. “We know EOR works, because we’ve been shipping CO2 from the Dakota Gasification Company up to Weyburn Field for this purpose for 25 years. Now, due to the changes we made under OB3 and with the federal support we’re advancing, we can utilize this approach in the Bakken. Doing so gives our coal producers a new revenue stream while opening up at least 5 billion barrels of additional oil for production, both of which are supported by our efforts to roll back the regulatory onslaught imposed under President Biden. The result is continued access to reliable baseload power and more domestic oil and gas – that’s a win for American consumers, our economy and U.S. energy dominance.”

-###-

Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-statement-house-vote-end-government-shutdown,Fedorchak statement on House vote to end government shutdown,2025-11-12,2025,2025-11,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) released the following statement after the House passed legislation to reopen the government through January 30, 2026. The legislation also includes three of the twelve appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2026, which notably provides funding for our farmers, ranchers, and veterans:

“From the start, Republicans made clear we wouldn’t compromise on common sense. Thankfully, we didn’t have to,” Fedorchak said. “The completely avoidable Schumer Shutdown created needless hardship for millions of Americans, only to end up right where we started—passing a clean CR. It is high time we get the government working for the American people again.”

BACKGROUND:

On September 19, 2025, House Republicans passed a clean Continuing Resolution (CR) to continue government funding at current levels—levels that Democrats enacted and have previously supported—until November 21, 2025.

However, the CR required 60 votes to pass in the Senate. Despite supporting these exact funding levels in the past, Senate Democrats voted against passing the CR, causing a lapse in government funding.

On Monday, November 10, after 41 days of a government shutdown, eight Senate Democrats joined Republicans in reaching the 60 votes needed to end the filibuster and pass a CR that funds the government until January 30. The legislation was sent to the House and passed today in a 222-209 vote.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-statement-after-house-approves-legislation-ending-government-shutdown,Hoeven Statement After House Approves Legislation Ending Government Shutdown,2025-11-12,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven Statement After House Approves Legislation Ending Government Shutdown

Senator Helped Negotiate Package to Fund Government, Pass Three Full-Year Appropriations Bills

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement after the House of Representatives approved legislation to reopen the government. The Senate approved the bill on Monday and it will now go to the President to be signed into law. As Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, Hoeven helped to negotiate the legislation, which includes three full-year appropriations bills, including the final Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture Appropriations bill.

“Now that both houses of Congress have approved this legislation we can get the government reopened for the good of the American people. We worked to negotiate this package to both fund the government but also get us back to regular order with passage of three full-year appropriations bills, including our ag appropriations bill for our farmers and ranchers. That’s the right way to appropriate so we can fund our priorities while finding savings to reduce the debt and deficit. Next, the Senate will take up the Defense Appropriations bill to ensure we properly fund our great troops and their defense missions. This shutdown has gone on for too long and now that the government is funded we can continue moving forward with the appropriations process and the work of the American people.”

More information on the Hoeven-secured priorities in the FY26 Agriculture Appropriations bill is available here and the FY26 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill here.

###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-honors-nations-veterans-outlines-priorities-included-in-milcon-va-approps-bill,"Hoeven Honors Nation’s Veterans, Outlines Priorities Included in Milcon-VA Approps Bill",2025-11-11,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven Honors Nation’s Veterans, Outlines Priorities Included in Milcon-VA Approps Bill

As Member of Appropriations Committee, Senator Included Provisions to Improve VA Health Care and Veterans Cemeteries

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (Milcon-VA) Appropriations Committee, today honored the sacrifices of all those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces on Veterans Day. Hoeven outlined important priorities included in the Milcon-VA Appropriations bill that was part of an agreement to reopen the government that is advancing through Congress.

“Our nation’s veterans have served honorably and made tremendous sacrifices to secure our liberties and keep us safe. Every day, but particularly on Veterans Day, we pay tribute to these brave Americans and thank them for their service,” said Hoeven. “The best way to honor our veterans is by providing them with the benefits and recognition that they have earned. We included important provisions in this year’s Milcon-VA funding bill to ensure that we keep our nation’s promise to care for those who have served so honorably, including better access to care as well as a provision to help advance the Veterans Memorial Center at the Fargo National Cemetery.”

Hoeven outlined important veterans priorities in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Milcon-VA appropriations bill. In addition to strong funding for veterans medical care and veterans benefits, the legislation:

Supports construction of additional infrastructure at Rural Initiative national cemeteries, like the Fargo National Cemetery (FNC) and ensures the VA prioritizes investments that involve state and local contributions, similar to the Veterans Memorial Center being advanced by the Hoeven-led FNC working group.

Improves veterans access to long-term care by recruiting and retaining more partners and pressing the VA to work toward permanently exempting providers from onerous contracting requirements at the Department of Labor.

Expands access to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) by encouraging the VA to continue researching the therapy as a treatment for post-traumatic stress (PTS) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), while permitting case-by-case referrals for HBOT through VA Community Care.

Additionally, Hoeven secured funding and language supporting military construction priorities in North Dakota including:

Continued nuclear modernization at the Minot Air Force Base. Hoeven included measures in the bill directing the Air Force to prioritize and fund security enhancements at Minot Air Force Base’s existing Weapons Storage Area, and develop a plan, including a construction timeline for Sentinel launch facilities that incorporates concurrent construction at all three missile bases.

$1.5 million in additional funding for the North Dakota National Guard’s Jamestown Readiness Center.

Hoeven-provision to ensure the Army National Guard meets lodging needs at facilities like Camp Grafton’s Regional Training Institute.

The housing project is fully designed, supported by $2 million in funding Hoeven secured in FY2024.

-###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-launches-mobile-office-hours-tour-across-north-dakota,Fedorchak launches mobile office hours tour across North Dakota,2025-11-10,2025,2025-11,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) today announced mobile office hours for her staff to assist North Dakotans with federal casework and connect with constituents in every part of the state.

“A top priority for me and my team is being accessible and responsive to the people of North Dakota,” Fedorchak said. “From veterans’ benefits to Social Security and IRS issues, we’re here to help cut through red tape and get results. These office hours are about hearing directly from North Dakotans, solving problems, and staying connected to the people who make our state strong.”

The mobile office hours are designed to ensure every North Dakotan has the opportunity to meet face-to-face with members of her team and receive assistance with federal agencies.

Constituents can sign up for a one-on-one meeting with Congresswoman Fedorchak’s staff, but walk-ins will be seen as time allows once scheduled appointments are concluded. Dates and locations will be updated regularly on Fedorchak’s official website.

November office hours:

Bowman County, Bowman Regional Public Library - Tuesday, November 18th, 2025, 11:30am - 1:30pm

Slope County, Slope County Courthouse - Tuesday, November 18th, 2025, 9:00 - 10:30am

Nelson County, Lakota City Library - Thursday, November 20, 2025, 12:00-2:00pm

Meetings will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Once all slots are filled, the sign-up form will close. Staff will contact participants directly to confirm their meeting time and location.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senate-advances-bill-to-end-schumer-shutdown,Senate Advances Bill to End Schumer Shutdown,2025-11-10,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Bolsters National Security, Supports Veterans, Farmers, and Ranchers

***Click hereto download audio.***

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After 41 days of gridlock, the United States Senate voted 60 to 40 to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history and extend current funding through the end of January 2026. The measure advanced after eight Senate Democrats voted alongside Republicans to move the package forward, which includes three Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 appropriations bills supporting military construction, veterans’ affairs, agriculture, rural development, food safety, technology infrastructure, and national security programs.

In addition to reopening the government, the appropriations package secures funding to support our nation’s farmers and ranchers, fully funds veterans medical care, invests in rural infrastructure, housing, and business development, and supports approximately 300 military construction projects across the nation. Among other provisions, it prohibits the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from purchasing technology equipment manufactured by specific Chinese companies subject to influence by the Chinese Communist Party and protects American farmland from being purchased by foreign adversaries.

The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement, touting the wins included in this funding package:

“The passage of this package is big, it’s a win for our veterans, law enforcement officers, farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers, as well as every American across the nation. It’s really important because not only does it reopen the government, which is the fundamental point, but it pays the people who’ve earned their pay and it keeps vital programs running, all while delivering some key wins for North Dakota which afterall is my first priority. It provides funding for the Jamestown Armory and ensures North Dakota is not neglected when we pursue certain suicide prevention grants for veterans. The bill supports North Dakota’s farmers and ranchers through programmatic funding increases by prohibiting the closure of FSA county offices, which we know are critical to servicing our farmers and ranchers every day. This vote really reflects the Senate’s commitment to those who serve, those who produce, and keep our nation strong. I hope the House will act swiftly to get this across the finish line and reopen the government by mid-week.”

Military Construction, Veterans Affairs:

The Military Construction, VA, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for FY26 secures approximately $1.5 million to design an armory for the North Dakota Army National Guard in Jamestown. It also provides $702.8 million for the Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) program, which serves every county in North Dakota through the Williston, Minot, Devils Lake, Grand Forks, Fargo, Jamestown, Bismarck, and Dickinson regional Community Action Agencies.

As a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Cramer has fought to ensure veterans receive timely access to high quality mental health care, no matter where they live. In April, Cramer and U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced the bipartisan Every State Counts for Veterans Mental Health Act to provide priority consideration of SSG Fox SPGP applications to entities in states, like North Dakota, which have not previously received a grant. The CR reflects Cramer’s work to ensure North Dakota veterans receive suicide prevention support if they need it by extending SSG Fox SPGP through Sept. 30.

It provides support for housing, infrastructure, and facilities for U.S. military forces and their families, as well as increased funding for veterans’ health care and mandatory benefits such as disability compensation programs, education benefits, and vocational rehabilitation and employment training, and more.

The bill includes a provision prohibiting the VA from purchasing technology equipment from any Chinese manufacturer on a list maintained by the U.S. Department of War (DOW), the U.S. Department of Treasury, the U.S. Department of Commerce, or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It also provides funding for the DOW military construction program, which supports roughly 300 projects at military installations within the U.S. and around the world; construction and modernization of military infrastructure critical to warfighter readiness; support the integration and deployment of new and emerging technologies.

Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration:

The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for FY26 secures food supply chains, provides funding for programs to support producers and rural communities, facilitates agricultural research, and offers nutritional and housing assistance for low-income families.

Specifically, the legislation allocates $10 billion for farm loans, provides $1.4 billion for the Farm Service Agency (FSA), and prohibits closures of FSA county offices. It funds essential programs producers rely on to protect crops and livestock from diseases and pests, facilitates domestic and international marketing of agricultural products, and supports frontline personnel for state meat and poultry inspection programs. Notably, it also provides resources to help ranchers comply with electronic identification (EID) tag requirements.

To support rural communities, this bill provides $4.1 billion for rural development programs, $1.7 billion for rental assistance, $26 billion for housing loans, $1.4 billion for water and waste grants and loans, and $1.8 billion to support rural business and industry programs. It also delivers $109 million for rural broadband grants and loans aimed at the nation’s most hard-to-reach areas.

It includes $3.8 billion for agricultural research programs, securing U.S. dominance in agricultural innovation. The Agricultural Research Service, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative ensure American farmers and ranchers can harness cutting-edge technologies while supporting innovation and agriculture production. To build on the Trump administration’s National Farm Security Action Plan, the bill supports efforts to protect the U.S. agricultural economy and maintain U.S. global leadership in animal health, biodefense, and biosecurity.

Further, the legislation maintains the Secretary of Agriculture’s position on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to protect food supply chains from adversaries. It also provides funding increases for the Food Safety and Inspection Service and the FDA’s state inspection programs to improve food safety systems and prevents the unregulated sale of intoxicating hemp-based or hemp-derived products, including Delta-8, from being sold online, in gas stations, and corner stores, while preserving non-intoxicating CBD and industrial hemp products.

The legislation funds food assistance programs for seniors, mothers, and children through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.

Legislative Branch:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-senate-approves-legislation-to-end-shutdown,Hoeven: Senate Approves Legislation to End Shutdown,2025-11-10,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven: Senate Approves Legislation to End Shutdown

Ag Approps Chairman Helped Negotiate Package Including Three Approps Bills

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate approved an agreement to fund the government and pass three full-year appropriations bills, including funding for agriculture and veterans. As Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, Hoeven helped to negotiate the package, including the final Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture Appropriations bill.

“We worked with Leader Thune and our colleagues on the Appropriations Committee to find a solution to reopen the government. Importantly, the package will help us get back to regular order with passage of three of the full-year appropriations bills, including the Agriculture Appropriations bill to support our farmers and ranchers. Under regular order, we are able to fund our priorities while finding savings to reduce the debt and deficit. In addition, the Senate will tee up the Defense Appropriations bill for consideration next week to properly and adequately fund our great troops. The legislation now goes to the House of Representatives, and we hope they will quickly approve it to get government open.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-senate-passes-fy2026-agriculture-appropriations-bill-part-of-legislation-to-re-open-government,"Hoeven: Senate Passes FY2026 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, Part of Legislation to Re-Open Government",2025-11-10,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven: Senate Passes FY2026 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, Part of Legislation to Re-Open Government

As Chairman, Senator Worked to Negotiate & Secure Ag Appropriations Bill’s Passage Supporting Ag Research, Producer Access to Credit

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement after the Senate passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 agriculture funding bill. As chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, Hoeven worked to negotiate and secure the legislation’s passage as part of a package to re-open the federal government. This follows Hoeven’s efforts to author the bill and ensure it provides strong support for farmers and ranchers, agriculture research and rural America.

“We advanced this year’s agriculture funding legislation through regular order, showing that we can support our priorities and find savings to reduce the debt and deficit, while securing bipartisan support both in committee and on the Senate floor. That’s the right way to approach our appropriations work, and this agreement to re-open government helps us get that process moving again,” said Hoeven. “Importantly, we worked to ensure our ag funding legislation supports the innovative research being conducted by NDSU, Grand Farm and their partners. At the same time, this bill supports better access to credit and the services our producers rely on at FSA. This is important not only as harvest wraps up, but as we work to advance an ag assistance bill to provide a bridge to help producers until the new reference prices come into effect.”

Agriculture Research

Nearly $2.5 million for the Agricultural Risk Policy Center at North Dakota State University (NDSU), bringing the total funding Hoeven has secured for this initiative to nearly $6.5 million since FY2024.

$5 million for the AgTech Cooperative Agreement between Grand Farm, NDSU and the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). This includes $2 million to establish an ARS work site at Grand Farm.

$3 million for continued renovations at the Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center in Fargo.

Maintains and strengthens a wide range of agriculture research conducted in North Dakota, funded through ARS and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), supporting better yields and disease resistance for crops like wheat, soybeans, barley, oats, potatoes, pulse crops and canola, among others.

Support for Farmers and Ranchers

Helps ensure producer access to credit, providing sufficient funding to meet demand for the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) direct and guaranteed operating and ownership loans.

Continues the prohibition on FSA county office closures.

Gives ranchers the necessary resources to comply with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) electronic identification (EID) tag requirement.

This follows Hoeven’s efforts last year to secure an additional 3 million EID tags to prevent an unfunded mandate from being imposed on U.S. ranchers.

Provides $500,000 for blackbird depredation in the Northern Great Plains.

Empowers APHIS to protect the nation’s livestock against diseases, including avian influenza and chronic wasting disease (CWD), while supporting continued CWD research at ARS.

Supports a more competitive and transparent cattle market by:

Providing $1 million to continue Hoeven’s cattle contract library pilot program.

Maintaining funding for the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to enforce the Packers and Stockyards Act.

-###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senate-advances-bipartisan-bills-takes-key-step-toward-ending-schumer-shutdown,"Senate Advances Bipartisan Bills, Takes Key Step Toward Ending Schumer Shutdown",2025-11-09,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – By a vote of 60 to 40, the U.S. Senate voted to proceed to an appropriations package, bringing Congress one step closer to ending the longest-lasting government shutdown in history. Late hour negotiations delivered five additional Democrats, securing the 60 votes needed to invoke cloture. Three Democrats had voted with Republicans during the previous 14 attempts. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) credited the progress to President Donald Trump’s engagement over the past few days.

The vote is the first step of a plan by Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) to reopen the government. It opens the door to passing a modified version of the continuing resolution (CR) Senate Republicans have now voted for 15 times. The latest version of the CR will extend current government funding levels through the end of January 2026 and incorporate the content of three individual appropriations bills the Senate passed this year, including Agriculture-FDA, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction-VA.

Cramer issued the following statement after voting in favor of the motion:

“After a record-breaking shutdown, we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Cramer. “Advancing this appropriations package gets us one step closer to paying the troops, the border patrol agents and all the other federal workers who were inexcusably used as leverage by Democrats. While Chuck Schumer may have believed it got better and better each day the government was closed, the rest of the country paid the price for his political games.”

The Senate will vote to pass the CR and appropriations bills later in the week and send them to the House, which is expected to pass the bills. The legislation will then be sent to the White House for President Donald Trump to sign into law.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-statementafter-senate-advancesagreement-to-fund-government,Hoeven Statement After Senate Advances Agreement to Fund Government,2025-11-09,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven Statement After Senate Advances Agreement to Fund Government

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate advanced a short-term continuing resolution (CR) to reopen and fund the government through January 30. In addition to opening the government, the agreement includes three of the twelve full-year appropriations bills, including the Agriculture Appropriations bill. As Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, Hoeven helped to negotiate the package, which cleared a key procedural hurdle today and is now advancing in the Senate.

“We worked to negotiate a path forward to reopen the government with a short-term CR through January 30 and passage of three of the full-year appropriations bills. These three bills, including the Agriculture Appropriations bill, will help get us back to regular order. This shutdown has gone on for far too long. Let’s get this CR approved so we can get back to the work of the people, and pass the remaining appropriations bills to fund our priorities while finding savings.”

-###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-on-senate-floor-open-the-government-and-get-back-to-appropriating,Hoeven on Senate Floor: Open the Government And Get Back to Appropriating,2025-11-08,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven on Senate Floor: Open the Government And Get Back to Appropriating

Measure to Pay Federal Employees Blocked by Democrats

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today spoke on the Senate floor about the impacts of the ongoing government shutdown and the need to reopen the government and pass the appropriations bills. Hoeven voted last night for legislation offered by Senator Ron Johnson to pay federal employees during the government shutdown, however Senate Democrats blocked the bill.

“The Senate Democrats have not only shut down the federal government for more than a month, but are now blocking pay for federal employees, including our military, national guard, air traffic controllers, TSA agents and others, who have continued to keep our nation safe, and provide essential services to the American people during the shutdown. We need to reopen the government and get back to appropriating, and the best way to do that is to pass a clean, short-term continuing resolution.”

-###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-discusses-opportunities-for-usda-loan-programs-to-advance-energy-security-meet-rural-health-care-housing-and-livestock-producer-needs,"Hoeven Discusses Opportunities for USDA Loan Programs to Advance Energy Security, Meet Rural Health Care, Housing & Livestock Producer Needs",2025-11-07,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven Discusses Opportunities for USDA Loan Programs to Advance Energy Security, Meet Rural Health Care, Housing & Livestock Producer Needs

Senator Secures Commitment from Rural Development Nominee to Work with Electric Cooperatives on Accelerating Crack the Code 2.0

WASHINGTON – At a hearing of the Senate Agriculture Committee this week, Senator John Hoeven discussed with Glen Smith, the nominee to serve as Under Secretary for Rural Development, the opportunity to leverage credit programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to advance a range of priorities in rural America. Smith currently serves as chairman of the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation (FCSIC) and a member of the Farm Credit Administration (FCA) board of directors. Accordingly, both in the hearing and a meeting Hoeven held with Smith in September, the senator outlined how Smith’s experience will empower Rural Development to make the best use of its credit programs and how they can work together to:

Advance Hoeven’s Crack the Code 2.0 initiative to double the life of North Dakota’s coal-fired power plants and double oil production in the Bakken.

Hoeven stressed that rural electric cooperatives will be a key player in deploying enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technologies in the Bakken.

The senator secured a commitment from Smith to work with him and the electric cooperatives to accelerate this initiative, which will establish a new revenue stream for coal producers while using EOR to access more than 5 billion barrels of additional oil in North Dakota.

Address health care, housing and other critical needs in rural America.

Hoeven highlighted successful efforts to build state-of-the-art hospitals in communities like Rugby, Grafton and Hazen as a model for meeting similar rural needs.

Hoeven worked as chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee to support communities in leveraging both Rural Development loans and Critical Access Hospital (CAH) reimbursement to secure new facilities and vastly improve health care access in those regions.

Expand access to local, small meat processing facilities, giving ranchers more options for selling and marketing their products.

“In North Dakota, we’ve made good use of credit programs at USDA to empower communities to meet local and regional needs, particularly for health care. We’re working to expand upon those efforts, including by working with our rural electric cooperatives to advance Crack the Code 2.0 in the Bakken, and Glen Smith will be an important partner in moving that initiative forward,” said Hoeven. “Whether it’s energy security, health care, housing or better helping livestock producers sell their commodities, we have real opportunities through Rural Development to improve the economy and quality of life in rural America. I look forward to working with Mr. Smith to do just that once he’s confirmed to his new role.”

CRACK THE CODE 2.0

This week’s hearing comes as the latest in Hoeven’s efforts to secure federal support for Crack the Code 2.0, which seeks to partner North Dakota’s oil and coal industries to double both the ultimate oil recovery in the Bakken and the operational life of the state’s coal-fired power plants. To move this priority forward, Hoeven:

Is working as a member of the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Committee to secure up to $50 million from the federal government for the project, having provided $12 million for the effort to date.

The initial $12 million award enabled the Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) and Chord Energy to conduct 18 months of field and laboratory research to study the viability of injecting CO2 and natural gas liquids into unconventional oil reservoirs for the purposes of enhanced oil recovery.

Hoeven has since secured commitments from Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Assistant Secretary of Fossil Energy Kyle Haustveit to collaborate with North Dakota on this effort and increase federal support from the Department of Energy (DOE).

The federal and state funding will be used to leverage $76 million in private investment, bringing the total project funding to approximately $171 million.

Worked to ensure the One Big Beautiful Bill (OB3) properly aligned the 45Q tax credit to incentivize the use of CO2 for EOR. Doing so:

Provides a strong, long-term incentive for EOR, making it the clear, commercially-viable choice to improve oil recovery in the Bakken.

Establishes an additional revenue stream for coal producers to extend the life of coal power plants and continue providing a critical source of baseload power.

-###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cramer-questions-defense-nominees-at-senate-armed-services-committee-hearing,Cramer Questions Defense Nominees at Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing,2025-11-06,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.***

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) held a hearing to consider the nominations of Timothy D. Dill to be Assistant Secretary of War for Manpower and Reserve Affairs; Dr. Maurice L. Todd to be Assistant Secretary of War for Readiness; Michael Payne to be Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE); and Alexander J. Velez-Green to be Deputy Under Secretary of War for Policy.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), chair of the SASC Airland Subcommittee, questioned Payne about independent assessments being diluted by program advocacy. He also asked Velez-Green about a reported “pause” in Ukraine aid and claims made by Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby that the British Royal Navy should reduce its presence in the Indo-Pacific.

If confirmed as the senior civilian official leading CAPE in the U.S. Department of War (DOW), Payne would be responsible for independent analysis of force structure, program alternatives, cost-effectiveness of defense systems, and advising the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of War. Cramer expressed concern that too often, independent assessments get diluted by program advocacy and can be masked by cherry picking operational scenarios to match or disadvantage the platform being evaluated.

Cramer asked Payne if this happens at CAPE, either inadvertently or through orders by leadership.

“At times in the past, yes, I have seen CAPE take on an advocacy role that I think is inappropriate for an independent analytic organization,” responded Payne. “If confirmed, you have my commitment that my priority would be focusing CAPE on its true mission, which is being an advisory, not a policy making or decision-making organization.”

As Deputy Under Secretary of War for Policy in the DOW, Velez-Green would support the civilian head on strategy, deterrence, alliance management, and doctrinal posture for the United States. Over the summer, the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales sailed in the Pacific. Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby reportedly made a comment to the British along the lines of “is it too late to call it back? Because we don’t want you there.”

Cramer asked Velez-Green if he had knowledge of the specific discussion. Velez-Green said it would be inappropriate to comment on private discussions between different governments given the setting, but Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has publicly said “it is most important for our European allies to focus on their home theater as they work to build out their capacity.”

“That is the guidance that the Secretary has offered in a public setting, and my personal view is, I think that does make a lot of sense because we believe in a NATO that is as strong as possible,” said Velez-Green. “That is a sincerely held view. My personal belief is we have an interest in NATO being as strong as possible on an enduring basis, with the United States deeply engaged. But for that to happen, especially as we face the rise of China, our allies simply have to step up and focus those resources where they're needed most.”

Cramer asked if anyone coordinated the statement with allies or the U.S. Department of State.

“There are other agencies for whom international relationships are the higher party, not at least, which, of course, is the State Department,” said Cramer. “And so, I'd be interested to know if this position was reconciled with the State Department, or if this was just, again, a private conversation to your point, or for that matter, if other allies were consulted, allies that welcome the British having a ship in the Pacific.”

Velez-Green said the undersecretary has been “ruthless and specific” about ensuring the office of the Under Secretary of War for Policy focuses on military matters, and in this case, thinking about the allocation of defense resources across theaters. He said they also interact with their interagency colleagues to ensure those cross-cutting interagency conversations continue.

Following up on a statement made earlier this week by Austin Dahmer, nominee for Assistant Secretary of War for Strategy, Plans and Forces, regarding a pause in aid to Ukraine, Cramer asked Velez-Green to reconcile statements denying a pause with a DOW publication which states, “some assistance provided to Ukraine — as well as assistance to other nations — is on pause as the Defense Department reviews its own capabilities.”

“I can say categorically, the policy leadership neither ordered nor even recommended a pause to any weapons shipments to Ukraine as it was reported,” said Velez-Green. “Full stop, no caveats. That reporting was completely inaccurate in substantial part because we do not have the authority to order any adjustment to weapons deliveries one way or the other. I am aware of brief disruptions to certain deliveries as a result of the capabilities review that Mr. Purnell referenced in the July 2 transcript that I believe was referenced on Tuesday, but I am not aware of a pause ordered by the Secretary to any of the weapons shipments at the time.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-joins-epa-administrator-lee-zeldin-and-governor-kelly-armstrong,Fedorchak joins EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Governor Kelly Armstrong for approval of North Dakota Coal Combustion Residuals Permit Program,2025-11-05,2025,2025-11,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Bismarck, ND – Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) joined U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin and Governor Kelly Armstrong today for an announcement approving North Dakota’s coal combustion residuals (CCR) program application. This decision will allow the state, rather than the federal government, to permit CCR disposal in surface impoundments and landfills.

CCR is produced primarily as a byproduct from burning coal in coal-fired power plants. After reviewing North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality’s application, EPA determined that it meets the standards for approval on May 16, 2025. After the public comment period ended, EPA finalized approval on the program. North Dakota is the fourth state in the U.S. to have an approved CCR permit program.

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“North Dakota has proven that environmental stewardship and energy development go hand in hand. This decision empowers our state—not Washington bureaucrats—to manage coal ash responsibly and strengthen our energy independence,” Fedorchak said. “I appreciate EPA Administrator Zeldin for recognizing North Dakota’s leadership and working with us to keep energy reliable, affordable, and responsibly produced.”

“By entrusting state experts with the authority to oversee their own resources, we are reinforcing our commitment to both cooperative federalism and permitting reform,” said Administrator Lee Zeldin. “North Dakota’s deep understanding of its unique landscape and community needs ensures that local expertise leads the way in protecting the environment and fostering economic growth. This approval exemplifies how partnership between EPA and states can unleash American energy, create jobs, and Power the Great American Comeback.”

“North Dakota has regulated coal combustion residuals effectively for more than 40 years, protecting both the environment and public health, and we appreciate the EPA and Administrator Zeldin for recognizing the strength and responsibility of our state-led approach,” said North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong. “The potential to extract rare earth elements and critical minerals from CCR – instead of having to import them from foreign adversaries – makes this approval of our CCR permit program even more important to U.S. energy independence, the economy and national security.”

“EPA is proud to support North Dakota’s leadership and local expertise in managing its own coal combustion residuals program responsibly,” said EPA Regional Administrator Cyrus Western. “This approval reflects that practical, state-driven solutions can deliver both environmental results and American energy opportunity.”

CLICK HERE for more information about the North Dakota CCR permit program.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-epa-north-dakota-sign-agreement-implementing-coal-ash-recycling-program,"Hoeven: EPA, North Dakota Sign Agreement Implementing Coal Ash Recycling Program",2025-11-05,2025,2025-11,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven: EPA, North Dakota Sign Agreement Implementing Coal Ash Recycling Program

Senator Authored, Passed 2016 Legislation Creating State-Led Permitting Program to Provide Regulatory Relief for Coal Producers

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement congratulating Governor Kelly Armstrong and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin on signing an agreement formally implementing the State of North Dakota’s coal ash recycling and disposal program. The program is made possible through bipartisan legislation Hoeven authored and passed in 2016, which was needed after an EPA rule issued in 2014 correctly regulated coal ash as a non-hazardous material, but did not create an effective enforcement mechanism. The 2014 regulation made coal ash recycling more difficult and created uncertainty and added cost for coal producers.

Instead, the Hoeven-created, state-led approach will:

Provide certainty for the safe and efficient recycling of coal ash, helping to reduce costs and creating a potential revenue stream for coal producers.

Coal ash recycling allows for the productive use of coal residuals in applications like construction, where it serves as an ingredient in a less-expensive, stronger and more durable form of cement.

Coal ash was used in the construction of the North Dakota Heritage Center and the National Energy Center of Excellence at Bismarck State College.

Establish an enforceable state permit program for the disposal of coal ash, which requires protective infrastructure for disposal sites as well as timely and effective groundwater monitoring, among other standards.

States that choose not to create a permit program or that do not have an approved application from EPA will continue to be regulated directly by EPA.

“We created this state-led program through my legislation passed in 2016 to help give a more stable footing to coal producers, providing efficient, cost-effective methods for recycling and disposing of coal ash,” said Senator Hoeven. “We appreciate Governor Armstrong and Administrator Zeldin for their work to finalize and approve North Dakota’s program. This state-led approach means lower costs and more regulatory certainty, benefiting both the environment and our economy – a win-win for U.S. energy dominance. This is part of our work to maintain access to the reliable, affordable baseload power provided by coal that is available 24/7, no matter the weather.”

-###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/veterans-focused-fedorchak-forum-be-held-wednesday-november-12,"Veterans-focused Fedorchak Forum to be held Wednesday, November 12",2025-11-04,2025,2025-11,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) will host a Fedorchak Forum: Conversations with Constituents on Wednesday, November 12, at 12:00pm CT (1:00pm ET). This is the seventh in her series of statewide discussions and will focus on issues facing North Dakota’s veterans and military families.

North Dakotans who want to participate in the conversation must sign up on Rep. Fedorchak’s website by 8:00am CT on Wednesday, November 12. For those who prefer to listen in, the forum will be broadcasted on her website.

If you are impacted by the government shutdown, click here for a list of resources.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-klobuchar-lead-bipartisan-effort-calling-on-surface-transportation-board-to-closely-scrutinize-proposed-union-pacific-norfolk-southern-railroad-merger,"Hoeven, Klobuchar Lead Bipartisan Effort Calling on Surface Transportation Board to Closely Scrutinize Proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern Railroad Merger",2025-10-31,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven, Klobuchar Lead Bipartisan Effort Calling on Surface Transportation Board to Closely Scrutinize Proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern Railroad Merger

Senators Stress Need to Ensure Competition in Rail Industry, Potential Impacts on U.S. Ag Producers

WASHINGTON – Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) led a bipartisan effort calling on the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to closely scrutinize the proposed merger of Union Pacific Railroad (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS) Railway and ensure competition in the railroad industry over the long term. In a letter to STB Chairman Patrick Fuchs, Vice Chair Michelle Schultz and Member Karen Hedlund, the senators stressed the potential disruptions to U.S. rail service resulting from a merger of this scale and outlined the need for the STB to fully analyze the potential impact on long-term competition, including for agriculture producers, many of whom already face limited options for accessing rail service.

“The STBs post-2001 ‘Major Rail Consolidation Procedures’ were adopted specifically to place heightened emphasis on whether Class I railroad mergers enhance, rather than merely preserve, competition… The proposed UP/NS merger will be the first to come before the Board under these rules, and it is essential that you establish a strong precedent and apply these heightened standards in the way they were intended,” wrote the senators. “If approved, a combined UP/NS would handle more than 40 percent of all U.S. freight rail traffic… a transcontinental system spanning 50,000 route miles across 43 states. Service interruptions of this magnitude could have severe consequences, especially for agricultural producers. Time-sensitive shipments during harvest could be delayed or spoiled, export windows could be missed, and access to global markets could be sharply reduced.

“We look forward to working with you to ensure the STB continues to promote an efficient, competitive, and economically viable freight rail network that serves the public interest,” concluded the senators.

The Hoeven-Klobuchar letter was co-signed by Senators Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). The full text of the senators’ letter can be found here.

This effort has been endorsed by the following organizations: Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA), Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC), Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD), American Chemistry Council (ACC), American Crystal Sugar, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), Freight Rail Customer Alliance (FRCA), Greater North Dakota Chamber of Commerce, Minn-Dak Farmers’ Cooperative, Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU), Montana Agricultural Business Association, National Industrial Transportation League (NITL), National Farmers Union (NFU), North Carolina Agribusiness Council, North Dakota Agricultural Association, North Dakota Farmers Union, North Dakota Petroleum Council, North Dakota Grain Growers Association, North Dakota Grain Dealers Association, North Dakota Trade Office and the Southern Rail Commission.

-###-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-applauds-gov-armstrongs-action-support-snap-recipients,Fedorchak applauds Gov. Armstrong’s action to support SNAP recipients,2025-10-30,2025,2025-10,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Bismarck, ND — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) today praised Governor Kelly Armstrong’s announcement that the State of North Dakota will step in to assist SNAP recipients affected by the ongoing federal government shutdown.

“More great leadership from Governor Armstrong! I commend him and his team for taking this swift, commonsense action to help North Dakotans who rely on food assistance,” Fedorchak said. “This is North Dakota problem-solving on full display—quite a contrast to the antics of Democrats in Washington who have shut down the government and are holding it hostage for a $1.5 trillion ransom in policy demands.”

Under the plan, the state will provide a $915,000 grant to the Great Plains Food Bank to operate an emergency food box program while federal SNAP benefits remain unavailable during the shutdown. The grant will allow the Great Plains Food Bank to purchase and distribute an additional 450,000 pounds of food in November, enough to assist approximately 24,000 households, according to Kate Molbert, interim CEO and chief operating officer of Great Plains Food Bank.

Armstrong has also directed North Dakota HHS to use contingency funds to support the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) program through the month of November, at an estimated cost of roughly $600,000. Administered by the state, WIC protects the health of low-income women, infants and children up to age 5 by providing supplemental foods, nutrition education and health care referrals. Federal WIC funding for North Dakota is currently expected to run out around Nov. 10.

CLICK HERE to learn more about today’s announcement.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cramer-questions-stratcom-commander-nominee-at-sasc-hearing,Cramer Questions STRATCOM Commander Nominee at SASC Hearing,2025-10-30,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,www.cramer.senate.gov,cramer,https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.***

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) held a hearing to consider the nomination of Vice Admiral Rich Correll to be Admiral and Commander of United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM). As STRATCOM Commander, Vice Admiral Correll would be responsible for strategic deterrence, nuclear operations, global strike, nuclear command, control, and communications enterprise operations, joint electromagnetic spectrum operations, and missile threat assessment.

Minot Air Force Base (AFB) in North Dakota is the only base in the nation to house two legs of the nuclear triad, including B-52 bombers and Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). The Sentinel program was established to replace the 50-year-old Minuteman III ICBM weapon system with the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM. Minot AFB will be the last base to receive Sentinel ICBMs.

If confirmed, Vice Admiral Correll would lead more than 41,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Guardians, and civilians who execute STRATCOM’s global missions.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), chair of the SASC Airland Subcommittee, questioned Vice Admiral Correll about the importance of the Sentinel program, modernizing B-52 bombers, and the United States’ strategic posture and nuclear deterrence.

Cramer, co-chair of the Senate Defense Modernization Caucus, asked what steps are being taken to ensure continuous alert coverage and personnel readiness during construction and testing of the transition from Minuteman III to Sentinel at Minot AFB.

“If confirmed as a STRATCOM Commander, one of my most [important] responsibilities that I see with respect to the transition from what we have to what we need in the future, is understanding where the risks are within the portfolio and where additional risks might manifest themselves, and communicating that with precision, together with the services to make sure that we're accounting for it,” said Vice Admiral Correll. “That's as we transition. […] But I’m comfortable with where we are. We need to continue to keep the pressure on, to pull new capabilities to the left and deliver sooner. But you know, the services are very focused on understanding where the margin is and how our systems are operating, and STRATCOM is as well.”

Cramer then asked if it would be acceptable to reduce our nation’s ICBM count below 400 to accommodate Sentinel’s cost and schedule challenges. Vice Admiral Correll said based on the strategic environment, his military advice would be to not reduce the numbers. He said, “the whole is much greater than the sum of the parts, and each leg of the triad has unique attributes that are really important.”

The conversation then shifted to the strategic, 70-year-old B-52, a long-range, heavy bomber capable of flying at high subsonic speeds and carrying nuclear or precision guided conventional ordinance. Cramer said, “not to be outdone by the age of missiles, we have some really old airplanes too at Minot,” and noted how the B-52s are due for modernization as well.

Cramer asked Vice Admiral Correll about how STRATCOM plans to sustain the aging B-52 fleet during the transition period before B-21 full operational capability, especially given its critical role in both nuclear and conventional deterrence.

Vice Admiral Correll echoed Cramer’s comment about the importance of B-52s and its “essential nature to our strategic deterrent.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-hold-fargo-office-hours-constituent-meetings,Fedorchak to hold Fargo office hours for constituent meetings,2025-10-29,2025,2025-10,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Fargo, ND — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) will host in person office hours in Fargo on Friday, October 31, from 11:30am-1:00pm CT to meet with constituents. To sign up for a one-on-one meeting with Congresswoman Fedorchak, please click here.

Meeting requests will be accepted on a first-come-first-served basis. The form will close once all slots are full. The office will directly contact constituents after sign-up closes to confirm their scheduled meeting time and location. Staff will be available following each appointment for additional assistance.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases/fedorchak-hosts-roundtable-ranchers-discuss-meeting-increased-demand,Fedorchak hosts roundtable with ranchers to discuss meeting increased demand,2025-10-29,2025,2025-10,Republican,House,ND,Julie Fedorchak,F000482,fedorchak.house.gov,fedorchak,https://fedorchak.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"McKenzie, ND — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) today brought together ranchers, market experts, and state ag leaders at Black Leg Ranch near McKenzie, N.D., for a roundtable discussion on meeting increased demand for American beef.

“North Dakota ranchers are problem solvers,” Fedorchak said. “They’re innovating every day to raise safe, high-quality beef and keep food on America’s tables despite droughts, high costs, and market uncertainty. As emphasized during our discussion today, North Dakota ranchers are ready to supply Americans with quality, healthy beef for their families and just need consistent, commonsense policies that let them do what they do best.”

The meeting followed concern over significant market disruptions after reports that the United States may soon import beef from Argentina to lower beef prices. Participants emphasized their desire to grow their herds to meet growing demand and the importance of stable market signals to support that long-term investment. Of particular concern is maintaining quality standards for any imported beef to ensure the food supply is safe and that domestic cattle herds are protected from any imported illnesses.

They shared ideas for increasing import inspections, enforcing quality standards, improving labeling, improving working lands programs, enhancing market stability, and promoting the health benefits of beef. The ranchers also discussed workforce shortages and the impact of the government shutdown on H1-B visas.

Last week, Fedorchak led a letter with seven House Republicans asking President Trump for clarity on his administration’s plans and urged him to give U.S. producers the first opportunity to meet increasing domestic demand. Roundtable participants agreed that the administration must continue to pursue an America-First agenda.

Participants included:

Julie Schaff Ellingson – Beef Producer, Ellingson Angus Ranch, North Dakota Stockman’s Association

Erika Kenner – Beef Producer, Kenner Simmental Ranch, Leeds, ND

Tim Petry – North Dakota State University

Larry Schnell – Beef market expert, former owner, Stockman’s Livestock

Jerry Doan – Beef Producer, Black Leg Ranch, McKenzie, ND

Jay Doan – Beef Producer, Black Leg Ranch, McKenzie, ND

Jace Doan – Beef Producer, Black Leg Ranch, McKenzie, ND

Kenny Graner – Beef Producer, Graner Angus Ranch, Mandan, ND, IBAND",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:32:54Z
https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-working-to-provide-up-to-50-million-in-federal-funding-for-crack-the-code-20-initiative,Hoeven Working to Provide Up to $50 Million in Federal Funding for Crack the Code 2.0 Initiative,2025-10-27,2025,2025-10,Republican,Senate,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,hoeven,https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases,scraper,"Hoeven Working to Provide Up to $50 Million in Federal Funding for Crack the Code 2.0 Initiative

Senator Marks $45.1 Million in State Funding Approved for EOR Project by Industrial Commission

BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement commending the North Dakota Industrial Commission for approving $45.1 million to advance the implementation of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in the Bakken. The state funding supports Hoeven’s Crack the Code 2.0 initiative, which seeks to partner North Dakota’s oil and coal industries to double both the ultimate oil recovery in the Bakken and the operational life of the state’s coal-fired power plants. To move this priority forward, Hoeven:

Is working as a member of the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Committee to secure up to $50 million from the federal government for the project, having provided $12 million for the effort to date.

The initial $12 million award enabled the Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) and Chord Energy to conduct 18 months of field and laboratory research to study the viability of injecting CO2 and natural gas liquids into unconventional oil reservoirs for the purposes of enhanced oil recovery.

Hoeven has since secured commitments from Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Assistant Secretary of Fossil Energy Kyle Haustveit to collaborate with North Dakota on this effort and increase federal support from the Department of Energy (DOE).

The federal and state funding will be used to leverage $76 million in private investment, bringing the total project funding to approximately $171 million.

Worked to ensure the One Big Beautiful Bill (OB3) properly aligned the 45Q tax credit to incentivize the use of CO2 for EOR. Doing so:

Provides a strong, long-term incentive for EOR, making it the clear, commercially-viable choice to improve oil recovery in the Bakken.

Establishes an additional revenue stream for coal producers to extend the life of coal power plants and continue providing a critical source of baseload power.

“EOR is a longtime proven technology. North Dakota demonstrates that every day through the Dakota Gasification Company, which has been providing CO2 to the Weyburn Field in Canada for EOR for 25 years. Now through Crack the Code 2.0, we’re working to bring this technique to the Bakken to benefit both our oil and coal industries, and today’s funding from the North Dakota Industrial Commission is an important step in that effort,” said Hoeven. “The back-end of this project is already taken care of, as the corrections we made to tax incentives in the One Big Beautiful Bill provide a solid, long-term foundation for using EOR in the Bakken. In addition, we’ve already provided $12 million in federal research funding for EERC and Chord Energy to get this project going on the front-end. We’re working to bring that number up to $50 million to make this initiative a reality, and I look forward to continuing my efforts with Energy Secretary Wright and his team at DOE to do just that.”

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