url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=1f75cd94-3d62-4be9-8515-616901dfce81,"Hoeven Reviews December Legislative Accomplishments, North Dakota Priorities",2015-12-30,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.30.15 Hoeven Reviews December Legislative Accomplishments, North Dakota Priorities Senator Holds Year-End Roundtable with Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce BISMARCK, N.D. Senator John Hoeven today held a roundtable in Bismarck with local officials and business leaders to outline key legislative accomplishments that he worked to advance throughout the year and that Congress included in legislation passed this month. Hoeven worked with his congressional colleagues to address North Dakotas priorities and meet the needs of the states families, schools, businesses and farmers across a wide variety of areas, including energy, tax, education, transportation and regulatory policy. We secured important priorities for our state and nation, Hoeven said. We lifted the ban on crude oil exports, provided tax relief, restored local control over education standards and ensured stronger funding for long-term infrastructure projects. These accomplishments will provide considerable benefits for our businesses and our families by promoting greater economic growth and local autonomy. Senator Hoeven helped to successfully pass the following measures through Congress this December: Lifting the Ban on Crude Oil Exports Hoeven, a member of the Senate Energy Committee, repeatedly called for the repeal of the outdated crude oil export ban and cosponsored bipartisan legislation earlier this year to do just that. Allowing crude oil exports will support domestic energy production, grow the nations economy, provide good jobs for workers, reduce fuel costs for consumers and enhance the security of the U.S. and our allies. Tax Relief for Small Business and Farmers Approved tax relief totaling $680 billion over ten years. Included a permanent extension of Section 179 with the $500,000 limitation and a five-year extension of bonus deprecation, important provisions that provide small businesses certainty and flexibility in planning their long-term finances. Extended permanently the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for private investments made in affordable housing. The credits are used by the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency alongside state programs to ensure an adequate housing supply is available for the states workers and their families. Provided relief from Obamacares costly and burdensome mandates, including a two-year delay of the tax on businesses that pay their employees health care plans and a two-year delay of the Medical Device Tax. Regulatory Relief for Farmers and Ranchers Blocked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from reinstating the Waters of the U.S. Interpretive Rule, preserving the general agriculture exemption under the Clean Water Act for farmers and ranchers. Restoring Local Control over Education Passed the Every Student Succeeds Act, education authorization legislation that repeals No Child Left Behind, restores local control over education standards, replaces one-size-fits-all accountability requirements with state-designed systems and ends the Common Core mandate. Strengthened Impact Aid for schools affected by the loss of property taxes due to nearby military bases and other federal land. Included a provision based on legislation offered by Senators Hoeven and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) to bolster Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. Providing Flexibility in School Nutrition Requirements Approved Hoevens school nutrition reform amendment, which gives flexibility to schools struggling to comply with the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) whole-grain and sodium standards during the 2016-2017 school year. Allows schools to retain the original USDA whole-grain requirement of 50 percent, rather than requiring that 100 percent of all grains served be whole-grain rich. Prevents the Administration from requiring further reductions in sodium, which have already been brought down to the Target 1 level. Further reductions in sodium are not currently supported by scientific evidence and would be difficult for schools to achieve due to increased costs and limited available food products that children would actually eat. Passing a Five-Year Highway Bill Passed the Fixing Americas Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, a five-year highway bill that is fully paid for. Provides North Dakota with more than $1.3 billion, increases annual funding for the state by $23 million per year, up to $263 million, provides $76 million over five years for transit projects in the state and enables more than 100 projects in the state to move forward. Includes Hoevens Driver Privacy Act, legislation that establishes in law that the owner of a vehicle is also the owner of any information collected by an Event Data Recorder (EDR). Restores the $3 billion that was cut from crop insurance earlier this year. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/public-events?ContentRecord_id=6df9171c-2fd6-430b-8453-abbbf6dd55f3,Year-End Roundtable with Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce,2015-12-30,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Event December 30 2016 11:00 AM On Wednesday, December 30, Senator Hoeven will host a roundtable with the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce to review North Dakota legislative priorities that he worked to advance this year and that passed Congress in December, including: Lifting the ban on crude oil exports Providing tax relief for small businesses and farmers Providing regulatory relief for farmers and ranchers through stopping the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) Waters of the U.S. regulation Ensuring education funding and local control Providing school meal flexibility in sodium and grain requirements Passing the five-year highway bill, which will provide North Dakota with more than $1.3 billion and enable more than 100 N.D. transportation projects to advance Year-End Roundtable with Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce WHEN: Wednesday, December 30 11:00 a.m. CT WHERE: Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce 1640 Burnt Boat Drive Bismarck",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=c7c25813-0535-40ab-96c7-743b1852ccb8,"On Two-Year Anniversary of Casselton Derailment, Heitkamp Honors North Dakota First Responders",2015-12-30,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"CASSELTON, N.D. Two years after the derailment of a crude oil train near Casselton, U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp toured the Casselton Volunteer Ambulance Service today to thank volunteer first responders and underscore the need to provide federal support for volunteer ambulance services, fire departments, and other emergency responders. To make sure firefighters and ambulance workers have the training and equipment they need, Heitkamp fought to increase federal funding to support first responders in the year-end spending bill Congress passed earlier this month. Today she encouraged North Dakota fire departments and first responders to apply for the increased federal funding. Heitkamp also presented Ken Habiger, president of the Casselton Volunteer Ambulance Service, with an American flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol in recognition of Habigers commitment to the safety and wellbeing of his community. From local fire departments to volunteer ambulance services, we need to do everything we can to make sure our first responders are prepared and safe as they work to protect us, said Heitkamp. The derailment in Casselton two years ago was a blunt reminder that we have a duty to support first responders like Ken, who work hard every day to make their communities stronger and safer. Congress needs to do its part to give first responders knowledge and training to protect our communities. Thats what I pushed for in the spending bill, and what Im also trying to do with my RESPONSE Act. Community service is a way of life here in Casselton and throughout our state, and we need to do everything we can to protect and prepare those who answer that call to serve. The spending bill Congress passed provides $690 million for first responder grants for equipment and staffing in 2016, which is a $10 million increase from 2015. Eight North Dakota fire departments including Fargo, Buffalo, Cavalier, and Bismarck benefited from Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG) funding totaling nearly $1 million in 2014. The AFG and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants that Heitkamp fought to include in the spending bill are available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Since the derailment near Casselton in December 2013, Heitkamp has focused on finding ways to provide first responders in North Dakota and throughout the country with tools, training, grants, and other resources to make sure theyre well equipped to do their jobs. In February, Heitkamp reintroduced her Railroad Emergency Services Preparedness, Operational Needs, and Safety Evaluation (RESPONSE) Act, aimed at prioritizing support for first responders to make sure they have tools and skills to protect communities when responding to hazmat incidents on the rails, like crude oil derailments. Heitkamp first introduced her RESPONSE Act in June 2014 to address concerns about first responders safety and preparedness that were raised following the Casselton derailment in December 2013. After specifically pressing a top FEMA official, Heitkamphelped secure $5 million in federal funding in 2014 to support a one-of-a-kind federal training facilityin Pueblo, Colorado that prepares first responders to handle to hazmat incidents on the rails. Nearly 90 North Dakota first responders participated in training at the Pueblo facility in 2014 and 2015. In March, Heitkamp brought U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to North Dakota, and led a discussion in Larimore with North Dakota volunteer firefighters and Mayorkas so that the second in command at DHS could hear volunteer first responders concerns about equipment, training, and resources. In North Dakota, 96 percent of firefighters are volunteers. Heitkamp also launched her Strong & Safe Communities Initiative following the derailment, bringing together North Dakota leaders to address the states emerging challenges from rail safety to human trafficking in the wake of the oil and gas boom. In October, more than 150 community leaders from across the state including fire and first response officials gathered in Fargo for her first Strong & Safe Communities Summit.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-reviews-december-legislative-accomplishments-north-dakota-priorities,"Hoeven Reviews December Legislative Accomplishments, North Dakota Priorities",2015-12-30,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.30.15 Hoeven Reviews December Legislative Accomplishments, North Dakota Priorities Senator Holds Year-End Roundtable with Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce BISMARCK, N.D. Senator John Hoeven today held a roundtable in Bismarck with local officials and business leaders to outline key legislative accomplishments that he worked to advance throughout the year and that Congress included in legislation passed this month. Hoeven worked with his congressional colleagues to address North Dakota's priorities and meet the needs of the state's families, schools, businesses and farmers across a wide variety of areas, including energy, tax, education, transportation and regulatory policy. We secured important priorities for our state and nation, Hoeven said. We lifted the ban on crude oil exports, provided tax relief, restored local control over education standards and ensured stronger funding for long-term infrastructure projects. These accomplishments will provide considerable benefits for our businesses and our families by promoting greater economic growth and local autonomy. Senator Hoeven helped to successfully pass the following measures through Congress this December: Lifting the Ban on Crude Oil Exports Hoeven, a member of the Senate Energy Committee, repeatedly called for the repeal of the outdated crude oil export ban and cosponsored bipartisan legislation earlier this year to do just that. Allowing crude oil exports will support domestic energy production, grow the nation's economy, provide good jobs for workers, reduce fuel costs for consumers and enhance the security of the U.S. and our allies. Tax Relief for Small Business and Farmers Approved tax relief totaling $680 billion over ten years. Included a permanent extension of Section 179 with the $500,000 limitation and a five-year extension of bonus deprecation, important provisions that provide small businesses certainty and flexibility in planning their long-term finances. Extended permanently the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for private investments made in affordable housing. The credits are used by the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency alongside state programs to ensure an adequate housing supply is available for the state's workers and their families. Provided relief from Obamacare's costly and burdensome mandates, including a two-year delay of the tax on businesses that pay their employees' health care plans and a two-year delay of the Medical Device Tax. Regulatory Relief for Farmers and Ranchers Blocked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from reinstating the Waters of the U.S. Interpretive Rule, preserving the general agriculture exemption under the Clean Water Act for farmers and ranchers. Restoring Local Control over Education Passed the Every Student Succeeds Act, education authorization legislation that repeals No Child Left Behind, restores local control over education standards, replaces one-size-fits-all accountability requirements with state-designed systems and ends the Common Core mandate. Strengthened Impact Aid for schools affected by the loss of property taxes due to nearby military bases and other federal land. Included a provision based on legislation offered by Senators Hoeven and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) to bolster Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. Providing Flexibility in School Nutrition Requirements Approved Hoeven's school nutrition reform amendment, which gives flexibility to schools struggling to comply with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) whole-grain and sodium standards during the 2016-2017 school year. Allows schools to retain the original USDA whole-grain requirement of 50 percent, rather than requiring that 100 percent of all grains served be whole-grain rich. Prevents the Administration from requiring further reductions in sodium, which have already been brought down to the Target 1 level. Further reductions in sodium are not currently supported by scientific evidence and would be difficult for schools to achieve due to increased costs and limited available food products that children would actually eat. Passing a Five-Year Highway Bill Passed the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, a five-year highway bill that is fully paid for. Provides North Dakota with more than $1.3 billion, increases annual funding for the state by $23 million per year, up to $263 million, provides $76 million over five years for transit projects in the state and enables more than 100 projects in the state to move forward. Includes Hoeven's Driver Privacy Act, legislation that establishes in law that the owner of a vehicle is also the owner of any information collected by an Event Data Recorder (EDR). Restores the $3 billion that was cut from crop insurance earlier this year. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=c1fa06b7-4190-45e9-bdd6-527bf391b571,"Hoeven: Senate Passes Measure to Update FAA Medical Certification, Protect Pilots' Due Process Rights",2015-12-29,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.29.15 Hoeven: Senate Passes Measure to Update FAA Medical Certification, Protect Pilots' Due Process Rights Bill Supports General Aviation, Allows More Qualified Pilots to Continue Flying WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Senate has passed the Pilots Bill of Rights II, a measure he cosponsored that updates the Federal Aviation Administrations (FAA) medical certification for most general aviation pilots, providing a safe and transparent process to help ensure more healthy, qualified and trained pilots can fly. The bill expands the 3rd class medical exemption for recreational pilots flying light sport aircraft and broadens the protections provided in the original Pilots Bill of Rights signed into law in 2012, which Hoeven also cosponsored. General aviation is an important part of North Dakotas transportation infrastructure and economy, providing vital services across industries, Hoeven said. The FAAs current medical standards are outdated, costly to comply with, prevent healthy and skilled pilots from flying and do little to ensure the safe operation of general aviation aircraft. Our bill updates the FAAs medical exemption process to reflect real-world health care needs and risks, which will better serve our pilots, empower them to seek treatment for their medical conditions and enhance public safety. The Pilots Bill of Rights II: Expands the existing FAA exemption for a 3rd class medical certificate to include general aviation aircraft up to 6,000 pounds and raises altitude up to 18,000 feet. Maintains safe aircraft operations by requiring an individual to take an online medical education course, complete the FAA medical evaluation process one time and maintain ongoing medical care, while also providing a checklist to guide discussion between pilots and their physicians during health examinations and maintaining the special issuance process for pilots diagnosed with mental health disorders, neurological disorders or cardiovascular conditions. Expands the original Pilots Bill of Rights by explicitly stating that pilots facing investigation by the FAA may appeal to a district court and clarifies who bears the burden of proof. Expedites updates to the FAAs Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) program to ensure pilots receive and can access important flight safety information in a timely and relevant manner. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=ff74e7e0-7a59-4403-9bfd-ed9c339494cf,Heitkamp Announces Senate Passed Pilots Bill of Rights 2 Supporting General Aviation in ND,2015-12-29,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a member of the Senate General Aviation Caucus, today announced the Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation she cosponsored which will support general aviation in North Dakota by making sure pilots are treated fairly and reducing burdensome requirements currently in place. The Pilots Bill of Rights 2 will decrease unnecessary bureaucracy pilots currently face, cut costs, improve protections for pilots, and reform certain medical requirements. The bill had 70 cosponsors in the Senate. The House of Representatives needs to pass the bill before it goes to the President for his signature. General aviation pilots in North Dakota understand the importance of safety while in flight, said Heitkamp. Yet for too long, pilots have faced onerous and costly rules, preventing them the fair treatment they deserve. This overwhelmingly bipartisan bill will reform many of these outdated regulations so they work better for pilots while still making sure safety is the top priority. Details about the Pilots Bill of Rights 2: Reforms the FAAs overly burdensome medical certification process by expanding an existing FAA medical standard to include more qualified, trained, general aviation pilots. Outlines specific requirements that pilots need to meet to qualify for the expanded medical standard, including completion of a medical education course every two years, self-certification by the pilot that they are being treated by their physician for any medical diagnosis that could impact their ability to fly, and the use of a checklist to guide the discussion between pilots and their physicians during a health examination, which must occur once every four years. Enhances the due process rights established in the first Pilots Bill of Rights by making sure airman have the right to appeal an FAA decision through a new, merit-based trial in Federal Court. Increases transparency for airman subject to an investigation or enforcement action by requiring the FAA to articulate the specific activity under investigation to parties involved in the investigation and provides specific documentation relevant to its investigation. Expedites updates to the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) Improvement Program required in the first Pilots Bill of Rights and directs the FAA to include the effective duration of temporary flight restrictions in NOTAMs. This makes sure the most relevant and important information reaches the pilot prior to a flight taking place. The legislation also mandates that the FAA certify the accuracy of posted NOTAMs. Makes sure the accessibility of flight data, such as air traffic communication tapes and radar information produced by contract towers, and flight service stations and controller training programs, which gives certificate holders the ability to use this information to defend themselves during an enforcement action proceeding. The bill builds on Heitkamps work to cut red tape in the federal government by making federal regulations more efficient and effective. In March, Heitkamp and Republican Senator James Lankfordof Oklahoma who are the chairman and ranking member, respectively, of the Senate subcommittee that oversees the management of federal regulations launched their#CutRedTape Initiativeto gather stories about how federal regulations are impacting Americans across the country every day, and help make federal regulations work better for families and businesses by reducing waste, stopping backlogs, and cutting red tape. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-senate-passes-measure-to-update-faa-medical-certification-protect-pilots-due-process-rights,"Hoeven: Senate Passes Measure to Update FAA Medical Certification, Protect Pilots' Due Process Rights",2015-12-29,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.29.15 Hoeven: Senate Passes Measure to Update FAA Medical Certification, Protect Pilots' Due Process Rights Bill Supports General Aviation, Allows More Qualified Pilots to Continue Flying WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Senate has passed the Pilot's Bill of Rights II, a measure he cosponsored that updates the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) medical certification for most general aviation pilots, providing a safe and transparent process to help ensure more healthy, qualified and trained pilots can fly. The bill expands the 3rd class medical exemption for recreational pilots flying light sport aircraft and broadens the protections provided in the original Pilot's Bill of Rights signed into law in 2012, which Hoeven also cosponsored. General aviation is an important part of North Dakota's transportation infrastructure and economy, providing vital services across industries, Hoeven said. The FAA's current medical standards are outdated, costly to comply with, prevent healthy and skilled pilots from flying and do little to ensure the safe operation of general aviation aircraft. Our bill updates the FAA's medical exemption process to reflect real-world health care needs and risks, which will better serve our pilots, empower them to seek treatment for their medical conditions and enhance public safety. The Pilot's Bill of Rights II: Expands the existing FAA exemption for a 3rd class medical certificate to include general aviation aircraft up to 6,000 pounds and raises altitude up to 18,000 feet. Maintains safe aircraft operations by requiring an individual to take an online medical education course, complete the FAA medical evaluation process one time and maintain ongoing medical care, while also providing a checklist to guide discussion between pilots and their physicians during health examinations and maintaining the special issuance process for pilots diagnosed with mental health disorders, neurological disorders or cardiovascular conditions. Expands the original Pilot's Bill of Rights by explicitly stating that pilots facing investigation by the FAA may appeal to a district court and clarifies who bears the burden of proof. Expedites updates to the FAA's Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) program to ensure pilots receive and can access important flight safety information in a timely and relevant manner. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=e9274571-c7e2-47c5-afbb-8c23e8915779,Hoeven Holds Meeting with Minot Leaders to Plan Next Steps for Comprehensive Flood Protection,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.23.15 Hoeven Holds Meeting with Minot Leaders to Plan Next Steps for Comprehensive Flood Protection Year-End Funding Bill Provides Provisions for Flood Protection, Minot Air Force Base, Tax Relief MINOT, N.D. Senator John Hoeven today hosted a meeting with state and local officials to plan the steps going forward for building comprehensive flood protection for Minot and the region. The senator outlined key provisions in the year-end funding legislation Congress passed last week that will support their efforts. In addition, he outlined provisions in the measure to support Minot Air Force Base and provide tax relief for farmers, ranchers and small businesses. In the year-end funding legislation we passed last week, we secured authorization and funding for new project studies, which are essential for communities like Minot that are working to advance a comprehensive flood protection project, Hoeven said. The legislation also includes priorities that will strengthen national security, including provisions for Minot Air Force Base, which hosts two legs of the nations nuclear triad. The measure also provides real tax relief for farmers, ranchers and small businesses, who will now be able to expense equipment and repairs at the current limit because weve worked to make Section 179 permanent. Permanent Flood Protection As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Hoeven worked to include critical authorization and funding for new project starts and construction in the FY 2016 budget. The measure provides nearly $690 million more than the Army Corps of Engineers proposed budget for new studies and construction activity that will help to advance the permanent flood protection project in the Minot region. Hoeven worked on the Appropriations Committee to include language in the FY 2016 Energy and Water funding bill, which has now been included in the year-end legislation. Specifically, the legislation will: Provide permission for the Corps to begin studies of new permanent flood protection projects, which is vital for communities like Minot, as well as the Souris River basin, to build comprehensive flood protection. Help communities in N.D. build permanent flood protection projects with an emphasis on public private partnerships (P3). Include additional funding for FEMAs flood mapping activities. It directs FEMA to take local communities flood protection projects into consideration when mapping flood hazards and to coordinate the mapping process with the phases of large projects. The measure provides an additional $165 million above the FY 2015 level for flood mitigation programs and boosts the Flood Hazard Mapping and Risk Analysis Program by $66 million, from $124 million to $190 million and the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Grant Program to $100 million. Support for Minot Air Force Base The year-end appropriations measure prioritizes the need for a strong military strengthening the nations nuclear triad of bombers, land-based and submarine-based missiles. Cruise Missile Warhead Includes full funding, $195 million, to refurbish the warhead that will go on the new Air Force long range standoff (LRSO) cruise missile. Nuclear Force Structure Includes language Hoeven authored that directs the Department of Defense (DoD) to maintain U.S. nuclear forces at the levels agreed to in the New START Treaty, rather than reduce them, as the administration has proposed. Minuteman III Replacement $75 million for the next generation intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which will replace the current Minuteman III. B-52 Modernization $225.4 million to modernize the B-52, including programs to improve its communications equipment and upgrade the internal bomb bay. Tax Relief The measure provides more than $680 billion in tax relief, including permanently extending the Section 179 limitation, the number one priority for farmers, ranchers and small businesses. Section 179 and Bonus Depreciation Permanently extends Section 179 with the $500,000 limitation, a provision of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax code that allows farmers, ranchers and small businesses to expense the purchase of equipment. In addition, it extends the bonus depreciation allowance for five years. Prevents the Implementation of Obamacare Taxes Includes regulatory relief from Obamacares costly and burdensome mandates, including a two-year delay of the tax on businesses that pay their employees health care plans, a two-year delay of the Medical Device Tax and a one-year delay of the Health Insurance Tax (HIT) paid by insurance companies. It also eliminates funding for the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) LIHTC is a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for private investments made for the construction or rehabilitation of affordable housing are distributed to states and developers compete for the credits. The N.D. Housing Finance Agency uses the credits with state programs to address North Dakotas housing challenges. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/public-events?ContentRecord_id=f82d6e14-722a-47c2-8df3-127831553205,Minot Flood Protection Public Meeting,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Event December 23 2015 11:00 AM On Wednesday, Hoeven will hold a meeting at Minot City Hall to outline the year-end funding bill that passed the Senate earlier today. The legislation includes nearly $690 million more than the Army Corps of Engineers proposed budget for construction and authorizes new studies and construction activity that will help to advance flood protection projects in both the Fargo-Moorhead and the Minot regions. WHEN: Wednesday, December 23 11:00 a.m. CT WHERE: Minot City Hall 515 2nd Avenue SW Minot",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=a319b85f-03f5-465a-a1ad-7670b5e9fbae,Heitkamp Announces Federal Funding for Rural Water in St. John,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced more than $50,000 in federal funding for emergency water assistance for the city of St. John to make sure community members have critical access to water. The $50,430 in federal support will be used to bolster rural connectivity to better, more reliable water sources by helping the St. John community find new water sources, drill a new well, and to connect to an existing water main to provide the families and neighborhoods in St. John with the water resources they need. Towns and communities in rural areas across North Dakota make up the heart of our state, and its absolutely critical that we make sure they can rely on the same level of access offered in bigger cities, said Heitkamp. One of those crucial resources rural North Dakotans need to depend on is readily available water for their homes, farms and ranches year-round. Thats why todays federal investment in St. John is so critical by continuing to build up our federal partnerships, we can work to make sure all of North Dakotas communities no matter how rural or remote are connected to the critical resources, like water, they need every day. These funds are authorized by the United States Department of Agricultures Rural Development agency. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-holds-meeting-with-minot-leaders-to-plan-next-steps-for-comprehensive-flood-protection,Hoeven Holds Meeting with Minot Leaders to Plan Next Steps for Comprehensive Flood Protection,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.23.15 Hoeven Holds Meeting with Minot Leaders to Plan Next Steps for Comprehensive Flood Protection Year-End Funding Bill Provides Provisions for Flood Protection, Minot Air Force Base, Tax Relief MINOT, N.D. Senator John Hoeven today hosted a meeting with state and local officials to plan the steps going forward for building comprehensive flood protection for Minot and the region. The senator outlined key provisions in the year-end funding legislation Congress passed last week that will support their efforts. In addition, he outlined provisions in the measure to support Minot Air Force Base and provide tax relief for farmers, ranchers and small businesses. In the year-end funding legislation we passed last week, we secured authorization and funding for new project studies, which are essential for communities like Minot that are working to advance a comprehensive flood protection project, Hoeven said. The legislation also includes priorities that will strengthen national security, including provisions for Minot Air Force Base, which hosts two legs of the nation's nuclear triad. The measure also provides real tax relief for farmers, ranchers and small businesses, who will now be able to expense equipment and repairs at the current limit because we've worked to make Section 179 permanent. Permanent Flood Protection As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Hoeven worked to include critical authorization and funding for new project starts and construction in the FY 2016 budget. The measure provides nearly $690 million more than the Army Corps of Engineer's proposed budget for new studies and construction activity that will help to advance the permanent flood protection project in the Minot region. Hoeven worked on the Appropriations Committee to include language in the FY 2016 Energy and Water funding bill, which has now been included in the year-end legislation. Specifically, the legislation will: Provide permission for the Corps to begin studies of new permanent flood protection projects, which is vital for communities like Minot, as well as the Souris River basin, to build comprehensive flood protection. Help communities in N.D. build permanent flood protection projects with an emphasis on public private partnerships (P3). Include additional funding for FEMA's flood mapping activities. It directs FEMA to take local communities' flood protection projects into consideration when mapping flood hazards and to coordinate the mapping process with the phases of large projects. The measure provides an additional $165 million above the FY 2015 level for flood mitigation programs and boosts the Flood Hazard Mapping and Risk Analysis Program by $66 million, from $124 million to $190 million and the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Grant Program to $100 million. Support for Minot Air Force Base The year-end appropriations measure prioritizes the need for a strong military strengthening the nation's nuclear triad of bombers, land-based and submarine-based missiles. Cruise Missile Warhead Includes full funding, $195 million, to refurbish the warhead that will go on the new Air Force long range standoff (LRSO) cruise missile. Nuclear Force Structure Includes language Hoeven authored that directs the Department of Defense (DoD) to maintain U.S. nuclear forces at the levels agreed to in the New START Treaty, rather than reduce them, as the administration has proposed. Minuteman III Replacement $75 million for the next generation intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which will replace the current Minuteman III. B-52 Modernization $225.4 million to modernize the B-52, including programs to improve its communications equipment and upgrade the internal bomb bay. Tax Relief The measure provides more than $680 billion in tax relief, including permanently extending the Section 179 limitation, the number one priority for farmers, ranchers and small businesses. Section 179 and Bonus Depreciation Permanently extends Section 179 with the $500,000 limitation, a provision of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax code that allows farmers, ranchers and small businesses to expense the purchase of equipment. In addition, it extends the bonus depreciation allowance for five years. Prevents the Implementation of Obamacare Taxes Includes regulatory relief from Obamacare's costly and burdensome mandates, including a two-year delay of the tax on businesses that pay their employees' health care plans, a two-year delay of the Medical Device Tax and a one-year delay of the Health Insurance Tax (HIT) paid by insurance companies. It also eliminates funding for the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) LIHTC is a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for private investments made for the construction or rehabilitation of affordable housing are distributed to states and developers compete for the credits. The N.D. Housing Finance Agency uses the credits with state programs to address North Dakota's housing challenges. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=436dd6e0-bc38-4a8e-a593-ad65c608c742,Hoeven Leads Meeting to Plan Next Steps to Advance Permanent Flood Protection for the Red River Valley,2015-12-22,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.22.15 Hoeven Leads Meeting to Plan Next Steps to Advance Permanent Flood Protection for the Red River Valley Senator Outlines Flood Protection Construction Authorization and Funding FARGO, N.D. Senator John Hoeven today led a roundtable in Fargo with local leaders to plan the path forward for Fargo-Moorheads permanent flood protection project. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Hoeven wrote and secured language in the year-end funding bill authorizing and funding new construction activity that will help to advance flood protection in the Red River Valley. The legislation includes nearly $690 million more than the Army Corps of Engineers proposed budget for construction and directs the Corps to utilize projects organized as public-private partnerships (P3), like the permanent flood project for the Fargo region. Securing authorization and funding for the Army Corps to start new construction projects is a vital milestone in advancing Fargos flood protection project, Hoeven said. We worked through the Appropriations Committee, specifically the subcommittee on Energy and Water, to authorize and fund these new projects starts, which will enable this project to move to construction. Now, we need to continue our momentum by working not only with the Corps and federal officials, but also with all local groups from both sides of the river to address communities flood concerns throughout the valley and move this permanent flood protection project forward. The new construction starts authorized in the year-end funding bill are the latest of Hoevens efforts to advance flood protection for the region. Earlier this year, the senator included similar language in the Energy and Water Appropriations bill. Further, Hoeven secured support for the project in meetings with Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy, Army Corps Chief of Engineers Lieutenant General Thomas P. Bostick and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shaun Donovan, including a meeting in Fargo where Hoeven hosted Lt. Gen. Bostick to show him firsthand the importance of permanent flood control for the Red River Valley. Hoeven also successfully included measures in the year-end bill to meet other water management needs in the Red River Valley and across North Dakota. The bill contains additional funding for the Federal Emergency Management Administrations (FEMA) flood mapping and flood mitigation activities. Specifically, the measure provides an additional $165 million above the FY 2015 level for flood mitigation programs and boosts the Flood Hazard Mapping and Risk Analysis Program by $66 million, from $124 million to $190 million, and the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Grant Program by $75 million, from $25 million to $100 million. At the same time, it directs FEMA to take local communities flood protection projects into consideration when mapping flood hazards and to coordinate the mapping process with the phases of large projects. Both as Governor of North Dakota and as a U.S. Senator, Hoeven has worked to advance a four-part approach to comprehensive flood protection for the Red River Valley, including regional flood protection infrastructure, upstream flood protection through rural water management, permanent flood protection for Fargo-Moorhead and affordable flood insurance for homes and businesses. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=61a4256a-3f50-4429-9b1f-a1a355a97ebd,Heitkamp Emphasizes Need to Secure Support for Lasting Flood Protection in Fargo-Moorhead Region,2015-12-22,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"FARGO, N.D. On the heels of significant new construction resources secured for 2016 in the end of the year spending bill Congress passed last week, U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today met with local leaders from the Fargo-Moorhead region to discuss the need to secure a new construction start for the Fargo-Moorhead Diversion. During the meeting, Heitkamp spoke with Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney, Moorhead Mayor Del Rae Williams, Fargo Diversion Authority Chairman Darrell Vanyo, as well as the rest of the congressional delegation, about the year-end spending bill which included $1.8 billion in construction resources for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers nationwide $690 million more than initially proposed in the initial budget and new construction starts. Heitkamp who has consistently urged Congress to construction starts for the flood project in Fargo will continue to work closely with officials at the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which will make decisions about projects that get the new construction starts, as well as local, state, and federal officials to make sure North Dakota has the lasting protections it needs to avoid flood devastation. To help keep our communities strong, we have to make sure they are effectively protected from natural disasters that have devastated North Dakota towns in the past and that requires the kind of strong investment in flood mitigation projects Congress passed last week, said Heitkamp. For years, Ive been working with folks leading communities like Fargo who have seen the wreckage from flooding firsthand, and have held the hands of families still reeling in the aftermath. Thats why Ive pressed to make sure their voices are heard directly by leaders at OMB and the Army Corps of Engineers, as well as by my colleagues in Congress who passed a spending bill that makes the strong investments our communities need. Todays meeting with Fargo and Moorhead leaders is another step toward building a strong public-private partnership and the bill Congress passed requires at least one of the new starts to be a project which uses this model. Continuing to work together, well keep pushing for those lasting protections to become a reality. In September, Heitkamp met with Lieutenant General Thomas P. Bostick, the head of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Fargo-Moorhead Diversion Authority to discuss the need for permanent, comprehensive flood protections, as well as to push for a new construction start. Later that month, Heitkamp spoke with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shaun Donovan to stress the need for budgetary support for efforts to advance permanent flood protection in North Dakota communities. Heitkamp has been consistently working to press for permanent, lasting flood protection and mitigation efforts in the Fargo region: Bringing local and federal officials together to support the Fargo-Moorhead diversion project. In May 2015, Heitkamp met with city officials from Fargo and Moorhead to discuss mutual efforts to push top officials from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and OMB on using public-private partnerships to advance the project. Soon after, Heitkamp spoke with OMB Director Donovan to urge him to take action so the diversion project could continue to move forward. This fall, Heitkamp and Lieutenant General Bostick met with the Fargo-Moorhead Diversion Authority to discuss permanent, comprehensive flood protections during his first-ever visit to Fargo. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-leads-meeting-to-plan-next-steps-to-advance-permanent-flood-protection-for-the-red-river-valley,Hoeven Leads Meeting to Plan Next Steps to Advance Permanent Flood Protection for the Red River Valley,2015-12-22,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.22.15 Hoeven Leads Meeting to Plan Next Steps to Advance Permanent Flood Protection for the Red River Valley Senator Outlines Flood Protection Construction Authorization and Funding FARGO, N.D. Senator John Hoeven today led a roundtable in Fargo with local leaders to plan the path forward for Fargo-Moorhead's permanent flood protection project. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Hoeven wrote and secured language in the year-end funding bill authorizing and funding new construction activity that will help to advance flood protection in the Red River Valley. The legislation includes nearly $690 million more than the Army Corps of Engineer's proposed budget for construction and directs the Corps to utilize projects organized as public-private partnerships (P3), like the permanent flood project for the Fargo region. Securing authorization and funding for the Army Corps to start new construction projects is a vital milestone in advancing Fargo's flood protection project, Hoeven said. We worked through the Appropriations Committee, specifically the subcommittee on Energy and Water, to authorize and fund these new projects starts, which will enable this project to move to construction. Now, we need to continue our momentum by working not only with the Corps and federal officials, but also with all local groups from both sides of the river to address communities' flood concerns throughout the valley and move this permanent flood protection project forward. The new construction starts authorized in the year-end funding bill are the latest of Hoeven's efforts to advance flood protection for the region. Earlier this year, the senator included similar language in the Energy and Water Appropriations bill. Further, Hoeven secured support for the project in meetings with Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy, Army Corps Chief of Engineers Lieutenant General Thomas P. Bostick and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shaun Donovan, including a meeting in Fargo where Hoeven hosted Lt. Gen. Bostick to show him firsthand the importance of permanent flood control for the Red River Valley. Hoeven also successfully included measures in the year-end bill to meet other water management needs in the Red River Valley and across North Dakota. The bill contains additional funding for the Federal Emergency Management Administration's (FEMA) flood mapping and flood mitigation activities. Specifically, the measure provides an additional $165 million above the FY 2015 level for flood mitigation programs and boosts the Flood Hazard Mapping and Risk Analysis Program by $66 million, from $124 million to $190 million, and the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Grant Program by $75 million, from $25 million to $100 million. At the same time, it directs FEMA to take local communities' flood protection projects into consideration when mapping flood hazards and to coordinate the mapping process with the phases of large projects. Both as Governor of North Dakota and as a U.S. Senator, Hoeven has worked to advance a four-part approach to comprehensive flood protection for the Red River Valley, including regional flood protection infrastructure, upstream flood protection through rural water management, permanent flood protection for Fargo-Moorhead and affordable flood insurance for homes and businesses. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=bca050ae-744b-46ba-9202-149744adbaf7,Hoeven Announces $1.5 Million DHS Grant to Fund Flood Protection for Fargo Waste Water Treatment Plant,2015-12-21,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.21.15 Hoeven Announces $1.5 Million DHS Grant to Fund Flood Protection for Fargo Waste Water Treatment Plant WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Department of Homeland Securitys (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded $1.5 million to the City of Fargo from its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). As Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Homeland Security, Hoeven oversees the departments annual budget and has worked to secure funding to protect the region from flooding. Todays grant will support flood protection for the City of Fargos waste water treatment plant. Infrastructure priorities like flood protection for North Dakotans homes and businesses are matters of public safety, Hoeven said. Todays FEMA grant will support critical improvements to the City of Fargos wastewater system to minimize the risk of sewer backup into public and private property during flooding, and is part of our larger effort to create a comprehensive flood protection plan for the entire region. As a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Hoeven worked to include language in the FY 2016 Energy and Water funding bill to support flood projects in Fargo, Minot and LaMoure. Similar language was also included in the year-end funding bill, which recently passed the Senate. The year-end funding bill also includes nearly $690 million more than the Army Corps of Engineers proposed budget for construction and authorizes new studies and construction activity that will help to advance flood protection projects in the Fargo-Moorhead and Minot regions. In August, Hoeven announced that FEMA awarded a $2 million grant to the City of Fargo to fund improvements to its wastewater treatment plant. Todays funding illustrates a phased approach to mitigating the impacts of flooding to Fargos wastewater treatment plant, and is part of a comprehensive flood protection plan for the Red River Valley that Hoeven has worked to advance. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=0c4cb0ca-f0ab-479b-85e4-d226a81cee70,Heitkamp Presents Purple Heart Medal to Family of Fallen World War II Servicemember,2015-12-21,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"BISMARCK, N.D. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today presented a posthumous Purple Heart medal to the family of a North Dakota servicemember killed in action during World War II. Leonard Larson, born in Colgan, N.D. in 1925, was killed and laid to rest in France in November 1944. Larsons sister, Mabel Hysjulien, received the Purple Heart on behalf of the family. Heitkamp worked with Burleigh County Veterans Service Officer Chris Berglund to secure the Purple Heart for Larson. A Bronze Star medal and other awards were previously issued in recognition of Larsons service and sacrifice. The Purple Heart issued to Leonard Larsons family today honors his sacrifice and service for our country. More than anything else, I hope this medal gives his family solace and pride to know Leonards bravery is remembered, said Heitkamp. His commanding officer, Major General W. S. Paul, wrote to Leonards family saying that Leonard did his duty splendidly and was loved and admired by all who knew him. More than 50 years later, his familys love and devotion prove he is loved and admired to this day. Heitkamp has made it a priority to honor North Dakota veterans, wounded warriors, and brave servicemembers killed or missing in action. In June, Heitkamp presented veteran and former prisoner of war Corporal Andrew Shaw a member of Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe with a Purple Heart Medal at a ceremony in St. Michael, N.D. To mark the 50thanniversary of the Vietnam War, Heitkampbegan a series of speechesin March honoring servicemembers from North Dakota who lost their lives in Vietnam. Heitkamp collaborated on the project with more than 150 eleventh-graders from Bismarck High School (BHS), who researched the lives of those servicemembers. In March, Heitkampmet with the students in Bismarckand discussed the importance of their joint effort to honor the sacrifice and service of the North Dakotans lost in the war. Heitkamp joined a group of those BHS students in November at the national Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. to pay tribute to North Dakota servicemembers. In August,Heitkamp concluded her series of 15 speecheshonoring the sacrifice of North Dakotans who gave their lives during the Vietnam War. Over the course of six months, Heitkamp shared the stories of the more than 160 North Dakotans who did not return home from Vietnam.Visit Senator Heitkampswebsitefor more information about the project.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=43929ef8-1f86-49f8-b99b-41b6f4e0b6fd,Heitkamp Announces $1.5 Million in Federal Funding for Fargo Flood Protection,2015-12-21,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"BISMARCK, N.D. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced $1.5 million in federal funding for the waste water treatment plant in Fargo. These federal funds are made available through the Federal Emergency Management Agencys (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and will provide needed infrastructure support for mitigation efforts to help protect against the disastrous effects of flooding. We must continue to provide support to Fargo and surrounding areas affected by flooding, said Heitkamp. North Dakotans understand that flooding is a real threat and by implementing basic safeguards to better protect the citys infrastructure, it will make sure basic water treatment systems are in operation when most needed. Heitkamp is a longtime advocate for increased and permanent flood protections in North Dakota. Recently, Heitkamp supported the year-end spending bill Congress passed last week that will authorize and fund new study and construction starts for flood protection projects, like those around Fargo.This grant announcement is in addition to the $2 million in federal investments made to Fargos waste water treatment facility earlier this year.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=b0b6350b-cba7-4abf-b4ff-e868cd41976b,"Heitkamp Calls on VA Secretary to Visit North Dakota, Improve Care in Rural Areas",2015-12-21,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"BISMARCK, N.D. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today formally invited U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald to visit North Dakota to see firsthand the challenges rural veterans encounter in accessing quality, affordable health care close to home. Unless you grew up in a rural community, its hard to grasp the challenges many North Dakota veterans face trying to get the care they deserve, said Heitkamp. Today Im calling on Secretary McDonald to visit North Dakota so he understands the obligation the VA has to provide quality care to veterans in rural areas who often live long distances from VA hospitals and clinics. Not a day goes by that I dont hear from veterans in our state who are struggling to get the cancer treatments, X-rays, physical therapy, and other services they deserve. The VA has fallen short in meeting that obligation, and Secretary McDonald needs to hear our veterans concerns himself so his department can fix this program for rural America. Last year, Congress passed a bipartisan bill to reform the VA and improve access to care, and since then Heitkamp has pushed to make sure the bill is implemented properly especially as it relates to North Dakota veterans who live far from VA medical facilities. The reforms included a Veterans Choice Card program to allow veterans who cant get a timely appointment with the VA or live more than 40 miles from a VA health care facility to seek care from local providers. However, countless North Dakotans have reached out to Heitkamp to share serious and unacceptable challenges they have encountered in the new program. Thats why, in addition to calling on Secretary McDonald to visit North Dakota, Heitkamp asked him how third party administrators like Health Net, which schedules appointments for North Dakota veterans in their communities, will fit into VAs plan to consolidate the Choice Program with other care in the community. She also pressed him about what steps the VA will take to improve the efficiency of the referral and authorization process. Heitkamp has pushed for increased care options for veterans since long before she joined Congress. In March, she successfully pressed VA to use the driving distance rather than the straight-line distance between a veterans residence and the nearest VA medical facility in its Choice Program eligibility criteria. Last July, Heitkamp met with then-VA Secretary Nominee McDonald and reinforced the need for the VA to make sure all veterans, including Native Americans and rural veterans, get access to quality resources and benefits in a timely manner. Later that month, Heitkamp voted to confirm McDonald to help bring about these needed reforms. Heitkamp helped pass bipartisan reforms to the VA last August that provide eligible veterans with increased access to health care through the Veterans Choice Program. Click here to read the letter.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-announces-15-million-dhs-grant-to-fund-flood-protection-for-fargo-waste-water-treatment-plant,Hoeven Announces $1.5 Million DHS Grant to Fund Flood Protection for Fargo Waste Water Treatment Plant,2015-12-21,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.21.15 Hoeven Announces $1.5 Million DHS Grant to Fund Flood Protection for Fargo Waste Water Treatment Plant WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded $1.5 million to the City of Fargo from its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). As Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Homeland Security, Hoeven oversees the department's annual budget and has worked to secure funding to protect the region from flooding. Today's grant will support flood protection for the City of Fargo's waste water treatment plant. Infrastructure priorities like flood protection for North Dakotans' homes and businesses are matters of public safety, Hoeven said. Today's FEMA grant will support critical improvements to the City of Fargo's wastewater system to minimize the risk of sewer backup into public and private property during flooding, and is part of our larger effort to create a comprehensive flood protection plan for the entire region. As a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Hoeven worked to include language in the FY 2016 Energy and Water funding bill to support flood projects in Fargo, Minot and LaMoure. Similar language was also included in the year-end funding bill, which recently passed the Senate. The year-end funding bill also includes nearly $690 million more than the Army Corps of Engineers' proposed budget for construction and authorizes new studies and construction activity that will help to advance flood protection projects in the Fargo-Moorhead and Minot regions. In August, Hoeven announced that FEMA awarded a $2 million grant to the City of Fargo to fund improvements to its wastewater treatment plant. Today's funding illustrates a phased approach to mitigating the impacts of flooding to Fargo's wastewater treatment plant, and is part of a comprehensive flood protection plan for the Red River Valley that Hoeven has worked to advance. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cramer-announces-schedule-of-public-events-for-dec-19-dec-27,Congressman Cramer Announces Schedule of Public Events for Dec. 19 Dec. 27,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,cramer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.Congressman Kevin Cramer released his schedule of public events for Dec. 19 Dec. 27.(All times are local). Tuesday, Dec. 22 Fargo Assembly 40th Anniversary Presentation 10:45 AM 3300 7th Ave N Fargo Fargo Moorhead Diversion Authority Meeting with Senator Hoeven, Senator Heitkamp and Local Officials 11:30 AM Fargo City Hall City Commission Room 200 3rd St. N Fargo Upstream Coalition Meeting with Congressman Collin Peterson (D-MN) 12:30 PM Knickerbocker 412 Main Ave Hickson Fargo Forum Editorial Board Meeting 2:30 PM Fargo Forum 101 5th Street North Fargo ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-house-approves-2016-omnibus-spending-bill,Cramer: House Approves 2016 Omnibus Spending Bill,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,cramer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.Congressman Kevin Cramer announced today the U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 2029, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016. The bill provides $1.149 trillion to fund the federal government through September 30, 2016. This includes $548 billion in defense spending, $73.7 billion in the Overseas Contingency Operations Fund, and $518 billion in non-defense spending. It complies with the budget caps established byH.R. 1314, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, which was enacted on Nov. 11. On balance, this Omnibus spending bill is really quite a victory for Republican principles and certainly for North Dakota and American values, beginning with the repeal of the antiquated oil export ban, said Cramer. Repealing this ban will help bring stability to the global marketplace. It will decrease the cost of gasoline, create a million jobs over the course of the next several years. And make us a much more secure world as we now compete with Vladimir Putin and Russia, with the Saudis and the other despots and dictators in the Middle East. He said another major victory is how the bill strengthens the Visa Waver Program. Currently the program is vulnerable to terrorists who want to travel to the United States and this legislation tightens up the visa application process considerably. The House already passed the Visa Waiver Reform Bill with 407 votes, said Cramer. Unfortunately, the Senate has not acted on the bill. Thankfully, we were able to include these reforms in must pass legislation. The legislation also protects many Americans from the disastrous effects of Obamacare. It prohibits new funding for Obamacare, said Cramer. In addition to no new funding for Obamacare, we actually halt three major Obamacare taxes - the medical device tax, which has been a job killer from the day it was implemented; the Cadillac tax, which is the tax on employer and union based purchased healthcare plans; and the health insurance premium tax, which never made sense because we were going to force people to buy a product and then tax it so we can have universal healthcare. Those three taxes have been put on hold for a couple of years in this bill. The omnibus bill includes limitations on the use of private email accounts and servers by limiting federal employees from using private emails for official business, said Cramer. The use of private email servers may inhibit the preservation of all records and electronic communications which may be needed for Congressional, civil or criminal investigations, said Cramer. Limiting the use of private email use for official purposes is at the heart of legislation introduced earlier this year by Cramer. The Securing Every Relevant and Vital Record or SERVER Act of 2015 ensures no Department Secretary may use a private server for emails and storage of electronic data. These provisions help ensure government employees and officials do not use their private email for work, said Cramer. Summaries of the 12 Appropriations bill within the Omnibus AgricultureThe Agriculture portion of the omnibus provides $21.8 billion in funding, $925 million above the FY2015 funding level. Among other things, the bill delays FDA menu labeling regulations for one year for grocery stores and food retailers, amends an FDA policy relating to the regulatory treatment of partially hydrogenated oils to prevent frivolous lawsuits, and provides local schools increased relief from whole grain and sodium nutritional standards in school lunches. Commerce/Justice/ScienceThe Commerce/Justice/Science portion of the omnibus provides $55.7 billion in funding, $5.6 billion above the FY2015 funding level. Among other things, the bill provides for an increase in funding for law enforcement by $2 billion to support FBI counterterrorism, cybersecurity, prosecution, and immigration courts. The House passedH.R. 2578, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016, by a vote of242 to 183on June 3, 2015. DefenseThe Defense portion of the omnibus provides $514.1 billion in base defense discretionary spending, $23.9 billion above the FY 2015 funding level. This includes $58.6 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) Fund. Among other things, the bill provides for a 1.3 percent pay raise for our troops, provides for important research on traumatic brain injury and psychological health, and ensures the military has the resources it needs to combat ISIS. The House passedH.R. 2685, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2016, by a vote of278 to 149on June 11, 2015. Energy and WaterThe Energy and Water portion of the omnibus provides $37.2 billion in funding, an increase of $3 billion over FY 2015. Among other things, the bill provides $1.1 billion increase for the National Nuclear Security Administration to maintain the safety, security, and readiness of the nations nuclear weapons stockpile, restricts the application of the Clean Water Act in certain agricultural areas, including farm ponds and irrigation ditches, prohibits funding for the light bulb standard regulations, and continues prior-year funding for Yucca Mountain to maintain its viability for future use. The House passed H.R. 2028, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016, by a vote of240 to 177on May 1, 2015. Financial ServicesThe Financial Services portion of the omnibus provides $23.2 billion in funding, $1.7 billion above the FY2015 level. Among other things, the bill freezes funding for the IRS at the FY 2015 level ($10.9 billion), provides certain protections to ensure the IRS treats all individuals and entities fairly, requires a pay freeze for the Vice President and senior political appointees, includes a prohibition on the DC government from using federal and local funds to further legalize recreational marijuana, provides $15 million for scholarships to low-income students in DC to attend private schools, as part of the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP),and prohibits funds for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to relinquish its responsibility over the Internets domain name system functions. Homeland SecurityThe Homeland Security portion of the omnibus provides $41 billion in discretionary funding for DHS funding, $1.3 billion above FY2015. Among other things, the bill provides $5.8 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to strengthen enforcement of immigration and customs laws, and to hire an additional 1,080 ICE agents and support personnel, fully funds E-Verify, a program that helps companies check if their employees may legally work in the United States, and does not fund the Presidents climate change initiatives within Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and National Protection Programs Directorate (NPPD) within DHS. Interior and EnvironmentThe Interior and Environment portion of the omnibus provides $32.2 billion in funding, $1.7 billion above the FY2015 enacted level. Among other things, the bill provides an increase of $670 million for wildfire fighting and prevention programs, funds the EPA at a lower level than FY 2010 ($8.1 billion), and prohibits the EPA from implementing greenhouse gas regulations for livestock producers, creating new wilderness areas, and regulating lead content in ammo and fishing tackle. Labor/Health and Human Services/EducationThe Labor/Health and Human Services/Education portion of this legislation provides $162.1 billion in funding, $5.4 billion above the FY 2015 enacted level. Among other things, the bill places restrictions on the Prevention and Public Health Fund (the Obamacare slush fund) to govern the allowable use of its funds, restricts the Department from lobbying for the ACA, provides a ban on creating embryos for research purposes or funding research in which embryos are destroyed, and rolls back Department of Labor (DOL) regulations that make it harder for employers to use the H-2B visa program. Legislative BranchThe Legislative Branch portion of this legislation provides $4.4 billion in funding, $63 million above the FY 2015 level. Among other things, the bill maintains funding for House Operations and provides increased funding for the Capitol Police, the Architect of the Capitol, the Library of Congress, the Government Accountability Office, and the Government Publishing Office. The House passedH.R. 2250, the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2016, by a vote of357 to 67on May 19, 2015 (this bill was then used as a vehicle for aContinuing Resolution, which funded the federal government from December 11, 2015 through December 16, 2015). Military Construction/Veterans AffairsThe Military Construction/Veterans Administration portion of the omnibus provides $79.9 billion in funding, $7.8 billion above the FY 2015 enacted level. Among other things, the bill creates safeguards for VA construction project overruns, improves VA health recordkeeping, and expands whistleblower protections to assure that VA medical staff have the same protection as other VA employees. The House passedH.R. 2029, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016, by a vote of255 to 163on April 30, 2015. The Senate passed the bill, with an amendment by a vote of93 to 0on November 10, 2015. State/Foreign OperationsThe State/Foreign Operations portion of the omnibus provides $53 billion in funding, $3.4 billion above/below the FY 2015 enacted level, including $15 billion in the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) Fund. Among other things, the bill reduces funding by $2.5 million (7 percent) for the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) and restricts those funds from being used if UNFPA operates in China, prohibits funding for debt relief for foreign countries, prohibits aid to Libya until the Secretary of State confirms Libyan cooperation in the Benghazi investigation, and prohibits funding to implement the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty. Transportation/Housing and Urban DevelopmentThe Transportation/Housing and Urban Development portion of the omnibus provides $57.6 billion in funding, $3.8 billion above the FY 2015 enacted level. Among other things, the bill provides no funding for high-speed rail, no funding for any new, unauthorized sustainable, livable, or green community development programs, prohibits funding for the Federal Housing Administration to finance mortgages seized by eminent domain, and includes provisions to ensure Amtrak is responsibly managing tax dollars. The House passedH.R. 2577, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016, by a vote of216 to 210on June 9, 2015. General Provisions 9/11 Victim Compensation Funds ReauthorizationThe bill provides for a five year extension of the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund. Shortly after the attacks in New York City on 9/11, Congress established the September 11thVictim Compensation Fund to compensate families of those who died in the attacks, and survivors who suffered disabling injury during or in the immediate aftermath of the attacks. Under current law, the Fund is authorized to accept claims through October 3, 2016. The bill provides for a 5 year extension. James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Fund ExtensionThe bill extends the authorization for the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act through FY 2090. After the attacked of 9/11 it became apparent that some people who worked at the WTC site, or who lived or worked near it, had become ill, possibly as a result of exposure to toxins and other hazards in the aftermath of the attack. In 2011, Congress passed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which created the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) to fund health services for survivors. The authority for the Act expired at the end of FY2015; however, annual funding caps were not met, so unexpended funds have been carried into FY2016.[13] The bill extends authorization for the fund through fiscal year 2090. Repeal of the Crude Oil Export BanThe bill includes a provision that repeals the export ban on crude oil in the United States. This provision is similar toH.R. 702, a bill to adapt to changing crude oil market conditions, which passed the House by a vote of261 to 159on October 9, 2015. Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Prevention Act of 2015The bill includes a provision to strengthen the security of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) to better ensure that individuals entering the United States through the program are not security risks, while maintaining the programs ability to facilitate legitimate foreign business travel and tourism to the U.S. This provision is identical toH.R. 158, the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Prevention Act of 2015, which passed the House by a vote of407 to 19on December 8, 2015. Country of Origin Labeling(COOL) Repeal the bill amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to repeal existing final point of sale country-of-origin labeling requirements for retailers of beef, pork, and chicken. Country of origin labeling requirements required by the 2008 Farm Bill for beef and pork were challenged by Canada and Mexico through the World Trade Organization (WTO) adjudication process. These countries argued that such labeling requirements had a trade-distorting impact by discriminating against imported livestock, in violation of the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The WTO ruled in favor of Mexico and Canada and has begun the process of determining the level of retaliatory tariffs those countries would be permitted to impose if the U.S. does not comply with the ruling. The bill repeals existing country-of-origin labeling requirements for retailers of beef, pork, and chicken to avoid these retaliatory tariffs. This provision is similar toH.R. 2393, the Country of Origin Labeling Amendments Act of 2015, which passed House by a vote of300 to 131on June 10, 2015. Guantanamo Detainees The bill prohibits closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison facility and prevents transfer of detainees into the United States. The bill also prohibits the construction or acquisition of facilities in the U.S. for the detention or imprisonment of Guantanamo detainees. The bill also includes a requirement that the State Department report to Congress on agreements with other countries to accept detainees from Guantanamo Bay. Second Amendment ProvisionsThe bill prohibits funding for federal law enforcement to transfer firearms to drug cartels without specific monitoring and control of the firearm (also known as gunwalking); prohibits funding to require a license to export to Canada certain gun parts valued at less than $500; prohibits the Department of Justice (DOJ) from denying a permit to import curios or relics related to firearms, parts or ammunition of U.S. origin; prohibits DOJ from denying permits for the importation of certain types of shotguns; and prohibits funds to implement the United NationsArms Trade Treaty. Cybersecurity ProvisionsThe bill includes provisions to create a voluntary cybersecurity information sharing process that will encourage public and private sector entities to share cyber threat information, without legal barriers and the threat of unfounded litigationwhile protecting private information.[15] The bill also includes provisions to improve federal network and information system security, provide assessments on the federal cybersecurity workforce, and provide reporting and strategies on cybersecurity industry-related and criminal-related matters.[16] These provisions are similar to those included inH.R. 1731,theNational Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act of 2015, which passed the House by a vote of355 to 63on April 23, 2015, andH.R. 1560,the Protecting Cyber Networks Act, which passed the House by a vote of307 to 116on April 22, 2015, and S. 754, the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015, which the Senate passed by a vote of74 to 21on October 27, 2015. Pro-Life ProvisionsThe bill maintains existing protections that prohibit the use of federal funding for abortion, except in cases rape, incest, or endangerment of the life of the mother, and continues an annual provision to prevent the Department of Health and Human Services from discriminating against health care providers that refuse to provide, pay for, or refer for abortions. The bill also includes a ban on creating embryos for research purposes, or federal funding of research in which embryos are destroyed. The bill also includes restrictions on the use of funds by Legal Services Corporation grantees to participate in abortion-related litigation. The bill also includes a prohibition on the DC government using federal or local fund for abortion or abortion-related services. Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016The bill authorizes appropriations for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the U.S. government. This provision is nearly identical toH.R. 4127, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, which passed the House by a vote of364 to 58on December 1, 2015. Private Email Servers- A prohibition on funding for the State Department for private email accounts or servers. The legislation also requires the Secretary of State to submit a report to Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) within 30 days detailing its policies regarding the use or the establishment of email accounts or email servers created outside the .gov domain. Budgetary Provisions PAYGO ExemptionsThe bill provides that the budgetary effects of Division P (tax-related provisions) of the bill shall not be entered on the PAYGO scorecards under the Statutory Pay As You Go Act, and gives the Chairman of the Budget Committee the authority to adjust the allocations, aggregates, and levels of the Budget Resolution to be consistent with the Bipartisan budget Act of 2015. Financial Services Provisions Disclosure of Political ActivitiesThe bill prohibits the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from requiring certain companies to disclose political contributions, contributions to tax exempt organizations, or dues to trade associations. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Preferred Stock SalesThe bill limits the sale of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac preferred stock by the Secretary of the Treasury until 2018. On September 6, 2008, the Federal Housing Administration exercised this authority and placed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into conservatorships. At the same time, the U.S. Department of the Treasury entered into Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreements (PSPAs) with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to provide liquidity and stability to the mortgage market by purchasing shares of each company. In part, as a result of these actions, the U.S. Government owns a combined $187.5 billion of PSPAs of the GSEs and the rights to purchase up to 80 percent of their common shares. Hardest Hit Housing Fund and Making Home Affordable InitiativeThe bill extends the Hardest Hit Fund (HHF) authority through 2017 and would terminate the Making Home Affordable initiative beginning in 2017. On February 19, 2010, the Obama Administration announced that it would make up to a total of $1.5 billion available to the housing finance agencies (HFAs) of five states that had experienced the greatest declines in home prices, known as HHF. Funding for the program comes from the Targeted Asset Relief Program funds. The Making Home Affordable program is an initiative designed to make it easier for certain homeowners with little or no equity in their homes to refinance their mortgages and to help certain troubled borrowers obtain affordable loans. Iraq Loan AuthorityThe bill authorizes up to $2.7 billion in direct loans to Iraq using the assistance provided to it through the Foreign Military Financing program. Commodity End-User Relief The bill exempts certain swaps and securities-based swaps executed by a central treasury unit (CTU) from the clearing requirements required for financial entities when that CTU is hedging or mitigating the risk of an affiliated commercial end-user; thereby, enabling such businesses to more efficiently hedge certain risks. This provision is similar toH.R. 1317, which passed the House by voice vote on November 16, 2015. Miscellaneous Financial Services ProvisionsThe bill includes similar provisions to those included in the following House bills that passed in the 114th Congress:H.R. 3032- the Securities and Exchange Commission Reporting Modernization Act of 2015;H.R. 2643 the State Licensing Efficiency Act of 2015; and,H.R. 1478 the Policyholder Protection Act of 2015. Health Care Provisions Reinsurance Risk CorridorsThe bill continues the prohibition on fund transfers to the reinsurance risk corridors in the ACA. The ACA requires certain insurance companies to pay into a reinsurance risk pool to subsidize health insurance companies that incur deep losses. Under the ACAs original framework, if the amount paid to these pools is surpassed by the amount paid out, the federal government is required to make up the difference. In 2015 the shortfall was approximately $2.5 billion. Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) CutsThe bill cuts funding for IPAB by $15 million. IPAB was created by the ACA and is charged with developing proposals to ""reduce the percapita rate of growth in Medicare spending. Puerto Rico Medicare Reimbursement RatesThe bill would modify Medicare inpatient hospital rates for Puerto Rico hospitals to create Medicare rate reimbursement parity in Puerto Rico. This provision would also allow its participation in the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program that is available to Hospitals in the 50 states. The bill does not include access to Chapter 9 municipal bankruptcy for Puerto Rico. Tax Provisions Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) ExtensionThe bill extends the 30 percent Solar ITC for solar residential energy-efficient properties from 2017 to 2019, reduces the rate to 26 percent for 2020, and 22 percent for 2021. Wind and Renewable Resources Credit ExtensionThe bill extends the wind production tax credit (PTC) for wind and certain other certain renewable sources of electricity. The bill phases down the credit to 80 percent in 2017, 60 percent in 2018, and 40 percent in 2019. The renewable electricity PTC is a per-kilowatt-hour tax (kWh) credit for electricity generated using qualified energy resources. Two-year delay on High Cost Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage Excise Tax Provisions Cadillac TaxThe bill provides for a two-year moratorium on the excise tax on high cost health plans (Cadillac Tax), provided under the ACA. Under current law, the tax 40 percent tax is set to take effect in 2018 and is imposed on plans that cost more than $10,200 for single health plans and $27,500 for family plans. One-year delay of the Health Insurance Tax (HIT)The bill provides for a one-year moratorium on the annual excise tax imposed on health insurers for calendar year 2017. The Health Insurance Tax is an annual fee charged to health insurance providers. Rather than a charging a fixed amount per health care provider, consumer, or a percentage of the price of insurance, the fee is set statutorily as a fixed amount each year and is split proportionally among most health insurers based upon their market share. Under current law, that amount will be $11.3 billion in 2015 and 2016, $13.9 billion in 2017, and $14.3 billion in 2018. Permanent Internet Tax Freedom ActThe bill provides a one-year extension of the Internet Tax Freedom Act, which bans states and localities from taxing Internet access or placing multiple and discriminatory taxes on Internet commerce, but allows grandfathered states and localities through June 2020 to phase-out existing taxes. The House passed H.R. 235, the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act, by voice vote on June 9, 2015. Independent Refiners Transportation Cost Tax Deduction The bill temporarily exempts 75 percent of qualified transportation costs of certain independent refiners from calculating their domestic production activities. The provision would apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2015, and expire December 31, 2021. Natural Resources Provisions Reauthorization of Land Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)The bill includes a three year reauthorization of the LWCF, which was created to help preserve, develop, and ensure access to outdoor recreation resources and is funded primarily by revenues from oil and gas leases on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The authority to transfer certain revenues into the Fund lapsed on September 30, 2015. National Oceans and Coastal Security Actthe bill includes the National Oceans and Coastal Security Act, which establishes a new National Oceans and Coastal Security Fund that will provide grants to strengthen coastal roads, bridges, and other infrastructure that are critical to coastal economies. It will also support work by state and local governments, universities, and non-profit organizations to restore habitat, manage fisheries, plan for sustainable coastal development, enhance ocean monitoring and research, and acquire coastal properties for preservation.[27] This provision is nearly identical toS. 2025, the NationalOceansandCoastalSecurityAct. Prohibits listing the Sage Grouse on the Endangered Species ListThe bill prohibits the Sage Grouse from being listed on the Endangered Species List. If the bird were put on the list, it could have resulted in the closure of public lands that that have been used for decades for cattle grazing in Western states. The Obama Administration announced on September 22, 2015, that it would not include the bird on the list. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=22be9ecc-5a7c-49bd-9dd9-594b31b49a09,"Hoeven: Year-End Funding Bill Lifts Crude Oil Export Ban, Advances Other N.D. Priorities",2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.18.15 Hoeven: Year-End Funding Bill Lifts Crude Oil Export Ban, Advances Other N.D. Priorities Measure Supports ND Flood Projects, Permanently Extends Sec. 179, Reforms Visa Waiver Program WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven, who serves on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that the year-end omnibus appropriations bill that Congress passed today includes a provision to lift the decades-long ban on U.S. crude oil exports, as well as other key priorities for North Dakota. In addition, the measure reduces spending from $1.5 trillion in 2009, when it peaked, to $1.15 trillion in 2016, a reduction of $350 billion. Specifically, the measure: Lifts the decades-long ban on crude oil exports Advances flood protection projects for the Fargo-Moorhead and Minot regions Provides tax relief for small businesses and farmers by permanently extending the Section 179 expensing limit Prevents the implementation of Obamacare tax on medical devices and health care plans for two years Supports our military and veterans Supports UAS research and Centers of Excellence Strengthens the visa waiver program Extends flexibility to school meals programs Boosts ag research, Water Bank Program and defunds WOTUS Interpretive Rule for farmers and ranchers Supports Native American education and law enforcement Supports continued health care for 9/11 first responders (Zadroga) Lifting the ban on exporting crude oil is a win across the board because it will help to grow our economy and create jobs, hold the price of gasoline at the pump lower for consumers, and make our nation more secure, Hoeven said. While the year-end funding legislation didnt produce as much savings as I would have liked, it still reduces spending from $1.5 trillion in 2009 to about $1.15 trillion in 2016, a reduction of $350 billion. Moreover, the legislation includes North Dakota priorities, such as flood protection for the Fargo and Minot areas, tax relief for farmers, ranchers and small businesses and keeping our military strong. It also provides unprecedented support for our nations veterans. SUMMARY OF PRIORITIES Lifts the Ban on Oil Exports Hoeven has repeatedly called for repealing the ban and worked persistently to get it included in the year-end legislation. The senator, who serves on the Energy Committee, cosponsored bipartisan legislation lifting the ban that passed the committee this summer. More information can be found here. Provides funding and authorization for new construction and study starts Includes nearly $690 million more than the Army Corps of Engineers proposed budget for construction and authorizes new studies and construction activity that will help to advance flood protection projects in the Fargo-Moorhead and Minot regions. Hoeven worked on the Appropriations Committee to include language in the FY 2016 Energy and Water funding bill, which has now been included in the year-end legislation. Help communities in North Dakota build permanent flood protection projects with an emphasis on public private partnerships like the permanent flood protection project for Fargo and the Red River Valley. Provide permission for the Corps to begin studies of new permanent flood protection projects, which is vital for communities like Minot and the Souris River. Increase the Corps funding for water development infrastructure over FY 2015. This increase will help communities like LaMoure with funding to replace sanitary sewer systems. Increase the Corps funding for FEMA flood-mapping activities to better coordinate with flood insurance and keep premiums more affordable. The legislation also directs FEMA to take local communities flood protection projects into account when mapping flood hazards and to coordinate the mapping process with the phases of large projects. The measure also provides an additional $165 million above the fiscal year 2015 level for flood mitigation programs and boosts the Flood Hazard Mapping and Risk Analysis Program to $190 million, a 53 percent increase, and the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Grant Program to $100 million, a 300 percent increase. Provides More Than $680 billion in Tax Relief, including permanently extending the Sec. 179 limitation, the number one priority for farmers, ranchers and small businesses. Section 179 and Bonus Depreciation Permanently extends Section 179 with the $500,000 limitation, a provision of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax code that allows farmers, ranchers and other small businesses to expense the purchase of equipment they need to run their operations. In addition, the measure extends the bonus depreciation allowance for five years. Section 179 allows small businesses the option of expensing the costs of qualified equipment and other property up-front, which may reduce the businesses administrative burden and would be preferable to depreciating the items over time. Obamacare Tax Relief Includes several provisions that offer regulatory relief from Obamacares costly and burdensome mandates, including a two-year delay of the tax on businesses that pay their employees health care plans, a two-year delay of the Medical Device Tax and a one-year delay of the Health Insurance Tax (HIT) paid by insurance companies. It also eliminates funding for the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). Charitable Distribution from IRAs Allows individuals over the age of 70 to donate directly to a qualified charity from their Individual Retirement Account (IRA). The amount donated is excluded from their gross income for tax purposes and satisfies any minimum distribution requirement for the IRA. Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) LIHTC is a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for private investments made for the construction or rehabilitation of affordable housing. The credits are distributed to the states on a per capita basis and developers compete for an allocation of credits. The North Dakota Housing Finance Agency manages the credits and uses them alongside state programs to address North Dakotas housing challenges and ensure an adequate housing supply is available for the states workers and their families. Deduction for Educator Expenses Allows teachers to deduct the cost of unreimbursed expenses up to $250 per educator, for education supplies, such as books, computer equipment and other materials. Supports Our Military and Veterans Ensures a strong nuclear triad and UAS force for the future. Cruise missile warhead: Includes full funding, $195 million, to refurbish the warhead that will go on the new Air Force long range standoff (LRSO) cruise missile. Global Hawk The bill provides $268 million in support of the Global Hawk mission and includes language to ensure the Air Force does not retire or divest the Global Hawk fleet in Fiscal Year 2016. The measure ensures that the Air Force will continue the Global Hawk Block 40 program at Grand Forks Air Force Base. Nuclear Force Structure Includes language Hoeven authored that directs the Department of Defense (DoD) to maintain U.S. nuclear forces at the levels agreed to in the New START Treaty, rather than reduce them, as the administration has proposed. Minuteman III Replacement Full funding for the next generation intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which will replace the current Minuteman III. B-52 Modernization $225.4 million to modernize the B-52, including programs to improve its communications equipment and upgrade the internal bomb bay. UAS Research $7.8 million to support DoD research and development efforts for unmanned aerial systems (UAS). This funding helps DoD ensure its UAS aircraft will be consistent with the FAAs efforts to integrate UAS into the national airspace. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has selected the ASSURE team, led by the University of North Dakota and Mississippi State University, as the Center of Excellence for researching the safe integration of UAS into the National Airspace. ND National Guard Intelligence Targeting Mission The bill includes $7.3 million for a new facility to support the North Dakota Air National Guards Intelligence Targeting Mission at Hector Field in Fargo. UAS Integration and Research The bill provides $17.6 million for the FAA for general UAS research and integration priorities and directs that at least $5.5 million go to the UAS Center of Excellence in coordination with the six national UAS test sites. Supports Our Nations Veterans Funds Veterans Administration programs at $71.4 billion, more than has ever been appropriated to the VA. The bill makes an additional $2.5 billion in FY2016 available to improve patient access to care, and to support additional health care services including hepatitis C treatments, veterans' caregiver services, and homeless veterans assistance. Additionally, the bill includes a provision that requires the Department of Veteran Affairs to submit a comprehensive cost analysis of the Veterans Choice Programs 40 mile rule criteria. The report must provide potential legislative and non-legislative solutions that offer veterans access to non-VA care when they live more than 40 miles from a VA medical facility incapable of providing medical services a veteran requires. Earlier this year the Senate passed the Access to Community Care for Veterans Act, legislation cosponsored by Hoeven. This bill amends the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act (Choice Act) of 2014 to allow veterans to obtain health care services in their local community if a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center or CBOC within 40 miles cant provide the necessary care. Helps Make America Safer Reforms the Visa Waiver Program The legislation increases information sharing between the United States and the 38 countries whose passport-holders are allowed to visit the country without getting a visa, while also attempting to weed out travelers who have visitedcertain countries and may require additional scrutiny. Strengthens Homeland Security provides $47.8 billion for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including key increases for border security, immigration enforcement, and cybersecurity, among other critical missions.Specifically, the bill includes $11.1 billion for Customs and Border Protection, $359 million above the FY 2015 enacted level. The funding will be used for significant border security enhancements, such as a new unmanned aircraft; an Integrated Fixed Tower system for the Arizona border; and relocatable surveillance towers for the Southwest border. It also fully funds necessary immigration enforcement and vetting activities above the fiscal year 2015 level, including intelligence and targeting systems; Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigations, overstay enforcement, and Mobile Criminal Alien Teams to identify and apprehend criminal aliens; and a modernization of the agencys biometric system. E-Verify is funded at $120 million, and DHS is required to submit a report on the steps necessary to move to a mandatory system. Helps First Responders, States and Local Communities Counter Terrorism In addition to $1.5 billion to support state and local planning, training, exercises, and equipment purchases, the bill includes $50 million in additional funding for a new initiative to counter violent extremism and complex, coordinated terrorist attacks. The funds will be available as grants to help states and local communities prepare for, prevent, and respond to such threats. The funding will benefit first responders like police, firemen, and ambulance services should a violent incident occur. Strengthen Cybersecurity The measure includes $819 million for protection of government networks and information technology systems and DHS efforts with states, local communities, and the private sector to increase cybersecurity.Further, an additional $100 million is provided to enhance security of the Departments internal systems. Gives School Meals Programs Needed FlexibilityIncludes Hoevens school nutrition reform amendment, whichpassed the Agriculture Appropriations Committee, earlier this year. The measure gives schools struggling to comply with the whole grain standard the flexibility they need during the 2016-2017 school year to allow for 50 percent of whole grains, rather than requiring 100 percent of whole grains in the school meal. It also prevents the Administration from requiring further reductions in sodium, which have already been reduced, making it difficult for schools to serve healthy foods with naturally occurring sodium. Hoeven has pressed to make these provisions permanent through theHealthy School Meals Flexibility Act (S.1146),which he sponsored with Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). Boosts Ag Research and Water Bank, Prevents the WOTUS Interpretive Rule for Farmers and Ranchers. Water Bank Continues the Hoeven Water Bank initiative at the FY15 level of $4 million, providing compensation for farmers and landowners for flooded land through 10-year, voluntary conservation agreements, which is especially helpful for Devils Lake producers. Boosts Ag Research Agriculture research programs, including the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and National Institutes for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) received increased funding.ARS which received an increase over FY15 levels to $1.4 billion is USDAs in-house research arm, which partners with facilities like Fargos Red River Valley Agricultural Research Center. NIFA is provided funding of $1.3 billion, a $37 million increase over FY15 levels. This is critical for the cutting edge research done at Americas land grant universities, such as NDSU. Rural Water Rural communities manage their water systems through programs like the Grassroots Source Water Protection Program and the Circuit Rider Program, which received increases of $974,000 and $478,000 over FY15 levels respectively. WOTUS Prevents the EPA from reinstating the Waters of the U.S. Interpretive Rule, which preserves the general ag exemption from the Clean Water Act for farmers and ranchersHoeven continues to work on several fronts to stop the full WOTUS regulation, including blocking funding for implementing the rule and eliminating the rule through standalone legislation and under the Congressional Review Act (CRA). Anhydrous Ammonia The bill includes a provision that prevents the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) from imposing new enforcement regimes that threatened to limit the supply of anhydrous ammonia, a nitrogen fertilizer that is critically important to our nations farmers. Supports Native American Education and Law Enforcement Tribally Controlled Postsecondary Career and Technical Institutions Includes anadditional $5.1 million to fund the, which includes United Tribes Technical College. Thisfunding will come up front rather than at the end of the year, which will support a thriving educational system for Native American students throughout the state. BIA Criminal Investigations and Police Services Provides $198 million, a $3 million increase from FY15 for BIA assumed child social services on the Spirit Lake Reservation in North Dakota in October of 2012. Further, increased population growth has resulted in additional economic activity on the Fort Berthold Reservation, straining the police and investigative services on both reservations. Includes $4.5 million for the BIA to create a new Indian Energy Service Center to expedite leasing, permitting, and reporting of energy development on tribal lands, which could benefit Fort Berthold. Supports Continued Health Care for 9/11 First Responders Permanently extends the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program and provides a five-year extension of the September 11th Victims Compensation Fund (VCF). Together, these programs provide specialized health care services, such as chronic disease treatment, and compensation to the first responders and victims of the 9/11 terrorists attacks. To date, more than 33,000 program participants are suffering from illnesses or injuries as a result of the 9/11 attacks. -###-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=b327efb3-378a-488a-aca0-f8e42fcd19da,"Hoeven Thanks North Dakota Interns for Their Service in His Washington, Bismarck & Fargo Offices",2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.18.15 Hoeven Thanks North Dakota Interns for Their Service in His Washington, Bismarck & Fargo Offices WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today thanked the young people who interned in his offices during the fall semester. Mary Silverthorn of Beulah, Sarah Strube of Dickinson, Samuel Swanson of Bismarck and Emily Kovacs of St. Paul interned in Hoevens Washington, D.C. office. Quinn Harmon of Minot interned in Hoevens Bismarck office and Aaron Weber of Wishek was based in Hoevens Fargo office. The interns have worked with the senator and his staff on legislative, communications and administrative projects. Internships are a great opportunity to gain professional experience while also getting a first-hand look at the legislative process, Hoeven said. We hope the skills these young people have learned will help them achieve their educational and career goals. My staff and I thank this group of interns for all of their hard work during the past few months, and appreciate their enthusiasm and willingness to become involved in public service. Emily Kovacs, daughter of James and Julie Kallestad, is in her last year of pharmacy school at North Dakota State University (NDSU). Emily is planning to graduate in May. Mary Silverthorn, daughter of Roger and Sue Silverthorn, is a junior at the University of Minnesota. She is pursuing a degree in political science and business management. Sarah Strube, daughter of Beth Ehlis of Dickinson and Ernie Strube of Mayville, is studying business economics and political science at the University of North Dakota (UND). Samuel Swanson is the son of Thomas and Karen Swanson, and is a recent graduate of Concordia College, where he triple majored in political science, global studies with a concentration in Latin American studies and Spanish. After the internship, Samuel hopes to stay in Washington and work in the Capitol where he can learn more about the legislative process. Quinn Harmon, daughter of Kevin and Leisa Harmon, is a junior at the University of Mary where she is majoring in public policy. At the University of Mary, Quinn serves as a Student Senator on the student government and is a member of the Pre-Law Club. She also competed for the Track and Field team for the past two years. Quinn plans to attend law school after she graduates in 2016. Aaron Weber, son of Jim and Mary Ann Weber, is a 2013 graduate of Wishek High School and is in his junior year at NDSU. There he studies agriculture communications with hopes of attending law school or graduate school. While at NDSU, Aaron has been involved with Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, Student Government, North Dakota Student Association, and North Dakota College Republicans, where he serves as President. Senator Hoeven offers internship opportunities in his Washington, D.C. and state offices. North Dakotans interested in applying to intern in the senators office should submit an application online. Questions can be directed to (202) 224-2551. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=f46e7a3a-9952-4d3e-a6f8-acb9605f3c3e,Hoeven Announces $50K NSF Grant for Aerospace Technology Development at UND,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.18.15 Hoeven Announces $50K NSF Grant for Aerospace Technology Development at UND WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded $50,000 to researchers at the University of North Dakota (UND) to support the development of aerospace technology. UNDs researchers will prepare an orientation determination and control system for spacecraft, aircraft and other vehicles for commercial development and use, which will allow the crafts to take intelligent, corrective action after unanticipated events or hardware failures. The funds are made available through NSFs Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program. Our states research institutions are drivers of innovation and economic growth, Hoeven said. Todays award supports UNDs continued efforts to conduct cutting-edge research across the field of aerospace, developing technologies that make flying safer, whether it is within our atmosphere or out in space. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=0ea88905-6d40-4dc6-b661-207b0f5d952d,Heitkamp: Investments in End of Year Spending Bill will Help Fight Violence Against Women,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced the year-end spending deal Congress voted on today includes a significant increase federal funding for support and services for victims of domestic violence, which Heitkamp has long championed. The $480 million in federal support from the Office on Violence Against Women is a $50 million increase from last year, and will be used for victims services, legal, training and technical assistance, as well as research and analysis on violence against Native women. The funding also includes $30 million for transitional housing for survivors of domestic violence seeking protection from their abusers as well as a new start in life, which Heitkamp who has worked since her time as North Dakotas Attorney General to secure the necessary safety and recovery resources for victims of domestic violence will continue working to strengthen. It is imperative that strong investments are made in organizations providing victims with a clear path out of this vicious cycle of abuse, said Heitkamp. The significant increase in Violence Against Women Act federal funding included in the end of the year spending bill Congress passed is a needed step in the path toward improving safety, but we cant stop there. To truly protect victims, we need to simultaneously strengthen support dedicated to the transitional housing programs that help victims escape and more importantly survive. When I first helped implement VAWA across the state as North Dakotas Attorney General, I saw firsthand the deep impact this funding makes in the lives of victims, and Ill keep pushing to strengthen historically underfunded, yet critical programs like transitional housing that open the door to freedom from abuse helping victims get the support they need to escape, recover, and rebuild their lives. For decades, Heitkamp has worked to combat domestic violence in North Dakota and across the country. As North Dakota Attorney General in the 1990s, she implemented the original Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) across the state, and worked to change the perception of domestic violence as a public health issue, so it would be treated and viewed as what it is a criminal act. As a result, Heitkamp saw firsthand the dramatic changes in the number of incidents that followed after domestic violence was criminalized. Largely due to VAWA, according to the Justice Department, the annual incidences of domestic violence have fallen more than 60 percent since 1993. Since joining the Senate, Heitkamp has built on her work as Attorney General to combat domestic violence and stop those who seek to harm adults and children: Successfully fighting for greater protections for tribal communities in Violence Against Women Act reauthorization. The first bill Heitkamp cosponsored in the U.S. Senate was the reauthorization of VAWA which she then played a key role in pushing through Congress. Heitkamp worked to include a key provision in VAWA to address the continuing crisis of violence against women in tribal communities. The provision strengthens the existing programs and provides tribal governments the force they need to prosecute non-Indian perpetrators who commit these crimes on tribal land. Securing greater legal protections and services for domestic and sexual violence victims. In November, Heitkamps bipartisan Pro bono Work to Empower and Represent or POWER Act (POWER Act) to help combat domestic abuse and sexual violence by increasing access and promoting pro-bono legal services for victims of domestic violence unanimously passed in the U.S. Senate. Raising awareness of domestic violence awareness and resources available in North Dakota communities. In October 2014, Heitkamp met with community leaders, advocates, and victims services inFargoandMinotto highlight the urgent need to address domestic violence as a public health crisis in North Dakota. Heitkamp also toured the Community Violence Intervention Center (CVIC) both in Grand Forks this past January and in Minot this past March to see the programs its implemented to support victims and combat domestic violence in the region. Addressing emerging challenges in North Dakota to better combat domestic violence. Last fall, Heitkamp convened a task force of experts, law enforcement and leaders across the state in launching her Strong & Safe Communities Initiative to address emerging challenges including a rise in domestic violence in the wake of the oil and gas boom. In October, Heitkamp hosted her Strong & Safe Communities Summit with about 150 community leaders to discuss solutions on domestic violence and a host of other issues facing the state. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=3670c389-9b8d-427e-8077-5e628aff41de,Heitkamp Statement on Congress Passing Bipartisan Deal to Lift 40-Year Old Ban on Exporting Oil,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"On Wednesday, White House Encouraged Congress to Pass Bill which includes Lifting Oil Export Ban WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today issued the following statement after Congress passed landmark bipartisan legislation to lift the 40-year old ban on exporting oil. Heitkamps efforts since the summer of 2014 paved the way for this deal and she was closely involved with negotiations as they took place. Over the past year and a half, Heitkamp has been working to educate other senators -- especially Democrats -- about the need to lift the ban, meeting with top White House officials, building support for the policy change, and negotiating a bipartisan deal that brought Senate Democrats on board so the policy had enough votes to pass in the Senate. Over the past several months, she has been working with U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Senate Democratic leadership to discuss what a deal to lift the ban could look like, and negotiate such a deal in the end of the year spending bill. The deal also includes part of Heitkamps initial legislation to lift the ban to address presidential authority, which was a key piece to bringing Democrats on board. In a statement on Wednesday, the White House urged Congress to pass the bill. This bipartisan deal is a win-win for North Dakota, said Heitkamp. It lifts the oil export ban which Ive been advocating for a year and a half and helped negotiate, provides needed certainty for our states wind producers, and renews some faith in Congress by showing that when Republicans and Democrats work together, we can get things done. Lifting the oil export ban has been my top priority in Congress but you cant pass legislation by yourself. It was through many months and hours of educating other senators, especially Democrats, about the merits of changing this policy, and working through good-faith efforts to reach a bipartisan deal that brought enough Democrats on board so we had the votes to overturn this outdated ban on exporting oil. The facts are clear lifting the ban is good for consumers, our economy, national security, and energy security. We have made swift progress to get to this point, and I always believed that it both sides were willing to come to the table, changing this policy this year was possible. Im hopeful this type of true legislating paves the way for more bipartisanship in Congress which is long overdue. Though supportive of standalone legislation to lift the oil export ban as her bipartisan legislation with U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) would do -- Heitkamp has long said that to actually gain strong bipartisan support to lift the ban, there needed to be a deal to bring along enough Democrats and thats what she has been working to do for months. She spoke publicly about negotiating a deal to end the ban during an event on the oil export ban in September. A key piece of Heitkamps legislation to lift the oil export ban which passed out of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs in July was included in the final deal. Heitkamps language would give the President the ability to impose restrictions on oil exports, like licensing requirements, for up to one year under certain special circumstances and if necessary, the ability to extend those requirements or restrictions annually. Some of these special circumstances include: national security threats, national emergencies, sustained crude oil shortages, and when supply shortages or price increase are likely to negatively impact employment. The final bipartisan deal which Heitkamp helped negotiate lifts the oil export ban as well as includes a five year retroactive extension of the Production Tax Credit through 2019, which supports wind energy, and a five year extension of the Solar Investment Tax Credit, which supports solar energy. The bill also includes a three year extension of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which supports the development of outdoor recreation areas. Heitkamp has also long advocated to extend the Production Tax Credit (PTC) to support the development of wind power, which was included in the deal. The PTC is a tool that has proven successful in driving up wind and alternative energy output nationwide, providing much needed certainty for wind energy workers across the country. In North Dakota alone, up to 3,000 jobs were supported by the wind production industry in 2014. Background Click here to view a timeline of Heitkamps efforts to lift the ban over the past year and a half. She has been an early and vocal leader in Congress to lift the oil export ban by: Speaking out early about the need to lift the ban. In August 2014, Heitkamp spoke about the need to end this antiquated policy during the national energy strategy meeting the U.S. Department of Energy held in Bismarck at her request. Then in September 2014, Heitkamp and John Hess, the CEO of Hess Corporation, appeared together on CNBCs Squawk Box where they talked about the need to lift the ban. Introducing bipartisan legislation with Murkowski to end the ban on exporting oil. The two senators crafted and introduced bipartisan, complementary bills expressly intended to merge which went through the senators respective committees Senate Committee on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs and Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Their bills passed out of both committees. Prior to introducing their legislation, Heitkamp and Murkowski first pushed together for an amendment to lift the ban to legislation that would give Congress the ability to review any nuclear deal with Iran. They then worked together on two similar amendments to the National Defense Reauthorization Act in June. Meeting with senators and educating them about why lifting the ban makes sense. For about a year, Heitkamp has been taking the time to meet with Democratic senators to explain the economic, national security, and energy arguments for lifting the ban. As a result of her efforts, over the past several months, many Democratic senators publicly expressed a willingness to discuss lifting the oil export ban. In June, Heitkamp posted on Medium explaining the reasons for lifting the oil export ban. Advocating for strong bipartisan support for lifting the ban. Though in favor of standalone legislation to lift the ban -- as her legislation would do -- Heitkamp has long said that to actually get bipartisan support to lift the ban, there needs to be a deal with Democrats and thats what shes been working to do for months. Heitkamp publicly made the case for such action during a National Journal event in September about lifting the oil export ban where she said she believed Congress could lift the ban by the end of the year if senators come together, negotiate, and agree to pair such a policy with other provisions perhaps dealing with renewable energies to build more support from Democrats. Helping pave the way for and participated in negotiations over several months the led to a bipartisan deal. Over several months, Heitkamp met with congressional Democrats and Republicans, including Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) who has legislation in the House to lift the ban, as well as top leaders at the White House -- including the President and chief of staff and top leaders and diplomats from the European Union to discuss how to reach a deal to lift the ban on exporting oil. Such discussions framed the efforts this fall for Heitkamp and Heinrich who, working with Senate Democratic leadership, led efforts to determine how a package to lift the ban paired with Democratic priorities might work. Heitkamp then worked closely with Senate leadership over the past several weeks as they negotiated a final bipartisan deal that included key pieces from her standalone legislation. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=975219b5-be26-4eaf-8ddc-c080ee19003e,"Heitkamp Votes with Bipartisan Majority of Senate to Pass Year-End Spending Deal, Tax Extensions",2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today voted with a bipartisan majority of the U.S. Senate to pass a year-end spending deal and tax extensions, packages that include several provisions Heitkamp fought for that benefit North Dakota. The package, which also passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday, will now go to the president to be signed into law. No deal is perfect, but this bill is a strong bipartisan compromise and it includes priorities I fought for to give North Dakota families and small businesses a leg up, said Heitkamp. The deal will bolster our energy sector and create jobs by letting oil producers export crude for the first time in 40 years. Thats a victory for North Dakota, and a priority Ive been leading on for a year and a half. The deal will permanently lower tax burdens on farmers, let working families keep more of their hard-earned wages, and fund a new $7.3 million Air National Guard intelligence facility in Fargo. To protect women and families, the bill increases funding to tackle domestic violence by $50 million. And to give communities like Fargo and Minot a better shot at lasting flood protection, the deal will fund new U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood protection projects. The bill includes provisions Heitkamp fought for to strengthen North Dakota in key ways: Lifting ban on exporting U.S. oil: Heitkamp has led the push to lift 1970s-era ban on exporting U.S. oil, and helped negotiate the deal in the spending bill allowing for U.S. oil exports for the first time in 40 years. Heitkamps efforts since the summer of 2014 paved the way for lifting the ban so North Dakota oil can reach global markets. For more than a year and a half, Heitkamp has been meeting with members of Congress especially Senate Democrats and top White House officials to explain why lifting the ban makes sense and to build bipartisan support for the policy. Flooding protections: The spending bill will authorize and fund new study and construction starts for flood protection projects, like those around Minot and Fargo. The bill provides $690 million more in federal funding for construction of flood projects than the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed. Heitkamp urged Congress to authorize new starts, and to make Fargo and Minots flood protections priorities. Last month Heitkamp worked with Minot officials to push for lasting flood protections at meetings she arranged in Washington with top officials at the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and Army Corps of Engineers. Heitkamp has been a vocal advocate of lasting protections and has been working closely with local, state and federal officials to make sure North Dakota has the protection it needs. Workers and families: To protect and strengthen the middle class, the bill gives North Dakota families permanent tax breaks. In the congressional spending bill, Heitkamp fought for and helped make permanent both the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and the enhanced Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to support hardworking families so they can earn a living above the poverty line. Farmers and ranchers: The deal permanently cuts taxes on North Dakota farmers and ranchers by extending Section 179 with a $500,000 limitation. Section 179 is a provision in the tax code that allows farmers, ranchers, and small business owners to expense equipment purchased to run their operations. Permanently extending Section 179, which Heitkamp has pushed for, will provide certainty for North Dakota producers and ease small businesses tax burden. Military personnel: North Dakota military personnel will benefit from $7.3 million in funding for the Fargo Air National Guards targeting facility, as well as crucial supports for Minot and Grand Forks Air Force Bases. Heitkamp specifically pushed to include funding for the North Dakota Air National Guard to build a new facility in Fargo for its intelligence targeting mission. The bill fully funds the Global Hawk at Grand Forks Air Force Base.It also provides $145 million for communications upgrades for the B-52, $74 million for B-52 squadrons, $142 million for intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) modernization, and $212 million for nuclear weapons modernization all of which benefit the Minot Air Force Base. Tribal education: Heitkamp successfully pushed for greater certainty for the United Tribes Technical College which, together with the Navajo Technical College in New Mexico will receive $5 million in advance funding that will allow the colleges to plan vital education programming and construction projects. Wind and solar: Long a proponent of an all-of-the-above energy strategy, Heitkamp secured a five-year extension of wind Production Tax Credit (PTC) and the Solar Investment Tax Credit, to promote renewable sources like wind for years to come. The PTC has proven successful in driving up wind and alternative energy output nationwide. In North Dakota alone,up to 3,000 jobswere supported by the wind production industry in 2014. Outdoors and recreation. Heitkamp has long supported expanded access to public lands in North Dakota. In the spending bill, she helped secure a three-year extension of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which has supported every North Dakota county with more than $35 million for community and public park, river and landscape access projects over the last five decades.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=e26e6ea4-06ac-4907-9ce2-479d1699bbb6,Heitkamp Announces Federal Funding for Research at UND,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced $50,000 in federal funding for scientific research at the University of North Dakota (UND) to study and develop new technologies for aircraft and spacecraft. The I-Corps: Commercialization for the Autonomous Attitude Determination and Control Technology project at UND will study and develop new technology that will provide aircraft and spacecraft with new adaptive functions to allow them to better respond to changes in their environment that may otherwise debilitate the craft. The University of North Dakota and the city of Grand Forks are the hub of aerial and space craft development, said Heitkamp. The expansion of the air and space industry will allow our state to become the regional leader that will drive economic, educational, and national defense development well into the future. This continued federal support will allow UND to maintain its innovative edge as it advances new technology that will protect these craft and the individuals aboard them. These funds are authorized by the National Science Foundation.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-announces-50k-nsf-grant-for-aerospace-technology-development-at-und,Hoeven Announces $50K NSF Grant for Aerospace Technology Development at UND,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.18.15 Hoeven Announces $50K NSF Grant for Aerospace Technology Development at UND WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded $50,000 to researchers at the University of North Dakota (UND) to support the development of aerospace technology. UND's researchers will prepare an orientation determination and control system for spacecraft, aircraft and other vehicles for commercial development and use, which will allow the crafts to take intelligent, corrective action after unanticipated events or hardware failures. The funds are made available through NSF's Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program. Our state's research institutions are drivers of innovation and economic growth, Hoeven said. Today's award supports UND's continued efforts to conduct cutting-edge research across the field of aerospace, developing technologies that make flying safer, whether it is within our atmosphere or out in space. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-thanks-north-dakota-interns-for-their-service-in-his-washington-bismarck-and-fargo-offices,"Hoeven Thanks North Dakota Interns for Their Service in His Washington, Bismarck & Fargo Offices",2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.18.15 Hoeven Thanks North Dakota Interns for Their Service in His Washington, Bismarck & Fargo Offices WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today thanked the young people who interned in his offices during the fall semester. Mary Silverthorn of Beulah, Sarah Strube of Dickinson, Samuel Swanson of Bismarck and Emily Kovacs of St. Paul interned in Hoeven's Washington, D.C. office. Quinn Harmon of Minot interned in Hoeven's Bismarck office and Aaron Weber of Wishek was based in Hoeven's Fargo office. The interns have worked with the senator and his staff on legislative, communications and administrative projects. Internships are a great opportunity to gain professional experience while also getting a first-hand look at the legislative process, Hoeven said. We hope the skills these young people have learned will help them achieve their educational and career goals. My staff and I thank this group of interns for all of their hard work during the past few months, and appreciate their enthusiasm and willingness to become involved in public service. Emily Kovacs, daughter of James and Julie Kallestad, is in her last year of pharmacy school at North Dakota State University (NDSU). Emily is planning to graduate in May. Mary Silverthorn, daughter of Roger and Sue Silverthorn, is a junior at the University of Minnesota. She is pursuing a degree in political science and business management. Sarah Strube, daughter of Beth Ehlis of Dickinson and Ernie Strube of Mayville, is studying business economics and political science at the University of North Dakota (UND). Samuel Swanson is the son of Thomas and Karen Swanson, and is a recent graduate of Concordia College, where he triple majored in political science, global studies with a concentration in Latin American studies and Spanish. After the internship, Samuel hopes to stay in Washington and work in the Capitol where he can learn more about the legislative process. Quinn Harmon, daughter of Kevin and Leisa Harmon, is a junior at the University of Mary where she is majoring in public policy. At the University of Mary, Quinn serves as a Student Senator on the student government and is a member of the Pre-Law Club. She also competed for the Track and Field team for the past two years. Quinn plans to attend law school after she graduates in 2016. Aaron Weber, son of Jim and Mary Ann Weber, is a 2013 graduate of Wishek High School and is in his junior year at NDSU. There he studies agriculture communications with hopes of attending law school or graduate school. While at NDSU, Aaron has been involved with Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, Student Government, North Dakota Student Association, and North Dakota College Republicans, where he serves as President. Senator Hoeven offers internship opportunities in his Washington, D.C. and state offices. North Dakotans interested in applying to intern in the senator's office should submit an application online. Questions can be directed to (202) 224-2551. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-year-end-funding-bill-lifts-crude-oil-export-ban-advances-other-nd-priorities,"Hoeven: Year-End Funding Bill Lifts Crude Oil Export Ban, Advances Other N.D. Priorities",2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.18.15 Hoeven: Year-End Funding Bill Lifts Crude Oil Export Ban, Advances Other N.D. Priorities Measure Supports ND Flood Projects, Permanently Extends Sec. 179, Reforms Visa Waiver Program WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven, who serves on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that the year-end omnibus appropriations bill that Congress passed today includes a provision to lift the decades-long ban on U.S. crude oil exports, as well as other key priorities for North Dakota. In addition, the measure reduces spending from $1.5 trillion in 2009, when it peaked, to $1.15 trillion in 2016, a reduction of $350 billion. Specifically, the measure: Lifts the decades-long ban on crude oil exports Advances flood protection projects for the Fargo-Moorhead and Minot regions Provides tax relief for small businesses and farmers by permanently extending the Section 179 expensing limit Prevents the implementation of Obamacare tax on medical devices and health care plans for two years Supports our military and veterans Supports UAS research and Centers of Excellence Strengthens the visa waiver program Extends flexibility to school meals programs Boosts ag research, Water Bank Program and defunds WOTUS Interpretive Rule for farmers and ranchers Supports Native American education and law enforcement Supports continued health care for 9/11 first responders (Zadroga) Lifting the ban on exporting crude oil is a win across the board because it will help to grow our economy and create jobs, hold the price of gasoline at the pump lower for consumers, and make our nation more secure, Hoeven said. While the year-end funding legislation didn't produce as much savings as I would have liked, it still reduces spending from $1.5 trillion in 2009 to about $1.15 trillion in 2016, a reduction of $350 billion. Moreover, the legislation includes North Dakota priorities, such as flood protection for the Fargo and Minot areas, tax relief for farmers, ranchers and small businesses and keeping our military strong. It also provides unprecedented support for our nation's veterans. SUMMARY OF PRIORITIES Lifts the Ban on Oil Exports Hoeven has repeatedly called for repealing the ban and worked persistently to get it included in the year-end legislation. The senator, who serves on the Energy Committee, cosponsored bipartisan legislation lifting the ban that passed the committee this summer. More information can be found here. Provides funding and authorization for new construction and study starts Includes nearly $690 million more than the Army Corps of Engineer's proposed budget for construction and authorizes new studies and construction activity that will help to advance flood protection projects in the Fargo-Moorhead and Minot regions. Hoeven worked on the Appropriations Committee to include language in the FY 2016 Energy and Water funding bill, which has now been included in the year-end legislation. Help communities in North Dakota build permanent flood protection projects with an emphasis on public private partnerships like the permanent flood protection project for Fargo and the Red River Valley. Provide permission for the Corps to begin studies of new permanent flood protection projects, which is vital for communities like Minot and the Souris River. Increase the Corps funding for water development infrastructure over FY 2015. This increase will help communities like LaMoure with funding to replace sanitary sewer systems. Increase the Corps' funding for FEMA flood-mapping activities to better coordinate with flood insurance and keep premiums more affordable. The legislation also directs FEMA to take local communities' flood protection projects into account when mapping flood hazards and to coordinate the mapping process with the phases of large projects. The measure also provides an additional $165 million above the fiscal year 2015 level for flood mitigation programs and boosts the Flood Hazard Mapping and Risk Analysis Program to $190 million, a 53 percent increase, and the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Grant Program to $100 million, a 300 percent increase. Provides More Than $680 billion in Tax Relief, including permanently extending the Sec. 179 limitation, the number one priority for farmers, ranchers and small businesses. Section 179 and Bonus Depreciation Permanently extends Section 179 with the $500,000 limitation, a provision of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax code that allows farmers, ranchers and other small businesses to expense the purchase of equipment they need to run their operations. In addition, the measure extends the bonus depreciation allowance for five years. Section 179 allows small businesses the option of expensing the costs of qualified equipment and other property up-front, which may reduce the businesses' administrative burden and would be preferable to depreciating the items over time. Obamacare Tax Relief Includes several provisions that offer regulatory relief from Obamacare's costly and burdensome mandates, including a two-year delay of the tax on businesses that pay their employees' health care plans, a two-year delay of the Medical Device Tax and a one-year delay of the Health Insurance Tax (HIT) paid by insurance companies. It also eliminates funding for the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). Charitable Distribution from IRAs Allows individuals over the age of 70 to donate directly to a qualified charity from their Individual Retirement Account (IRA). The amount donated is excluded from their gross income for tax purposes and satisfies any minimum distribution requirement for the IRA. Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) LIHTC is a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for private investments made for the construction or rehabilitation of affordable housing. The credits are distributed to the states on a per capita basis and developers compete for an allocation of credits. The North Dakota Housing Finance Agency manages the credits and uses them alongside state programs to address North Dakota's housing challenges and ensure an adequate housing supply is available for the state's workers and their families. Deduction for Educator Expenses Allows teachers to deduct the cost of unreimbursed expenses up to $250 per educator, for education supplies, such as books, computer equipment and other materials. Supports Our Military and Veterans Ensures a strong nuclear triad and UAS force for the future. Cruise missile warhead: Includes full funding, $195 million, to refurbish the warhead that will go on the new Air Force long range standoff (LRSO) cruise missile. Global Hawk The bill provides $268 million in support of the Global Hawk mission and includes language to ensure the Air Force does not retire or divest the Global Hawk fleet in Fiscal Year 2016. The measure ensures that the Air Force will continue the Global Hawk Block 40 program at Grand Forks Air Force Base. Nuclear Force Structure Includes language Hoeven authored that directs the Department of Defense (DoD) to maintain U.S. nuclear forces at the levels agreed to in the New START Treaty, rather than reduce them, as the administration has proposed. Minuteman III Replacement Full funding for the next generation intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which will replace the current Minuteman III. B-52 Modernization $225.4 million to modernize the B-52, including programs to improve its communications equipment and upgrade the internal bomb bay. UAS Research $7.8 million to support DoD research and development efforts for unmanned aerial systems (UAS). This funding helps DoD ensure its UAS aircraft will be consistent with the FAA's efforts to integrate UAS into the national airspace. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has selected the ASSURE team, led by the University of North Dakota and Mississippi State University, as the Center of Excellence for researching the safe integration of UAS into the National Airspace. ND National Guard Intelligence Targeting Mission The bill includes $7.3 million for a new facility to support the North Dakota Air National Guard's Intelligence Targeting Mission at Hector Field in Fargo. UAS Integration and Research The bill provides $17.6 million for the FAA for general UAS research and integration priorities and directs that at least $5.5 million go to the UAS Center of Excellence in coordination with the six national UAS test sites. Supports Our Nation's Veterans Funds Veterans Administration programs at $71.4 billion, more than has ever been appropriated to the VA. The bill makes an additional $2.5 billion in FY2016 available to improve patient access to care, and to support additional health care services including hepatitis C treatments, veterans' caregiver services, and homeless veterans' assistance. Additionally, the bill includes a provision that requires the Department of Veteran Affairs to submit a comprehensive cost analysis of the Veterans Choice Program's 40 mile rule criteria. The report must provide potential legislative and non-legislative solutions that offer veterans access to non-VA care when they live more than 40 miles from a VA medical facility incapable of providing medical services a veteran requires. Earlier this year the Senate passed the Access to Community Care for Veterans Act, legislation cosponsored by Hoeven. This bill amends the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act (Choice Act) of 2014 to allow veterans to obtain health care services in their local community if a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center or CBOC within 40 miles can't provide the necessary care. Helps Make America Safer Reforms the Visa Waiver Program The legislation increases information sharing between the United States and the 38 countries whose passport-holders are allowed to visit the country without getting a visa, while also attempting to weed out travelers who have visitedcertain countries and may require additional scrutiny. Strengthens Homeland Security provides $47.8 billion for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including key increases for border security, immigration enforcement, and cybersecurity, among other critical missions.Specifically, the bill includes $11.1 billion for Customs and Border Protection, $359 million above the FY 2015 enacted level. The funding will be used for significant border security enhancements, such as a new unmanned aircraft; an Integrated Fixed Tower system for the Arizona border; and relocatable surveillance towers for the Southwest border. It also fully funds necessary immigration enforcement and vetting activities above the fiscal year 2015 level, including intelligence and targeting systems; Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigations, overstay enforcement, and Mobile Criminal Alien Teams to identify and apprehend criminal aliens; and a modernization of the agency's biometric system. E-Verify is funded at $120 million, and DHS is required to submit a report on the steps necessary to move to a mandatory system. Helps First Responders, States and Local Communities Counter Terrorism In addition to $1.5 billion to support state and local planning, training, exercises, and equipment purchases, the bill includes $50 million in additional funding for a new initiative to counter violent extremism and complex, coordinated terrorist attacks. The funds will be available as grants to help states and local communities prepare for, prevent, and respond to such threats. The funding will benefit first responders like police, firemen, and ambulance services should a violent incident occur. Strengthen Cybersecurity The measure includes $819 million for protection of government networks and information technology systems and DHS efforts with states, local communities, and the private sector to increase cybersecurity.Further, an additional $100 million is provided to enhance security of the Department's internal systems. Gives School Meals Programs Needed FlexibilityIncludes Hoeven's school nutrition reform amendment, whichpassed the Agriculture Appropriations Committee, earlier this year. The measure gives schools struggling to comply with the whole grain standard the flexibility they need during the 2016-2017 school year to allow for 50 percent of whole grains, rather than requiring 100 percent of whole grains in the school meal. It also prevents the Administration from requiring further reductions in sodium, which have already been reduced, making it difficult for schools to serve healthy foods with naturally occurring sodium. Hoeven has pressed to make these provisions permanent through theHealthy School Meals Flexibility Act (S.1146),which he sponsored with Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). Boosts Ag Research and Water Bank, Prevents the WOTUS Interpretive Rule for Farmers and Ranchers. Water Bank Continues the Hoeven Water Bank initiative at the FY15 level of $4 million, providing compensation for farmers and landowners for flooded land through 10-year, voluntary conservation agreements, which is especially helpful for Devils Lake producers. Boosts Ag Research Agriculture research programs, including the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and National Institutes for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) received increased funding.ARS which received an increase over FY15 levels to $1.4 billion is USDA's in-house research arm, which partners with facilities like Fargo's Red River Valley Agricultural Research Center. NIFA is provided funding of $1.3 billion, a $37 million increase over FY15 levels. This is critical for the cutting edge research done at America's land grant universities, such as NDSU. Rural Water Rural communities manage their water systems through programs like the Grassroots Source Water Protection Program and the Circuit Rider Program, which received increases of $974,000 and $478,000 over FY15 levels respectively. WOTUS Prevents the EPA from reinstating the Waters of the U.S. Interpretive Rule, which preserves the general ag exemption from the Clean Water Act for farmers and ranchersHoeven continues to work on several fronts to stop the full WOTUS regulation, including blocking funding for implementing the rule and eliminating the rule through standalone legislation and under the Congressional Review Act (CRA). Anhydrous Ammonia The bill includes a provision that prevents the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) from imposing new enforcement regimes that threatened to limit the supply of anhydrous ammonia, a nitrogen fertilizer that is critically important to our nation's farmers. Supports Native American Education and Law Enforcement Tribally Controlled Postsecondary Career and Technical Institutions Includes anadditional $5.1 million to fund the, which includes United Tribes Technical College. Thisfunding will come up front rather than at the end of the year, which will support a thriving educational system for Native American students throughout the state. BIA Criminal Investigations and Police Services Provides $198 million, a $3 million increase from FY15 for BIA assumed child social services on the Spirit Lake Reservation in North Dakota in October of 2012. Further, increased population growth has resulted in additional economic activity on the Fort Berthold Reservation, straining the police and investigative services on both reservations. Includes $4.5 million for the BIA to create a new Indian Energy Service Center to expedite leasing, permitting, and reporting of energy development on tribal lands, which could benefit Fort Berthold. Supports Continued Health Care for 9/11 First Responders Permanently extends the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program and provides a five-year extension of the September 11th Victims Compensation Fund (VCF). Together, these programs provide specialized health care services, such as chronic disease treatment, and compensation to the first responders and victims of the 9/11 terrorists attacks. To date, more than 33,000 program participants are suffering from illnesses or injuries as a result of the 9/11 attacks. -###-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-house-passes-629-billion-in-tax-relief,Cramer: House Passes $629 Billion in Tax Relief,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,cramer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.Congressman Kevin Cramer announced today the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2029, the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015. In addition to providing $629 billion in tax relief for American taxpayers and businesses, it reins in the Internal Revenue Service, provides certainty for families and taxpayers as they plan for the future and offers incentives for charitable activities. A number of temporary tax provisions in the Internal Revenue Code expired at the end of 2014, and had these tax provisions not extended retroactively, taxpayers would have been unable to use these credits and deductions when filing their 2015 tax returns.The PATH Act makes permanent nearly two dozen of these provisions and extends many the others, preventing tax increases on families and businesses that will begin filing their 2015 tax returns early next year. This bill is a major step toward reforming our complicated and punitive tax code, said Cramer. It provides families and small businesses with an improved tax regulatory environment to prosper which will result in higher paying jobs throughout the country. Cramer said a highlight of the bill is making Section 179 expensing permanent. I hear from North Dakota farmers and other small business owners about this nearly every day. Making this deduction permanent gives them the certainty to make long-term capital purchase decisions which will help create good paying jobs. The Section 179 equipment tax deduction allows small businesses the ability to deduct those costs immediately, instead of over the useful life of the property. From 2010 through 2014, the expensing limitation was raised repeatedly on a short-term basis to $500,000. This legislation makes the deduction permanent. Any tax reform package needed to include Section 179 expensing. The bill also makes Individual Retirement Account charitable rollovers permanent, said Cramer. Allowing individuals the opportunity to donate their retirement accounts to their church or charity enhances and rewards their community. Charities deliver important services with compassion which is uncommon for government programs. Cramer has long advocated for making Section 179 expensing permanent. On Feb 13, he spoke about its impact on farmers and small business owners in North Dakota. View the speech by clicking on the image below. Cramer spoke on the House floor on Feb. 12 about the importance of making charitable donations a permanent part of the tax code. View the speech by clicking on the image below. Summary of Section 179 Expensing and Bonus Deprecation Section 179 Permanent extension, retroactive to 2015 The provision permanently extends small business expensing up to $500,000 of investments in new equipment and property per year, with the deduction phased out for investments exceeding $2 million. These amounts currently are $25,000 and $200,000, respectively. The special rules that allow expensing for computer software and qualified real property (qualified leasehold improvement property, qualified restaurant property, and qualified retail improvement property) also are permanently extended. The provision modifies the expensing limitation by indexing both the $500,000 and $2 million limits for inflation beginning in 2016 and by treating air conditioning and heating units placed in service in tax years beginning after 2015 as eligible for expensing. The provision further modifies the expensing limitation with respect to qualified real property by eliminating the $250,000 cap beginning in 2016. Bonus Depreciation 5-year extension, retroactive to 2015 The provision extends bonus depreciation for property acquired and placed in service during 2015 through 2019 (with an additional year for certain property with a longer production period). The bonus depreciation percentage is 50 percent for property placed in service during 2015, 2016 and 2017 and phases down, with 40 percent in 2018, and 30 percent in 2019. The provision continues to allow taxpayers to elect to accelerate the use of AMT credits in lieu of bonus depreciation under special rules for property placed in service during 2015. The provision modifies the AMT rules beginning in 2016 by increasing the amount of unused AMT credits that may be claimed in lieu of bonus depreciation. The provision also modifies bonus depreciation to include qualified improvement property and to permit certain trees, vines, and plants bearing fruit or nuts to be eligible for bonus depreciation when planted or grafted, rather than when placed in service. Summary of H.R. 2029, the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015 as amended Individual Tax Extenders Enhanced Child Tax Credit Made PermanentThe bill makes permanent the enhanced child tax credit. To the extent the CTC exceeds the taxpayers tax liability, the taxpayer is eligible for a refundable credit (the additional child tax credit) equal to 15 percent of earned income in excess of a threshold dollar amount (the earned income formula). The provision permanently sets the threshold amount at an unindexed $3,000. American Opportunity Tax Credit Made PermanentThe bill makes permanent the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which allows taxpayers generally to claim a tax credit up to $2,500 for qualified tuition and related postsecondary education expenses. The full credit is available to individuals, whose modified adjusted gross income is $80,000 or less, or $160,000 or less for married couples filing a joint return. The credit is phased out for taxpayers with incomes above these levels. Enhanced Earned Income Tax Credit Made PermanentThe bill makes permanent enhanced provisions of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC is available to low- and moderate-income workers. Under current law, the EITC amount has been temporarily increased for individuals with three or more children and the EITC marriage penalty has been reduced by increasing the income phase-out range by $5,000 (indexed for inflation) for those who are married and filing jointly. The bill makes these provisions permanent. K-12 Teacher Classroom Expenses Deduction Made PermanentThe bill makes permanent the above-the-line deduction[3] (currently capped at $250) for the eligible classroom expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers. The provision also modifies the deduction to index the $250 cap to inflation and include professional development expenses. This provision was first enacted on a temporary basis in 2002 and has regularly been included in tax extender packages State and Local Sales Taxes DeductionThe bill permanently extends the option to take an itemized deduction for State and local general sales taxes in lieu of an itemized deduction for State and local income taxes. An itemized sales tax deduction allows taxpayers to deduct State and local sales tax they have paid from their federal taxes. Since 2004, there has been a temporary provision allowing for itemized deductions of State and local sales tax when determining taxable income; however, this deduction expired on January 1, 2015. Allowing for an itemized deduction for State and local income taxes, but not for State and local sales taxes, creates a tax liability disparity for residents of States that impose a sales tax rather than an income tax. On April 16, 2015, the House passedH.R. 622,theState and Local Sales Tax Deduction Fairness Act of 2015,by a vote of272 to 152. H.R. 622made permanent an itemized deduction for State and local general sales taxes. The Senate has not acted on the House-passed bill. Tuition and Related Expenses for Higher Education DeductionThe bill extends through 2016 the above-the-line deduction for qualified tuition and related expenses for higher education. The deduction is capped at $4,000 for an individual whose adjusted gross income (AGI) does not exceed $65,000 ($130,000 for joint filers) or $2,000 for an individual whose AGI does not exceed $80,000 ($160,000 for joint filers). The tuition and fees deduction was originally enacted in 2001 and went into effect in 2002. IRA Charitable Donations ExclusionThe bill permanently extends the ability of individuals at least 70 years of age to exclude from gross income qualified charitable distributions (capped at $100,000 per year) from Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). This exclusion was originally enacted in 2006. Homeowner Related DeductionsThe bill generally extends through 2016 the treatment of qualified mortgage insurance premiums as interest for purposes of the mortgage interest deduction and extends the exclusion from gross income of discharge of qualified principal residence indebtedness. The discharge of qualified principal residence indebtedness includes any debt incurred in acquiring, constructing, or substantially improving a principal residence or any debtsecured by the principal residence resulting from the refinancing of debtfor the residence. A principal residence is generally the home where the taxpayer lives most of the time. A taxpayer can have only one principal residence at a time. Employee Parking Benefit ExclusionThe bill permanently extends certain parking benefits from being counted toward an employees wages for payroll tax purposes, and from gross income for income tax purposes. Business Tax Provisions Two-year Moratorium on the Medical Device Excise TaxThe bill provides for a two-year moratorium on the 2.3-percent excise tax imposed on the sale of medical devices, established by the ACA. The tax will not apply to sales during calendar years 2016 and 2017. Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit Extension and Modification Made Permanent The bill makes permanent the research and development (R&D) tax credit and the alternative simplified credit (ASC) at 14 percent. The provision also modifies the R&D credit to expand benefits for small businesses. On May 20, 2015, the House passedH.R. 880,the American Research and Competitiveness Act of 2015, by a vote of274 to 145. H.R. 880 is similar to the R&D provision in this bill, as it, among other things, restructures the ASC tax credit. Low-income Housing Tax Credit Made PermanentThe bill makes permanent the temporary 9 percent minimum credit rate for the low income housing tax credit for non-Federally subsidized new buildings to allocations made before 2017. The low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) program is one of the federal government's primary policy tools for encouraging the development and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing. These non-refundable federal housing tax credits are awarded to developers of qualified rental projects via a competitive application process administered by state housing finance authorities. New Markets Tax Credit ExtensionThe bill extends the new markets tax credits (NMTC) through 2019 with an annual allocation of $3.5 billion. The NMTC is a non-refundable tax credit intended to encourage private capital investment in eligible, impoverished, low-income communities. Modification of Work Opportunity Tax Credit ExtensionThe bill extends through 2019 the work opportunity tax credit (WOTC). The provision also modifies the credit to apply to employers who hire qualified long-term unemployed individuals (i.e., those who have been unemployed for 27 weeks or more) and increases the credit with respect to such long-term unemployed individuals to 40 percent of the first $6,000 of wages. The WOTC allows employers that hire individuals with certain characteristics to claim a tax credit equal to a portion of the wages paid to those individuals. WOTC-eligible populations include recipients of certain public benefits (such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families), qualified veterans, ex-felons, and other specified populations. Depreciation of Leasehold ImprovementsThe bill permanently extends the 15-year recovery period for qualified leasehold improvements, qualified restaurant property, and qualified retail improvement property to property placed in service to encourage businesses to make investments in their businesses and to hire new employees. Bonus Depreciation Extension and ModificationsThe bill extends 50-percent bonus depreciation for property acquired and placed in service through 2019 and makes certain modifications to the use of AMT tax credits. The bonus depreciation allowance enables taxpayers to expense a portion of the cost of qualified assets bought and placed in service. Section 179 Expensing Made Permanent and ModifiedThe bill makes permanent the Section 179 small business expensing on certain business assets. Under Section 179,taxpayers may expense up to $500,000 in business assets per year, and the benefit is reduced if the taxpayer places in service more than $2 million in qualified business property during the year. These limits are indexed to inflation starting beginning in 2016. Small Business Long-term Stock ExclusionsThe bill extends the temporary exclusion of 100 percent of the gain on certain small business stock for non-corporate taxpayers to stock acquired before January 1, 2017, and held for more than five years. Energy Related Provisions Biodiesel and Renewable Diesel Incentives Extension The bill extends through 2016 the existing $1.00 per gallon tax credit for biodiesel and biodiesel mixtures, and the small agri-biodiesel producer credit of 10 cents per gallon. Fuel Cell Motor Vehicles Credit ExtensionThe bill extends through 2016 the credit for purchases of new qualified fuel cell motor vehicles. The provision allows a tax credit of between $4,000 and $40,000 depending on the weight of the vehicle for the purchase of such vehicles. New Homes Energy-Efficient Credit ExtensionThe bill extends through 2016 the tax credit for manufacturers of energy-efficient residential homes. An eligible contractor may claim a tax credit of $1,000 or $2,000 for the construction or manufacture of a new energy efficient home that meets qualifying criteria. Other Provisions Program Integrity Improvements for Refundable Tax CreditsThe bill includes a dozen provision to improve compliance and reduce fraud with respect to the earned income tax credit (EITC), the child tax credit (CTC), and the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC), including: Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) ReformsThe bill requires individuals who were issued ITINs before 2013 to renew their ITINs on a staggered schedule between 2017 and 2020. The provision also provides that an ITIN will expire if an individual fails to file a tax return for three consecutive years. ITINs are generally issued by the IRS to individuals, like undocumented workers, who are not eligible for Social Security Numbers, but are liable for certain taxes. Limit on Retroactive Claims for Credits without Social Security number or Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) ReformsThe bill prevents retroactive claims of the EITC, the CTC, and the AOTC after issuance of new SSNs or ITINs. W-2 Reporting and Verification ReformsThe bill provides the IRS with information on employee wages faster and allows additional time for tax authorities to verify that W-2 information matches credit eligibility, while also improving the IRS ability to stop identity thieves. Safe Harbor from Certain FeesThe bill establishes a safe harbor from penalties for the failure to file correct information (de minimis errors) on tax returns if the error is generally $100 or less. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) ReformsThe bill makes various changes to current law to increase accountability at the IRS. The bill includes provisions contained within the following bills that were previously passed in the 114th Congress:H.R. 1058- Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act of 2015;H.R. 1152- IRS Email Transparency Act;H.R. 1026- Taxpayer Knowledge of IRS Investigations Act;H.R. 1314- Ensuring Tax Exempt Organizations the Right to Appeal Act;H.R. 1295- IRS Bureaucracy Reduction and Judicial Review Act;H.R. 709- Prevent Targeting at the IRS Act; andH.R. 1104- Fair Treatment for All Gifts Act. Rollovers from Other Retirement Plans into Simple Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)The provision allows a taxpayer to roll over amounts from employer-sponsored retirement plans, such as 401(k) plans, to SIMPLE IRAs. Real Estate Investment Trust (REITs) ProvisionsThe bill makes various improvements to the existing laws governing REITs. A REIT is a type of security that invests in real estate through property or mortgages and often trades on major exchanges like a stock. REITs provide investors with an extremely liquid stake in real estate. They receive special tax considerations and typically offer high dividend yields. REITs, an investment vehicle for real estate that is comparable to a mutual fund, allow both small and large investors to acquire ownership in real estate ventures, own and in some cases operate commercial properties such as apartment complexes, hospitals, office buildings, timber land, warehouses, hotels and shopping malls. U.S. Capitol Police and Supreme Court Police Retirement AccountsThe bill expands the provision allowing public safety officers to make withdrawals from retirement accounts, beginning at age 50, without incurring the 10 percent early withdrawal penalty to include U.S. Capitol Police offers, Supreme Court Police officers, and diplomatic security special agents.H.R. 2146, the Defending Public Safety Employees' Retirement Act, which was enacted on June 29, 2015, previously expanded the provision to cover Federal law enforcement officials but inadvertently omitted the other categories of public safety officers. Section 529 CollegeSavings Plan Accounts ImprovementsThe bill expands the definition of qualified higher education expenses for which tax-preferred distributions from 529 accounts are eligible to include computer equipment and technology. The bill also modifies 529-account rules to treat any distribution from a 529 account as coming only from that account, even if the individual making the distribution has more than one account. The provision treats a refund of tuition paid with amounts distributed from a 529 account as a qualified expense if such amounts are re-contributed to a 529 account within 60 days. U.S. Tax Court AdministrationThe bill makes certain changes to the authorization and function of the U.S. Tax Court to improve efficiency and accountability. Revenue ProvisionsThe bill makes several changes that will increase revenues including: modifying the deduction for energy efficient commercial buildings; changing tax treatment of certain motion picture employees; modifying tax credits for liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas; and making certain changes to the tax liability of clean coal power plants. Pay-As-You-GO (PAYGO)The bill also provides that the budgetary effects of the Act shall not be entered on either PAYGO scorecard maintained pursuant to section 4(d) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 or certain Senate Rules. The Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act provides a budget enforcement mechanism that generally requires that direct spending and revenue legislation enacted into law not increase the deficit. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=1277acd3-f50b-44f2-b6e5-2e77730334a5,Hoeven: Time to Lift Crude Oil Export Ban,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.17.15 Hoeven: Time to Lift Crude Oil Export Ban Senator Worked to Include Provision in Year-End Funding Bill, Continues Building Support for Passage WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven continues working to build support for legislation lifting the ban on crude oil exports. The senator spoke on the Senate floor and called for Congress to pass legislation repealing the decades-long ban on U.S. crude oil exports. I rise today to make the case for lifting the 40-year-old ban on exporting crude oil based on its merits. It will benefit not only my home state of North Dakota, but our nation and our allies in a host of different ways, said Hoeven. We worked hard to include legislation repealing the ban in the year-end legislation Congress now has under consideration. Importantly, this is must-pass legislation, meaning that it will be very hard for the president to veto the bill lifting the oil export ban. The reasons for lifting the oil export ban are very powerful. Doing so would encourage more domestic production. It would increase the global supply of crude oil, reducing the cost at the pump for our consumers, particularly over the long term. It will help grow our economy and create good-paying jobs for our citizens. The last reason is vitally important as well, and that is making our nation more secure. We can build national security through energy security and help keep our people safer. Hoeven has repeatedly called for repealing the ban and worked persistently to get it included in year-end legislation. The senator, who serves on the Energy Committee, is a cosponsor of bipartisan legislation lifting the ban that passed the committee this summer. Hoeven said lifting the ban is supported by studies at the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the non-partisan Brookings Institute and the Harvard Business School. According to a study by IHS, a global provider of data and analysis, lifting the ban will attract an estimated $750 billion in new investments and create nearly 400,000 additional jobs in the U.S. between 2016 and 2030. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=75a4f9db-9381-416a-9005-57e358c12599,Heitkamp Leads Bipartisan Group of 12 U.S. Senators in Calling for Comprehensive Support to Combat Trauma Impacting Native Children,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) today urged the head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement a comprehensive policy for addressing complex and historic trauma impacting Native communities in North Dakota and across the country. Pointing to findings in recent hearings in the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs that addressed substance abuse, crime victim services, as well as crisis levels of suicide among American Indians and Alaska Natives where suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 10 and 34 Heitkamp pressed HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell on the need for a robust and coordinated approach to reducing the impact of trauma that often hinders generations of Native communities. In North Dakota alone, five young people on the Standing Rock reservation in Fort Yates took their own lives in a two month period in 2005. And nationwide, 22 percent of Native children suffer from post-traumatic stress the same rate as newly returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. In too many forgotten corners of our country, our federal government is failing Native young people who often suffer from trauma and post-traumatic stress at levels typical of veterans returning from battle in Iraq and Afghanistan, said Heitkamp. Thats unacceptable. Today I led a bipartisan group of 12 senators in calling on HHS and the federal government to live up to its trust responsibility to tribes and our Native children. It needs to implement a comprehensive policy to get to the root of the complex issues caused by the cycle of trauma impacting so many generations of Native young people. With a robust, coordinated federal strategy, we can begin to address trauma and its resulting problems, such as substance abuse and suicide that have eclipsed too many young lives. Joining Heitkamp in her letter to HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell included Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Al Franken (D-MN), Jon Tester (D-MT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tom Udall (D-NM), Angus King (I-ME), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). Click here to read the letter. Last fall, Heitkamp brought together national experts and policymakers, as well as federal agency representatives and experts for a trauma discussion to identify ways to reduce the effects of traumatic stress Native American children experience. Heitkamp, a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, has long worked to directly address the complex challenges faced by Native communities, and to improve outcomes for Native children including through the successful Senate passage of her bipartisan bill with Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska to create a Commission on Native Children Heitkamps first legislation introduced as a U.S. Senator. The Commission would work to identify the complex challenges faced by Native children in North Dakota and across the United States by conducting an comprehensive study on these issues including high rates of poverty, staggering unemployment, child abuse, domestic violence, crime, substance abuse, and dire economic opportunities and making recommendations on how to make sure Native children get the protections, as well as economic and educational tools they need to thrive. Todays call is part of Heitkamps long fought efforts to promote the immediate need for proactive measures to improve and protect the mental health of Native children. After working closely for the past year with the U.S. Department of Justice Attorney Generals Task Force on American Indian/Alaskan Native Children Exposed to Violence, including testifying at the Task Forces first hearing in Bismarck, the Task Force last fall issued sweeping recommendations many of which Heitkamp has pushed for to improve the lives of children living in Indian Country. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-time-to-lift-crude-oil-export-ban,Hoeven: Time to Lift Crude Oil Export Ban,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.17.15 Hoeven: Time to Lift Crude Oil Export Ban Senator Worked to Include Provision in Year-End Funding Bill, Continues Building Support for Passage WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven continues working to build support for legislation lifting the ban on crude oil exports. The senator spoke on the Senate floor and called for Congress to pass legislation repealing the decades-long ban on U.S. crude oil exports. I rise today to make the case for lifting the 40-year-old ban on exporting crude oil based on its merits. It will benefit not only my home state of North Dakota, but our nation and our allies in a host of different ways, said Hoeven. We worked hard to include legislation repealing the ban in the year-end legislation Congress now has under consideration. Importantly, this is must-pass legislation, meaning that it will be very hard for the president to veto the bill lifting the oil export ban. The reasons for lifting the oil export ban are very powerful. Doing so would encourage more domestic production. It would increase the global supply of crude oil, reducing the cost at the pump for our consumers, particularly over the long term. It will help grow our economy and create good-paying jobs for our citizens. The last reason is vitally important as well, and that is making our nation more secure. We can build national security through energy security and help keep our people safer. Hoeven has repeatedly called for repealing the ban and worked persistently to get it included in year-end legislation. The senator, who serves on the Energy Committee, is a cosponsor of bipartisan legislation lifting the ban that passed the committee this summer. Hoeven said lifting the ban is supported by studies at the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the non-partisan Brookings Institute and the Harvard Business School. According to a study by IHS, a global provider of data and analysis, lifting the ban will attract an estimated $750 billion in new investments and create nearly 400,000 additional jobs in the U.S. between 2016 and 2030. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-house-members-launch-bi-partisan-cuba-working-group,Cramer: House Members Launch Bi-Partisan Cuba Working Group,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,cramer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.Congressman Kevin Cramer signed a letter to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi with fellow members of the U.S. House of Representatives to announce the formation of a Bi-Partisan Cuba Working Group.View a copy of the letter here. The group seeks to advance policy proposals to promote the rapidly changing status in the U.S.-Cuba relationship. Joining Cramer are Congresswoman Kathy Castor (D-FL), Congressman Rick Crawford (R- AR), Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Congressman Tom Emmer (R-MN), Congressman Sam Farr (D-CA), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), Congressman Jim P. McGovern (D-MA), Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX), and Congressman Reid Ribble (R-WI). The formation of this working group comes on the one-year anniversary of President Obama announcing plans to move forward on normalizing relations between the United States and Cuba. Incremental steps to increase trade, travel and investment in Cuba will improve economic conditions in Cuba as well as promote change in the country, said Cramer. Change in Cuba will not happen overnight, but increased interaction with America will spread liberty and democracy in Cuba. Cramer said improved trading opportunities in Cuba will benefit North Dakotas Ag producers. It allows farmers in North Dakota and across the country to do what farmers do naturally - feed hungry people. Trade is central to Americas foreign policy, and Cubaslong road to democracy will be shortened by improved communication and trade with the United States. Members of the Cuba Working Group are supporters of one or more key pieces of legislation introduced in 2015, with Republicans as the lead sponsors. Taken together, these bills repeal economic and travel restrictions and effectively eliminate the U.S. embargo on Cuba: Public opinion polls over the past year have shown an increasing support to end the Cuban trade embargo and change course on U.S.-Cuba relations. The most recent Pew poll showed 73 percent of the American people, including 59 percent of Republicans favor ending the trade embargo. In December 2014, Cramer expressed his support for improving relations with Cuba. He was part of a group of five Representatives and Senators who helped launch the U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba, which includes more than 25 prominent U.S. food and agriculture companies and associations who seek to advance trade relations between the U.S. and Cuba. On January 8, Cramer gave the keynote speech at the launch of the U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba.View his speech at the event by clicking on the image below. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-protecting-the-homeland-house-passes-hr-3654-combat-terrorist-use,Cramer: Protecting the Homeland: House Passes H.R. 3654 Combat Terrorist Use of Social Media Act of 2015,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,cramer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.Congressman Kevin Cramer announced today the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3654, the Combat Terrorist Use of Social Media Act of 2015. The bill requires the President to report to Congress on how terrorists and terrorist organizations currently use social media as well as provide a detailed summary of the governments efforts to disrupt and counter terrorists use of social media. The use of social media by terrorists and terrorist organizations to encourage and inspire individuals to commit acts of terrorism has dramatically increased in recent years. A 2015 Brookings Institution report found at least 46,000 Twitter accounts were used by ISIS supporters between October and November of last year, and nearly 20 percent of those accounts designated English as their primary language. In 2011, the Administration acknowledgedthe Internet has become an increasingly potent element in radicalization to violence, enabling violent extremists abroad to directly communicate to target audiences in the United States. The recent terrorist attack in San Bernardino highlights how terrorists and terrorist organizations utilize social media to communicate and to radicalize individuals, said Cramer. Americans are at risk because this Administration has failed to follow through on its 2011 plan to address the social media battlefield against terrorists. This legislation requires the Administration to confront this threat head-onand ensure our government is doing everything it can to protect us from future attacks. H.R. 3654 requires the President, within 90 days of enactment, to report to Congress on the U.S. strategy to combat the use of social media by terrorists and terrorist organizations. The report must include: An evaluation of what role social media plays in radicalization in the United States and elsewhere; An analysis of how terrorists and terrorist organizations are using social media, including trends; A summary of the Federal Governments efforts to disrupt and counter the use of social media by terrorists and terrorist organizations, an evaluation of the success of such efforts, and recommendations for improvement; An analysis of how social media is being used for counter-radicalization and counter-propaganda purposes, irrespective of whether or not such efforts are made by the Federal Government; An assessment of the value of social media posts by terrorists and terrorist organizations to law enforcement; and, An overview of social media training available to law enforcement and intelligence personnel that enables such personnel to understand and combat the use of social media by terrorists and terrorist organizations, as well as recommendations for improving or expanding existing training opportunities. The bill also requires the President, within 180 days of enactment, to submit to Congress a comprehensive strategy to counter terrorist use of social media, as referenced in the Presidents 2011 Strategic Implementation Plan for Empowering Local Partners to Prevent Violent Extremism in the United States. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=08ded770-293f-4c6d-8ad6-6469d0b57456,Hoeven: Year-End Legislation Includes Funding for NDNG Targeting Facility,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.16.15 Hoeven: Year-End Legislation Includes Funding for NDNG Targeting Facility WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Military Construction Appropriations Committee, today announced that the year-end funding bill for Fiscal Year 2016 includes $7.3 million in funding for the North Dakota National Guards Intelligence Targeting Facility at Hector Field in Fargo. The 119th Air Wings intelligence targeting group is tasked with assisting military commanders in identifying and eliminating enemy threats, but the mission is already outgrowing its facilities. The year-end funding bill includes $7.3 million so we can begin construction on this facility at Hector for their new intelligence targeting group, said Hoeven. Were working to complete this facility by 2017 and this funding will help keep us on track to meet that goal. Hoeven worked to include the facility in the 2016 budget and to secure funding for the project as a member of the Senate Military Construction Appropriations Committee. The NDANG worked to modify existing facilities at Hector to ensure they could begin the mission on time in 2015, but as newly trained staff are assigned to the base, the wing will need a facility with the capacity to accommodate more than 200 personnel. The facility will include a Sensitive Compartmentalized Information Facility (SCIF), where sensitive data can be securely stored, discussed or electronically processed. The intelligence mission will also serve to provide targeting training after technical school for all Air National Guard intelligence personnel. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=4ce06ebf-1995-4b98-b6f2-ff609b246a15,"Hoeven: Year-End Funding Legislation Permanently Extends Sec. 179 Expensing for Farmers, Ranchers, Small Businesses",2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.16.15 Hoeven: Year-End Funding Legislation Permanently Extends Sec. 179 Expensing for Farmers, Ranchers, Small Businesses Legislation Extends Bonus Depreciation for Five Years WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today announced that the year-end funding bill for Fiscal Year 2016 permanently extends Section 179 with the $500,000 limitation, a provision of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax code that allows farmers, ranchers and other small businesses to expense the purchase of equipment they need to run their operations. In addition, the measure extends the bonus depreciation allowance for five years. Section 179 allows small businesses the option of expensing the costs of qualified equipment and other property up-front, which may reduce the businesses administrative burden and be preferable to depreciating the items over time. Section 179 and bonus depreciation are important provisions that encourage our states small businesses, farmers and ranchers to invest in their operations and acquire the equipment they need, Hoeven said. Further, these sections of the tax code help ensure our small businesses have cash on hand, both for future investments and as reserves to get them through tough times. By making Section 179 permanent, we are providing greater flexibility and certainty for our businesses as they make their long-term plans. Hoeven has also been working to get the IRS to revise its tangible property expensing regulations. Last week, he announced that the IRS has agreed to raise the safe harbor threshold for expensing the purchase, acquisition or improvement of tangible property from $500 to $2,500 for many small businesses and family-owned farms and ranches. The change will ease the compliance burden for taxpayers who do not maintain applicable financial statements and would have otherwise faced complex capitalization rules for many basic, common purchases, such as machinery and equipment parts, computers and smart phones. The senator has been pressing the IRS inlettersand conversations since January of 2014 to revise the unfair and onerous expensing regulations. The revised threshold takes effect on January 1st, 2016. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=ca28579e-f7eb-4087-a28d-575fcf1e1fcb,"Hoeven: Year-End Funding Bill Provides Authorization, Funding for New Starts and Construction of Flood Protection Projects",2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.16.15 Hoeven: Year-End Funding Bill Provides Authorization, Funding for New Starts and Construction of Flood Protection Projects Measure Will Help Addresses North Dakota Flood Protection Priorities in Fargo-Moorhead, Minot Regions WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today announced that the year-end funding bill for Fiscal Year 2016 includes authorization and funding for new starts and construction of flood protection projects. The senator said the measure includes nearly $690 million more than the Army Corps of Engineers proposed budget for construction and authorizes new studies and construction activity that will help to advance flood protection projects in the Fargo-Moorhead and Minot regions. Hoeven worked on the Appropriations Committee to include language in the FY 2016 Energy and Water funding bill, which has now been included in the year-end legislation. Congress is expected to pass the measure later this week.Specifically, the legislation will: Help communities in North Dakota build permanent flood protection projects with an emphasis on public private partnerships like the permanent flood protection project for Fargo and the Red River Valley. Provide permission for the Corps to begin studies of new permanent flood protection projects, which is vital for communities like Minot and the Souris River. Increase the Corps funding for water development infrastructure over FY 2015. This increase will help communities like LaMoure with funding to replace sanitary sewer systems. Increase the Corps funding for FEMA flood-mapping activities to better coordinate with flood insurance and keep premiums more affordable. The new year-end funding bill takes a big step to help communities like Fargo-Moorhead and Minot advance vital flood protection projects by authorizing new starts and studies, as well as by increased funding for construction, said Hoeven. Weve secured relief for many of our residents through infrastructure investments, water retention and affordable flood insurance. The bill were on track to pass this week continues that progress for major flood infrastructure for the Red River Valley and the Souris River region. Hoeven also worked to include additional funding for FEMAs flood mapping activities. Theyear-end legislation directs FEMA to take local communities flood protection projects into consideration when mapping flood hazards and to coordinate the mapping process with the phases of large projects. The measure provides an additional $165 million above the FY 2015 level for flood mitigation programs and boosts the Flood Hazard Mapping and Risk Analysis Program to $190 million and the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Grant Program to $100 million. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=f3151e9a-1e2f-46b2-b1f8-02788883fdfa,Hoeven Worked to Include Provision to Lift Crude Oil Export Ban in Year-End Funding Bill Set to Pass this Week,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.16.15 Hoeven Worked to Include Provision to Lift Crude Oil Export Ban in Year-End Funding Bill Set to Pass this Week Action Will Create Jobs, Boost Economic Growth, Bolster National Security WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today announced that the new year-end 2016 funding bill that is on track to pass Congress this week includes a provision he worked to include that repeals the decades-long ban on U.S. crude oil exports. Hoeven has repeatedly called for repealing the ban and worked persistently to get it included in year-end legislation. The senator, who serves on the Energy Committee, is a cosponsor of bipartisan legislation lifting the ban that passed the committee this summer. Lifting the ban on crude oil exports is a triple win it will create jobs and grow our economy. It will keep the price of gasoline lower at the pump for consumers because of more supply, and it will bolster national security through energy security, said Hoeven, who has been working to get the ban lifted. Hoeven said lifting the ban is supported by studies at the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the non-partisan Brookings Institute and the Harvard Business School. According to a study by IHS, a global provider of data and analysis, lifting the ban will attract an estimated $750 billion in new investments and create nearly 400,000 additional jobs in the U.S. between 2016 and 2030. The senator has cited multiple reasons to lift the antiquated ban, which was enacted in 1975: Crude oil exports will benefit the American economy.Crude oil exports will increase revenues and boost overall economic growth. It will help increase wages, create jobs and improve our balance of trade. Local economies also benefit. Service industries, retail and other businesses in communities centered on oil development would see more economic activity and growth if this antiquated ban is lifted. Crude oil exports will benefit American consumers.The price of oil is based on supply and demand the more oil on the market, the lower the price to consumers. More global supply means lower prices for gasoline and other fuels and more money in consumers pockets. Those facts are backed up by studies at both the EIA and the non-partisan Brookings Institute. Crude oil exports will help to bring our energy policy into the 21stCentury.The crude oil export ban is an economic strategy implemented in the 1970s, and the world has changed dramatically since then. Back then, the conventional wisdom was that there is a finite quantity of oil in the world, and we pretty much knew where it was. Nobody envisioned the kind of energy revolution were seeing in North Dakota, Texas and elsewhere in the country. Crude oil exports will benefit the U.S. energy industry.The latest study by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) concluded that lifting the ban will reduce the discount for light sweet crude oil produced in states like North Dakota and Texas and encourage investment in domestic energy production. The drop in the price of oil this year has slowed domestic production, but the dedicated workers and companies in the Bakken continue to produce oil because they are resilient and innovative; they are developing new technologies and techniques to become more cost-effective and efficient all the time. Last, but not least, crude oil exports will strengthen national security.U.S. crude oil will provide our allies with alternative sources of oil and free them from their reliance on energy from unstable parts of the world. We finally have an opportunity to curb the disproportionate influence OPEC has had on the world oil market for five decades, and we should take it. The Presidents deal with Iran lifts sanctions against Iranian oil bringing 1 million barrels a day of their product on the global market, sending jobs, revenues and economic growth to Iran while blocking the same benefits for American citizens. We need to lift the ban. As a member of the U.S. Senate Energy Committee, Hoeven has worked extensively to further the energy industry in North Dakota and the nation. That includes working to reduce the regulatory burdens that drive up the costs of energy production. The senator has introduced the Empower States Act, which ensures a states-first approach to regulating hydraulic fracturing. He is also working to repeal rules like the BLM Hydraulic Fracturing rule, the onerous Waters of the U.S. rule and other regulations that are hampering domestic energy development and driving up the cost of energy for consumers. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=ce1bac64-7a42-4e70-98da-f45523bcdb78,"Heitkamp Statement on Bipartisan Year-End Spending Deal, Tax Extensions",2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today issued the following statement on the year-end spending deal and tax extensions, which include several provisions Heitkamp fought for that benefit North Dakota families, small businesses, farmers, and military personnel. North Dakota families, farmers, and energy workers can celebrate about much of todays spending bill, said Heitkamp. This bipartisan compromise deal will keep the federal government running and allow North Dakota communities to plan for the future. For years, Ive been pushing Congress to stop kicking the can down the road and to get things done. Todays deal is an important step down that path, with commonsense policies giving long-term certainty to wind and solar workers, opening our oil to global markets, and extending tax breaks for our family farmers. Working families will also benefit from permanent tax extensions, so hardworking parents can keep more of the middle-class wages they earn. To make sure North Dakota communities are confident and prepared for the future, Ill keep working to advance all-of-the-above energy, economic, and family strategies that will strengthen our state. The bill includes provisions Heitkamp fought for to strengthen North Dakota. For example, the spending bill and tax extensions will: Authorize and fund new study and construction starts for flood protection projects, like those around Minot and Fargo. The bill authorizes and provides $690 million more in federal funding for construction of flood projects than the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed. Heitkamp has urged Congress to authorize new starts, and to make sure Fargo and Minots flood protections are priorities for the U.S. Army Corps. Last month Heitkamp worked with Minot officials to push for lasting flood protections at meetings she arranged in Washington with top officials at the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, Army Corps of Engineers, and Congressional appropriators. Heitkamp has been a vocal advocate of permanent flood protections for the Fargo-Moorhead region and has been working closely with local, state and federal officials to make sure North Dakota has the protection it needs. Restore Confidence in Working Families. Heitkamp has long advocated a better balance for working families dealing with the high cost of raising children, as well as middle-to-low income workers in high-demand jobs whose wages often dont make ends meet. In the congressional spending bill, Heitkamp fought for and helped make permanent both the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and the enhanced Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to help strengthen the middle class by making sure the hardworking families are able to live above the poverty line. Permanently extend Section 179 with a $500,000 limitation to help farmers, ranchers, and small business owners. Section 179 is a provision in the tax code that allows farmers, ranchers, and small business owners to expense equipment purchased to run their operations. Permanently extending Section 179, which Heitkamp has pushed for, will provide certainty for North Dakota producers and ease small businesses tax burden. Provide $7.3 million in funding for the Fargo Air National Guards targeting facility. Heitkamp specifically pushed to include funding for the North Dakota Air National Guard to build a new facility in Fargo for its intelligence targeting mission. The current facility is outdated and ill-suited to handle the extensive volume of classified information required by the mission. Build Certainty for North Dakota Tribal Colleges. Heitkamp successfully pushed for greater certainty for the United Tribes Technical College which, together with the Navajo Technical College in New Mexico will receive $5 million in advance funding that will allow the colleges to plan vital education programming and construction projects. Promote certainty for wind and solar energy workers. Long a proponent of an all-of-the-above energy strategy, Heitkamp who worked to provide a five-year extension to the Production Tax Credit (PTC), which supports wind energy, in the Senate bill to approve the Keystone XL pipeline secured a five-year extension of PTC as well as the Solar Investment Tax Credit to promote renewable fuels like wind energy for years to come. Improve Support for North Dakota Outdoor and Recreation Projects. Heitkamp has long supported expanded access to public lands in North Dakota, and in the congressional spending bill helped secure three-year, long-term extension of the Land and Water Conservation Fund which has supported every North Dakota county with more than $35 million for local community and public park, river and landscape access as well as preservation projects over the last five decades.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=e0ee020b-8c74-4111-8d28-d8bcdd3213a8,Heitkamp Statement on Bipartisan Deal to Lift 40-Year Old Ban on Exporting Oil,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Though Supportive of Standalone Bill to Lift the Ban, Heitkamp has Long said that to get Strong Bipartisan Support for Policy, Must Negotiate & Reach Deal with Democrats WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) today announced Democratic and Republican negotiators reached a deal to lift the decades-old ban on exporting oil, which came about in large part due to Heitkamps efforts to lift the ban over the past year and a half. The bipartisan deal which Heitkamp helped negotiate lifts the oil export ban as well as includes a five year retroactive extension of the Production Tax Credit through 2019, which supports wind energy, and a five year extension of the Solar Investment Tax Credit, which supports solar energy. The bill also includes a three year extension of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which supports the development of outdoor recreation areas. The policies are included in an end of the year spending bill on which Congress will soon vote. Heitkamps efforts since the summer of 2014 paved the way for todays deal and she was closely involved with negotiations as they took place. For more than a year and a half, Heitkamp has been meeting with members of Congress especially Senate Democrats and top White House officials to explain why lifting the ban makes sense and build support for the policy. Over the past several months, she has been working with U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Senate Democratic leadership to discuss what a deal to lift the ban could look like, and negotiate such a deal in the spending bill. Though supportive of standalone legislation to lift the oil export ban as her bipartisan legislation with U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) would do -- Heitkamp has long said that to actually gain strong bipartisan support to lift the ban, there needed to be a deal to bring along enough Democrats and thats what she has been working to do for months. She spoke publicly about negotiating a deal to end the ban during an event on the oil export ban in September. This deal to lift the 40-year old ban on exporting oil is a huge win for North Dakota and it reinforces the importance of good-faith, bipartisan negotiations and legislating, said Heitkamp. This policy didnt happen overnight. Senator Murkowski and I have been meeting with and educating other senators about the need to lift the ban on exporting oil for about a year and a half well before oil prices dropped. Ive always been supportive of standalone legislation to lift the ban as my bill would have done, but Ive long said that to actually build strong bipartisan support to end this outdated ban, we needed to reach a deal to bring along enough of my fellow Democrats on items like long-term extensions for renewable energy and conservation measures. Thats what Ive been working to do for months so that both sides put politics aside, remain pragmatic, and look at whats best for the country. A year ago, most people couldnt fathom such rapid progress to overturn the ban on exporting oil, but I continued to say that if both sides are willing to negotiate, we can make this commonsense policy change happen and thats exactly what made this announcement that supports American economic growth and national security possible. Now Congress needs to keep working together and pass this bill. A key piece of Heitkamps legislation to lift the oil export ban which passed out of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs in July is a provision addressing presidential authority. This provision was included in the negotiated deal and was critical to reaching an agreement with Democrats. Heitkamps language would give the President the ability to impose restrictions on oil exports, like licensing requirements, for up to one year under certain special circumstances and if necessary, the ability to extend those requirements or restrictions annually. Some of these special circumstances include: national security threats, national emergencies, sustained crude oil shortages, and when supply shortages or price increase are likely to negatively impact employment. Heitkamp has also long advocated to extend the Production Tax Credit (PTC) to support the development of wind power, which was included in the deal. The PTC is a tool that has proven successful in driving up wind and alternative energy output nationwide, providing much needed certainty for wind energy workers across the country. In North Dakota alone, up to 3,000 jobs were supported by the wind production industry in 2014. Background Click here to view a timeline of Heitkamps efforts to lift the ban over the past year and a half. She has been an early and vocal leader in Congress to lift the oil export ban by: Speaking out early about the need to lift the ban. In August 2014, Heitkamp spoke about the need to end this antiquated policy during the national energy strategy meeting the U.S. Department of Energy held in Bismarck at her request. Then in September 2014, Heitkamp and John Hess, the CEO of Hess Corporation, appeared together on CNBCs Squawk Box where they talked about the need to lift the ban. Introducing bipartisan legislation with Murkowski to end the ban on exporting oil. The two senators crafted and introduced bipartisan, complementary bills expressly intended to merge which went through the senators respective committees Senate Committee on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs and Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Their bills passed out of both committees. Prior to introducing their legislation, Heitkamp and Murkowski first pushed together for an amendment to lift the ban to legislation that would give Congress the ability to review any nuclear deal with Iran. They then worked together on two similar amendments to the National Defense Reauthorization Act in June. Meeting with senators and educating them about why lifting the ban makes sense. For about a year, Heitkamp has been taking the time to meet with Democratic senators to explain the economic, national security, and energy arguments for lifting the ban. As a result of her efforts, over the past several months, many Democratic senators publicly expressed a willingness to discuss lifting the oil export ban. In June, Heitkamp posted on Medium explaining the reasons for lifting the oil export ban. Advocating for strong bipartisan support for lifting the ban. Though in favor of standalone legislation to lift the ban -- as her legislation would do -- Heitkamp has long said that to actually get bipartisan support to lift the ban, there needs to be a deal with Democrats and thats what shes been working to do for months. Heitkamp publicly made the case for such action during a National Journal event in September about lifting the oil export ban where she said she believed Congress could lift the ban by the end of the year if senators come together, negotiate, and agree to pair such a policy with other provisions perhaps dealing with renewable energies to build more support from Democrats. Helping pave the way for and participated in negotiations over several months the led to a bipartisan deal. Over several months, Heitkamp met with congressional Democrats and Republicans, including Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) who has legislation in the House to lift the ban, as well as top leaders at the White House -- including the President and chief of staff and top leaders and diplomats from the European Union to discuss how to reach a deal to lift the ban on exporting oil. Such discussions framed the efforts this fall for Heitkamp and Heinrich who, working with Senate Democratic leadership, led efforts to determine how a package to lift the ban paired with Democratic priorities might work. Heitkamp then worked closely with Senate leadership over the past several weeks as they negotiated a final bipartisan deal that included key pieces from her standalone legislation. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-worked-to-include-provision-to-lift-crude-oil-export-ban-in-year-end-funding-bill-set-to-pass-this-week,Hoeven Worked to Include Provision to Lift Crude Oil Export Ban in Year-End Funding Bill Set to Pass this Week,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.16.15 Hoeven Worked to Include Provision to Lift Crude Oil Export Ban in Year-End Funding Bill Set to Pass this Week Action Will Create Jobs, Boost Economic Growth, Bolster National Security WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today announced that the new year-end 2016 funding bill that is on track to pass Congress this week includes a provision he worked to include that repeals the decades-long ban on U.S. crude oil exports. Hoeven has repeatedly called for repealing the ban and worked persistently to get it included in year-end legislation. The senator, who serves on the Energy Committee, is a cosponsor of bipartisan legislation lifting the ban that passed the committee this summer. Lifting the ban on crude oil exports is a triple win it will create jobs and grow our economy. It will keep the price of gasoline lower at the pump for consumers because of more supply, and it will bolster national security through energy security, said Hoeven, who has been working to get the ban lifted. Hoeven said lifting the ban is supported by studies at the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the non-partisan Brookings Institute and the Harvard Business School. According to a study by IHS, a global provider of data and analysis, lifting the ban will attract an estimated $750 billion in new investments and create nearly 400,000 additional jobs in the U.S. between 2016 and 2030. The senator has cited multiple reasons to lift the antiquated ban, which was enacted in 1975: Crude oil exports will benefit the American economy.Crude oil exports will increase revenues and boost overall economic growth. It will help increase wages, create jobs and improve our balance of trade. Local economies also benefit. Service industries, retail and other businesses in communities centered on oil development would see more economic activity and growth if this antiquated ban is lifted. Crude oil exports will benefit American consumers.The price of oil is based on supply and demand the more oil on the market, the lower the price to consumers. More global supply means lower prices for gasoline and other fuels and more money in consumers' pockets. Those facts are backed up by studies at both the EIA and the non-partisan Brookings Institute. Crude oil exports will help to bring our energy policy into the 21stCentury.The crude oil export ban is an economic strategy implemented in the 1970's, and the world has changed dramatically since then. Back then, the conventional wisdom was that there is a finite quantity of oil in the world, and we pretty much knew where it was. Nobody envisioned the kind of energy revolution we're seeing in North Dakota, Texas and elsewhere in the country. Crude oil exports will benefit the U.S. energy industry.The latest study by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) concluded that lifting the ban will reduce the discount for light sweet crude oil produced in states like North Dakota and Texas and encourage investment in domestic energy production. The drop in the price of oil this year has slowed domestic production, but the dedicated workers and companies in the Bakken continue to produce oil because they are resilient and innovative; they are developing new technologies and techniques to become more cost-effective and efficient all the time. Last, but not least, crude oil exports will strengthen national security.U.S. crude oil will provide our allies with alternative sources of oil and free them from their reliance on energy from unstable parts of the world. We finally have an opportunity to curb the disproportionate influence OPEC has had on the world oil market for five decades, and we should take it. The President's deal with Iran lifts sanctions against Iranian oil bringing 1 million barrels a day of their product on the global market, sending jobs, revenues and economic growth to Iran while blocking the same benefits for American citizens. We need to lift the ban. As a member of the U.S. Senate Energy Committee, Hoeven has worked extensively to further the energy industry in North Dakota and the nation. That includes working to reduce the regulatory burdens that drive up the costs of energy production. The senator has introduced the Empower States Act, which ensures a states-first approach to regulating hydraulic fracturing. He is also working to repeal rules like the BLM Hydraulic Fracturing rule, the onerous Waters of the U.S. rule and other regulations that are hampering domestic energy development and driving up the cost of energy for consumers. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-year-end-funding-bill-provides-authorization-funding-for-new-starts-and-construction-of-flood-protection-projects,"Hoeven: Year-End Funding Bill Provides Authorization, Funding for New Starts and Construction of Flood Protection Projects",2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.16.15 Hoeven: Year-End Funding Bill Provides Authorization, Funding for New Starts and Construction of Flood Protection Projects Measure Will Help Addresses North Dakota Flood Protection Priorities in Fargo-Moorhead, Minot Regions WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today announced that the year-end funding bill for Fiscal Year 2016 includes authorization and funding for new starts and construction of flood protection projects. The senator said the measure includes nearly $690 million more than the Army Corps of Engineer's proposed budget for construction and authorizes new studies and construction activity that will help to advance flood protection projects in the Fargo-Moorhead and Minot regions. Hoeven worked on the Appropriations Committee to include language in the FY 2016 Energy and Water funding bill, which has now been included in the year-end legislation. Congress is expected to pass the measure later this week.Specifically, the legislation will: Help communities in North Dakota build permanent flood protection projects with an emphasis on public private partnerships like the permanent flood protection project for Fargo and the Red River Valley. Provide permission for the Corps to begin studies of new permanent flood protection projects, which is vital for communities like Minot and the Souris River. Increase the Corps funding for water development infrastructure over FY 2015. This increase will help communities like LaMoure with funding to replace sanitary sewer systems. Increase the Corps' funding for FEMA flood-mapping activities to better coordinate with flood insurance and keep premiums more affordable. The new year-end funding bill takes a big step to help communities like Fargo-Moorhead and Minot advance vital flood protection projects by authorizing new starts and studies, as well as by increased funding for construction, said Hoeven. We've secured relief for many of our residents through infrastructure investments, water retention and affordable flood insurance. The bill we're on track to pass this week continues that progress for major flood infrastructure for the Red River Valley and the Souris River region. Hoeven also worked to include additional funding for FEMA's flood mapping activities. Theyear-end legislation directs FEMA to take local communities' flood protection projects into consideration when mapping flood hazards and to coordinate the mapping process with the phases of large projects. The measure provides an additional $165 million above the FY 2015 level for flood mitigation programs and boosts the Flood Hazard Mapping and Risk Analysis Program to $190 million and the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Grant Program to $100 million. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-year-end-funding-legislation-permanently-extends-sec-179-expensing-for-farmers-ranchers-small-businesses,"Hoeven: Year-End Funding Legislation Permanently Extends Sec. 179 Expensing for Farmers, Ranchers, Small Businesses",2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.16.15 Hoeven: Year-End Funding Legislation Permanently Extends Sec. 179 Expensing for Farmers, Ranchers, Small Businesses Legislation Extends Bonus Depreciation for Five Years WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today announced that the year-end funding bill for Fiscal Year 2016 permanently extends Section 179 with the $500,000 limitation, a provision of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax code that allows farmers, ranchers and other small businesses to expense the purchase of equipment they need to run their operations. In addition, the measure extends the bonus depreciation allowance for five years. Section 179 allows small businesses the option of expensing the costs of qualified equipment and other property up-front, which may reduce the businesses' administrative burden and be preferable to depreciating the items over time. Section 179 and bonus depreciation are important provisions that encourage our state's small businesses, farmers and ranchers to invest in their operations and acquire the equipment they need, Hoeven said. Further, these sections of the tax code help ensure our small businesses have cash on hand, both for future investments and as reserves to get them through tough times. By making Section 179 permanent, we are providing greater flexibility and certainty for our businesses as they make their long-term plans. Hoeven has also been working to get the IRS to revise its tangible property expensing regulations. Last week, he announced that the IRS has agreed to raise the safe harbor threshold for expensing the purchase, acquisition or improvement of tangible property from $500 to $2,500 for many small businesses and family-owned farms and ranches. The change will ease the compliance burden for taxpayers who do not maintain applicable financial statements and would have otherwise faced complex capitalization rules for many basic, common purchases, such as machinery and equipment parts, computers and smart phones. The senator has been pressing the IRS inlettersand conversations since January of 2014 to revise the unfair and onerous expensing regulations. The revised threshold takes effect on January 1st, 2016. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-year-end-legislation-includes-funding-for-ndng-targeting-facility,Hoeven: Year-End Legislation Includes Funding for NDNG Targeting Facility,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.16.15 Hoeven: Year-End Legislation Includes Funding for NDNG Targeting Facility WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Military Construction Appropriations Committee, today announced that the year-end funding bill for Fiscal Year 2016 includes $7.3 million in funding for the North Dakota National Guard's Intelligence Targeting Facility at Hector Field in Fargo. The 119th Air Wing's intelligence targeting group is tasked with assisting military commanders in identifying and eliminating enemy threats, but the mission is already outgrowing its facilities. The year-end funding bill includes $7.3 million so we can begin construction on this facility at Hector for their new intelligence targeting group, said Hoeven. We're working to complete this facility by 2017 and this funding will help keep us on track to meet that goal. Hoeven worked to include the facility in the 2016 budget and to secure funding for the project as a member of the Senate Military Construction Appropriations Committee. The NDANG worked to modify existing facilities at Hector to ensure they could begin the mission on time in 2015, but as newly trained staff are assigned to the base, the wing will need a facility with the capacity to accommodate more than 200 personnel. The facility will include a Sensitive Compartmentalized Information Facility (SCIF), where sensitive data can be securely stored, discussed or electronically processed. The intelligence mission will also serve to provide targeting training after technical school for all Air National Guard intelligence personnel. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=1b7e8536-9b15-410a-95bf-91bd55b87d61,Hoeven Statement on Major General Sprynczynatyk's Retirement from Adjutant General of North Dakota,2015-12-14,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.14.15 Hoeven Statement on Major General Sprynczynatyk's Retirement from Adjutant General of North Dakota WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement congratulating Major General David Sprynczynatyk upon his retirement as Adjutant General of the North Dakota National Guard. Major General Sprynczynatyk has done an outstanding job serving the state of North Dakota for more than 40 years in two of the most important roles in state government. As governor in 2006, I had the honor of appointing him adjutant general of the North Dakota National Guard, where he led the finest Guard in the country. We worked together for a decade through multiple overseas deployments of our men and women in the Guard to fight the War on Terror in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, as well as through major wildfires, flooding and other natural disasters at home in North Dakota. Prior to his serving as adjutant general, I had the honor of appointing him director of the North Dakota Department of Transportation, where he did an outstanding job, as well. One of the first major infrastructure projects we undertook was four-laning Highway 2 between Minot and Williston, which was completed in 2008. The project proved to be a tremendous benefit as oil development in western North Dakota grew tremendously in the subsequent years. Dave began his career more than 40 years ago at the State Water Commission shortly before he joined the National Guard. The experience he gained there, as well as at the Transportation Department where he managed major projects, prepared him well for his various duties as adjutant general and head of the state Department of Emergency Services, which is under his administration. Over the years, it has been a pleasure to see Major General Sprynczynatyks dedication recognized through various awards and honors for his work. I join the State of North Dakota in thanking Major General Sprynczynatyk for his tireless commitment to service, and I wish him and his wife Connie the best for any future endeavors. Major General Al Dohrmann has been appointed by Governor Dalrymple to replace Sprynczynatyk to serve as Adjutant General. Maj. Gen. Dohrmann began his military career in 1983, when he accepted his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Army. In 1991, he left active duty and joined the North Dakota Army Guard where he was transferred to the Engineer branch. He has served as operations officer for the 164th RTI, Operations Officer and Executive Officer for the 141 Engineer Battalion, Staff Judge Advocate for the North Dakota National Guard, J1 and Chief of Staff for the North Dakota Joint Force Headquarters and Land Component Commander of the North Dakota Army National Guard. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=93330e82-7819-42b4-a82a-8a1445f7a54d,Heitkamps Bipartisan Legislation to Promote & Protect Rural Water Supplies is Signed into Law,2015-12-14,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced the President signed into law her bipartisan legislation to help make sure small and rural towns across the country have access to clean drinking water. Heitkamp introduced her Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act with Republican Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi in March to make sure small towns and rural areas have the necessary technical assistance and training to protect and improve their water supplies. Now that the bill is law, small and rural towns often lacking the resources to the latest technology or access to proper technological assistance to comply with federal drinking water rules will have access to federal assistance to help them offset the cost of complying. Specifically, Heitkamp and Wickers bill will provide $15 million in annual support for technical assistance and training to make sure residents and business in small and rural towns can access clean drinking water. The Presidents signature of Heitkamps bill follows its passage in the U.S. House of Representatives last month, and the Senates unanimous approval of the legislation in June. Having grown up in a small town like Mantador, I know how important linking rural communities across North Dakota to vital lifelines like safe, reliable drinking water is, said Heitkamp. Today we are helping make that goal feasible, as the President signed the bipartisan bill I introduced with Senator Wicker to make sure families and businesses in small and rural communities have the latest technology and the training to access clean drinking water. Every farming and rural town across our state needed access to essential resources like clean drinking water to keep our statewide community connected and safe. More than 90 percent of the drinking water supplied in our country comes from small and rural communities, many of which lack the resources to meet revised EPA safe drinking water standards, said Wicker. In order for these areas to comply with federal regulations, they need greater access to critical assistance and training programs. I am pleased that Sen. Heitkamp, Rep. Harper, and I were able to work together on a bill that helps guarantee that the nations rural areas will be able to provide safe, clean water for their citizens. Senator Heitkamp has been steadfast in her work to advocate for the vital resources 50,000 small and rural communities nationwide need every day, said Eric Volk, Executive Director of the North Dakota Rural Water Association. As a result of her efforts to provide safe, clean drinking water to rural citizens, President Obama signed her bipartisan legislation into law today to bring Americans in rural towns and communities across our state and the country comprising more than 90 percent of this countrys water supplies an environmentally beneficial solution so that they can access the latest technology and expertise needed to consistently bring clean drinking water into their homes and businesses. Heitkamp has long worked to encourage increased resources and assistance for rural areas. In November 2014, Heitkamp met with Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Acting Administrator Jasper Schneider to discuss the need for targeted investments, like water infrastructure, in rural communities across the nation. On the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Heitkamp serves as Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy which oversees RUS. The 2014 Farm Bill which Heitkampplayed a leading role in writing, negotiating, and passing places a strong emphasis on supporting rural development projects. The law authorizes programs that help upgrade and improve rural water systems, invest in expanding rural high-speed Internet, provide loans to consumers to improve energy efficiency through the new Rural Energy Savings Program, and reauthorize several other existing programs that are critical to supporting economic and community development in rural America. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-statement-on-major-general-sprynczynatyks-retirement-from-adjutant-general-of-north-dakota,Hoeven Statement on Major General Sprynczynatyk's Retirement from Adjutant General of North Dakota,2015-12-14,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.14.15 Hoeven Statement on Major General Sprynczynatyk's Retirement from Adjutant General of North Dakota WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement congratulating Major General David Sprynczynatyk upon his retirement as Adjutant General of the North Dakota National Guard. Major General Sprynczynatyk has done an outstanding job serving the state of North Dakota for more than 40 years in two of the most important roles in state government. As governor in 2006, I had the honor of appointing him adjutant general of the North Dakota National Guard, where he led the finest Guard in the country. We worked together for a decade through multiple overseas deployments of our men and women in the Guard to fight the War on Terror in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, as well as through major wildfires, flooding and other natural disasters at home in North Dakota. Prior to his serving as adjutant general, I had the honor of appointing him director of the North Dakota Department of Transportation, where he did an outstanding job, as well. One of the first major infrastructure projects we undertook was four-laning Highway 2 between Minot and Williston, which was completed in 2008. The project proved to be a tremendous benefit as oil development in western North Dakota grew tremendously in the subsequent years. Dave began his career more than 40 years ago at the State Water Commission shortly before he joined the National Guard. The experience he gained there, as well as at the Transportation Department where he managed major projects, prepared him well for his various duties as adjutant general and head of the state Department of Emergency Services, which is under his administration. Over the years, it has been a pleasure to see Major General Sprynczynatyk's dedication recognized through various awards and honors for his work. I join the State of North Dakota in thanking Major General Sprynczynatyk for his tireless commitment to service, and I wish him and his wife Connie the best for any future endeavors. Major General Al Dohrmann has been appointed by Governor Dalrymple to replace Sprynczynatyk to serve as Adjutant General. Maj. Gen. Dohrmann began his military career in 1983, when he accepted his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Army. In 1991, he left active duty and joined the North Dakota Army Guard where he was transferred to the Engineer branch. He has served as operations officer for the 164th RTI, Operations Officer and Executive Officer for the 141 Engineer Battalion, Staff Judge Advocate for the North Dakota National Guard, J1 and Chief of Staff for the North Dakota Joint Force Headquarters and Land Component Commander of the North Dakota Army National Guard. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=21994f83-464b-47e8-8b20-6c40caeb6603,Hoeven Congratulates Brig. Gen. Dohrmann on Being Named Adjutant General of the North Dakota National Guard and Director of the ND Department of Emergency Services,2015-12-13,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.13.15 Hoeven Congratulates Brig. Gen. Dohrmann on Being Named Adjutant General of the North Dakota National Guard and Director of the ND Department of Emergency Services WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today issued this statement following Brigadier General Al Dohrmann being named adjunct general of the North Dakota National Guard and director of the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services: Brigadier General Dohrmann has long served our state and our nation with great dedication, and this appointment recognizes his strong leadership, team building and strategic planning skills. The guidance he demonstrated through his coordination of the 2011 flood response for Bismarck and Mandan was outstanding, and I am confident that he will display that same level of leadership and preparedness as he leads our National Guard and Department of Emergency Service in the years to come. Throughout his career, Al has served with a high level of dedication, which has earned him many awards and honors, including the Legion of Merit, the Army Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal. Through his service as a board member of the North Dakota Veterans Home Governing Board and the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery Foundation, he has worked hard to ensure that our veterans receive the services and support they need. Als rich experience and commitment to our country make him a perfect fit for this position, I look forward to continuing to work with Al in the future. Brigadier General Al Dohrmann began his military career in 1983, when he accepted his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Army. In 1991, he left active duty and joined the North Dakota Army Guard where he was transferred to the Engineer branch. He has served as operations officer for the 164th RTI, Operations Officer and Executive Officer for the 141 Engineer Battalion, Staff Judge Advocate for the North Dakota National Guard, J1 and Chief of Staff for the North Dakota Joint Force Headquarters and Land Component Commander of the North Dakota Army National Guard. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=72c8cefe-6787-41ef-aeae-6413284e09bd,Heitkamp Statement on ND National Guard Change of Command Ceremony,2015-12-13,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today issued the following statement regarding the North Dakota National Guard Adjutant General Change of Command from Major General David Sprynczynatyk to Brigadier General Alan Dohrmann. The North Dakota National Guard has a reputation for its incredible dedication to serving the people of North Dakota, working hard to keep families and communities safe, and stepping up to take on missions critical to protect our national security, said Heitkamp. The strong commitment to service is a testament to General Sprynczynatyks great leadership as the Adjutant General of North Dakota and throughout his more than 40 years of service. Thank you to General Sprynczynatyk for his outstanding tenure leading the North Dakota National Guard and I wish him well in retirement. In addition, General Dohrmanns eight years of experience alongside General Sprynczynatyk has prepared him well for the responsibilities hell take on and equipped him with the necessary skills to lead and command the National Guard. I look forward to working with General Dohrmann as he works to build on General Sprynczynatyks legacy. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-congratulates-brig-gen-dohrmann-on-being-named-adjutant-general-of-the-north-dakota-national-guard-and-director-of-the-nd-department-of-emergency-services,Hoeven Congratulates Brig. Gen. Dohrmann on Being Named Adjutant General of the North Dakota National Guard and Director of the ND Department of Emergency Services,2015-12-13,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.13.15 Hoeven Congratulates Brig. Gen. Dohrmann on Being Named Adjutant General of the North Dakota National Guard and Director of the ND Department of Emergency Services WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today issued this statement following Brigadier General Al Dohrmann being named adjunct general of the North Dakota National Guard and director of the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services: Brigadier General Dohrmann has long served our state and our nation with great dedication, and this appointment recognizes his strong leadership, team building and strategic planning skills. The guidance he demonstrated through his coordination of the 2011 flood response for Bismarck and Mandan was outstanding, and I am confident that he will display that same level of leadership and preparedness as he leads our National Guard and Department of Emergency Service in the years to come. Throughout his career, Al has served with a high level of dedication, which has earned him many awards and honors, including the Legion of Merit, the Army Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal. Through his service as a board member of the North Dakota Veterans Home Governing Board and the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery Foundation, he has worked hard to ensure that our veterans receive the services and support they need. Al's rich experience and commitment to our country make him a perfect fit for this position, I look forward to continuing to work with Al in the future. Brigadier General Al Dohrmann began his military career in 1983, when he accepted his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Army. In 1991, he left active duty and joined the North Dakota Army Guard where he was transferred to the Engineer branch. He has served as operations officer for the 164th RTI, Operations Officer and Executive Officer for the 141 Engineer Battalion, Staff Judge Advocate for the North Dakota National Guard, J1 and Chief of Staff for the North Dakota Joint Force Headquarters and Land Component Commander of the North Dakota Army National Guard. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-democrats-stalling-on-repeal-of-crude-oil-export-ban-jeopardizes,Cramer - Democrats Stalling on Repeal of Crude Oil Export Ban Jeopardizes America's Energy Security and Threatens our Allies,2015-12-11,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,cramer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman Kevin Cramer released the following statement in response to Democrat opposition to lifting the crude oil export ban in the Omnibus Spending Bill negotiations currently being conducted between the House and the Senate. I am confused by the Democrats demands for more and more sweeteners to be included in the omnibus spending bill. Their requests for additional green energy tax credits seem to be driven not by what is in the long-term best interests of our nations economic and national security interests but rather a short-term political agenda to reward environmental activists and large donors. If the Democrats want to see the benefits of the crude oil energy renaissance our nation has enjoyed during the past decade, they need to look no further than North Dakota. Thousands of middle and low income individuals now have high-paying jobs in the energy sector. New businesses are being created every day by entrepreneurs who are willing to take a risk to make their dreams a reality. The impact of the shale oil revolution is now being felt far beyond the homes and coffee shops of America. Our nations inability to export crude oil threatens our national security as well the safety and security of our allies. Israel and our European allies depend upon unstable and unfriendly sources like Russia and the OPEC Oil Cartel for their energy needs. This dependence allows them to intimidate our allies. This situation would not be occurring if the United States was able to sell crude oil internationally.Trading oil on the open free markets is a tool of peace and liberty. Black gold in the wrong hands is a tool of tyranny. The best way to hold Putin and OPEC in check is with the peaceful tools of energy developmentnot the weapons of war. It is time for Congress and the American people to understand our nations and our allies safety and security depends on our ability to export crude oil. This export ban was put in place forty-two years ago as a result of unrest in the Middle East. It occurred after Syria, backed by then the Soviet Union, attacked our friend Israel in the Yom Kippur War. The United States, in those days, was a reliable partner with Israel and we defended them. Today, Israel and our allies fear OPEC and Vladimir Putin more than they believe they are able to count on their friend the United States. Lifting the ban should not be about rewarding political allies, but rather an honest discussion about the way to promote Americas economic and national security goals while providing our allies with a safe and reliable source of energy. ####",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-house-approves-short-term-spending-authorization,Cramer: House Approves Short-Term Spending Authorization,2015-12-11,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,cramer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.Congressman Kevin Cramer released the following statement today after the U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 2250, the Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2016. The U.S. Senate approved the legislation on Thursday. It funds the government through Dec. 16. This is a short-term solution which gives the House and the Senate time to complete negotiations on the omnibus spending bill for 2016, said Cramer. Although far from Ideal, I am confident this extra time will result in legislation which all sides can agree upon and repeals the ban on exporting crude oil. It is unfortunate Congress must resort to using one large omnibus spending bill to fund our government. I look forward to both the House and the Senate returning to regular order in 2016 and passing the 12 separate spending bills. Regular order allows for greater oversight of spending by each department and agency. The legislation prevents a government shutdown, as the current spending authorization was due to expire at midnight on Dec. 11. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-house-passes-hr-644-conference-report-to-the-trade-facilitation,Cramer: House Passes H.R. 644 Conference Report to the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015,2015-12-11,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,cramer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.Congressman Kevin Cramer announced today the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 644Conference Report to the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015. The legislation authorizes U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which has been operating without authorization; provides tools to facilitate legitimate trade; improves trade enforcement; measures progress within CBP; strengthens Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation by prohibiting a trade agreement from changing U.S. immigration policy, or altering U.S. law with respect to greenhouse gases; and bolsters U.S.-Israel trade and commercial ties. Free trade is important to North Dakota. 108,340 jobs in our state are dependent upon trade and exports have grown from $1 billion in 2004 to $5.29 billion in 2014, said Cramer. This legislation strengthens our ability to monitor and to enforce our current free trade agreements which ensure our producers and businesses are able to compete on a level playing field in countries across the globe. The conference report includes provisions to protect North Dakotas honey industry from unfair Chinese trading practices. Chinas shipment of honey through other countries to evade duties harms North Dakotas honey producers, said Cramer. I am glad this legislation cracks down on this process and ensures our producers compete on a fair playing field. Summary of H.R. 644Conference Report to the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 The bill fosters economic competitiveness and helps create American jobs by stepping up enforcement of our trade agreements, reducing barriers to legitimate trade, making our exports more competitive, and facilitating small business competition in the global marketplace. The bill increases congressional oversight over executive branch nominees and trade negotiations to ensure the U.S. gets the best deal possible for hardworking families and small businesses. The bill strengthens the United States ability to fight human trafficking by enhancing incentives for our trade agreement partners to address this form of modern-day slavery. The bill builds on provisions included in Trade Promotion Authority earlier this year, this conference report will prevent the administration from using TPA procedures to address immigration and climate change, and it will combat efforts to boycott and delegitimize Israel. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=14d9a9c9-efb4-4ec6-8b45-a77e510df7c5,Hoeven Congratulates North Dakota Army National Guard on New Cyber Defense Mission,2015-12-11,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.11.15 Hoeven Congratulates North Dakota Army National Guard on New Cyber Defense Mission WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today congratulated Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk and the North Dakota Army National Guard on its selection as part of the regional Army National Guard Cyber Protection Team (CPT). Starting in 2018, seven soldiers in North Dakota and 32 soldiers from Colorado, South Dakota and Utah will form a shared CPT and join the Department of Defenses cyberforces in defense of critical military and civilian government computer network infrastructure. Including North Dakota, National Guard specialists will operate in CPTs across 24 states and will be aligned to assist in domestic emergency responses. Our North Dakota National Guard members have served our nation honorably across a wide variety of missions, both here at home and abroad, Hoeven said. Not only have our soldiers worked to defend our state and nation in traditional roles, they continue expanding and adapting to meet the defense needs of the future. This new mission will help ensure our local infrastructure, whether military or civilian, is secured against cyber attacks. We are very proud of our guard members, and we will continue our efforts to support them in their vital missions. Hoeven said the new cyber defense mission will complement the work of the 119th Air Wings intelligence targeting mission in Fargo. Earlier this year, Hoeven helped secure $7.3 million for a new facility for the targeting mission in the Military Construction Appropriations bill, which the Senate passed last month. The senator continues working to secure support for the facility in the year-end funding legislation. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=71735d81-d60b-459f-ad83-95080154070d,Hoeven Advocates for Lifting Oil Export Ban at Hearing,2015-12-11,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.11.15 Hoeven Advocates for Lifting Oil Export Ban at Hearing Experts Testify Lifting Ban Will Strengthen U.S., Allied Security WASHINGTON At a hearing of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Terrorism and Global Oil Markets today, Senator John Hoeven advocated for lifting the crude oil export ban, saying it will make the nation and our allies safer as we confront global terrorism. That view was supported by expert witnesses from leading think tanks who testified at the hearing. Hoeven has repeatedly called for repealing the ban and is working hard to get the repeal included in the year-end legislation. Lifting the ban on oil exports is important for our country and will help improve our national security by achieving energy security, Hoeven said. By helping to grow our oil and gas industry in this country, we create a stronger economy and more jobs, but we also produce more energy here at home and were able to help supply our allies with oil and gas, as well. Expert witnesses from the Atlantic Council, Rand Corporation, Center for a New American Security, and IHS, a global research company, affirmed that lifting the oil export ban would enhance national security. Representative of the general opinion was testimony by Dr. Sara Vakhshouri, Nonresident Senior Fellow Atlantic Council, who said that with the Middle East in turmoil and confronting terrorist attacks and threats, its important to have alternative resources, especially from the U.S. Jamie Webster, senior director at IHS, said We have put out a couple of studies on crude export issue and our finding is that this is a clear win for the U.S. economy and also for energy security. Its difficult to find a case where this is not a positive. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-advocates-for-lifting-oil-export-ban-at-hearing,Hoeven Advocates for Lifting Oil Export Ban at Hearing,2015-12-11,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.11.15 Hoeven Advocates for Lifting Oil Export Ban at Hearing Experts Testify Lifting Ban Will Strengthen U.S., Allied Security WASHINGTON At a hearing of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Terrorism and Global Oil Markets today, Senator John Hoeven advocated for lifting the crude oil export ban, saying it will make the nation and our allies safer as we confront global terrorism. That view was supported by expert witnesses from leading think tanks who testified at the hearing. Hoeven has repeatedly called for repealing the ban and is working hard to get the repeal included in the year-end legislation. Lifting the ban on oil exports is important for our country and will help improve our national security by achieving energy security, Hoeven said. By helping to grow our oil and gas industry in this country, we create a stronger economy and more jobs, but we also produce more energy here at home and we're able to help supply our allies with oil and gas, as well. Expert witnesses from the Atlantic Council, Rand Corporation, Center for a New American Security, and IHS, a global research company, affirmed that lifting the oil export ban would enhance national security. Representative of the general opinion was testimony by Dr. Sara Vakhshouri, Nonresident Senior Fellow Atlantic Council, who said that with the Middle East in turmoil and confronting terrorist attacks and threats, it's important to have alternative resources, especially from the U.S. Jamie Webster, senior director at IHS, said We have put out a couple of studies on crude export issue and our finding is that this is a clear win for the U.S. economy and also for energy security. It's difficult to find a case where this is not a positive. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-congratulates-north-dakota-army-national-guard-on-new-cyber-defense-mission,Hoeven Congratulates North Dakota Army National Guard on New Cyber Defense Mission,2015-12-11,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.11.15 Hoeven Congratulates North Dakota Army National Guard on New Cyber Defense Mission WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today congratulated Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk and the North Dakota Army National Guard on its selection as part of the regional Army National Guard Cyber Protection Team (CPT). Starting in 2018, seven soldiers in North Dakota and 32 soldiers from Colorado, South Dakota and Utah will form a shared CPT and join the Department of Defense's cyberforces in defense of critical military and civilian government computer network infrastructure. Including North Dakota, National Guard specialists will operate in CPTs across 24 states and will be aligned to assist in domestic emergency responses. Our North Dakota National Guard members have served our nation honorably across a wide variety of missions, both here at home and abroad, Hoeven said. Not only have our soldiers worked to defend our state and nation in traditional roles, they continue expanding and adapting to meet the defense needs of the future. This new mission will help ensure our local infrastructure, whether military or civilian, is secured against cyber attacks. We are very proud of our guard members, and we will continue our efforts to support them in their vital missions. Hoeven said the new cyber defense mission will complement the work of the 119th Air Wing's intelligence targeting mission in Fargo. Earlier this year, Hoeven helped secure $7.3 million for a new facility for the targeting mission in the Military Construction Appropriations bill, which the Senate passed last month. The senator continues working to secure support for the facility in the year-end funding legislation. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-reauthorizes-and-reforms-surface-transportation-board,House Reauthorizes and Reforms Surface Transportation Board,2015-12-10,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,cramer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman Kevin Cramer announced today the U. S. House of Representatives passed S. 808, the Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act of 2015. The legislation reauthorizes and reforms the Surface Transportation Board (STB), the nations rail economic regulator, by granting the STB more investigative powers, increasing funding, and also increasing the board membership from the current three to five. The bill unanimously passed the U.S. Senate on June 18. North Dakotas rail customers have endured delays in shipping their products to market, said Cramer. This legislation brings transparency and certainty to those who have been negatively impacted by these delays. It will also boost competition in the rail industry as well as increasing efficiency in the shipping of their products. The reforms to the STB are supported by many agriculture and business groups. Below is a complete listing of the groups publicly supporting of S. 808 in a Rail Customer Coalition letter: Agribusiness Council of Indiana Agricultural Retailers Association Agriculture Transportation Coalition Alabama Crop Management Association Alliance for Rail Competition Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers American Chemistry Council American Farm Bureau Federation American Forest & Paper Association American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers Association American Iron and Steel Institute American Malting Barley Association, Inc. American Public Power Association American Soybean Association Auto Care Association Chemical Industry Council of Delaware Chemical Industry Council of Illinois Chemistry Council of Missouri Chemistry Council of New Jersey Colorado Association of Wheat Growers Connecticut Business & Industry Association Corn Refiners Association Edison Electric Institute The Fertilizer Institute Florida Fertilizer & Agrichemical Association Foundry Association of Michigan Freight Rail Customer Alliance Georgia Agribusiness Council Georgia Chemistry Council Glass Packaging Institute Green Coffee Association Grocery Manufacturers Association Growth Energy Idaho Barley Commission Idaho Grain Producers Association Idaho Wheat Commission Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association Indiana Corn Growers Association Indiana Farm Bureau Indiana Soybean Alliance Institute of Makers of Explosives Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. International Liquid Terminals Association International Warehouse Logistics Association Louisiana Chemical Association Manufacture Alabama Manufacturers Association of Florida Massachusetts Chemistry & Technology Alliance Michigan Agri-Business Association Michigan Bean Shippers Michigan Chemistry Council Minnesota AgriGrowth Council Minnesota Crop Production Retailers Mississippi Manufacturers Association Missouri Agribusiness Association Montana Agricultural Business Association Montana Farmers Union Montana Grain Elevators Association Motorcycle Industry Council National Association of Chemical Distributors National Association of State Departments of Agriculture National Association of Wheat Growers National Barley Growers Association National Corn Growers Association National Cotton Council of America National Council of Farmer Cooperatives National Farmers Union The National Industrial Transportation League National Onion Association National Retail Federation National Rural Electric Cooperative Association National Shippers Strategic Transportation Council National Sunflower Association Nebraska Agri-Business Association, Inc. Nebraska Wheat Board New York State Agribusiness Association New York State Chemistry Council North Carolina Manufacturers Alliance North Dakota Grain Dealers Association Ohio Agribusiness Association Ohio Chemistry Technology Council Oklahoma Agribusiness Retailers Association Oklahoma Grain and Feed Association Oregon Wheat Growers League Outdoor Power Equipment Association, Inc. Pennsylvania Chemical Industry Council Plastics Pipe and Fittings Association Promotional Products Association International PVC Pipe Association Rail Customer Coalition Renewable Fuels Association Rocky Mountain Agribusiness Association Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates South Carolina Fertilizer and Agrichemicals Association South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance South Dakota Wheat Inc. SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association Steel Manufacturers Association The Sulphur Institute Texas Ag Industries Association Texas Chemical Council Texas Wheat Producers Association United States Fashion Industry Association US Dry Bean Council US Dry Pea & Lentil Council Vinyl Building Council The Vinyl Institute Vinyl Siding Institute, Inc. Washington Association of Wheat Growers Washington Grain Commission West Virginia Manufacturers Association Western Fuels Association Western Plant Health Association Wisconsin Agri-Business Association Wyoming Ag Business Association Wyoming Wheat Marketing Commission Congressman Kevin Cramer also announced BNSF Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) publicly filed weekly grain backlog status updates as required by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board. A summary of the reporting data specific to North Dakota for the last 10 weeks is below. Grain Car Backlog Status Report BNSF Number of outstanding cars Average number of days late Number of new car orders Number of car orders filled Number of orders canceled by shipper Number of orders canceled by railroad 11/29/2015 12/05/2015 30 1.2 days 85 745 101 0 11/22/2015 11/28/2015 173 4.3 days 22 623 0 0 11/15/2015 11/21/2015 50 1.6 days 158 910 7 0 11/08/2015 11/14/2015 223 3.4 days 19 986 12 0 11/01/2015 11/07/2015 125 3.0 days 110 871 11 0 10/25/2015 10/31/2015 164 3.0 days 71 1154 2 0 10/18/2015 10/24/2015 150 3.8 days 161 947 0 0 10/11/2017 10/17/2015 297 5.0 days 129 859 24 0 10/04/2015 10/10/2015 158 3.0 days 237 1122 0 0 09/27/2015 10/03/2015 371 1.7 days 200 701 0 0 09/20/2015 09/26/2015 24 1.0 days 54 1016 15 0 09/13/2015 09/19/2015 6 2.0 days 6 1161 12 0 09/06/2015 09/12/2015 10 1.2 Days 18 1188 0 0 CP Number of outstanding cars Average number of days late Number of new car orders Number of car orders filled Number of orders canceled by shipper Number of orders canceled by railroad 11/30/2015 12/06/2015 0 0 519 1347 0 0 11/22/2015 11/28/2015 0 0 93 642 75 0 11/16/2015 11/22/2015 0 0 219 684 60 0 11/08/2015 11/14/2015 0 0 397 1362 44 0 11/01/2015 11/07/2015 0 0 454 1305 19 0 10/25/2015 10/31/2015 65 0 642 1054 27 0 10/18/2015 10/24/2015 0 0 360 1538 2 0 10/12/2015 10/18/2015 0 0 895 1223 2 0 10/04/2015 10/10/2015 0 0 638 1035 72 0 09/27/2015 10/03/2015 0 0 672 1322 102 0 09/20/2015 09/26/2015 0 0 462 981 0 0 09/14/2015 09/20/2015 0 0 317 1120 25 0 09/07/2015 09/13/2015 0 0 448 757 0 0 View the full reports: BNSF | CP ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=7b698e64-0eb9-4091-adb7-49248636f677,"Hoeven: IRS, Treasury Agree to Increase Expensing Threshold on Purchase of Tangible Property From $500 to $2,500",2015-12-10,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.10.15 Hoeven: IRS, Treasury Agree to Increase Expensing Threshold on Purchase of Tangible Property From $500 to $2,500 Senator Pressed IRS to Ease Tax Burden on Small Businesses, Family Farms WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has agreed to raise the safe harbor threshold for expensing the purchase, acquisition or improvement of tangible property from $500 to $2,500 for many small businesses and family-owned farms and ranches. The change will ease the compliance burden for taxpayers who do not maintain applicable financial statements and would have otherwise faced complex capitalization rules for many basic, common purchases, such as machinery and equipment parts, computers and smart phones. The senator has been pressing the IRS in letters and conversations since January of 2014 to revise the unfair and onerous expensing regulations. The revised threshold takes effect on January 1st, 2016. The IRS new regulations would have adversely affected small businesses, farmers and ranchers in North Dakota and across the country, Hoeven said. This revision is welcome relief for our small businesses, who account for about two-thirds of new jobs and represent about 55 percent of private employment in the U.S. We continue working to ensure that IRS regulations are workable in the real world, protecting our small businesses from burdensome costs, both in terms of time and money. Hoeven heard from many tax professionals and constituents in North Dakota about the serious, negative consequences the new rule would have for small businesses in the state. The senator continues his efforts to ensure this and other IRS rules reflect the real-world costs and challenges faced by farmers, ranchers and small business owners. Accordingly, Hoeven is working to extend the $500,000 limitation for Section 179 expensing before year-end while also pressing for a permanent solution, which will provide greater certainty for a wide variety of small businesses as they plan their taxes and equipment purchases. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=e4071c4e-5703-413b-9f24-eff34f0ba83b,Hoeven's Veterans Access to Long-Term Care Legislation Passes Veterans Affairs Committee,2015-12-10,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.10.15 Hoeven's Veterans Access to Long-Term Care Legislation Passes Veterans Affairs Committee Senators Bill Empowers Veterans to Use Local Long-Term Care Providers Close to Their Homes, Families WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Veterans Affairs Committee has included provisions from two Hoeven bills that will allow veterans greater access to long term care (LTC) services near loved ones and friends in their home communities: the Veterans Access to Extended Care Act and the Veterans Access to Long Term Care and Health Services Act. Extended care providers include such facilities as nursing centers, geriatric evaluation, domiciliary services, adult day health care, respite care, palliative care, hospice care and home health care. Congress is expected to take the bill up at the beginning of the new year. Family, friends and community serve as a vital support network throughout our lives, and our veterans should not be forced to choose between being near their loved ones and accessing the care they need, said Hoeven. Our legislation will make more options available to our former service members who need long-term care services. That means better access to the benefits they have earned and a higher quality of life in their later years. Specifically, the legislation means the VA can enter into provider agreements with long-term-care facilities subject to the same rules and regulations as Medicare and Medicaid providers. This will enable veterans to stay in local nursing homes by allowing those facilities to receive Veterans Administration reimbursement on the same basis as Medicare and Medicaid providers. Currently, duplicative reporting requirements and regulations administered by the Office of Federal Contracting Compliance Programs (OFCCP) have discouraged long-term-care facilities from admitting VA patients, thus depriving veterans of an opportunity to secure long term care at non-VA facilities. As a result, only 15 out of 80 nursing homes in North Dakota currently contract with the VA. By contrast, the same LTC facilities contracting with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are not subject to OFCCP regulations. The Hoeven legislation would make the VA requirements for providers the same as they are for CMS, giving our former servicemen and women more options to access long-term-care services closer to their homes, families and friends. Hoeven originally introduced the Veterans Access to Extended Care Act as a stand-alone bill in March with Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and the Veterans Access to Long Term Care and Health Services Act in September, also with Manchin. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-irs-treasury-agree-to-increase-expensing-threshold-on-purchase-of-tangible-property-from-500-to-2-500,"Hoeven: IRS, Treasury Agree to Increase Expensing Threshold on Purchase of Tangible Property From $500 to $2,500",2015-12-10,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.10.15 Hoeven: IRS, Treasury Agree to Increase Expensing Threshold on Purchase of Tangible Property From $500 to $2,500 Senator Pressed IRS to Ease Tax Burden on Small Businesses, Family Farms WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has agreed to raise the safe harbor threshold for expensing the purchase, acquisition or improvement of tangible property from $500 to $2,500 for many small businesses and family-owned farms and ranches. The change will ease the compliance burden for taxpayers who do not maintain applicable financial statements and would have otherwise faced complex capitalization rules for many basic, common purchases, such as machinery and equipment parts, computers and smart phones. The senator has been pressing the IRS in letters and conversations since January of 2014 to revise the unfair and onerous expensing regulations. The revised threshold takes effect on January 1st, 2016. The IRS' new regulations would have adversely affected small businesses, farmers and ranchers in North Dakota and across the country, Hoeven said. This revision is welcome relief for our small businesses, who account for about two-thirds of new jobs and represent about 55 percent of private employment in the U.S. We continue working to ensure that IRS regulations are workable in the real world, protecting our small businesses from burdensome costs, both in terms of time and money. Hoeven heard from many tax professionals and constituents in North Dakota about the serious, negative consequences the new rule would have for small businesses in the state. The senator continues his efforts to ensure this and other IRS rules reflect the real-world costs and challenges faced by farmers, ranchers and small business owners. Accordingly, Hoeven is working to extend the $500,000 limitation for Section 179 expensing before year-end while also pressing for a permanent solution, which will provide greater certainty for a wide variety of small businesses as they plan their taxes and equipment purchases. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoevens-veterans-access-to-long-term-care-legislation-passes-veterans-affairs-committee,Hoeven's Veterans Access to Long-Term Care Legislation Passes Veterans Affairs Committee,2015-12-10,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.10.15 Hoeven's Veterans Access to Long-Term Care Legislation Passes Veterans Affairs Committee Senator's Bill Empowers Veterans to Use Local Long-Term Care Providers Close to Their Homes, Families WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Veterans Affairs Committee has included provisions from two Hoeven bills that will allow veterans greater access to long term care (LTC) services near loved ones and friends in their home communities: the Veterans Access to Extended Care Act and the Veterans Access to Long Term Care and Health Services Act. Extended care providers include such facilities as nursing centers, geriatric evaluation, domiciliary services, adult day health care, respite care, palliative care, hospice care and home health care. Congress is expected to take the bill up at the beginning of the new year. Family, friends and community serve as a vital support network throughout our lives, and our veterans should not be forced to choose between being near their loved ones and accessing the care they need, said Hoeven. Our legislation will make more options available to our former service members who need long-term care services. That means better access to the benefits they have earned and a higher quality of life in their later years. Specifically, the legislation means the VA can enter into provider agreements with long-term-care facilities subject to the same rules and regulations as Medicare and Medicaid providers. This will enable veterans to stay in local nursing homes by allowing those facilities to receive Veterans Administration reimbursement on the same basis as Medicare and Medicaid providers. Currently, duplicative reporting requirements and regulations administered by the Office of Federal Contracting Compliance Programs (OFCCP) have discouraged long-term-care facilities from admitting VA patients, thus depriving veterans of an opportunity to secure long term care at non-VA facilities. As a result, only 15 out of 80 nursing homes in North Dakota currently contract with the VA. By contrast, the same LTC facilities contracting with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are not subject to OFCCP regulations. The Hoeven legislation would make the VA requirements for providers the same as they are for CMS, giving our former servicemen and women more options to access long-term-care services closer to their homes, families and friends. Hoeven originally introduced the Veterans Access to Extended Care Act as a stand-alone bill in March with Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and the Veterans Access to Long Term Care and Health Services Act in September, also with Manchin. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=6a3b6842-531c-44fe-a825-885131aa063b,Hoeven Continues Work on Grand Forks AFB Priorities,2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.09.15 Hoeven Continues Work on Grand Forks AFB Priorities Air Force to Start Process Next Year to Select Next Base for the KC-46 Mission, Grand Forks in the Running WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven and members of the Grand Forks Base Realignment Impact Committee (BRIC) today met with top Air Force officials to further advance the regions leadership as a premier hub for unmanned aerial system (UAS) and to further initiatives important to Grand Forks Air Force Base. Specifically, Hoeven said the Air Force will start the process in 2016 for selecting a base the KC-46 Aerial Refueling Tanker; Grand Forks is in the running for the mission. The group also pushed for a lead role for Grand Forks Air Force Base in supporting the Arctic mission. Hoeven and the BRIC members met at the Pentagon with Miranda Ballentine, the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Energy, and Jennifer Miller, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Installations, and Senator Heidi Heitkamp. This is an era of innovation and growth for Grand Forks Air Force Base and the entire region, Hoeven said. The BRIC team has done an outstanding job of supporting the base and the community. Now with Northrop Grumman and General Atomics at Grand Sky, we are advancing our states leadership in unmanned aerial systems. We continue working to strengthen and expand the base and its missions. KC-46 Aerial Refueling Tanker Hoeven and the BRIC again cited GFAFBs strategic northern location as an advantage in a possible future tanker mission at Grand Forks. Following Hoeven's efforts to promote GFAFB in 2012, the Air Force identified the base as a finalist for a new tanker mission and indicated it would receive strong consideration in future base selections for the new KC-46 aerial refueling tanker. Hoeven said that the tanker would be a big win for the base. Arctic Initiative The Arctic initiative Hoeven started with BRIC last year now is in front of Air Force officials. In October 2014, Hoeven and BRIC members visited Northern Command in Colorado to understand the U.S. militarys development of its strategy to secure and defend American interests in the Arctic. The need for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in that region strongly underscores the needs for capabilities like the Global Hawk. The position of Grand Forks as a northern tier base reinforces the bases relevance to emerging Arctic missions. BRIC highlighted the Arctic with Miller as a first step in working with the Air Force to position the base to meet future Arctic requirements. Grand Sky Technology Park BRIC reviewed with Ballentine and Miller the current status of Grand Sky technology park, including updates on the Joint Use Agreement that allows the park to access the base runway. They also highlighted prospects for new tenants at the park and progress made to accommodate Northrop Grumman and General Atomics that have already committed to be at Grand Sky. Hoeven has led the effort to help Grand Forks County secure an enhanced use lease (EUL) with the U.S. Air Force for the development of Grand Sky, a cutting-edge UAS technology and business park the county is building on approximately 217 acres at Grand Forks Air Force Base. Securing an anchor tenant for the park was key to the project. In 2012, Hoeven brought senior Northrop Grumman officials, including Tom Vice, Northrop Grummans Corporate VP and President of Aerospace Systems, to Grand Forks to see firsthand the tremendous synergies that are developing between BRIC, UND, the UND Aerospace Foundation and Northland Aerospace Foundation. As a result, Northrop Grumman, one of the worlds premier aerospace and defense technology companies, committed to be the parks first tenant. Northrop Grumman makes the RQ-4 Global Hawk, which is operated by the Air Combat Command unit at GFAFB. In September, following several meetings with key company leaders, Hoeven announced that General Atomics, which manufactures the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper, would come to Grand Sky to construct a training academy for UAS pilots. Hoeven continues to work with the Air Force to allow U.S. Air Force pilots to receive training via General Atomics as a way of filling the existing shortfall of qualified pilots needed to meet the demands of U.S. commanders overseas for unmanned aircraft capabilities. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=8400cdfc-230e-4c7b-bfa5-c3a3144a7279,"Hoeven Announces Nearly $1.1 Million Grant for Head Start, Early Head Start at Cankdeska Cikana Community College",2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.09.15 Hoeven Announces Nearly $1.1 Million Grant for Head Start, Early Head Start at Cankdeska Cikana Community College WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded nearly $1.1 million to Cankdeska Cikana Community College (CCCC) to support its Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Todays award is a continuation of CCCCs five-year project, which began in 2014 and serves the Spirit Lake Tribe. The well-being of children is a vital component of healthy and successful communities, said Hoeven. Todays award will support continued education, health and nutrition services for children and families in the Spirit Lake community and will lay a strong foundation for their future success. Todays funds come in addition to a $3.1 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which Hoeven announced last month. The loan supports the construction of a new, centrally-located Head start facility at CCCC, which will serve up to 184 children in the Spirit Lake community, ages 0 to 5. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=8aff506c-15ee-429d-a608-2e87c507f6ba,"Hoeven: Congress Passes Education Bill Restoring Local Control, Bolstering STEM Education",2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.09.15 Hoeven: Congress Passes Education Bill Restoring Local Control, Bolstering STEM Education WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today announced that Congress has passed the Every Student Succeeds Act, education authorization legislation to replace the No Child Left Behind Act. The bill restores state and local control over education standards and makes important reforms to replace one-size-fits-all accountability requirements with state-designed systems. The legislation also prevents federal mandates, including Common Core. The bill was approved in the Senate by a strong, bipartisan vote of 85-12. The Every Student Succeeds Act makes important reforms and helps to put parents, teachers, principals and local school districts back in control of our education system. This legislation takes the right approach in that it pushes both control and funding down to the state and local level rather than a federal one-size-fits-all approach and it ends the Common Core mandate, said Hoeven. Additionally, the bill includes support for STEM education, which we pushed for, and other initiatives to ensure that our students have the skills and education they need to be competitive today and into the future. The Every Student Succeeds Act reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and allows states and school districts to develop their own educational accountability plans. The legislation restores state control over education standards and prevents the federal government from mandating or incentivizing academic standards, including Common Core. Additionally, the bill includes a provision based on legislation offered by Senators Hoeven and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) to bolster Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. Specifically, the measure improves students access to STEM education by allowing states to award funding to create or enhance a STEM-focused specialty school or a STEM program within a school. The Every Student Succeeds Act includes initiatives important for North Dakota students and schools including: Provides school districts greater flexibility to develop their own education plans and transfer program funds based upon each schools needs. Includes new provisions to allow multiple rural school districts to consolidate the applications submitted to states for federal grant funding and ensures that rural school districts are able to compete for funding at the same level as more populated school districts that have more staff. Continues rural education programs to support high-poverty rural school districts and schools that have traditionally received a smaller portion of federal funding for education programs. Strengthens Impact Aid program to better support school districts located near, or serving students from, military bases, federal lands, and Indian reservations, for the loss of local property taxes due to the presence of the federal government. Streamlines Native American education grant programs and continues support for native language restoration programs, culturally related activities, early childhood and family programs, as well as services to increase student achievement and parental involvement. Consolidates a total of 49 federal education programs and requires the Education Department to identify full-time equivalent positions who worked on those consolidated programs and reduce the workforce by that amount. Outlines specific procedures the U.S. Education Secretary must follow when issuing federal regulations and requires greater transparency and accountability over the development of new rules affecting K-12 schools. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=46790a23-e224-401f-af6e-d1206ea16237,Heitkamp Helps Pass Key Bipartisan Education Reforms Supporting Academic Success for ND Students,2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today helped pass key reforms she fought to include in the bipartisan federal education bill, which will help children across the country access the support, resources, and protections they need to thrive academically. The education bill that passed in the House last week and Senate today, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), is a bipartisan, compromise that will make critical reforms to the fundamentally flawed No Child Left Behind Act. Once enacted, the bill will roll back burdensome federal requirements in the law, instead providing states and school districts in North Dakota and across the country with the flexibility and control local education leaders need to determine the best education methods for the communities they know best. The bill will continue to protect the nations most vulnerable and disadvantaged children, including Native students. Heitkamp successfully pushed to include crucial reforms that were maintained in the final legislation and are now headed to the presidents desk for his signature including her landmark language to give educators the tools they need to combat human trafficking in schools, prevent suicide, and provide trauma-informed learning environments. She also fought to make sure students in rural and disadvantaged areas have better access to comprehensive learning like after school and early education programming, and successfully protected Native students abilities to access educational opportunities administered by their tribes. Heitkamp also defended tribal language immersion programs that have been proven to boost academic performance and school attendance, as well as local community pride. Children in tribal communities and rural towns across North Dakota have limitless potential they simply need the right tools, resources, and protections to achieve, said Heitkamp. Thats exactly the kind of legislation Congress passed today finally reforming the deeply flawed No Child Left Behind Act, while protecting key resources I fought for and helped pass. Instead of being tied to overly burdensome federal regulations, North Dakota schools will be able to determine the education methods that work for students in the communities they know best. Schools will also be better equipped to help protect their students from suicide and from falling prey to fast-spreading crimes like human trafficking. By continuing to invest in trauma-informed, culturally focused, safe learning environments like the solutions I worked to include and maintain in todays final bill, we can prioritize individualized learning that fosters healthy minds, hearts, and academic excellence for years to come. Just last month, Heitkamp urged Republican and Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives and the Senate negotiating the final version of the ESSA to protect the provisions she fought for and successfully included in the Senate bill that passed in July. Her work promoted equal access to educational opportunities for all students, including those living in tribal and rural communities, as well as support programs that prepare educators to help their students fight the unique challenges they face. Specifically, Heitkamps provisions that she worked to include in the final bill would: Address and prevent human trafficking in schools. Heitkamps provision would help improve school climates and make sure teachers have the training they need to provide trauma-informed teaching as well as prevent violence and suicide, and raise awareness to prevent human trafficking of children in schools. Without Heitkamps work to include anti-trafficking provisions, such resources would not have been specifically addressed in the education bill. Improve Native student academic achievement. Heitkamp pushed to support programs aimed at strengthening the role of tribes and tribal organizations to better reflect the needs of Native students. She also supported a policy to strengthen coordination among tribes and states as well as help retain good educators serving in schools on tribal lands, so they can boost academic success among Native youth. Protect and strengthen Native languages and cultures. Building on her work to reauthorize legislation to help preserve often endangered Native languages, Heitkamp encouraged Congressional leaders to protect the measures cultural language enrichment and immersion programs that boost pride and morale in Native communities as well as improve students academic performance and attendance. Support learning opportunities for the youngest, disadvantaged, and at-risk youth. Heitkamp supported and achieved more access to federal funding in todays legislation for quality early education programs. She also successfully pushed to boost after-school programming for children, including vulnerable and at-risk youth, through programs that support North Dakotas 21st Century Learning Centers. Provide Flexibility and Improved Access to Education Resources for Students in Rural, Tribal and Military Communities: Heitkamp has called for resources and successfully pushed to ease access to federal funding to school districts, such as updates to the Impact Aid program which is used to help fund school construction as well as provide basic education support to children in schools on or near federal land like the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation or military bases in Grand Forks and Minot. Heitkamp also worked with her colleagues to make sure North Dakota and other states have more control as well as the flexibility to streamline testing in the communities they know best something that has been a priority for many North Dakota educators. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=58ae396a-7960-4588-b251-8f84c058dea0,"Heitkamp Meets with Top Air Force Officials at Pentagon, Emphasizes Grand Forks as Base of the Future",2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today underscored the importance of continued and strengthened partnerships that support the growth of Grand Forks Air Force Base as a nationwide leader in critical national security missions, as well as a model for local and private partnerships during a meeting with top U.S. Air Force officials. During a meeting at the Pentagon, Heitkamp met with Grand Forks Base Realignment Impact Committee (BRIC) representatives, as well as Miranda Ballentine, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment, and Energy, and Jennifer Miller, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, and U.S. Senator John Hoeven. Heitkamp, a co-founder of the Senate Defense Communities Caucus, discussed the need to continue momentum at Grand Forks Air Force Base for community partnership initiatives collaborations which have resulted in Grand Forks County and the base successfully sharing services from training to fire control and have been highly cost effective.Heitkamp also thanked the U.S. Air Force for its collaboration with the Grand Forks community and private companies that has helped make Grand Forks a global hub of cutting-edge unmanned aerial systems (UAS) innovation. In addition to todays meeting, Heitkamp also met yesterday with the Grand Forks BRIC officials in her office. Today I had the opportunity to discuss with top Air Force officials how Grand Forks is quickly paving the way for the rest of the country as an innovator in the thriving UAS sector, as well as a model for community and private investment in our critical defense communities, said Heitkamp. Through exemplary cost-saving measures that have allowed the Grand Forks community to benefit from sharing services and resources with the base from emergency response to pest control the Air Force Base continues to be a treasured and integral part of the Grand Forks community. In addition, the first-of-its-kind UAS business being developed at Grand Sky has attracted long-term investments in our area from technological giants like Northrop Grumman and General Atomics. Its absolutely critical that we build on this momentum, which is why Ive successfully pushed the FAA to help open up greater UAS testing that will get the technology up and running for farmers and energy utilities across the country, and its why Ill keep working with the Air Force to provide the support Grand Forks needs to lead the country in UAS development. Long an advocate for public-private partnerships such as the Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) that paved the way for Grand Sky opening as the first UAS business park of its kind in the nation, Heitkamp met with Assistant Secretary Ballentine in January about the importance of Grand Sky for both the Air Force and North Dakota. Heitkamp also helped secure the Federal Aviation Administrations (FAA) approval of additional authority for North Dakota to provide airspace and flexibility for the Northern Plains UAS Test Site by personally calling on the head of the FAA to do so. Just two months later, the FAA heeded her request, helping North Dakota draw more private industry partnerships. A cofounder of the Senate Defense Communities Caucus, Heitkamp continues to work to encourage the safe commercial use of UAS, introducing bipartisan legislation in February to remove undue red-tape for UAS research, open the door to more private investments, and save taxpayers money. Heitkamp has consistently worked to clear the way for UAS technology development, investment, and partnerships in North Dakota by: Successfully removing barriers to UAS technology development and investments. Heitkamp successfully pressed FAA Administrator Michael Huerta for results on his agencys efforts to improve the integration of UAS into the nations airspace, urging his agency last November to avoid delays that could hinder the growth of the industry. Just three months later, the FAA heeded her call announcing the UAS rule proposals she had asked for. Advancing in-state UAS technology development through FAA partnerships. After announcing in December 2013 the FAAs selection of Grand Forks as a one of six official UAS Test Sites, Heitkamp brought FAA Administrator Michael Huerta to North Dakota in April 2014 to see firsthand the states unmanned aerial potential, and he announced the Northern Plains Test Site was the first UAS test site to be officially up-and-running. Delivering results to strengthen public-private partnerships on UAS test sites. In November 2014, Heitkamp discussed efforts to finalize the Grand Sky project during a meeting with Grand Forks Base Realignment Impact Committee (BRIC) representatives. Heitkamp also pushed Air Force and Northrop Grumman leaders in several meetings on the positive impact that a fully-functioning Grand Sky business park would have for the Air Force and the private sector. In a July 2014 meeting, Heitkamp and then-Commander Colonel Paul Baumandiscussed the best strategies for completing the EUL approval process and creating a plan for its successful management. In October, Heitkamp met with current Commander Colonel Rodney Lewis and discussed ways to support development at Grand Sky. That same month, Heitkamp highlighted the need for the continued encouragement of public-private partnerships at Northrop Grummans groundbreaking at Grand Sky that made the company the first official tenant of the business and aviation park. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/2015/12/09/hoeven-continues-work-on-grand-forks-afb-priorities,Hoeven Continues Work on Grand Forks AFB Priorities,2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.09.15 Hoeven Continues Work on Grand Forks AFB Priorities Air Force to Start Process Next Year to Select Next Base for the KC-46 Mission, Grand Forks in the Running WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven and members of the Grand Forks Base Realignment Impact Committee (BRIC) today met with top Air Force officials to further advance the region's leadership as a premier hub for unmanned aerial system (UAS) and to further initiatives important to Grand Forks Air Force Base. Specifically, Hoeven said the Air Force will start the process in 2016 for selecting a base the KC-46 Aerial Refueling Tanker; Grand Forks is in the running for the mission. The group also pushed for a lead role for Grand Forks Air Force Base in supporting the Arctic mission. Hoeven and the BRIC members met at the Pentagon with Miranda Ballentine, the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Energy, and Jennifer Miller, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Installations, and Senator Heidi Heitkamp. This is an era of innovation and growth for Grand Forks Air Force Base and the entire region, Hoeven said. The BRIC team has done an outstanding job of supporting the base and the community. Now with Northrop Grumman and General Atomics at Grand Sky, we are advancing our state's leadership in unmanned aerial systems. We continue working to strengthen and expand the base and its missions. KC-46 Aerial Refueling Tanker Hoeven and the BRIC again cited GFAFB's strategic northern location as an advantage in a possible future tanker mission at Grand Forks. Following Hoeven's efforts to promote GFAFB in 2012, the Air Force identified the base as a finalist for a new tanker mission and indicated it would receive strong consideration in future base selections for the new KC-46 aerial refueling tanker. Hoeven said that the tanker would be a big win for the base. Arctic Initiative The Arctic initiative Hoeven started with BRIC last year now is in front of Air Force officials. In October 2014, Hoeven and BRIC members visited Northern Command in Colorado to understand the U.S. military's development of its strategy to secure and defend American interests in the Arctic. The need for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in that region strongly underscores the needs for capabilities like the Global Hawk. The position of Grand Forks as a northern tier base reinforces the base's relevance to emerging Arctic missions. BRIC highlighted the Arctic with Miller as a first step in working with the Air Force to position the base to meet future Arctic requirements. Grand Sky Technology Park BRIC reviewed with Ballentine and Miller the current status of Grand Sky technology park, including updates on the Joint Use Agreement that allows the park to access the base runway. They also highlighted prospects for new tenants at the park and progress made to accommodate Northrop Grumman and General Atomics that have already committed to be at Grand Sky. Hoeven has led the effort to help Grand Forks County secure an enhanced use lease (EUL) with the U.S. Air Force for the development of Grand Sky, a cutting-edge UAS technology and business park the county is building on approximately 217 acres at Grand Forks Air Force Base. Securing an anchor tenant for the park was key to the project. In 2012, Hoeven brought senior Northrop Grumman officials, including Tom Vice, Northrop Grumman's Corporate VP and President of Aerospace Systems, to Grand Forks to see firsthand the tremendous synergies that are developing between BRIC, UND, the UND Aerospace Foundation and Northland Aerospace Foundation. As a result, Northrop Grumman, one of the world's premier aerospace and defense technology companies, committed to be the park's first tenant. Northrop Grumman makes the RQ-4 Global Hawk, which is operated by the Air Combat Command unit at GFAFB. In September, following several meetings with key company leaders, Hoeven announced that General Atomics, which manufactures the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper, would come to Grand Sky to construct a training academy for UAS pilots. Hoeven continues to work with the Air Force to allow U.S. Air Force pilots to receive training via General Atomics as a way of filling the existing shortfall of qualified pilots needed to meet the demands of U.S. commanders overseas for unmanned aircraft capabilities. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-announces-nearly-11-million-grant-for-head-start-early-head-start-at-cankdeska-cikana-community-college,"Hoeven Announces Nearly $1.1 Million Grant for Head Start, Early Head Start at Cankdeska Cikana Community College",2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.09.15 Hoeven Announces Nearly $1.1 Million Grant for Head Start, Early Head Start at Cankdeska Cikana Community College WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded nearly $1.1 million to Cankdeska Cikana Community College (CCCC) to support its Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Today's award is a continuation of CCCC's five-year project, which began in 2014 and serves the Spirit Lake Tribe. The well-being of children is a vital component of healthy and successful communities, said Hoeven. Today's award will support continued education, health and nutrition services for children and families in the Spirit Lake community and will lay a strong foundation for their future success. Today's funds come in addition to a $3.1 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which Hoeven announced last month. The loan supports the construction of a new, centrally-located Head start facility at CCCC, which will serve up to 184 children in the Spirit Lake community, ages 0 to 5. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-congress-passes-education-bill-restoring-local-control-bolstering-stem-education,"Hoeven: Congress Passes Education Bill Restoring Local Control, Bolstering STEM Education",2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.09.15 Hoeven: Congress Passes Education Bill Restoring Local Control, Bolstering STEM Education WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today announced that Congress has passed the Every Student Succeeds Act, education authorization legislation to replace the No Child Left Behind Act. The bill restores state and local control over education standards and makes important reforms to replace one-size-fits-all accountability requirements with state-designed systems. The legislation also prevents federal mandates, including Common Core. The bill was approved in the Senate by a strong, bipartisan vote of 85-12. The Every Student Succeeds Act makes important reforms and helps to put parents, teachers, principals and local school districts back in control of our education system. This legislation takes the right approach in that it pushes both control and funding down to the state and local level rather than a federal one-size-fits-all approach and it ends the Common Core mandate, said Hoeven. Additionally, the bill includes support for STEM education, which we pushed for, and other initiatives to ensure that our students have the skills and education they need to be competitive today and into the future. The Every Student Succeeds Act reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and allows states and school districts to develop their own educational accountability plans. The legislation restores state control over education standards and prevents the federal government from mandating or incentivizing academic standards, including Common Core. Additionally, the bill includes a provision based on legislation offered by Senators Hoeven and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) to bolster Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. Specifically, the measure improves students' access to STEM education by allowing states to award funding to create or enhance a STEM-focused specialty school or a STEM program within a school. The Every Student Succeeds Act includes initiatives important for North Dakota students and schools including: Provides school districts greater flexibility to develop their own education plans and transfer program funds based upon each school's needs. Includes new provisions to allow multiple rural school districts to consolidate the applications submitted to states for federal grant funding and ensures that rural school districts are able to compete for funding at the same level as more populated school districts that have more staff. Continues rural education programs to support high-poverty rural school districts and schools that have traditionally received a smaller portion of federal funding for education programs. Strengthens Impact Aid program to better support school districts located near, or serving students from, military bases, federal lands, and Indian reservations, for the loss of local property taxes due to the presence of the federal government. Streamlines Native American education grant programs and continues support for native language restoration programs, culturally related activities, early childhood and family programs, as well as services to increase student achievement and parental involvement. Consolidates a total of 49 federal education programs and requires the Education Department to identify full-time equivalent positions who worked on those consolidated programs and reduce the workforce by that amount. Outlines specific procedures the U.S. Education Secretary must follow when issuing federal regulations and requires greater transparency and accountability over the development of new rules affecting K-12 schools. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-house-approves-hr-158-visa-waiver-improvement-and-terrorist,Cramer - House Approves H.R. 158 Visa Waiver Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015,2015-12-08,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,cramer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman Kevin Cramer announced the House of Representatives passed H.R. 158 Visa Waiver Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015. The bill addresses the vulnerabilities in the Visa Waiver Program by requiring participating countries to provide counterterrorism information and other critical intelligence, identifying and allowing for the suspension of high-risk countries, and denying Visa Waiver Program (VWP) status for those who have traveled to terrorist hotspots, like Iraq and Syria, since 2011. Congressman Cramer is a co-sponsor of the legislation. Established in 1986, the VWP allows more than 20 million people annually from 38 participating countries to more easily travel to the United States for a period of up to 90 days. Instead of going to a U.S. consulate or embassy, citizens of participating countries must provide detailed background information which is then screened against U.S. security databases. (Below is a list and map of the 38 nations participating in the VWP program). The Visa Waiver Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015 fixes vulnerabilities in the visa program by giving the Secretary of Homeland Security the authority to suspend a countrys participation in the program if it fails to share counterterrorism information with the U.S.; denies Visa Waiver Program status to those citizens from participating countries that have traveled to certain terrorist hotspots since 2011; requires all Visa Waiver Program countries use fraud resistant e-passports; and allows for the suspension of high-risk countries. Passage of this bill is a good start, but more needs to be done to ensure our nation is safe from terrorist attack, said Cramer. Reform of the Visa Waiver Program is essential to securing our nations borders. We have learned thousands of terrorists have left Europe and gone to fight for ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The estimated number is 5,000 and most of them come from Visa Waver Program countries where they get a 90-day pass to go to another country in Europe or enter the United States and possibly commit terrorist acts. This is an unacceptable risk for the safety and security of the United States. Summary of H.R. 158 Visa Waiver Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015 Denying VWP status to individuals who have connections to terrorist hotspots VWP country citizens with ties to terrorist hotspots such as Iraq and Syria pose an increased risk if allowed to enter the United States. H.R. 158 denies VWP travel to travelers who are nationals ofor have visited during the past five yearsIraq, Syria, and other countries with significant terrorist activity. Instead, these travelers are required to seek a visa for entry into the United States through a more stringent process. Demanding strong intelligence and law enforcement information sharing When VWP countries fail to share counterterrorism information with the United States, it puts our security at risk. H.R. 158 requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to terminate a country from the program if the country does not share such dataand doesnt allow the country back into the VWP until it complies with the program requirements. Such authority will improve information sharing and help the U.S. better identify potential terrorists and foreign fighters. Enhancing screening of all travelers in VWP countries Ensures all travelers are thoroughly screened well before they attempt to travel the U.S. H.R. 158 requires all VWP countries to check travelers against INTERPOL databases, in order to determine whether the traveler is wanted by law enforcement agencies based on ties to terrorism or criminal activity. Better screening against INTERPOL databases will close a glaring gap in the global travel system. Preventing extremists from using fraudulent documents to evade detection Secure documents make it harder for extremists to falsify their identities. H.R. 158 requires all VWP countries to issue to their citizens fraud-resistant e-passports, containing biometric information and requires countries to be able to confirm that such documents are legitimate when they are scanned. Terrorists have used lost and stolen travel documents to cross international borders. H.R. 158 forces all VWP countries to submit lost and stolen passport information to INTERPOLs stolen and lost travel document database and to notify INTERPOL within 24 hours when their citizens passports go missing. Increasing threat monitoring of VWP countries The threat environment can change quickly, which is why we need regular reviews of security in VWP countries. H.R. 158 requires top U.S. security agencies to conduct more frequent intelligence and threat assessments of VWP countries to determine whether they pose a high risk to the national security of United States. If a VWP country is designated as high risk, they can be suspended from the program. Taking steps to ensure VWP travelers do not falsify their background information Background checks on VWP travelers must be accurate. H.R. 158 requires DHS to take steps to better detect false information, improve the validation of data supplied by travelers, and add new data fields to enhance checks on each traveler. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=bd1d6730-eb4f-4313-a898-d1dc3c08a214,Hoeven: Howard Dahl Honored by Kazakhstan for 25 Years of Service to the Country,2015-12-08,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.08.15 Hoeven: Howard Dahl Honored by Kazakhstan for 25 Years of Service to the Country Senator Highlights ND Trade Opportunities at Kazakhstan-U.S. Convention WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today congratulated Howard Dahl, who was honored by the country of Kazakhstan for doing business in the nation for 25 years. Dahl, the President and CEO of Amity Technology and Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan in North Dakota, was presented with the medal during the 3rd Annual Kazakhstan-U.S. Convention in Washington, D.C. Hoeven spoke at the event to honor Dahl and highlight the important trade relationship between North Dakota and Kazakhstan. Howard Dahl has been a tremendous ambassador for North Dakota and this award is a fitting recognition of his work over the past 25 years to bring much needed products and services to the people of Kazakhstan, said Hoeven. The people of North Dakota and Kazakhstan have benefited greatly from our partnerships. Together, we have tremendous opportunities for trade that will grow both our economies. Hoeven highlighted trade opportunities between North Dakota and Kazakhstan. As governor of North Dakota, Hoeven worked with state and government leaders to establish the North Dakota Trade Office in 2004 in an effort to promote global trade relationships. In the years since, Kazakhstan has become a valuable trade partner. Hoeven cited the flying anguses as one example of the opportunities from this partnership. In 2010, two North Dakota cattle producers loaded a Boeing 747 with livestock bound for Kazakhstan to improve the genetics of Kazakh herds. About 170 pregnant cows and heifers weighing more than 80 tons were loaded in metal crates at the Fargo airport and shipped by air freighter to Astana, Kazakhstan. The Angus and Hereford cattle were bred to withstand a North Dakota winter, which made them well-suited for the climate in Kazakhstan. With oil and other natural resources, Hoeven said that Kazakhstan has great potential for foreign investment not only in agriculture, but also in energy, minerals, transportation and communication infrastructure. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=e316559b-2fcc-45ca-9a2e-062d89566b76,"Heitkamp, Whitehouse Urge U.S. Negotiators in Paris to Include Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage in Climate Negotiations",2015-12-08,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today pressed U.S. negotiators to include carbon capture and utilization in any final agreement reached at the United Nations climate talks in Paris, which will conclude this week. The Senators called on Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, American negotiators at the conference, to work with global partners and commit to proving out carbon capture utilization and storage technology. The technology could help the U.S. and world maintain a diverse energy mix that includes traditional energy sources, while still reducing national and global carbon emissions. We absolutely need coal a reliable and redundant fuel in our energy mix. But without research and development, its less likely that clean coal technology will take off. This technology promises to reduce carbon emissions without leaving behind reliable, affordable fuels like coal and natural gas, said Heitkamp. While Ill keep pushing for my legislation supporting the development of clean coal technology, we are now asking Secretaries Kerry and Moniz to commit to include carbon capture utilization and storage at the Paris talks. Support for this vital emerging technology should be included in any global climate agreement. Click here to read the letter Heitkamp and Whitehouse sent pressing Kerry and Moniz. Coal and natural gas are reliable and redundant sources of baseload power. Carbon capture utilization and storage has the potential to make those traditional fuels cleaner sources of power, by keeping their carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere. However, the technology will not become viable without a commitment to the concept and technology, as well as robust funding in research and development in the U.S. and around the world.Prominent energy experts have identified the importance of carbon capture utilization and storage. Heitkamp has led efforts in the U.S. Senate to maintain a diverse energy mix in the U.S. and to make sure North Dakota can continue providing families and businesses with affordable, reliable electricity using coal, which provides about 80 percent of North Dakotas electricity. Her efforts include pushing back against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules impacting coal-fired power plants. A steadfast proponent of a national all-of-the-above energy strategy for North Dakota and the U.S., Heitkamp has long been a champion of North Dakotas diverse energy sector. Her work to find a realistic path forward for coal builds on her more than a decade of experience on the board of directors of Dakota Gasification, the one-of-a-kind synfuels plant in Beulah, N.D. During her service on North Dakotas Tax Commissioner, on the North Dakota Industrial Commission, and as the states Attorney General, Heitkamp was able to work on viable solutions to make sure coal remains a strong part of the North Dakotas energy mix. Since joining the Senate, Heitkamp has been committed to finding a realistic avenue for clean coal by: Introducing major legislation in 2013 and again this year to put coal on a viable path forward.Heitkampsbill which she introduced in 2013 and again this Congress -- would incentivize companies to invest in technologies that reduce the carbon footprint of coal-fired power. This is done through federal funding programs, federal support for private investment, and recommendations to Congress that provide insight on how best to support future CCS projects in the U.S. Then in May, Heitkamp and Senator Joe Manchin from West Virginia introduced a series of billsto make sure coal remains a key part of Americas energy mix, which incorporated Heitkamps initial legislation. Bringing EPA Administrator to North Dakota to talk about coal.Heitkamp has made it clear to the Administration and EPA that she disagrees with the agencys policies regarding coal-fired power. After pressing EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, Heitkampbrought McCarthyto North Dakota in February of 2014 so she could hear about the impacts of EPA regulations directly from North Dakotans.Heitkamp has alsobrought U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Monizto North Dakota in March 2014 to push the U.S. Department of Energy for more investment in clean coal technology. Working closely with U.S. Energy Department (DOE) officials on finding a path forward for coal.Heitkamp has met with numerous top officials from DOE about the need to find a path forward for coal, includingEnergy Secretary MonizandJulio Friedmann, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Clean Coal at the DOE. They both participated in clean coal symposiums at Heitkamps request, and she will continue to press both of them on the issue. Convening industry, lawmakers, and academics to discuss a viable path forward for coal.Heitkamp co-hosted a Coal Technology Symposiumon Capitol Hill last year that brought together industry, lawmakers, experts and academics including the Energy and Environmental Research Center from Grand Forks to discuss the importance of finding a viable path forward for coal. To a crowded room, Heitkamp laid out why it is so important for our nation to put in place realistic energy policies and discussed the vital role coal plays in providing affordable energy in North Dakota and around the country.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-howard-dahl-honored-by-kazakhstan-for-25-years-of-service-to-the-country,Hoeven: Howard Dahl Honored by Kazakhstan for 25 Years of Service to the Country,2015-12-08,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.08.15 Hoeven: Howard Dahl Honored by Kazakhstan for 25 Years of Service to the Country Senator Highlights ND Trade Opportunities at Kazakhstan-U.S. Convention WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today congratulated Howard Dahl, who was honored by the country of Kazakhstan for doing business in the nation for 25 years. Dahl, the President and CEO of Amity Technology and Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan in North Dakota, was presented with the medal during the 3rd Annual Kazakhstan-U.S. Convention in Washington, D.C. Hoeven spoke at the event to honor Dahl and highlight the important trade relationship between North Dakota and Kazakhstan. Howard Dahl has been a tremendous ambassador for North Dakota and this award is a fitting recognition of his work over the past 25 years to bring much needed products and services to the people of Kazakhstan, said Hoeven. The people of North Dakota and Kazakhstan have benefited greatly from our partnerships. Together, we have tremendous opportunities for trade that will grow both our economies. Hoeven highlighted trade opportunities between North Dakota and Kazakhstan. As governor of North Dakota, Hoeven worked with state and government leaders to establish the North Dakota Trade Office in 2004 in an effort to promote global trade relationships. In the years since, Kazakhstan has become a valuable trade partner. Hoeven cited the flying anguses as one example of the opportunities from this partnership. In 2010, two North Dakota cattle producers loaded a Boeing 747 with livestock bound for Kazakhstan to improve the genetics of Kazakh herds. About 170 pregnant cows and heifers weighing more than 80 tons were loaded in metal crates at the Fargo airport and shipped by air freighter to Astana, Kazakhstan. The Angus and Hereford cattle were bred to withstand a North Dakota winter, which made them well-suited for the climate in Kazakhstan. With oil and other natural resources, Hoeven said that Kazakhstan has great potential for foreign investment not only in agriculture, but also in energy, minerals, transportation and communication infrastructure. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-statement-on-wtos-ruling-of-1-billion-retaliatory-tariffs-to-us,Cramer Statement on WTO's Ruling of $1 Billion Retaliatory Tariffs to US COOL Law,2015-12-07,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,cramer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman Kevin Cramer released the following statement today after the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled Canada and Mexico may impose retaliatory tariffs of up to $782 million and $227.76 million respectively on imported U.S. products to recoup damages caused by U.S. country-of-origin labeling (COOL)rules for meat. The imposition of the tariffs comes after the WTO ruled for the fourth time earlier this year the COOL law violates international trade obligations. ""If it wasn't already obvious, this decision by the WTO to allow Canada and Mexico to levy $1 billion of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. producers and small businesses should serve as the ultimate reality check, said Cramer. I hope the U.S. Senate acts quickly to pass H.R. 2393, the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) Amendments Act and help prevent these and future tariffs from being imposed."" The bill passed by the House in June repeals existing requirements for retailers of beef, pork, and chicken, at the final point of sale. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=0896e745-07f3-48e6-817b-198ec6de9899,Heitkamp Statement on World Trade Organization Country of Origin Labeling Decision,2015-12-07,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today issued the following statement after a World Trade Organization (WTO) arbitration panel found that the U.S. Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) law warrants $1.01 billion in retaliatory tariffs from Canada and Mexico. When families across the country sit down at the dinner table each night, they want to know where the meat theyre eating comes from, said Heitkamp. WTOs ruling today signals that we need a compromise one that maintains country of origin labels, while still complying with trade obligations. Labeling is critical for U.S. consumers and ranchers. Thats why Ill keep pushing for a voluntary solution, like the bipartisan compromise bill I helped introduce in July, to allow labeling and protect the integrity of product of the U.S. labels. In May, the WTO Appellate Body found that COOL does not comply with U.S. international trade commitments. To find a path forward for COOL, Heitkamp worked with Senators John Hoeven (R-ND), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John Thune (R-SD), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Mike Enzi (R-WY) to introduce bipartisan, compromise legislation in July to make sure families across North Dakota know where the food on their table comes from. The Voluntary Country of Origin Labeling Act of 2015 would enable American consumers to know where the meat they buy was born, raised, and processed. It also protects the integrity of the product of the U.S. label by requiring meat products with the label to adhere to the highest standard of being born, raised, and processed within the United States. A member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Heitkamp has been vocal in supporting COOL. Heitkamp beat back efforts to repeal COOL when she helped write, negotiate, and pass into law the 2014 Farm Bill. Last October, Heitkamp joined a group of bipartisan Senatorsurging the Senate Appropriations Committee to reject efforts to weaken or suspend COOLin any future appropriations bills or continuing resolutions. In February 2013, Heitkamp helped lead a bipartisan group of Senators incalling on USTR and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make sure updated COOL rules still enabled consumers to know the origin of their food.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=4c1a2091-c077-4504-ab6a-d0f21251accc,Heitkamp & Bipartisan Group of Senators Press House to Vote on & Pass Bill to Combat Drug Trafficking,2015-12-07,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bipartisan Bill Unanimously Passed the Senate in October the Third Time the Bill has Passed in the Senate FARGO, N.D. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp pressed leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives to quickly vote on and pass bipartisan legislation to combat drug trafficking an increasingly dangerous challenge in North Dakotas communities as drug use and abuse have reached crisis levels. The legislation aims to prosecute foreign drug traffickers whose products have often ended up in North Dakota who attempt to hide behind loopholes in our drug crime laws. Through this effort, Heitkamp is continuing her long fight to stymie the flow of illegal drugs smuggled from foreign countries, an issue that has ballooned in the Minot region with heroin and methamphetamine use growing by 400 and 438 percent over the past year and across North Dakota with a significant increase of these two drugs moving into the state from Mexico and other countries. The Senate unanimously passed the bipartisan bill in October with Heitkamps strong support, marking the third time the Senate passed the bill without action in the House. All of us want our kids to grow up in safe communities without fear of drug crime or abuse, said Heitkamp. But in Minot, as well as communities across North Dakota, heroin and methamphetamine use have grown to epidemic levels in large part because of drug trafficking, ballooning by 400 percent or more this past year. Our bipartisan bill to crack down on drug trafficking and traffickers has passed three times in the Senate in each of the last three Congresses, but the House has yet to bring it up for a vote. Its past time for responsible action in the House to vote on this bill so we can give law enforcement more tools to prosecute and punish foreign traffickers seeking to bring illegal substances into our communities, and target criminals before they reach our borders. Together with nine Republican and Democratic senators, Heitkamp urged leaders of the Judiciary Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives to mark up and pass the Senate-passed bipartisan Transnational Drug Trafficking Act of 2015 which she helped introduce so that it can be sent to the House floor for approval. The bill is designed to help the U.S. Department of Justice successfully prosecute foreign drug traffickers who concoct or transport substances they believe will be used to sell illegal narcotics in the United States. Click here to read the letter urging the House to vote on the Transnational Drug Trafficking Act. In addition to Heitkamp, the letter was signed by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tom Udall (D-NM), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH). Currently, traffickers from East Asia and South and Central America frequently use Mexican drug trafficking organizations as intermediaries to transport illegal narcotics into the United States leaving the point of origin drug traffickers several steps removed from the direct importation of either their precursor chemicals or the drugs produced from those chemicals. Heitkamps Transnational Drug Trafficking Act which unanimously passed in the Senate in October and in December 2014, but was not brought up for a vote in the House before the end of the last session of Congress seeks to change that by: Making sure that international drug traffickers can be prosecuted when there is reasonable cause to believe that drugs will be trafficked into the United States. Imposing penalties on individuals who manufacture or distribute precursor chemicals, including pseudoephedrine, knowing that the chemicals will be used to make drugs or other controlled substances destined for the United States. Since serving as North Dakotas Attorney General, Heitkamp has played a leading role in supporting and protecting North Dakota communities, by: Engaging statewide community in collective fight against drug crime and abuse: This fall, Heitkamp hosted a Strong & Safe Communities Summit with 150 statewide leaders where they discussed ways to combat growing instances of drug crime, particularly in western North Dakota. In September 2014, Heitkamp launched Strong & Safe Communities Initiative, which aims to raise awareness about and find long-term solutions to emerging challenges facing North Dakota, like the increase in drug crime, to make sure North Dakota communities are strong and families are safe in their homes. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=1798173e-806e-470a-9fe7-4b850c552564,Hoeven: Congress Passes Five-Year Highway Bill; Measure Includes More Than $1.3 Billion for N.D. Infrastructure,2015-12-04,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.04.15 Hoeven: Congress Passes Five-Year Highway Bill; Measure Includes More Than $1.3 Billion for N.D. Infrastructure Measure Also Restores $3 Billion Cut in Crop Insurance Made in Budget Agreement WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today announced that the new five-year highway bill that Congress approved today will provide North Dakota with more than $1.3 billion and enable more than 100 North Dakota transportation projects to advance. The formula is favorable to North Dakota and increases annual highway funding for the state to $263 million, about $23 million a year more than it currently receives. The bill also provides a total of $76 million over five years for transit projects in North Dakota. The Fixing Americas Surface Transportation Act (FAST) Act reauthorizes the nations transportation programs for five years.The bill provides $305 billion in contract authority for the 2015 to 2020 period. The measure is fully paid for and makes up for a lack of highway trust fund revenues by adding about $70 billion in offsets. These investments will create new jobs, provide a sustained boost to our nations economy and help keep America and North Dakota competitive in the global marketplace, Hoeven said. The total highway formula funding for North Dakota over five years would be more than $1.3 billion, excluding additional transit and transportation safety funding. It will make possible more than a hundred transportation projects across North Dakota that were formerly at risk, and importantly, it does so without raising taxes or increasing the deficit. The bill also includes Hoevens Driver Privacy Act, legislation that establishes in law that the owner of a vehicle is also the owner of any information collected by an Event Data Recorder (EDR). Hoeven was joined on the legislation by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). Hoeven also teamed with Klobuchar to pass theDistracted Driving Act, bipartisan legislation that will help more states access a federal distracted driving grant program. Importantly for farmers and ranchers in North Dakota and across the nation, the bill restores $3 billion that was cut from crop insurance in the budget agreement forged in October. Hoeven worked as a member of the Agriculture Committee to reverse efforts to further cut crop insurance funding, which has already been reduced by $12 billion since 2008. FAST Act Highlights for North Dakota: Increases Transportation Funding for North Dakota by maintaining the federal aid highway formula structure and increasing the amount each state will receive every year: North Dakota will receive an average of $263 million a year in highway formula funding over five years, an average of $23 million more than the state receives today. Makes completing transportation projects easier by making National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) reforms, cutting red tape. Provides five years of increased funding, giving state and local governments the certainty and stability they need to improve and develop our nations transportation infrastructure. Increases Transit Funding to North Dakota by approximately $1 million a year, from more than $14 million in the first year to more than $17 million by the fifth year. Overall, the bill increases public transportation funding nearly $1.3 billion over MAP-21 levels. Improves Safety: The bills safety and regulatory title makes important enhancements for safer highways as well as freight and passenger rail service through effective implementation of new technologies, new tools for federal safety watchdog agencies, reforming grant programs for states and transparency that promotes accountability. Freight Program: Establishes a Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects program that includes a rural set-aside within this $4.5 billion discretionary grant program designed to improve safety and efficiency of the movement of freight and people, reduce highway congestion and bottlenecks, and generate economic growth. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=b6b6f9da-7e03-4001-b7c8-b8ab6e71a4cb,"Hoeven Statement on the Senate Repealing Obamacare, Defunding Planned Parenthood",2015-12-04,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.04.15 Hoeven Statement on the Senate Repealing Obamacare, Defunding Planned Parenthood Budget Reconciliation Bill Takes Step toward Repealing, Replacing Obamacare WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement in response to Senate passage of a budget reconciliation bill that repeals Obamacare and defunds Planned Parenthood. The Senate today repealed Obamacare and eliminated more than a trillion dollars in taxes created by the law, including taxes on some benefit plans and the tax on medical devices. The bill also reduces the deficit by almost $400 billion over the next ten years. This is the first step in replacing Obamacare with a step-by-step approach that restores choice and competition to the health insurance market. That step-by-step approach includes combining high deductible policies with health savings accounts, allowing businesses to pool their employees to get discounted premium rates, allowing insurers to compete across state lines and maintaining state high risk pools for people who have difficulty accessing affordable insurance. The measure also extends the Medicaid expansion under Obamacare for a two-year period so that people do not lose their health care insurance until a suitable replacement can be put into place for them. In addition, the measure defunds Planned Parenthood, the nations largest abortion provider, and transfers responsibility for womens health care services to local community health centers. There is no Planned Parenthood facility in North Dakota, but there are 16 community health centers located across the state, which means women will have broader access to quality care. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=d924e024-1635-4bc7-abf3-3908f77af4a3,"Senate Passes National Bison Legacy Act Making Bison National Mammal; Hoeven Challenges Daines to Wager on Bison, Grizzlies Game",2015-12-04,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.04.15 Senate Passes National Bison Legacy Act Making Bison National Mammal; Hoeven Challenges Daines to Wager on Bison, Grizzlies Game WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today announced that the United States Senate unanimously passed the National Bison Legacy Act, legislation he introduced with Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) that designates the American bison as the national mammal of the United States. The National Bison Legacy Act recognizes the historical, cultural and economic significance of the bison, which is the largest land mammal in America. Many Native American tribes revere the bison as a sacred and spiritual symbol of their heritage. The bison, like the bald eagle, has for many years been a symbol of America for its strength, endurance and dignity, reflecting the pioneer spirit of America, Hoeven said. It makes sense for this noble animal to serve as our national mammal. The National Bison Legacy Act recognizes the important cultural and economic role the bison has played in our history, in North Dakota and across our nation. More than 40 million bison once roamed across most of North America. But by the late 1800s, fewer than one thousand bison remained. The species is acknowledged as the first American conservation success story, having been brought back from the brink of extinction by a concerted effort of ranchers, conservationists and politicians to save the species in the early 20th century. In 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt and the American Bison Society led an effort to save bison from extinction by establishing a captive breeding program at the Bronx Zoo. Within a few years, the program and others like it were successfully establishing bison back into its native habitat. Bison now live in all 50 states in public and private herds, providing recreation opportunities for wildlife viewers in zoos, refuges and parks, and sustaining the multimillion dollar bison ranching and production business. Bison vs. Grizzlies Wager Hoeven said the strong, noble character of the bison make it a perfect team name for NDSU, especially its celebrated football team. For Saturdays game, Hoeven offered Dakota Growers pasta made from the best durum wheat in the world, while Daines has offered up a six pack of Moose Drool Beer from Montanas Big Sky Brewing Co. The Bison won a historic fourth straight national title last year, and theyre looking to make it five-in-a-row, Hoeven said. Im looking forward to enjoying some authentic Moose Drool Beer from Senator Daines when the Thundering Herd rolls over the Grizzlies on Saturday. Go Bison! Every Montanan knows that a bison is no match for a grizzly bear Im confident that Saturdays game will be no exception,Daines stated.I look forward to cheering on the Griz to victory this weekend and enjoying a nice celebration dinner of Dakota Growers pasta following the game. The game will take place at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome in Fargo on Saturday, December 5 at 2:30 p.m. CDT and will be broadcast on ESPN 3. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=35d447fe-8645-46b4-9eee-273890655d48,"Heitkamp Statement on the Senate & House Passing her Bipartisan Bill to Reauthorize Export-Import Bank, Support North Dakota Businesses & Workers",2015-12-04,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives passed her bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank as part of a long-term transportation bill. For the past 81 years, the Export-Import Bank has helped level the playing field for American entrepreneurs and manufacturers across the country, enabling them to export top-notch American products all over the world and grow jobs here at home, said Heitkamp. But for reckless, political reasons, some in Congress let this critical agency expire even though is supports American workers and has overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress. For the past several months, Ive been fighting to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank and stand up to petty politics that have held hundreds of businesses nationwide hostage. This vote was an important step to show that Congress can work together across the aisle to stand up for American businesses and workers including in Fargo, Garrison, and throughout North Dakota and give them the certainty they need to create, invent and thrive. The Export-Import Bank has become crucial to businesses like Wahpetons near 60-year-old family-owned rubber supply company WCCO Belting, Inc., which CEO Thomas Shorma credits with helping take his company from repairing shoes to repairing tarps for farm trucks, then to new seats for tractors, canvas belting, and wooden slats to providing rubber products used in farm equipment like belts for harvesting grain or producing round bailers, or tube conveyers to move seed and grain that is supplied to major farm equipment companies around the world today. For years, the Export-Import Bank has been critical to helping North Dakota businesses compete internationally and keep jobs here at home thats why its fantastic news that Congress passed Senator Heitkamps bipartisan bill to reauthorize the agency today, said Thomas D. Shorma, CEO/President of WCCO Belting, Inc. in Wahpeton. Without the Export-Import Bank, the business my father started 60 years ago would not have grown into the international farm equipment manufacturing success that it is today and without Senator Heitkamps steadfast work to reauthorize the Bank today, 60 percent of our employees here at home could have been out of work. Its my hope that Congress will continue to promote certainty for small businesses like mine so we can keep growing local economies across the country. Heitkamp has been at the helm of bipartisan efforts to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank since she and Republican Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois introduced their bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank in March. In North Dakota alone, the agency has boosted small businesses like Amity Technology in Fargo and WCCO Belting in Wahpeton and since 2007 has helped support $108 million in exports, as well as 633 jobs across the state. This past summer, 64 Republican and Democratic Senators voted to include the Kirk-Heitkamp bill to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank as an amendment to the long-term transportation legislation which passed in the Senate at the end of July. Unfortunately the House of Representatives did not bring the Senate highway bill up for a vote but Heitkamp continued to push for a path forward for her bill. As a result, the House showed its overwhelming bipartisan support for her legislation by using a rare parliamentary move to force a vote and passed her bill shortly afterward, reinforcing the clear bipartisan consensus in both chambers of Congress to pass Heitkamps legislation to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank. Her bill was then included in the long-term transportation bill Congress negotiated which passed in both chambers.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=45b98241-edd9-464a-ac3d-b00af7cc7f51,"Heitkamp Votes for Long-Term Transportation Bill to Repair, Upgrade NDs Roads & Bridges",2015-12-04,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today issued the following statement after both the Senate and House of Representatives passed a bipartisan, long-term transportation bill that will support repairs and improvements to rails, roads, and bridges in North Dakota and across the country for five years. Heitkamp also helped pass a key fix that will reverse harsh cuts to the federal crop insurance program. As part of the legislation, the Senate and House also included several bipartisan bills Heitkamp introduced and helped pass to cut red tape for farmers, custom harvesters and small banks, as well reauthorize the Export-Import Bank to help promote the continued success of North Dakota small businesses. This long-term bipartisan bill makes needed investments to repair and expand North Dakotas roads and bridges so families can get their kids to school safely and workers can securely travel to and do their jobs, said Heitkamp. Just as our communities need to map out roadway projects for coming construction seasons, I made clear that our farmers deserve the same certainty as they look ahead to the next harvest, and helped successfully reverse deep cuts to their federal crop insurance program in this legislation. Congress must also prioritize the ability of small business, small banks, and agricultural communities to succeed over the long term this legislation includes my commonsense bills to cut red tape for farmers, custom harvesters, community banks and credit unions, and helps small businesses grow by reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank. A North Dakota that is built to last is a North Dakota that plans for the future of all of our communities and families, and we can do that by providing certainty in long-term, bipartisan solutions like we did today. In 2013, 16.4 percent of bridges in North Dakota were structurally deficient. According to an NDSU-Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute study, 54 percent of roads in western North Dakota needed improvements like resurfacing, widening, reconstruction and other maintenance in 2015. Heitkamp has pushed for long-term solutions to promote sustained funding for transportation projects to support North Dakotas rapidly growing population, and enable construction to expand and upgrade roads and bridges. This summer, Heitkamp helped pass a bipartisan long-term transportation bill in the Senate, from which todays bill included several provisions, but the House never brought it up for a vote. And in May, Heitkamp held a discussion in Bismarck where she spoke with community leaders about the importance of building and expanding roads and bridges to improve safety and keep up with the increase of traffic on the roads. Transportation Infrastructure Provisions In the long-term transportation bill passed today by the Senate and the House, Heitkamp successfully pushed for provisions which will support North Dakota by: Keeping North Dakotas Transportation Infrastructure Strong. The bill would authorize steady increases in federal funding to make sure the state can plan for its rapidly expanding communities as the states population grows, repair deficient bridges, and upgrade and expand roads with about $252 million in funding for 2016 and a projected $275 million in 2020. Protecting Crop Insurance Program for Farmers, Families Across Rural America. The bill reverses severe cuts to the crop insurance program from the budget deal. Crop insurance is a critical safety-net program for farmers, which Heitkamp worked to protect and strengthen in the 2014 Farm Bill, and the program has already received $12 billion in cuts since 2008. Heitkamp promised to work to protect cuts to the program in October, and helped fix it in todays bill. Increasing Support from Tribal Transit. The bill includes $30 million in automatic funding for the Tribal Transit Program a U.S. Department of Transportation program which helps support the operation and planning of public transportation on tribal lands an increase over past years which Heitkamp advocated for. Providing Critical Certainty for North Dakota Small Businesses. The bill includes Heitkamps bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank, an 81-year-old federal agency that provides loan guarantees to businesses in North Dakota and across the country. Since May, Heitkamp has been leading the charge in Congress to reauthorize the Bank, which received overwhelming bipartisan support in both chambers. Maintaining Support for Critical Research at NDSU. The bill would include authorization for steady increasesfrom $72.5 million to $77.5 million federal funding to continue needed education and research being done at university transportation centers like NDSUs Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute. Cutting Unnecessary Red-Tape for Farmers, Custom Harvesters & Communities. The bill includes Heitkamps bipartisan Fuel Transport Act to make sure farmers and custom harvesters in North Dakota and across the country are not burdened by a financially restrictive and time-consuming requirement of obtaining hazardous material endorsements to transport 1,000 gallons of diesel or less that they need to do their jobs. The bill also includes the bipartisan Federal Permitting Improvement Act, which Heitkamp helped draft and pass, would streamline the approval process for major infrastructure projects and provide a roadmap for making smaller federal projects like roads, bridges, and buildings across North Dakota shovel ready faster. Replacing Unnecessary Burdens on Farmers, Small Banks with Commonsense Rules. By passing Heitkamps bipartisan Privacy Notice Modernization Act to eliminate redundant, costly and often ignored annual banking notifications and instead require banks to alert customers only when privacy changes actually occur, the Senate approved an improved practice to save small banks critical mailing resources, and better inform consumers. In addition, the Senate passed a portion of Heitkamps bipartisan Risk Hedging Protection Act which would increase global cooperation and data-sharing among market regulators.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-congress-passes-five-year-highway-bill-measure-includes-more-than-13-billion-for-nd-infrastructure,Hoeven: Congress Passes Five-Year Highway Bill; Measure Includes More Than $1.3 Billion for N.D. Infrastructure,2015-12-04,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.04.15 Hoeven: Congress Passes Five-Year Highway Bill; Measure Includes More Than $1.3 Billion for N.D. Infrastructure Measure Also Restores $3 Billion Cut in Crop Insurance Made in Budget Agreement WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today announced that the new five-year highway bill that Congress approved today will provide North Dakota with more than $1.3 billion and enable more than 100 North Dakota transportation projects to advance. The formula is favorable to North Dakota and increases annual highway funding for the state to $263 million, about $23 million a year more than it currently receives. The bill also provides a total of $76 million over five years for transit projects in North Dakota. The Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST) Act reauthorizes the nation's transportation programs for five years.The bill provides $305 billion in contract authority for the 2015 to 2020 period. The measure is fully paid for and makes up for a lack of highway trust fund revenues by adding about $70 billion in offsets. These investments will create new jobs, provide a sustained boost to our nation's economy and help keep America and North Dakota competitive in the global marketplace, Hoeven said. The total highway formula funding for North Dakota over five years would be more than $1.3 billion, excluding additional transit and transportation safety funding. It will make possible more than a hundred transportation projects across North Dakota that were formerly at risk, and importantly, it does so without raising taxes or increasing the deficit. The bill also includes Hoeven's Driver Privacy Act, legislation that establishes in law that the owner of a vehicle is also the owner of any information collected by an Event Data Recorder (EDR). Hoeven was joined on the legislation by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). Hoeven also teamed with Klobuchar to pass theDistracted Driving Act, bipartisan legislation that will help more states access a federal distracted driving grant program. Importantly for farmers and ranchers in North Dakota and across the nation, the bill restores $3 billion that was cut from crop insurance in the budget agreement forged in October. Hoeven worked as a member of the Agriculture Committee to reverse efforts to further cut crop insurance funding, which has already been reduced by $12 billion since 2008. FAST Act Highlights for North Dakota: Increases Transportation Funding for North Dakota by maintaining the federal aid highway formula structure and increasing the amount each state will receive every year: North Dakota will receive an average of $263 million a year in highway formula funding over five years, an average of $23 million more than the state receives today. Makes completing transportation projects easier by making National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) reforms, cutting red tape. Provides five years of increased funding, giving state and local governments the certainty and stability they need to improve and develop our nation's transportation infrastructure. Increases Transit Funding to North Dakota by approximately $1 million a year, from more than $14 million in the first year to more than $17 million by the fifth year. Overall, the bill increases public transportation funding nearly $1.3 billion over MAP-21 levels. Improves Safety: The bill's safety and regulatory title makes important enhancements for safer highways as well as freight and passenger rail service through effective implementation of new technologies, new tools for federal safety watchdog agencies, reforming grant programs for states and transparency that promotes accountability. Freight Program: Establishes a Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects program that includes a rural set-aside within this $4.5 billion discretionary grant program designed to improve safety and efficiency of the movement of freight and people, reduce highway congestion and bottlenecks, and generate economic growth. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-statement-on-the-senate-repealing-obamacare-defunding-planned-parenthood,"Hoeven Statement on the Senate Repealing Obamacare, Defunding Planned Parenthood",2015-12-04,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.04.15 Hoeven Statement on the Senate Repealing Obamacare, Defunding Planned Parenthood Budget Reconciliation Bill Takes Step toward Repealing, Replacing Obamacare WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement in response to Senate passage of a budget reconciliation bill that repeals Obamacare and defunds Planned Parenthood. The Senate today repealed Obamacare and eliminated more than a trillion dollars in taxes created by the law, including taxes on some benefit plans and the tax on medical devices. The bill also reduces the deficit by almost $400 billion over the next ten years. This is the first step in replacing Obamacare with a step-by-step approach that restores choice and competition to the health insurance market. That step-by-step approach includes combining high deductible policies with health savings accounts, allowing businesses to pool their employees to get discounted premium rates, allowing insurers to compete across state lines and maintaining state high risk pools for people who have difficulty accessing affordable insurance. The measure also extends the Medicaid expansion under Obamacare for a two-year period so that people do not lose their health care insurance until a suitable replacement can be put into place for them. In addition, the measure defunds Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider, and transfers responsibility for women's health care services to local community health centers. There is no Planned Parenthood facility in North Dakota, but there are 16 community health centers located across the state, which means women will have broader access to quality care. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/senate-passes-national-bison-legacy-act-making-bison-national-mammal-hoeven-challenges-daines-to-wager-on-bison-grizzlies-game,"Senate Passes National Bison Legacy Act Making Bison National Mammal; Hoeven Challenges Daines to Wager on Bison, Grizzlies Game",2015-12-04,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.04.15 Senate Passes National Bison Legacy Act Making Bison National Mammal; Hoeven Challenges Daines to Wager on Bison, Grizzlies Game WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven today announced that the United States Senate unanimously passed the National Bison Legacy Act, legislation he introduced with Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) that designates the American bison as the national mammal of the United States. The National Bison Legacy Act recognizes the historical, cultural and economic significance of the bison, which is the largest land mammal in America. Many Native American tribes revere the bison as a sacred and spiritual symbol of their heritage. The bison, like the bald eagle, has for many years been a symbol of America for its strength, endurance and dignity, reflecting the pioneer spirit of America, Hoeven said. It makes sense for this noble animal to serve as our national mammal. The National Bison Legacy Act recognizes the important cultural and economic role the bison has played in our history, in North Dakota and across our nation. More than 40 million bison once roamed across most of North America. But by the late 1800s, fewer than one thousand bison remained. The species is acknowledged as the first American conservation success story, having been brought back from the brink of extinction by a concerted effort of ranchers, conservationists and politicians to save the species in the early 20th century. In 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt and the American Bison Society led an effort to save bison from extinction by establishing a captive breeding program at the Bronx Zoo. Within a few years, the program and others like it were successfully establishing bison back into its native habitat. Bison now live in all 50 states in public and private herds, providing recreation opportunities for wildlife viewers in zoos, refuges and parks, and sustaining the multimillion dollar bison ranching and production business. Bison vs. Grizzlies Wager Hoeven said the strong, noble character of the bison make it a perfect team name for NDSU, especially its celebrated football team. For Saturday's game, Hoeven offered Dakota Growers pasta made from the best durum wheat in the world, while Daines has offered up a six pack of Moose Drool Beer from Montana's Big Sky Brewing Co. The Bison won a historic fourth straight national title last year, and they're looking to make it five-in-a-row, Hoeven said. I'm looking forward to enjoying some authentic Moose Drool Beer from Senator Daines when the Thundering Herd rolls over the Grizzlies on Saturday. Go Bison! Every Montanan knows that a bison is no match for a grizzly bear I'm confident that Saturday's game will be no exception,Daines stated.I look forward to cheering on the Griz to victory this weekend and enjoying a nice celebration dinner of Dakota Growers pasta following the game. The game will take place at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome in Fargo on Saturday, December 5 at 2:30 p.m. CDT and will be broadcast on ESPN 3. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cramer-announces-schedule-of-public-events-for-dec-4-6,Congressman Cramer Announces Schedule of Public Events for Dec. 4 - 6,2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,cramer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.Congressman Kevin Cramer released his schedule of public events for Dec. 4 - 6. Friday, Dec. 4 Address Lorentzsen Center for Faith and Work Luncheon Values and Political Leadership 11:30 AM 1:00 PM Concordia College Barry Auditorium Moorhead, MN North Dakota Petroleum Council Board of Directors 3:30 PM 4:00 PM Energy & Environmental Research Center 15 North 23rd Street Grand Forks UND Mens Hockey Game vs University of Denver 7:30 PM Ralph Engelstad Arena Grand Forks Saturday, Dec 5 119th Wing, North Dakota Air National Guard Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Presentation 9:00 AM North Dakota Air National Guard Aircraft Hanger, Building 217 1400 32nd Ave. North Fargo Promotion Ceremony of Colonel Robert Becklund to Brigadier General 9:00 AM (Immediately following Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ceremony) North Dakota Air National Guard Aircraft Hanger, Building 217 1400 32nd Ave. North Fargo ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-house-passes-long-term-highway-funding-bill-0,Cramer: House Passes Long-Term Highway Funding Bill,2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,cramer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.Congressman Kevin Cramer announcedtodaythe U.S. House of Representatives passed the conference report forHR 22, theFixing Americas Surface Transportation or FAST Act. This fully -funded five-year legislation is designed to improve the nations roads, bridges, transit systems, and rail transportation network, providing long-term certainty and more flexibility for states and local governments in their transportation construction planning. It also streamlines the approval process which has resulted in needless delays on important transportation projects. View the conference reporthere. The bill raises more than $70 billion in offsets, which in combination with interest accrued on the balance within the Highway Trust Fund, is enough to keep the Fund solvent through the end of Fiscal Year 2020. After a decade of short-term extensions, Congress finally passed a fully-funded long-termhighway bill, said Cramer. This legislation providesstate and local highway departments certainty as they design their long-range highway and mass transit plans. This certainty is especially important for cold-weather states like North Dakota with short construction seasons. Included in the FAST Act is aHouse led provision repealing the $3 billion in cuts to crop insurance which were part of the Bipartisan Budget Agreement of 2015. The restoration of the cuts in crop insurance is fulfillment of an agreement made by Speaker Paul Ryan and House Leadership prior to passage of the budget deal. I am grateful to Speaker Paul Ryan and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy for fulfilling their commitment to reverse the cut in crop insurance, said Cramer.The 2014 Farm Bill was passed only after lengthy and complex negotiations between Congress, the President and producers. These cuts should never have been part of any agreement as it reopened the Farm Bill and went back on promises made to producers during the negotiations. The conference report now heads to the Senate for consideration. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-house-votes-to-modernize-americas-energy-infrastructure,Cramer: House Votes to Modernize America's Energy Infrastructure,2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,cramer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.Congressman Kevin Cramer announced today the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 8, the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act. The bill updates and modernizes outdated energy policies to reflect the era of energy abundance America now enjoys. In addition, the bill increases the resiliency of the countrys energy infrastructure. North Dakota has been at the epicenter of Americas energy renaissance and our nations laws and energy priorities need to change to reflect this changed environment, said Cramer As a former Public Service Commissioner, I saw firsthand the importance of modernizing government regulations to keep pace with the rapidly changing energy sector to capitalize on the opportunities provided by our newfound role as the worlds largest producer of energy. The bill includes an amendment sponsored by Cramer which gives utilities the option under the approval of the Secretary of the Interior or Secretary of Agriculture to selectively manage vegetation within 150 feet of their right-of-way near power poles. This will reduce direct impacts to electric infrastructure and the amount of fuel for possible forest fires. View the debate on this amendment from the House floor by clicking on the image below. A reliable supply of electricity is important to public safety and economic vitality of a community, said Cramer. One of the most significant reasons for outages involves trees hitting power lines. My amendment ensures utilities are able to conduct the necessary right-of-way maintenance to ensure the reliability of electricity to homes and business. Included in the legislation is language to repeal the nations current ban on the export of crude oil. The ban was put in place as a response to the oil embargo resulting from the Yom Kippur War in 1973. In the wake of the embargo, which resulted in dramatic increases in oil prices and massive gasoline shortages in the U.S., the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA) was enacted to address shortages. It is very important to remember the national security impact the crude oil export ban has had on our nation, said Cramer. For too long the worlds energy markets have been controlled by despots and dictators.It is time to use the peaceful tools of energy development to replace the weapons of war in Europe and the Middle East. In October, Cramer gave an extended speech on the House floor during Special Orders on the importance of repealing the current crude oil export ban. View the speech by clicking on the image below. Summary ofH.R. 8, the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act Modernizing Energy InfrastructureThe United States has undergone an energy renaissance driven by newly discovered resources, technological innovation and a skilled workforce. The U.S. is now the worlds leading energy producer, but its pipelines and electric grid havent kept pace with the rapid transition. The private sector is eager to invest in new projects to put people to work, but government red tape is slowing down the siting and permitting process. Likewise, the electricity sector is constantly evolving in the light of new challenges, such as changing markets, costly environmental regulations, and increasing grid security threats. H.R. 8 focuses on the transmission, distribution, and storage of energy to ensure the nation has the necessary infrastructure to meet todays modern energy challenges. Protecting the Electricity System Ensuring the electric grid is secure, resilient, and reliable is another top priority of H.R. 8. Changing market dynamics, a barrage of regulations, and external threats have created new energy security and reliability challenges. Disruptions in the delivery of electricity have far-reaching economic and public health impacts. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that power outages cost Americans at least $150 billion annually. The legislation seeks to meet todays energy reliability and security challenges through enhanced emergency preparedness and utilization of advanced technologies to address threats to the electricity system, including physical and cyber-attacks, electromagnetic pulse, geomagnetic disturbances, severe weather, and seismic events. Strengthening Energy Security and DiplomacyAs the worlds leading producer of petroleum and natural gas, the U.S. is a world energy superpower. With this position comes new opportunities and diplomatic responsibilities. Americas energy abundance should be used to strengthen energy security while also supporting allies in their quest for affordable and reliable energy. H.R. 8 takes important steps by strengthening partnerships with allies and reforming the approval process for energy exports. Improving Energy Efficiency and Government Accountability New technologies have the potential to save money and reduce energy use, yet government roadblocks stand in the way. H.R. 8 promotes simple and affordable methods to address energy demand and lower electric bills. It also seeks to reduce government waste and prioritize budget dollars in existing programs, as well as provide important regulatory relief for U.S. manufacturers from burdensome federal efficiency mandates. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=1220fd5c-b4be-4b19-812e-774dad8fb754,"At U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing, Heitkamp Stresses Value of Smallholder Farmers Worldwide",2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. During a U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture hearing, U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp spoke about how supporting agriculture in the U.S. and abroad can ease hunger around the world. As a member of the Committee and a leader of the Committees Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy, Heitkamp traveled to several African countries in August 2014 for an official Senate trip with a group of female senators. During the trip, they assessed how the U.S. can better support economic growth and food security in developing countries, and emphasized the need to empower women to play a key role in supporting agriculture growth in these communities. Well never end global hunger unless women and smallholder farmers play a central role and thats true not just abroad, but also right here at home, said Heitkamp. From small farms in Ethiopia to wheat fields and ranches in North Dakota, women and family farms are helping lead the way in combating hunger. Our countrys food aid and our research to fight environmental and disease pressures that farmers face globally keep us engaged in the world, supporting economic growth and human rights in emerging democracies. Representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the North America Millers Association, the World Food Program, and the Global Child Nutrition Foundation testified at the hearing. Authorized by the Farm Bill, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the USDA fund several food aid and development programs to support developing countries. North Dakota crops like beans, peas, and lentils are often used in U.S. programs that help feed the world, as are North Dakota wheat, corn-soy blend, and vegetable oil. USDA also plays a major role in research to help combat environmental and disease pressure in developing countries. During her two-week Senate trip to Africa in 2014, Heitkamp visited agricultural research and training centers in Senegal, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, and was briefed by agriculture officials about the importance of supporting good jobs, promoting healthy food, and expanding to new markets. A staunch advocate for rural America, Heitkamp has also fought tirelessly to support producers in North Dakota as well as for increased exports of North Dakota crops to Cuba and other countries around the world. In May, Heitkamp brought USDA Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden to North Dakota, and joined by U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota reinforced the need to encourage women to take on leadership roles in the agricultural industry and to work proactively in addressing roadblocks to their success. Heitkamp and Klobuchar spoke with USDA Deputy Secretary Harden, as well as female leaders from North Dakota and across the region, about ways to improve outreach and address challenges head on to promote more female leadership in the agriculture sector. Recent data shows women make upone-tenthof principal farm operators in North Dakota, compared to30 percentnationwide. Heitkamp is working to make sure that women, who help generate more than $136 million in annual agricultural sales across North Dakota, remain a strong force in the nations agricultural industry.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-house-led-coalition-prevails-on-repealing-crop-insurance-cuts,Cramer: House Led Coalition Prevails on Repealing Crop Insurance Cuts,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,cramer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.Congressman Kevin Cramer announced today a House led coalition prevailed on repealing the $3 billion in cuts to crop insurance which were part of the Bipartisan Budget Agreement of 2015. The repeal is part of the Fixing Americas Surface Transportation or FAST Act conference report. The restoration of the cuts in crop insurance is fulfillment of an agreement made by Speaker Paul Ryan and House Leadership prior to passage of the budget deal. Cramer was part of a bipartisan group of Ag state representatives, led by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) and Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-MN), who expressed their opposition to a section of the bill which re-opened the 2014 Farm Bill and cut $3 billion from the crop insurance program.Only after receiving personal assurances from leadership and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan the crop insurance issue would be corrected in separate legislation was Cramer able to vote for the budget deal. I am grateful to Speaker Paul Ryan and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy for fulfilling their commitment to reverse the cut in crop insurance, said Cramer. The 2014 Farm Bill was passed only after lengthy and complex negotiations between Congress, the President and producers. These cuts should never have been part of any agreement as it reopened the Farm Bill and went back on promises made to producers during the negotiations. Cramer confirms the conference report restores the $3 billion in cuts by eliminating the 8.9 percent cap on the rate of return for crop insurers and an repealing a requirement the Agriculture Department renegotiate the agreement it has with private insurers which get government backing by the end of 2016. The House is expected to pass the FAST Act conference report on Thursday. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-house-overhauls-no-child-left-behind,Cramer: House Overhauls No Child Left Behind,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,Kevin Cramer,C001096,cramer.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.Congressman Kevin Cramer announced today the U.S. House of Representatives passed the conference report for S. 1177, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). It replaces the nations current education law commonly called No Child Left Behind(NCLB) and overhauls it with an education initiative designed to empower parents and to restore local control of education. One important aspect of the legislation is specific language prohibiting any federal bureaucrat, including the Secretary of Education, from coercing states into adopting Common Core. A quality education ensures our children are equipped to succeed and become active and productive members of our society. Unfortunately, our nations current education system is failing too many students and sentencing them to a lifetime of mediocrity and failure, said Cramer. He cited statistics showing approximately one out of every five students drops out of high school and many students who graduate lack the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue a postsecondary education and compete in the workforce. Only 38 percent of high school seniors can read at grade level, and 26 percent are proficient in math, said Cramer. ESSA returns control of education to where it belongs, in the hands of parents and local school districts. Our goal should be consolidating and eliminating unnecessary or duplicate federal programs. Local flexibility and local control allows parents and school districts to address local challenges and more effectively use education resources. Cramer praised the language in the bill allowing states to set education standards and preventing the federal government from forcing Common Core on local communities. States, not the federal government, should determine their own education standards. ESSA allows states to become Common Core Free Zones without being punished by the federal government. Summary of S. 1177, the Every Student Succeeds Act Places new and unprecedented restrictions on the authority of the Secretary of Education. The agreement ends the Secretarys ability to impose requirements on states and schools through executive fiat and ends the era of conditional waivers. Prohibits the Secretary of Education from forcing or coercing states into adopting Common Core. No agent of the federal government including the Secretary can interfere with the right of states to develop or change its own set of standards. Ends the era of federally-mandated high-stakes testing. The agreement empowers parents by continuing annual assessments in reading and math, but it also eliminates the federally-mandated high-stakes strings attached to these assessments. Eliminates the federally-mandated one-size-fits-all accountability system. The agreement repeals the overly punitive federal accountability system known as Adequate Yearly Progress or AYP and restores to state and local leaders the responsibility for holding schools accountable. Repeals 49 ineffective and duplicative federal programs. The agreement helps clean up a confusing maze of K-12 education programs and requires the Secretary to reduce the size of the federal bureaucracy accordingly. Provides states and schools new funding flexibility. The agreement establishes a block grant with existing federal dollars that states and school districts can use to fund priorities set at the local level. Holds the line on no new pre-k programs. Instead of creating a new pre-k program, the agreement relocates to the Department of Health and Human Services an existing program using existing resources to promote better coordination and alignment across state and federal pre-k initiatives. Prohibits the use of federal education dollars to fund abortions. This is the first time federal education law will include a clear prohibition on the use of education dollars to fund abortion services. Offers parents more school choice. The agreement supports the replication of high-quality charter schools and improves the magnet school program. The agreement also empowers eligible states to let funds follow students to the schools they attend, rewarding excellent schools that enroll students who are harder to serve. Provides a four year authorization of the law. A top priority for leading conservatives, a more limited reauthorization will ensure the next President has an opportunity to continue this effort to reduce the federal role and restore local control in k-12 education. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=7733e431-7539-458c-81b6-53bea7032606,Hoeven Honored at Boy Scouts of America's Award Luncheon as 2015 Energy 'Good Scout',2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.02.15 Hoeven Honored at Boy Scouts of America's Award Luncheon as 2015 Energy 'Good Scout' WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven was today honored as the 2015Energy Good Scout by the Boy Scouts of Americas National Capital Area Council (NCAC) at their 5th annual Energy Awards Luncheon. Our young people are our future, and the values and work ethic that Boy Scouts instill into young men help them build the character and skills they need to become the leaders of tomorrow, Hoeven said. The Energy Merit Badge is a way to encourage Boy Scouts to learn about our nations energy industry and recognize just how much it enhances our quality of life. This award is a great honor, and its a pleasure to thank the folks at the Boy Scouts of Americas National Capital Area Council for this distinction. Hoeven, who serves on the U.S. Senate Energy Committee, has worked extensively to advance the right kind of energy plan for America, which includes building the energy infrastructure the nation needs, like the Keystone XL pipeline project, and lifting the oil export ban to enhance energy security and reduce fuel costs at the pump for consumers. Hoeven has also worked to reduce the regulatory burdens that drive up the costs of energy for developers and consumers, including efforts to repeal rules like the BLM Hydraulic Fracturing rule, the onerous Waters of the U.S. rule and other regulations that are hampering domestic energy development and increasing the cost of energy for American families and businesses. NCAC boy scouts provided more than 400,000 hours of community service in 2014, collected more than 730,000 pounds of food for local food banks and produced more than 1,000 new Eagle Scouts. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=906f2c4a-32bc-4dbc-8817-d9ef1c340198,Hoeven: Highway Bill to Restore $3 Billion Cut in Crop Insurance Made in Budget Agreement,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.02.15 Hoeven: Highway Bill to Restore $3 Billion Cut in Crop Insurance Made in Budget Agreement WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven announced that the new five-year highway bill Congress is on track to pass this week restores $3 billion that was cut from crop insurance in the budget agreement completed in October. Hoeven worked as a member of the Agriculture Committee to reverse efforts to further cut crop insurance funding, which has already been reduced by $12 billion since 2008. This is an important provision for our farmers and ranchers in North Dakota and across the country, Hoeven said. We worked very hard to get a long-term farm bill that provides our producers with good options for managing risk with strengthened crop insurance. At the same time, we saved $23 billion dollars to help reduce the deficit. Farmers and ranchers need the certainty of knowing there is a safety net in place when they make the large investments necessary to continue producing quality, affordable food for the nation and the world. As a member of both the Agriculture Committee and the joint Senate-House committee that negotiated the final version of the 2014 farm bill, Hoeven worked hard to include enhanced crop insurance. The farm legislation not only retains current individual crop insurance, but enhances crop insurance by helping farmers improve their yield history under the current program and by creating a new Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO). The SCO enables producers to purchase a supplemental policy beyond their individual farm-based policy. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=957275ae-94e7-4e9d-b449-dc9585eecb2a,Hoeven Announces Nearly $750K in Federal Funding to Support Research at University of North Dakota,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,ND,John Hoeven,H001061,www.hoeven.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.02.15 Hoeven Announces Nearly $750K in Federal Funding to Support Research at University of North Dakota WASHINGTON Senator John Hoeven, who serves on the U.S. Senate Energy and Appropriations Committees, today announced that the University of North Dakota (UND) has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energys (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) to receive $748,847 in federal funding to support research that aims to extract rare earth elements from coal. Rare earth elements contain unique chemical properties which have made them essential in many technologies including electronics, computer systems, health care, defense and transportation. In recent years, the demand for rare earth elements has grown significantly. North Dakotas vibrant energy industry is supported by innovative research at our universities that help our businesses produce more energy with better environmental stewardship, Hoeven said. Todays award will help continue the important work of researchers at UND to recover rare earth elements from lignite coal, coal sediments and coal drying refuse materials in North Dakota. Todays funding will cover Phase 1 of UNDs research, which will include sampling and classification of coal-related materials along with a proposed method of recovering the rare earth elements. North Dakota has the worlds second largest reserves oflignite and sold nearly 29 million tons of coal last year, up nearly 4 percent from 2013, according to the Lignite Energy Council. -###- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=02d90221-4703-4136-880c-439120edb6f4,Heitkamp Statement on Crop Insurance Fix,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, today issued the following statement regarding a fix to reverse harsh cuts to the federal crop insurance program. The fix was included in the compromise highway bill Congress released on Tuesday. The bill which still has to pass in the Senate and the House reverses cuts to crop insurance in the recent budget deal and leaves other agricultural programs unharmed. In October, Heitkamp pledged to look for a path forward that would protect crop insurance from the budget acts cuts. Crop insurance is a cornerstone of farmers and our countrys agricultural success, which is why Ive fought hard to maintain the integrity of this program both in the 2014 Farm Bill, which many of us spent more than a year negotiating, and again now, said Heitkamp. When the recent budget deal threatened crop insurance, I made clear that I would do everything in my power and work with leaders on the Senate Committee on Agriculture to find a path forward to prevent those devastating cuts, provide certainty for farmers, and maintain this critical safety net. Crop insurance is a lifeline for jobs and families across rural America, and has already received $12 billion in cuts since 2008. It was unfair to try forcing even deeper cuts on hardworking farmers, and Im hopeful Congress will pass this needed fix to protect producers and this vital program. Heitkamp helped write, negotiate, and pass the2014 Farm Bill, and has worked tirelessly to represent farmers and producers across North Dakota and the country. The 2014 Farm Bill strengthened crop insurance a key component of the farm safety net while reducing the deficit by $23 billion and providing five years of certainty for farmers. Since then, Heitkamp has worked to protect crop insurance and make sure the Farm Bill is implemented properly.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=d741dd6d-74ca-45f8-9a56-5b2070cbae05,Heitkamp Announces Selection of UND to Receive Significant Support for Coal Research & Development,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced that the University of North Dakotas (UND) College of Engineering-Institute for Energy Studies has been selected as one of 10 nationwide projects to receive federal support to bolster the universitys cutting edge coal energy development research. Working in tandem with UNDs Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) and with the Barr Engineering and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the universitys College of Engineering-Institute for Energy Studies will receive nearly $750,000 in federal funding to boost the schools efforts to recover rare earth elements from coal that are essential and in high demand across electronic, computer, transportation, health care, and national defense industries nationwide. For years, the University of North Dakota has been leading the nation in innovative research and development of clean coal technologies, said Heitkamp. Today UND was selected by the Department of Energy to join a small group of elite research institutions that will receive funding from the agency to support the universitys expanded efforts on recovering of rare earth elements from coal which have become high-demand commodities for a broad span of industries from computers and electronics to health care and national defense. Such investments will help boost UNDs proven track record of stellar clean coal development and research. Heitkamp has consistently worked with UNDs EERC which endorsed Heitkamps legislation to provide a viable path forward for coal as an energy source on ways to promote clean coal technologies. Todays selection of UND by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will provide critical support for the universitys efforts to innovate and develop coal technologies. In addition to UND, the DOE also selected the University of Wyoming, Drake University, the West Virginia University Research Center, Neumann Systems Group, Inc., Battelle Memorial Institute, the University of Kentucky Research Foundation, Physical Sciences, Inc., Southern Research Institute, and Tusaar, Inc. These federal funds are authorized by the DOEs National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Additional support for the project is being provided by the North American Coal Company, Great River Energy, the North Dakota Industrial Commission Lignite Energy Council and the North Dakota Geological Survey. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=dd750dd9-90fa-4529-810f-a2e885af17ea,Heitkamp Helps Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Visa Waiver Program,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,ND,Heidi Heitkamp,H001069,www.heitkamp.senate.gov,,,legacy,"As many as 20 Million Visitors from 38 Countries come into the U.S. each Year through the Visa Waiver Program WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced that she helped introduce bipartisan legislation to strengthen the security of the Visa Waiver Program and improve efforts to prevent terrorists from entering the United States. The legislation follows a two and a half hour U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security hearing Heitkamp participated in on November 19 which reinforced that the countrys biggest threat is not refugees, but some visa programs. Those testifying at the hearing included officials in charge of conducting the extensive required background checks on potential refugees as well as experts from top national security organizations and think tanks those leaning both Republican and Democratic. Heitkamps legislation aims to address the most serious security concerns with visas by improving information sharing between countries and making the process for getting visas more secure. As many as 20 million visitors from 38 countries come into the United States each year through the Visa Waiver Program. Over the past few weeks, Ive been doing my due diligence to understand the vetting process for refugees and others wishing to travel to the U.S., and not jump to conclusions, said Heitkamp. After hearing from national security experts and top officials, its clear our country faces a significant threat from those who could use the Visa Waiver Program to enter the U.S. and harm Americans. To truly focus on American security, our bipartisan bill would help prevent terrorists including those affiliated with ISIL from slipping into the U.S. through this program. Over 20 million visitors came into the U.S. last year alonethrough the Visa Waiver Program from countries friendly to the U.S. By strengthening this program and closing gaps, our bill would help prevent the Visa Waiver Program from being exploited by those with ties to terrorism and better enable us to keep Americans safe. The Visa Waiver Program Security Enhancement Act would improve the security of the Visa Waiver Program by: Requiring individuals who have traveled to Syria or Iraq in the past five years to acquire a traditional tourist visa instead of traveling without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program. This process requires an in-person interview with an American consular official and the submission of the travelers biometric information. Requiring travelers using the Visa Waiver Program to submit biometric information, in the form of fingerprints and a photograph, before they travel to the United States. Requiring all visa waiver travelers to use an electronic passport, which are more secure and harder to tamper with. Requiring increased intelligence-sharing between Visa Waiver Program countries and the United States. Paying for security enhancements in the bill by increasing the Visa Waiver traveler fee, which is currently $14. Only $4 supports Visa Waiver Program security. In comparison, the fee for a traditional tourist visa is $160. Other senators who also helped introduce the bill included U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Dan Coats (R-IN), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Mark Warner (D-VA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Jon Tester (D-MT), Angus King (I-ME), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). Background Applicants seeking visas to enter the U.S. must first undergo a background check before being cleared for entry. But certain countries have agreements with the U.S. allowing their citizens to freely travel to the U.S. with a passport, but no visa bypassing the traditional visa process which is known as the Visa Waiver Program. The U.S. has a rigorous vetting program before Americans can get passports that enable them to travel to other countries. Countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program, have various agreements with the U.S. that result in a non-uniform system and varying levels of information sharing between countries. The bipartisan bill would strengthen the Visa Waiver Program in the following ways: 1. Preventing foreign fighters from using the Visa Waiver Program: An estimated 5,000 European citizens have traveled to Syria and Iraq to fight. More than 1,500 of them are from France. If they return to their home countries, these individuals may be able travel to the United States without a visa. Legislative solution: Require individuals who have traveled to Syria and Iraq in the past five years to go through the traditional visa process, which includes an in-person interview, to come to the United States. 2. Requiring additional biometric information: In cases where the foreign national has never been to the United States before, U.S. law enforcement cannot run biometric information from that Visa Waiver Program traveler against key databases in advance of the persons first arrival in the United States. Legislative solution: Require biometric data to be provided by a foreign national prior to travel to the United States using the Visa Waiver Program. 3. Requiring electronic passports for participation in the Visa Waiver Program: Although electronic passports with built-in chips carrying biometric data are now required to be issued by Visa Waiver Program countries, some existing designated countries are effectively allowed to phase-in this requirement over several years because older passports can remain valid. Legislative solution: Require all Visa Waiver Program travelers have electronic passports within 90 days of enactment. Only individuals with machine-readable passports may travel using the Visa Waiver Program. 4. Requiring additional information sharing between countries:Information-sharing with the United States is a means of protecting national security while allowing individuals to travel without a visa. Information-sharing must be improved to help make sure threats are detected. Legislative solution: Improve information sharing by participating countries in the following ways: Require participation in the Visa Waiver Program be contingent on countries full implementation of information-sharing agreements, including agreements on foreign terrorists and those who have committed crimes. Increase contribution to, and screening against, INTERPOLs lost and stolen documents database. Require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to consider a countrys ability to collect, analyze and share passenger data concerning dangerous individuals. Improve biometric information sharing about, and screening of, refugees and asylum seekers. Require DHS to consider a countrys ability to share information about foreign fighters with multiple countries and multilateral organizations, like INTERPOL. 5. Increasing security in the air: All Visa Waiver Program countries should have signed federal air marshal agreements, which provide legal protection to air marshals in situations where they need to take action. Legislative solution: Require completion of a federal air marshal agreement. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z