releases: https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=5db07309-06fb-4c57-8474-7bfa3aa2a672
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=5db07309-06fb-4c57-8474-7bfa3aa2a672 | Heitkamp Announces Significant Federal Funding to Improve Emergency Preparedness, Response in North Dakota | 2014-07-31 | 2014 | 2014-07 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced more than $190,000 in federal funding to help North Dakota communities improve emergency preparedness and support training programs to help first responders handle potential hazmat situations. The funds will assist local communities in the state develop, implement, and improve emergency response plans, as well as help train emergency responders so they can properly prepare for hazmat transportation incidents. Last month, Heitkamp introduced the RESPONSE Act, which aims to better prepare first responders and emergency personnel for hazardous incidents that could occur on the rails, such as accidents like the train derailment in Casselton last December. The bill builds on Heitkamps strong work following the Casselton derailment to make sure North Dakotans and their communities are safe by making sure first responders have the resources, training, and best practices to respond to potential new incidents on the rails. While North Dakotas economic and population growth have presented remarkable opportunities for our state, we also have to sufficiently prepare for any potential disasters that may strike our growing communities, said Heitkamp. Our emergency personnel need to have the resources and training to stay safe as they protect us, and these funds will help our state be ready for, mitigate, and respond to possible hazmat incidents. Safety should be everyones top priority thats what my RESPONSE Act aims to accomplish, and I will continue to make sure we protect North Dakotas communities and families. The funds are made available through the U.S. Department of Transportations Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA), as part of its Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness grant program. Since the Casselton derailment, Heitkamp has worked to understand what happened, and push the need to better prioritize first responder preparedness.In March,Heitkamp brought Casselton Fire Chief Tim McLeanto testify at a Senate hearing she chaired about how to better train our emergency responders for emerging threats and hazards. McLean discussed his teams experience responding admirably to the December train derailment and subsequent explosion. He also shared with Heitkamp and her colleagues what he thinks needs to be done to better prepare our emergency responders. The day after she introduced herRESPONSE Actin June, Heitkampannounced $2 million included in a Senate appropriations billto train first responders for incidents involving hazardous materials transported by rail. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |