Tuesday - May 7, 2024
U.S. Congressional Tipoffs Involving North Dakota Newsletter for Sunday November 19, 2023 ( 26 items )  

Armstrong Selected to Serve on the House Judiciary Committee
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 -- Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release: Congressman Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) was recommended by the House Republican Steering Committee to serve on the House Judiciary Committee for the remainder of the 118th Congress.  "The House Judiciary Committee is the frontline of many issues important to North Dakotans. I'm excited to rejoin the Committee under Chairman Jim Jordan's leadership and continue my work fighting weaponization of the feder  more

Armstrong Statement on Passage of the Two-Step Continuing Resolution
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release: Congressman Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) released the following statement on House passage of a continuing resolution to fund the federal government. The bill passed 336-95. "The passage of this CR means we'll avoid a government shutdown, pay our service members, extend the farm bill for a year, and protect Americans' hard-earned tax dollars. The new 2024 funding deadlines also mean we've finally broken t  more

ICYMI: Sen. Cramer Op-Ed: Immigration Reform Promotes a Healthy Workforce
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), penned an op-ed in the Forum emphasizing the need for merit-based immigration reform to better support rural states like North Dakota in hiring highly-skilled, foreign-trained doctors to help fill open positions in hospitals and clinics across the country after introducing the bipartisan Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act. This legislation makes a limited number of gre  more

Sen. Cramer Applauds Motor Coach Industries Decision to Continue Operations
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release: BISMARCK - U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement after the NFI Group, which is the parent company of Motor Coach Industries (MCI), announced it will continue operations at its facility in Pembina, North Dakota. "Reversing the previously-planned closure of the MCI plant is a significant win for the Pembina area. I am grateful the NFI Group recognized the value we provide in Nor  more

Sen. Cramer Attends Annual Veterans Day Observance in Bismarck
WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 -- Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release: ***Click here for media resources.*** BISMARCK - U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Committees on Armed Services and Veterans Affairs, delivered remarks at the annual Veterans Day observance at the North Dakota Heritage Center. He spoke to North Dakota veterans on the uniqueness and rich heritage of service in the state as well as the need to work across the aisle to support veteran  more

Sen. Cramer Highlights His Bipartisan PROVE IT Act at EPW Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release: "Looks to me like PROVE IT is sort of the low hanging fruit in this group." ***Click here to download video. Click here to download audio.*** WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), during a Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee hearing, questioned Dr. Abigail Regitsky, Senior Manager of U.S. Policy and Advocacy at Breakthrough Energy, Dr. Leah Ellis, CEO and Co-founder of Sublime  more

Sen. Cramer Statement: Senators Vote for Resolution in Disapproval of Unconstitutional Loan Repayment Plan
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) released the following statement after voting in favor of S.J.Res.43, a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval of the U.S. Department of Education's final rule, which overhauled Income Driven Repayment (IDR) plans for student loan borrowers. Upon implementation, this rule will be the administration's most expensive student loan repayment plan to date.   more

Sen. Cramer, Colleagues Request Withdrawal of Basel III Endgame Proposal
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 -- Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release: WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, joined his colleagues in a letter regarding the recent Basel III Endgame proposal issued jointly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. In response to the financial crisis fro  more

Sen. Cramer: EPA Awards $1.5 Million to Spirit Lake Tribe for Solid Waste Infrastructure, Recycling
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a total of $1,500,000 to the Spirit Lake Reservation to reduce waste collection, increase recycling, and improve transportation and disposal programs. This grant, funded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), will support the hiring and training of transfer station staff, the acquisition o  more

Sen. Cramer: FEMA Awards More Than $1.3 Million to Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release: BISMARCK - U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) applauded the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) award of $1,378,043.21 to Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative. The award will go towards permanent repairs as a result of a severe winter storm, snowstorm, and straight-line winds from November 9, 2022 through November 11, 2022. The Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative provides power service throughout p  more

Sen. Cramer: Rail Companies Issue Status Reports on Grain Car Backlog
WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release: BISMARCK - U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced BNSF Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) publicly filed weekly grain backlog status updates as required by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB). A summary of the reporting data specific to North Dakota from the last 10 weeks is below. Following STB's April 2022 hearing on "Urgent Issues in Freight Rail Service," BNSF Railway, CSX Transp  more

Sen. Hoeven Issues Statement Honoring Veterans Day
WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 -- Sen. John Hoeven, R-North Dakota, issued the following statement: * * * Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Committee, today issued the following statement in recognition of Veterans Day. Since he was elected as Governor, Hoeven has normally spent Veterans Day with North Dakota veterans; however, he was unable to attend events in North Dakota today as the Senate is in session this week. To pay tribute to o  more

Sen. Hoeven Issues Statement on Government Funding
WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- Sen. John Hoeven, R-North Dakota, issued the following statement on Nov. 16, 2023: * * * Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate approved a laddered approach to fund the government and provide Congress with additional time to negotiate the 12 appropriations bills. "This legislation will keep the government open while Congress continues working to pass the appropriations bills through regular o  more

Sen. Hoeven Joins Sen. Risch, Colleagues in Calling on President Biden to Hold China Accountable, Not Make Concessions
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- Sen. John Hoeven, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release: Senator John Hoeven joined Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senate Republican colleagues in releasing the following statement ahead of the meeting between President Biden and President Xi Jinping during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit. "There is no such thing as 'healthy' economic competition with China. That reality should be obviou  more

Sen. Hoeven Joins Sens. Moran, Hagerty, Colleagues in Calling on Biden Administration to Enforce Sanctions on Iran
WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- Sen. John Hoeven, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release: Senator John Hoeven joined U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and colleagues in calling on President Biden to immediately enforce oil sanctions on Iran as mandated by Congress and permanently freeze the $6 billion funding mechanism established in September's hostage agreement with Iran. Joining Hoeven, Moran and Hagerty in signing this letter are Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.  more

Sen. Hoeven Travels to Israel in Show of Support, Pledges to Work With Key Ally to Defeat Terrorist Threats
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- Sen. John Hoeven, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release: Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, this weekend traveled to Tel Aviv as part of a bipartisan, bicameral group in support of Israel, a key U.S. ally that is responding to recent terrorist attacks from Hamas. During his visit, Hoeven met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The senator also met with families of   more

Sen. Hoeven Votes for Resolution to Repeal Biden Administration Costly Student Loan Repayment Overhaul
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- Sen. John Hoeven, R-North Dakota, issued the following statement on Nov. 15, 2023: * * * Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after voting for a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval to repeal the Biden administration's costly student loan repayment overhaul. Under the administration's plan, taxpayers would pick up the full cost for nearly two-thirds of student loan borrowers. The resolution was blocked by a vote of 49-50. "There a  more

Sen. Hoeven, Rep. Harris Urge Ag Secretary to Revise 2022 Disaster Relief Policies, Ensure Broad-Based Assistance
WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- Sen. John Hoeven, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release on Nov. 17, 2023: Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Congressman Andy Harris (R-Md.) this week urged Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to reconsider policies that will limit the effectiveness of disaster relief that Congress provided to agriculture producers for losses occurring in 2022. In their roles as ranking member and chairman of the Agriculture Appropriations Committees in the Senate and House, Hoeve  more

Senate Environment & Public Works Subcommittee Issues Testimony From N.D. Transportation Dept. Director Mongeon
WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- The Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure issued the following testimony by Karin Mongeon, director of Highway Safety Division at the North Dakota Department of Transportation, involving a hearing on Nov. 7, 2023, entitled "Understanding Roadway Safety: Examining the Causes of Roadway Safety Challenges and Possible Interventions": * * * Chairman Kelly, Ranking Member Cramer, and Members of the Subcommittee: I am Karin Mong  more

Senator Cramer Delivers Remarks to American Highway Users Alliance
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, delivered remarks at the American Highway Users Alliance's annual meeting. He spoke about the EPW Committee's work developing the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act, which later became the foundation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), emphasizing   more

Senator Cramer Named as NDAA Conference Conferee, Unanimously Passed Motion to Instruct in Support of ISR
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release: BISMARCK - U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), was appointed to be a conferee to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Committee. The NDAA Conference Committee is tasked with reconciling the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill authorizing the nation's defense priorities for Fiscal Year 2024 before final pa  more

Senator Cramer Statement on Senate Passage of Funding Bill to Avert a Government Shutdown and Extension of the Farm Bill
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statements after voting for the Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act. This continuing resolution (CR), which passed the Senate by a vote of 87 to 11, extends funding in the Agriculture, Energy and Water, Military-Construction/Veterans, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriation bills until January 19, 2024 and e  more

Sens. Cramer, Hickenlooper Introduce Legislation to Eliminate Ineffective Per-Country Visa Caps, Prioritize Merit-Based Immigration
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) introduced the Equal Access to Green Cards for Legal Employment (EAGLE) Act, legislation which would allow employers in the United States to focus on hiring immigrants based on their merits, rather than their birthplace. Most prospective employment-based immigrants currently live and work in America on temporary visas while waiting for a vi  more

Sens. Cramer, King Introduce Legislation to Protect GI Educational Benefits
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release: WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) in co-leading the Safeguarding VA Dependent Education Benefits Act of 2023. This legislation protects the GI educational benefits of a spouse or dependent whose benefits would be terminated as a result of a servicemember being convicted or dishonorably discharged for domestic or sexual assault. Under current law, depende  more

Sens. Cramer, Klobuchar Co-Lead Legislation Supporting National Adoption Month and Day
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release: BISMARCK - U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Senate co-chairs of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption (CCA), introduced the Supporting Adopted Children and Families Act to enhance pre- and post- adoption support services. Senator Cramer also co-led a resolution recognizing November as National Adoption Month and November 18th as National Adoption Day. "As adoptive parents,  more

Sens. Hoeven, Lujan Introduce Legislation to Improve DOE/USDA Coordination, Address Ag Research Needs
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Sen. John Hoeven, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release on Nov. 14, 2023: U.S. Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) today introduced the Department of Energy (DOE) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Interagency Research Act to require interagency collaboration on key agricultural research needs as well as on issues such as electric grid modernization, rural technology development and environmental science. The bipartisan leg  more