Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded $9,413,942 to the North Dakota Department of Transportation through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Emergency Relief (ER) Program. The FHWA’s ER Program provides grants to repair eligible roads, bridges, and infrastructure after natural disasters such as flooding. CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Education announced a total of $956,506 to North Dakota schools and colleges. A total of $658,478 will be distributed to two schools under the Demonstration Grants for Indian Children Program. These grants fund the development, testing, and demonstration of the effectiveness of services and programs to improve educational opportunities and achievement of Native American children in preschool, elementary, and secondary schools. Turtle Mountain will... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of War awarded a $19,817,205 task order contract to United Crane and Excavation for runway repairs at Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB). Due to cracking and weathering, the runway has deteriorated over time and degraded pavement sections require repair. This task order will provide the necessary materials, plans, travel, labor, and equipment for the construction. The work is expected to be completed by Sept. 20, 2026. “A good runway is the beating heart of... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – For the second time in as many weeks, Senate Democrats blocked a clean, short-term continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government funded through Nov. 21, initiating a government shutdown and cutting off access to many programs and services. Because the CR previously passed the House of Representatives, the bill would immediately become law and fund the government upon Senate passage and being signed by President Trump. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced an award of $260,009 to North Dakota agencies. $211,834 to the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services to complete 395 emergency responder trainings through various HAZMAT courses and full-scale and table-top exercises. This funding comes through the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant. $48,175 to the North Dakota Public Service Commission (PSC) to develop and implement the PSC’s... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) awarded a contract of $13,377,389 to R.J. Zavoral & Sons Inc. for construction of the Southern Reach SE-2B section in support of the Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Area Flood Risk Management Project. The project is expected to be completed in 2027. These funds were provided by the fully-paid-for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) helped craft and shepherd through Congress. The USACE received... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded $1,635,823 to Cankdeska Cikana Community College in Fort Totten. These funds are distributed through the Tribal College and University Head Start Partnership Program, which seeks to increase the number of qualified staff working in Native American Head Start programs within tribal nations. CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Air Force announced the nomination of General Kenneth Wilsbach, former Air Combat Command (ACC) leader and fighter pilot, to serve as its next Chief of Staff. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), chair of the Senate Armed Services (SASC) Airland Subcommittee, issued the following statement applauding the announcement: “I know Ken Wilsbach pretty well, and I can’t think of a more competent, better prepared, and experienced General to... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Education announced $2,139,556 for student support services at six colleges across North Dakota. The Student Support Services Program provides funding to assist students with basic college requirements and motivate them toward degree completion. The funds will be distributed as follows: $523,609 to North Dakota State University $416,200 to the University of North Dakota $348,514 to the University of Mary $306,505 to Lake Region State College $272,364 to... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for audio*** BISMARCK, N.D. – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Banking Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Scott Turner announced Tribal HUD-VA Supportive Housing (VASH) grants for two North Dakota Tribes for veteran housing programs totaling $608,450. $348,194 to the Turtle Mountain Housing Authority $260,256 to the Standing Rock Housing Authority “Across North Dakota and across the entire nation,... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced $111,208 for two museums in North Dakota. The funding will be distributed as follows: $86,208 for the Cass County Historical Society to enhance access to historical collections, archives, and educational programs. This Museums for America grant will allow the Cass County Historical Society to hire additional staff who will inventory, assess, and catalog close to 30,000 artifacts over three years. $25,000 for the Ward... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded $1,015,893 to North Dakota agencies and $317,957 to the Three Affiliated Tribes. The funding will be distributed as follows: $517,810 to the North Dakota Department of Agriculture for statewide programs to develop and maintain a comprehensive pesticide program which addresses all aspects of pesticide-related enforcement, initiatives, and implementation. $498,083 to the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality for... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded a total of $2,860,827 to Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative for repairs due to wildfires and straight-line winds on Oct. 5 and 6, 2024. Prior to the wildfires, portions of western North Dakota were suffering from severe or extreme drought. Damages from the wildfires and straight-line winds caused distribution and transmission utility poles to burn, break, and damage sub-assemblies,... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Education announced $1,397,350 for three North Dakota colleges for Indian education and professional development. This funding comes from the Indian Education Professional Development Grants, which train Native students to become teachers and administrators and help students at tribal colleges and universities pursue careers serving native communities. The funding will be distributed as follows: $500,000 to the University of Mary $472,340 to Sitting Bull... CONTINUE READING

Partisan Democrat Alternate Proposal Adds Over $1 Trillion in Unrelated Priorities WASHINGTON, D.C. – By a vote 44 to 48, Senate Democrats blocked consideration of a clean, short-term continuing resolution (CR). The bill would continue Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations for federal agencies through Nov. 21 while Congress works on a long-term solution and additional individual appropriations bills. Members also voted on a CR proposed by Democrats, which failed. It would have drastically increased... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, will host a Tribal Housing Forum with Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner on Sept. 22 in Bismarck, N.D. Cramer and Turner will be joined by Tribal leaders and housing authorities from North Dakota’s Tribal Nations. Their discussion will focus on federal Tribal housing programs, federal treaty and trust responsibilities in Indian Country, and housing... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, joined EPW Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and fellow Republican committee members in sending a comment letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin in support of the agency’s proposed repeal of the Clean Power Plan 2.0. The senators expressed their support for the repeal. The Biden-era standards“misinterpreted the limited authority that Congress... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for audio. Click here for video.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee held a hearing to conduct U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) oversight. The hearing featured testimony from Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle and Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of USACE Lieutenant General William H. Graham, Jr. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Chairman of the EPW’s Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, which... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), chair of the Senate Armed Services Airland Subcommittee and chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, announced U.S. Secretary of Transportation and National Aeronautics and Space Administration Interim Administrator Sean Duffy will speak at this year’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Summit and Expo in Grand Forks on Oct. 14. Duffy is a former U.S. Representative from Wisconsin, where... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced approximately $1 billion in disaster recovery assistance for eligible livestock producers through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) for wildfire and flood disasters in 2023 and 2024. This is the second tranche of funding included in the continuing resolution Cramer voted to pass in December, for a total of $2 billion. “Thank you to President Trump and Secretary Rollins for delivering this second batch of funding... CONTINUE READING