Press Releases

BISMARCK, N.D. – The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded $8,163,797 across two projects to 10 North Dakota colleges and universities. The awards will be distributed to the following projects and initiatives. NSF awarded a total of $7,963,804 to the colleges and universities to establish a comprehensive, self-sustaining, and long-lasting STEM ecosystem in North Dakota. The project will focus on connecting researchers across North Dakota, improving STEM opportunities in rural areas, and... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The National Park Service (NPS) announced an award of $1,000,000 to the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The funds will support the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians as they construct five playground and picnic areas with amenities. The project is expected to be completed by December 30, 2029. Since 1965, the NPS has provided more than 45,000 LWCF grants, primarily funded with federal offshore oil and gas... CONTINUE READING

Secures funding to improve national security and support veterans, farmers, and ranchers ***Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate overwhelmingly passed three bipartisan Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 appropriations bills to provide funding for several agencies and programs pertaining to military construction, veterans’ affairs, agriculture, rural development, food and drug oversight, technology infrastructure, physical and cyber security, and the legislative branch. “As us... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) promote economic growth and financial inclusion in underserved communities in North Dakota and across the country. They leverage federal investment to provide loans, capital, and financial services in areas often overlooked by traditional financial institutions. A bipartisan group of senators sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought urging swift action to disburse the $324 million in... CONTINUE READING

Members unanimously advanced two Cramer bills to increase veteran access to suicide prevention services in unserved states and support rural veterans’ transportation to health care appointments.  ***Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) held a markup today, which featured two pieces of legislation led by U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the committee, to enhance rural veterans’ access to health care services. The committee advanced... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, issued the following statement after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to repeal the 2009 endangerment finding. The finding, issued in the first year of the Obama administration, concluded current and projected greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations, predominately carbon dioxide (CO2), endanger public health and welfare. It is the cornerstone of novel efforts... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for audio*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee held a markup for the Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act of 2025. This affordable housing legislation includes two bipartisan provisions authored by U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) addressing the appraisal workforce shortage and streamlined inspections for new landlords. The committee advanced the housing legislation package unanimously. This was Banking... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Forty-five years ago, at the Lake Placid Olympic Games, a team of young American hockey players took the ice and achieved the impossible, winning against the seemingly unbeatable Soviet Union National Team. The Soviets were four-time defending Olympic gold medalists, stacked with seasoned professionals. Team USA, both the youngest-ever U.S. national team and the youngest in the tournament, stunned the world with a 4-3 victory in what became known as the “Miracle on... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, held a hearing on the development of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill. The hearing focused specifically on three bipartisan bills Cramer led with colleagues on the EPW committee: S.1733, the Highway Funding Transferability Improvement Act, which increases the percentage of funds a state Department of Transportation (DOT)... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) announced it has increased the size of its contract with General Dynamics, a global aerospace and defense company, by $34,273,921 to reflect growing numbers of test activities and missile track fusion work performed at Grand Forks and other sites for the Space Development Agency (SDA). This announcement brings the total cumulative value of the contract, which is expected to be completed by Sep. 30, 2029, to $1,106,722,296. As chair of the... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and John Fetterman (D-PA) introduced the Payment Choice Act to preserve payment options for consumers. This legislation ensures customers can use cash as a form of payment and are able to do so without being charged higher prices. “Cash is still legal tender in the United States, despite some businesses’ exclusive acceptance of electronic payments,” said Cramer. “Forcing the... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – By a vote of 51 to 48 the United States Senate advanced the Rescissions Act of 2025 to rescind $9 billion in unnecessary, wasteful federal funds. The bill, which passed the House of Representatives in June by a vote of 214 to 212, will now return to the House for final consideration. The Rescissions Act of 2025 formalizes $9 billion in requested cuts made by the Trump administration. The bill contains 20 targeted rescissions of unobligated balances. Under the Impoundment... 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 discuss the development of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Chair of the EPW Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, introduced the first witness, North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong (R-ND). “What’s interesting to me about Governor Armstrong is he's not naturally a politician at all,” said Cramer.... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Armed Services and Banking Housing and Urban Affairs Committees, and U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and John Fetterman (D-PA) introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen food and national security. A companion bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee and the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously. The Agricultural Risk Review Act codifies a key plank... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Transportation announced an award of $4,050,000 to Ward County. These funds were made available through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program. Specifically, this BUILD grant funding will allow Ward County to conduct planning, environmental documentation, and preliminary design for three corridors and their connected intersections, including the Outer Connector from US Highway 2/52 to US Highway 83 along County Roads... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The formula-based Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) Program funds are regularly awarded to nearly 3,300 public-use airports across the nation annually. Since these funds are often not awarded until late June and July, it’s challenging for airports to implement the projects during the summer construction season, leading to project delays, cancellations, and cost escalations, especially at small and rural airports. U.S. Senators Kevin... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced an award of $31,255,696 through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) for projects at several airports across North Dakota. The funding will be distributed to the following: $10,325,656 to the Bismarck Municipal Airport to reconstruct the existing lighting on Taxiway D and connectors D1, D2, and D3, as well as rehabilitating 4,308 feet of pavement. It also rehabilitates 7,403 feet of the... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for audio.*** BISMARCK, N.D. – The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) advanced the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The legislation, which makes major investments in North Dakota’s contribution to national security and military readiness, will now head to the Senate floor for consideration. Among other provisions, this year’s NDAA codifies support for President Trump’s Golden Dome architecture, recognizes the importance of robust and timely... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak and Senators Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven today introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution of disapproval to overturn the Biden administration’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Resource Management Plan (RMP) for North Dakota. The introduction follows the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) determination that the plan qualifies for repeal under the CRA.  “North Dakotans saw the Biden administration’s plan for what it was: A... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the 119th Air Wing “Happy Hooligans” in Fargo operating MQ-9 Reapers and the 319th Reconnaissance Wing in Grand Forks flying RQ-4 Global Hawks, North Dakota plays a critical and growing role in operating Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) and is on the forefront of the next generation of technology. Despite flying and conducting missions in combat zones, RPA crews do not have a formal combat identifier in their records due to their remote operational environment. Without... CONTINUE READING