WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) toured North Dakota’s military community last week to hear from leaders and service members at Bismarck’s North Dakota Army Aviation Battalion, the Minot Air Force Base, the Cavalier Air Force Station, the UAS Airport Grand Sky, the Grand Forks Air Force Base, and the “Happy Hooligans” at the North Dakota Air National Guard in Fargo.

Below is complete print and televised coverage of the tour, op-eds by the Senator placed in the local newspaper of each stop, and social media highlights from the tour.

Articles

  • AM1100 The Flag: Sen. Cramer Announced ND Military Tour
    • “U.S. Senator and Senate Armed Services Committee member Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) announced he will take a four-day swing through North Dakota’s military installations in Bismarck, Minot, Cavalier, Grand Forks, and Fargo next week.”
  • KFYR: Cramer talks border security, economic development in trip to Minot
    • “What I like to talk about is the path forward. What I see are some of the opportunities and challenges for North Dakota, for Minot, and for our country as we try to ride this growing economy that the country's enjoying.” – Senator Cramer
  • KXNet: Senator Kevin Cramer in Minot
    • “I happen to be on the Senate Armed Services Committee, the first North Dakotan to serve ever on it. One of my jurisdictions is Strategic Force, which of course has jurisdiction over nuclear triad as well as space, and also Emerging Threats. I think the way the President [organized Space Force] is perfect, I think it should be under the Air Force, not an entire new division. I’m looking forward to what North Dakotans can offer Space Force.” – Senator Cramer
  • Minot Daily News: Senator: Workforce new challenge for growing economy
    •  “Cramer and Congressman Kelly Armstrong visited Minot Air Force Base. The base is a major economic impact player in the local area. At the Minot base Cramer and Armstrong met with Col. Bradley Cochran, commander of the 5th Bomb Wing, Col. Glenn Harris, commander of the 91st Missile Wing, and other base officials to discuss combat readiness and the base’s B-52 bombers and Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles, the latter located in underground facilities in northwest and north central North Dakota.”
  • Grand Forks Herald: Cramer Tours Grand Forks and Other North Dakota Military Bases
    • "It's expensive to deter countries who have a lot of resources and a lot of desire to dominate the globe. So defense authorization is the hot topic of the day. I want to bring a North Dakota perspective to that, but I also want to bring a national perspective to North Dakota." – Senator Cramer
  • KNOX: Cramer – GFAFB Visit
    • “Cramer describes it as a fact-finding mission as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. With growing threats around the world Cramer says it’s important to maintain a strong national defense.”
  • Inforum: Cramer wraps up military listening tour with Fargo visit, addresses 'crisis at the border' and other issues
    • "What I've heard in the last four days is really a confirmation that North Dakota's military assets have never been better positioned for war fighting than they are today and better positioned for the future.” – Senator Cramer 
  • KVRR: Sen. Cramer Sounds Off on Democrats’ Response to Trump’s National Emergency
    • “Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) is standing by President Trump and his declaration of a national emergency over border wall funding. The Senator was in Fargo to talk with veterans about issues affecting them.”
  • KFGO: Cramer defends Trump's national emergency declaration
    • “Senator Kevin Cramer is standing by President Trump and his declaration of a national emergency over border wall funding. Cramer was in Fargo to speak with veterans about issues affecting them.”

Television Clips 

KX News (CBS)

Screen Shot 2021-08-30 at 11

KFYR (NBC)

KXJB (CBS)

KVRR (FOX)

WDAY (ABC)

Op-Eds

  • Bismarck Tribune: Cramer begins his military tour in Bismarck
    • “I can think of no better way to start this tour than meeting some of our state’s citizen soldiers face to face. These are the friends and neighbors we see every day, yet they’ve dedicated themselves to serve whenever they’re called into action. North Dakota’s Guard has served in combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan, ensured the safety of our nuclear stockpile, flown helicopters to help fight wildfires and even lent a hand to the East Coast hurricane recovery effort.”
  • Minot Daily News: My visit to Minot Air Force Base
    • “The opportunity for me to hear from service men and women, like those serving in Minot, how we can enhance North Dakota’s military community is why this tour is so important. I have made accessibility a staple of my tenure in serving North Dakota. This tour presents an opportunity to hear about problems and solutions directly from constituents and those directly affected by the decisions Washington makes. This is especially important for our military community.”
  • Grand Forks Herald: Visiting Grand Forks, Cavalier to hear solutions
    • “Cavalier is often overlooked on the national stage, but as our nation expands our efforts in space, I intend to highlight the critical role this base plays. Seeing the base and meeting with its personnel presents a good opportunity to hear how we can grow their mission to meet the needs ahead. … Tomorrow morning, I'll visit Grand Forks Air Force Base to speak with their airmen and leadership team before receiving a mission update and learning more about the RQ-4 Global Hawk. As I look at the combined public and private investment, I am optimistic about the great potential Grand Forks possesses.”
  • Inforum: Concluding my ND military tour in Fargo
    • “Just last month, the Happy Hooligans received their 20th Air Force Outstanding Unit award. No unit has ever won more Outstanding Unit awards than the Happy Hooligans, and those of us who follow their work aren’t surprised. Throughout the years, they have served in times of crisis- like 9/11- and times of war in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. They put their lives on the line, and because of their outstanding service to our country, they are repeatedly recognized. The Outstanding Unit award is given to numbered units of the Active Duty Air Force, Air National Guard, and U.S. Air Force Reserve who distinguish themselves by exceptional meritorious service or outstanding achievement. No group exemplifies these traits quite like the Happy Hooligans. Freedom-loving people around the world are grateful to these service members from Fargo for making the defense of liberty a habit.”