Press Releases

Grading is based on support of legislation defending Second Amendment rights, advocating for lawful commerce of firearms and ammunition BISMARCK, N.D. – The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) released its 2024 Congressional Report Card, a comprehensive report analyzing the support of each lawmaker during the 118th Congress. The report card is based on elected officials’ advocacy for legislation of critical importance to the firearm industry and Second Amendment liberties. U.S. Senator... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – An at-scale model of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) aircraft carrier was delivered to U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer’s (R-ND) office in Washington, D.C. Representatives from Huntington Ingalls Industries delivered the glass-encased replica to Cramer’s office, where it will remain until the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora in 2026. Cramer announced the gift from Huntington Ingalls Industries to the library during his remarks at the beam-signing... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the award of $4,250,000 to North Dakota for the following programs and initiatives: $4,000,000 to the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services through the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment to strengthen the state’s opioid response.  $250,000 to Mountain Plains Youth Services, Inc., to support its transitional living program for young adults between the ages of 18 to 21. CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Senate passed a continuing resolution (CR) by a vote of 78 to 18 today, extending Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations levels for federal agencies through December 20. The measure, which previously passed the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 341 to 82, also provides funding for the U.S. Secret Service in addition to extending expiring programs and authorities. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Park Service (NPS) announced an award of $4,490,000 through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) to support redevelopment projects at parks across North Dakota. The award will be distributed for the following projects: $3,490,000 for the Grand Forks Downtown Gateway and Greenway, an outdoor recreational area consisting of 2,200 acres.  $1,000,000 to support the Turtle Mountain Family Recreation Areas. The ORLP program, managed by the NPS and... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for audio*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced an award of $4.2 million to Project Tundra. This is the first installment of up to $350 million to Project Tundra. These funds will be distributed through the fully-paid-for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Carbon Capture Demonstration Projects Program, which supports the development of community-informed integrated carbon capture, transport, and storage projects. “This initial award really brings Project... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Education announced an award of $500,000 to the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) under the State Personnel Development Grants Program. This funding will support NDDPI’s Grad 701 initiative, which aims to close graduation gaps, improve support systems, and boost outcomes for all students. CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) held a markup today for two pieces of legislation U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) helped shepherd. They are the Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act and legislation to rename the post office in Casselton as the "Commander Delbert Austin Olson Post Office.” The committee unanimously advanced both pieces of legislation, which will now head to the Senate... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a final rule in April, imposing minimum staffing requirements for long-term care facilities (LTC), which provide care to nearly 1.2 million residents across the nation. This rule will exacerbate the existing workforce shortages and significantly harm access to care in rural communities. This new standard, which was first proposed in September 2023,... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration announced an award of $675,000 to Enhancing and Strengthening North Dakota Nonprofits and Communities in Minot, N.D. This award will help construct a regional processing facility for local foods, providing classrooms, kitchen facilities, warehouse space and more in Baldwin, N.D. The grant is expected to create 47 jobs and generate $1.8 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates. “North... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) announced an award of $200,000 to SAGE Development Authority, a federally chartered Section 17 Corporation created by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. This award, funded through OCED’s Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) Program, will support clean energy projects.  The ERA Program was established by the fully-paid-for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It seeks to improve the resilience,... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) announced an award of $11,600,000 to Grand Sky in Grand Forks to enhance emergency response capabilities and improve safety for its growing community by building a new fire station. The new facility will serve as the primary fire response unit for Grand Sky, in addition to the southern portion of Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB). This award, provided under the Defense Community Infrastructure Program, will ensure GFAFB’s ability to respond... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced members of his staff will hold mobile office hours in Ashley and Ellendale on Monday, September 30. “Since it’s not always possible for people to travel to my in-state offices, these mobile office opportunities help bring the services we offer closer to the constituents who need them,” said Cramer. “Having members of my staff in Ashley and Ellendale will give North Dakotans more chances to explore solutions to the problems they face... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced a $1,600,000 investment in North Dakota State University (NDSU) to support research pertaining to the economics of markets and trade. Specifically, the award will be distributed to the following projects at NDSU: $800,000 to support a project assessing the resilience of the supply chain systems of corn and soybeans, the drought-induced impediments in the network under uncertainty,... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began implementing a revised dog importation regulation in August applied to all canines crossing into the United States. The updated rule requires airlines to issue an air waybill for all dogs, including service and hand-carried dogs, and would prevent families from traveling with puppies under the age of six months. Military and diplomatic families living abroad and users of service dogs face additional burdens traveling... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States and Canada share the longest international border in the world, spanning 5,525 miles with 120 land ports of entry. Last year, northern border communities saw a significant increase in apprehensions, and encounters at the northern border in April increased 1,240% compared to April of 2021. The U.S. Border Patrol Swanton Sector in New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont experienced 15,000 apprehensions in Fiscal Year 2024, the largest volume ever recorded by this... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced a budget shortfall of nearly $15 billion in July, representing the largest budget shortfall the VA has experienced. This includes $2.88 billion relating to compensation, pension, and readjustment benefit payments at the Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA), and another $11.97 billion in medical care accounts at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The Senate... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) held a hearing today to consider the nominations of Lieutenant General Randall Reed to be Commander of U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) and Lieutenant General Xavier T. Brunson to be Commander of United Nations Command and Combined Forces Command/U.S. Forces Korea (USFK). TRANSCOM is a unified combatant command, which conducts globally integrated mobility operations and... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Park Service (NPS) announced an award of $921,663.50 to the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). This funding will support the renovation of approximately 23 campsites at Fort Ransom State Park by upgrading electrical services from 30 to 50 ampere capacity. Water hydrants will also be installed at the campsites. Since 1965, the NPS has provided more than 40,000 LWCF grants, primarily funded with federal... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation announced an award of $222,016 to the North Dakota Department of Transportation through the Fiscal Year 2024 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Emergency Relief Program. This award will address damages from a weather event on April 10, 2023, which caused significant overland and riverine flooding resulting from snow events. CONTINUE READING