Press Releases

***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

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced an award of $777,850 to the University of North Dakota for the Mountain Plains Addiction Technology Transfer Center (MPATTC). The MPATTC provides training to support the adoption of evidence-based practices for substance use disorder treatment and recovery services. CONTINUE READING

***Click here for media resources.*** BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Dakota National Guard (NDNG) held a Change of Command Ceremony today to transfer command leadership from Major General Alan Dohrmann to Brigadier General Mitchell Johnson. Johnson now serves as Adjutant General of the NDNG and Director of the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services (NDDES). As Adjutant General, Johnson will lead the NDNG, which has approximately 4,200 service members and facilities in 13 communities. U.S.... CONTINUE READING

Bipartisan legislation supports more reliable, drought-resistant water supplies in North Dakota BISMARCK, N.D. – In exchange for flooding nearly 550,000 acres of North Dakota farmland to create the Garrison and Oahe Reservoir systems, the federal government promised over a million acres of irrigation as compensation to the state. Given a number of issues inhibiting irrigation development, Congress first authorized funding for municipal, rural, and industrial (MR&I) water supply projects in... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. - North Dakota filed its final response brief Wednesday in its Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) case against the federal government for its abdication of duty during the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) protests. The filing of this brief marks one of the few remaining procedural steps before the final ruling, which is expected later this year. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) released a statement following the filing of the brief: “This brief outlines what North Dakotans know: our... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Education announced an award of $17,369,002 to Bismarck State College and Minot State University through the Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) Program. The DIF program supports innovative activities aimed at improving the outcomes of individuals with disabilities. The award will be distributed to the following universities and colleges in North Dakota: $9,886,512 to Bismarck State College $7,482,490 to Minot State University CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – For several months, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) has been experiencing significant issues with delivery delays across the country. FDPIR is utilized by low-income families on reservations to receive fresh food. Due to USDA consolidating the program into a single distributor, incomplete, delayed, and missed deliveries have left families without a vital source of food. The program serves 276 tribes, including... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the award of $2,153,971 to the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services to strengthen public health infrastructure, workforce, and data systems. The grant is administered through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services. CONTINUE READING

Panel at Global Aerospace Summit highlights the importance of policy solutions to invest in defense capabilities, foster American innovation ***Click here for media resources.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce hosts the Global Aerospace Summit annually, bringing industry and government leaders from across the world to discuss issues unique to the space and aviation industries. This year’s summit is focused on the consequential issues facing the future of flight. U.S. Senators... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced the award of $506,000 for several initiatives in North Dakota. The award will be distributed to the following applicants: $153,000 to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to support the development and implementation of a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.  $153,000 to the Three Affiliated Tribes to support the development and implementation of a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. $100,000 to... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the award of $24,499,236 through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) for projects at several airports across North Dakota. The funding will be distributed to the following locations: $9,814,070 for the Bismarck Municipal Airport to reconstruct and reseal sections of its paved taxiways to extend their useful life. $8,538,478 for the Hector International Airport to construct a new 87,202... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the award of $784,687 to Sanford Research North through its National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. This award will support a research project analyzing alcohol use following bariatric surgery. CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Education announced an award of $11,123,983 to the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction through its Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) Grant Program. The CLSD Program seeks to advance literacy skills for students from birth through grade 12. CONTINUE READING

***Click here for media resources.*** UNITED KINGDOM – Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford is the preferred bomber forward operating location in Europe for U.S. Air Force (USAF) Global Strike Command and supports a variety of missions and exercises in which the Minot 5th Bomb Wing and Grand Forks 319th Reconnaissance Wing participate. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) visited RAF Fairford today to obtain a deeper understanding of the strategic importance of these sites and observe the facilities North... CONTINUE READING

Work will partially be performed in Grand Forks, North Dakota BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Air Force announced it awarded an additional $491,607,268 modification to a previously awarded contract to General Dynamics, a global aerospace and defense company. This contract will go towards a project supporting the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture Ground Management and Integration and operation and sustainment efforts. This announcement brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced an award of $1,037,264 to North Dakota to support the following health programs and initiatives: $456,464 to the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS). This Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant will support the state as it addresses unique public health needs with innovative and community-driven methods. $380,800 to NDHHS to improve oral health through education and... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The National Science Foundation announced an award of $1,600,000 to the University of North Dakota to support quantum research. The award will be distributed to the following projects and initiatives: $800,000 to support research aiming to develop new algorithms and schemes to extend the capabilities of quantum devices and apply them to challenging problems in heavy-element computational chemistry. $800,000 for a project focusing on the development of quantum light sources that... CONTINUE READING