Press Releases

WASHINGTON – The U.S. National Park Service (NPS) announced the award of $254,625 to tribes in North Dakota through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) State and Local Assistance Program. The award will be distributed to the following projects in North Dakota: $167,875 to Spirit Lake Tribe for the construction of an outdoor recreation support building $86,750 to the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians for the development of Heritage Park Since 1965, the NPS has provided more than... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) announced its final “Engaged in the Business” rule, establishing an unlawful reinterpretation of what classifies a firearms dealer under federal law. Upon implementation, this burdensome and costly rule would infringe upon the Second Amendment freedoms of lawful gun-owning Americans and firearms dealers.U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) in cosponsoring a... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download audio*** WASHINGTON – The Senate Judiciary Committee passed the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act today. The bill expands access to benefits for the families of first responders who pass away from cancer caused by carcinogen exposure throughout their service. This bipartisan legislation, which was first introduced by U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) last year, would also extend disability benefits in cases where these first responders become... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON – The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) held a hearing today on the posture of the Department of the Navy in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2025 and the Future Years Defense Program. During the hearing, members heard testimony from Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti, and Commandant of the Marine Corps General Eric Smith. U.S. Senator Kevin... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced the award of $933,513 to the North Dakota Council on the Arts. This award will support art programs, services, and activities associated with carrying out the agency’s NEA-approved strategic plan. CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) announced its Fiscal Year 2024 work plan, which allocates more than $27 million to support infrastructure projects, operations, and maintenance across the state of North Dakota.   The FY 24 work plan specifically includes $2,850,000 for the City of Mott’s Water and Sewer System Improvement Project under the Army Corps Section 594 Program. “The 594 program uniquely benefits local communities across our state, which is why I prioritized... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – Enacted on January 5, 2021, the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 expanded eligibility for the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) home loan program to servicemembers in the National Guard and Reserves who perform “full-time National Guard duty” for at least 90 days. Following the law’s enactment, reservists and members of the National Guard have encountered an unintended gap in the legislation, which fails to fully... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) delivered remarks on the Senate floor today to commemorate National Police Week and honor TOP COP award recipient Fargo Police Officer Zachary Robinson. Officer Robinson received this award in recognition of his heroism and bravery last summer when officers with the Fargo Police Department were ambushed while investigating a traffic crash. Officer Robinson is the first member of North Dakota’s... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) voted today on its transmission planning cost allocation rule. In a 2-1 decision, the Commission adopted Order 1920 with Commissioner Mark Christie dissenting. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ranking Member of Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, released the following statement: “The rule issued by FERC today on transmission planning is an assault on the sovereignty of the states... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate passed legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) through 2028. The legislation passed by a vote of 88-4. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement after voting in favor of the bill: “The FAA has to be authorized to operate, and every five years, we have a responsibility to ensure it has the tools to effectively oversee and manage our national aviation system.... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – With Mother’s Day around the corner, a group of senators is introducing legislation to help address the challenges many mothers face throughout their pregnancy journeys, and the expensive endeavor of raising a family. This comes at a critical moment as the number of U.S. births in 2023 was the lowest since 1979, according to provisional CDC data. Last year, the total fertility rate in America hit an all-time low.Today, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined U.S. Senators Katie Boyd... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced its intention to implement further changes to its processing and delivery network under the “Delivering for America” plan. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and their colleagues in sending a letter to the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, requesting the agency pause its changes until it studies the... CONTINUE READING

“Economically, competitively…we need to be more realistic.”  ***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) questioned U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan at a Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee hearing on Tuesday. He first questioned Administrator Regan on the EPA’s emissions standards for coal-fired power plants announced two weeks ago. He reiterated the 90 percent carbon dioxide... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – NeighborWorks America announced it will award a total of$469,000 in FY 2024 funding to members of its national network serving North Dakota. This grant will support the development and preservation of affordable housing, and create jobs while revitalizing and sustaining neighborhoods.   NeighborWorks America is a public nonprofit organization, established by Congress in 1978 to support and enhance a network of nearly 240 local and regional nonprofit partner organizations across all... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the award of $4,517,125 to improve, modernize, develop, and finance public housing projects in the following 15 authorities in North Dakota: $1,403,817 to the Fargo Housing and Redevelopment Authority $840,784 to the Burleigh County Housing Authority $679,011 to the Minot Housing Authority $368,060 to the Housing Authority of Cass County $306,177 to the Housing Authority of the City of Williston $200,107 to the... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – On Monday, the National Park Service (NPS) announced the distribution of  $1,373,867 to historic preservation offices in North Dakota. Specifically, the NPS awarded $869,584 to the State Historic Preservation Office and $504,283 to the following Tribal historic preservation offices: $144,260 to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe $132,771 to the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation) $117,983 to the Spirit Lake Tribe of Fort... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – The U.S. Department of Education announced an award of $239,904 to support United Tribes Technical College’s Meadowlark Project, a plan designed to enhance educational opportunities for future American Indian teachers serving young children with disabilities. Additionally, the project will recruit, enroll, and support 12 scholars from traditionally underrepresented groups to graduate as teachers with professional credentials in special education to work with elementary school children... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and John Hoeven (R-ND) and U.S. Representative Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) penned a letter to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regarding the draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the state of North Dakota.  These plans, as established by the BLM, serve as a guide for managing the agency’s land and resources. The State of North Dakota and several industry groups, including the North Dakota Petroleum Council and the Lignite Energy Council, provided... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded more than $80 million in total Fiscal Year 2024 funding to support water infrastructure upgrade projects in communities across North Dakota. The EPA’s latest announcement awarded $28.6 million from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality’s State Revolving Fund (SRF) Program. This award brings North Dakota’s total fiscal year funding to $80,151,000 to support drinking... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – Throughout 2023, the National Fraternal Order of Police reported there were 378 officers shot in the line of duty, 46 of whom were killed by gunfire. According to the report, the number of officers shot in the line of duty has risen 14 percent higher since 2022. In response to this increase, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) in cosponsoring the Protect and Serve Act, legislation to provide federal prosecutors with the tools they need to hold... CONTINUE READING