Press Releases

BISMARCK – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the award of $548,860 to North Dakota. The award will be distributed to the following programs and initiatives: $125,860 to the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services through the HHS Center for Mental Health Services.  $423,000 to the University of North Dakota through the HHS National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – During a political rally in Butler, Penn., on July 13, former President Donald Trump was the target of an attempted assassination. In addition to injuring President Trump, the gunman fatally wounded one individual while critically injuring two others in the attack. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) in introducing a bipartisan resolution to formally condemn the attempted assassination of former President Trump, honor the victims, call on all... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement after voting against the motion to proceed with the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act, a broad tax measure that passed the House of Representatives at the beginning of the year. “The House passed this tax package in January, and the Senate has not held a single hearing on the legislation in the last six months. This is an unserious political ploy by Chuck Schumer, Chairman Wyden, and Senate Democrats to... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the award of $13,300,950 through the Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) Program for projects at eight airports across North Dakota. The funding will be distributed to the following locations: $11,274,198 to the Municipal Airport Authority of the City of Fargo $448,000 to Kenmare Airport Authority $447,576 to Linton Municipal Airport Authority $320,711 to Walhalla Municipal Airport... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON – Restrictions on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Urbanized Area Formula Grants negatively impacted Fargo’s Fiscal Year 2024 funding for its public transportation system. The restrictions now apply to Fargo because of the region’s population growth to over 200,000 people, which graduated the from a Metropolitan Planning Organization to a Transportation Management Agency.  Unfortunately, this designation has... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently announced a budget shortfall of nearly $15 billion. 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). This represents the largest budget shortfall the VA has experienced, and is a clear departure from the FY 2025 budget request the... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the award of $1,532,700 to the Lakota Airport Authority through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). This funding will support the final phase of a project to rehabilitate 3,500 feet of existing paved Runway 15/33 to maintain the structural integrity and minimize foreign object debris to extend its useful life. CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the award of $939,181 to the University of North Dakota (UND) through its Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (Flex). Flex funding assists rural hospitals stabilize and sustain their local healthcare infrastructure. CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the award of $4,649,795 through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) for projects at several airports across North Dakota. The funding will be distributed to the following: $2,231,738 to the state of North Dakota to complete construction and rehabilitation of the runway in Dunseith $722,627 to the City of Williston $365,573 to Grafton Municipal Airport Authority $365,573 to Kenmare Airport... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) announced the award of $427,935 to North Dakota State University through the Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI). The award will fund a project entitled “High-Yield Core Luminescent Silicon-Carbide Nanocrystals from Mixed Liquid Precursors.” This project will focus on researching manufacturing challenges associated with the synthesis and processing of state-of-the-art fluorescent silicon carbide (SiC) quantum... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – While Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) crews fly combat missions across the United States, they have no identifier in their records for combat operations performed due to not being physically located in a combat zone. If crew members decide to change career fields within the military or leave the service altogether, they often face barriers when accessing the appropriate mental health care, despite the long-lasting mental health impacts of these operations. U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint meeting of Congress today, where he delivered a speech highlighting the United States’ solidarity with Israel. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) reacted to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address. Statement excerpts and full video are below. ***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** “Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, addressed us in a joint session of Congress today commemorating the Jewish State of... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced it has awarded a $94 million Design-Build contract to McGough Construction that will modernize the Dunseith Land Port of Entry (LPOE), one of five inspection facilities in the north-central part of the state.  This award, funded partially by the fully-paid-for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will strengthen supply chains, create jobs, and enhance security and trade. “As a northern border state, North Dakota’s ports of entry are... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the award of $598,408 through the Indian Health Service to the University of North Dakota (UND). The funding will be distributed to the following programs and initiatives:  $396,925 to the Recruitment & Retention of American Indians into Nursing (RAIN) program at UND, which provides support services to American Indian students enrolled in pre-nursing, undergraduate, and graduate nursing programs. $201,483 to the... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded $299,954 to North Dakota State University through its Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). This funding will support research to increase the use of natural, fiber-based, compostable packing materials for e-commerce using under-utilized agricultural byproducts. CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), and Mike Rounds (R-SD) introduced the Gold Star Children Education Act to support the education of children of fallen U.S. servicemembers. This legislation would make children of servicemembers who died while serving on active duty eligible for enrollment in U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) schools on a tuition-free, space-available basis.  The DODEA manages 160 schools globally, providing K-12 education to... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced members of his staff will hold mobile office hours in Beach and Medora on Tuesday, July 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 Beach and Medora will give North Dakotans more chances to explore solutions to the problems they face with people who are... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – In a bipartisan letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Thomas Vilsack, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) in expressing concern about the potential for potato wart to spread from potato imports originating in Canada’s Province, Prince Edward Island (PEI) to U.S. farms and production facilities. The Senators urged urging the USDA to implement additional mitigation measures to prevent introduction into the... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and Canadian National Railway (CN) workers represented by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference voted in late June to authorize a strike. Before a strike can legally occur, the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) must issue a ruling outlining shipments required to continue during a work stoppage. CIRB is expected to finalize a ruling in the coming days. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) facilities are often exposed to extreme weather events, posing significant challenges to border security operations, national security, and critical infrastructure. Just last year alone, there were 28 natural disasters across the nation causing at least $92.9 billion in damages, surpassing the previous record of 22 in 2020. The extreme weather conditions directly challenge the CBP's ability to fulfill its responsibilities, affecting both the... CONTINUE READING