Press Releases

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** BISMARCK – The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) held a full committee markup last week for the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). By a vote of 22-3, the Committee advanced the legislation on Thursday and it will now head to the Senate floor for consideration. Each year, Congress passes the NDAA to authorize appropriations for defense-related activities and establish policies and initiatives to support... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the award of $988,046  to the following projects and initiatives in North Dakota: $546,014 to the North Dakota Department of Agriculture for continued operation of the agency's environmental programs, while providing greater flexibility to address its priorities, improve performance, achieve administrative savings, and strengthen the partnership between the department and EPA. $314,032 to the North Dakota Department of... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), and General Kenneth Wilsbach, Commander of Air Combat Command (ACC), will visit the Grand Forks Air Force Base on Monday to discuss base quality of life, current and future intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, the growth of the Space Development Agency (SDA), and other potential missions. The following day, they will visit the 119th Wing... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the award of $3,245,147 to the University of North Dakota (UND).  This funding is distributed through the National Institute of General Medical Sciences for the following programs and initiatives: $1,057,500 to UND’s Center for Biomedical Research Excellence, Epigenomics of Development and Disease. $2,187,647 to UND for its Translational Science Engaging North Dakota (TRANSCEND) program. CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – Under the Biden administration, the United States has seen the worst border crisis in American history. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported more than 7.8 million encounters with illegal immigrants at the southwest border over the last three years, and more than 9.5 million encounters nationwide. At the onset of the Biden administration, the president signed a series of executive orders rolling back former President Donald Trump's border security initiatives,... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON – One of the primary challenges facing small businesses in the United States is access to capital. A recent report published by Goldman Sachs revealed over three quarters of small business owners are concerned about accessing capital. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) introduced the Unlocking Capital for Small Businesses Act on Tuesday to provide a simpler regulatory regime for private placement brokers and finders, exempting them from U.S. Securities and... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service Northern Region announced its investment of over $26 million from the Great American Outdoors Act to enhance recreation opportunities for thousands of residents and visitors across North Dakota, Northern Idaho, and Montana. The following North Dakota projects in the Dakota Prairie Grasslands will receive funding: The Civilian Conservation Corps Campground, located near Theodore Roosevelt National Park, will receive funding to... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the award of $2,473,598 to North Dakota. The awards will be distributed to the following programs and initiatives: $2,111,098 to the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services for cancer prevention and control programs.  $362,500 to North Dakota State University through the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced members of his staff will hold mobile office hours in Devils Lake and Rugby on Monday, June 17. “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 Senator Cramer. “Having members of my staff in Devils Lake and Rugby will give North Dakotans more chances to explore solutions to the problems they face with... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON – The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee held a hearing to conduct oversight on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). During the hearing, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) questioned FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt about the agency’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions rule. He also discussed the importance of distributing highway funds to the states through formula,... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for media resources.*** WASHINGTON – During the POLITICO 2024 Energy Summit on Wednesday, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, participated in a moderated discussion about his environment and energy priorities with POLITICO’s E&E reporter Kelsey Brugger. Throughout the conversation, the pair discussed his bipartisan PROVE It Act, permitting reform, carbon capture, the Inflation Reduction Act, and more. Click here... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, joined Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) today in introducing a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval to overturn the Biden administration’s Clean Power Plan 2.0 rule. The rule requires existing coal generation plants to shut down unless plants install commercially-unavailable carbon capture equipment. Similarly, it forces new natural gas generation to... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – 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. According to the American Health Care Association (AHCA), 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 – The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the award of $292,800 to two airports in North Dakota. This funding, which will be distributed by the FAA's Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) program, will go towards the following projects and initiatives: $175,000 to Bottineau Municipal Airport for the reconstruction of an airport beacon. $117,800 to the Tioga Municipal Airport for the reconstruction of taxiway lighting. The AIG program was... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – The Lignite Energy Council and the National Rural Electric Cooperative (NRECA) filed a Petition for Review in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new Mercury and Air Toxic Standards (MATS). This petition is the initial step in filing litigation. The MATS rule, finalized at the end of April, will tighten the emission standards of mercury and non-mercury metals for existing lignite-fired power plants. Since 2010, mercury... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden issued an executive order on Tuesday in an effort to address the crisis at the southern border. After the announcement, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement on the executive order: “This executive order is a stunt. The American people have not forgotten how this mess was created: Joe Biden axed the successful Trump policies and invited millions of illegal immigrants. When he facilitated this influx, he and his administration refused to... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a rule last month, mandating minimum staffing levels at long-term care (LTC) facilities participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, which includes community facilities serving veterans. U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Angus King (I-ME), members of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), sent a letter to Secretary Denis McDonough, highlighting the anticipated negative effects of the rule on access... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for media resources.*** FARGO – In her first visit to the state with the highest percentage of citizens with Norwegian heritage, Norway’s Ambassador to the U.S. Anniken Krutnes spent the day in Fargo on Friday. Krutnes was invited to North Dakota by U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), to highlight the state’s Norwegian heritage and economic strength, and discuss defense and national security policies between the two countries. During a luncheon at the Fargo Sons of Norway Kringen... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the award of $4,431,195 to Minot Public School District 1. The funds will support Head Start and Early Head Start programs, which promote early childhood learning, health, and development initiatives, as well as family and community support services. CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the award of $1,000,000 to the University of North Dakota (UND) to its Dakota Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program. This program supports enhanced care delivery for older adults and helps primary care teams develop age and dementia-friendly practices. Earlier this year, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) led the North Dakota delegation in sending a letter of support for UND’s application to the Administrator of the... CONTINUE READING