Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND)are calling on congressional leadership to reevaluate and reform federal energy tax credits to better align with America's goals of energy reliability, affordability, and security. In a letter sent to House and Senate Republican leaders and Commitee Chairs, the two former state utility regulators warn current energy tax policy distorts markets and weakens the electric grid by disproportionately... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – Over the last couple of years, the U.S. Air Force has begun to rapidly divest legacy airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms without demonstrating how new capabilities can replace them. The rate of investment and divestment leaves the Combatant Commanders accepting greater risk and provides civilian policy makers with less input to make informed decisions or conduct effective missions.   U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), joined by colleagues... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – Despite significant advancements in digital technology, remote notarization has yet to be fully deployed and accepted on an interstate basis. While nearly every state allows for remote electronic notarization, regulations and recognition vary between states. U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced their bipartisan Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic (SECURE) Notarization Act. This bill would permit... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for media resources.*** ANNAPOLIS, M.D. – Each year, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) nominates North Dakotans to the five service academies where they receive a world-class education and begin their careers in the Armed Services. Today, Cramer caught up with two of the Midshipmen he nominated, Midshipman Loren Steinberg and Midshipman Rebecca Van Vleet at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. “What a privilege to have breakfast this morning with North Dakota Midshipmen... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) held a hearing today to discuss the importance of enhancing outreach to better support the mental health of veterans across the nation. During the hearing, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) questioned Dr. Thomas O’Toole, Acting Assistant Under Secretary of Health for Clinical Services at the Veterans Health Administration, about the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for audio.*** BISMARCK, N.D. – North Dakota decisively won its Federal Tort Claims Act case against the federal government in a landmark $27.8 million dollar ruling, the first time in history in which a state has prevailed against the federal government in trial. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) released a statement following the ruling: “This ruling is a colossal win for the North Dakota taxpayers who were forced to bear the cost of our federal government’s abdication of its... CONTINUE READING

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Meat and poultry products inspected by state programs are limited to markets within their particular state, even when inspection at a state facility meets or exceeds federal inspection standards. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) in introducing the New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act to allow meat and poultry products inspected by state Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) programs to be sold across state lines. This bill... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download audio.*** BISMARCK, N.D. – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced Space Development Agency (SDA) Director Derek Tournear and General Michael Guetlein, Vice Chief of Space Operations for the United States Space Force, will join him in visiting the University of North Dakota (UND), Grand Forks Air Force Base, and Cavalier Space Force Station. “The buildup of ground-based capabilities at Grand Forks Air Force Base and the warfighting support offered by Cavalier Space... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for audio*** BISMARCK, N.D.  – Credit scores compiled from loan and payment data are a common indicator of overall consumer financial health. Credit data is typically sourced from car, home, and student loans as well as credit cards and other lines of credit. While most Americans have a variety of data streams, about 26 million Americans are “credit invisible” and lack credit records or repayment history. These scores are essential to securing further lines of credit and impact a... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for media resources*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The North Dakota State University (NDSU) Bison returned to Washington, D.C., to celebrate their National Collegiate Athletics Association Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) national title. The Bison beat the Montana State Bobcats 35-32 in January, securing the team’s 10th FCS Championship within 14 years, and the 18th championship in program history. Following the Bison’s win, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. - To support families choosing adoption, the existing Adoption Tax Credit allows adoptive families to deduct up to $16,810 in qualified expenses. The tax credit eases the financial cost of adoption and supports prospective and adoptive families. U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), co-chairs of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, with U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM),  introduced the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – When Congress passed the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019, it authorized several new programs designed to improve veterans’ access to mental health care. Among the provisions, the bill established the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program (SSG Fox SPGP) to reduce veteran suicide through a community-based approach.  While the SSG Fox SPGP authorized $174 million to be appropriated for Fiscal Year 2021... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement following President Trump signing executive orders relating to coal mining and coal powered electricity production: “It was a really good day for American energy. These executive orders that President Trump signed today reflect not just a temporary reprieve in the war against coal, but really a revolutionary break from the Biden administration’s pessimistic philosophy of scarcity. This... CONTINUE READING

Sets the Stage to Rebuild Military, Secure the Border, and Prevent $4 Trillion Tax Hike WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate passed its amendment to the budget resolution from the House of Representatives by a vote of 51 to 48. The amended resolution is a step toward making President Trump’s 2017 tax cuts permanent, strengthening national defense, enhancing border and energy security, and reducing spending. The budget resolution will now head back to the House of Representatives for... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded a total of $1,166,291 in federal funding to Richland County to replace the Helendale Bridge, an 82-foot, single-span steel truss bridge which was damaged from a severe winter storm and flooding event between April 22 - May 25, 2022. The structure will be replaced with a 142-foot, three-span concrete bridge using contract services which follow consensus-based codes and construction... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues, led by U.S. Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), in sending a letter to President Donald Trump requesting the year-round sale of E15 fuel. Specifically, the letter asked President Trump to use the nationwide temporary waivers provided under the Clean Air Act to extend the Reid vapor pressure waiver through the 2025 summer driving season. Supported by Cramer, the U.S. Environmental... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee held a hearing today, officially kicking off the process for development of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill. U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy testified before the committee, providing input on the Trump Administration’s priorities. Prior to his service as Secretary of Transportation, Duffy represented Wisconsin’s... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer today announced that Heather Ranck is being reinstated as the Director of the National Rural Export Center. The senators have worked with the new administration at the Department of Commerce to accelerate the important work of the National Rural Export Center by bringing back Ranck to the position, citing her experience and leadership in founding the center, which specializes in conducting customized market research designed to guide rural U.S.... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Since taking office, President Donald Trump and his administration have prioritized negotiating a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine. While Ukraine announced its willingness to support a 30-day ceasefire proposal, Russia has not.  U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and 50 of their colleagues, to introduce the bipartisan Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025. This bill would impose primary and... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.***  WASHINGTON, D.C. – Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) held a hearing today to consider the nomination of Lieutenant General Dan “Razin” Caine to be the 22nd Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  Lt. Gen. Caine has played a key role in overseeing classified military programs. He served as Director of Special Programs in the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Special Access Program Central Office, where he advised the... CONTINUE READING