Press Releases

BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced BNSF Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) publicly filed weekly grain backlog status updates as required by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB). A summary of the reporting data specific to North Dakota from the last 10 weeks is below. Following STB’s April 2022 hearing on “Urgent Issues in Freight Rail Service,” BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway, and Union Pacific submitted service... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, joined Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) in introducing bipartisan, bicameral legislation to establish a congressional charter for the National American Indian Veterans (NAIV). Last Congress, the bill passed the Senate unanimously. “Serving in the armed forces at higher rates than any other demographic, Native American veterans have honorably answered the call... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and 38 Republican colleagues in reintroducing the Back the Blue Act. This legislation would increase penalties for criminals who intentionally target law enforcement officers and provide new resources for officers to protect themselves. “Liberal ‘Defund the Police’ policies have left too many law enforcement officers on the receiving end of deliberate, targeted violence while they risk their own... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Banking Committee, co-sponsored the Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act. “The never-ending flow of illegal drugs coming into our country has reached an unprecedented level, and these deadly drugs are taking the lives of Americans every day. Enough is enough,” said Senator Cramer. “We must push back against this scourge by cutting off the profits... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Banking Committee, joined Ranking Member Tim Scott (R-SC) in sending a letter to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler regarding the agency’s aggressive rulemaking for small and emerging businesses. Specifically, they criticized the SEC’s regulatory agenda, as it risks undermining U.S. capital markets and makes it more difficult for Americans to launch, grow, and maintain their... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) applauded the National Science Foundation (NSF) for awarding $992,699 for two years to the University of North Dakota through the NSF Regional Innovation Engines program, the first of its kind. The funding was distributed to 43 other teams at universities, nonprofits, businesses, and other organizations across the United States. “Congratulations to UND for receiving this monumental award. This is another... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON– U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Banking Committee, joined Joe Gumm on Trinity Broadcast Network’s “Centerpoint” to discuss U.S. economic outlook, debt ceiling negotiations, and fiscal responsibility. Excerpts and full video are below. Click Here to Watch On Bipartisan Debt Ceiling Negotiations: “I’m confident they’ll come to some sort of... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed its most-restrictive climate rules for the power sector, which would require coal and many gas-fired plants to capture most of their emissions. “What the Democrats are either ignoring or do not... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, voted for two Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions he cosponsored to reverse restrictive Endangered Species Act (ESA) rulemakings by the Biden administration.  “The Biden administration’s over-regulation agenda completely disregards the real life impacts its onerous rules have on Americans across the country,” said Senator Cramer. “Agencies are... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for photos.*** WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) delivered remarks at the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) annual legislative conference. His comments focused on benefits of the Lake Access Keeping Economies Strong (LAKES) Act, a bipartisan bill he introduced to improve outdoor recreation facilities managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). “Many of us keep unique personal reasons for appreciating our country’s natural... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) in sending a letter to Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Alejandro Mayorkas requesting information on the status of border wall construction and urging the administration to complete it. The group also requests the number of migrants expected to enter the United States after Title 42 expires tomorrow, May 11. “The Administration has failed to... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), issued the following statement ahead of the expiration of Title 42, an existing authority which grants the federal government the ability to quickly expel migrants on public health bases. “The Biden administration’s immigration policies have created a humanitarian crisis, threatening the safety and sovereignty of the United States. In... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, questioned Jeffery Baran about his voting record on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) as he seeks a third term. The Senator raised concerns Mr. Baran’s goals for the Commission could impede the advancement of nuclear energy technologies and asked him about comments he has made on environmental justice as a... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) questioned General Glen VanHerck, Commander, United States Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, and Vice Admiral Jon Hill, Director, Missile Defense Agency, about the need for better ground-based radar capabilities, including Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System (PARCS) modernization at the Cavalier Space Force Station. “What role... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio*** WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Banking Committee, joined Steve Lance on NTD News’ Capitol Report to discuss the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) policy penalizing Americans who responsibly manage their money. The rule, made effective May 1, hikes upfront fees for individuals with credit scores above 680 to subsidize high-risk borrowers. Excerpts and full video are below. On the... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Cramer (R-ND) penned an op-ed in The Forum on how the Lake Access Keeping Economies Strong (LAKES) Act would benefit outdoor recreation sites in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)-managed areas. “When it comes to the management of recreation on federal lands not all federal agencies play by the same rules. Unlike others, the USACE is unable to retain recreation fees at their sites. For areas managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Forest... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), members of the Banking Committee, reintroduced the Bank Service Company Examination Coordination Act, legislation they led in the 116th and 117th Congresses. The bipartisan bill would define states’ authority to examine third-party Technology Service Providers (TSPs), improve information sharing and oversight mechanisms, and reduce regulatory inefficiencies. “Financial institution partnerships with TSPs... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) reintroduced their bipartisan Dental and Optometric Care (DOC) Access Act. This legislation would allow dentists, optometrists, and ophthalmologists to use the medical labs of their choosing, and provide doctors, patients, and insurers clarity on rates for non-covered dental and vision care. “Our doctors need more autonomy within our healthcare system, whether it’s selecting the best materials and lab... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Mike Lee (R-UT), along with 42 of their Republican colleagues, wrote a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) collectively opposing a debt limit increase without budget reforms.  “Our economy is in free fall due to unsustainable fiscal policies. This trajectory must be addressed with fiscal reforms,” wrote the senators. “Moreover, recent Treasury projections have reinforced the urgency of... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK — U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) in introducing the Save Local Business Act, bicameral legislation to codify federal standards for joint employers. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has initiated rulemaking processes on joint employer policies three times since 2015, most recently in September 2022. Frequent changes have resulted in legal confusion for the business community. The Save Local Business Act restores a commonsense... CONTINUE READING