Press Releases

BISMARCK, N.D. - Judge James Boasberg of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia granted North Dakota’s motion to dismiss the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s latest lawsuit to shut down the Dakota Access Pipeline.  U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement after the dismissal: “Even Judge Boasberg could barely make sense of the latest spaghetti against the wall lawsuit seeking a shutdown of a vital part of our nation’s energy backbone. Today’s dismissal is... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) held a hearing today to consider four nominations for key positions within the U.S. Department of Defense. During the hearing, members heard testimony from Secretary of the U.S. Air Force nominee Troy Meink, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment nominee Michael Duffey, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering nominee Emil Michael, and... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Under current law, state departments of transportation (DOTs) submit a Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP) every four years to the Federal Highway Administration. State TAMPs are planning and budget documents, intended to ensure effective management and long-term functionality of infrastructure like roads, bridges, and the National Highway System. In addition to the TAMPs, State DOTs are required to file separate annual reports with information about the implementation... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for audio. Click here for video.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee held a hearing to discuss nominees to serve in the Trump administration. The hearing featured testimony from Brian Nesvik, nominee for Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Jessica Kramer, nominee for Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Water. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) questioned Kramer on the EPA’s... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In 1985, U.S. Air Force Veteran Dennis “Denny” Krisfalusy and his wife, Lois, tragically died during an earthquake in Mexico City. While neither of their remains were found, Dennis received a memorial headstone at the Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Pennsylvania. Lois was ineligible to have her name added due to a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) date restriction. Under existing law, the VA can only provide burial markers or headstones for spouses and dependent children... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) patient advocacy program employs individuals at VA Medical Centers nationwide to manage the feedback received from veterans and their families. The patient advocate serves as a bridge working directly with VA staff to facilitate resolutions on behalf of all veterans.  U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) introduced the Strengthening VA Patient Advocacy for Rural Veterans Act of... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer and Representative Julie Fedorchak today announced they have reintroduced the North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act, bicameral legislation to enable greater development of state-owned lands and minerals. Specifically, the bill would authorize the State of North Dakota to relinquish state-owned lands and minerals contained within the Tribal Reservations to the U.S. Department of the Interior and, in exchange, receive federal land and minerals... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for audio.*** BISMARCK, N.D. — U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) released the following statement after a jury in Mandan found Greenpeace liable for defamation for its involvement in the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) protests in Morton County in 2016-17. The case was brought by Energy Transfer, the DAPL parent company. “This is what justice looks like in America. This is what happens when common sense prevails. I'm grateful to Energy Transfer for initiating the lawsuit, and for not... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The People’s Republic of China (PRC) halted all international adoptions, except those between blood relatives, in August 2024. Approximately 300 children in the PRC had been matched with American families prior to the announcement.  Co-chairs of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and U.S. Representatives Robert Aderholt (R-AL-04) and Danny Davis (D-IL-07), along with U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), sent a... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The Biden administration repeatedly issued regulations directing the mass adoption of electric vehicles (EV) by consumers. These regulations forced manufacturers of cars and trucks to build more and more EVs, and even ban the sale of gasoline powered vehicles. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) co-sponsored four bills to protect consumer choice in automotive markets and roll back the misguided, overbearing rules. “For four long years, the Biden administration pushed EV mandate... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate passed a continuing resolution (CR) today by a vote of 54 to 46, extending government funding through Sept. 30. The CR passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 217 to 213 on Tuesday. After the Senate advanced the bill, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement: “Despite Democrats fanning the flames of a government shutdown, both chambers worked with President Trump to pass this funding bill. This legislation makes the best... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for media resources.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, joined Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin for an announcement regarding the definition of Waters of the United States (WOTUS).  Click here to watch The Administrator issued new guidance clarifying wetlands will only fall under federal jurisdiction if they abut a... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for media resources*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a Punchbowl News conference, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined a fireside chat with Punchbowl co-founder, CEO, and North Dakota native Anna Palmer. Cramer and Palmer discussed the future of small businesses in rural America, the key to small business growth, government funding, and more. Click here to watch Government Funding: With government funding set to expire at the end of this week, Cramer said Congress could get an... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Recent declines in the number of landlords participating in the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, also known as Section 8 vouchers, have made it more difficult for renters to find housing.   U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer, member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Development, and Chris Coons (D-DE), introduced their Choice in Affordable Housing Act today to help expand the HCV program. U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO-05) and Mike Lawler... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States and Canada share the longest international border in the world, spanning 5,525 miles. The two countries are also economically tied, fostering nearly $1 trillion in bilateral trade. To ensure secure and efficient operation of the shared border, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is tasked with updating the Northern Border Threat Analysis every three years and the Northern Border Strategy every five years to safeguard it.  The last Northern Border... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for audio. Click here for video*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee held a hearing today to consider the nominations of David Fotouhi to serve as Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Aaron Szabo to serve as Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation of the EPA. Fotouhi served in the EPA as Acting General Counsel during the first Trump administration. Szabo previously served on the Nuclear... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Donald Trump addressed a joint session of Congress today in his first major address since his inauguration in January. His speech outlined his return to the presidency and his plans to secure the southern border, promote peace and strength abroad, and invest in the American economy. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) released the following statement after the address: “Tonight President Trump said it all when proclaiming, "AMERICA IS BACK!" From there he delivered the... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) held a hearing today to consider the nomination of Elbridge Colby to be the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, a key position responsible for shaping U.S. defense strategy and guiding the Pentagon's policy priorities. During the hearing, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) questioned Colby on the importance of modernizing the nation’s nuclear triad and deterrence, and... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and John Hoeven (R-ND), and U.S. Representative Julie Fedorchak (R-ND), introduced bicameral legislation in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to rename the Casselton post office after hometown hero Commander Delbert Austin Olson. Located at 840 Front Street, the post office would be designated as the Commander Delbert Austin Olson Post Office. Commander Olson served honorably in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Highly Rural Transportation Grant (HRTG) Program provides free transportation services to VA-authorized healthcare appointments for veterans living in highly rural areas. Roughly 2.7 million veterans reside in highly rural areas across the country.  U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Angus King (I-ME), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK), members of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs and Armed Services Committees, introduced the bipartisan Supporting... CONTINUE READING