Press Releases

***Click here to download audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Hospital Association announced it expects a shortage of about 100,000 critical health care workers by 2028, increasing geographic disparities and barriers to care across the nation. Rural communities are especially hard-hit by shortages in health care practitioners. According to the National Rural Health Association, rural areas have approximately 30 physicians or specialists per 100,000 people, compared to 263 in urban areas.... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act today. This legislation honors the 1980 Olympic Men’s Hockey Team’s improbable victory over the four-time reigning champion Russian Olympic team. Against all odds, the American team of amateur collegiate hockey players, including former University of North Dakota hockey player Dave Christian, defeated the Russian team in the semifinals on their way to win gold while cementing the game’s legacy... CONTINUE READING

Receives Air Force Brief on North Dakota’s Role in Nation’s Nuclear Deterrence Mission ***Click here for media resources.*** HILL AIR FORCE BASE, UTAH – One week after attending an Air Force town hall on nuclear modernization in Minot, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), chair of the Senate Armed Services (SASC) Airland Subcommittee, visited Hill Air Force Base. This base is responsible for providing key logistical, maintenance, and operational support for the Minuteman III intercontinental... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives passed a Congressional Review Act (CRA) Joint Resolution of Disapproval to overturn the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Resource Management Plan (RMP) for North Dakota. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Representative Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) introduced identical resolutions to overturn the Biden-era regulation, which would have cut off significant portions of federal oil and coal from development. Cramer applauded the vote. “The House... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Transportation announced an award of $364, 401 to the North Dakota Public Service Commission through the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA) Fiscal Year 2025 State Base Pipeline Safety Grants Program. PHMSA’s State Pipeline Safety Base grant program reimburses up to 80 percent of the operating costs for state programs charged with inspecting transmission and distribution pipelines within state boundaries. State pipeline safety programs... CONTINUE READING

View 21 satellites of SDA’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer ahead of their operations from Grand Forks Air Force Base ***Click here for media resources.*** CALIFORNIA – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), chair of the Senate Armed Services (SASC) Airland Subcommittee and co-chair of the Senate Space Force Caucus, visited Vandenberg Space Force Base (SFB) in California with Secretary of the U.S. Air Force Dr. Troy Meink to view a variety of satellites before they launch. The launches demonstrate... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced an award of $662,696 through the Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) program for projects at several airports across North Dakota. The funding will be distributed as follows: $363,000 to the Harvey Municipal Airport Authority for construction of a 5,625 square foot hangar for aircraft storage. $209,446 to the Stanley Municipal Airport Authority for the expansion of the existing West Apron... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for media resources. Click here for audio.*** MINOT, N.D. – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), chair of the Senate Armed Services Airland Subcommittee, highlighted the importance of modernizing the United States’ nuclear deterrence capabilities at a public town hall meeting today in Minot. Sponsored by the U.S. Air Force, the meeting provided landowners and community members with an overview of the Sentinel program and discussed the program’s projected impact on communities... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services (SASC) Airland Subcommittee, will participate in an upcoming town hall meeting hosted by the U.S. Air Force in Minot on Aug. 26. During the meeting, Air Force leadership will provide landowners and community members with information about the supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) being performed and offer an overview of the Sentinel Program and its projected impact on the communities in the... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for media resources.*** DEVILS LAKE, N.D. – To showcase North Dakota’s leadership in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), counter-drone innovation, and national security readiness, Anno.Ai and Dunlevy Consulting hosted the Versus UAS/Counter-UAS Symposium today at Camp Grafton. The event highlighted North Dakota’s innovative defense ecosystem and the state’s growth as a UAS center of excellence. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), chair of the Senate Armed Services (SASC) Airland... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. - The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced an award of $750,000 to the Harvey Municipal Airport through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). Specifically, this grant funds phase 2, which consists of construction of 4,270 square feet of the hangar. This grant includes future year funding planned for this project, subject to appropriations. This project constructs a new 5,625 square foot sponsor-owned hangar for aircraft... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced the award of $1,999,846 to the University of North Dakota (UND). The university’s NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program will foster close collaboration with stakeholders to work on projects assessing the status of land and water resources, explore practices for their efficient and sustainable use, and develop effective strategies to protect these essential natural resources. CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The National Park Service (NPS) announced an award of$425,175 to the North Dakota Department of Parks and Recreation through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The funds will facilitate the acquisition of about 149 acres of land for outdoor recreation at the Pembina Gorge Recreation Area.   Since 1965, the NPS has provided more than 48,000 LWCF grants, primarily funded with federal offshore oil and gas lease revenue, to states and local communities. LWCF awards allow... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the award of nearly $3.8 million to North Dakota for energy saving programs. DOE is providing $2,452,161 in retrofit program funding, $311,906 in Weatherization Readiness Funds (WRF), and allocating $544,548 in Training & Technical Assistance Allocation funds. As part of his plan for American energy dominance, President Trump has restructured weatherization and other energy program grants by prohibiting consideration of the... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced an award of $250,000 through the Tribal Colleges and Universities Program to Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College in New Town, N.D. The funds will support a project to build cybersecurity infrastructure and research activities at the college. CONTINUE READING

Work will partially be performed in Grand Forks BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) announced it has increased the size of its contract with General Dynamics, a global aerospace and defense company, by $17,500,000. The contract will go towards a project supporting Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) ground management, integration, operation, and sustainment efforts. This announcement brings the cumulative value of the contract to $1,148,297,413. The project is... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded $8,163,797 across two projects to 10 North Dakota colleges and universities. The awards will be distributed to the following projects and initiatives. NSF awarded a total of $7,963,804 to the colleges and universities to establish a comprehensive, self-sustaining, and long-lasting STEM ecosystem in North Dakota. The project will focus on connecting researchers across North Dakota, improving STEM opportunities in rural areas, and... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The National Park Service (NPS) announced an award of $1,000,000 to the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The funds will support the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians as they construct five playground and picnic areas with amenities. The project is expected to be completed by December 30, 2029. Since 1965, the NPS has provided more than 45,000 LWCF grants, primarily funded with federal offshore oil and gas... CONTINUE READING

Secures funding to improve national security and support veterans, farmers, and ranchers ***Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate overwhelmingly passed three bipartisan Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 appropriations bills to provide funding for several agencies and programs pertaining to military construction, veterans’ affairs, agriculture, rural development, food and drug oversight, technology infrastructure, physical and cyber security, and the legislative branch. “As us... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) promote economic growth and financial inclusion in underserved communities in North Dakota and across the country. They leverage federal investment to provide loans, capital, and financial services in areas often overlooked by traditional financial institutions. A bipartisan group of senators sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought urging swift action to disburse the $324 million in... CONTINUE READING