Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced a $3.2 million grant to Grand Forks to accommodate the expansion of a soybean processing facility and allow for new industrial development in the area. This award will be matched with $798,342 in local funds. “North Dakota is an agriculture powerhouse, and our commodities rely on infrastructure networks to get our products to market,” said U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND). “This project adds value to the Grand Forks... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA) awarded $4,000,000 to the Turtle Mountain Public Utilities Commission to expand and improve the existing Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians water distribution system in the rural Dunseith area. Specifically, this grant will expand services to 32 additional users to provide them a safe and reliable source of water. Of these users, 15 of them have no water source and haul their water. The completion of... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – In February 1980, the United States Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team defeated the Soviet Union 4-3 in the semifinals of the 1980 Winter Olympic men’s hockey tournament in Lake Placid, New York. Team USA, comprised of 20 amateur collegiate hockey players including former University of North Dakota hockey player Dave Christian, defied expectations by defeating the four-time Olympic champion Soviet Union team in a game referred to as the “Miracle... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced an award of $2,464,533 to Standing Rock Telecommunications, Inc. through the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP). This funding will pre-pay broadband services for tribal homes as well as purchase end user equipment for those that require it. Additionally, this project will collaborate with a tribal college to provide a student with the opportunity to intern while in school. “North Dakotans... 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 hear testimony from Pete Hegseth regarding his expected nomination to be the 29th Secretary of Defense. If confirmed, Hegseth would oversee a U.S. Department of Defense of over 3 million people and a yearly budget of almost $900 billion, while also acting as the principal defense policymaker and adviser to the President. Hegseth received a bachelor’s... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced an award of $2,713,979 to the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians through the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP). This project will pre-pay qualifying broadband service for 200 Tribal households, provide end-user devices to 100 community members and small businesses, and expand digital Tribal government services. “Chairman Jamie Azure has made great strides in bringing critical... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced an award of $1,969,720 through the Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) program for several projects across North Dakota. The funding will be distributed to the following: $585,000 for Grafton Municipal Airport Authority to construct a new 4,828 square foot sponsor-owned hangar for aircraft storage to assist the airport to be self-sustaining by generating revenue. $421,800 for the Minot... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced an award of $3.9 million to Hector International Airport through the Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) Program. The funding will support a project to expand the existing terminal to add four new gates to accommodate more passengers.  “Hector International Airport’s expansion brings tremendous economic opportunity for the Red River Valley,” said U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – North Dakota State University’s Bison football team beat the Montana State Bobcats on Monday in the National Collegiate Athletics Association Division I FCS Championship game 35-32. This is the 10th FCS Championship win for the Bison within 14 years. Following the Bison win, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced President Donald Trump will host the champions at the White House at a future date. He also joined fellow... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. - The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded $26,420,000 for two projects in North Dakota. These funds were made available through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program and will be distributed to the following initiatives: $24,500,000 to the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) for its I-94 State of Good Repair Project. These funds will go toward the repair of approximately 20 miles of pavement on... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) issued a $18,689,731 contract announcement to HSG Park Joint Venture 2, LLC for construction of the Southern Embankment Reach (SE-3) and associated work in support of the Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Area Flood Risk Management Project. The project is expected to be completed by Sept. 10, 2027.  These funds were provided by the fully-paid-for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) helped craft and... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) was sworn in during a ceremony today for his second term representing North Dakota in the United States Senate. Cramer was sworn in as North Dakota’s 24th U.S. Senator in 2019, and previously served in the House of Representatives. The 119th Congress, which begins today, marks the first time Republicans in the House and Senate will be in the majority since 2019.   “It’s the honor of a lifetime to serve the best people in the world in the United... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced an award of $1.3 million to the University of North Dakota (UND) in Grand Forks. This award supports healthcare workforce development by funding the procurement of a van and related equipment to allow UND to expand its medical training program. This $1.3 million award will be matched with $328,500 in local funds. “The University of North Dakota is essential to training medical professionals in the region,” said U.S. Senator... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – Congress passed the bicameral, bipartisan Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act last week, improving veterans’ access to healthcare and benefits. The legislation included the VET-TEC Authorization Act, led by U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Angus King (I-ME), members of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, to fund the Veterans Technology Education Courses (VET-TEC) program, which expired earlier this year. Since its... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate passed a continuing resolution by a vote of 85 to 11 today, extending current government funding levels for three months, authorizing a one-year farm bill extension, and securing vital farm and disaster aid. The legislation, which extends appropriations levels through March 14, passed the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 366 to 34. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement after voting in... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) announced it awarded contracts to Gideon Contracting, LLC, and General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc., for two projects at Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB) in Grand Forks. The contracts will support two projects to improve the standard of living for airmen at GFAFB and further the Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. Specifically, the contracts will support the following... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for audio*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two bills cosponsored by U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) passed the Senate unanimously. Cramer joined fellow North Dakota delegation members U.S. Senator John Hoeven and then-Congressman Kelly Armstrong in introducing the North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act and the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Act. North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act ***Click here for audio*** This legislation authorizes North Dakota to relinquish its lands and... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA) passed the Senate on Wednesday by a vote of 97 to 1. Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill on a broad bipartisan basis, with a vote of 399 to 18. WRDA is a biennial bill which authorizes flood control, navigation, and ecosystem restoration projects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). This year, WRDA is paired with a... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congress passed the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024. Following extensive support in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the package heads to the President for his signature. The package includes several bills to right size the federal government’s real estate portfolio, including U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer’s bipartisan FASTA Reform Act. Cramer serves as the Ranking Member of the... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate passed legislation today containing major victories for North Dakota and the nation, including a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers and a 4.5% pay raise for all other servicemembers, at a time when recruitment is a vital concern. The annual bill, known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, passed by a vote of 85 to 14 and advances a “warfighting, not... CONTINUE READING