Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Science Foundation announced an award of $250,000 to Turtle Mountain Community College. This award will increase the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) instructional and research capacities. Specifically, this project will enhance the cyberinfrastructure and cybersecurity necessary to facilitate development of the institution in STEM fields and for the protection of sensitive data. CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – Two Vision Benefit Managers (VBMs) dominate the vision insurance market, providing coverage to two-thirds of Americans with vision benefits. These VBMs often own the frame and lens manufacturers and control which labs an optometrist can use, resulting in less autonomy for providers and more limited choices for their patients. U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) introduced the Vision Lab Choice Act of 2024 to allow clinicians to use the medical labs of their... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy announced a grant of $999,999 to the University of North Dakota (UND) to improve unit operations of processing and manufacturing of critical materials. Specifically, this funding will allow UND to conduct a prototype demonstration of a proven process for producing low-cost, high-performance silicon monoxide with graphene coating (SiO/G) anode materials for lithium (Li)-ion batteries (LIBs) while reducing water, waste, chemical intensity, and... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last month, President Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum to serve as Secretary of the Interior. In his statement, President Trump also announced the creation of the National Energy Council, which will include every agency involved in each step of the energy development, production, and distribution process. As Secretary of the Interior, Burgum will chair the council. U.S.... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for media resources.*** SIMI VALLEY, C.A. – The Reagan National Defense Forum brings together leaders in the political and defense communities each year to discuss policies strengthening the defense of the United States. The theme of this year’s forum is “Peace Through Strength in a Time of Transition” and includes panels featuring members of Congress, administration officials, and senior military leadership, in addition to defense industry and technology executives. During this... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation awarded $32,482,941 for several projects in tribal nations across North Dakota to improve and strengthen water infrastructure. This funding was provided by the fully-paid-for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, helped craft and negotiate. “North Dakota’s tribal nations need updated water infrastructure to... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced his nominees to the U.S. military academies: Kendall Jones, Gus Maughan, and Luke Naslund. “One of the great joys of serving North Dakota in Congress is nominating some of our best young patriots for appointments to our military academies,” said Cramer. “After visiting with Kendall, Gus, and Luke, I am honored and grateful they are willing to answer the call to serve. They will be great... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), which was signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2020, established the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) and included $1.9 billion over 5 years to address the maintenance backlog across public land agencies, including the National Parks Service (NPS), Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and others.  Since the passage of the GAOA, North Dakota projects in Theodore Roosevelt National... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Due to the anticipated winter storm forecasted by the National Weather Service for tomorrow, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced mobile office hours in Cando and Towner have been postponed to ensure the safety of constituents and staff. Mobile office hours were originally scheduled for Tuesday, November 19 at 10:00 a.m. CST in Cando and at 1:00 p.m. CST in Towner. The mobile office will be rescheduled and more information will be announced when available. Constituents... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced an adjustment in hours of operation at 38 ports of entry (POE) along the U.S. northern border. These adjustments will be implemented beginning Jan. 6, 2025, and formalize operating hours which have been in effect for more than four years at 13 POEs across the northern border.  “As a northern border state, North Dakota’s 18 ports of entry play a vital role in facilitating... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture announced a New Beginning For Tribal Students (NBTS) award of $250,000 to Cankdeska Cikana Community College (CCCC). This funding will allow the college to provide laptops to students and amplify the expanded student services being developed through other grant programming. The NBTS program is intended to increase the retention and graduation rate of Tribal students attending 1194, 1862, and 1890... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. –  The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the bipartisan Servicemembers’ Credit Monitoring Enhancement Act on Wednesday. The legislation, which will now head to the House, expands free credit monitoring for all service members including non-active duty reservists and traditional National Guard members. Current eligibility is limited to active-duty service members and full-time National Guard members. U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Amy... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Media coverage of the 2024 United States presidential election by national broadcast networks was the “most lopsided in history,” according to a recent report published by the Media Research Center. Since July, the report states ABC, CBS, and NBC gave Vice President Kamala Harris 78% positive coverage, while now-President-elect Donald Trump received 85% negative coverage. In October, trust in mass media hit an all-time low, with only 31% of Americans expressing confidence in... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In September, North Dakota won a preliminary injunction against the U.S. Department of the Interior to block the Biden administration venting and flaring rule in North Dakota v. U.S. Department of the Interior. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) venting and flaring rule establishes a new royalty on flared gas, institutes monthly limits on allowable flaring, and adds new application requirements for operators regarding their ability to capture natural gas before obtaining a... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – In November 2023, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) adopted a final rule requiring state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations to measure greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on the highway system and set declining targets. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, led a bipartisan Congressional Review Act joint resolution of disapproval to... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for media resources.*** BISMARCK, N.D. – As a tribute to veterans across North Dakota and the nation, a Veterans Day observance ceremony is held each year at the North Dakota Heritage Center in Bismarck to recognize the brave men and women who answered the call to serve. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, attended today’s ceremony, recognizing veterans for their heroic service and sacrifice in the defense of the nation. Cramer... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced members of his staff will hold mobile office hours in Cando and Towner on Tuesday, November 19. “Since it’s not always possible for people to travel to my in-state offices, these mobile office opportunities help bring the services we offer closer to the constituents who need them,” said Cramer. “Having members of my staff in Cando and Towner will give North Dakotans more chances to explore solutions to the problems they face with people... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) issued a contract announcement of $22,019,171 to HSG Park Joint Venture 2, LLC for dredging of the spillway approach at Garrison Dam near Riverdale. The work is expected to be completed by August 27, 2027. Built in 1953, the Garrison Dam is the second-most upstream project of six which were built on the mainstem of the upper Missouri River and has the largest reservoir storage capacity of all USACE projects in the nation. When combined... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for more media resources. Click here for audio.*** BISMARCK, N.D. – The Missouri River Quilts of Valor (MRQV) hosted a ceremony today to recognize a North Dakota family for its military service. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) presented a replacement Purple Heart medal to honor the sacrifice of the family’s father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Private Franklin Joseph DuFrame, who gave his life in service to the nation in World War II. This replaces a previous Purple Heart... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – In August, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) halted all international adoptions, except those between blood relatives. Prior to the announcement, approximately 300 children in the PRC had been matched with American families in the adoption process. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a co-chair of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, joined U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin (D-MD), and a bipartisan, bicameral group of... CONTINUE READING