Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The impacts of the federal estate tax, often referred to as the death tax, were reduced in 2017 with the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which doubled the amount exempt from the tax and tied it to inflation. These tax cuts, unless extended, expire in 2025. In particular, the death tax significantly impacts family farms, ranches, and small businesses. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) in introducing the Death Tax Repeal... 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 carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS) technologies. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the EPW Committee, introduced the first witness, Kevin Connors, the Assistant Director for Regulatory Compliance and Energy Policy at the Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) in Grand Forks, N.D. “I love the opportunity to... CONTINUE READING

Stressed the Necessity of Competition in the Banking System   ***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs (Banking) Committee held a hearing on the Federal Reserve’s semiannual monetary report to Congress. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell testified before the committee. In July 2023, the Federal Reserve, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – In 2023, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conducted a review of the actual utilization of 24 agency headquarters buildings to better understand how the federal government is utilizing its real estate portfolio. On average, 17 of the 24 agency headquarters reviewed were at 25 percent or less utilization, with some agencies as low as nine percent.   U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Transportation and... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The Water Resources Development Act of 2024 included legislation from U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Subcommittee, and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), member of the EPW Committee, to rightsize the federal government’s real estate portfolio and ensure taxpayer-funded buildings do not sit empty. Their legislation, the Federal Assets and Transfers Act (FASTA) Reform Act, builds on the... CONTINUE READING

PARCS Radar in Cavalier Central to the Mission ***Click here to download audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Missile defense plays a key role in deterring and defeating adversary ballistic missiles and other threats against the United States, its allies, and American military forces overseas. In January, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) to build an Iron Dome for America, similar to Israel’s Iron Dome. The EO directs the implementation of a “next-generation missile defense shield... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs (Banking) Committee held a hearing today to ensure banks and financial institutions make lending and services decisions based on impartial, risk-based analysis, not political or reputational favoritism. In recent years, prominent American banks have engaged in a discriminatory practice, referred to as debanking. Banks and financial institutions have used their economic standing to categorically exclude law-abiding industries by... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate confirmed Scott Turner to serve as the 19th Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by a vote of 54 to 44 today. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, issued the following statement after voting in favor of Turner’s nomination. “Scott Turner is first and foremost a leader, and he will be an excellent Secretary of Housing and Urban Development,” said Cramer. “He has a fundamental... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – In recent years, prominent American banks have engaged in a discriminatory practice, referred to as debanking. Banks and financial institutions use their economic standing to categorically exclude law-abiding, legal industries by refusing to lend or provide services to them. This includes industries such as firearms, ammunition, crypto, federal prison contractors, as well as energy producers.  U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Senate confirmed Doug Collins as the next Secretary of Veterans Affairs today by a vote of 77 to 23.   U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), who served with Collins in the House of Representatives for six years, introduced him at his confirmation hearing and celebrated the bipartisan passage of his nomination from the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Additionally, Cramer penned an op-ed in the Washington Examiner highlighting how Collins will restore America’s... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – 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. Congress has never granted the Department of Transportation this authority.  Shortly after the rule was finalized, attorneys general from 21 states, including North Dakota,... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) awarded a contract of $10,097,097 to BCSS, LLC to fund the excavation, replacement and repaving of the existing Highway 75 intersection in support of the Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Area Flood Risk Management Project. These funds were provided by the fully-paid-for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) helped craft and shepherd through Congress. The USACE received $437 million in funding under the BIL... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate confirmed former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum as Secretary of the Interior today by a vote of 79 to 18.  U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement after voting in favor of Burgum’s nomination: “Doug Burgum is tailor-made for the Secretary of the Interior,” said Cramer. “North Dakota embodies Teddy Roosevelt’s multiple use doctrine for public lands, balancing energy development, ranching, conservation, and recreation on some... 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 Dan Driscoll to be the 26th Secretary of the Army. Driscoll, who was nominated by President Donald Trump in December, is a businessman, Army veteran, and Yale Law School graduate. In this position, Driscoll would have the primary responsibility of overseeing all aspects of the U.S. Army. Among other duties, he would be tasked... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Senate confirmed Lee Zeldin to serve as the 17th Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator by a vote of 56 to 42 today. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following statement after voting in favor of Zeldin’s nomination. “Lee is primed and ready to slash the mountains of backwards regulations at the EPA to restore primacy of states and common sense,” said Cramer. “I look... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Each week, nearly 47 million Americans rely on AM radio to deliver updates on news, sports, weather, and emergency alerts. Despite this, several car manufacturers proposed removing AM radio in their newer vehicles.  U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Ed Markey (D-MA) in introducing the bipartisan, bicameral AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. The legislation aims to address critical public safety and communication challenges by ensuring... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) held a hearing today to examine and discuss the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Care program. Veterans and advocates appeared before the committee to highlight their experiences and the ongoing challenges veterans face when accessing care from VA direct care system and community providers. In a rural state like North Dakota, with limited VA providers and... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.***  WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of Defense (DOD) has faced criticism for its slow and cumbersome acquisition system, which has hampered the timely delivery of advanced technologies to the warfighters. The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) held a hearing to discuss the use of defense innovation and acquisition reform to address longstanding challenges in the DOD’s procurement processes. Members of the committee heard testimony from... CONTINUE READING

Click here for audio. Click here for video. WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee announced U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) will serve as Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure  (T&I) Subcommittee for the 119th Congress. Cramer previously served as Ranking Member of the subcommittee from 2021 to 2024. The T&I Subcommittee has jurisdiction over the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water projects and management,... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – By a vote of 59 to 34, the United States Senate confirmed Kristi Noem as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) voted in support of her nomination. Noem and Cramer served in the U.S. House of Representatives together for three terms. The South Dakota Governor asked Cramer to serve as her Senate “Sherpa,” helping her navigate the confirmation process. “Kristi Noem is tough and determined, and the right person to implement... CONTINUE READING