Press Releases

WASHINGTON – The Federal Reserve, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) announced proposed regulations to implement the final components of the Basel III agreement to raise bank capital requirements. The proposal was created to set the standards for capital reserves, liquidity, and leverage at financial institutions. Under the proposal, large banks will be mandated to transition to the new framework on July 1, 2025, with full... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Chairman, and U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ranking Member, held a Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure hearing today that focused on the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Public Buildings Service (PBS). Commissioner Elliot Doomes testified before the subcommittee on behalf of the GSA. The oversight hearing focused on the GSA’s management of the federal government’s expansive real estate... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) issued a $18,279,725.50 contract announcement with R. J. Zavoral & Sons, Inc. for construction of the Southern Embankment Reach SE-2B in support of the Fargo-Moorhead Area Flood Diversion Project. Construction on the project is expected to be completed by October 30, 2026. 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.... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the award of $5,328,829 for Head Start and Early Head Start programs in North Dakota. The funding will be distributed to the following programs and initiatives: $2,162,321 to Bismarck Public Schools. $3,166,508 to Grand Forks Public School District Building Authority. These programs promote early childhood learning, health, and development initiatives, as well as family and community support services. CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK — Three months after North Dakota’s Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) historic Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) trial against the federal government, the case is nearing its conclusion. The state of North Dakota filed its post-trial brief on Friday, urging U.S. District Court Judge Dan Traynor to rule in favor of the state and hold the federal government accountable for its facilitation of “public nuisance, negligence, gross negligence, and civil trespass” on Army Corps... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the award of $750,897  through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) to North Dakota to update an existing airport system plan. Additionally, the FAA announced a total of $519,629 through the Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) Program, which was established by the fully paid-for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to provide airports with funding for modernization and safety projects. The funding will go... CONTINUE READING

FARGO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the award of $2,427,167 to the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality for the following programs and initiatives: $2,147,167 to perform delegated program activities, conduct quality assurance activities, and maintain regional and national databases associated with environmental programs. $280,000 to North Dakota’s Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Prevention program, which includes leak detection, prevention, and... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – The U.S. Department of the Interior announced North Dakota will receive $1,988,436 in Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding for 2024 to support the costs associated with maintaining vital community services. PILT payments are calculated based on the number of acres of federal land within each county or jurisdiction, and its population. The PILT program was fully funded when Congress passed six FY24 appropriations bills in March. In FY23, North Dakota received over... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the award of $700,000 to the University of North Dakota (UND) for its Quentin N. Burdick Indian Health Programs. This fund will support the enhancement of educational opportunities for American Indians pursuing degrees in health professions. CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK — The Supreme Court of the United States issued an opinion in the cases of Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and Relentless, Inc. v. Department of Commerce today, overturning the Chevron doctrine, a cornerstone of administrative law. The doctrine played a pivotal role in determining how much federal courts defer to executive agencies’ interpretation of statutes passed versus Congressional intent. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement on the Supreme Court’s... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted a finalized rule in March requiring publicly traded companies to disclose their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data. This is the first time the SEC has published a rule requiring companies to submit climate-related information. Critics contend it is “unlawful several times over.” Multiple lawsuits are pending in the Eighth Circuit, including a petition seeking review of the regulations filed by the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded$28,816,840 for three 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: $23,816,550 to the City of West Fargo for the installation of a road-rail grade separation complete with pedestrian, bicycle, and ADA accommodations at the intersection of 9th Street NE and an existing... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON — President Biden announced a plan on Tuesday to exempt certain illegal immigrants from deportation. According to the White House, 500,000 spouses of U.S. citizens, and approximately 50,000 noncitizen children under the age of 21 whose parent is married to a U.S. citizen will be allowed to stay in the country and eligible to receive permanent legal status. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement regarding President Biden’s announcement. “Not even two weeks... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** BISMARCK – The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) held a full committee markup last week for the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). By a vote of 22-3, the Committee advanced the legislation on Thursday and it will now head to the Senate floor for consideration. Each year, Congress passes the NDAA to authorize appropriations for defense-related activities and establish policies and initiatives to support... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the award of $988,046  to the following projects and initiatives in North Dakota: $546,014 to the North Dakota Department of Agriculture for continued operation of the agency's environmental programs, while providing greater flexibility to address its priorities, improve performance, achieve administrative savings, and strengthen the partnership between the department and EPA. $314,032 to the North Dakota Department of... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), and General Kenneth Wilsbach, Commander of Air Combat Command (ACC), will visit the Grand Forks Air Force Base on Monday to discuss base quality of life, current and future intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, the growth of the Space Development Agency (SDA), and other potential missions. The following day, they will visit the 119th Wing... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the award of $3,245,147 to the University of North Dakota (UND).  This funding is distributed through the National Institute of General Medical Sciences for the following programs and initiatives: $1,057,500 to UND’s Center for Biomedical Research Excellence, Epigenomics of Development and Disease. $2,187,647 to UND for its Translational Science Engaging North Dakota (TRANSCEND) program. CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – Under the Biden administration, the United States has seen the worst border crisis in American history. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported more than 7.8 million encounters with illegal immigrants at the southwest border over the last three years, and more than 9.5 million encounters nationwide. At the onset of the Biden administration, the president signed a series of executive orders rolling back former President Donald Trump's border security initiatives,... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON – One of the primary challenges facing small businesses in the United States is access to capital. A recent report published by Goldman Sachs revealed over three quarters of small business owners are concerned about accessing capital. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) introduced the Unlocking Capital for Small Businesses Act on Tuesday to provide a simpler regulatory regime for private placement brokers and finders, exempting them from U.S. Securities and... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service Northern Region announced its investment of over $26 million from the Great American Outdoors Act to enhance recreation opportunities for thousands of residents and visitors across North Dakota, Northern Idaho, and Montana. The following North Dakota projects in the Dakota Prairie Grasslands will receive funding: The Civilian Conservation Corps Campground, located near Theodore Roosevelt National Park, will receive funding to... CONTINUE READING