Press Releases

WASHINGTON – In November 2023, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) finalized a rule, forcing state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations to measure greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on the highway system and set declining targets, despite lacking any authority from Congress to do so.  As a result of this federal overreach, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a total award of $6,015,160 in discretionary funding to the following programs and initiatives in North Dakota: $3,000,000 to the University of North Dakota, provided through the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy to fund a cooperative agreement supporting the Rural Health Information Hub (RHIhub). $1,564,410 to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe through the Administration for Children and Families’ American Indian and... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.***  WASHINGTON – During a Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing on Tuesday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Q. Brown, Jr. provided testimony on the Department of Defense budget request for Fiscal Year 2025 and the Future Years Defense Program. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) specifically asked Secretary Austin and General Brown on the future of intelligence, surveillance,... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – At the beginning of March, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced its final rule to restrict credit card penalties, capping late fees at $8, down from $32. The rule, which is expected to go into effect on May 14, 2024, fails to consider how the proposal would harm American consumers, resulting in lower credit scores and reduced credit availability.  With the introduction of a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON – Each year, the Social Security Administration (SSA) determines the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) by analyzing the Consumer Price Index in order to reflect the fluctuations in goods and services across the country. The SSA last announced a 3.2% adjustment in October of 2023 and will reveal the next COLA in October of 2024.   Introduced by Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-MT) and Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-KS), and cosponsored by U.S. Senator Kevin... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced an award of $3,414,039 in discretionary funding for the following Head Start and Early Head Start projects in North Dakota: $1,354,289 to the North Dakota School for the Deaf, located in Devils Lake.  $2,059,750 to the Southeastern North Dakota Community Action Agency (SENDCAA), located in Fargo. These funds, distributed through the Administration for Children and Families, will support Head Start and Early Head Start... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement after Major General Alan Dohrmann, adjutant general of the North Dakota National Guard (NDNG) and director of the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services, announced his intention to retire effective September 30: “Al has been, is, and always will be, a trusted advisor for me in my roles on the Senate Armed Services and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees. His 40 years of service and sacrifice to our country and... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded $100,000 to the Barnes County Municipal Airport Authority. These Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) Program funds will support the reconstruction of the existing airport lighting vault which has met its life expectancy.   The fully paid-for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law established the AIG program in 2021 to provide airports funding for modernization and safety projects. CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – Last month, the Biden administration reissued a $10 billion Iran sanctions waiver, unlocking frozen funds and allowing the country to access hard currency from Iraq’s continued electricity purchases from Iran. In light of the administration’s recent decision, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, joined Ranking Member Tim Scott (R-SC) in sending a letter to Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen and Secretary of State... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – To further safeguard the military readiness of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), member Heads of State and Governments first agreed in 2014 to commit two percent of their national gross domestic product (GDP) to defense spending. Despite this agreement, NATO has projected only 18 allies to meet this threshold of defense spending in 2024. This means barely half of the alliance’s members will meet the deadline.    U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined U.S. Senator Tom... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for photos. *** FARGO – During a roundtable discussion hosted by U.S. Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) on Thursday, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) participated with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Matthew Quinn to discuss future development plans for a visitor’s center at the Fargo National Cemetery. “I’m reminded how blessed we are to live where we live. Thank you to everyone who has given up hours, days, weeks, as well as valuable... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded a total of $1,541,799 to Cankdeska Cikana Community College. These funds are distributed through the Head Start Indian Grants program, which promotes early childhood learning, health, and development initiatives, as well as family and community support services. CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – Across the United States, counties which grapple with frequent severe snowstorms can only receive assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) if the National Weather Service (NWS) determines it received a record or near record 1-day, 2-day, or 3-day snowfall. As defined by the NWS, a “day” refers to a full calendar day, “which is consistent with first-order climate records. Measurable snowfall (at least 0.1 inches) had to fall on 2 (3) consecutive days in order for... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** BISMARCK – On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, joined Larry Kudlow, Steve Moore, and Taylor Riggs on Fox Business. They discussed potential Federal Reserve interest rate actions and the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent efforts to effectively mandate the transition from vehicles with combustion engines to battery-powered electric vehicles (EVs). Excerpts... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) released the following statement after two federal courts issued decisions against the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) rule requiring states to measure tailpipe emissions on the National Highway System and then set declining targets to reduce emissions from roadway travel. In a clear rejection of the administration’s overreach, both decisions reiterate Congress never gave the Executive Branch this authority. “The absence of a prohibition is not... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced an academic research enhancement award of $434,929 to North Dakota State University. This grant, distributed through the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, will support early childhood homophone learning. CONTINUE READING

***Click here for audio.*** BISMARCK – Today, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced the implementation of the U.S. Air Force’s plan, directed by his authorization committee, to introduce Assignment Incentive Pay for eligible Airmen and Guardians stationed at cold weather locations, bases where the temperature reaches -20 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Eligible military stations in North Dakota include Minot Air Force Base, Cavalier Space Force Station, and Grand Forks Air Force Base.  Senator... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK — The Department of the Interior issued a final rule on Wednesday from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to add burdensome, redundant regulations on oil and gas producers operating on federal and Tribal lands. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, issued the following statement: "This rule is another step backwards for American energy. It will drive up the cost of energy even to the point of shutting some production... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – While potatoes have been classified as a vegetable since the inception of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), recent media reports speculate the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (Dietary Guidelines) could recategorize them as a grain. The Dietary Guidelines, published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the USDA every five years, provides food-based recommendations to update nutrition standards.    In a letter to USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsack... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced members of his staff will hold mobile office hours in Kindred and Lisbon on Tuesday, April 16. These hours were originally scheduled for Tuesday, February 28, but were postponed due to poor weather and no travel advisories. “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 Senator Cramer. “Having... CONTINUE READING