Press Releases

***Click here for media resources.*** GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The rapidly expanding defense ecosystem in Grand Forks received another boost today, with a visit from Vice Chief of Space Operations General Shawn Bratton to the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Operations Center. The visit comes a day after a major announcement from U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) for a planned $250 million Space Operations Center to be built at Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB). Bratton toured the base with Cramer,... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – Over the last three decades, domestic onion production costs have risen sharply from $1,876 per acre in 1992 to $6,438 in 2025. American onion growers operate under some of the strictest labor, safety, and regulatory standards in the world, but compete against foreign importers with far less stringent oversight, such as those based in Mexico. The outcome is unfair for domestic producers and dangerous for domestic consumers. In 2021, Mexican onions were recalled and credible... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – There’s big news for Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB) in President Donald Trump’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget. The executive budget proposes $250 million for a satellite operations center at GFAFB, expanding the U.S. Space Force’s role in next-generation missions. The three-story facility taps the base’s unmatched expertise to support National Reconnaissance Office and Space Force operations, powering advanced capabilities to strengthen... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate passed a budget resolution by a vote of 50 to 48 today, marking the first phase of the budget reconciliation process. This resolution is the first step in passing a targeted reconciliation bill to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operations for at least the remainder of the Trump administration. The House of Representatives must now pass its version of a... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for audio. Click here for video*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – As Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s term comes to a close, the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee held a nomination hearing for Kevin Warsh, President Trump’s Federal Reserve Chair nominee. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) asked Warsh about the independence of the Federal Reserve, and if he has observed philosophical independence within the institution’s deliberative process. Cramer said he’s often found... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – American energy markets are experiencing a full-circle moment nearly 50 years in the making. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter delivered an “unpleasant talk” calling “the energy crisis” “the greatest challenge our country will face in our lifetime … the moral equivalent of war.” Two years later, Iran’s revolution sparked global energy chaos. Fast forward to today, “Iran” and “gas prices” are again dominating headlines, bringing questions about energy independence to the... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for media resources.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – North Dakota’s deep Norwegian roots reflect the broad, long-standing relationship between the United States and Norway, one built on shared values, cultural ties, and security cooperation. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) spoke about the connection between the two countries at the 12th annual Norwegian-American Defense Conference today, where he delivered the Congressional keynote address. Cramer described the bond as historic and... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Six years after the signing of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), its mandatory Joint Review is quickly approaching. Under its terms, the United States, Mexico, and Canada are required to complete an assessment of the trade agreement by July 1 and jointly decide whether to extend it through 2042. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John Boozman (R-AR), Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and 36 other Senate colleagues on... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for media resources.*** DAWSON, N.D. – One of North Dakota’s last known living Rosie the Riveters, Irene Sprague, got an extra birthday surprise today, speaking with President Donald Trump who wished her a “happy birthday.” U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), who attended the event honoring the 100th birthday of Sprague, called the president and asked if he would say a few words to the centenarian, who worked during World War II with other women and helped power the allies to... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for media resources.*** FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota Air National Guard's 119th Wing, nicknamed the "Happy Hooligans," is flying global missions from the plains of North Dakota. Flying MQ-9 Reaper missions around the clock, the wing delivers real-time intelligence and precision strike capability to commanders across the globe. From surveillance to combat support, its work sits at the heart of modern warfare and is quietly shaping outcomes far beyond U.S. borders. U.S. Senator... CONTINUE READING

Cramer Attends the Celebration, Tours Base and SDA Operations Center ***Click here for photos.*** GRAND FORKS, N.D. – From adversaries overseas to incursions into military installations, small drones have changed warfare and espionage. Grand Forks Air Force Base's (GFAFB) leadership in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) is proving itself indispensable in countering emerging drone threats and bolstering America’s national defense. Today, the 319th Reconnaissance Wing at GFAFB officially unveiled the... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for audio.*** BISMARCK, N.D. — After weeks of U.S. pressure and diplomatic efforts led by President Trump, the Iranian regime has agreed to a two-week ceasefire and will reopen the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Senator Kevin Cracrmer (R-ND), chair of the Senate Armed Services Airland Subcommittee, issued the following statement applauding President Trump for securing the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz: “Under his Peace Through Strength leadership, President Trump is showing the world... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded $2,333,044 to two North Dakota tribal nations through the Build America Bureau Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program. The funding will be distributed as follows: $1,583,044 to the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians to support the Gordon Lake Road Infrastructure Enhancement Project. This award will fund planning, design, and engineering activities for the project. The initiative focuses on the reconstruction of... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced awards totaling $9,444,315 to Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, and the state of North Dakota. The funding will be distributed through the following programs: The Community Development Block Grant Program provides annual grants on a formula basis to states, cities, and counties to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the award of $350,769 to the University of North Dakota (UND). The funding will support allergy, immunology, and transplantation research to examine the role of peripheral immune cell activity in food-allergy-induced neuroinflammation and demyelination. CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded $625,244 to North Dakota State University (NDSU) through the Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI) Directorate for Engineering. The award will fund a project entitled “MRI: Track 1 Acquisition of PSV QTEC H 3D - Scanning Vibrometer.” This project will allow NDSU to acquire a PSV QTEC H 3D Scanning Vibrometer to expand its research capabilities and allow researchers to precisely measure vibrations and sound... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for photos. Click here for B-roll.*** GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum in Bismarck will soon be displaying a powerful tribute to the state’s enduring role in America’s nuclear deterrence. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced today he has secured a decommissioned Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile, which will be a prominent addition to the museum’s new Military Gallery, now under construction and scheduled for completion in... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A key space security coalition is moving to expand as two U.S. Senators push to bring more Indo-Pacific allies into the fold. The Multinational Force-Operation Olympic Defender (MNF-OOD), a U.S.-led partnership with Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. It is focused on strengthening coordination in space while improving interoperability, enhancing space domain awareness, addressing orbital debris, and deterring hostile activity. In 2025, the... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – Veterans have increasingly pointed to outdoor recreation as a tool for recovery and reintegration after leaving military service, noting time in nature and shared activities can help rebuild community, reduce stress, and support long-term mental health. U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), along with U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), are proposing a new effort to expand... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for audio. Click here for video.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee kicked off negotiations to reauthorize the U.S. Export-Import (EXIM) Bank and turn it into an even more powerful tool to spur domestic manufacturing. Last month, U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced legislation to reauthorize the bank for 10 years, the longest reauthorization of the bank in history. It is his second time leading the charge... CONTINUE READING