Press Releases

Bolsters National Security, Supports Veterans, Farmers, and Ranchers ***Click here to download audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – After 41 days of gridlock, the United States Senate voted 60 to 40 to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history and extend current funding through the end of January 2026. The measure advanced after eight Senate Democrats voted alongside Republicans to move the package forward, which includes three Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 appropriations bills supporting military... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – By a vote of 60 to 40, the U.S. Senate voted to proceed to an appropriations package, bringing Congress one step closer to ending the longest-lasting government shutdown in history. Late hour negotiations delivered five additional Democrats, securing the 60 votes needed to invoke cloture. Three Democrats had voted with Republicans during the previous 14 attempts. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) credited the progress to President Donald Trump’s engagement over the past few... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) held a hearing to consider the nominations of Timothy D. Dill to be Assistant Secretary of War for Manpower and Reserve Affairs; Dr. Maurice L. Todd to be Assistant Secretary of War for Readiness; Michael Payne to be Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE); and Alexander J. Velez-Green to be Deputy Under Secretary of War for Policy. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) held a hearing to consider the nomination of Vice Admiral Rich Correll to be Admiral and Commander of United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM). As STRATCOM Commander, Vice Admiral Correll would be responsible for strategic deterrence, nuclear operations, global strike, nuclear command, control, and communications enterprise operations, joint electromagnetic spectrum... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Democrats voted against the Shutdown Fairness Act today, blocking pay for federal employees who are required to work during government shutdowns. The bill, introduced by U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), would have paid Coast Guard and active duty service members, air traffic controllers, Border Patrol agents, federal contractors, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, federal law enforcement officers, and excepted employees in the legislative and judicial... CONTINUE READING

BISMARCK, N.D. – Amtrak announced it has spent over $30 million to complete work at five North Dakota train stations for accessibility upgrades and improvements. These improvements bring the five stations into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is still delivering for North Dakota,” said U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee. “It’s great to see... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Democrats blocked consideration of a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government 10 times and have pivoted to obstructing the passage of individual appropriations bills. Today, Senate Democrats voted against taking up the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Defense Appropriations Act. This key bill would have supported service members and their families, funded military readiness efforts, strengthened the defense industrial base, and... CONTINUE READING

Announces Grand Forks Air Force Base as Home of the New Point Defense Battle Lab WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) addressed attendees virtually at the 19th annual Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Summit and Expo in Grand Forks today. This is a gathering of policymakers and industry leaders from around the world who discuss the regulatory, economic, and technological events in the unmanned aerial system industry. Due to the ongoing government shutdown, both Cramer and his guest,... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed the U.S. Senate by a vote of 77 to 20, including U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Amy Klobuchar’s (D-MN) Servicemembers’ Credit Monitoring Enhancement Act. The annual bill, which passed the House in September, will now be negotiated by the House and Senate to reconcile differences. The provision requires the expansion of free credit monitoring for all service members and their families, including... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download audio.** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate passed legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) to ensure all first responders who die or become disabled due to service-related cancers are covered under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program. While the program recognizes those who made the ultimate sacrifice due to 9/11-related cancers, it does not cover other first responders who lose... CONTINUE READING

***Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – By a vote of 77 to 20, the United States Senate passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), authorizing more than $900 billion in FY26 for defense-related initiatives. The annual bill accelerates the rebuilding of the United States’ arsenal of democracy by reforming the Pentagon’s budgeting and acquisition process to spur innovation, returning the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to its warfighting mission, and... CONTINUE READING

***Click here to download video. Click here for audio.*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing today to discuss the nomination of General Ken Wilsbach, former Air Combat Command (ACC) leader and fighter pilot, to be the 24th U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff. Upon confirmation, General Wilsbach will be responsible for the organization, training and equipping of 689,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve, and civilian forces serving both in the United States and... CONTINUE READING

Resolution Now Advances to President Trump For Signature ***Click here for media resources*** WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate voted today to pass a Congressional Review Act (CRA) Joint Resolution of Disapproval to overturn the Biden-era Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Resource Management Plan (RMP) for North Dakota. Under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, the BLM must adopt RMPs to govern how the agency will manage its acreage. In North Dakota, the BLM is the landlord of 58,500... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded $9,413,942 to the North Dakota Department of Transportation through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Emergency Relief (ER) Program. The FHWA’s ER Program provides grants to repair eligible roads, bridges, and infrastructure after natural disasters such as flooding. CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Education announced a total of $956,506 to North Dakota schools and colleges. A total of $658,478 will be distributed to two schools under the Demonstration Grants for Indian Children Program. These grants fund the development, testing, and demonstration of the effectiveness of services and programs to improve educational opportunities and achievement of Native American children in preschool, elementary, and secondary schools. Turtle Mountain will... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of War awarded a $19,817,205 task order contract to United Crane and Excavation for runway repairs at Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB). Due to cracking and weathering, the runway has deteriorated over time and degraded pavement sections require repair. This task order will provide the necessary materials, plans, travel, labor, and equipment for the construction. The work is expected to be completed by Sept. 20, 2026. “A good runway is the beating heart of... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – For the second time in as many weeks, Senate Democrats blocked a clean, short-term continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government funded through Nov. 21, initiating a government shutdown and cutting off access to many programs and services. Because the CR previously passed the House of Representatives, the bill would immediately become law and fund the government upon Senate passage and being signed by President Trump. U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced an award of $260,009 to North Dakota agencies. $211,834 to the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services to complete 395 emergency responder trainings through various HAZMAT courses and full-scale and table-top exercises. This funding comes through the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant. $48,175 to the North Dakota Public Service Commission (PSC) to develop and implement the PSC’s... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) awarded a contract of $13,377,389 to R.J. Zavoral & Sons Inc. for construction of the Southern Reach SE-2B section in support of the Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Area Flood Risk Management Project. The project is expected to be completed in 2027. 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... CONTINUE READING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded $1,635,823 to Cankdeska Cikana Community College in Fort Totten. These funds are distributed through the Tribal College and University Head Start Partnership Program, which seeks to increase the number of qualified staff working in Native American Head Start programs within tribal nations. CONTINUE READING