News Releases
Hoeven Secures Truck Weight Limit Increase for North Dakota, Reduces Transportation Costs for the Region
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies, this week secured a provision in the Senate's Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 funding legislation to increase truck weight limits in North Dakota. This effort, which allows a limit of up to 129,000 pounds on the two federal interstates and several state highways, dovetails with legislation passed by the state legislature this year and harmonizes the state… Continue Reading
07.28.17
Hoeven Statement on Health Care Reform Debate
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate ended debate on health care reform legislation: "Obamacare is harming individuals and families in North Dakota and across the nation who are seeing fewer health insurance options and rising costs. Since 2013, premiums have more than doubled in the U.S. and continue to rise with some areas of the country left with one or no insurers. In fact, North Dakota will see large premium increases this fall because of O… Continue Reading
07.27.17
Hoeven: Senate Approves New Sanctions for Iran, Russia & North Korea
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today voted with a bipartisan majority to pass legislation placing additional sanctions on Iran, Russia and North Korea. The bill was amended and approved by the House of Representatives earlier this week, following its initial passage by the Senate. "These additional sanctions are important tools to help push back against the aggressions of Iran, North Korea and Russia," said Hoeven. "The sanctions against North Korea are a good first step, and I will continue … Continue Reading
07.27.17
Hoeven: DOT Provides Regulatory Relief for Ranchers & Motor Carriers to Help Move Hay, Livestock During Drought
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a Regional Declaration of Emergency and waived regulations in North Dakota to allow agriculture producers and motor carriers to more easily transport hay, feed, supplies and livestock in response to drought. Hoeven worked with DOT to secure the waiver for North Dakota. "Emergency support services are needed for our ranchers throu… Continue Reading
07.27.17
Hoeven Announces $150,000 Research Grant for NDSU
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded $150,000 to North Dakota State University (NDSU). The funds will be used to research the impact of the amino acid leucine on the growth and health of calves for both dairy and beef production. "The researchers at NDSU do a great… Continue Reading
07.27.17
Hoeven: CJS Funding Bill Supports New Detention Facility for Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Senate's Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 includes funding to help the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe replace its current detention center, which is beyond repair. The funding that the tribe currently receives from the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) does not allow for new construction. Hoeven's provision ensures that the tribal j… Continue Reading
07.25.17
Hoeven: BLM Proposes to Rescind Hydraulic Fracturing Rule
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, today issued the following statement after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued a proposal to rescind its hydraulic fracturing rule. "BLM's rule creates duplicative and unnecessary layers of regulation for our energy producers," Hoeven said. "Our state and local governments have the greatest stake in protecting our land and water, and by rescinding this rule, we are respecting their vital r… Continue Reading
07.25.17
Hoeven Statement on Debating Health Care Legislation
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the Senate voted to debate health care reform legislation: "Obamacare has raised costs and limited choices for individuals and families in North Dakota and across the nation. Premiums have more than doubled in the U.S. since 2013 and are continuing to rise with some areas of the country left with one or no insurers. In fact, North Dakota is expected to see additional premium increases again this fall because of Obamaca… Continue Reading
07.25.17
Hoeven: Judge Ralph Erickson Exceptionally Qualified to Serve on the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today introduced United States District Judge Ralph Erickson, who has been nominated to serve on the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, at a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Hoeven said that throughout Judge Erickson's 23-year judicial career he has shown a deep respect for the Constitution and upheld the rule of law. Hoeven urged the committee to approve Judge Erickson's nomination and move it to the full Senate for confirmation. "A longtime North Dakotan, … Continue Reading
07.25.17
Hoeven, Cramer Secure $250,000 in FY2018 Agriculture Appropriations Legislation to Prevent Blackbird Damage to Crops
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, and Congressman Kevin Cramer today announced that both the Senate and House Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Agriculture Appropriations bills make $250,000 available to help prevent blackbird damage to crops in the Northern Great Plains. Specifically, the funding will support the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS) use of fixed-wing aircraft to reduce blackbird da… Continue Reading
07.24.17
Hoeven Announces Nearly $900,000 Grant for Cavalier Airport
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded $882,541 to the Cavalier Municipal Airport Authority. The funds will be used to widen the existing hanger taxiway and construct a partial parallel taxiway so that aircraft do not need to back-taxi on the runway. "Today's funds will be used to improve the airport in Cavalier so it can continue to serve the area's aviation needs and pr… Continue Reading
07.24.17
Hoeven Announces More Than $5 Million to Support Emergency Preparedness in North Dakota
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded $5,061,993 to the North Dakota Department of Health. The funds will be used to support the state's Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) and Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Cooperative Agreements, both of which help provide planning, training and support for state and local responses to emergencies including infect… Continue Reading
07.24.17
Hoeven, Rounds Reintroduce Veterans Access to Long Term Care and Health Services Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) recently reintroduced the Veterans Access to Long Term Care and Health Services Act, which expands veterans' access to long-term care (LTC) services. The legislation will enable veterans to receive nursing home care in their home communities near their loved ones because more nursing homes will be able to treat veterans without having to comply with burdensome red tape. Earlier this year, the Department of Veterans Affair… Continue Reading
07.21.17
Hoeven: FSA to Provide Additional Staff to Prevent Backlogs for Producers Facing Drought
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is sending additional staff to prevent service backlogs for agriculture producers facing severe drought conditions. Additional staff will be sent to the following FSA offices: McHenry, Mountrail, Bowman, Golden Valley, Hettinger and Stark counties. Today's announcement follows Hoeven's efforts this week to secure additional support for farmers and ran… Continue Reading
07.21.17
Hoeven: Energy & Water Funding Bill Supports Comprehensive Flood Protection in North Dakota
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Energy and Water, today announced that the committee has approved Fiscal Year 2018 funding legislation supporting comprehensive flood protection for communities in North Dakota. "We worked hard to ensure the Corps has the funding it needs to work on flood protection across our state," said Hoeven. "Further, we have secured provisions that will help prevent bureaucratic delays in modifying projects and ensure pu… Continue Reading
07.20.17
Hoeven: USDA Opens Additional Conservation Acres for Emergency Haying and Grazing
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has opened additional conservation acres for emergency grazing and haying for areas of North Dakota affected by severe drought. These are conservation practice (CP) acres, except CP25 and CP42 programs. This authorization allows producers in all North Dakota counties as well as some coun… Continue Reading
07.20.17
Hoeven Secures Additional Support in Ag Funding Legislation to Help Drought Response
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, today secured additional support in the Senate's agriculture funding legislation for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 to aide farmers and ranchers facing severe drought. The provisions Hoeven included in the bill direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to: Make funding available for the transportation of hay and livestock during drought conditions under the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Be… Continue Reading
07.20.17
Hoeven Announces Nearly $150,000 to NDSU for Research on Biobased Fire Retardants
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a $149,000 research grant to North Dakota State University (NDSU). The funds will be used to develop a reliable, biobased fire retardant to be used in construction materials, vehicles and other products. "NDSU consistently researches new products and materials to help improve our… Continue Reading
07.20.17
Hoeven: Senate Health Care Reform Legislation Preserves and Builds Upon the Indian Health Care Improvement Act
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, today outlined provisions in the Senate's draft health care reform legislation that preserve and build upon the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. Additionally, the legislation includes a provision to provide 100 percent federal reimbursement, regardless of the service provider, for care provided to Native Americans on Medicaid. "We're working to provide more choice and competition in our health care system,… Continue Reading
07.19.17
Hoeven Statement on John McCain
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the announcement that Senator John McCain has been diagnosed with brain cancer: "Senator McCain is not only a leader in the Senate, but a true American hero and I'm fortunate to call him a friend and colleague. He has faced challenges throughout his life with determination and resolve, and I know that he will be a tenacious fighter in this battle. Mikey and I will keep Senator McCain and his family in our thoughts and c… Continue Reading
