News Releases
Hoeven: Air Force Agrees to Spray Non-Federal Lands for Mosquitoes
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today said the Air Force Reserve Command has at his urging approved local requests to spray for mosquitoes on non-federal lands in western North Dakota, including areas near Williston and Minot. The Air Force Reserve is already spraying federal lands in the area, but it will now also spray the non-federal areas as well. The mosquito abatement efforts are expected to take place at the end of June and in mid-July. "We're pleased that the Air Force has agreed to al… Continue Reading
06.11.13
Hoeven, Heitkamp, Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce PTSD Awareness Month Resolution
WASHINGTON - In a continued effort to raise awareness about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Senator John Hoeven today cosponsored a resolution in the United States Senate sponsored by Senator Heidi Heitkamp to designate the month of June as National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Month. Senator Hoeven cosponsored a resolution marking June 27 as PTSD Awareness Day with Senator Kent Conrad for the last two years. The resolution introduced today would designate the entire month of June as PT… Continue Reading
06.10.13
Hoeven: Senate Passes Five-Year Farm Bill
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Senate has voted to pass the new farm bill, the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013. The new legislation focuses on enhanced crop insurance, the number one priority for North Dakota producers; continues the sugar program, also important for North Dakota farmers; and saves $24 billion to help reduce the deficit. The comprehensive farm bill moved through the Senate, Hoeven said, because lawmakers had already worked through … Continue Reading
06.06.13
Hoeven Supports Permanent Solution to Student Loan Rates Expiration
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement following a vote on two measures to address the expiration of current rates on federally subsidized student loans on July 1, neither of which passed: "Today, the U.S. Senate voted on two bills to address the subsidized student loan rates that are scheduled to expire on July 1. While neither measure passed, it is clear that Congress needs to come together to find a way to provide America's young people with access to an afford… Continue Reading
06.06.13
Hoeven: Key Vote Today Sets Up Passage of Senate Farm Bill
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the full U.S. Senate has voted for cloture on the new farm bill, the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013. Today's vote assures passage of the measure by the full Senate when it reconvenes next week. The new legislation focuses on enhanced crop insurance, the number one priority for North Dakota producers; continues the sugar program, also important for North Dakota farmers; and saves more than $24 billion to help reduce the defici… Continue Reading
06.06.13
Delegation Statement on U.S. Navy Decision to Name Newest Ship USNS Bismarck
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp and Congressman Kevin Cramer today issued the following statement after receiving notification from Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus that the U.S. Navy has decided to name one of its next three joint high-speed vessels (JHSV) the USNS Bismarck in recognition of its citizens' hard work and as an expression of appreciation for their many contributions in support of the military. The USNS Bismarck (JHSV 9) is the first naval vessel to be named for… Continue Reading
06.05.13
Hoeven Presses for Passage of Resolution Calling for Free and Fair Iranian Presidential Elections
WASHINGTON -Senator John Hoeven this week spoke on the Senate floor to push for passage of a resolution that he introduced with Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) that calls on the Government of Iran to hold a free, fair and open presidential election on June 14. Senate Resolution 154 highlights that Iran's Supreme Leader, who outranks the president, is not accountable to the Iranian people through elections, and that Iran's government has a long history of abusing human rights and holding el… Continue Reading
06.05.13
Hoeven Calls Bakken Federal Executives Group Meeting a Step in Speeding Federal Energy Permitting
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today said a meeting of the Bakken Federal Executives Group is a step forward in finding ways to improve federal energy permitting in the Bakken region. Today's congressional participation in the group resulted from an exchange between Hoeven and President Obama during a working dinner-meeting earlier this spring. Hoeven pressed the President to improve the federal permitting process in the Bakken, which currently can take up to nine months. Following that exchan… Continue Reading
05.30.13
Hoeven: Northrop Grumman Signs Historic Strategic Alliance Agreement with Grand Forks Partners
GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today brought together Northrop Grumman and its partners for the signing of an historic strategic alliance agreement between the aerospace giant and the Grand Forks Base Realignment Impact Committee (BRIC), University of North Dakota (UND), UND Aerospace Foundation (UNDAF) and Northland Aerospace Foundation. The signing of the partnership agreement paves the way for Grand Forks County and the U.S. Air Force to agree on terms for an Enhanced Use Lease (EUL… Continue Reading
05.30.13
Delegation: President Approves North Dakota Governor's Disaster Declaration Request
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp, and Congressman Kevin Cramer today said President Barack Obama has approved Governor Jack Dalrymple's request for a major disaster declaration for 16 counties and the Spirit Lake Nation due to spring flooding. The incident period runs from April 22 to May 16, 2013. Last week, the delegation wrote to President Barack Obama to press for approval of the state's request: "the combination of a heavy snowpack, very late snowmelt and other factors … Continue Reading
05.29.13
Delegation, Governor: EDA Awards Minot $18 Million for Imagine Downtown Reconstruction Project
MINOT, N.D. - Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp, Congressman Kevin Cramer and Governor Jack Dalrymple today announced that the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded Minot $18 million from Congress's 2012 disaster recovery funding for the city's ambitious Imagine Downtown project. Hoeven has worked since the historic flood of 2011 to secure federal funds for recovery and permanent flood protection in Minot. Over the past year, he worked to shepherd the Imagine Downtown… Continue Reading
05.24.13
Delegation Presses President to Approve North Dakota Governor's Disaster Declaration Request
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp, and Representative Kevin Cramer today pressed President Barack Obama to approve Governor Jack Dalrymple request for a major disaster declaration for 16 counties and the Spirit Lake Nation due to spring flooding. "The combination of a heavy snowpack, very late snowmelt and other factors led to overflowing rivers and extensive overland flooding," the delegation wrote. "Rapidly rising temperatures accelerated the pace of the late snowmelt, whic… Continue Reading
05.24.13
Hoeven Honors Families of Fallen North Dakota Servicemembers at Annual TAPS Seminar
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today met with more than 30 North Dakota military family members attending the 19th Annual TAPS National Military Service Seminar and Good Grief Camp for Survivors. Since 1995, the national TAPS conference has been held in Washington, D.C. over Memorial Day weekend for military families from across the country to join together to participate in events tailored for survivors grieving the loss of a loved one who died while serving our country. "It is a special hon… Continue Reading
05.24.13
Senators Hoeven, Klobuchar Lead Group of Senators in Opposition to Proposed DHS Border Fee Study
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) today led a bipartisan group of senators calling on U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano to abandon the department's proposal to implement a border-crossing fee for those entering the United States from either Canada or Mexico at land crossings. The agency recently announced it planned a study to evaluate the proposal. The Senators raised concerns that such a fee would negatively impact trade… Continue Reading
05.24.13
Hoeven, Blumenthal Introduce Resolution Calling for a Free and Fair Presidential Election in Iran
WASHINGTON - In support of the Iranian people, Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today introduced a bipartisan resolution calling on the Government of Iran to hold a free, fair and open presidential election next month. The resolution highlights the fact that Iran's Supreme Leader, who outranks the president, is not accountable to the Iranian people through elections, and that Iran's government has a long history of abusing human rights and holding elections that ar… Continue Reading
05.24.13
Hoeven Calls on Energy Secretary to Address High Gas Prices in North Dakota, Upper Midwestern States
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today called on Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz to address high gas prices in North Dakota and the Upper Midwest owing to planned refinery shutdowns and the resulting shortages of fuel. Hoeven and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) have also introduced legislation to help reduce the impact of simultaneous refinery shutdowns on gas prices. In a letter to the energy secretary sent Friday, Hoeven also called on Secretary Moniz to use existing laws to help … Continue Reading
05.23.13
Senator Hoeven Presses for a States-First Approach to Energy Regulation
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today called for a states-first approach to the regulation of hydraulic fracturing and energy production. Hoeven made the statements during a roundtable of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources comprised of representatives from the energy industry and environmental groups. He also called on Congress, industry and various interest groups to work together to address the nation's energy needs using all of the nation's energy resources. "I really… Continue Reading
05.22.13
Hoeven: U.S. Senate Defeats Anti-Sugar Amendment to Farm Bill
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Senate has defeated an amendment that would have undermined the sugar program in the Farm Bill. The amendment proposed to eliminate provisions in the Commodity Title of the bill that level the playing field for American producers. Hoeven said the U.S. sugar industry today supports 142,000 jobs in 22 states, which compete successfully with foreign industries around the world that are heavily subsidized by their governments. "Retaini… Continue Reading
05.22.13
ND, Minnesota Delegations, ND Governor: WRDA Legislation Key for Permanent Flood Control in Red River Valley
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven, Heidi Heitkamp and Amy Klobuchar and Congressmen Kevin Cramer, Collin Peterson and Governor Jack Dalrymple met with Fargo and Cass County leaders to strategize efforts to secure permanent flood control in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Also, attending the meeting were Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker, chairman of the Flood Diversion Authority Board Darrel Vanyo, Fargo City Administrator Pat Zavoral, Cass County Commissioner Grant Weyland, Cass County Administrator Keith Be… Continue Reading
05.22.13
Delegation and Governor Pledge Continued Support for Tanker Mission at Grand Forks
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp, Congressman Kevin Cramer and Governor Jack Dalrymple today said they will continue to work to obtain a tanker mission at the Grand Forks Air Force Base, notwithstanding today's Air Force announcement that Grand Forks was not selected as the first main operating base for the new KC-46 Tanker mission. In a statement released late this morning, the Air Force announced that the first KC-46 active duty unit will be located at McConnell Air Force … Continue Reading
