COMBATTING THE CORONAVIRUS
We continue working with state and federal officials to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We hope the information below will help to answer frequently asked questions about guidelines and resources we worked to secure to help North Dakotans.
Note: As recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), our offices are taking precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our staff continues to be available by phone or email and are taking in-person meetings by appointment. Please click here to email my office or call 202-224-2551.
Congress has approved five pieces of legislation on a bipartisan basis to provide funding to combat the coronavirus. Please click the links below to find detailed information on the resources and priorities we worked to include to assist North Dakotans:
Phase V – Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 – Passed December 21
- Provides $13 billion for agriculture
- Provides up to $600 in direct financial assistance for individuals and $1,200 for couples
- Funds a second round of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to help small businesses and their employees
- Supports health care providers, including vaccine development and distribution
- Provides funding to help schools and teachers
- Extends pandemic unemployment insurance programs and includes a $300 federal supplement for 16 weeks
- Provides rental assistance and extends the federal moratorium on evictions through January 31
Phase IV – Paycheck Protection Program and Healthcare Enhancement Act – Passed April 21
- $310 Billion for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
- $60 Billion for EIDL and Emergency EIDL Grants
- At Hoeven's request, includes language making agricultural enterprises eligible for EIDL and Emergency EIDL Grants
- $75 Billion for Hospitals and Health Care Providers
- $25 Billion for Additional COVID-19 Testing
- Includes a $750 million set-aside for tribes
- North Dakota will receive over $16.2 million for testing needs under the agreement
Phase III – Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act – Passed March 25
- Provides $127 billion to support health care workers and hospitals
- Direct financial assistance for American families, including relief checks of $1,200 for individuals and $2,400 for couples
- Provides $350 billion in assistance for Small Businesses and Employees
- Includes nearly $25 billion for farmers and ranchers
- Assists States and Tribal Communities in responding to COVID-19
- Click here for a full summary of the legislation.
Phase II – Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) – Passed March 18
- $105 billion in aid
- Ensures access to testing for the virus
- Requires paid family, medical and sick leave to help prevent the spread of the disease
- Provides emergency unemployment insurance
- Funds nutrition assistance for families in need and ensures children who rely on free or reduced-cost school meals can access these services when schools are closed
Phase I – Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act, 2020 – Passed March 5
- $8.3 billion in aid
- Funds vaccine research and development
- Supports health system, telehealth flexibility
RESOURCES AND MATERIALS
The Treasury Department and the IRS have launched a new web tool for those who don’t normally file a tax return to register for Economic Impact Payments.
Click here to register for Economic Impact Payments using the web tool.
The CARES Act provides $350 billion in loan guarantees, loan subsidies, grants and technical assistance for small businesses, nonprofits and veteran’s organizations with 500 or fewer employees.
The CARES Act established the Paycheck Protection Program, which will provide 100 percent federally guaranteed loans to small businesses who maintain their payroll during the COVID-19 emergency. If the employer maintains its payroll, then the portion of the loan used for covered payroll costs, interest on mortgage obligations, rent, and utilities would be forgiven, which helps keep workers on payroll and small businesses recover quickly from this crisis.
The CARES Act also established the Employee Retention Tax Credit, allowing any employer, regardless of size, to receive a refundable tax credit against payroll taxes for 50% of wages paid to employee, up to $10,000 (a maximum $5,000 tax credit). Businesses are eligible for the tax credit if the business: (1) is fully or partially suspended due to a governmental order related to COVID-19, or (2) experiences a significant decline in gross receipts (i.e., a reduction of 50 percent of gross receipts from the same quarter in 2019). The credit also applies to tax-exempt organizations.
Below is information from the U.S Department of Labor for both employers and employees regarding new federal paid leave requirements related to COVID-19.
Congress has passed legislation to provide increased and extended benefits for those receiving unemployment benefits, and cover those who are unable to work or have had their hours reduced due to COVID-19 and who may not otherwise be eligible for unemployment.
As chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, we worked to secure nearly $25 billion in the CARES Act to support farmers and ranchers. That includes:
- $14 billion to replenish Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) borrowing authority for the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA).
- $9.5 billion in separate funding for USDA to help producers, including specialty crop and livestock producers, impacted by COVID-19.
We supported legislation to provide taxpayers with additional time to file their federal income taxes. The IRS extended the deadlines to FILE and PAY federal income taxes to July 15, 2020.
As a chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, we also advanced important priorities for tribal communities. This includes:
- $8 billion in the Tribal Stabilization Fund to provide emergency relief to tribal governments to offset costs incurred by Indian Tribes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Ensuring that Indian Tribes and their businesses are eligible for the $454 billion loan guarantee funds and $349 billion under the U.S Small Business Administration (SBA) Loan 7(a) Program.
- $1.032 billion for Indian Health Service (HIS) for coronavirus response efforts, including treatment and preventing the spread of COVID-19 on tribal lands.
- $100 million for USDA’s Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations.
- $453 million for Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Public Safety and Law Enforcement.
- $327 million for Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs).
- $305 million for Indian Housing Programs at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Click here for more information on the tribal provisions in the CARES Act.
Click here for information about CDC’s Tribal health efforts and funding.
Click here for information from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Latest
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11.16.22
Hoeven Statement After Vote to End COVID-19 National Emergency Declaration
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02.22.22
Hoeven Helps Introduce Legislation to End Vaccine Mandates for International Truckers
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11.18.21
Hoeven: Biden Vaccine Mandate is Government Overreach
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03.25.21
Hoeven Votes to Extend Paycheck Protection Program Deadline
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03.24.21
Hoeven Announces Economic Relief Funding to North Dakota Airports
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03.09.21
Hoeven Statement on USDA Extending Free Meals to Children Through Summer 2021
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02.25.21
Hoeven: EDA Awards CARES Act Funding to Build Career Workforce Academy in Fargo
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01.19.21
Hoeven Announces Funding to North Dakota for COVID-19 Testing and Vaccinations
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01.14.21
Hoeven Outlines COVID-19 Agriculture Relief, Quality Loss Adjustment Program to North Dakota Producers
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12.30.20
Hoeven: FEMA Awards Funding to ND Department of Health, ND Department of Emergency Services
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12.22.20
Hoeven Statement on Additional Covid Relief for Families, Small Businesses, Health Care
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11.12.20
Hoeven: FEMA Awards $8.5 Million to North Dakota
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10.21.20
Hoeven Statement After Targeted COVID-19 Relief Package Blocked in the Senate
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10.20.20
Hoeven Statement After Targeted Support For Small Businesses Is Blocked
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10.12.20
Hoeven: FEMA Awards $10.6 Million to ND Department of Health
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10.07.20
Hoeven Thanks North Dakota Medical Providers, Outlines Efforts to Address COVID-19 Pandemic
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09.18.20
Hoeven: USDA Releases Details on CFAP 2, Sign Up to Start Monday, September 21
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09.17.20
Hoeven Statement After POTUS Announces CFAP 2.0
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09.14.20
Hoeven Announces CDBG Funds from CARES Act to Combat COVID-19 in North Dakota
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09.10.20
Hoeven Statement After Targeted COVID-19 Relief Package Blocked in the Senate
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09.08.20
Hoeven Statement on Release of Senate's Targeted COVID-19 Assistance Bill
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09.01.20
Hoeven Announces CARES Act Funding to Assist Housing Needs for North Dakota Tribes
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09.01.20
Hoeven Announces More Than $32.3 Million to North Dakota Airports
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08.31.20
Hoeven: USDA Extends Waivers Offering Free Meals to Children Through End of Year
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08.26.20
Hoeven: Emerging Digital Academy Receives $100,000 in CARES Act Funds to Provide Accelerated Training in Coding
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08.25.20
Hoeven Outlines Efforts to Support Students Safely Returning to University, Restore Education Benefits for Guard and Reserve Members
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08.21.20
Hoeven Announces CARES Act Funding to Three Affiliated Tribes
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08.14.20
Hoeven Announces CARES Act Economic Recovery Grants for Tribes in North Dakota
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08.13.20
ND Delegation: Administration Approves North Dakota Request for Additional Flexibility to Use CARES Act Funding for Low-Income Rental Assistance
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08.13.20
Hoeven Meets With USDA Under Secretary Northey
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08.11.20
Hoeven: USDA to Release Remaining Ag Assistance Payments to Producers With Approved CFAP Applications
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08.10.20
Hoeven Statement on President's Executive Orders Providing Additional COVID Relief
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07.29.20
Hoeven Presses for Passage of Agriculture Assistance on the Senate Floor
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07.27.20
Hoeven Statement on Assistance for Farmers and Ranchers in Senate HEALS Act, COVID-19 Relief Legislation
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07.21.20
Hoeven Announces CARES Act Funding Released to Bismarck Transit System
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07.17.20
Hoeven: Federal Reserve Announces Support for Non-Profit Organizations Under Main Street Lending Program
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07.17.20
Hoeven Announces Nearly $3 Million to Turtle Mountain Housing Authority From CARES Act
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07.15.20
Hoeven Discusses Ag Assistance, Gathers Input for the Next Phase of Federal COVID-19 Response
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07.09.20
Hoeven Announces CARES Act Funding to Standing Rock Transit System
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07.08.20
Hoeven Announces CARES Act Funding for Telemedicine in Dickinson
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06.30.20
Hoeven Announces Preparedness and Response Funding for North Dakota Department of Health
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06.25.20
Hoeven Announces Economic Development Funds for Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
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06.19.20
Hoeven Announces Funding for North Dakota Hospital Foundation from CARES Act
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06.17.20
Hoeven Announces CDC Funding to Support Tribal COVID-19 Response
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06.15.20
Hoeven Announces Hospital Preparedness Funds to North Dakota
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06.10.20
Hoeven Announces Additional CARES Act Funding to North Dakota for Housing
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06.10.20
Hoeven Announces Additional CARES Act Funding to North Dakota for Housing
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06.05.20
Hoeven: Treasury Clarifies PPP Eligibility for Telecommunications Cooperatives
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06.05.20
Hoeven: Treasury Clarifies PPP Eligibility for Telecommunications Cooperatives
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06.04.20
Hoeven Announces CARES Act Funding Released for Three Additional Airports
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06.03.20
Hoeven: Congress Passes Legislation Providing Greater Flexibility to Small Businesses Under Paycheck Protection Program
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05.28.20
Hoeven Announces Funding to North Dakota Hospital Foundation for COVID-19
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05.28.20
Hoeven Discusses Final Implementation of $16 Billion in Direct Assistance with North Dakota Producers
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05.26.20
Hoeven: USDA Direct Assistance Application Period Starts Today, Signup Runs Through August 28
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05.22.20
Hoeven Announces Funding to ND Nursing Facilities Impacted by COVID-19
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05.21.20
Hoeven: FSA Expanding Loan Repayment Relief to Farmers Impacted by COVID-19
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05.21.20
Hoeven Announces USDA Loan Guarantees Available for Ag Producers and Rural Businesses from CARES Act
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05.21.20
Hoeven Announces CARES Act Funding Released for Three More North Dakota Airports
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05.20.20
Hoeven Announces North Dakota Rural Health Clinics to Receive $2.6 Million for COVID-19 Testing
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05.19.20
Hoeven Statement on Executive Order to Provide Regulatory Relief, Help Jumpstart the Economy
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05.19.20
Hoeven Statement After Meeting With President Trump
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05.19.20
North Dakota to Receive $52 Million for COVID-19 Testing
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05.19.20
Hoeven: CARES Act Funding Released for Additional North Dakota Airports
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05.19.20
Hoeven: USDA Releases Final Details for Direct Assistance to Farmers and Ranchers, Sign-Up to Start May 26
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05.14.20
Hoeven, Smith: Rural Electric Cooperatives Eligible for Paycheck Protection Program Under New Treasury Guidance
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05.13.20
Hoeven Joins Governor Burgum at White House to Discuss Efforts to Combat COVID-19, Safely Re-Open Economy
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05.13.20
Hoeven Highlights on Senate Floor Critical Efforts of Agriculture Producers During COVID-19 Pandemic
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05.07.20
Hoeven: DOT Continues to Release CARES Act Funds for North Dakota Airports
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05.07.20
Hoeven Announces Department of Justice COVID-19 Funding
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05.05.20
Hoeven: DOT Releases Cares Act Funding for North Dakota Airports
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05.05.20
Hoeven: USDA Issues Waiver Providing Nutrition Benefits to North Dakota Children in Need
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05.04.20
Hoeven Announces More Than $3 Million in COVID-19 Funding for North Dakota Tribal Colleges
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05.04.20
Hoeven: SBA Accepting Economic Injury Disaster Loan Applications
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05.01.20
Hoeven Announces $135 Million in CARES Act Funding for North Dakota Hospitals & Providers
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05.01.20
Hoeven: DOT Releases Funds for Five Additional North Dakota Airports
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05.01.20
Hoeven Announces More Than $7 Million in Additional CARES Act Funding to Support ND Higher Education Institutions
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04.29.20
Hoeven Announces Funding for North Dakota Airports
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04.28.20
Hoeven Statement After President Invokes DPA, Designating Meat Packing Plants Essential
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04.27.20
Hoeven Announces Partial Second Tranche of HHS CARES Act Funds to North Dakota Hospitals & Providers
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04.27.20
Hoeven Statement on Guidance Providing Flexibility to Meat Processing Facilities
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04.24.20
Hoeven: Treasury, SBA Announce Paycheck Protection Program to Resume Monday, April 27
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04.24.20
Hoeven Leads Efforts to Allow Indian Gaming Enterprises Access to the Paycheck Protection Program
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04.24.20
Hoeven Statement on President Signing Additional CARES Act Funding Into Law
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04.23.20
Hoeven Announces $33 Million in CARES Act Funding to Support ND K-12 Education Agencies
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04.23.20
Hoeven Announces CDC COVID-19 Funding From CARES Act
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04.23.20
Hoeven, Colleagues Working to Support Oil and Gas Industry
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04.22.20
Hoeven Announces CARES Act Funding for UND to Help Combat COVID-19 in Rural Communities
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04.22.20
Hoeven, Smith Lead 41 Additional Senators in Pressing Treasury, SBA to Ensure Eligibility of Rural Electric Cooperatives in Paycheck Protection Program
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04.21.20
Hoeven Reviews $19 Billion Ag Assistance Program with North Dakota Producers, Gathers Input for Administration
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04.21.20
Hoeven Announces Second Half of CARES Act Funding to ND Higher Education Institutions
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04.21.20
Hoeven: Senate Passes Agreement Providing Additional Funding for Health Care, Small Business Programs
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04.17.20
Hoeven: USDA to Provide $16 Billion in Direct Assistance to Farmers and Ranchers, $3 Billion in Agriculture Purchases
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04.17.20
Hoeven: Treasury Working With VA to Send Out CARES Act Payments to Veterans Automatically
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04.17.20
Hoeven Leads COVID-19 Response Discussion with Labor Secretary, ND WSI Directors & Business Leaders
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04.17.20
Hoeven Announces HHS Behavioral Health Grants to North Dakota from CARES Act
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04.16.20
Hoeven Working to Support North Dakota Health Care Providers in Fight Against COVID-19, Outlines CARES Act Assistance
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04.16.20
Hoeven to Serve on President's Economic Task Force
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04.16.20
Hoeven Statement on Need to Provide Additional Paycheck Protection Program Funding
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04.16.20
Hoeven Announces DOL Funding for COVID-19 Efforts in North Dakota
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04.15.20
Hoeven Holds COVID-19 Discussion with North Dakota Tribal Leaders and Administration Officials
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04.14.20
Hoeven Discusses CARES Act Assistance With NFIB Members, Holds Q&A With SBA District Director
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04.14.20
Hoeven Announces FAA Funding for North Dakota Airports in COVID-19 Relief Efforts
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04.14.20
Hoeven, Hassan Lead Bipartisan Group in Urging Treasury and VA to Send Out Veterans' CARES Act Checks as Quickly as Possible
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04.13.20
Hoeven Announces COVID-19 Response Funding for ND Hospital Foundation
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04.10.20
Hoeven Announces CARES Act Funding to ND Higher Education Institutions to Help Students Impacted By COVID-19
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04.10.20
Hoeven Announces First Tranche of HHS CARES Act Funds to North Dakota Hospitals Responding to COVID-19
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04.10.20
Hoeven & Thune Outline CARES Act Assistance to Help Small Business, Start-Ups Maintain Payroll & Overcome Pandemic Challenges
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04.08.20
Hoeven Urges Treasury Secretary to Provide Flexibility to States in Coronavirus Relief Fund
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04.07.20
Hoeven Outlines Efforts to Support U.S. Oil & Gas Industry in Call With North Dakota Petroleum Council, Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy
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04.07.20
Hoeven Announces COVID-19 Funding for Community Health Centers From CARES Act
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04.07.20
Senator Hoeven, Representatives Fletcher & Burgess Introducing Legislation Providing $3 Billion in Funding to Fill Strategic Petroleum Reserve with U.S. Crude Oil
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04.06.20
Hoeven, Klobuchar and Colleagues Urge Administration to Ensure Continuity of Food Supply by Supporting Farmers During Coronavirus Pandemic
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04.03.20
Hoeven Holds Online Roundtable with USDA, North Dakota Producers & Commodity Groups to Review Agriculture Assistance in CARES Act
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04.03.20
Hoeven Announces DOT Funding for COVID-19 Efforts in North Dakota
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04.02.20
Hoeven Announces Funds to Combat COVID-19 in North Dakota
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04.01.20
Delegation Statement After President Trump Approves North Dakota Disaster Declaration
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04.01.20
Congressional Delegation Urges Federal Banking Agencies to Ensure Agriculture Producers Can Receive Assistance
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04.01.20
Hoeven: CARES Act Provides Support to Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs to Weather Challenges of COVID-19
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03.30.20
Hoeven Outlines CARES Act, Relief for Families, Businesses, Health Care Providers
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03.30.20
Hoeven Updates Agriculture Stakeholders for Farmers, Ranchers, Rural Communities in CARES Act
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03.29.20
Congressional Delegation Supports Governor Burgum's Major Presidential Disaster Declaration Request
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03.27.20
Hoeven Statement After House Approves Phase III COVID-19 Response Legislation
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03.25.20
Hoeven: Senate Approves Phase III Coronavirus Relief Legislation With Nearly $25 Billion in Resources to Help Farmers and Ranchers, Rural America
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03.23.20
Hoeven Leads Colloquy Urging Support for Farmers and Ranchers in Phase III Coronavirus Relief Legislation
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03.18.20
Hoeven: Senate Passes Coronavirus Assistance Legislation for Impacted Families, Workers and Small Businesses
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03.12.20
Hoeven & Cramer Cosponsor Legislation to Improve Access to Respirators
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03.05.20
Hoeven Statement After Congress Approves Funding to Prevent, Prepare for and Respond to Coronavirus