02.14.19

Hoeven: Senate Confirms William Barr as U.S. Attorney General

Senator Met with Barr to Review Record on the Rule of Law & States’ Rights, Urged Him to Help Resolve Public Road Access Issues around National Grasslands

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after joining a bipartisan majority of senators in confirming William Barr as Attorney General (AG) of the United States. Hoeven met with Barr earlier this month to review his record and ensure that, under his leadership, the Department of Justice will uphold the rule of law and respect states’ rights.

“William Barr’s qualifications for this role are readily apparent, with more than two decades in public service, including his time as Attorney General under President George H.W. Bush, as well as a long and successful career in the private sector. He has demonstrated his commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting states’ rights, two vital issues I stressed in our meeting last week. These qualities and his depth of experience make him the right person for the job. That’s why I joined the Senate in confirming him today, and I look forward to working with him to advance the priorities of North Dakota and our nation.”

Among other things, Hoeven urged Barr to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the State of North Dakota to review and resolve public road and access issues in and around the Little Missouri, Sheyenne and Cedar River National Grasslands. Hoeven has been working in recent years to bring the administration and the state to a mutually agreeable settlement, including securing commitments from officials like AG Barr, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and USDA General Counsel Stephen Vaden to help advance this goal.

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