News Releases
Hoeven Drives Home Importance of Leveraging North Dakota's UAS Expertise to Improve Security at Borders and Across Nation with DHS Nominee Nielsen
WASHINGTON - During a hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee today, Senator John Hoeven secured a commitment from Kirstjen Nielsen, the nominee to serve as the Secretary of Homeland Security, to pursue the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in improving national security, both at the borders and across the country. Hoeven stressed the ability of the technology to aid in detecting illegal crossings and the transportation of illicit substances. At the same tim… Continue Reading
11.08.17
Hoeven Announces More Than $1.2 Million Grant, Nearly $430,000 Loan for City of Mercer
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a member of the Agriculture Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) has awarded the City of Mercer a $1.255 million grant and a $429,000 loan. The funds will be used to update the city's water supply system through a number of projects including connecting the city to rural water, renovating the city's water storage building, replacing the wat… Continue Reading
11.07.17
Hoeven Urges Army Assistant Secretary Nominee to Help Advance Flood Protection for Minot Region, Red River Valley
WASHINGTON - In a meeting today with R.D. James, the nominee for Assistant Secretary of the Army - Civil Works, Senator John Hoeven urged the nominee, if confirmed, to help advance comprehensive flood protection in North Dakota. The senator introduced James to the flood study in the Minot region and the work to secure flood protection for the Red River Valley, stressing the importance of these efforts to the long-term security and well-being of families and businesses in the regions. "Continuin… Continue Reading
11.07.17
Hoeven: Tax Relief Will Enable Working Families to Keep More of Their Paycheck, Empower Small Businesses
WASHINGTON -Senator John Hoeven today joined with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, a group of his colleagues and tax reform advocates to highlight the importance of passing tax reform that enables working Americans to keep more of their hard-earned pay and empowers small businesses, including the nation's farmers and ranchers, to grow and invest. "We have a once in a generation opportunity to reform our outdated and complex tax code and most importantly provide much needed tax relief for ou… Continue Reading
11.07.17
Hoeven Introduces Legislation to Allow Homeowners to Purchase Lots at Jamestown Reservoir
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven recently introduced legislation that would allow homeowners at the Jamestown Reservoir to purchase their lots from the federal government and transfer all remaining Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) lands around the reservoir to state and local public ownership. The bill grew out of meetings Hoeven's staff held with the homeowners and local officials over the past year and is modeled after similar legislation the senator introduced for homeowners at Patterson Lake. "A… Continue Reading
11.06.17
Hoeven: Clare Carlson Named as Rural Development State Director, Brad Thykeson as FSA State Director
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a member of the Agriculture Committee, today issued the following statement after the following key positions were filled for North Dakota at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): Clare Carlson as North Dakota State Director for Rural Development (RD) - Carlson previously served in this role for eight years during the Bush Administration. He has served as agriculture adviser to Governors Ed … Continue Reading
11.03.17
Hoeven: Dakota Prairie Grasslands Signs New Ten Year Demonstration Project
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) has signed a new ten-year agreement for the Dakota Prairie Grasslands Demonstration Project. Hoeven's office has been working with local grazing associations, the North Dakota State Agriculture Department and Dakota Prairie Grasslands Supervisor Bill O'Donnell to update and finalize the agreement to provide grazers with greater flexibility when using the grasslands. "Our ranchers are good stewards of the land … Continue Reading
11.02.17
Hoeven Joins DOT Secretary at Launch of FAA Drone Integration Pilot Program, Working to Secure North Dakota's Role in New Projects
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today joined Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta in marking the launch of the FAA's new drone integration pilot program, which was announced last month. In his remarks, Hoeven stressed that the relationship built between government and the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) industry in North Dakota should serve as a model for the nation to help advance the integration of this technology into the n… Continue Reading
11.02.17
Hoeven Announces $46 Million in Loans for North Dakota Electric Cooperatives to Improve Infrastructure
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a member of the Agriculture Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) has awarded two loans totaling $46 million to Cass County Electric Co-op and Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative Inc. Details of the loans are as follows: Cass County Electric Co-op - $25 million - The funds will be used to build more than 600 miles of power lines, improve e… Continue Reading
11.01.17
Hoeven Announces More Than $280,000 in Funding for UTTC and Sitting Bull College
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a member of the Agriculture Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) has awarded two grants totaling $280,392 to Sitting Bull College in Fort Yates and United Tribes Technical College (UTTC) in Bismarck. Details of the funds are as follows: Sitting Bull College - $140,196 - The funds will be used to create infrastructure including paving and… Continue Reading
11.01.17
Senate Passes Hoeven Resolution to Designate November 4th as National Bison Day
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.) today announced that the U.S. Senate has passed a bipartisan resolution he introduced designating November 4th as National Bison Day. The resolution celebrates the cultural and historical significance of the North American bison as well as the bison's designation as the national mammal of the United States. "Our national mammal, the bison, is a true American icon," said Senator Hoeven. "The bison's incredible story includes one of the most remarkable an… Continue Reading
10.31.17
Hoeven Urges Head of HHS, CMS to Delay Rule that Would Financially Burden Small, Rural Long-Term Care Facilities
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven recently led 23 of his fellow senators in urging Eric Hargan, Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Seema Verma, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), to delay the updated "Requirements of Participation" regulations for skilled nursing facilities in order to consider feedback from affected health care providers and patient advocacy groups. The senators stressed that the requirements impose costs that are overly … Continue Reading
10.27.17
Hoeven: Vice President's Visit Highlights MAFB Importance as Only Dual Nuclear Mission Base in America
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and co-chair of the Senate Air Force Caucus, today joined Vice President Mike Pence and Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson in reviewing the dual-nuclear missions of the Minot Air Force Base. The Vice President's visit served as an opportunity to highlight the central role of the nation's nuclear triad in deterring North Korean aggression and other threats around the glo… Continue Reading
10.27.17
Hoeven Working to Secure Grand Forks Role as Part of President's UAS Executive Order
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven this week invited unmanned aerial systems (UAS) leaders from Grand Forks to Washington to outline North Dakota's UAS expertise and infrastructure to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as the agency works to implement an executive order signed by the President this week creating a new drone integration pilot program. Hoeven is working to set up a meeting between the FAA and Grand Forks representatives, including leaders from the Northern Plains Test Site a… Continue Reading
10.26.17
Hoeven: President Declares Opioid Abuse Epidemic a Nationwide Public Health Emergency
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the President declared the opioid abuse epidemic a Nationwide Public Health Emergency. The declaration, which comes at the recommendation of the President's Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis that he convened in March, helps mobilize the resources of the administration to address widespread opioid abuse. This action dovetails with Hoeven's work to ensure health care providers and law enforcement… Continue Reading
10.26.17
Hoeven: Empower Small Businesses to Invest and Grow Through Tax Relief
WASHINGTON - Speaking on the Senate floor today, Senator John Hoeven outlined important tax reform priorities for North Dakota families and small businesses, including the state's farmers and ranchers. The senator highlighted the importance of reducing costs for working families and small businesses by simplifying the code, bringing down rates and broadening the tax base to ensure stable revenues. "We're working with the Administration to enact tax reforms that will enable American families to … Continue Reading
10.26.17
Hoeven: DOE Awards $1.5 Million Contract to UND for Rare Earth Elements Research
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) and National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) have awarded a two-year, $1.5 million contract to the University of North Dakota (UND). The funds will be used to sample and characterize coal-based resources from around the country that contain high concentrations of rare earth elements (REEs). UND will also use the fund… Continue Reading
10.26.17
Hoeven: Senate Declares October 26 as Day of the Deployed
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the United States Senate has again honored the men and women of the United States' armed forces who are deployed by designating October 26th as the "Day of the Deployed." "Deployed service members and their loved ones make untold sacrifices in the service of our nation," said Hoeven. "Today, on the Day of the Deployed, we honor those Americans who have left the comforts of home to bravely and willingly answer the call to serve. We pay tribut… Continue Reading
10.25.17
Hoeven Holds Indian Affairs Hearing to Advance Tribal Law Enforcement, Victim Services Legislation
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, today held a hearing to advance two pieces of legislation he introduced to improve public safety and victim services in Indian Country: The Securing Urgent Resources Vital to Indian Victim Empowerment (SURVIVE) Act of 2017. The Tribal Law and Order Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2017. "Despite high rates of victimization, tribes only receive about $30 million from the Crime Victims Fund each y… Continue Reading
10.25.17
Hoeven, Udall Introduce Resolution to Honor Native American Heritage Month
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven (R-ND) and Tom Udall (D-NM), chairman and vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA), today led a bipartisan group of 21 senators in introducing a resolution to recognize the month of November as National Native American Heritage Month. The resolution celebrates the heritage, culture and history of Native Americans and recognizes the many contributions Native Americans have made to our nation. "Native Americans have significantly shaped our … Continue Reading