News Releases
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
07.19.17
Hoeven Announces More Than $220,000 Grant to North Dakota PSC for Pipeline Safety Program
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has awarded $224,776 to the North Dakota Public Service Commission (PSC). The funds will be used to reimburse North Dakota for the cost of the state's pipeline safety program for calendar year (CY) 2017, with additional reimbursement set for May 2018 once the total cost of the program's CY 2017 cost is established. "North… Continue Reading
07.19.17
Hoeven: FY18 Veterans Affairs Funding Bill Supports Hoeven Initiative to Provide Veterans with Long-Term Care Closer to Home
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (VA) Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Fiscal Year 2018 Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill provides record-level funding to care for the nation's veterans. The legislation also includes a provision to advance the senator's work to expand veterans' access to long-term care services. The FY18 funding bill provides $78.4 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Veterans Af… Continue Reading
07.17.17
Hoeven Announces More Than $1 Million in Head Start Funding for Community Action Partnership in Dickinson
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Administration for Children and Families' Office of Head Start has awarded $1,058,966 to Community Action Partnership, Inc. in Dickinson. The funds will be used to support Community Action Partnership's Head Start Program which serves families living in Dickinson as well as Adams, Billings, Bowman, Dunn, Golden Valley, Hettinger, Slope and Stark counties. The program helps families better … Continue Reading
07.17.17
Hoeven Announces Nearly $2.5 Million in Funding for Grand Forks and Northwood Airports
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the U.S. Senate Transportation Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded grants totaling $2,488,754 to the Grand Forks and Northwood airports. Details of the awards are as follows: Grand Forks Regional Airport Authority - $1,345,708 - The funds will be used to reconstruct Taxiway U and update the airport's master plan to help address future development. Northwood - $1,143,046 - The funds … Continue Reading
07.17.17
Hoeven Secures $27 Million for Minot Air Force Base Firing Range in FY18 Military Construction Funding Bill
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (VA) Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Military Construction Appropriations bill includes $27 million for an indoor firing range at Minot Air Force Base. Additionally, Hoeven worked to include a provision in the FY18 funding bill directing the Air Force to provide a timeline for upgrading ICBM infrastructure including electrical lines and the Weapons Storage Facil… Continue Reading
07.17.17
Hoeven Presses Indian Health Service to Address Deficiencies, Improve Access to Quality Care
WASHINGTON - At a recent hearing of the Senate Interior Appropriations Committee, Senator John Hoeven pressed officials from the Indian Health Service (IHS) to address deficiencies in the management of the agency and the standard of care it delivers to tribal communities across the country. Hoeven highlighted a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report identifying IHS as high-risk for mismanagement, fraud, waste and abuse. According to Rear Admiral Chris Buchanan, the Deputy Director … Continue Reading
07.14.17
Hoeven: North Dakotan Dr. Andrea Travnicek Hired as Deputy Assistant Secretary at Department of Interior
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after Dr. Andrea Travnicek was hired as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at the U.S. Department of Interior. "Andrea brings a wealth of experience to the Department of Interior," Hoeven said. "The Office of Science and Water carries great importance in North Dakota, impacting energy, agriculture and water issues, among other things. Her knowledge of local issues and expertise in the field will be incredibl… Continue Reading
07.14.17
Hoeven Secures Commitment from RMA Administrator to Ensure Crop Insurance Adjustors, Prevent Delays for Ag Producers Facing Drought
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven this week secured a commitment from the head of the Risk Management Agency (RMA) to ensure there are loss adjustors to assess drought damage in North Dakota. After learning that agriculture producers were facing delays in making claims due to the high volume of requests during the drought, Hoeven called Heather Manzano, Acting Administrator for the RMA at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The senator urged Manzano to hold insurance companies to their con… Continue Reading
07.14.17
Hoeven Announces $2.1 Million for Rural Health Information Hub at Center for Rural Health at UND
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) has awarded $2,100,000 for the Rural Health Information Hub (RHIhub), formerly the Rural Assistance Center, at the University of North Dakota's (UND) Center for Rural Health. The funds will be used to provide technical assistance for the RHIhub, a national clearinghouse on rural health issues wh… Continue Reading
07.13.17
Hoeven Statement on New Draft Health Care Legislation
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after Senate Leadership released a new draft health care reform bill: "As I've said all along, our overall goal for health care reform legislation is to provide Americans with access to patient-centered health care and health insurance at an affordable rate. I did not support the Senate's first draft. Now, I will review the new draft legislation and want to see the CBO score and additional analysis of the legislation. I will … Continue Reading
07.13.17
Hoeven: HUD Provides Waiver for LaGrave on First, Allows Project to Move Forward
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has approved a waiver for LaGrave on First. This nearly $9 million project being developed by the City of Grand Forks and the local housing authority will help serve the region's chronically homeless population. The waiver allows the project to advance using HUD's HOME program and Section … Continue Reading
07.13.17
Hoeven Announces More Than $1.7 Million in Head Start Funding for Minot School District
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Administration for Children and Families' Office of Head Start has awarded $1,725,909 to the Minot Public School District. Hoeven announced a similar Head Start grant for Minot Public School District in May. The funds - which will be used to support Head Start and Early Head Start programs in the Minot community - will help provide families with education and early child development resour… Continue Reading
07.12.17
Hoeven Statement on Presidential Disaster Declaration for North Dakota Flooding
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven released the following statement today after the President approved the request for a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of North Dakota. The disaster declaration frees up approximately $3.25 million for Benson, Bottineau, Cavalier, McHenry, Pembina, Pierce, Renville, Rolette, Towner and Walsh Counties and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Reservation. "This disaster declaration makes resources available to help northern tier communities address floodin… Continue Reading
07.11.17
Hoeven: USDA Allows Insurance Providers to Waive Livestock Risk Protection Requirements
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will allow insurance providers under the Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) program to waive the 30-day ownership requirement, subject to proof of ownership. Generally, ag producers insured under LRP that sell cattle less than 30 days before the end of their policy would not be eligible for an indemnity payment. By allowing this waiver, USDA is providing greater flexibility for small producers in timing … Continue Reading
07.10.17
Hoeven: Senate Confirms Neomi Rao as OIRA Administrator, Chief Regulatory Authority
WASHINGTON -- Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Neomi Rao as head of the central authority for reviewing rules and regulations proposed by the executive branch, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). "In order for our nation to continue to compete around the globe, we need to have a cost-effective, pro-growth regulatory environment," Hoeven said. "As the head of OIRA, Ne… Continue Reading
