News Releases
Hoeven: USDA Designates North Dakota Counties as Natural Disaster Areas Due to Drought
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 designated 15 North Dakota counties as primary natural disaster areas due to drought. USDA also designated 11 additional counties as contiguous disaster counties. The designation comes after Hoeven and North Dakota's Congressional Delegation successfully pressed USDA to open up emerg… Continue Reading
06.30.17
Hoeven, Heitkamp, Cramer Press Administration to Review Public Road and Access Issues in National Grasslands
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp and Congressman Kevin Cramer today requested that U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions review and resolve public road and access issues in and around the Little Missouri, Sheyenne and Cedar River National Grasslands. "We respectfully ask that the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Justice Department review and reconsider the critically important public road and access issues curre… Continue Reading
06.29.17
Hoeven: USDA Providing Greater Flexibility for Emergency Grazing on CRP Lands for Drought-Stricken Ranchers
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide greater flexibilities in the emergency grazing of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres to assist North Dakota ranchers impacted by drought conditions. Specifically, USDA will be allowing emergency grazing in any county whose border is within 150 miles of a county in drought. Additionally, USDA will allow producers in these counties, who are CRP contract holders allowed to hay within t… Continue Reading
06.29.17
Hoeven Announces New Office Location in Fargo
FARGO, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today announced that his office in Fargo will be moving to a new location. Effective June 30, the office will be located at 123 Broadway N, Suite 201, on the second floor of the old Metro Drug building. The office is accessible through the downtown skyway system. Information on parking and public transportation can be found at www.fargoparking.com. In addition to engaging with local communities, the senator's state offices provide assistance to North Dakota res… Continue Reading
06.28.17
Hoeven Statement on Continued Work on Health Care Reform Legislation
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven released the following statement after the Senate leadership announced that they will continue to work: "Obamacare has raised costs and limited health care options for families in North Dakota and across the nation. We need to make reforms in order to provide greater access to health care and more affordable health insurance. As I said yesterday, the CBO report shows that we have more work to do. I have concerns about the Senate draft legislation, but will conti… Continue Reading
06.27.17
Hoeven: EPA and Army Corps Issue Rule to Roll Back Waters of the U.S. Regulation
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have issued a proposed rule to roll back the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) regulation. The proposed rule restores the regulations that were in place prior to the final WOTUS rule, which was issued in 2015. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Hoeven wrote the language and worked to defund the rule in 2016 and 2017, helping to prevent its implementation.… Continue Reading
06.27.17
Hoeven Statement on CBO Score for Health Care Bill
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven released the following statement after the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its score for the draft health care legislation: "Obamacare is failing and premiums continue to increase dramatically with some markets down to one or no insurance providers. That is why we need to make reforms to provide Americans with access to health care and affordable health insurance with more choice and competition. The CBO score of the Senate draft health care bill indi… Continue Reading
06.26.17
Hoeven Secures Commitment from Energy Secretary to Support CCS Pilot and Demonstration Projects
WASHINGTON - At a recent hearing of the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Committee, Senator John Hoeven secured a commitment from Energy Secretary Rick Perry to support pilot and demonstration projects for carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies. Hoeven highlighted two projects in North Dakota, Project Tundra and the Allam Cycle, which are currently supported by private and state funding. Earlier this year, the senator invited Perry to visit the state to review local CCS effort… Continue Reading
06.26.17
Hoeven Outlines Efforts to Advance Regulatory Relief, Infrastructure Development & Energy Research
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today outlined his efforts to advance energy development in North Dakota and across North America at the Energy Council's annual conference. As a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Committee, Hoeven is working to provide regulatory relief and support for infrastructure development and research into new technologies like carbon capture. The Energy Council is a legislative organization of 1… Continue Reading
06.23.17
Hoeven, Heitkamp, Cramer: USDA to Allow Emergency Grazing on CRP Lands for North Dakota Ranchers Impacted by Drought Conditions
Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp and Congressman Kevin Cramer today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will allow North Dakota ranchers access to emergency grazing of conservation reserve program (CRP) acres in areas experiencing drought conditions. Earlier this month, the delegation pressed USDA to open CRP lands to North Dakota ranchers impacted by drought conditions. "We appreciate USDA opening up CRP lands for grazing to help our ranchers who have been hard hit … Continue Reading
06.23.17
Hoeven Announces Nearly $385,000 in Funding for Airports in Beach and Park River
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the U.S. Senate Transportation Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded two grants totaling $384,140 to the Golden Valley County Airport Authority in Beach and Park River Airport Authority. Details of the awards are as follows: Golden Valley County Airport Authority - $254,210 - The funding will help rehabilitate the airport's runway, apron and taxiway, as well as build a taxiway to aircr… Continue Reading
06.23.17
Hoeven-Cosponsored Bill to Improve Accountability at the VA Signed into Law
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after legislation he cosponsored to improve and reform the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was signed into law by the president. The bill provides the VA Secretary with the necessary tools to address poor performance and misconduct by VA employees and also establishes safeguards to protect whistleblowers. "The vast majority of VA employees are dedicated to serving veterans, and we are grateful for the good work of the Far… Continue Reading
06.23.17
Hoeven: Ranchers Affected by Drought Eligible for Livestock Forage Payments
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that ranchers in counties affected by drought are eligible to receive payments under the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP). Producers become eligible if any area of a county where they own or lease grazing land or pastureland, including the use of federal rangelands, is affected by drought during the normal grazing period. The U.S. Drought Monitor map of North Dakota can be found here. The amount of p… Continue Reading
06.22.17
Hoeven Statement on Health Care Discussion Draft
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the release of a health care reform discussion draft: "The overall goal of health care reform legislation should be to provide Americans with access to patient-centered health care and health insurance at an affordable rate. We will review this legislation to determine whether it meets this standard and we also want to see a CBO score on the bill. We need to stabilize the health insurance market to make it more competi… Continue Reading
06.21.17
Hoeven Announces Nearly $3.9 Million to UND to Help Treat Substance Abuse, Develop Behavioral Health Care Workforce
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has awarded $3,876,470 to the University of North Dakota (UND). UND is one of 11 institutions across the country to receive funding from SAMHSA to establish a collaborative network and help develop a health care workforce to treat substance abuse and support recovery. "Behavioral health care workers are an important p… Continue Reading
06.21.17
Hoeven Announces $24.4 Million in Bureau of Reclamation Funding for Rural Water Projects
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Bureau of Reclamation has awarded $24.4 million in federal funding to build and improve water supply systems in a number of North Dakota and tribal communities. Hoeven serves on the U.S. Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees funding for the Bureau of Reclamation. "North Dakota communities, regardless of zip code or population, should have access to good, quality water," Hoeven said. "These grants will help t… Continue Reading
06.20.17
Hoeven: Senate Confirms Brock Long as FEMA Administrator
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate confirmed Brock Long as administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "Even in the face of drought, we know that flooding remains a threat for many of North Dakota's communities every year," Hoeven said. "Comprehensive flood protection and affordable flood insurance are key to the peace of mind of our state's families and businesses. Administrator Long has committed to help us advance … Continue Reading
06.20.17
Hoeven Encourages Nominations for Angels in Adoption
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that he is accepting nominations of North Dakota residents or organizations to represent the state at the national Angels in Adoption program held each fall in Washington, D.C. Nominees need to have distinguished themselves through their work on behalf of adopted children, foster children or their families. Nominations should be submitted by Friday, July 7 by contacting the senator's Bismarck office at (701) 250-4618. "Caring and thoughtful resid… Continue Reading
06.19.17
Hoeven, Heitkamp and Cramer: Release CRP Grazing Lands to Help North Dakota Ranchers Facing Drought Conditions
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp and Congressman Kevin Cramer today pressed U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue to provide assistance to North Dakota ranchers facing early season drought conditions by allowing emergency haying of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres. In a letter to the USDA Secretary, the delegation made the case for releasing the CRP acres citing early drought conditions in central and western North Dakota. Although the state re… Continue Reading
06.19.17
Hoeven: Agriculture Research Vital to Nation's Food Supply, Supports Farmers, Ranchers & Rural Communities
WASHINGTON - At a recent hearing of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator John Hoeven drove home the importance of agriculture research in helping the nation's ag producers compete globally and provide the highest quality, lowest cost food supply in history. The senator was joined at the hearing by Dr. Kerry Hartman, the Academic Dean and Sciences Chair at Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College in New Town, North Dakota. The college is a 1994 land-grant institution, and in this role, it serves as the… Continue Reading
