News Releases
Hoeven to DOT Secretary: Move America Act Will Help States Fund Infrastructure Projects
WASHINGTON - In a meeting this week, Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Committee, outlined to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Elaine Chao his Move America Act, which helps empower states to build and repair infrastructure by expanding tax-exempt funding for public-private partnerships. Hoeven is working to re-introduce the Move America Act in the current Congress. "Secretary Chao and I discussed the need to invest in infrastructure throu… Continue Reading
04.04.17
Hoeven Successfully Works to Halt Increase in Grassland Grazing Fees
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Forest Service has agreed to halt a planned increase in grazing fees for the National Grasslands in the nine Great Plains states, including North Dakota. Earlier this year, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced a decrease in the grazing fees to $1.87 per head month for cattle and horses on the lands managed by the agency. Contrary to this, however, the Forest Service planned to increase fees for the grasslands by 25 percent, … Continue Reading
04.04.17
Hoeven Continues Working to Provide Flexibility in School Meal Programs
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, who serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee and chairs the Agriculture, Rural Development and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Committee, this week delivered the keynote address at the School Nutrition Association's (SNA) Legislative Action Conference. The Senator continues working to provide greater flexibility for schools to meet U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requirements regarding whole grains and sodium in school meal programs. "We co… Continue Reading
04.03.17
Hoeven CoSponsors, Senate Passes Legislation to Extend Veterans Choice Program
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Senate has passed legislation he cosponsored to extend the Veterans Choice Program, which was set to expire in August. The measure, introduced by Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.), allows the program to continue until its original funding is fully expended, ensuring veterans can benefit from the $950 million in appropriated funding for the program that would have otherwise gone unused. Further, the bill allows … Continue Reading
04.03.17
Hoeven Announces Nearly $170,000 Economic Development Investment to Help Improve the Economy in the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians Community
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded a $167,136 grant to the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians to help the tribe coordinate resources and develop a strategy for creating a sustainable and diverse economy in the Turtle Mountain community. "Investing in economic development has ramifications that can improve a comm… Continue Reading
03.30.17
Hoeven: Ag Committee Advances Perdue Nomination
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today released the following statement after the Senate Agriculture Committee voted to approve former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue and advance his nomination to the full Senate for confirmation. At a hearing last week, Perdue accepted Hoeven's invitation to visit North Dakota and see firsthand the state's agricultural industry. Hoeven has also encouraged Perdue to build a strong coalition to pass a new farm bill with good risk management tools. "The Senate Agr… Continue Reading
03.29.17
Hoeven: Interior Department Begins Process to Roll Back Methane, Hydraulic Fracturing Rules and Rescind the Moratorium on Federal Coal Leasing
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Energy Committee, today joined Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to begin implementing the President's executive order promoting domestic energy production. Secretary Zinke signed orders reviewing, revising and rescinding the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) duplicative regulations for methane and hydraulic fracturing on federal lands, and rescinding the moratorium on federal coal leasing. "We appreciate that Secretary Zinke is working to re… Continue Reading
03.29.17
Hoeven: Gorsuch Right for North Dakota
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven released the following statement after meeting this week with Judge Neil Gorsuch, who has been nominated to serve as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. "Judge Neil Gorsuch is a strong Supreme Court pick for North Dakota and our nation. He has shown deep respect for the Constitution and has a strong record of upholding the rule of law rather than trying to legislate from the bench. Judge Gorsuch is a mainstream judge, who will provide… Continue Reading
03.28.17
Hoeven Joins President at Signing of Executive Order on Energy Independence
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Energy Committee, today joined the president as he signed an executive order promoting energy independence by rolling back regulations hampering domestic energy development. The president's action today stops the Obama Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) costly power plan rules for new and existing coal generating plants, rescinds the moratorium on new federal coal leases and rolls back the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) duplicative… Continue Reading
03.27.17
Hoeven: FEMA Grants Extension for Drayton Levee
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has agreed to a month-long extension for Drayton to keep in place its earthen levee built on land acquired through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). Hoeven is working to pass legislation to keep the levee as part of permanent flood control protections. Last week, Hoeven spoke with Roy Wright, Deputy Associate Administrator for Insurance and Mitigation at FEMA, to press for the extensio… Continue Reading
03.27.17
Hoeven: President Signs CRA Protecting Multiple Use on Federal Lands, Repealing BLM Planning 2.0 Rule
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement today after the President signed into law legislation repealing the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) "Planning 2.0" rule under the Congressional Review Act (CRA). Hoeven cosponsored the Senate version of the legislation to maintain multiple-use requirements for federal lands and to ensure resource management planning continues to be led by local BLM field offices in coordination with state, local and tribal governments. "The BLM … Continue Reading
03.24.17
Hoeven Statement on Approval of Keystone XL Pipeline
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement today after the Trump Administration approved the permit to build the Keystone XL Pipeline. "After being delayed for nearly a decade, we welcome the Trump Administration's approval of the permit to build the Keystone XL Pipeline. This project is not only about energy, but also job creation, economic growth and making America more secure by reducing our dependence on Middle Eastern oil. Approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline is a cle… Continue Reading
03.23.17
Hoeven: Perdue Agrees to Visit North Dakota, See Agricultural Research, Meet with Producers
WASHINGTON - At a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing today, Senator John Hoeven invited former Governor George "Sonny" Perdue, the nominee to be U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, to North Dakota to meet with producers and see firsthand the innovative agricultural research being conducted at North Dakota State University (NDSU) and around the state. "Farm country is facing real challenges due to low commodity prices, which is why it's so important that we confirm Governor Perdue, who will be a st… Continue Reading
03.21.17
Hoeven Organizes Meeting Between F-M Leaders & OMB Director, Working to Secure Funding for Comprehensive Flood Protection
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator John Hoeven today met with Office and Management and Budget (OMB) Director Mick Mulvaney and Fargo-Moorhead leaders, including Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney and Moorhead Mayor Del Rae Williams. Hoeven arranged the meeting to secure funding for comprehensive flood protection for the Red River Valley in the Army Corps of Engineers Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 work plan, which OMB must approve, as well as the president's final FY2018 budget. The senator organized a similar meeting wit… Continue Reading
03.17.17
Hoeven: Xcel Energy Wind Project Example of All-of-the-Above Energy Policy
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today welcomed Xcel Energy's announcement that they will build a total of seven wind farms in the Upper Midwest, including in Dickey, Morton and Mercer Counties in North Dakota. In late 2015, the senator successfully worked to build support for a compromise proposal to extend the wind production tax credit (PTC) for five years with a phase down to a market based rate. The Senate passed this compromise approach after a previous proposal to extend the credit … Continue Reading
03.16.17
Hoeven: Budget Proposal Does Not Work for Agriculture
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, today issued the following statement in response to the president's proposed budget: "The president's proposed budget reduction for agriculture does not work. Given the challenging times in the farm patch - from low commodity prices to natural disasters - we need to prioritize and maintain our agriculture budget. While we support more funding for our military and defense, we must maintain support for our … Continue Reading
03.15.17
Hoeven Statement on Confirmation of Dan Coats to be Director of National Intelligence
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement after the Senate confirmed former Senator Dan Coats (R-Ind.) to be Director of National Intelligence: "During his time in the Senate, Dan Coats served on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Armed Services Committee, which has prepared him well to head our national intelligence community. He understands the threats facing our nation and has a strong understanding of foreign policy having served as U.S. ambassador. Di… Continue Reading
03.13.17
Hoeven: Move America Act Gives States Flexibility, Lowers Infrastructure Costs Through Public-Private Partnerships
WASHINGTON - At a recent hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Senator John Hoeven outlined the Move America Act, legislation he plans to reintroduce with Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). The committee panel expressed support for the measure, which expands tax-exempt bonds for public-private partnerships and creates a new infrastructure tax credit. These are important tools that will help advance infrastructure projects around the country, including highways, airports, bro… Continue Reading
03.10.17
Hoeven Joins Senator Lankford in Introducing Small Business Regulatory Relief Bill
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that he has joined Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) in introducing the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act, legislation that requires federal agencies to analyze the full impact of proposed regulations on small businesses during the rulemaking process. "Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the real job creators in our country," said Hoeven. "For too long, we've burdened our businesses with unnecessary regulation… Continue Reading
03.07.17
Hoeven: Congress Protects Multiple Use on Federal Lands, Repeals BLM Planning Rule
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today voted to repeal the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) "Planning 2.0" rule under the Congressional Review Act. Hoeven cosponsored the Senate's companion resolution and spoke on the Senate floor today to urge the Senate to pass the measure and send it to the president to be signed into law. "Access to federal lands is vital to many state and local economies, especially in western states," Hoeven said. "This BLM rule pulled decision-making away from local off… Continue Reading
