News Releases
Hoeven: Air Force Announces Plan to Stand Up New MQ-9 Reaper UAS Wing
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Air Force is planning to stand up a new remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) MQ-9 Reaper wing. The new wing will be comprised of an operations group and a maintenance group, which could be collocated at one base or stood up at multiple bases. Under the initial criteria, North Dakota's Air Force bases in Grand Forks and Minot are both among 19 installations nationally that are eligible sites; however, the Air Force will narrow the list to final… Continue Reading
04.11.16
Hoeven Makes the Case with Air Force to Locate Remotely Piloted Aircraft Wing at Grand Forks
WASHINGTON - At a Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations hearing Thursday and a meeting earlier this week, Senator John Hoeven made the case with top Air Force officials to base a new remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) mission at Grand Forks Air Force Base. The senator has been working with Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Miranda Ballentine, and General Herbert J. "Hawk" Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command, to highlight the advantages for basing a new RPA mission at G… Continue Reading
04.08.16
Hoeven Working to Expedite Replacement of Aging UH-1 Huey Helicopters and Hangars at Minot Air Force Base
WASHINGTON - During a hearing of Military Construction and Veterans Affairs committee meeting, Senator John Hoeven pressed Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Miranda Ballentine to accelerate plans to construct new facilities at Minot Air Force Base as the Air Force finalizes plans to upgrade its Vietnam-era UH-1N helicopter. "We need new helicopters at the Minot Air Force Base and we're making real progress on getting Black Hawks to replace the decades-old Hueys," Hoeven said. "So now we're … Continue Reading
04.08.16
Hoeven Honors Deploying Army Reserve Members, Families at Send-Off Ceremony
FARGO, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today joined the community in honoring 156 members of the Fargo-based U.S. Army Reserve Unit 461st Vertical Engineering Company, who will deploy soon for a mission overseas. Hoeven spoke at the send-off to pay tribute to the soldiers and their families and thank them for their service. The unit is comprised of soldiers from communities in North Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, with at least 30 of the soldiers having previously deployed. … Continue Reading
04.07.16
Hoeven: Forest Service Chief Agrees to Work With Senator, Ranchers to Carry Over Grazing Fees to Support Projects Important to Ranchers
WASHINGTON - During a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Environment this week, Senator John Hoeven secured an agreement from U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell to work toward allowing grazing associations to carry over grazing fee credits from year-to-year to help ranchers complete projects important to their operations, like fencing, water development and land exchanges. Currently, credits must be spent on approved projects in the year they are allocated, lim… Continue Reading
04.06.16
Hoeven: Dakota Turbines Good Example of Rural Economic Development
WASHINGTON - During a hearing of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Rural Development Subcommittee today, Senator John Hoeven cited the work of Dakota Turbines, a small-wind turbine company based in Cooperstown, as a good example of the rural entrepreneurship needed to grow the economy and create good jobs. Cris Somerville, President of Dakota Turbines, testified at the hearing about the work of the family-owned and operated company, which manufactures blades, alternator and power electronics for sing… Continue Reading
04.05.16
Hoeven: VA Agrees to Implement Pilot Project in Fargo to Address Veteran Scheduling, Private Care Issues
FARGO, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has agreed to develop and start to implement a pilot project over the next 30 days at the Fargo VA Medical Center to address scheduling and service with the Veterans Choice Program. The senator's announcement follows a roundtable he hosted on Friday with officials he invited to North Dakota from the VA and Health Net. The pilot program will serve as an administrative remedy to the bureaucratic del… Continue Reading
04.04.16
Hoeven Announces $34 Million in Available Funding for Firefighters, Fire Prevention Programs
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee on Homeland Security, today announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Program funding opportunity, which totals $34 million. Fire Prevention and Safety grants are part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program, which works enhance the safety of the public and fire… Continue Reading
04.01.16
Hoeven Outlines Work to Support Electric Cooperatives, Advance Comprehensive Energy Plan
GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven, who serves on the Senate Energy and Appropriations committees, spoke today at Minnkota Power Cooperative's annual meeting. The senator outlined his work to prevent burdensome federal regulations, offer strong support to rural communities and advocate for rural electric utilities. The senator also thanked Minnkota Power and the entire Rural Electric Cooperative family for all they do to help rural America thrive. "Minnkota provides efficient, reliable pow… Continue Reading
04.01.16
Hoeven Pressing for VA Pilot Program in Fargo, Allowing Veterans to Schedule Private Care Through Local VA Medical Center
FARGO, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today hosted a roundtable in Fargo with Gene Migliaccio, Deputy Chief Business Officer for Purchased Care at the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Veterans Health Administration, and Matthew Ruest, Vice President of Government Services Field Operations for Health Net, to advance a new pilot program in the state that will allow veterans to schedule health care appointments with non-VA private providers directly through the Fargo VA Medical Center. Hoeven brou… Continue Reading
04.01.16
Hoeven Announces More Than $2.5 Million in Additional LIHEAP Funding for North Dakota
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in providing more than $2.5 million in additional funding to help low-income North Dakotans heat their homes. Today's award is the second allocation from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for this fiscal year (FY) and includes $1.9 million for the state government and more than $600,000 for tribes. "North Dakotan… Continue Reading
03.31.16
Hoeven Announces $3 Million DOD Investment in Advanced DASR-11 Radar Upgrades for Grand Forks, Fargo Bases
GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Defense will invest $3 million at Grand Forks Air Force Base and Fargo's Hector Field to make technical upgrades to their Digital Airport Surveillance Radar (DASR-11) systems. The upgrades are key to integrating unmanned aerial systems (UAS) into the National Airspace because the newer technology will provide clearer resolution, enabling multiple aircraft to fly beyond the line of sight without chase aircraft o… Continue Reading
03.30.16
Hoeven: Air Force, Grand Sky Sign Joint Use Agreement to Share Runway at Grand Forks Air Force Base
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Air Force and Grand Sky Business and Technology Park have signed a joint use agreement to share the base's runway. Hoeven has been working with senior Air Force officials, including Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and General Herbert J. "Hawk" Carlisle, Commander of Air Combat Command, to complete their review of the agreement. Most recently, he made the case for the agreement last week with Jennifer L. Miller, Deputy Assistan… Continue Reading
03.30.16
Hoeven: NSF Awards Nearly $650K to North Dakota State College of Science to Bolster STEM Education
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded $648,463 to North Dakota State College of Science. The funds will be used to create a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) Scholars Scholarship Program, Academic Support Network and Career Success Network. The program aims to recruit academically-talented STEM students with demonstrated financial need, retain STEM scholars and … Continue Reading
03.29.16
Hoeven Continues Push to Make More Long-Term Care, Private Health Care Services Available to Veterans
BISMARCK, N.D. - During a tour and roundtable at the Baptist Health Care Center in Bismarck today, Senator John Hoeven stressed the importance of improving access to local long-term care (LTC) services for veterans. The senator highlighted the Veterans Access to Long Term Care and Health Services Act, legislation he sponsored with Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). The Hoeven bill, which was approved by the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee in December, would open more LTC services for veterans clos… Continue Reading
03.28.16
Hoeven Holds Roundtables in Bowman and Amidon
BOWMAN AND AMIDON, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today held roundtables in Bowman and Amidon where he discussed his current priorities in the Senate and addressed issues important to each community, including Bowman's new airport, the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Waters of the U.S. Rule (WOTUS), a new hospital and clinic in Bowman, grazing issues on the National Grasslands and the Air Force's Powder River Training Complex. "Agriculture is a staple of these southwestern North Dakota comm… Continue Reading
03.23.16
Hoeven: HHS Awards More Than $3 Million to Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, who serves on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Administration for Children and Families/Office of Head Start has awarded $3,290,245 to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. The funds will be used to support Head Start and Early Head Start programs, which work to promote the school readiness of children from low-income families. "By investing in programs to promote school readiness for chi… Continue Reading
03.23.16
Hoeven Addresses Forward Devils Lake, Outlines Work to Advance Economic Growth, Jobs
DEVILS LAKE, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today told a gathering of Forward Devils Lake, the region's economic development organization, that whether you're working on the federal, state or local level, job creation has to be job number one. Devils Lake is poised for growth, he said, and as a member of the Senate Appropriations and Agriculture Committees, Hoeven is working to support their efforts to grow the local economy and create good jobs for residents. "We're working hard to create a busin… Continue Reading
03.23.16
Hoeven Delivers Keynote Address at Central Power Electric Cooperative Annual Meeting
MINOT, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today delivered the keynote address at Central Power Electric Cooperative's annual meeting to outline his work to prevent costly Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, offer strong support to rural communities and advocate for infrastructure projects that will help the nation build a comprehensive energy plan. In recognition of the senator's leadership on issues impacting rural residents, Central Power leaders honored Hoeven with the Gary M. William… Continue Reading
03.23.16
Hoeven Celebrates Minot Fire Station Grand Opening; Senator Helped Secure $3.2 Million for Construction of the $3.4 Million Facility
MINOT, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today joined local leaders and residents to celebrate the grand opening of Minot's $3.4 million fire station at 55th Street. The new facility was funded in large part by $3.2 million in disaster recovery Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-DR) funds, part of a measure introduced by the senator and authorized by Congress in 2011 as part of a consolidated appropriations bill. Hoeven authored the legislation and secured its passage through his roles both on the… Continue Reading
