News Releases
Hoeven Cosponors Sportsmen's Bill to Support Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Recreation
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that he is again cosponsoring bipartisan legislation to improve opportunities for hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation. The Sportsmen's Act of 2015 reauthorizes important conservation programs, improves access to federal lands and helps to boost the outdoor recreation economy. "Like many North Dakotans, my family and I enjoy the tremendous hunting and fishing opportunities in our state," said Hoeven. "Our nation has a rich outdoor herita… Continue Reading
02.15.15
Hoeven Statement on FAA's Release of New Guidance on UAS Use in the National Airspace
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement in response to the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) new guidance on Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in the United States and President Obama's memorandum providing policies regarding privacy protections and federal oversight of UAS use: "Today's draft guidance does address some concerns of the UAS community and signals that the FAA is starting to respond to industry's need for rules that allow them to operate," Hoeven sa… Continue Reading
02.13.15
Hoeven Statement on Enrollment of S.1, Legislation That Will Approve the Keystone XL Pipeline
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement on the enrollment of his Keystone XL pipeline approval bill, which has now passed both the Senate and the House. The bill uses Congress's authority under the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution to approve the project: "The Keystone XL pipeline project is about jobs and economic growth, but it is also about national security through energy security. It's about a forward-thinking strategy to produce more energy in our coun… Continue Reading
02.12.15
Hoeven: Senate Passes Legislation to Help Victims of Child Pornography
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Senate passed the Amy and Vicky Child Pornography Victim Restitution Improvement Act, legislation he cosponsored that will establish a restitution process for victims of child pornography in a way that recognizes the harm caused to the victim by the possession of these materials. The legislation, introduced by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), has 39 bipartisan cosponsors. "Currently, federal law dictates that in child exploitation cases the… Continue Reading
02.12.15
Hoeven Statement on Confirmation of Ashton Carter to be the Next Defense Secretary
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today released the following statement after the Senate confirmed Ashton Carter to serve as Secretary of the Department of Defense. Hoeven met with Carter earlier this week to discuss defense priorities for the nation and North Dakota. "Dr. Carter and I met Tuesday to discuss the critical defense issues facing our nation, including the need for the Administration to present a clear strategy for dealing with ISIS that can succeed. We also discussed the importance… Continue Reading
02.12.15
Hoeven Announces Nearly $12 Million Emergency Highway Funding for North Dakota
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that North Dakota was awarded with nearly $12 million in federal highway funding to repair roadways that were damaged by flooding. The funds are made available through the Emergency Relief (ER) program within the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. "North Dakota is a rapidly growing state, and it's important that we maintain our infrastructure to keep up with the needs of our economy," Hoeven said. "This grant will … Continue Reading
02.12.15
Hoeven Announces More Than $1.8 Million in HUD Capital Fund Program Grants for North Dakota
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that North Dakota housing authorities have received more than $1.8 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Capital Fund Program. The funds are for capital and management activities to help modernize and develop public housing as well as pay down debt if necessary. Barnes County Housing Authority: $50,791 Benson County Housing Authority: $18,180 Burleigh County Housing Authority: $390,554 Emmons Cou… Continue Reading
02.11.15
Hoeven Statement on BNSF's $326 Million Capital Investment in North Dakota
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven released the following statement today after BNSF Railway Company announced plans to invest $326 million in rail capacity improvements and maintenance in North Dakota. Hoeven has been meeting regularly with rail leaders to press for improvements in shipping services in the state. "We have been working to maintain and improve our infrastructure, especially our railways, to meet the needs of our growing state," said Hoeven. "BNSF's $326 million investment will hel… Continue Reading
02.11.15
Hoeven Statement on House Passage of the Keystone XL Approval Legislation
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement in response to House passage of his legislation approving the Keystone XL pipeline project using Congress's authority under the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution: "I want to thank the House for passing the Senate version of this bill so that we can send it directly to the president rather than to conference committee. The Keystone XL pipeline project is about energy, jobs and economic growth. It's about national securi… Continue Reading
02.11.15
Hoeven: FAA Approves Request for Expanded UAS Operations in North Dakota
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved a request by the Northern Plains Unmanned Aerial Systems Test Site to conduct unmanned aerial system (UAS) flights through an expanded area of North Dakota's airspace. The test site, based at the Grand Forks Air Force Base, is one of six national test sites Hoeven worked to create in the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) 2012 reauthorization bill. The senator wrote and spoke with F… Continue Reading
02.11.15
Hoeven Discusses Defense Priorities With Ashton Carter, the President's Nominee to be the Next Defense Secretary
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today met with the administration's nominee to serve as Secretary of the Department of Defense to discuss a range of issues of importance to the nation and North Dakota, including the need to modernize the nuclear deterrent at bases like Minot Air Force Base and a possible role for Grand Forks Air Force Base in a new Arctic mission. "I pressed Dr. Carter on the importance of our nation's strategic deterrent and the need to maintain our technological edge," Hoeve… Continue Reading
02.10.15
Hoeven Announces EPA Has Affirmed Approval for ND's Regional Haze Plan
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Environmental Protection Agency has reaffirmed the agency's approval of the North Dakota Department of Health's State Implementation Plan for Regional Haze. Hoeven has been pushing the EPA since he was governor to accept the state's plan rather than forcing a more costly one-size-fits-all federal plan. "We have worked virtually for years to arrive at this decision, which is good news not only for the state's coal industry and the people … Continue Reading
02.10.15
Hoeven Statement on the Pending House Vote on the Keystone XL Bill
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement on tomorrow's pending House vote on legislation he authored to approve the Keystone XL pipeline project: "Tomorrow, the U.S. House will vote on bipartisan legislation I authored to approve the Keystone XL pipeline based on Congress's authority under the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. If the House approves the Senate-passed bill, we won't have to conference it, and it will go right to the president's desk. He will t… Continue Reading
02.09.15
Hoeven, Bipartisan Group of Senators Reintroduce Bill to Capture Methane and Reduce Flaring
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and a bipartisan group of senators today reintroduced the Natural Gas Gathering Enhancement Act. The legislation would set deadlines for and expedite the permitting of natural gas gathering lines located on federal land and Indian land. Other lead sponsors include U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) and Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.). The legislation was first introduced last March, and is also included in the North American Energy S… Continue Reading
02.06.15
Hoeven Statement on the Death of Robert Hanson
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement in response to the death of Robert Hanson, former State Treasurer, Tax Commissioner, and Commissioner of Veterans Affairs: "Bob Hanson devoted his life to serving the people of North Dakota. As governor, I worked closely with Bob, especially during his tenure as Commissioner of Veterans Affairs. As a veteran of the Vietnam War, Bob was always conscientious and caring in his service to the men and women who have served our cou… Continue Reading
02.06.15
Hoeven Announces Nearly $17 Million in Bureau of Reclamation Funding for Rural, Tribal Water Projects
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Bureau of Reclamation has awarded the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program, Garrison Diversion Unit in North Dakota an additional $10.3 million in funding to build and improve water supply systems in a number of North Dakota and tribal communities. The senator said that with a previous $6.5 million Bureau of Reclamation award for rural water, North Dakota will receive nearly $17 million for essential water supply projects. Hoeven serves on … Continue Reading
02.06.15
Hoeven Presses Army Corps Major General Wehr to Continue Progress on Fargo Permanent Flood Protection
FARGO - Senator John Hoeven today pressed Maj. Gen. Michael C. Wehr, Commander for the Mississippi Valley Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to continue moving forward on permanent flood protection for the Fargo-Moorhead area. Hoeven urged Corps officials to work with him and his colleagues in Congress and the local project sponsors to help move construction of the project forward, particularly through the development of a public-private partnership to expedite construction. "We've w… Continue Reading
02.05.15
Hoeven: Bipartisan House Measure Fully Funds DHS, Blocks President's Executive Order on Immigration
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after a minority of senators again blocked debate and a vote on bipartisan House legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security: "It's important to understand that the bipartisan House bill that was again blocked from a vote today in the U.S. Senate would fully fund all of the crucial functions of the Department of Homeland Security, and at the same time, block the president's executive actions on immigration, which … Continue Reading
02.04.15
Indian Affairs Committee Approves Hoeven's Native American Children's Safety Act
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs has approved the Native American Children's Safety Act, legislation he authored to implement protections for Native American children placed by tribal courts into the tribal foster care system. "Today's committee hearing was an important step in moving the Native American Children's Safety Act through the Senate," said Hoeven. "We'll now work to bring this bill before the full Senate for approval.… Continue Reading
02.03.15
Hoeven: Senate Needs to Vote on Bipartisan House Measure Funding the Department of Homeland Security
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after a minority of senators blocked a vote on bipartisan House legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security: "The bipartisan House bill that was blocked from a vote today in the U.S. Senate would fully fund all of the important functions of the Department of Homeland Security. It would strengthen our borders, bolster immigration and customs enforcement, enhance cybersecurity to deflect cyber-attacks and provide ne… Continue Reading
