News Releases
Hoeven Presses FERC Nominee to Build Energy Infrastructure, Ensure Efficient and Fair Application Process
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven this week pressed Collette D. Honorable, a nominee to be a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to help build the nation's energy infrastructure, including expediting the citing of transmission lines. Hoeven also pressed Honorable to help expedite the export applications for liquefied natural gas (LNG). "We can become energy secure in the United States, but we need to invest in the necessary energy infrastructure to do so," said Hoeven. "W… Continue Reading
12.05.14
Hoeven Presses NRCS Chief to Work with Producers for Local Solutions to Conservation, Flooding Issues
WASHINGTON - At a hearing of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator John Hoeven this week urged Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Jason Weller to work closely with producers in North Dakota and across the country to dispel uncertainty and find solutions for issues created by Waters of the U.S., conservation compliance in the new farm bill and measures to help protect against flooding. The senator invited Weller to North Dakota to meet with producers directly to address thes… Continue Reading
12.03.14
Hoeven's Minot Field Office Relocates to Federal Building
MINOT, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today announced that his Minot field office has relocated to the Judge Bruce Van Sickle Federal Building, 100 1st Street SW, Suite 107. The new office will open Friday, December 5. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday, with Sally Johnson, a Minot native, serving as the regional director. "We look forward to continuing to serve the people of the Minot region from our new location in the federal building," said Hoeven. "Our regional offices p… Continue Reading
12.03.14
Hoeven Statement on the Death of Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement upon news that Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker died Tuesday evening. The mayor had been fighting kidney cancer: "Denny Walaker truly loved Fargo and the people of Fargo. As mayor, he presided over one of the greatest periods of growth in the city's history, and his relentless fights against flooding have become a permanent part of his legacy. "Mikey and I visited Denny in September following his treatment for kidney cancer. A… Continue Reading
12.03.14
Hoeven Announces More Than $450,000 in Grants for NDSU, NDDOH
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is awarding nearly $435,000 to North Dakota State University (NDSU) in mental health research grant funding. The funds are made available through the HHS National Institute of Mental Health and will support research on information retention and memory. In addition, the North Dakota State Department of Health was awarded $25,000 to develop a State Systems Development Initiative (SSDI) G… Continue Reading
12.02.14
Hoeven, Heitkamp Call on FEMA to Approve Fargo Basement Exception
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp today called on Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate to approve the City of Fargo's application for the basement exception in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The city has been granted the basement exception since 1975. FEMA, however, has redrawn the floodplain following recent flood fights, and the new map will go into effect on January 15, 2015. Consequently, the city must reapply for the excep… Continue Reading
12.02.14
Hoeven Announces OPM Approves Pay Increases for Federal Workers at Minot Air Force Base
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has approved a Department of Defense request for special rate increase for federal civilian workers at the Minot Air Force Base (MAFB). The action will increase the pay of base laborers, custodians, maintenance mechanics, cooks and other food service employees. Hoeven has been pushing OPM to address cost-of-living challenges faced by federal workers at the base and in western North Dakota owing to e… Continue Reading
11.26.14
Hoeven Donates 165 Books to New Liberty Elementary School in Bismarck
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today visited Liberty Elementary School in Bismarck to donate 165 books for the new school's library. The senator presented the books, which include both new and classic titles in a range of reading levels, and read to the students at an assembly. Hoeven's office secured the books through the Surplus Books Program of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. "We hope these books help fill the shelves of Liberty Elementary School's library and instill a l… Continue Reading
11.25.14
Hoeven Presents Military Medals to North Dakota WWII, Gulf War Veterans
MINOT, N.D. - At a medal presentation ceremony in Minot today, Senator John Hoeven presented military service medals to Gulf War veteran James J. Capps, World War II veteran Loren G. Fenner and the family of World War II veteran Herbert A. Skeldum. Hoeven's office has been working to secure the medals earned by the veterans during their military service. "At this time of Thanksgiving, we are especially grateful for the freedoms we enjoy and the men and women who have sacrificed so much to pre… Continue Reading
11.25.14
Hoeven Celebrates Manvel Elementary School's Designation as National Blue Ribbon School
MANVEL, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today congratulated the students, educators and families of Manvel Elementary School on their designation as a 2014 National Blue Ribbon School Award Winner. "The designation as a National Blue Ribbon School is a high honor that is only given to the nation's best schools," said Hoeven. "The Manvel School community should be extremely proud of their work to receive this designation, which comes as a result of dedicated efforts from students, educators and fam… Continue Reading
11.25.14
Hoeven Honors Ward County Couple for Adoption Work
MINOT, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today recognized Rod and Tracey Belzer as Angels in Adoption at a ceremony held in Minot to honor their outstanding commitment to adoption. Hoeven selected the Belzers to receive the national Angels in Adoption award after considering a pool of inspiring candidates. "Rod and Tracey Belzer exemplify the powerful and positive impact individuals can have on the lives of North Dakota foster children," said Hoeven. "During their 26-year marriage, the Belzer family… Continue Reading
11.25.14
Hoeven Calls on FAA to Expedite UAS Test Flight Approvals
BISMARCK, N.D. - In a letter sent last week to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) head Michael Huerta, Senator John Hoeven said the nation's six designated Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) test sites could be doing more to integrate UAS into the National Air Space. The senator called on the administrator to expedite approvals to test UAS flights in concurrent air space and take other steps to more fully utilize the sites' specialized capabilities. Hoeven also asked Huerta to meet with him to … Continue Reading
11.24.14
Hoeven Announces Additional SAFE Acres to Help ND Producers Optimize CRP Acreage
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will allocate an additional 32,800 acres for the State Acres for Wildlife Program (SAFE) in North Dakota. As a member of the farm bill conference committee, the senator worked to include language in the final bill that encouraged the Secretary of Agriculture to allocate a greater number of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres to programs like SAFE, which allow producers to create habitat that … Continue Reading
11.24.14
Hoeven Announces More Than $344,000 in Grants to Enhance Highway Safety in North Dakota
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $344,092 to the North Dakota Department of Transportation to enhance highway safety. The funding for 2015 announced today comes through three grant programs: State Traffic Safety Information System Improvement Grants, Occupant Protection Grants and Impaired Driving Countermeasure Grants programs. All were awarded by the DOT's National Highway Safety Administration. "North Dakota is a … Continue Reading
11.24.14
Hoeven Worked to Ensure CRP Works For Farmers, Ranchers, Sportsmen
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today told members of the N.D. Association of Soil Conservation Districts that he worked to ensure that the conservation measures like CRP, SAFE and EQIP in the 2014 farm bill work for North Dakota farmers, ranchers and sportsmen. The senator served on the joint Senate-House Conference Committee that crafted the final version of the five-year bill. "Conservation measures in the new farm bill will help to protect and… Continue Reading
11.24.14
Hoeven, Heitkamp: BNSF to Accelerate Steps to Improve Safety on Casselton Stretch of Rail
CASSELTON - Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp today announced that BNSF Railway will accelerate steps to enhance rail safety in a stretch of track through Casselton, N.D. that has been the site of two derailments within the last year. The delegation, which has been pressing BNSF officials to take timely and substantive measures to mitigate the likelihood of accidents in the region, welcomed the railroad's actions. "We have been in regular contact with BNSF Executive Chairman Matt Rose, … Continue Reading
11.24.14
Hoeven Announces More Than $1 Million, Five-Year Head Start Grant for TGU School District
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded a five-year grant of more than $1 million to Early Explorers, a grantee of the Towner-Granville-Upham (TGU) School District, to support two early education programs: Head Start and Early Head Start. Early Explorers' Head Start program serves children ages three to five in the communities of Anamoose, Devils Lake, Harvey, Rugby, Towner, Turtle Lake and Velva while its Early Hea… Continue Reading
11.21.14
Hoeven Statement on President Obama's Unilateral Action on Immigration
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement regarding President Barack Obama's executive order on immigration: "In the recent election, the people of America spoke. They said clearly that they want President Obama to work with Congress in a bipartisan manner. He should not be circumventing the elected representatives of the American people with a unilateral executive order. "The right approach is to work with Congress on immigration reform that begins by making su… Continue Reading
11.21.14
Hoeven Celebrates Sweetwater Elementary's Education Achievements, Designation as National Blue Ribbon School
DEVILS LAKE, N.D. - At a ceremony today in Devils Lake, Senator John Hoeven congratulated the students, educators and families of Sweetwater Elementary School on their designation as a 2014 National Blue Ribbon School Award Winner. The senator presented the students with a U.S. flag flown over the Capitol in their honor to be displayed at the school along with their National Blue Ribbon School flag. National Blue Ribbon designees are presented with a special blue ribbon flag to fly as a symbol o… Continue Reading
11.20.14
Hoeven Announces New Support for Telemedicine, Commemorates Rural Health Care Day
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement to mark National Rural Health Day, Thursday, November 20. Hoeven cosponsored a resolution introduced by Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) that recognizes the importance of hospitals, health care providers and quality health care services for America's rural communities: "Nearly half of all North Dakotans live in rural communities, and Rural Health Day offers all of us an opportunity to recognize and … Continue Reading
