News Releases
Hoeven Statement on Congress Passing the 2016 Budget Report
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the Senate voted to pass the Conference Report to the 2016 Congressional budget, which the House passed last week: "Today, the Senate passed a compromise budget resolution blending the Senate's and the House's budget resolution for 2016. The measure is a responsible plan that balances the nation's budget in 10 years without raising taxes. This is essential because we owe it to our children and future generations to bala… Continue Reading
05.05.15
Hoeven, Bipartisan Group of Senators Call for Increased Action to Address Avian Influenza Outbreak
WASHINGTON - In a letter sent today to leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator John Hoeven joined a bipartisan group of 14 other senators in requesting additional support for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to proactively address the ongoing highly virulent avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak. As of now, HPAI has been detected in nearly 20 states across the country. Although the virus poses minimal risk to humans, it has seriou… Continue Reading
05.05.15
Hoeven Announces More Than $1.1 Million HHS Grant to Valley Community Health Centers
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Valley Community Health Centers in Grand Forks a $1,180,726.00 grant. The grant will be used to enhance administrative operations to provide improved health care services at Valley Community Health Centers. The funds are made available through the HHS Health Resources and Services Administration's Health Center Program, which was extended for an additional two years through th… Continue Reading
05.04.15
Wyden, Hoeven Introduce Move America Program to Boost Infrastructure Investment
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, R-N.D. and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today introduced legislation that would bring billions of dollars of investment to state and local government to help grow and repair America's aging infrastructure. The bill, the "Move America Act of 2015," would expand tax-exempt private activity bonds and create a new infrastructure tax credit, giving states significant flexibility to pursue infrastructure projects that are badly needed acr… Continue Reading
05.04.15
Hoeven: Operations Underway at New Dakota Prairie Diesel Refinery
DICKINSON, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today thanked MDU Resources Group, Inc. and Calumet Specialty Products Partners for their innovative investment in North Dakota as operations get underway at their new $300 million Dakota Prairie Diesel Refinery in southwestern North Dakota. The senator cited the greenfield fuels refinery, the first built in the U.S. in nearly 40 years, as a good example of the kind of infrastructure investments needed to grow domestic energy production, create good jobs and… Continue Reading
05.01.15
Hoeven Statement on DOT's Release of New Oil Train Safety Regulations
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement in response to the Department of Transportation's new oil train safety regulations: "This morning, the Department of Transportation issued new safety regulations for moving crude oil by rail, including a revised standard for tanker car construction and new rules governing speed and braking. We will now review the new rules carefully to make sure they enable the industry to move crude oil safely and efficiently. "We have been… Continue Reading
05.01.15
Hoeven Announces More Than $2.6 Million in USDA Grants, Loans for North Dakota Towns
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a total of $2,637,000 in grants and loans to the towns of Harvey and Michigan City as well as the North Central Rural Water Consortium II to help with water and waste disposal projects. The funds are distributed as follows: Harvey, North Dakota - $952,000 grant; $1,210,000 loan - The funds will help pay for the upgrade and replacement of water and waste disposal infrastructure. Michig… Continue Reading
05.01.15
Hoeven, King Introduce Healthy School Meals Flexibility Act
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven (R-ND) and Angus King (I-Maine) today introduced the bipartisan Healthy School Meals Flexibility Act in the Senate (S.1146). The Healthy School Meals Act would provide permanent flexibility for schools to comply with the USDA's sodium and whole grain requirements under the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs. The legislation does not change any other current requirements for calories, fruits or vegetables. "We're working with school nutrition professio… Continue Reading
04.30.15
Hoeven Announces More Than $1.4 Million in HUD Grants for North Dakota
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded more than $1.4 million in housing grants to 15 housing authorities across North Dakota. The funds are made available through the Public Housing Operating Fund which helps local housing authorities support vulnerable low- and extremely low-income families. The awards are as follows: Fargo Housing and Redevelopment Authority: $481,533 Burleigh County Housing Authority: … Continue Reading
04.30.15
Hoeven Presses EPA Head to Rescind Waters of the U.S. Rule
WASHINGTON - At a hearing of the Appropriations Committee on Interior and the Environment, Senator John Hoeven Wednesday pressed Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy to withdraw agency's proposed Waters of the U.S. rule, which would bring almost every acre of wet ground under federal Clean Water Act (CWA) jurisdiction. Hoeven has been working on two fronts to eliminate the proposed Waters of the U.S. regulation. He is cosponsoring legislation to rescind the rule, and he i… Continue Reading
04.30.15
Hoeven Outlines Priorities for Nuclear Triad to Defense Leaders
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven this week told an audience of Air Force personnel, defense industry professionals and congressional staff that maintaining a strong nuclear triad as a visible deterrent is the most effective strategy to preserve peace and stability. The senator highlighted the importance of the Nuclear Force Improvement Program (NFIP) and the modernization of the Long Range Stand Off (LRSO) missile program during his speech to the defense leaders. Nuclear Force Improvement Progr… Continue Reading
04.30.15
Hoeven, Klobuchar Water Heater Efficiency Legislation Signed Into Law
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) announced that President Obama this afternoon signed their Water Heater Efficiency legislation into law. The new law enables rural electric power cooperatives and their members to continue using large, energy-efficient water heaters in "demand response" conservation programs. The measure passed the Senate last month and the House earlier this month. The bill addresses the Department of Energy's (DOE) plan to phase out these … Continue Reading
04.29.15
Hoeven Working to Reduce Cost of Flood Insurance
FARGO, N.D. - During a recent Senate hearing, Senator John Hoeven urged Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate to help control the cost of flood insurance by working closely with local communities to ensure the agency's flood plain mapping process considers ongoing efforts to build permanent flood protection. Hoeven serves as the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Homeland Security, where he oversees the agency's more than $40 billion budget, includ… Continue Reading
04.29.15
Hoeven Urges Top General to Locate Air Force Training Center at Grand Sky
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today made the case for Grand Sky as an ideal site to locate a training program in a call with Gen. Herbert J. "Hawk" Carlisle, Commander of Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base. The Air Force needs more pilots to keep up with heavy demand for Predator and Reaper missions. Hoeven told the general that Grand Sky can provide the Air Force with a place to train UAS pilots and crews to help avert a pilot shortage. "In our discussion with General Carlisle,… Continue Reading
04.28.15
Hoeven: NRCS to Amend Contracts to Keep Conservation Compliance, Farm Program Enrollment Separate
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has agreed to amend its contract with conservation groups working in their offices to make sure they work only to help farmers enroll in conservation programs, not on conservation compliance issues. Further, beginning at the end of the fiscal year, the NRCS will open such positions in their office on a competitive basis, so that farm groups can also compete for the positions. Hoeven spoke this… Continue Reading
04.28.15
Hoeven Announces $348,000 Research Grant for NDSU
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the National Institute of General Medical Sciences has awarded North Dakota State University (NDSU) a $348,000 academic research grant. The grant will help research controlled delivery of insulin. "Research plays a crucial role in ensuring the health and wellbeing of all Americans," Hoeven said. "With this grant, NDSU can continue to work on challenges faced by many dealing with diabetes in our state and across the country." Today's grant w… Continue Reading
04.27.15
Hoeven: NASA Awards $125,000 to North Dakota to Promote Aerospace Technology Research and Development
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven announced today that NASA has awarded $125,000 to North Dakota to support aerospace technology research and development. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Hoeven supported the NASA research program, which provides seed funding to help develop self-sustaining, long-term aerospace research. The funds are made available through NASA's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program, which awards Research Infrastructure Deve… Continue Reading
04.27.15
Hoeven Presses FEMA Head On Alleged Fraud in Flood Insurance Estimates for Sandy Victims
WASHINGTON - At a recent hearing of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee on Homeland Security, Senator John Hoeven pressed Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate to outline steps he is taking to address charges that thousands of Hurricane Sandy homeowners were underpaid on their claims because of apparent wide-spread fraud and falsified engineering reports. Hoeven posed the questions while taking Fugate's testimony on FEMA's $11.2 billion budget request for Fis… Continue Reading
04.27.15
Hoeven's Long-Term Care Legislation Gaining Momentum, Veterans Affairs Secretary Urges Senate Support
WASHINGTON - At a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Veterans Affairs, VA Secretary Robert McDonald urged the Senate to support Senator John Hoeven's Veterans Access to Extended Care Act, a measure that will help veterans access nursing homes and extended care facilities in their communities near loved ones and friends. The senator is working to get a vote on the bill soon. The senator outlined his legislation at a gathering of the North Dakota Disabled American Veterans Conventio… Continue Reading
04.24.15
Hoeven Presses Corps to Expedite Permits for Highway 85 Four-Lane Project in Lake Sakakawea Region
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven this week pressed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expedite the permitting process for the Highway 85 four-lane project in the Lake Sakakawea area and to issue temporary or conditional permits now so that work can get underway this construction season. The Corps must approve both a Section 404 permit to allow dredging, as well as a construction permit. Hoeven met with Colonel Joel Cross, Army Corps Commander for the Omaha District, to make the case. "We have … Continue Reading