News Releases
Hoeven Congratulates ONEOK on ND Investments to Capture Natural Gas, Reduce Flaring in ND
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today released the following statement in response to ONEOK Partners' announcement that it will invest $605 to $785 million in the Williston Basin to construct a new Demicks Lake natural gas processing facility and related infrastructure in North Dakota that will help reduce natural gas flaring in the state: "ONEOK Partners' announcement today is good news for North Dakota because it will create jobs and capture more natural gas, but it is also good news for t… Continue Reading
07.29.14
Hoeven: USDA Needs to Follow Up SCO for Wheat and Durum with Implementation for All Commodities in All Counties
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) will begin new Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO), available through the federal crop insurance program, with the 2015 crop year. The SCO covers spring and durum wheat for all North Dakota counties. USDA is slated to announce the counties selected for other commodities later this summer, and Hoeven is pressing the agency to cover all North Dakota counties. Hoeven … Continue Reading
07.29.14
Hoeven Statement on Senate Confirmation of Veterans Affairs Secretary Nominee Robert McDonald
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement upon confirmation of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary nominee Robert McDonald: "Last week I met with Veterans Affairs Secretary nominee Robert McDonald to press for his support to allow veterans more options for health care and long term care (LTC) services in their home communities. I believe he is receptive to our ideas, and will work with us on these priorities to ensure our veterans receive the best care possible. "Specific… Continue Reading
07.28.14
Hoeven Congratulates Fargo for taking Top Spot on Forbes List of Best Small Places for Business and Careers
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today congratulated city and business leaders in Fargo for taking the top ranking this year on Forbes' list of the Best Small Places for Business and Careers. The city moved up from the number two spot in 2013. The publishers said Fargo is a "cultural, commerce, manufacturing, health care and education hub for the region and home to North Dakota State University." "Congratulations to all who have worked so hard to make Fargo and North Dakota a top performer on t… Continue Reading
07.28.14
Hoeven Presses EPA Administrator to Withdraw Proposed Waters of the U.S. Rule
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, met last week with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy to press again for the agency to abandon its proposed "Waters of the U.S." rule. Hoeven said farmers and ranchers are concerned by the proposal that significantly expands EPA authority to regulate small wetlands, creeks, stock ponds and ditches under the Clean Water Act (CWA). "We made it clear to the Administrator that the EPA ne… Continue Reading
07.25.14
Hoeven, Heitkamp to Host Train Car Safety Training in October
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp today announced they will be hosting, in partnership with GATX Corporation and BNSF, a railcar safety training event this October in Fargo, North Dakota. From October 6-8, GATX, the largest railcar leasing company in the world, will provide training to local rail workers and emergency responders using its TankTrainerTM and Classroom Car. GATX's TankTrainer is a 33,500-gallon tank car outfitted with a variety of fittings, coatings and config… Continue Reading
07.25.14
Hoeven Announces More Than $7 Million in FEMA Grants Awarded to North Dakota to Ensure Safety and Preparedness
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded North Dakota three grants totaling more than $7 million to help with state and local preparedness programs to ensure the safety of all North Dakotans. "Maintaining the safety and well-being of citizens is the most fundamental role of our government," said Hoeven. "These FEMA grants will help ensure that our local, state and tribal law enforc… Continue Reading
07.24.14
Hoeven Announces Over $800,000 in Funds for Science Research, Education at NDSU, CCCC
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded two grants totaling $836,646 to North Dakota State University (NDSU) and Candeska Cikana Community College (CCCC). • NDSU Computer Science Department - $345,551 - These funds are awarded through NSF's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) and will support research in information integration and the science of storing and transferring information to improve the… Continue Reading
07.24.14
Hoeven Meets with Veterans Affairs Secretary Nominee, Senator Expects Confirmation
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven this week met with Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Nominee Robert McDonald to press for his support to allow veterans more options for health care and long term care (LTC) services in their home communities. As a veteran, graduate of West Point and retired CEO of Proctor & Gamble, McDonald has the military and business experience that will help him reform the VA, Hoeven said, and he expects McDonald to be confirmed in the coming days. More Choice to Access… Continue Reading
07.24.14
Hoeven Offers Compromise LNG Export Legislation
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the U.S. Senate Energy Committee, this week introduced S.2638, the LNG Certainty Act, compromise legislation to expedite permitting of liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities. The bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to make a National Interest Determination within 45 days of a company filing an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Currently, companies apply to both FERC and DOE to receive a LNG permit. The FERC a… Continue Reading
07.23.14
Hoeven Announces Grants for Park River Volunteer Fire Department
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that a grant totaling more than $195,000 has been awarded to the Park River Volunteer Fire Department. The grant will be used to train the department's personnel and purchase new gear and self-contained breathing apparatuses. "North Dakota's volunteer firefighters play a vital role ensuring the safety and well-being of our communities," said Hoeven. "The grant awarded to the Park River Volunteer Fire Department will help ensure the community's … Continue Reading
07.23.14
Hoeven Announces $350,000 Grant for NDSU Nursing Program
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded a $350,000 grant to the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Department of Nursing for its Indigenous Wisdom in Nursing (I-WIN) Program. The grant will be used to foster diversity in the nursing workforce by providing financial assistance to students who are typically from backgrounds underrepresented among registered nurses, most notably American Indians. "We've been worki… Continue Reading
07.23.14
Hoeven Statement on DOT's Proposed Rail Tank Car Standards
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement in response to the Department of Transportation (DOT) release today of proposed rules for governing rail tanker cars. Since December 2012, Hoeven has been pressing federal regulators to expedite and update standards to make tank cars more safe. "We appreciate that DOT has issued its proposal for rail tank cars today that appears to be comprehensive and deals with prevention, mitigation and response. We will continue to review the… Continue Reading
07.23.14
Hoeven Meets with Minot Air Force Base Leaders to Address Ongoing Priorities for Base Missions
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven met today with Minot Air Force Base leaders to review and work on priorities important to the base. The base is in a growth mode because of the Nuclear Force Improvement Program (NFIP), and the senator is working to modernize and support the base so it can continue serving as a vital part of nation's defense. Hoeven met with Col. Jason Armagost, Commander, 5th Bomb Wing; Col. Michael Lutton, Commander, 91st Missile Wing; Chief Master Sgt. Thomas Stiles, Superi… Continue Reading
07.23.14
Hoeven: Flexible School Nutrition Requirements Important as Work Begins to Reauthorize Programs
WASHINGTON - At a hearing of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee today, Senator John Hoeven pressed for greater flexibility in school nutrition programs as work begins to reauthorize child nutrition programs in 2015. Hoeven cited new whole grain requirements as an example of a one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition that does not work on the ground. Hoeven was joined at the hearing by School Nutrition Association President-Elect Julia Bauscher, who represents nearly 55,000 school nutritionists… Continue Reading
07.23.14
Hoeven Announces $255,000 in Grant Funds for UTTC Minority Business Center
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, has awarded $255,000 in grant funds to the United Tribes Technical College (UTTC) to deliver strategic business consulting and deal-making services to eligible minority business enterprises to encourage job creation and retention. The funds are awarded through the MBDA's Business Center Program, which provides minority entrepreneurs with one-on-one assistance… Continue Reading
07.22.14
Hoeven Announces $5.9 Million DOT Grants for Fargo, Williston, Hettinger Airports
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded more than $5.9 million in grants to Hector International Airport in Fargo, Sloulin Field International in Williston and Hettinger Municipal Airport in Hettinger. DOT, through the FAA, has awarded two grants totaling more than $5 million to complete taxiway construction and runway rehabilitation projects at Hector International Airport. Hoeven spoke today with Michael P. Huerta, Admini… Continue Reading
07.21.14
Hoeven Announces $177,614 Grant to Benefit Native Americans Job Creations
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Coalition of Indian Housing Authorities of North Dakota (CIHAND) has been awarded a federal grant totaling $177,614. The federal funding, which is awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program (RBEG), will be used to establish a revolving loan fund to provide technical assistance to small and emerging businesses that benefit Native Americans living on or near reservations. "This fed… Continue Reading
07.18.14
Hoeven Announces Dam Rehabilitation Funds for Renwick Dam, Pembina County
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced nearly $300,000 in grant funds for the Pembina County Water Resource District to renovate the Renwick Dam on Tongue River, a tributary of the Pembina River. These funds will support the second phase of the dam renovation, providing for a new spillway and embankment, and are awarded by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) through its Watershed Rehabilitation Program. Phase one of the project raised the top of the dam by over five feet a… Continue Reading
07.18.14
Hoeven Presses BNSF to Catch Up on Ag Shipments Before Harvest
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven this week pressed BNSF Railway Executive Chairman Matt Rose to relieve backlogs on agriculture shipments prior to the fall harvest season. BNSF committed to spot 450 cars per day and offer more shuttles this fall than in 2013 to relieve past due agriculture shipments. Hoeven also asked rail officials to come to North Dakota to hear directly from the state's agriculture commodity groups. The senator expects that meeting to take place within the first two weeks of … Continue Reading
