News Releases
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
07.18.14
Hoeven: USDA to Host Listening Sessions July 31 in Fargo
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today encouraged North Dakota producers to attend an upcoming listening session with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) State Conservationist Mary Podoll to share comments or concerns about the agency's implementation of wetland compliance provisions. USDA will host a listening session July 31 from 10 am to noon at the Holiday Inn in Fargo. "Our farmers and ranchers do a tremendous job and we need to do all that we can to support their hard work," Hoe… Continue Reading
07.17.14
Hoeven Meets with Microsoft's Fargo Leader
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today met with Don Morton, Microsoft's Fargo Campus Site Leader, to discuss operations at the company's North Dakota site. Morton said Microsoft does not expect to lay off employees at its Fargo campus as part of the company's announcement this week. "We met today with Don Morton to discuss the good work being done by Microsoft employees in Fargo," said Hoeven. "With the company's layoff announcement, we're appreciative that those layoffs aren't expected to ta… Continue Reading
07.17.14
Hoeven: FY15 Defense Appropriations Bill Bolsters National Security, Supports Missions at North Dakota Bases
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today worked to include provisions in the Fiscal Year 2015 Department of Defense (DoD) Appropriations bill that will strengthen America's national security and support missions at North Dakota's bases. The legislation, which was approved today by the committee, includes strong support for the nation's nuclear triad, modernization of the B-52 aircraft fleet and funding for the Global Hawk platform. "The Defense … Continue Reading
07.17.14
Hoeven Announces BNSF, RRVW Agreement to Provide Rail Service to James Valley Grain
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that BNSF Railway and RRVW Railroad Company have reached an agreement to provide shuttle train service to James Valley Grain's proposed shuttle facility in Verona, North Dakota. "The agreement BNSF and RRVW have reached to provide train service to James Valley Grain is an important step in our ongoing efforts to improve rail service in North Dakota, especially for our state's farmers who rely heavily on trains" said Hoeven. "New service to the … Continue Reading
