News Releases
Hoeven, Landrieu, Bipartisan, Bicameral Group of Legislators, Labor, Business, National Security Leaders Call for Approval of Keystone XL Pipeline
WASHINGTON - Following the release of the State Department's fifth and final environmental impact statement (EIS) that again determined the Keystone XL pipeline poses no significant environmental risks, Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Mark Begich (D-Alaska), David Vitter (R-La.), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Representatives Lee Terry (R-NE 02) and John Barrow (D-G… Continue Reading
02.04.14
Hoeven: Congress Passes Long-Term Farm Bill
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Senate has approved the farm bill conference report, meaning Congress has passed a new five-year farm bill that will benefit producers, consumers and the nation. Now that both chambers have passed the legislation, it goes to the president's desk for signature. Hoeven serves on the Agriculture Committee and was selected by leadership to serve on the Senate-House conference committee that negotiated a final agreement on the bill, pavin… Continue Reading
01.31.14
Hoeven Statement on Release of the State Department's Final Environmental Review for the Keystone XL Pipeline Project
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. State Department's fifth and final Keystone XL environmental impact statement (EIS). "The U.S. State Department's final EIS released today is a step forward in that it poses no reason for President Obama to deny approval of the Keystone XL pipeline project. Although not explicit, this finding is consistent with four previous findings that affirm the need to begin construction without delay. "On th… Continue Reading
01.31.14
Hoeven, Hamm Talk Energy Independence, Crude Transportation Safety, Energy Infrastructure
WASHINGTON - At a Senate Energy Committee hearing this week, Senator John Hoeven questioned Continental Resources CEO Harold Hamm on the best ways for the federal government to help industry produce the energy necessary for our nation to become energy independent. Hamm was testifying before the committee on behalf of the oil industry. Hoeven also stressed the importance of ensuring crude oil is transported safely, and the need to build energy infrastructure, including pipelines, rails and refine… Continue Reading
01.31.14
Hoeven Holds Roundtable with North Dakota Ag Groups to Discuss Farm Bill Progress
FARGO, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today convened a roundtable with North Dakota agriculture groups to outline highlights of the five-year farm bill recently approved by the House-Senate conference committee, and passed by the House of Representatives. As a member of the conference committee, Hoeven worked to hammer out a bipartisan farm bill agreement that could attract support from both Republicans and Democrats in both the House and Senate. The House approved the measure on Wednesday by a vot… Continue Reading
01.31.14
Hoeven, Heitkamp Hold Farm Bill Roundtable with ND Ag Groups
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp today convened a roundtable with North Dakota agriculture groups to outline highlights of the five-year farm bill recently approved by the House-Senate conference committee on which Hoeven serves and passed by the House of Representatives Wednesday with a strong bipartisan vote of 251-166. Congressman Kevin Cramer was represented by a staff member at the meeting. "Passing a strong, long-term farm bill is good for North Dakota farmers and … Continue Reading
01.30.14
Hoeven Calls on HUD Secretary to Extend CDBG Eligibility for Homeowner Repairs Following Minot Flood
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven has called on Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan to extend to 36 months the period of eligibility for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for homeowners to repair their homes following the 2011 flood in Minot. In 2011, Hoeven worked to secure CDBG funding to help reimburse Minot homeowners for home repairs. Under the federal register, however, eligibility extended only 12 months from the city's disaster declaration, which oc… Continue Reading
01.30.14
Hoeven: Senate Passes Legislation Preventing Flood Insurance Rate Increases
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Senate has passed the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, legislation he has been pressing to approve in order to prevent the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from unfairly raising flood insurance rates. The measure will help ensure affordable premiums for millions of Americans and includes the Hoeven-Heitkamp Flood Safe Basements provision, which enables homeowners to receive credit for flood proofed basements whe… Continue Reading
01.30.14
Hoeven Welcomes HHS Decision to Provide $3.4 Million in Energy Assistance to North Dakotans Facing Cold Weather, Propane Shortages
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today commended the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on its decision to distribute $3.4 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding to North Dakota to provide heating assistance to the many North Dakotans facing financial hardship due to this winter's record-setting cold temperatures and tight propane supplies. "The decision to release more LIHEAP funding to North Dakota is a significant and positive development for ma… Continue Reading
01.30.14
Hoeven: MDU Resources' New Pipeline the Kind of Energy Infrastructure America Needs
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today said MDU Resources Group's planned 325 mile Upper Midwest natural gas pipeline is the vital kind of energy infrastructure North Dakota and the nation need. The senator has been working to develop more energy infrastructure, including gas pipelines to reduce flaring and make more supplies of home heating fuel available. The new pipeline carries enough natural gas annually to heat 1.3 million homes. More energy infrastructure, he said, can hedge against the … Continue Reading
01.29.14
Hoeven Statement on House Passage of the Five-Year Farm Bill
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed a five-year farm bill. "House passage of the federal five-year compromise farm bill today is good for our farmers and ranchers and good for American consumers. As a member of the farm bill conference committee, I worked with the conferees to come up with a compromise bill that could gain support in both the House and the Senate, as well as with Republicans and Democrats. The meas… Continue Reading
01.29.14
Hoeven Statement on President Obama's State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement in response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address to a joint session of Congress and the American people this evening: "The president needs to work with Congress to meet the key challenges facing our nation. The right approach is to build a legal, regulatory and tax environment that attracts private investment and gets our economy going again. We need to find sensible savings to address our debt and deficit a… Continue Reading
01.28.14
Hoeven: FMCSA Grants Waiver from Hours of Service Regulations for ND to Help Address Propane Shortage
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced the head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has answered his request that she declare an emergency in the Western Service Center, which includes North Dakota. The agency has agreed to provide drivers transporting propane with an Hours of Service waiver to help alleviate propane shortages in the region, while maintaining requirements that drivers operate safely. The senator urged action last week in a letter to Anne S. Fe… Continue Reading
01.27.14
Hoeven: Postal Service Postpones Consolidation of Minot Area Mail Processing Center
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Postal Service has postponed its scheduled second round of mail processing center closures and consolidations, meaning it has postponed consolidation of the Minot Area Mail Processing Center. Hoeven has been working with the U.S. Postal Service to improve service in western North Dakota and to retain the Minot facility. Today, they informed him they will postpone the revised mail service standards. These changes, which were schedule… Continue Reading
01.27.14
Hoeven: Senate-House Conference Committee Agree on Long-Term Farm Bill
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that he and his colleagues on the House-Senate farm bill conference committee approved the farm bill conference report after arriving at a bipartisan agreement on a new five-year farm bill. The senator says that the measure will now go to each chamber for a final vote. The reconciled Senate-House version of the legislation retains a strong focus on enhanced crop insurance, a priority for North Dakota farmers and ranchers. The measure includes a … Continue Reading
01.27.14
Hoeven: Xcel Energy to Resume Normal Operations in North Dakota
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today said his office has contacted Xcel Energy to offer assistance and ensure people have heat following a recent natural gas outage. Senior company officials said its operations in North Dakota will return to normal today. The company is bringing the pipeline system back online and announced that customers can raise their thermostats to normal levels, starting in Grand Forks and Fargo. During repairs, Xcel had asked customers to lower their thermostats to 60 d… Continue Reading
01.27.14
Hoeven: Bill Preventing Flood Insurance Rate Hikes Moves to Senate Floor, Hoeven Continues Push for Passage
WASHINGTON- Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Senate voted this afternoon to bring the bipartisan Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act to the floor for debate, moving it one step closer to becoming law. Hoeven has pushed for passage of the legislation, which will prevent the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from unfairly raising flood insurance rates and help ensure affordable premiums for millions of Americans. The legislation includes the Hoeven-Heitkamp Flood … Continue Reading
01.24.14
Hoeven: Federal Railway Administration Strengthens Inspection Standards, Procedures
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued new rules to improve track inspections and enhance railway safety. The FRA has amended the Federal Track Safety Standards to enhance the process by which it detects flaws in the rails by establishing minimum qualification requirements for rail flaw detection equipment operators, as well as enhancing requirements for more frequent rail inspections, remedial actions when flaws are detecte… Continue Reading
01.24.14
Hoeven, Barrasso Lead GOP Letter Before State of the Union Pressing President Obama to Deliver Answer on Keystone
WASHINGTON - In advance of President Obama's State of the Union Address, Senators John Hoeven of North Dakota and John Barrasso of Wyoming led a letter signed by all Republican Senators pressing President Obama to deliver an answer on the Keystone XL pipeline. Hoeven has been at the forefront of the Senate effort to secure approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, with two majority votes in the Senate and several bipartisan letters to the president. In 2011, Congress passed legislation requiring th… Continue Reading
01.24.14
Hoeven Presses for Action To Alleviate Propane Shortage
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today wrote to the head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to urge action to help alleviate propane shortages in the region. Hoeven requested an Emergency Declaration for the Western Service Center, which includes North Dakota, to provide drivers transporting propane with relief from existing Hours of Service limitations, while maintaining requirements that drivers operate safely. "We need to do all we can to ensure that our communities h… Continue Reading
