News Releases
Hoeven Celebrates Gussner Elementary's Blue Ribbon Designation
JAMESTOWN, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today congratulated Gussner Elementary on being designated a 2013 National Blue Ribbon School Award Winner by the United States Department of Education. Hoeven commended Gussner on its achievements during a ceremony held at the school. "The Blue Ribbon designation is our country's highest honor for outstanding schools," said Hoeven. "In earning this prestigious award, Gussner has distinguished itself as one of our state's and country's best schools, and Nor… Continue Reading
11.27.13
A Continuing Tradition of Gratitude
In 1789, President George Washington issued a proclamation declaring November 26 a day of "sincere and humble thanks." In 1863, with the Civil War raging, President Abraham Lincoln issued a presidential proclamation setting aside the last Thursday of November "as a day of Thanksgiving," making the celebration a national holiday. Since her founding, our nation has known the importance of gratitude. Almost 225 years after President Washington's Thanksgiving proclamation, we again gather to feast,… Continue Reading
11.26.13
Hoeven: Tribes Can Share in State's Opportunities
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today told a gathering of the Three Affiliated Tribes that the best way to help create jobs on reservations is to make sure that they share in opportunities created by North Dakota's growing economy. The senator spoke before the Tribal Employment Rights Office staff and tribal leaders. To illustrate his point, Hoeven cited a historic oil and gas agreement he helped forge with the Three Affiliated Tribes and how that approach might work on a national level. … Continue Reading
11.25.13
Hoeven Working to Meet Needs of Williston Area
WILLISTON, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today spoke at the Williston Rotary Club, providing updates to community and business leaders on a range of topics, including the farm bill negotiations, the United States Postal Service (USPS) and continued growth in the Bakken region. Hoeven emphasized the importance of making the right kind of policy decisions and investments needed to support the priorities of the area. "Our communities in western North Dakota have experienced tremendous growth and pr… Continue Reading
11.25.13
Hoeven: Regional USPS VP Visits Williston to Provide Update About Western North Dakota Postal Service Improvements
WILLISTON, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today hosted Drew Aliperto, United States Postal Service (USPS) vice president of area operations for the western area, to see firsthand the tremendous commercial and demographic growth in western North Dakota and its impacts on postal service. The senator also arranged a roundtable for Aliperto to update community leaders and representatives of postal employees about USPS' efforts to retain and expand postal services throughout the region. The meeting follo… Continue Reading
11.25.13
Hoeven: Regional USPS VP Visits Williston to Provide Update About Western North Dakota Postal Service Improvements
WILLISTON, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today hosted Drew Aliperto, United States Postal Service (USPS) vice president of area operations for the western area, to see firsthand the tremendous commercial and demographic growth in western North Dakota and its impacts on postal service. The senator also arranged a roundtable for Aliperto to update community leaders and representatives of postal employees about USPS' efforts to retain and expand postal services throughout the region. The meeting follo… Continue Reading
11.23.13
Hoeven: We Need To Get a Farm Bill, Goal is to Get Agreement to House Floor By Second Week of December
MINOT, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today told a large gathering of Farmers Union members that we need to get a farm bill yet this year. The goal, he said, is to get an agreement to the House floor by the second week of December so that the Senate can vote the following week. As a member of the House-Senate farm bill conference committee, the senator is working to reconcile the Senate and House versions of the bill. "North Dakota farmers and ranchers need the certainty that comes with a long-term… Continue Reading
11.22.13
Hoeven Statement on the Vote to Change the Rules of the Senate
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today released the following statement in response to Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) move to change the rules of the Senate to allow confirmation of all presidential nominees, with the exception of the Supreme Court, with a simple majority vote, rather than a 60 vote majority. "The fact is, since President Obama took office in 2008, the U.S. Senate has confirmed all but four of the 1,707 nominations he has sent to us. That is a 99.7 percent confirmation r… Continue Reading
11.20.13
Hoeven, Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce the Water Heater Efficiency Act
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and a bipartisan group of senators today introduced the Water Heater Efficiency Act, an energy conservation bill that would enable rural electric power cooperatives and their members to continue using large, energy-efficient water heaters in "demand response" conservation programs. Cosponsors of the bill include senators Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.). The legislation comes in reaction to new … Continue Reading
11.20.13
Hoeven, Heitkamp, Cramer Work to Enhance Future of GFAFB
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp and Congressman Kevin Cramer Tuesday joined representatives from the Grand Forks Base Realignment Impact Committee (BRIC) in meetings at the Pentagon, pressing Air Force officials to support current and future operations at Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB). "We are incredibly proud of our servicemen and women at Grand Forks and the wonderful community that supports them," the delegation said. "Because of their diligence and hard work, GFAFB… Continue Reading
11.19.13
Hoeven, Bipartisan Group of Senators Push Bill on Senate Floor to Prevent Increase in Flood Insurance Rates
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven and a bipartisan group of senators today took to the Senate floor to gather support for legislation that would prevent the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from raising flood insurance rates before it studies the impact of raising rates on policy holders. The measure will help ensure affordable premiums for millions of Americans. Included in the bipartisan legislation is the Hoeven-Heitkamp Flood Safe Basements Act, which ensures homeowners receive cred… Continue Reading
11.19.13
Hoeven Statement on ONEOK Partners Announced New Projects in the Williston Basin
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today released the following statement in response to ONEOK Partners announced plans to invest an additional $650 to $780 million in the Williston Basin to build several projects, including the Lonesome Creek plant, the company's seventh and largest natural gas processing plant, and the second expansion of the Bakken NGL Pipeline: "Today marks an important milestone in ONEOK Partners' ongoing work to develop, process and transport natural gas in North Dakota's B… Continue Reading
11.11.13
Hoeven Nominates Six Students for Military Academy Appointments
students for appointment to our nation's military academies. Hoeven nominated: Chandler Vercher of Minot, Jacob Santer of Fargo and Anthony Coronato of Fargo to the United States Naval Academy; Leah Fagerland of Minot and Nicholas Scarberry of Fargo to the United States Military Academy at West Point; and Mitchell Robinson of Minot to the United State Air Force Academy. "It is an honor to have the opportunity to appoint several of North Dakota's top students for appointments to our nation's mil… Continue Reading
11.11.13
Hoeven Statement in Honor of Veterans, Families
FARGO, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement in commemoration of Veterans Day: "With courage and selflessness, the men and women of the Armed Forces and their families have served our nation and kept us safe through our most trying times, day and night, during every season. Accordingly, we designate a special time to celebrate, remember and honor their sacrifices, which is appropriate. We should, however, remember and honor them not only on Veterans Day, and not only w… Continue Reading
11.08.13
Delegation Announces Approval of Recovery Plan Totaling $24 Million in CDBG Funds for ND, Including $20.4 Million for Minot
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp, and Congressman Kevin Cramer today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has approved two disaster recovery plans totaling nearly $24 million to help local communities in North Dakota to recover from severe storms and flooding in 2011. These disaster plans will rely on grants provided earlier this year through HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. Last March, HUD allocated a total of $41.… Continue Reading
11.06.13
Hoeven, Baucus Continue Partnership to Press for Keystone XL Project
WILLISTON, N.D. - Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Max Baucus (D-Mont.) continued their drumbeat for the Keystone XL pipeline project as a Canadian trade delegation arrived in Montana. The energy-focused trade mission will feature luncheons in Sidney, Mont., today and Williston, N.D., tomorrow, sponsored by the Montana World Trade Center to focus on energy production and the Keystone XL pipeline project. "In 2012, North Dakota exported more than $3 billion worth of goods to Canada-an increas… Continue Reading
11.02.13
Hoeven Celebrates Christening of USS North Dakota
GROTON, CONN. - Senator John Hoeven today joined U.S. Navy officials, congressional and state leaders and North Dakota residents to celebrate the christening of the USS North Dakota, a Virginia-class nuclear submarine named for the state and designed to meet the demands of the 21st Century. The ceremony, which marks the completion of the shipbuilding and formalizes its name, came on the 124th anniversary of North Dakota statehood. Hoeven thanked everyone involved in the USS North Dakota effort,… Continue Reading
11.01.13
Hoeven Statement in Honor of 124th Anniversary of North Dakota's Statehood
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today released the following statement in honor of the 124th anniversary, tomorrow, Nov. 2, of North Dakota's statehood: "As North Dakota celebrates her 124th birthday, it is fitting that we should pause to celebrate the rich history of our state and people. Our ancestors, who left Europe looking for opportunity, found it in North Dakota. They could not have imagined the dynamic, bustling state we are today. That's true because North Dakota, since our founding, … Continue Reading
10.31.13
Delegation Welcomes FEMA Decision to Issue Disaster Declaration Following Winter Storm
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp and Congressman Kevin Cramer today welcomed the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) approval of a federal disaster declaration to assist seven counties in southwestern and south central North Dakota to recover from a severe winter storm that struck earlier this month. The delegation urged presidential approval of the disaster declaration on Wednesday, Oct. 23, in a letter sent to President Obama. "FEMA's disaster declaration will pro… Continue Reading
10.30.13
Hoeven Urges Farm Bill Conferees to Move Quickly and Surely on Long-Term Farm Bill
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today urged his colleagues on the House-Senate farm bill conference committee to work in a bipartisan fashion to find a consensus on agriculture legislation so that Congress can pass a bill by the end of the year. Hoeven was one of a number of Senate and House members to give opening statements at the first meeting of the group. Both the Senate and the House versions of the legislation focus on enhanced crop insurance. The measure includes a new Supplemental Cov… Continue Reading
