News Releases
Hoeven Statement on Passage of the Payroll Tax Cut, Unemployment Insurance Extension
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed legislation that would extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance, as well as address a scheduled cut in Medicare reimbursement rates for doctors through 2012: "Today I voted in support of a measure that will extend the temporary payroll tax cut for working Americans, as well as unemployment insurance for those who are still unable to find work. The same bill will also address the so-ca… Continue Reading
02.16.12
Hoeven, Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Iran Nuclear Sanctions Resolution
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator John Hoeven and a bipartisan group of senators today held a press conference announcing their introduction of a formal resolution urging the U.S. to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability. Hoeven and others urged the Administration to quickly implement sanctions passed by Congress in the Defense Authorization bill passed in December that would bar any country or company that does business with the Iranian Central Bank from doing business with the Unit… Continue Reading
02.16.12
Delegation Presses Air Force Leadership on Defense Priorities
Washington - Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven and Congressman Rick Berg today met with top Air Force leadership - including Air Force Secretary Michael Donley - to reemphasize the vital role North Dakota's Air Force Bases and Air National Guard play in America's national defense. "When you factor in the vital missions performed in North Dakota and our strategic location along the northern tier, it's clear to us that the Air Force Bases in Minot and Grand Forks should continue to play an imp… Continue Reading
02.16.12
Hoeven: DOE Report Shows Keystone XL Would Lower Gas Prices
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today urged U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu to pursue energy infrastructure projects such as the Keystone XL pipeline, citing an Energy Department report that stated the Keystone XL pipeline would transport oil to be refined in the United States, and it would lower U.S. gas prices. "Here we have rising gas prices, putting a strain on our consumers, on business, on the economy, and yet the administration turns down a project that would help us redu… Continue Reading
02.15.12
Hoeven to Vilsack: Crop Insurance Needs to Be Number One Priority in New Farm Bill
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today told U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack that a strong crop insurance program needs to be the number one priority in developing the new Farm Bill. He also urged the secretary to support agricultural research programs and a market-based approach to promote biofuel. Secretary Vilsack testified this morning in front of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, of which Hoeven is a member, to outline agriculture-related funding ini… Continue Reading
02.15.12
Hoeven Meets with FEMA Official to Stress Need for Flexible Home Buyout Policy in Minot
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven met yesterday with James Walke, Risk Reduction Division Director for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to stress the importance of flexibility in using FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grand Program (HMGP) funds to buy out homes. The senator wanted to make sure that federal funding from various sources are used as soon as and as effectively as possible. In addition, Hoeven's legislation to allow building flood protection structures on previously bought out la… Continue Reading
02.15.12
ND Leaders Review Strategy to Raise DL Rail Line
Washington - Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven and Congressman Rick Berg today met with the leaders of Amtrak and BNSF Railway to review plans to raise a rail line in the Devils Lake basin that is threatened by floodwaters. "Time is of the essence here. The rising waters of Devils Lake continue to threaten this rail line and bridges near Churchs Ferry. As a result, passenger service on the Amtrak Empire Builder line is at risk. A flooded line would cause Amtrak to reroute trains which wo… Continue Reading
02.14.12
Hoeven Seeks to Attach Keystone Legislation to Highway Bill
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today spoke on the U.S. Senate floor on the importance of the Keystone XL pipeline to the country's energy independence and job creation, describing it as "vital infrastructure that's very much needed by our country." Hoeven filed an amendment yesterday to attach legislation approving the Keystone XL project to an important transportation authorization bill. "Whether you measure it by jobs, whether you measure it by energy security for this nation - really, … Continue Reading
02.13.12
Hoeven Statement on President Obama's Budget Released Today
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today released the following statement in response to the budget President Barack Obama released earlier today: "The budget that the president released today does not adequately respond to the country's needs. Under his budget, our national debt continues to rise over the next 10 years, from $15 trillion to $26 trillion. That is on top of the increase from $10 trillion to $15 trillion we saw during his three years in office. "Rather than address this challeng… Continue Reading
02.10.12
Hoeven Calls on Egyptian Government to Free Fargo Native, All American Detainees
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today in a pointed letter to Egyptian ambassador to the United States Sameh Shoukry demanded that the Egyptian government release North Dakota native Staci Haag and 19 other Americans working for nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Egypt. Haag and the others are now threatened with trial in Egyptian courts for promoting democracy and human rights. Hoeven had planned to make the demand in person to an Egyptian military delegation he was scheduled to meet wit… Continue Reading
02.10.12
Hoeven Meets With Corps, Fish and Wildlife Service Officials on Flood Management for Souris River Basin
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today met with officials of the Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to discuss comprehensive flood management for the Souris River Basin. Specifically, the senator asked agency officials to provide a timely evaluation of the feasibility of increasing water storage capacity on Lake Darling as part of a larger approach to flood mitigation in Minot and the river valley. Hoeven said a comprehensive flood protection plan should include several… Continue Reading
02.08.12
Delegation Announces Nearly $2 Million for Minot Sewer Project
Washington - Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven and Congressman Rick Berg today announced that $1.9 million has been allocated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to support the upgrade and expansion of the City of Minot sewer system. Local officials have stressed the importance of the project both to Minot's recovery from last year's flood and to handling the increase in population that has accompanied the energy boom in western North Dakota. "This infrastructure project is a key building b… Continue Reading
02.08.12
Delegation Announces More Than $10 Million for Garrison Diversion Water Project
Washington - Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven and Congressman Rick Berg today announced that $10.9 million in federal funding has been allocated by the U.S. Department of Interior to the Garrison Diversion Unit (Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program) in an effort to repair and upgrade water storage reservoirs. "Clean, safe drinking water is vital to any community. This funding will allow the Spirit Lake Tribe to replace an aging storage reservoir with a new system that will provide a reliable… Continue Reading
02.08.12
Hoeven Cosponsors Legislation to Protect Religious Freedom
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven is cosponsoring legislation that would protect the rights of religious institutions to provide insurance or services that align with their guiding values and deeply held beliefs. This bill would reverse the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Jan. 20 mandate to require employers, including most faith-based institutions, to provide insurance coverage for contraception, abortifacients and sterilization. "The Administration's refusal to exempt faith-base… Continue Reading
02.08.12
Delegation Congratulates North Dakota Students Named Top Volunteers
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven and Kent Conrad and Congressman Rick Berg today announced that Hope Reis of Bismarck and Taytum Jones of Minot have been named North Dakota's top youth volunteers for 2012 by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. As the state honorees, Prudential will award Reis and Jones each with $1,000, an engraved medallion, and a trip to Washington, D.C., where they will be recognized, along with youth volunteers from across the country, for their service to their c… Continue Reading
02.07.12
Hoeven: Canadian Prime Minister in China to Sell Oil
WASHINGTON - On the Senate floor today, Senator John Hoeven said Congress must act on the Keystone XL pipeline or risk losing Canadian oil to China. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and a delegation of Canadian energy leaders are meeting this week with Chinese leaders to bolster the energy and trade relationship between the two nations. This trip comes on the heels of the Obama Administration's rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline, a project which the Administration reviewed for more than… Continue Reading
02.07.12
Hoeven Contacts ADM to Discuss Options for Walhalla Plant
WASHINGTON - Following Archer Daniels Midland's (ADM) announcement today that ADM plans to close its Walhalla ethanol facility in April, Senator John Hoeven called on a senior company official to work with private investors and state and local developers to help keep the plant operating under new ownership if possible. The senator spoke with Shannon Herzfeld, ADM Vice President, who committed to work with the state on the transition process. Hoeven asked about the company's plans to provide fo… Continue Reading
02.06.12
Hoeven: Passage of FAA Reauthorization Bill Advances North Dakota Aviation Interests
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today said Senate passage of a long-term Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill supports North Dakota's aviation interests, including growing unmanned aerial systems (UAS) operations and ensuring reliable air service in North Dakota. The legislation includes an amendment, introduced by Hoeven and Senator Kent Conrad, that directs the FAA to work with the military to integrate UAS into the National Airspace (NAS). Hoeven's amendment instruct… Continue Reading
02.04.12
Hoeven Honors North Dakota Purple Heart Recipient Russell Ouart
FARGO, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today joined local, state and National Guard officials at a ceremony to present Rusty Ouart, a North Dakota Iraq War veteran, with the Purple Heart, a decoration awarded to members of the U.S. armed forces who are wounded or killed in combat. Hoeven released the following statement in honor of Ouart. "Rusty made tremendous sacrifices defending our nation and was injured while protecting our freedoms. This Purple Heart is well-deserved recognition for his work … Continue Reading
02.03.12
Dalrymple, Hoeven Meet With Premier Wall to Advance Greater Flood Protection in the Souris River Basin
BISMARCK, N.D. - Governor Jack Dalrymple and Senator John Hoeven advanced the need for greater flood protection in the Souris River Basin during a meeting today with Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall in Regina. Hoeven and Dalrymple have continued on-going talks with Wall and other Canadian officials to gain operational changes at three Canadian dams for greater short-term and long-term flood protection in the Souris River Basin. Saskatchewan officials said they have lowe… Continue Reading
