News Releases
Hoeven Calls on Corps of Engineers to Improve Flood Control
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today called on members of the U.S. Senate's Environment and Public Works Committee to initiate a thorough review and analysis of current management practices on the nation's waterways, including those in North Dakota, with the goal of better flood protection for people and property. Currently, the Corps' Annual Operating Plan calls for reducing the surface elevation of Lake Sakakawea to 1,837.5 feet mean sea level, the same elevation as last year. Hoeven, howev… Continue Reading
10.14.11
Hoeven Honors Past Mentor at Minot Catholic Schools Hall of Fame Induction
MINOT, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven praised Rev. Robert Williams' inspirational leadership and dedication to education at this evening's banquet in which the priest and former Bishop Ryan High School administrator was inducted into the Minot Catholic Schools Hall of Fame. Hoeven, a 1975 Bishop Ryan High School graduate, attended the school during Rev. Williams' 1970-1976 administrative tenure, and was a member of the Key Club, which Rev. Williams piloted. Williams, who died in 1998, was known for… Continue Reading
10.14.11
Hoeven Calls On EPA To Adopt State Implementation Plan for Regional Haze
WASHINGTON - At a public agency hearing today in Bismarck, Senator John Hoeven called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to adopt the North Dakota Department of Health's State Implementation Plan for Regional Haze, rather than a more costly one-size-fits-all federal plan. Hoeven also announced his plan to introduce the Empower States Act, which will ensure that the EPA provides states with adequate flexibility to implement sensible standards for improving visibility in selected areas o… Continue Reading
10.13.11
Conrad, Hoeven Call on Defense Secretary to Maintain ICBM Fleet
Washington - Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven were joined by a bipartisan group of their colleagues today to make the case for maintaining the current force structure of the nation's Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs), including those stationed at Minot Air Force Base. In a letter to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta from the Senate ICBM Coalition, Senators Conrad and Hoeven stressed that the ICBM force serves a critical role as part of the nation's nuclear deterrent. Additiona… Continue Reading
10.13.11
Senate Committee Agrees to Conrad-Hoeven Request for Flood Hearings
Washington - Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven announced today that a key Senate Committee has agreed to their request to review and analyze the events leading up to this year's epic floods in North Dakota and across the nation. "We need to get a better understanding of what caused this flooding and what more can be done to ensure it never occurs again. The committee will take a close look at the serious floods that occurred across the nation this year, including in both Minot and Bismarck… Continue Reading
10.13.11
Hoeven: Senate Approves Free Trade Agreements
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today said U.S. Senate approval of three long-pending free trade agreements was long-coming, but welcome. He said it will strengthen America's competitiveness in the global marketplace and create jobs for U.S. workers. He said the pacts will benefit farmers, ranchers and manufacturers, across the nation and in North Dakota. Hoeven has been working with congressional colleagues on both sides of the aisle and the Administration to bring the agreements to the floo… Continue Reading
10.12.11
Delegation Urges Napolitano for Additional Flood Relief
Washington - Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven and Congressman Rick Berg today spoke with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano today and reiterated the vital need for additional federal support for flood victims in North Dakota. In a conference call with the Secretary, the delegation asked for additional flexibility when it comes to utilizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Hazard Mitigation resources for Minot. The North Dakota leaders noted that Hazard Mitigation fu… Continue Reading
10.12.11
Delegation Announces Approval of Agricultural Disaster Designation for RIchland and Sargent Counties
Washington - Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven and Congressman Rick Berg today applauded the decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to approve a disaster declaration for Richland and Sargent Counties in North Dakota. The declaration allows impacted producers to be considered for Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans (EM) and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program (SURE). "This is welcome news for producers in Richland and Sargent Counties. Disaster assistance will now be … Continue Reading
10.12.11
Hoeven Joins First-Ever Bipartisan Law Enforcement Caucus
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today joined with 17 other senators to launch the first ever U.S. Senate Law Enforcement Caucus to educate and inform their colleagues and staff about the programs and initiatives that are keeping our communities safe, while advocating for the policies and resources law enforcement agencies need to carry out their missions. U.S. Senators Chris Coons of Delaware and Roy Blunt of Missouri, the founders and co-chairs of the new caucus, made the announcement at an e… Continue Reading
10.07.11
Delegation Announces $2 Million Grant to Repair Devils Lake Flood Damage
Washington - Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven and Congressman Rick Berg today announced that a $2 million grant has been awarded to the Bureau of Indian Affairs to repair roads on the Spirit Lake Reservation damaged by the rising waters of Devil's Lake. "The rising waters of Devils Lake continue to wreak havoc on the region. Flood waters are inundating the area and have taken their toll on many roads and highways throughout the basin. This funding will help repair the vital infrastruct… Continue Reading
10.07.11
FEMA Agrees to Work Toward Comprehensive Flood Protection for Minot Area Allowing More Home Buyouts
WASHINGTON - Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials today assured Senator John Hoeven and Congressman Rick Berg that the agency would work with city, county and state officials to develop a comprehensive flood protection plan for the Minot area that would maximize its ability to use Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) dollars to buy out homes at risk for future flooding. In a conference call this morning with David Miller, FEMA's Associate Administrator for Federal Insurance and… Continue Reading
10.06.11
Klobuchar Makes Good on Goper-Bison Wager, Delivers Delicious Tater Tot Hotdish to Hoeven
WASHINGTON - Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) today delivered her 'award-winning' Taconite Tater Tot Hotdish to Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) following the North Dakota State University Bison's victory over the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. Senators Klobuchar and Hoeven made a friendly wager on the outcome of the football game - Klobuchar wagered her hotdish and Hoeven wagered North Dakota-raised bison steaks. Klobuchar and Hoeven have been working together to address flooding in the Red Riv… Continue Reading
10.06.11
Delegation Pushes Back Against EPA Overregulation
Washington - Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven and Congressman Rick Berg today pushed back against an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposal to regulate coal fired energy plants in North Dakota and urged the agency to jettison plans to overrule the State's efforts to reduce haze. In a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, the Congressional delegation strongly objected to an EPA plan to overrule North Dakota's State Implementation Plan (SIP) on regional haze. "We believe that t… Continue Reading
10.05.11
Hoeven Pushes For States to Take the Lead on Energy Regulations, Not One-Size-Fits-All Federal Mandates
WASHINGTON - At a Senate Energy Hearing Tuesday, Senator John Hoeven told members of the Natural Gas Subcommittee of the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board that North Dakota is doing a good job of regulating energy development, and that states need to continue to take the lead on regulating the industry. He told the members that their recommendations in a pending report for the Secretary of Energy on shale gas production should take into account the good work being done by states like North Dako… Continue Reading
10.05.11
Conrad, Hoeven Continue Push for Additional Disaster Aid for Communities
Washington - Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven today continued their push for additional disaster assistance to help North Dakota communities recover from floods. The Senators urged the leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to direct additional Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to assist North Dakota communities with disaster recovery efforts. In a letter to Senators Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Thad Cochran (R-… Continue Reading
10.05.11
Delegation Announces More Than $3.7 Million Grant to Aid in Flood Recovery
Washington - Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven and Congressman Rick Berg today announced that a $3,738,854 grant has been awarded to the State of North Dakota to aid in flood recovery efforts. The funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is intended to help Bismarck and Burleigh County cover the costs to build levees and dikes. "Bismarck and Burleigh County were hit hard by flooding this year and every effort needs to be made to h… Continue Reading
10.05.11
Conrad, Hoeven Make Case for Frontier Amendment
Washington - Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven today urged members of a joint deficit reduction panel to preserve the Frontier States amendment, a law that delivers more equitable Medicare reimbursement levels to health care providers in North Dakota and similar rural states across the nation "At a time when the nation's budget crisis demands the most efficient use of every taxpayer dollar, some are making the argument that Medicare reimbursement for North Dakota's health care providers … Continue Reading
10.04.11
Hoeven: FEMA Extends Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has extended the Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program through Nov. 10. The program aids individuals and families with temporary housing needs until they can secure longer-term accommodations. The Senator was in Minot Friday to work with local and state leaders on recovery efforts. He followed up with a call to FEMA Director Craig Fugate to ensure that temporary housing needs would be met un… Continue Reading
10.04.11
Hoeven: Free Trade Agreements Move to U.S. Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today said the U.S.-South Korean, Colombian and Panamanian free trade agreements are one step closer to approval now that the President has submitted them and Senate leadership has brought them to the U.S. Senate floor. Hoeven worked with congressional colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get the Administration to send the three agreements to Congress for approval. In April, Hoeven and U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell met in Seoul with South Ko… Continue Reading
10.03.11
Hoeven Honors Grand Forks Judge for Adoption Work
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today recognized District Judge Joel D. Medd of Grand Forks as an Angels in Adoption awardee for his dedication to positive child welfare practices in his court. Hoeven selected Medd from a pool of impressive nominees. "Judge Medd has done his best to help North Dakota children and families navigate the legal system as they go through the adoptive process. He also works hard to make sure that each adoption finalization is a personal and warm experience for them.… Continue Reading
