News Releases
Hoeven Presents Donald Diederich WWII Military Honors
DICKINSON, N.D. - At a ceremony in Dickinson today, Senator John Hoeven presented former Technical Sergeant Donald Diederich with a host of medals Mr. Diederich earned for valor in the U.S. Army during World War II, but never received. Inquiries made by the senator revealed documentation of the decorations on Mr. Diederich's discharge papers and the senator worked to secure them. "These long-overdue honors mark in tangible form Donald Diederich's courage and our admiration, respect and gratitud… Continue Reading
03.26.13
Hoeven, Officials Break Ground on New Dakota Prairie Diesel Refinery
DICKINSON, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today joined officials from MDU Resources Group, Inc. and Calumet Specialty Products Partners to break ground for a new, $300 million diesel refining facility in southwestern North Dakota that will process up to 20,000 barrels per day of Bakken crude. As both governor and now senator, Hoeven is working to develop a strong national energy plan to boost domestic energy production and reduce dependency on Middle Eastern petroleum. MDU Resources and Calumet for… Continue Reading
03.23.13
Hoeven Statement on the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Resolution that Passed on A Party-Line Vote Today
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement regarding his vote on the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Resolution, which passed along party lines in the U.S. Senate early this morning: "This morning, I voted against a budget plan offered in the U.S. Senate that raises taxes by more than $1 trillion and never balances. "To effectively address our deficit and debt will require a budget that takes a pro-growth approach to our economy, reduces our spending in a careful way, and reforms,… Continue Reading
03.22.13
Hoeven, Baucus: Senate Passes Bipartisan Amendment in Support of Keystone XL Project
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Max Baucus (D-Mont.) today offered an amendment that passed putting the U.S. Senate on record in support of the Keystone XL pipeline. The measure, which is attached to the Senate budget bill, was cosponsored by Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mark Begich (R-Alaska), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). The measure passed by a vote of 62 to 37. … Continue Reading
03.21.13
Hoeven Meets with Major General John Peabody to Secure Flood Protection Assurances for Fargo, Minot
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today met with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Mississippi Valley Division Commander Maj. Gen. John Peabody to secure assurances that the budget sequester will not affect flood prevention and protection activities in the Minot or Fargo regions this spring. The senator also wanted to ensure that the Corps is taking all and any necessary steps to prepare for and prevent flooding in both communities, which are under the jurisdiction of the Mississippi Valley Division… Continue Reading
03.20.13
Senate Approves Continuing Resolution to Fund Government for 2013, Makes Necessary Spending Reductions
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement today upon passage of a continuing resolution to fund the federal government for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2013, which runs through September 30: "The continuing resolution we passed today on a bipartisan basis funds government for 2013 and cuts spending to help address our deficit and debt. Although it does not provide as much flexibility as other measures I pushed to include in the bill, it is an improvement on the across-the-… Continue Reading
03.20.13
Hoeven, Heitkamp, Cramer: North Dakota Bases Critically Important to Air Force, National Defense
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp and Congressman Kevin Cramer yesterday met with representatives from both the Grand Forks Base Realignment Impact Committee (BRIC) and Minot's Task Force 21. The delegation is working on issues important to the bases, including support for the missions and infrastructure at each installation. Following the meeting, the Grand Forks BRIC traveled to the Pentagon to meet with Kathleen Ferguson, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air … Continue Reading
03.20.13
Hoeven Cosponsors Amendment Passed by the Senate to Keep Frontline Food Inspectors on the Job
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.) today cosponsored an amendment with Senators Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) to the 2013 continuing resolution that will make sure food inspectors in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) stay on the job to protect the safety and affordability of the nation's food supply. The measure passed the Senate unanimously. "This was a case where clearly the USDA needed flexibility to prioritize their funding in … Continue Reading
03.19.13
Hoeven Announces $2 Million FEMA Grant to Aid Minot Flood Recovery
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded a $2 million grant to the City of Minot to complete the first phase of a project to protect the city's water treatment plant. Senators Hoeven and Conrad worked together last year to make sure the grant funding was authorized and appropriated. "FEMA's decision to award additional grants to assist with Minot's continued flood recovery efforts reflects an ongoing commitment to ensuring … Continue Reading
03.15.13
Hoeven Presses President on Keystone XL, Introduces Legislation Enabling Congress to Approve the Project
WASHINGTON - At a meeting Thursday with President Barack Obama and the Republican Senate caucus on Capitol Hill, Senator John Hoeven again pressed the president for a definite timetable and favorable decision on the Keystone XL pipeline project, which has been delayed by the administration for nearly five years. The president said only that he would decide "this year." "The president still hasn't given us a decision or a definitive timeline, so Senator Max Baucus and I, along with a bipartisan … Continue Reading
03.15.13
Delegation Encourages North Dakota High School Marching Bands to Apply for 2014 National Independence Day Parade
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp and Congressman Kevin Cramer today announced that the 2014 National Independence Day Parade is seeking applications from high school marching bands interested in representing the State of North Dakota in the annual Independence Day Parade. The delegation encourages North Dakota high school marching bands to apply through their congressional offices to participate in the annual parade held each July 4 in the nation's capital in celebration of A… Continue Reading
03.15.13
Hoeven: Energy Committee Passes Legislation to Streamline Processing of Federal Oil and Gas Permits in ND
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Senate Energy Committee has approved the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Streamlining Act, legislation he introduced, along with Senator Heidi Heitkamp, to help streamline oil and gas permitting on federal lands in western North Dakota. As a member of the Energy Committee, Hoeven worked to pass the legislation through the committee, clearing its way for consideration by the full Senate. The BLM Streamlining Act expands the service … Continue Reading
03.14.13
Hoeven-Baucus, Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Legislation to Approve the Keystone XL Pipeline
WASHINGTON - Following nearly five years of study and a fourth favorable State Department environmental review indicating "no significant impact to the environment," U.S. Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Max Baucus (D-Mont.) today introduced bipartisan legislation to approve the long-delayed Keystone XL pipeline. The senators' bill would approve the 1,700-mile, high-tech project under Congress's authority enumerated in the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution, Article 1, Section 8. Hoeven … Continue Reading
03.13.13
Hoeven Announces Northrop Grumman Strategic Alliance
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that Northrop Grumman is committed to entering a strategic alliance with key Grand Forks partners and working toward an Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) agreement that would make the global aerospace and defense technology company a tenant in the air base's new high-tech complex. Hoeven met Thursday with Thomas Vice, Northrop Grumman's Corporate Vice President and President of the company's Aerospace Systems Sector, who told the senator that the company i… Continue Reading
03.13.13
Hoeven Statement on Return of 818th Engineer Company
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement upon the return of the North Dakota National Guard's 818th Engineer Company (Sapper) to the United States: "Today I join North Dakotans and Americans everywhere in welcoming the members of the 818th Engineer Company back home to the United States following the unit's commendable service in Afghanistan. These soldiers served with tremendous courage and skill, and we are grateful to them - as well as their families - for the im… Continue Reading
03.12.13
Hoeven Pushes Corps to Move Forward on Flood Protection Plan for Minot Region
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today met with Col. Michael Price, Commander of the Army Corps of Engineers St. Paul District, to continue his push for flood protection in Minot. The senator said that includes revision of the International Agreement with Canada to improve flows through the city and the region. Col. Price said the Corps will hold a public meeting in Minot on March 20 to gather input from the public to present to the International Joint Commission on April 17. Senator Hoeven sa… Continue Reading
03.11.13
Hoeven, Heitkamp, Cramer Call on TSA to Ensure Security and Privacy at North Dakota Airports
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp and Congressman Kevin Cramer have called on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to develop and implement an efficient and timely plan for replacing the full-body passenger scanning machines while ensuring passenger safety at airports in Bismarck, Minot and Grand Forks. The delegation made the request in a letter sent to TSA Administrator John Pistole who is overseeing the removal of the full-body passenger scanning machines from … Continue Reading
03.11.13
Hoeven Welcomes Spring Interns to Washington, D.C., Bismarck and Fargo Offices
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that five students will intern with his Washington, D.C., Bismarck and Fargo offices this spring. The interns will work with the senator and his staff on legislative, communication and administrative projects. "We are glad to welcome a new group of bright, young North Dakotans to intern in my Washington, D.C. and state offices this spring," said Hoeven. "The congressional internship experience offers these students the opportunity to gain firstha… Continue Reading
03.08.13
Hoeven to Interior Nominee Jewell: Work With Us on All-of-the-Above Approach to Energy
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven this week pressed Sally Jewell, President Barack Obama's nominee to be the next Interior secretary, for assurances that if confirmed, she will work with Congress to promote a true all-of-the-above energy policy on federal lands. Hoeven also urged Jewell to work with him to move forward a congressionally authorized water project important to North Dakota. "If confirmed by the Senate, Ms. Jewell must work with us to promote a true all-of-the-above approach to ener… Continue Reading
03.07.13
Hoeven Enlists Air Force Leader to Support North Dakota Priorities
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today met with Acting Under-Secretary of the Air Force Dr. Jamie Morin to make the case for existing and future missions for the North Dakota Air National Guard and the Minot and Grand Forks Air Force Bases. "Fargo, Grand Forks and Minot make enormous contributions to the Air Force and our national defense," Hoeven said. "We made it clear to Dr. Morin that our state is committed to supporting long-term Air Force missions, including a new tanker mission in Grand … Continue Reading
