News Releases
Hoeven: USGS Finds Substantial New Reserves in the Williston Basin
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has determined that there are approximately 7.4 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil, more than twice the previous estimate in the Williston Basin. The report also estimates there to be 6.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. It's the largest unconventional oil resource the USGS has ever assessed and it includes the Three Forks Formation. The last USGS study, released in April 2008, identified 3… Continue Reading
04.28.13
Hoeven Sees Off 188 Air Defense Artillery Regiment on Deployment to Nation's Capital
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today joined with state and community leaders to honor members of the North Dakota National Guard's (NDNG) 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment at a send-off ceremony ahead of their deployment to the nation's capital in support of Operation Noble Eagle. "There is no group of professionals anywhere in the nation better able to defend our capital and represent our state than our North Dakota Air National Guard," Hoeven said. "Your mission is importa… Continue Reading
04.26.13
Hoeven Statement on President Obama's Nominee for the EPA, Gina McCarthy
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement in response to a discussion he had this week with Gina McCarthy, the president's nominee for administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): "Nominee Gina McCarthy and I discussed a range of issues important not only to North Dakota, but also to the nation. While we don't have to agree philosophically on everything, we do have to find practical solutions to producing more energy from all sources with good environm… Continue Reading
04.26.13
Hoeven Announces Senate to Take Up Water Resources Development Act
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that in the first week of May the full U.S. Senate will vote to take up the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which includes authorization for the Fargo-Moorhead diversion project. Hoeven has been pushing for the legislation, making the case to Senate leadership that permanent flood protection is far less expensive and more effective than recovering from severe flooding, as North Dakota learned in 2009 and 2011. "We have been pushing for t… Continue Reading
04.26.13
Hoeven Statement on the Passing of Former North Dakota Governor Bill Guy
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement in response to learning of the death of former North Dakota Governor Bill Guy: "One of my earliest memories of public service was the example of former Governor Bill Guy, who in many ways modernized North Dakota and brought us into the 20th Century. He himself called it a transformative era. "It was a time of tremendous change in our state, a pivotal time, much like today. He served during the building of the Interstate High… Continue Reading
04.26.13
Hoeven, Heitkamp, Cramer Call on President to Approve North Dakota's Request for Emergency Declaration
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp and Congressman Kevin Cramer today called on President Barack Obama to approve the State of North Dakota's request for an emergency declaration to enhance the state's preparations for possible spring flooding. The delegation made the request today in a letter sent to President Obama, supporting the formal request Gov. Jack Dalrymple submitted this week asking that an emergency declaration be issued for North Dakota under the Disaster Relief a… Continue Reading
04.24.13
Hoeven, Klobuchar, Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce The Dependable Air Service Act
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and a bipartisan group of senators today introduced the Dependable Air Service Act. The legislation would give the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) the flexibility to transfer funds between accounts in order to abate air traffic controller furloughs and avert mounting passenger delays and flight cancellations at America's airports. In addition, the bill would give the Department of Transportation (DOT), which administers t… Continue Reading
04.24.13
Hoeven Joined By U.S. Chamber, Labor Group to Press for Approval of Keystone XL Pipeline
WASHINGTON - With the 45-day public comment period on the Keystone XL pipeline project now closed, Senator John Hoeven today was joined by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the President of the two-million member Building and Construction Trades union to press the President and the Department of State to expeditiously approve the job-creating Keystone XL pipeline and avoid any further delays in its review process. "After nearly five years of review, four environmental impact statements stating t… Continue Reading
04.19.13
Hoeven Supports Missile Silo Retention, Opposes DOD Plan to Reduce Them
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today told Lieutenant General James Kowalski, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, that the nation's missile silos are a long-term defense asset that should not be degraded. The senator said he strongly opposes any Defense Department (DOD) effort to reduce the number of nuclear missile silos and will work from his position on the Senate Appropriations Committee to oppose such plans. Last week, the Secretary of Defense and the Defense Department Comptrol… Continue Reading
04.19.13
Hoeven Presses VA Secretary to Improve Veterans Services
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven this week pressed U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki to provide greater security and care for North Dakota's veterans. At a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee, Hoeven pressed the VA to commit to open and operate a new Devils Lake VA clinic by the end of the year. The senator also called on the VA to reduce a claims backlog and better help veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder… Continue Reading
04.19.13
Hoeven, Klobuchar Statements on Increased Funding for Fargo-Moorhead Flood Diversion Project
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Hoeven (R-ND) today released the following statements regarding the Administration's decision to increase funding for the Fargo-Moorhead Flood Diversion Project. The project will now receive $7.4 million in Fiscal Year 2013, 60 percent more than originally allocated. Klobuchar and Hoeven spoke to President Obama last week and pushed the Administration to give the project the resources it needs. "This year's potentially record-high flo… Continue Reading
04.18.13
Hoeven: Corps Agrees to Provide $7.4 Million for Fargo-Moorhead Diversion Project from 2013 CR
WASHINGTON - Subsequent to Senator John Hoeven's meeting this week with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director nominee Sylvia Burwell and Army Corps of Engineers St. Paul District Commander Col. Michael Price, OMB today informed the North Dakota delegation that the Corps will make $7.4 million available for project engineering and design for the Fargo-Moorhead diversion project. "I impressed on nominee Sylvia Burwell earlier this week and Col. Price yesterday in no uncertain terms that … Continue Reading
04.18.13
Delegation, Governor Call on Top Air Force Leaders to Base the KC-46 Tanker in Grand Forks
WASHINGTON - In a letter to Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Mark Welsh, Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp, Congressman Kevin Cramer and Governor Jack Dalrymple again made the case for basing the new KC-46 tanker at Grand Forks Air Force Base. They said efficiency, strategic advantage, established infrastructure and enthusiastic community support make Grand Forks a prime location for the mission. "We strongly support basing the KC-46 aircraft at Grand… Continue Reading
04.17.13
Hoeven Meets with OMB Nominee Sylvia Burwell
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today met with Office of Budget and Management (OMB) Director nominee Sylvia Burwell prior to her Senate confirmation hearing. The senator stressed the need to address the nation's deficit and debt and also raised two practical and cost-effective water projects important to the Red River Valley. "We need to work hard toward a comprehensive agreement on the budget that finds real savings and implements both pro-growth tax reform and bipartisan entitlement reform … Continue Reading
04.15.13
Hoeven Statement on Today's Bombing at the Boston Marathon
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement in response to the heinous bombing at the Boston Marathon: "I know I speak for all North Dakotans when I say our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families of today's bombings at the Boston Marathon. A number of North Dakotans were participating in the race, and we continue to pray for their safety, as well as the safety of all the participants and spectators of the Marathon. "While it hard for us to imagi… Continue Reading
04.15.13
Hoeven: IRS Agrees to Extend Filing Deadline, Waive Late Penalties Due to Severe Winter Storm in North Dakota
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has agreed to his request to extend the deadline and waive penalties for filing tax returns in North Dakota. Residents across much of state are still digging out from a record storm that dropped up to 19 inches of heavy, drifting snow in some communities, delaying school openings and closing stores and major roads, including I-94. The IRS today said "taxpayers directly impacted by these storms will qualify … Continue Reading
04.12.13
Hoeven: Pipelines the Safest Means of Transporting Oil
WASHINGTON - Speaking on the floor of the U.S. Senate Wednesday, Senator John Hoeven rebutted claims by opponents of the Keystone XL pipeline that recent spills in Arkansas and Texas warrant denying approval of the project. "The incidents actually highlight the need to build new infrastructure using the latest technology," Hoeven said. "The Keystone XL pipeline is one of the most advanced and studied pipeline projects in our country's history. It will be monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a yea… Continue Reading
04.12.13
Hoeven Meets with Canadian Ambassador, Alberta Premier to Advance Keystone XL Pipeline Project
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven Wednesday met with Canadian Ambassador Gary Doer and Alberta Premier Alison Redford to advance the Keystone XL pipeline project. The senator and Canadian officials pledged to work closely together to secure approval of the 1,700 mile modern, energy infrastructure project that will create thousands of jobs on both sides of the boarder. Doer and Redford were in Washington to help build support for the Keystone XL project in Congress. They met with Hoeven to discus… Continue Reading
04.11.13
Hoeven Presses Case With Air Force Secretary, Chief of Staff for KC-46 Tanker Mission at Grand Forks
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven this week spoke with U.S. Air Force Secretary Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark Welsh to again press the case for basing the KC-46A tanker mission at Grand Forks Air Force Base, as well as for strong continued support for the base's Global Hawk unmanned aerial systems mission. The Air Force in January announced that Grand Forks Air Force Base had been selected as one of four finalists on the active duty base list to receive the KC-46A … Continue Reading
04.10.13
Hoeven: Senate Confirms Jewell as Interior Secretary
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today voted in favor of confirming Sally Jewell to be the next Secretary of the Department of Interior. The Senate confirmed Jewell in an 87-11 vote. Hoeven, last week, invited Jewell to visit North Dakota to see firsthand the opportunities and challenges facing the state in regards to federal lands, natural resources and Native American programs under the jurisdiction of the Interior Department. "In meeting with Jewell last month, and during her testimony befor… Continue Reading