News Releases
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
02.07.12
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
02.03.12
Hoeven: American Legion Fosters State's Deep Patriotism
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today said the American Legion's work to aid North Dakota veterans and their families contribute to a deep and abiding patriotism throughout the state. The senator was speaking during the organization's winter conference. "North Dakota is honored to be home to so many veterans and their families. It's a great place to live, work, and raise a family, and we're proud of that. It's also a great place for veterans, old and new, to seek the support they need, th… Continue Reading
02.03.12
Hoeven Cosponsors, Senate Passes Amendment to End Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Executive Bonuses
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven cosponsored an amendment to ensure better stewardship of taxpayer dollars and prohibit bonuses for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac executives. The Senate approved the amendment, which was introduced by Senator John McCain, by voice vote late Thursday. Hoeven has been working to stop the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) from issuing bonuses to senior executives, in light of a November report that found the agency had approved more than $12 million in bonus pay f… Continue Reading
01.31.12
Hoeven: Bipartisan Coalition of Lawmakers Propose TRIP Bonds as Cost-Effective Way to Fund Transportation Infrastructure Projects
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Congressmen Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa) and Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) have introduced legislation known as Transportation Regional Infrastructure Project (TRIP) bonds which would leverage public financing to fund transportation infrastructure projects in all 50 states. The plan, which is fully paid for within the Highway Funding bill, would provide each state with $1 billion to be used at local discretion for key infrastructure proj… Continue Reading
01.30.12
Hoeven-Lugar-Vitter, Bipartisan Group of Senators to Introduce Legislation to Approve the Keystone XL Pipeline
WASHINGTON -U.S. Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), David Vitter (R-La.) and a total of 44 senators today announced that they will introduce legislation to approve the Keystone XL pipeline project under Congress's authority enumerated in the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution, Article 1, Section 8. The bipartisan group of senators committed to working together to advance this critical project for the United States. Hoeven, Lugar and the other senators have been working … Continue Reading
01.27.12
Senate Passes Hoeven Bill to Provide FEMA Flexibility on Levee Construction
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced Senate passage of his bill that provides the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with greater flexibility to build permanent levees on land bought out under its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). This will help communities like Minot, Fargo and Red River Valley, Devils Lake, Valley City, Cooperstown and other areas throughout the state to better protect against future flooding. Hoeven's legislation establishes a pilot project in the … Continue Reading
01.27.12
Governor, Congressional Delegation Develop New Plan to Fund Road Projects in Devils Lake Basin
BISMARCK, N.D. - Governor Jack Dalrymple, Sen. Kent Conrad, Sen. John Hoeven and Rep. Rick Berg, announced today they have developed a new plan to fund emergency road improvement projects in the Devils Lake Basin. Dalrymple also met with county commissioners and city officials from basin-area counties today to explain the plan and its benefits. North Dakota will receive a record $317 million in federal emergency transportation funding this year to assist in repairing roads damaged by flooding t… Continue Reading
01.26.12
Hoeven Nominates 12 Students for Military Academy Appointments
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven announced today that he has nominated 12 students for appointment to our nation's military academies. "Our nation's service academies provide a rigorous and thorough education that prepares the future leaders of our country," said Hoeven. "These students have shown great potential for success in the armed services and will represent North Dakota and our nation well. They have a strong desire to serve our country and it is an honor to nominate them to the milita… Continue Reading
01.26.12
Hoeven Responds to President's Defense Budget Cuts
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven released the following statement today in response to the President's proposed defense budget cuts: "Getting our fiscal house in order will require sacrifice by all of us; however, high priority must be given to ensuring a strong and capable national defense. For example, I am encouraged that the Pentagon is supporting the retention of all three legs of the nuclear triad. At the same time, it is important that ongoing White House review of nuclear deterrence emp… Continue Reading
01.25.12
Hoeven Statement on President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement in response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address delivered to a joint session of the U.S. Congress: "This evening President Obama laid out his plan for America's future but he needs to focus more on building a strong business climate and private-sector investment, as we have in North Dakota. We need to provide the kind of business environment and opportunity in our country that will unleash the creativity an… Continue Reading
01.23.12
Hoeven: Tony Clark Nomination to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Expected Today
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven announced today that President Barack Obama is expected to nominate North Dakota Public Service Commissioner Tony Clark to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) later today. Senator Hoeven worked with Clark when Hoeven was governor, and he recommended him to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who nominated Clark for the Administration's consideration. Hoeven said Clark is the right person for the job of helping to build our national energy fu… Continue Reading
01.23.12
Hoeven: CRS Report Supports Congress's Authority to Approve Keystone XL Pipeline
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today said a report issued Friday by the non-partisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) supports his view that Congress has the authority to approve international projects like the Keystone XL pipeline under the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Hoeven requested the research from CRS in the process of drafting contingency legislation in the event that the president denied the project, as he did last week. After reviewing a range of decisions dating b… Continue Reading
01.20.12
Hoeven: Four Bears Pipeline Means Fewer Trucks, More Oil Moving to Market
WATFORD CITY, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today said that the Four Bears Pipeline is a key addition to the state's oil transportation infrastructure. He joined state and local officials and industry leaders at an open house celebrating the 77-mile Four Bears Pipeline, which is designed to move up to 80,000 barrels of oil per day through Dunn and McKenzie counties to existing pipeline infrastructure near Belfield. "This Four Bears Pipeline is an efficient means of moving Bakken sweet crude from N… Continue Reading
01.20.12
Hoeven: New Gas Plant Means More Energy, Less Flaring
WATFORD CITY, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today said that the new Garden Creek natural gas plant is a welcome addition to the Bakken shale region, and demonstrates North Dakota's commitment to developing all of its energy resources in an environmentally sound way. The senator joined local and state officials and energy industry leaders for the grand opening of the plant, which was completed earlier this month. "The Garden Creek plant is an important addition to the region for two reasons: One, b… Continue Reading
01.20.12
Delegation Announces Nearly $10 Million in Emergency Relief for Spirit Lake Reservation, Theodore Roosevelt Park Roads
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven and Kent Conrad and Congressman Rick Berg today announced the awarding of nearly $10 million in federal highway funding to repair roadways on the Spirit Lake Reservation and in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. "Last year's flooding posed tremendous challenges to North Dakota's infrastructure and damaged roadways that our residents rely on for daily travel and recreation. These funds make it possible to repair and maintain these roads and increase travel safet… Continue Reading
