News Releases
Delegation Announces Nearly $30 Million in FEMA Public Assistance for Minot Schools
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven and Kent Conrad, and Congressman Rick Berg today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded the City of Minot nearly $30 million to rebuild two schools that were destroyed in this year's severe flooding. The grant awards $24.5 million for Eric Ramstad Middle School and $5 million for Lincoln Elementary School. The grants do not address the cost of relocating the two schools to north Minot, as Minot School Superintendent Mark Voll… Continue Reading
12.15.11
Hoeven: Congress Passes 2012 Defense Authorization Bill With Priorities Important to North Dakota and the Nation
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today said the U.S. Senate has passed, 86 to 13, the FY 2012 Defense Authorization bill, which includes measures to strengthen the nation's Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) force, B-52 fleet, Global Hawk unmanned aerial systems program and C-27J air fleet. The authorizations will directly benefit both Minot and Grand Forks Air Force Bases. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Defense Authorization bill Wednesday, and it now goes to the Presiden… Continue Reading
12.14.11
Delegation: EPA Administrator Jackson to Respond in 30 Days on State Implementation Plan and Study for Regional Haze
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven and Kent Conrad and Congressman Rick Berg today met with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson to reach agreement on a plan to reduce regional haze in Class I areas of North Dakota. Jackson said she will give the delegation an answer in 30 days on whether or not the EPA will continue with a State Implementation Plan proposed by North Dakota and commit to a study designed to test the effectiveness of a technology proposed by the federal agenc… Continue Reading
12.14.11
Hoeven Statement on Death of Capt. Anne Rockeman Montgomery
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today made the following statement upon learning that Capt. Anne Rockeman Montgomery, a 25-year-old native of North Dakota, was killed Monday in a helicopter accident during a training exercise at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State. Three other soldiers were also killed in the accident: Chief Warrant Officer Frank Buoniconti of Colorado, Chief Warrant Officer Joseph Satterfield of Alaska, and Chief Warrant Officer Lucas Daniel Sigfrid of Alabama. "Mike… Continue Reading
12.13.11
Delegation Announces $10 Million To Help Raise Rail Line Near Devils Lake
Washington - Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven and Congressman Rick Berg announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $10 million in federal resources to help upgrade the rail line near Devils Lake. These federal resources will be added to additional funding the congressional delegation worked to secure from Amtrak and Burlington Northern to help cover the cost for the project, which many deem critical to regional commerce. "This grant comes in addition to funding … Continue Reading
12.13.11
North Dakota Leaders: Devils Lake Air Service to Begin This Week
Washington - Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven, Congressman Rick Berg and Governor Jack Dalrymple received word today that Great Lakes Aviation will begin service into Devils Lake this Saturday, December 17, much earlier than the previous target date of January 1, 2012. "This is great news for Devils Lake and the surrounding communities. The expedited service from Great Lakes will help ensure that North Dakotans' holiday travel plans stay on track," the North Dakota leaders said in a joint … Continue Reading
12.13.11
Hoeven Congratulates National Guard on 375 Years
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement honoring the National Guard on the occasion of its 375th birthday. "As our nation's oldest military organization, the National Guard has been serving America since before we claimed our independence and united as a country. In North Dakota, our citizen-soldiers and citizen-airmen have selflessly and skillfully responded to the needs of our state and nation, both on our soil and overseas. I am convinced that our state has the … Continue Reading
12.13.11
Hoeven Statement on Today's U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing on the MF Global Bankruptcy
WASHINGTON - Senator Hoeven today issued the following statement in response to testimony at the U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee hearing on MF Global, a brokerage firm that declared bankruptcy in October. Bankruptcy trustees currently estimate the company has a shortfall of $1.2 billion in customer accounts. "Clearly, MF Global needs to be held accountable for any customer segregated funds that were lost when the company declared bankruptcy this fall. So far, about 72… Continue Reading
12.12.11
Delta, Devils Lake Reach Plan on Air Service
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven and Kent Conrad, Congressman Rick Berg and Governor Jack Dalrymple today said that Delta Air Lines and Devils Lake have arrived at a plan that would include Great Lakes Airlines starting regular air service to the city on or before January 1. Delta officials say they hope to be able to finalize an agreement with Great Lakes Airlines by next Tuesday. The North Dakota leaders continue to work toward a long-term solution. The delegation and governor say Delta has… Continue Reading
12.12.11
Hoeven Urges Nearly 1,400 ND Students to Pursue Leadership, Public Service
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today encouraged students attending the North Dakota Association of Student Councils annual fall conference to dedicate their lives to leadership and service in their future colleges, workplaces and communities. He spoke before a crowd of nearly 1,400 student delegates from 95 schools that filled a Ramkota Hotel ballroom in Bismarck. "Already, you've stepped up to be leaders in your school, and now you must carry that leadership into your college… Continue Reading
12.09.11
Delegation Announces More Than $5.6 Million to Offset Cost of Flood Prevention Clean Up in Bismarck-Mandan
Washington - Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven and Congressman Rick Berg announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded more than $5.6 million in federal resources to help Bismarck-Mandan clean up temporary levees and sandbags that protected neighborhoods from record flooding along the Missouri river this year. "Preparing for the flood waters was really only half the battle in Bismarck-Mandan this year. The tools we used to fight it were temporary and need t… Continue Reading
12.08.11
Delegation, Lt. Gov. UAS Team Meet with FAA to Help Make Grand Forks Region Premier Hub for UAS Operations
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven and Kent Conrad, Congressman Rick Berg, Lieutenant Governor Drew Wrigley and the North Dakota UAS Integration Team today met with Michael Huerta, Acting Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to present a proposal for integrating Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) into the National Airspace (NAS) using partnerships and infrastructure in North Dakota. The state's leaders have been pressing the FAA to make the Grand Forks region the premier northern… Continue Reading
12.07.11
Conrad, Hoeven Call for Review of Missouri River Flooding
Washington - Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven were joined today by a bipartisan group of Senators to request a federal review of the 2011 Missouri River flood and the action taken by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In a letter to Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Senators detail the record flooding that occurred this summer along the Missouri River that overwhelmed dams and levees, swamped small commun… Continue Reading
12.07.11
North Dakota Leaders Call on Federal Transportation Chief to Address Air Service Interruptions to Devils Lake and Jamestown
Washington - Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven, Governor Jack Dalrymple and Congressman Rick Berg today called on Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood to put pressure on Delta Airlines to meet their contractual obligations by resuming timely and efficient air service into and out of Devils Lake and Jamestown. The North Dakota leaders asked that penalties and fines be levied should Delta fail to continue its service. "Devils Lake and Jamestown have spent considerable time, money, and effor… Continue Reading
12.07.11
Hoeven: Tesoro Expansion Welcome Response to ND Growth
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today said that Tesoro's decision to expand its diesel fuel production at its Mandan refinery by 5,000 barrels per day to 22,000 barrels per day is another indicator of North Dakota's economic progress. During a meeting last month with Tesoro CEO Greg Goff to review the company's major expansion plans in North Dakota, Hoeven discussed the need to boost diesel fuel production to meet the region's growing demand. "Tesoro's expansion is welcome news. North Dakot… Continue Reading
12.07.11
Hoeven Statement on Pearl Harbor Attack Anniversary
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today gave the following statement on the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. "Despite the tragedy of the attack on Pearl Harbor seven decades ago, its anniversary reminds Americans of the greatness that our country can achieve. The attack galvanized our citizens to play their part in protecting our freedom. Some went to war. Others went to work. All made tremendous sacrifices for our country. This was the day that compelled America… Continue Reading
12.07.11
Hoeven, U.S. Senators Press for Keystone Pipeline with Leader McConnell on Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today organized a colloquy of U.S. Senators, including Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, to press for passage of the North American Energy Security Act. Hoeven last week led efforts in the Senate to introduce the legislation, which clears the way to build the Keystone XL Pipeline. The new pipeline will carry an additional 700,000 barrels a day of petroleum to U.S. refineries and create thousands of jobs for American workers. Hoeven's legislation would r… Continue Reading
12.07.11
North Dakota Leaders Work to Resolve Minot Flood Recovery Issues
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven and Kent Conrad, Congressman Rick Berg and Governor Jack Dalrymple, along with Minot community leaders, today met with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate and other agency officials to discuss a number of issues impacting recovery efforts in Minot. Senator Hoeven organized the meeting to provide an opportunity for officials from the city, school district, and park district to highlight several issues they are confronting with F… Continue Reading
12.06.11
Hoeven: ND To Receive More Than $550 Million in Federal Transportation Funding
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today said that North Dakota will receive a record $317 million in Emergency Transportation funding to assist communities throughout the state with not only flood recovery but also energy development impacts in western North Dakota. Combined with the state's regular funding allocation of $235 million, North Dakota will have a total of more than $550 million in federal funding to help meet the challenges of statewide flood recovery and energy development. Include… Continue Reading
12.05.11
Hoeven: North Dakota's Pro-Business Climate Attracts New Tech Partnership Between Microsoft, Hitachi Consulting
FARGO, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today joined company executives and state and local leaders to announce a new partnership between Microsoft and Hitachi Consulting in Fargo. Hitachi Consulting, a global company, will provide IT work for Microsoft from its Fargo campus, as it works to build a new operation in North Dakota. Hoeven welcomed Hitachi Consulting to the state and said its agreement with Microsoft is a good example of the economic growth that comes with a strong business climate. "… Continue Reading