News Releases
Hoeven Works For Long-Term Solution To Protect Devils Lake Basin Rail Line From Rising Waters
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today worked to build consensus for funding infrastructure investments that would safely allow the Empire Builder rail line to continue operating in spite of rising waters in the Devils Lake Basin. Hoeven met with Devils Lake rail stakeholders and pushed for a cost-sharing approach to fund plans to raise the track and bridges, as well as make other necessary upgrades. Attending the meeting along with Hoeven were Senator Kent Conrad; Congressman Rick Berg; Fede… Continue Reading
06.14.11
Hoeven: Diverse Energy Portfolio Essential to America's Energy Future and Economic Growth
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today stressed the importance of promoting all of our nation's energy resources on the Senate floor and announced his support for S.1185, the Ethanol Reform and Deficit Reduction Act. This bipartisan bill would reform incentives for domestic energy production to create a better environment for the renewable energy industry and use savings to reduce the deficit. "The discussion today is how to best create the right environment to stimulate private investment, s… Continue Reading
06.14.11
Hoeven Reviews Guantanamo Bay Military Base, Calls for Continued Operation of Detention Facility
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today said the Administration should discontinue its plan to close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility for enemy combatants, saying he will cosponsor legislation in the U.S. Senate to ensure the facility's continued operation. Hoeven's remarks came following a trip to the base Monday with Senator Jim Risch of Idaho, Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas and Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri who toured the base and detention center to evaluate its operation and effectivenes… Continue Reading
06.10.11
Hoeven Helps Coordinate Minot Flood Fight Efforts as Corps Boosts Releases from Lake Darling Dam
MINOT, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven met in Minot today to review flood defenses with state and local officials, as well as officials of the Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The meeting follows the Corps' decision, prompted by heavy rains, to increase flows from Lake Darling to 7,500 cubic feet per second (cfs). The move is designed to prevent the Lake Darling Dam from topping its release gates. Minot is now looking at flows of 8,300 cfs with a predicted crest … Continue Reading
06.10.11
Hoeven Briefs State, Local Officials on Meeting with Top Corps General
BISMARCK, N.D.- Senator John Hoeven today told local and state officials at a flood meeting in Bismarck that he is working to make sure flooded communities are getting all the federal assistance they need in the ongoing flood fight in western North Dakota. The Senator briefed them on his meeting this week with Maj. Gen. Merdith W.B. Temple, acting commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Hoeven said he and other Missouri River senators met with Temple for two reasons: to make sure state… Continue Reading
06.09.11
Capitol Hill Meeting to Focus on Rail Line Threatened by Devils Lake
Washington - Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven and Congressman Rick Berg announced today that they are hosting a meeting in Washington, D.C. next week focused on the future of a threatened section of rail track near Devils Lake. Key stakeholders in the Devils Lake rail line will convene on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, June 15. The meeting will focus on the threatened section of track near Devils Lake that is impacting Amtrak service in Grand Forks, Devils Lake and Rugby. In addition… Continue Reading
06.09.11
Hoeven Calls on USDA Risk Management Agency To Cover Devils Lake Farmers
WASHINGTON -Senator John Hoeven today called on Risk Management Agency (RMA) Administrator William Murphy to adjust the agency's current crop insurance rules to make the Prevented Planting provision more accessible to Devils Lake farmers. Hoeven pressed the case to the administrator, along with Governor Jack Dalrymple and North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. RMA is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Prevented Planting provisions in crop insurance policies provi… Continue Reading
06.08.11
Hoeven Meets with U.S. Army Corps General Temple, Stresses Flood Severity, Urges Vigorous Response and Thorough Review
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today met with Major General Merdith W.B. Temple, Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to stress the severity of flooding on the Missouri River in North Dakota. The senator urged General Temple to use all and any resources available to battle high waters. Given the height, duration and volume of water being released from the main stem dams on the river, Hoeven said it's vital that requests for assistance get a prompt response and all n… Continue Reading
06.03.11
Conrad, Hoeven, Dalrymple Secure Additional Flood Support
Washington - Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano today told Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven and Governor Jack Dalrymple that she shares their concerns with the flood emergency in the Bismarck - Mandan area and agreed to their request for additional federal support. Yesterday, the North Dakota leaders spoke with Napolitano and asked her to investigate two flood related concerns facing the Bismarck and Mandan communities. Senators Conrad and Hoeven and Governor Dalrymple -- along … Continue Reading
06.03.11
Delegation Announces $900,000 Grant to Bolster Spirit Lake's Wastewater System
Washington - Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven and Congressman Rick Berg today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded a $900,000 grant to the Spirit Lake Tribe to help bolster a wastewater treatment system that is being threatened by rising floodwaters. "This crucial funding comes just in time. It will provide the support needed to shore up Spirit Lake's wastewater system, protecting the community and eliminating an imminent health and safety t… Continue Reading
06.03.11
Eight North Dakota Students Selected for Summer Internships With Senator Hoeven
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. John Hoeven today announced the hiring of eight North Dakota college students for summer internships in his Washington and state offices. Working in the Washington office will be Matt Becker of Bismarck, a senior at the University of Mary studying business administration and political science; Will Bergstrom of Devils Lake, a junior at Harvard University studying English and government; Adam Jorde of Cando, a junior at Augustana College in Sioux Falls studying business … Continue Reading
06.02.11
Hoeven Kicks Off Unmanned Systems Action Summit in Grand Forks
GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today said Grand Forks is on its way to being a hub for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) technology, application and training, and that provisions in the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Bill he and Senator Conrad worked to include in the bill passed by the U.S. Senate will give the effort a big boost. The remarks came at the kickoff of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Action Summit, "UAS 2020 - Looking to the Future," a two-day event at the A… Continue Reading
06.02.11
Hoeven Calls on Napolitano for Additional Flood Assistance
BISMARCK, N.D. - In a conference call this morning with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Senator John Hoeven, Senator Conrad and other state officials called for additional federal assistance to mitigate current and impending flood impacts on Missouri River communities. Hoeven stressed the unique nature of the flooding. Because it is likely to last up to two months, communities need a continuous and coordinated effort to combat rising waters. "Everyone i… Continue Reading
06.01.11
Hoeven, Dalrymple Call on CORPS, FEMA For Additional Resources To Fight Minot Flooding
MINOT, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven and Governor Jack Dalrymple met today in Minot with representatives of the Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and city and county representatives to press for additional federal resources to fight current and imminent flooding in the region from the Souris River. Following the meeting, the group toured parts of the city and county to assess the ongoing flood response and to identify any new resources needed. They also tou… Continue Reading
05.30.11
Hoeven, Dalrymple Request Army Corps of Engineers Response Team For Standing Rock Reservation
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven and Governor Jack Dalrymple today urged the Army Corps of Engineers to deploy a response team and deploy assistance to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation to address rising Missouri River waters as a consequence of increased flows from the main stem dams. Both Senator Hoeven and Governor Dalrymple spoke with tribal Chairman Charley Murphy today. The Senator and Governor have contacted Col. Robert Ruch, commander of the Corps' Omaha district, to support Triba… Continue Reading
05.30.11
Hoeven Marks Sacrifices, Service Of Military On Memorial Day
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven delivered the following remarks at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan today in honor of our fallen military heroes. He spoke earlier at the North Dakota Capitol in Bismarck: "Like many of you I live on the river, and over these past days I've been sandbagging with my friends and neighbors, and of course it's just amazing how people turn out to give you help. It's amazing not just here, but all over the Great State of North Dakota. "I go… Continue Reading
05.29.11
FEMA Expands Emergency Declaration To Battle Missouri River Flooding
WASHINGTON - Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven and Congressman Rick Berg announced this morning that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has expanded its April 7 Emergency Declaration for North Dakota flood fighting efforts to include Burleigh, Emmons, Mercer, McLean, Morton, Oliver and Sioux Counties and the reservation of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. "With additional rain and additional releases from Garrison Dam on the way the Missouri will only continue its rise. There is … Continue Reading
05.29.11
Hoeven, Conrad, Berg, Dalrymple Press FEMA For Favorable Decision On Flood Insurance Coverage For ND Residents
BISMARCK - Senators John Hoeven and Kent Conrad, Congressman Rick Berg and Governor Jack Dalrymple today made a pointed case to a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) insurance adjustor in Bismarck that flood insurance policies purchased in anticipation of flooding this summer should be honored. Flood insurance policies purchased by residents in at-risk communities have a 30-day waiting period before their insurance takes effect, and the delegation and governor are seeking the best term… Continue Reading
05.27.11
Hoeven, Conrad, Berg, Dalrymple Press FEMA To Reevaluate Flood Insurance Grace Period
BISMARCK - Senators John Hoeven and Kent Conrad, Congressman Rick Berg and Governor Jack Dalrymple today pressed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reverse an initial interpretation of Flood Insurance Program regulation pertaining to the date residents would have had to purchase flood insurance for it to be effective for the current flood event. FEMA has suggested that the 30 day waiting period for flood insurance was closed after the Army Corps of engineers had begun "higher th… Continue Reading
05.27.11
Hoeven, Conrad, Dalrymple Call On CORPS to Step Up Assistance to Missouri River Communities
BISMARCK - Senators John Hoeven and Kent Conrad and Governor Jack Dalrymple met in Bismarck today with high-level Army Corps of Engineers officials to ensure that communities at risk in the Missouri River Basin get the technical and direct assistance they need to mount a successful flood fight effort. The senators, governor and city and county officials led Corps officials on a tour of flood- impacted areas of Bismarck-Mandan prior to the meeting to assess flood defenses and identify resource… Continue Reading
