News Releases
Hoeven Statement on President Obama's Timetable for Withdrawing Troops From Afghanistan
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement in response to President Obama's announcement this evening that 10,000 American troops will be withdrawn from Afghanistan by the end of the year, and that another 20,000 would be withdrawn by September 2012: "In April, I had an opportunity to meet in Afghanistan with General David Petraeus, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and our men and women in uniform as they performed their mission to train Afghan troops for the inevitable… Continue Reading
06.22.11
Delegation: FEMA To Expedite Assessments For Individual Assistance
WASHINGTON - Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Craig Fugate today told the state's congressional delegation that the agency will expedite damage assessments to accelerate approval of North Dakota's request for Individual Assistance (IA) services for residents hard hit by unprecedented flooding. The commitment means FEMA will not wait for flood waters to recede before beginning to document damages, but rather will use aerial assessments and other means to expedite the process, makin… Continue Reading
06.22.11
Hoeven Presses for Additional Federal Flood Assistance on Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate today in support of ongoing efforts in North Dakota to protect lives and property from rising flood waters in the Minot region and throughout the state. "As I speak, more than 11,000 people are leaving their homes in and around the community of Minot," said Hoeven. "Somewhere between a third or a fourth of our citizens in the region are being displaced from their homes and their business. Our thoughts and our prayers go out … Continue Reading
06.21.11
Hoeven Statement on Senate Approval of Leon Panetta to be U.S. Defense Secretary
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement upon U.S. Senate approval of current CIA Director Leon Panetta's appointment as Secretary of Defense: "Director Panetta has a long, distinguished history of service to the nation and a willingness to seek bipartisan solutions to our shared national challenges. His successful tenures as a legislator, Office of Management and Budget director, and most recently, as director of the Central Intelligence Agency well qualify him to… Continue Reading
06.20.11
Hoeven: McMahon Assures Continued Monitoring, Aggressive Management of Flood Protection on Missouri River
WASHINGTON -Senator John Hoeven Saturday spoke with Army Corps of Engineers Brig. Gen. John McMahon to ensure that the Corps is monitoring and aggressively managing all flood protection measures the length of the Missouri River through North Dakota. General McMahon oversees the Corps' northwest region, including management of the Missouri River. McMahon said the Corps plans to increase releases from Lake Oahe to 160 cubic feet per second (cfs), but Garrison releases would hold at 150 cfs. The … Continue Reading
06.18.11
U.S. Senator John Hoeven Delivers Weekly Republican Address
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator John Hoeven (R-North Dakota) released the following weekly Republican address. Full transcript of Senator Hoeven's Address: "Hi, I'm Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota, and I'd like to talk to you today about our nation's fiscal challenges - in particular, about the vital role that international trade can play to help us create jobs and reduce our deficit. "Almost exactly one hundred years ago, at the start of another century, President Theodore Roosevelt la… Continue Reading
06.17.11
Delegation Calls On Napolitano, Fugate To Reconsider Individual Assistance Decision
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven and Kent Conrad and Congressman Rick Berg today called on U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate to reconsider FEMA's denial of Individual Assistance (IA) program services to residents of North Dakota hard hit by flooding this spring. The Delegation sent a letter to both officials today in support of Governor Jack Dalrymple's request for a reevaluation of the decision in light of ad… Continue Reading
06.17.11
Hoeven, ND Entrepreneurs Push for Aggressive, Pro-Growth Economic Strategy
FARGO - Sen. John Hoeven today joined North Dakota business leaders to stress the need for aggressive economic policies that support business growth, innovation and job creation. Joining Hoeven were Steve Scheel, CEO of Scheels All Sports; David Batcheller, chief operating officer for Appareo Systems; James Burgum, Managing Director of Arthur Ventures; and Alex Warner, chief executive officer of Pedigree Technologies. Hoeven participated in the Great Plains Young Professionals Summit in Fargo to… Continue Reading
06.16.11
Hoeven to Deliver National Republican Weekly Radio Address Saturday
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven will deliver the national Republican weekly radio address on Saturday, June 18. He will discuss the importance of three pending free-trade agreements and the need for the President to send them promptly to the U.S. Senate for approval. "Our country needs the kind of pro-jobs, pro-growth policies that will help us live up to our vision of a strong, peaceful, prosperous America," Hoeven said. "We have an opportunity right now to advance that vision and jumpstart… Continue Reading
06.15.11
2011 Renewable Energy Action Summit Has Been Canceled
Washington - Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven today announced that the 2011 Renewable Energy Action Summit scheduled for June 26-27 at Bismarck State College has been canceled. Senators Conrad and Hoeven are the event's co-sponsors. They said all the focus in Bismarck and Mandan right now must be on efforts to protect communities from rising flood waters and coordinating federal agencies to aid in the recovery efforts. The Renewable Action Summit features energy experts highlighting resea… Continue Reading
06.15.11
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
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
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
