News Releases
Hoeven Outlines Impacts of Early Blizzard, Agriculture Disaster Assistance Needs in North Dakota to USDA Deputy Secretary
WASHINGTON - At a hearing of the Senate Agriculture Committee this week, Senator John Hoeven outlined the challenges facing North Dakota producers impacted by the early blizzard to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Stephen Censky. The senator worked as chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee to ensure that the disaster relief legislation Congress passed in May was forward-looking to provide coverage for disasters throughout 2019 and would cover losses due… Continue Reading
10.17.19
Hoeven: Senate Upholds the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today released the following statement after voting against a resolution of disapproval that, had it passed, would have overturned the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule. The ACE Rule replaced the costly one-size-fits-all emissions regulations for coal power plants issued by the previous Administration. The Senate voted to uphold the new ACE Rule and defeated the resolution of disapproval. The ACE … Continue Reading
10.17.19
Hoeven Advances Role for Grand Forks in NORTHCOM'S Arctic & Counter-UAS Missions
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, this week met with Gen. Terrence O'Shaughnessy, Commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), where he outlined how the capabilities of the Grand Forks Air Force Base could support NORTHCOM's Arctic and counter-unmanned aerial systems (UAS) missions, including how the Global Hawk is well-suited to play a role in the Arctic given its long endurance s… Continue Reading
10.16.19
Hoeven Statement on Confirmation of Air Force Secretary Barrett
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after the Senate confirmed former Ambassador Barbara Barrett as the Secretary of the Air Force. During her confirmation process, Hoeven met with Barrett to outline the importance of North Dakota's nuclear and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) missions and invited her to come to the state. "With two legs of the nuclear triad and vital UAS missions, North Dakota plays an incred… Continue Reading
10.15.19
Hoeven: EPA's Final Proposal Should Ensure RFS Obligations Are Met
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began seeking public comment on the administration's proposal to ensure that 15 billion gallons of biofuels are blended into the nation's fuel supply starting in 2020. This is the first step of the administration's recently-announced Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) agreement, which will also seek to remove barriers to the sale of year-round E15 and advance RIN market transparency and r… Continue Reading
10.14.19
Hoeven: We Worked to Provide Ag Coverage in Disaster Supplemental for Blizzard
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today outlined disaster assistance coverage for North Dakota producers impacted by the early blizzard. As chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, Hoeven worked to ensure that the disaster relief legislation passed in May included more than $3 billion for USDA to cover crop losses stemming from 2018 and 2019 disasters and to provide coverage for losses due to excessive moisture and snowfall under the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Progra… Continue Reading
10.11.19
Hoeven Statement After President Announces Phase One Trade Agreement with China, Deal Includes $40-50 Billion Purchase of U.S. Agriculture Products
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a member of the Agriculture Committee, issued the following statement after the President announced that he has reached an agreement in principle on the first phase of a trade deal with China. The first phase agreement includes Chinese purchases of $40 to $50 billion in U.S. agriculture products. According to the president, the agreement is expected to be finalized by mid-November. "Today's pha… Continue Reading
10.08.19
Hoeven Convenes Roundtable to Outline Next Steps for WIFIA Loan for Comprehensive Flood Protection in the Red River Valley
FARGO, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today convened a roundtable with the city leaders and the governor to determine the next steps now that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has invited the Fargo-Moorhead region to apply for a Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan for comprehensive flood protection. The Diversion Authority applied for a $510 million WIFIA loan, and is eligible to apply for up to an additional 10% of the projected costs or $561 million. Hoeven announc… Continue Reading
10.08.19
ND Delegation, Governor: EPA Selects Fargo-Moorhead Region Flood Protection for $510 Million in Low-Cost Financing
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, Congressman Kelly Armstrong and Governor Doug Burgum today joined Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler in announcing that the Fargo-Moorhead region's flood protection project has been selected to apply for $510 million in low-cost financing under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan program. The delegation and governor had worked with Wheeler to secure a formal invitation to apply, a… Continue Reading
10.08.19
Hoeven Working to Advance Commercially-Viable CCUS Technology, True Path Forward for Coal
BISMARCK, N.D. - At the Great Plains and EmPower ND Energy Conference today, Senator John Hoeven highlighted his efforts to advance commercially-viable carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies to provide a true path forward for coal. Hoeven delivered the remarks as part of a roundtable discussion with Senator Kevin Cramer and Governor Doug Burgum, with whom he hosted Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler as the conference's keynote speaker. "CCUS … Continue Reading
10.07.19
Hoeven Statement After Signing of U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a member of the Agriculture Committee, issued the following statement after the President held a formal signing ceremony for the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement. The agreement benefits U.S farmers and ranchers by lowering or eliminating tariffs on $7.2 billion of U.S. agricultural products, including fresh and frozen beef and pork, wheat, frozen potatoes, dairy products and ethanol. "This agreement… Continue Reading
10.07.19
Hoeven: WOTUS Replacement Should Respect Role of States, Not Exceed EPA Authority or Impose Unnecessary Costs
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today joined a roundtable with Senator Kevin Cramer and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler to discuss the progress of efforts to replace the Obama-era Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. Last month, Hoeven announced that the EPA had repealed the 2015 rule, removing the patchwork of regulations that have been in place due to litigation against the WOTUS rule, which was… Continue Reading
10.07.19
Hoeven: USDA Awards Funds for Rural Broadband Infrastructure Project
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Community Connect program has awarded $844,023 for BEK Communications to fund broadband infrastructure projects in Morton County. Today's funds will provide high-speed broadband to 125 underserved households, helping to spark further economic and educational opportunities while enhancing public safety and access to health care services. … Continue Reading
10.04.19
Hoeven: New Williston Airport Will Enable Economic Growth Now and Into the Future
WILLISTON, N.D. - At the grand opening of the new Williston Basin International Airport (XWA), Senator John Hoeven outlined his work as a member of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Committee to advance the airport. This includes language he passed as part of annual funding legislation in recent years that allowed the airport to be built on a new location. The measure directed the FAA to ensure sufficient funding is available in a timely manner to relocate airports that are in critical ne… Continue Reading
10.04.19
Hoeven Statement on President's Biofuels Agreement
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven released the following statement after the Administration announced an agreement on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): "Throughout this process, we have encouraged the Administration to find an agreement that is fair to both renewable and traditional industries, and we appreciate the President's efforts to fulfill his commitments to agriculture producers. Our farmers are facing real challenges, and we will work to ensure that the Administration's agreement … Continue Reading
10.03.19
Hoeven to Host EPA Administrator Wheeler at EmPower ND Conference, Discussion of Eastern ND Water Supply Project
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today announced that he, along with Senator Kevin Cramer and Governor Doug Burgum, will host Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler at the 2019 Great Plains and EmPower ND Energy Conference on Tuesday, October 8. Wheeler will serve as the event's keynote speaker. Prior to the administrator's remarks, Hoeven will participate in a group discussion with Cramer and Burgum on their efforts to advance an all-of-the-above energy policy at… Continue Reading
10.03.19
Hoeven: North Dakota Selected for Air National Guard Tuition Assistance Pilot Program
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven announced today that the National Guard Bureau has selected North Dakota as one of 14 states that will participate in a pilot program to begin providing college tuition assistance to members of the state's Air National Guard. The Air National Guard expects the Federal Tuition Assistance pilot program will begin in late 2020. Hoeven has pressed the Air National Guard to create a tuition assistance program to match the program already in place for the Army Nati… Continue Reading
10.03.19
Hoeven Advancing Legislation to Address NPS Maintenance Backlog, Works to Secure Support for Presidential Library
MEDORA, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven, along with Senator Kevin Cramer and Governor Doug Burgum, today highlighted to U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt the maintenance needs at the Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP) and efforts to establish the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. Hoeven invited Bernhardt to the state through his role on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over the National Park Service (NPS). The senator has worked to bot… Continue Reading
10.03.19
Hoeven Again Presses Corps on Missouri River Water Levels and Storage
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven again spoke with John Remus, Chief of Missouri River Water Management Division for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to ensure that the Corps is mitigating the risk for flooding given the high Missouri River levels in North Dakota. Hoeven called Remus after speaking with local leaders and residents who were concerned about the high river levels in Bismarck and ensuring adequate reservoir storage to prevent flooding. Remus indicated that the water level shou… Continue Reading
10.02.19
Hoeven Announces USDA Grant for Canola Research at NDSU
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded a $292,830 grant to North Dakota State University (NDSU) for canola research. The long-term goal of this award is to enhance canola production and profitability in the northern plains. "Today's funding will help NDSU inform our farmers how to best optimize the use of seeds and … Continue Reading