News Releases
Hoeven Hosts USGS Acting Director, Presses for Updated Resource Estimates in the Bakken
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven, a member of Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and Energy Appropriations Committee, today hosted William Werkheiser, acting director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), for a meeting in Bismarck to outline the need for updated recoverable resource estimates for the Bakken region. Hoeven arranged the visit so Werkheiser could hear firsthand from energy leaders in the state about the latest data, geological surveys and technical achievements in th… Continue Reading
08.23.17
Hoeven Announces $4.2 Million in Funding to Rehabilitate Runway at Hillsboro Airport
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the U.S. Senate Transportation Appropriations Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $4,200,000 to the Hillsboro Municipal Airport Authority. The funding will be used to rehabilitate the airport's runway and runway lighting. "It is important to invest in the Hillsboro airport because of its strong support to the area's economy," Hoeven said. "Specifically, today's funding will help keep pilots safe by… Continue Reading
08.23.17
Hoeven: Veterans Legislation Signed Into Law
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the President has signed into law bipartisan legislation he cosponsored to update and improve the benefit claims appeals process at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017, which was passed unanimously by the Senate on August 1, modernizes the VA appeals process and reduces wait times for veterans who are not satisfied with the VA's initial decision on their benefits claims. Cu… Continue Reading
08.22.17
Hoeven Statement on President's Afghanistan Strategy
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today released the following statement on the President's strategy for Afghanistan: "We want to bring our troops home as soon as we can but it has to be under the right conditions and when we know that our national security is protected against terrorism. The President is right to emphasize victory and not political timetables for U.S. deployments to Afghanistan. While additional U.S. forces could be deployed in the right capacity, such as training Afghan fo… Continue Reading
08.22.17
Hoeven Gathers Input on Next Farm Bill, Outlines Efforts to Provide Producers with Access to Credit, Drought Support
CASSELTON, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Agriculture Appropriations Committee and member of the Agriculture Committee, today held a roundtable with producers in Casselton to gather input on the 2018 farm bill and to outline his work to support the state's farmers and ranchers, including providing greater access to capital, regulatory relief and drought assistance. "Our farmers and ranchers are facing real challenges from low commodity prices to severe drought," said Hoeven. "We'r… Continue Reading
08.22.17
Hoeven to Grand Forks Rotary: Technology, UAS and Rolling Back Regulations Helping to Bolster North Dakota's Economy
GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today addressed the Grand Forks Rotary Club at their weekly meeting about his work to help grow North Dakota's economy. Hoeven discussed new technological developments throughout the state including unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in the Grand Forks area, as well as efforts to roll back unnecessary and burdensome regulations hampering businesses. The senator also outlined his priorities as Congress continues working towards comprehensive tax reform and an in… Continue Reading
08.22.17
Hoeven: North Dakota Ready to Advance UAS Industry on All Fronts
GRAND FORKS, N.D. - At the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Summit and Expo in Grand Forks today, Senator John Hoeven said North Dakota has the key components in place to advance the UAS industry on all fronts. Hoeven is working to build on the past decade of efforts, including establishing the test site, Grand Sky and UAS missions at the Grand Forks Air Force Base, to ensure the state leads in developing the future of this emerging industry - low altitude beyond-line-of-flight applications, UAS de… Continue Reading
08.21.17
Hoeven Announces Nearly $1 Million for Housing in Fargo
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded two grants totaling $973,596 to the City of Fargo. The awards are made available through HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) programs. Details are as follows: CDBG - $637,010 - The funds will help provide quality housing for low- and moderate-income individuals. HO… Continue Reading
08.21.17
Hoeven Announces More Than $1.3 Million in Additional Funding for New Williston Airport
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the U.S. Senate Transportation Appropriations Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $1,312,194 in entitlement funding to support construction of the new Williston Basin International Airport. Today's funds will be used to fund phase 3 of the project which includes the construction of the primary runway 14/32, runway lighting and signage and the installation of navigational aids. Last week, Hoeven anno… Continue Reading
08.21.17
Hoeven Marks Grand Opening of General Atomics Flight Test and Training Center
GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today marked the grand opening of General Atomics' new Flight Test and Training Center at the Grand Sky Technology Park. Hoeven held multiple meetings, both in Washington and North Dakota, with General Atomics leadership in a bid to locate the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) training center in the Grand Forks area. Hoeven announced the 10-year lease between Grand Sky and General Atomics and helped break ground on the facility in 2015. "As our UAS industry c… Continue Reading
08.21.17
Hoeven Recognized as Energy Champion by EERC
GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today was awarded the "Energy Champion" Award by the Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota (UND). The award honors those who have demonstrated leadership and commitment to energy and environmental research nationwide. "Through their work to help produce more energy with greater efficiently, the EERC is helping to advance the long-term energy security of our nation," Hoeven said. "EERC continues to develop import… Continue Reading
08.18.17
Hoeven Hosts FEMA Administrator in Minot to Ensure Accurate Flood Maps, Develop Additional Funding Opportunities for Flood Protection
MINOT, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today held a roundtable in Minot with Administrator Brock Long of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Col. Sam Calkins, Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Paul District and state and Minot city officials. Hoeven invited Administrator Long for the meeting to review FEMA's recently released preliminary flood maps for Minot and to ensure that these maps are updated to reflect permanent flood protection as it is built, like the project tha… Continue Reading
08.18.17
Hoeven Statement on the Passing of North Dakota Representative William E. Kretschmar
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement on the passing of former North Dakota Representative William E. Kretschmar: "With 30 years in the state legislature, William Kretschmar developed an impressive record of service for his district and our state, having risen as high as the Speaker of the House. I am grateful for the years we had working together, and I will always look back on these memories fondly. Mikey and I extend our thoughts and prayers to his friends and… Continue Reading
08.18.17
Hoeven: Argentine Market Open to U.S. Pork
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today issued the following statement after the administration successfully negotiated access to the Argentine market for exports of U.S. pork: "Exports contribute significant value to animals raised in the U.S., and increasing access to new markets is important for our agriculture producers," Hoeven said. "Our nation has robust animal health and safety practic… Continue Reading
08.17.17
Hoeven Outlines Efforts to Address Opioid Abuse, Drug Trafficking
FARGO, N.D. - At the Drug Free Communities (DFC) and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) State Meeting today, Senator John Hoeven outlined his efforts to ensure health care providers and law enforcement have the tools they need to address drug trafficking and prevent and treat opioid abuse. "Opioid and other substance abuse bring terrible tragedy to families and communities across our nation," Hoeven said. "I greatly appreciate the hard work of our treatment providers and law enforcem… Continue Reading
08.16.17
Hoeven: G.I. Education Bill Makes Guard Members Deployed Domestically Eligible for Education Benefits
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the President has signed into law legislation, unanimously passed by the Senate, to improve the G.I. bill, including a provision to make Guard members mobilized under domestic, pre-planned operations, like the North Dakota Army National Guard's support for Operation Noble Eagle, eligible for education benefits. "This legislation makes important improvements to the G.I. bill, including making deployed reservists eligible for education b… Continue Reading
08.16.17
Hoeven Announces $20 Million in Funding to Build New Williston Airport
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the U.S. Senate Transportation Appropriations Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded $20 million to support construction of the new Williston Basin International Airport. Hoeven helped break ground on the new airport last year. "Williston has experienced rapid growth, and Sloulin Field International can no longer properly accommodate this increased demand," Hoev… Continue Reading
08.16.17
Hoeven Announces $2.75 Million Research Award for UND to Test Rare Earth Element Recovery from Coal
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded $2,750,000 to the University of North Dakota's (UND) Institute for Energy Studies (IES). The funds will be used to advance IES' research to recover rare earth elements (REE) from lignite coal and coal-related material, and to try and produce value-added products from the material. "North Dakota is abundant in many natural resources, and we … Continue Reading
08.16.17
Hoeven Hosts Seventh Annual State of Technology Conference, Continues Advancing New Connections to Spark Innovation in North Dakota's Tech Sector
FARGO, N.D. - At the 2017 State of Technology Conference today, Senator John Hoeven drove home how technological innovations are reaching all corners of North Dakota, acting as the third wave in the state's economic growth and creating opportunities in both emerging and traditional industries. Hoeven stressed that North Dakota continues to see growth in local, high-tech products and services, like CoSchedule and uCodeGirl. CoSchedule is currently the fastest-growing startup in the state, with mo… Continue Reading
08.16.17
Hoeven Announces More Than $340,000 in Rural Development Funds for Expansion of Tharaldson Ethanol Plant in Casselton
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Office of Rural Development has awarded $341,000 to Tharaldson Ethanol Plant in Casselton. The funds will be used as part of a more than $3.4 million expansion to the plant which includes constructing a new fermenter and cooling tower cell. "Earlier this year, Tharaldson Ethanol produced t… Continue Reading