News Releases
Hoeven: Department of Veterans Affairs to Open First VA National Cemetery in North Dakota
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has purchased 4.82 acres of land in Cass County, ND, and will open the first VA national cemetery in North Dakota. The cemetery, which is being developed under the VA's Rural Initiative, will serve approximately 24,388 veterans, their spouses and eligible family members located within a 75-mile radius of Fargo. "North Dakotans have a long and proud tradition of serving in our nation's armed forces… Continue Reading
06.30.16
Hoeven: FEMA to Grant Extension on Removing Drayton Levee
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that, at his request, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would grant a request from Drayton for a six month extension before the city must remove an earthen levee built on land acquired through the Hazard Mitigation Program. Hoeven spoke with Roy Wright, Deputy Associate Administrator for Insurance and Mitigation at FEMA, who agreed to work with the senator and the city to secure the extension. Meanwhile, as chairman of the Department… Continue Reading
06.30.16
Hoeven: Senate Passes Resolution Honoring American Cowboys
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Senate has passed a resolution declaring Saturday, July 23 as National Day of the American Cowboy. Hoeven cosponsored the resolution, introduced by Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., to honor cowboys across the United States. "Cowboys have shaped our nation's history and culture through their grit and independent spirit," Hoeven said. "North Dakota author Louis L'Amour said, 'Nobody got anywhere in the world by simply being content,' and the Ame… Continue Reading
06.30.16
Hoeven, Heitkamp Join Bipartisan Group of Senators Urging Department of Defense to Swiftly Replace UH-1N Helicopters
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) today joined a bipartisan group of 10 Senators, led by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), in urging the Department of Defense (DoD) to replace the Vietnam-era UH-1N helicopters as soon as possible. While these helicopters are responsible for protecting our nation's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) fleet, including those located around the Minot Air Force Base, the Commander of U.S. Strategic Command has deemed the… Continue Reading
06.29.16
Hoeven: FEMA Awards $7.4 Million to North Dakota to Implement State Security Strategy, Prepare for Emergencies and Protect Borders
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, who serves as chairman of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Committee, today announced that North Dakota will receive a total of $7.4 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding to help protect communities from catastrophic events, prepare for emergencies and secure the country's borders. As chairman, Hoeven oversees funding for FEMA and the other agencies at DHS. "Events in Fargo, Minot, Bismarck and elsewhere in our st… Continue Reading
06.29.16
Hoeven Supports Funding for Veterans and Combating the Zika Virus
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement regarding appropriations to support Veterans Affairs and combat the Zika virus: "We need to combat the Zika virus, which is why I voted today for legislation to provide $1.1 billion in addition to the $589 million already in place, for a total of more than $1.6 billion. This funding was attached to legislation that will actually provide a 4 percent increase in funding for veterans compared to last year. Unfortunately the bill… Continue Reading
06.28.16
Hoeven: DOT Awards Nearly $2 Million for Infrastructure Rehabilitation for ND Airports
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, who serves on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration has awarded three grants totaling $1,958,927 to airports in North Dakota. The details of the awards are as follows: • Stanley Municipal Airport Authority - $926,632 - To fund an extension of the airport taxiway by 2,000 feet to eliminate the need for aircraft to back-taxi on the runway and to support the… Continue Reading
06.27.16
Hoeven: HHS Awards UND More Than $300,000 to Combat Drug Abuse
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, who serves on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) National Institute on Drug Abuse has awarded $312,750 to the University of North Dakota (UND) to support research aimed at fighting drug abuse and addiction. "The University of North Dakota is an internationally-recognized research institution, and today's funding will go towards important research aimed at combating amphetamine abuse,… Continue Reading
06.24.16
Hoeven: Senate-House Committee Approves Bill to Combat Zika
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Senate-House conference committee charged with reconciling their two versions of the bill has agreed to provide provides $1.1 billion to combat the Zika virus. The legislation was approved by the House last week and the Senate is expected to vote on it Tuesday. When combined with funds already reprogrammed for the Zika response activities, the United States will have committed a total of $1.6 billion to fighting the Zika virus this … Continue Reading
06.24.16
Hoeven: Department of Energy Provides $300,000 Grant for Carbontec to Develop Bio-Mass Iron Production
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Department of Energy has approved a $300,000 grant for Carbontec Energy Corporation of Bismarck to partner with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Purdue University to develop technologies for using biomass-based heating to produce high-quality iron nuggets. "This research supports our all-of-the-above approach to energy development," said Hoeven. "By increasing the effectiveness and uses of biomass energy, we can make what would… Continue Reading
06.23.16
Hoeven: Agriculture Committee Has Bipartisan Proposal to Address GMO Labeling
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, who serves on the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee, today announced that the Ag Committee has unveiled a compromise proposal to address the GMO labeling issue. Hoeven has been working with Ag Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) to reach a bipartisan agreement to avert a costly patchwork of different state labeling requirements for genetically modified food products and to ensure that consumers have access to info… Continue Reading
06.23.16
Hoeven Updates Grand Forks Air Force Civic Leaders on Push for Role in Arctic Mission
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today met with members of the Grand Forks Air Force Civic Leaders Program to update them on a possible role for Grand Force Air Force Base in U.S. Northern Command's (NORTHCOM) Arctic mission. The meeting comes a week after Hoeven talked to the new NORTHCOM Commander, U.S. Air Force (USAF) General Lori Robinson, to review how Grand Forks Air Force Base and its unmanned aerial system (UAS) Global Hawk mission could contribute to NORTHCOM operations in the Arctic r… Continue Reading
06.23.16
Hoeven Announces More Than $4.8 Million to Support Emergency Services in North Dakota
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, who serves on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness & Emergency Response has awarded $4,895,387 to the North Dakota State Department of Health. The funds are part of the CDC's Hospital Preparedness Program, and the Department of Health will use the funds to fortify emergency preparedness in communities throughout the state. "The North Dakota State… Continue Reading
06.23.16
Hoeven: Grand Forks on Short List for KC-46 Tanker Mission
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Air Force has included Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB) on its short list for basing the new KC-46 tanker. Hoeven has been making the case for Grand Forks, stressing that the base's efficiency, strategic advantage, established infrastructure and enthusiastic community support make Grand Forks a prime location for the mission. "We have repeatedly reminded the Air Force that Grand Forks previously hosted the KC-135 tanker, and there… Continue Reading
06.22.16
Hoeven: Lake Tschida Campground and Boat Ramp to Reopen
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Koehler's Point campground and boat ramp, a popular site at Lake Tschida, will reopen for public use later this week. The Bureau of Reclamation recently closed the location's facilities, prohibited camping and restricted the area to walk-in access only after failing to secure an adequate road easement on neighboring private land. "Outdoor recreation is an important part of our state's heritage," Hoeven said. "Federal and other public lan… Continue Reading
06.22.16
Hoeven Statement on Federal Court Decision to Strike Down BLM's Fracking Rule
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming struck down the U.S. Department of the Interior's proposed hydraulic fracturing rule, administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM): "States have been managing hydraulic fracturing with good environmental stewardship for decades," Hoeven said. "This regulation would have duplicated these local efforts, adding layers of bureaucracy and threatening to increase cost… Continue Reading
06.22.16
Hoeven Congratulates FAA on Finalizing Small UAS Rule
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today congratulated the Federal Aviation Administration on releasing a final rule on flying small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in the national airspace system. The rule allows commercial flights of small UAS for the first time. "This is an important milestone on the path to fully integrating our national airspace with unmanned aircraft flying alongside manned aircraft," Hoeven said. "The FAA is taking steps to safely allow basic UAS operations that will lead … Continue Reading
06.21.16
Hoeven Congratulates Grand Forks for Recognition as Great American Defense Community
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today joined with Grand Forks community leaders, including Mayor Michael Brown and City Commissioners Tom Falck and David Engen, at a reception to celebrate Grand Forks' designation as a Great American Defense Community. The Association of Defense Communities hosted the event to recognize the Grand Forks community's support of service members and their families. In January, Hoeven wrote a letter to the Association of Defense Communities (ADC) outlining the city'… Continue Reading
06.21.16
Hoeven Announces $172,000 Grant for Center for Rural Health at UND
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's (HHS) Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) has awarded $172,000 to the Center for Rural Health at the University of North Dakota (UND). The Center for Rural Health is designated as North Dakota's State Office of Rural Health and helps link rural communities to state and federal resources to develop long term solutions to rura… Continue Reading
06.21.16
Hoeven Introduces Jennifer Puhl at Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today introduced Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Puhl, who has been nominated to serve on the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, at a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Hoeven encouraged the committee to approve Puhl's nomination and said she is well qualified for the position. "Jennifer Puhl is well qualified to serve on the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, and we support her nomination," said Hoeven. "As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, she has focused on pros… Continue Reading
