News Releases
Hoeven: Flexible School Nutrition Requirements Important as Work Begins to Reauthorize Programs
WASHINGTON - At a hearing of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee today, Senator John Hoeven pressed for greater flexibility in school nutrition programs as work begins to reauthorize child nutrition programs in 2015. Hoeven cited new whole grain requirements as an example of a one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition that does not work on the ground. Hoeven was joined at the hearing by School Nutrition Association President-Elect Julia Bauscher, who represents nearly 55,000 school nutritionists… Continue Reading
07.23.14
Hoeven Announces $255,000 in Grant Funds for UTTC Minority Business Center
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, has awarded $255,000 in grant funds to the United Tribes Technical College (UTTC) to deliver strategic business consulting and deal-making services to eligible minority business enterprises to encourage job creation and retention. The funds are awarded through the MBDA's Business Center Program, which provides minority entrepreneurs with one-on-one assistance… Continue Reading
07.22.14
Hoeven Announces $5.9 Million DOT Grants for Fargo, Williston, Hettinger Airports
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded more than $5.9 million in grants to Hector International Airport in Fargo, Sloulin Field International in Williston and Hettinger Municipal Airport in Hettinger. DOT, through the FAA, has awarded two grants totaling more than $5 million to complete taxiway construction and runway rehabilitation projects at Hector International Airport. Hoeven spoke today with Michael P. Huerta, Admini… Continue Reading
07.21.14
Hoeven Announces $177,614 Grant to Benefit Native Americans Job Creations
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Coalition of Indian Housing Authorities of North Dakota (CIHAND) has been awarded a federal grant totaling $177,614. The federal funding, which is awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program (RBEG), will be used to establish a revolving loan fund to provide technical assistance to small and emerging businesses that benefit Native Americans living on or near reservations. "This fed… Continue Reading
07.18.14
Hoeven Announces Dam Rehabilitation Funds for Renwick Dam, Pembina County
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced nearly $300,000 in grant funds for the Pembina County Water Resource District to renovate the Renwick Dam on Tongue River, a tributary of the Pembina River. These funds will support the second phase of the dam renovation, providing for a new spillway and embankment, and are awarded by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) through its Watershed Rehabilitation Program. Phase one of the project raised the top of the dam by over five feet a… Continue Reading
07.18.14
Hoeven Presses BNSF to Catch Up on Ag Shipments Before Harvest
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven this week pressed BNSF Railway Executive Chairman Matt Rose to relieve backlogs on agriculture shipments prior to the fall harvest season. BNSF committed to spot 450 cars per day and offer more shuttles this fall than in 2013 to relieve past due agriculture shipments. Hoeven also asked rail officials to come to North Dakota to hear directly from the state's agriculture commodity groups. The senator expects that meeting to take place within the first two weeks of … Continue Reading
07.18.14
Hoeven: USDA to Host Listening Sessions July 31 in Fargo
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today encouraged North Dakota producers to attend an upcoming listening session with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) State Conservationist Mary Podoll to share comments or concerns about the agency's implementation of wetland compliance provisions. USDA will host a listening session July 31 from 10 am to noon at the Holiday Inn in Fargo. "Our farmers and ranchers do a tremendous job and we need to do all that we can to support their hard work," Hoe… Continue Reading
07.17.14
Hoeven Meets with Microsoft's Fargo Leader
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today met with Don Morton, Microsoft's Fargo Campus Site Leader, to discuss operations at the company's North Dakota site. Morton said Microsoft does not expect to lay off employees at its Fargo campus as part of the company's announcement this week. "We met today with Don Morton to discuss the good work being done by Microsoft employees in Fargo," said Hoeven. "With the company's layoff announcement, we're appreciative that those layoffs aren't expected to ta… Continue Reading
07.17.14
Hoeven: FY15 Defense Appropriations Bill Bolsters National Security, Supports Missions at North Dakota Bases
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today worked to include provisions in the Fiscal Year 2015 Department of Defense (DoD) Appropriations bill that will strengthen America's national security and support missions at North Dakota's bases. The legislation, which was approved today by the committee, includes strong support for the nation's nuclear triad, modernization of the B-52 aircraft fleet and funding for the Global Hawk platform. "The Defense … Continue Reading
07.17.14
Hoeven Announces BNSF, RRVW Agreement to Provide Rail Service to James Valley Grain
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that BNSF Railway and RRVW Railroad Company have reached an agreement to provide shuttle train service to James Valley Grain's proposed shuttle facility in Verona, North Dakota. "The agreement BNSF and RRVW have reached to provide train service to James Valley Grain is an important step in our ongoing efforts to improve rail service in North Dakota, especially for our state's farmers who rely heavily on trains" said Hoeven. "New service to the … Continue Reading
07.16.14
Hoeven Announces Grant to Support Education Achievement at Standing Rock Sioux Reservation
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has awarded a $260,910 grant to Sitting Bull College to provide GED tutoring and testing services for three years to the eight communities on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. The grant was made through CNCS' AmeriCorps program, which requires matching funds from the recipient organizations and supports community service programs in the areas of education, veterans and military fami… Continue Reading
07.16.14
Hoeven Requests Meeting with DEA Administrator to Press for Support to Combat Drug Crime in North Dakota
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today requested a meeting with Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Administrator Michele Leonhart to ensure that DEA is providing the necessary support to local and state officials in North Dakota to fight increasing drug crimes. Yesterday, Hoeven called for DEA to station more agents in the state to help support local and state officials in preventing and investigating drug crimes. "We've requested a meeting with DEA Administrator Leonhart, either in North Dakota o… Continue Reading
07.16.14
Hoeven Seeks Angels in Adoption Nominees
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that he is accepting nominations of North Dakota residents and organizations who have distinguished themselves through their work on behalf of adopted children, foster children and their families. As in past years, Hoeven will select one individual, couple or organization to represent North Dakota at the annual national Angels in Adoption program held each fall in Washington, D.C. Nominations should be submitted by contacting Hoeven's Bismarck off… Continue Reading
07.16.14
Hoeven Statement on Vote to Defend Religious Freedom
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today released the following statement after a vote in the U.S. Senate to reject legislation aimed at overturning the Supreme Court's recent decision on the Hobby Lobby case. That decision found the Obamacare mandate on certain contraceptives violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and infringes on Americans' religious freedoms. "I support the Supreme Court's decision in the Hobby Lobby case as it upholds religious freedom, one of our most fundamental c… Continue Reading
07.15.14
Hoeven Calls for Additional Drug Enforcement Agents in Western North Dakota
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today called on the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to better support local and state officials in fighting drug crimes and to provide additional DEA agents to help investigate drug cases in western North Dakota. "We have been in contact with the North Dakota Attorney General, as well as local law enforcement officials, to determine how to best help them to keep our communities safe. They indicated that we need more DEA agents," said Hoeven. "That's why we're re… Continue Reading
07.11.14
Hoeven Announces Grant to Improve Health Care Access for North Dakota Veterans
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded the North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs a more than $375,000 grant to improve access to health care for veterans living in rural areas. The grant will fund transportation services for veterans to travel to VA medical centers and other facilities providing VA care, and the grant will benefit approximately 5,477 veterans living in 36 counties in North Dakota. "One of the mo… Continue Reading
07.11.14
Hoeven, McCain, Murkowski, Barrasso Introduce the North Atlantic Energy Security Act
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) today introduced the North Atlantic Energy Security Act, a measure that would cut the red tape holding up energy production and infrastructure development, reduce flaring and expedite liquid natural gas (LNG) exports to America's allies. Specifically, the legislation would: Streamline Onshore Production - It currently takes 180 to 270 days to approve a drilling permit on p… Continue Reading
07.10.14
Hoeven Calls for Senate to Stand Up for Farmers and Ranchers and Vote on Amendment to Eliminate Proposed Waters of the U.S. Rule
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, Senator John Hoeven called on the Senate to stand up for farmers and ranchers and vote on an amendment he is cosponsoring that prevents the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) from finalizing their proposed "Waters of the U.S." rule. The proposed regulation would significantly expand federal authority to regulate small wetlands, creeks, stock ponds and ditches under the Clean Water Act (CWA). Hoeven said the … Continue Reading
07.10.14
Hoeven Continues to Push for Nuclear Force Improvement, B-52 Modernization
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today said he is working with Air Force officials to authorize and fund a number of initiatives to improve the nation's nuclear fleet, weapons systems and facilities. The senator today met with Major General Scott A. Vander Hamm, Commander of the Eighth Air Force based at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., as part of his efforts to modernize the nation's B-52 fleet and to get a briefing on the Nuclear Force Improvement Program (NFIP). Vander Hamm is responsible fo… Continue Reading
07.08.14
Hoeven Announces Nearly $400 Thousand in Conservation Funds for North Dakota
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of the Interior has awarded nearly $400 thousand from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) for conservation and outdoor recreation projects in North Dakota. "It was North Dakota that deepened President Teddy Roosevelt's passion for the outdoors and conservation, and our state's residents share in that heritage through their appreciation and ongoing stewardship for our natural resources, such as our wildlife habit… Continue Reading
