News Releases
Hoeven Briefs Base Realignment Impact Committee on Effort to Bring Manned Mission to Grand Forks
GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today provided details to the Grand Forks Base Realignment Impact Committee (BRIC) about the effort he initiated this week to get the manned E-11A aircraft based at Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB) along with the Global Hawk Block 20, which is already stationed there. Both aircraft are capable of performing the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) mission. The Air Force designed BACN in response to the urgent operational needs of deployed f… Continue Reading
06.20.14
Hoeven Announces $3 Million DOT Grant for Bismarck Municipal Airport
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $3 million grant to Bismarck Municipal Airport to mitigate wetlands and create protection zones adjacent to runways. The objective is to enhance safety by draining nearby wetlands to prevent waterfowl from flying into the flight path of aircraft. Earlier this month Hoeven announced separate grants for the airport totaling nearly $2 million in additional funding to repair the runway.… Continue Reading
06.20.14
Hoeven Announces $8 Million in USDA Honey Bee Conservation Incentives for Farmers and Ranchers in Upper Midwest
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing $8 million in incentives through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) for farmers and ranchers in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin who establish new habitats for declining honey bee populations. These funds come in addition to the $3 million designated for the Midwest by the USDA through the Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS) Environmental Quali… Continue Reading
06.20.14
Hoeven Praises Return of Commercial Air Service to Jamestown, Devils Lake
JAMESTOWN, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today praised the restoration of commercial jet service to Jamestown Regional Airport and Devils Lake Regional Airport. Hoeven, who had planned to attend the Jamestown ceremony, was delayed on his way back from Washington and had staff represent him at ceremonies held in Jamestown and Devils Lake to mark the return of servi "SkyWest's decision to add new flights in and out of Jamestown and Devils Lake stands as great news for these communities. Reliable jet… Continue Reading
06.20.14
Hoeven: Energy and Water Bill Provision Makes Fargo Flood Protection Project More Competitive for Corps Construction Funds
FARGO, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today updated Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker on the Fiscal Year 2015 Energy and Water legislation that allows the Army Corps of Engineers to select, on a competitive basis, five new projects to begin constructing in Fiscal Year 2015. Hoeven, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, included language in the bill, which was approved by the subcommittee this week, to make the Fargo-Moorhead flood protection project more competitive by ensuring that the Corps gi… Continue Reading
06.20.14
Hoeven Presses VA Secretary to Allow Veterans Greater Access to Local Long Term Care Services
FARGO, N.D. - At a press conference at Elim Rehab and Care Center in Fargo today, Senator John Hoeven announced that he is pressing Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Sloan Gibson to allow veterans more options for long term care (LTC) services in their home communities. The bipartisan effort is being led on the Democratic side by Senator Tom Carper of Delaware. In a letter sent yesterday, Hoeven led a group of 41 Senate colleagues in pressing Secretary Gibson to finalize a rule that w… Continue Reading
06.20.14
Hoeven Supports Measure to Block EPA "Waters of the U.S." Rules
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator John Hoeven joined a number of his GOP colleagues in cosponsoring Senator John Barrasso's (R-Wyoming) legislation to block a proposed rule from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expanding its authority to regulate small wetlands, creeks, stock ponds and ditches under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The Protecting Water and Property Rights Act of 2014 would prevent the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers from finalizing its March 2014 proposed rule, which would signif… Continue Reading
06.18.14
Hoeven Announces $7 Million in HUD Grants to North Dakota
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is awarding over $7 million in formula funding to the North Dakota Department of Commerce, Division of Community Services. The funds are being awarded from three HUD programs: • Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) - $3.7 million - CDBG supports state and local efforts to ensure access to decent housing and suitable living environments, as well as expanding economic opport… Continue Reading
06.17.14
Hoeven Statement on North Dakota Producing One Million Barrels of Oil a Day, a New Record
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement regarding news that North Dakota is producing one million barrel of oil a day mark. In 2000, North Dakota produced less than 100,000 barrels of oil per day: "Today, the North Dakota Petroleum Council announced that our state has topped one million barrels of oil production a day. That is the collective achievement of many individuals and companies that have worked tirelessly for more than a decade to build this important industry… Continue Reading
06.17.14
Hoeven: Energy and Water Bill Allows Construction of Corps' Projects
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, today worked to include language in the Fiscal Year 2015 Energy and Water Appropriations bill that allows the Army Corps of Engineers to begin construction on five new projects in Fiscal Year 2015. Those projects are to be selected on a competitive basis, but Hoeven included language requiring the Corps to give consideration for local effort, both in terms of the funding share and whether … Continue Reading
06.16.14
Hoeven Calls on Air Force to Base Manned E-11A Aircraft at GFAFB Along With Global Hawk Block 20
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today wrote to Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James asking that the manned E-11A aircraft be based at Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB) along with the Global Hawk Block 20 already based at the base. Both aircraft are capable of performing the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) mission. BACN provides a critical communications capability for our troops overseas. Hoeven told Secretary James that the BACN mission is a valuable asset and shoul… Continue Reading
06.16.14
Hoeven Announces Nearly $1.5 Million Grant to Bismarck Airport
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded an additional $1.462 million in funding to help rehabilitate the runway at Bismarck Municipal Airport. Last week, DOT awarded $472,448 in funding to the airport, for a total of $1,935,000. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Hoeven has been working to invest in infrastructure and other services to meet the needs of North Dakota's growing population. "Our airports are s… Continue Reading
06.13.14
Hoeven Statement on President Barack Obama's Visit to the Standing Rock Reservation
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee, issued the following statement regarding President Barack Obama's visit to North Dakota: "By coming to Standing Rock, President Obama will get a better understanding of both the rich culture of native peoples and some of the challenges like crime and teen suicide that they face far too often on the reservation. "To address one aspect of those challenges, we have introduced the bipartisan Native Amer… Continue Reading
06.13.14
Hoeven Urges Forest Service Chief to Meet With North Dakota Ranchers to Resolve Disputes Over Grassland Management
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, in a letter sent yesterday, urged Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell to provide a 30-day extension of formal talks with North Dakota ranchers to resolve differences of opinion regarding management practices on the Little Missouri National Grasslands. In the letter, Senator Hoeven raises concerns over the Forest Service's response to ranchers' objections to a recent draft grazing allotment management plan and urges the Forest Service to hold further meetings wit… Continue Reading
06.13.14
Hoeven Addresses the National Energy Efficiency Forum
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven Thursday addressed the 25th annual national Energy Efficiency Forum, telling a group of leaders in the field that energy efficiency is "the low-hanging fruit, the one area in our public discourse on energy that appeals to almost everyone's common sense." Hoeven is a cosponsor of the bipartisan Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, legislation introduced by Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Jean Shaheen (D-N.H.), and author of two key provisions in… Continue Reading
06.11.14
Hoeven Announces $500,000 Grant for Bismarck Airport
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $500,000 federal grant to the Bismarck Municipal Airport. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Hoeven has been working to invest in infrastructure and other services to meet the needs of North Dakota's growing population. "The DOT grant to improve the runway at Bismarck Municipal Airport is another positive development in our ongoing work to address North Dakota's infra… Continue Reading
06.11.14
Johnson, Hoeven Introduce National Bison Legacy Act
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.) joined Senator Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) today to introduce the National Bison Legacy Act, legislation that would officially recognize bison as the National Mammal of the United States. "North Dakota's history is closely associated with the bison, largely because of the influence of President Teddy Roosevelt's early visits to our state," Hoeven said. "His efforts to protect these majestic animals helped to retrieve them from the brink of extinction and est… Continue Reading
06.11.14
Hoeven: Senate Passes Bipartisan Legislation to Address VA Health Care Challenges
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Senate voted 93-3 to pass bipartisan legislation to reform the Veterans Affairs Administration (VA) and ensure that our veterans receive timely care. The bill will now go to conference with House-passed legislation. "We need to do all we can to ensure our veterans have access to health care services that meet their needs," said Hoeven. "This legislation will help to address problems at the VA that were recently brought to light an… Continue Reading
06.10.14
Hoeven Announces $8.5 Million Loan for Richland County Fiber Optic Network
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded an $8.5 million loan to the Red River Telephone Association for the construction of 145 miles of buried fiber optic cable in Richland and Clay counties, completing Red River's Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) build-out for the North Dakota communities of Abercrombie, Colfax, Fairmount, Great Bend, Hankinson, Lidgerwood, Mooreton and Wyndmere. "Our rural telecoms have worked hard to prepare … Continue Reading
06.10.14
Hoeven Announces $2 Million USDA Loan for Childcare Facility in Watford City
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a $2 million loan to Reservation Telephone Cooperative to help Wolf Run Village, Inc. construct a new daycare facility in Watford City. The facility will serve more than 200 children, from ages 6 weeks to 12 years old. "Developing infrastructure in western North Dakota remains a top priority as our communities continue growing at rapid rates," said Hoeven. "This USDA loan will … Continue Reading
