News Releases
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
06.09.14
Hoeven Calls on USDA to Ensure Timely Implementation of Supplemental Coverage Option for All Eligible Producers
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today called on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to implement the 2014 farm bill's new Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) in a timely fashion for all eligible producers. In a letter to Vilsack, Hoeven raised concerns about USDA's current timeline in which SCO will only be available for certain counties and crops during the 2015 crop year. SCO is an enhanced crop insurance program that enables agricultural producers to purchase a supp… Continue Reading
06.09.14
Hoeven Works to Provide Housing, Law Enforcement Support for Growing ND Communities
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, who serves on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the committee has passed legislation that includes important provisions to help growing communities in Western North Dakota. The Fiscal Year 2015 appropriations bills include strong support for low-income housing assistance programs and provisions to ensure adequate law enforcement in the Bakken region. "We need to do all we can to ensure that growing communities across North Dakota,… Continue Reading
06.06.14
Hoeven Offers Language to Clarify Local Access Provision in Veterans Affairs Legislation
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven has proposed language to the new bipartisan Veterans Affairs (VA) legislation that makes clear that veterans can access a nearby health care provider if their local VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) or VA Medical Center (VAMC) cannot provide the required service. Hoeven is working to build bipartisan support for compromise VA legislation being crafted by Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont). The senators have agreed in princi… Continue Reading
06.06.14
Hoeven Statement on the 70th Anniversary of D-Day Invasion at Normandy
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, which turned the tide of the Second World War in favor of the United States and our allies: "It is difficult to imagine now the horrific challenges our veterans of the Normandy invasion faced 70 years ago today. More than 160,000 allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy in the face of fierce German resistance, and more than 9,000 allied soldi… Continue Reading
06.06.14
Hoeven: Appropriations Bill Includes Strong Funding for Airport Improvement Program
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the committee has passed the Fiscal Year 2015 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) bill with $3.5 billion in funding for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which provides grants to improve airports in North Dakota and across the nation. Hoeven has been working to provide federal funding for transportation infrastructure to help meet increasing demands at airports in we… Continue Reading
06.05.14
Hoeven: Senate Reaches Agreement in Principle on Veterans Affairs Legislation
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today welcomed an agreement in principle between Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) on a bill that would reform the Veterans Affairs (VA) Administration and make it easier for veterans to get health care services in their local communities. Hoeven is working to build bipartisan support for the compromise measure in the Senate. The legislation is the product of several VA bills offered by Republicans and Democrats. Hoeven is a cospons… Continue Reading
06.05.14
Hoeven Announces Nearly $1.8 Million for Williston Airport
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded an almost $1.8 million grant to rehabilitate the taxiway at Williston's Sloulin Field International 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. "Our state is now the fastest growing state in the nation, and while that growth brings tremendous … Continue Reading
06.05.14
Hoeven: Committee Approves FY15 Transportation Appropriation Bill with Important UAS Test Site Provisions
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, who serves on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the committee has passed funding legislation that includes important provisions to support unmanned aerial systems (UAS) integration at Grand Forks and test sites across the nation. In addition to funding, the bill includes Hoeven-introduced language to spur activities at the Grand Forks test site. "Integrating UAS into our national airspace is a tremendous opportunity for our nation… Continue Reading
06.05.14
Hoeven Supports Legislation to Reauthorize BLM Permitting Program
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, who serves on the U.S. Senate Energy Committee, today announced that he is cosponsoring the Bureau of Land (BLM) Management Permit Processing Improvement Act. The legislation, introduced by Senators Tom Udall (D-NM) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), will continue the support of BLM Pilot Offices located in oil and gas producing states to expedite permitting for oil wells on public land. The senators' bill also provides the Secretary of the Interior with flexibility… Continue Reading
06.05.14
Hoeven Announces Continuous Conservation Reserve Program, Transition Incentives Program Sign-Up Starting June 9
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the sign-up periods for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the Transition Incentives Program (TIP) will begin on Monday, June 9. Continuous CRP, a voluntary conservation program, operates through a number of initiatives, including the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) program, which allows producers to create habitat that is beneficial for wildlife, and is targeted to hig… Continue Reading
06.04.14
Hoeven Cosponsoring Legislation to Address Problems at Veterans Administration
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven is cosponsoring two key pieces of legislation to address problems at the U.S. Veterans Administration (VA). The first measure, led by Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.), is the Veterans Choice Act, which will give veterans more choice and flexibility while reforming the Veterans Health Care system with greater accountability and transparency. The legislation will help to address long wait times or long drives for veterans who need health care services by enabling them… Continue Reading
06.04.14
Hoeven Working to Improve Rail Safety for Crude Oil Shipments
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, said he is working with colleagues on the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee (T-HUD) to improve the safety of transporting crude oil by rail. The senator said the T-HUD appropriations bill includes a number of measures to reduce the risk of accidents and to mitigate the impact of fire and explosion when they do occur. It also includes a provision requiring a date certain for new rul… Continue Reading
06.02.14
Hoeven Statement on the EPA's New Rules for Existing Power Plants
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) release of new proposed carbon dioxide regulations for existing coal-based power plants. "The EPA's new rules for existing power plants will do little to reduce carbon emissions, but will reduce jobs, hinder our economy and increase the cost of everything, from food to heat and consumer products for American families and businesses. In the first quarter of this year, the… Continue Reading
05.30.14
Hoeven Hosts Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell for Grazing Associations Roundtable
DICKINSON, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today hosted a meeting for grazing association leaders and U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell to press for third party mediation to resolve disputes and more consideration of current research, including research conducted by state universities, in deciding management practices for ranchers on the Little Missouri National Grasslands. Also joining Hoeven at the meeting were Senator Heidi Heitkamp, Congressman Kevin Cramer, N.D. Agr… Continue Reading
05.29.14
Hoeven Holds Forum on Veterans Health Care, Gets Briefing on Fargo VA System Report
FARGO, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today held a forum in Fargo to review the results of a recent evaluation of the Fargo Veterans Medical Center. The event featured a presentation by Veterans Affairs Health Care System Director Lavonne Liversage on a recent evaluation of the facility's electronic wait list and wait times. Today's event was widely attended by regional veterans' organizations, county service officers from across North Dakota and state veterans officials. The senator said four ar… Continue Reading
05.29.14
Hoeven: Air Force Secretary Announces Move to Strengthen ICBM Force
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today commended a move by Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III to continue efforts to improve the Air Force's nuclear mission and increase support to the men and women who operate, maintain and support the nation's intercontinental ballistic missile force, including those at Minot Air Force Base. Secretary James has also recommended to the secretary of defense elevating the Global Strike Command leadership to a four-sta… Continue Reading