News Releases
Hoeven Presses USDA Secretary for Enhanced Crop Insurance, Workable Prevented Plant Rules
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven this week pressed U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack for strong crop insurance programs and a commitment to make the prevented plant program work for producers. Hoeven questioned Vilsack at a hearing of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Related Agencies. "Agriculture is stepping up and providing budget savings, so it will be very important that crop insurance is there for our producers in… Continue Reading
05.10.13
Hoeven To USDA Secretary: Support Sensible School Lunch Act
WASHINGTON - At a hearing this week of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator John Hoeven pressed U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to support the Sensible School Lunch Act, legislation he introduced to provide schools with permanent flexibility to meet students' nutritional needs. "We'd like to work with you to ensure that our school lunch programs are working for our schools and our students," Hoeven told Vilsack. "Senator Pryor and I introduced the Sensible School… Continue Reading
05.09.13
Hoeven Pushes Authorization for Flood Protection Project on Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven Wednesday spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate to push support for the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which includes congressional authorization of the Fargo-Moorhead Diversion project. The senator made a strong case that the cost of building permanent flood protection for the Red River Valley is far more cost-effective than mounting an annual flood fight, and especially, losing a flood fight. He noted that the 2009 flood fight in Fargo - a successful … Continue Reading
05.09.13
Delegation: FAA Agrees to Maintain Midnight Shift for Fargo Air Traffic Control Tower
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp and Congressman Kevin Cramer today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will continue 24-hour operation of the air traffic control tower (ATC) at Hector International Airport. The Fargo facility was on a national list of airports scheduled for a possible reduction in hours of service. Following calls to the FAA, the delegation yesterday followed up with a letter to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta telling him that the legi… Continue Reading
05.09.13
Hoeven Expresses Support for Corn Growers New Venture
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today expressed his support for a new $1.5 billion fertilizer plant being planned by the North Dakota Corn Growers and their partners. He said the planned new facility, Northern Plains Hydrogen, will convert natural gas into anhydrous ammonia, which he said is particularly beneficial because it will provide two important benefits to North Dakota. "This new facility would provide farmers throughout the region with supplies of nitrogen fertilizer, and at the same … Continue Reading
05.08.13
Delegation to FAA Administrator: New FAA Bill Gives Agency Flexibility to Maintain Midnight Shift for Fargo Air Traffic Control Tower
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp and Congressman Kevin Cramer yesterday sent a letter to the administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Michael Huerta, calling for the continuation of Hector International Airport's 24-hour Air Traffic Control status. The delegation told the administrator that legislation passed last week to avert air traffic controller furloughs across the country also gives the FAA the flexibility they need to retain the midnight shift at t… Continue Reading
05.08.13
Hoeven to Interior Secretary: Approve Red River Valley Water Supply Project, Improve Social Services at Spirit Lake
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven this week pressed new Department of Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to work with him to move forward North Dakota priorities, including issuing a Record of Decision (ROD) for the Red River Valley Water Supply Project and addressing child protective issues on the Spirit Lake Reservation. Hoeven also pressed the Interior Department to ensure its regulations for energy development on federal lands are efficient and workable. Hoeven questioned the secretary at a hear… Continue Reading
05.07.13
Hoeven: Full Senate Agrees to Take Up WRDA Bill
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Senate has reached agreement to bring the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) to the Senate floor today. This is important, Hoeven said, because it includes authorization for permanent flood protection for the Red River Valley. "I think we're in good shape," Hoeven said. "We've worked with leadership on both sides of the aisle. It will depend a little bit on what amendments get offered, but we hope to work on the legislation this… Continue Reading
05.03.13
Hoeven: Minot Making Progress With CDBG Recovery Funds
MINOT, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today was joined by local leaders to review the strides Minot is making to help get residents back in their homes and rebuild the city. City officials are using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds on a range of projects that are helping residents and businesses following the devastating flood of 2011. Hoeven, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, worked to secure more than $77 million in CDBG Disaster Relief funding for the city of Minot… Continue Reading
05.03.13
Hoeven Honors Two Minot Veterans with Military Honors
MINOT, N.D. - At a ceremony in Minot today, Senator John Hoeven presented two local veterans with military awards to honor their service in the U.S. Army. Hoeven presented Vietnam veteran and former Army Sergeant James A. Tofteland with a host of medals, including the Purple Heart. The senator re-awarded former Army Private First Class Joseph W. Swital with his military awards, which were lost in 2011 during flooding of the Souris River. Senator Hoeven's office has been working to secure the Pur… Continue Reading
05.03.13
Hoeven, Heitkamp, Cramer Call on Defense Secretary Hagel to Locate Ground Based Interceptors in Grand Forks
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp and Congressman Kevin Cramer today urged Department of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to consider Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB) as a potential location for the future deployment of ground based interceptors (GBI) as part of our nation's missile defenses. The delegation made the request in a letter sent to Secretary Hagel, citing Section 227 of the Fiscal Year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act, which directs the Department of Defense… Continue Reading
05.03.13
Senator Hoeven Working to Ensure Safe, Credible Nuclear Deterrent
MINOT, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today spoke at a symposium on the enduring need for the nuclear triad and deterrence hosted by Minot's Task Force 21, a group of local civic leaders who work to support the missions of the Minot Air Force Base. Also speaking at the event were Senator Heidi Heitkamp, by video, and Congressman Kevin Cramer. "The unpredictable and chaotic global security environment demands a nuclear deterrence strategy far into the future," Hoeven said. "Our nuclear deterrent rep… Continue Reading
05.02.13
Hoeven Hosts RMA Administrator, Provides Farm Bill, Prevented Planting Update with Fargo, Bismarck Ag Leaders
FARGO, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today hosted USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) Acting Administrator Brandon Willis at roundtable meetings held in Fargo and Bismarck with a broad range of North Dakota agriculture group leaders to provide an update and gather input on a number of timely matters impacting North Dakota farmers and ranchers, including prevented planting and the Farm Bill. Hoeven called today's meetings following the unusually cold weather that has impacted North Dakota this spring … Continue Reading
05.01.13
Hoeven: Grand Forks Submitting UAS Test Site Application This Week
GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today met with representatives from the North Dakota Airspace Integration Team (AIT) and the Grand Forks Base Realignment Impact Committee (BRIC) to advance the base's application to become one of six pilot test sites for integrating Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) into the National Airspace. As both governor and U.S. Senator, Hoeven has worked to make Grand Forks the premier northern hub for the UAS industry. The AIT and the senator reviewed progress made … Continue Reading
05.01.13
Hoeven, Klobuchar, Dalrymple Review Flood Prevention Efforts in Fargo-Moorhead
FARGO-MOORHEAD - U.S. Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple today met with Army Corps of Engineers Maj. Gen. John Peabody and Fargo-Moorhead area leaders to inspect flood prevention efforts along the Red River, which was expected to crest at approximately 33.3 feet during the night. The senators discussed the current flood fight and updated local leaders on work to authorize the Fargo-Moorhead diversion project. The total cost of the … Continue Reading
05.01.13
Delegation Announces New Fair Market Rents for Ward, Mountrail, and Williams Counties
WASHINGTON - Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp and Congressman Kevin Cramer today announced that new Fair Market Rents (FMRs) for North Dakota, which are overseen by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), went into effect yesterday for Ward, Mountrail and Williams counties. "We have been working with HUD to ensure that North Dakotans living in Ward, Mountrail and Williams counties have access to quality, affordable housing," the delegation said in a joint statement. "The n… Continue Reading
04.30.13
Hoeven: USGS Finds Substantial New Reserves in the Williston Basin
BISMARCK, N.D. - Senator John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has determined that there are approximately 7.4 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil, more than twice the previous estimate in the Williston Basin. The report also estimates there to be 6.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. It's the largest unconventional oil resource the USGS has ever assessed and it includes the Three Forks Formation. The last USGS study, released in April 2008, identified 3… Continue Reading
04.28.13
Hoeven Sees Off 188 Air Defense Artillery Regiment on Deployment to Nation's Capital
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today joined with state and community leaders to honor members of the North Dakota National Guard's (NDNG) 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment at a send-off ceremony ahead of their deployment to the nation's capital in support of Operation Noble Eagle. "There is no group of professionals anywhere in the nation better able to defend our capital and represent our state than our North Dakota Air National Guard," Hoeven said. "Your mission is importa… Continue Reading
04.26.13
Hoeven Statement on President Obama's Nominee for the EPA, Gina McCarthy
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement in response to a discussion he had this week with Gina McCarthy, the president's nominee for administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): "Nominee Gina McCarthy and I discussed a range of issues important not only to North Dakota, but also to the nation. While we don't have to agree philosophically on everything, we do have to find practical solutions to producing more energy from all sources with good environm… Continue Reading
04.26.13
Hoeven Announces Senate to Take Up Water Resources Development Act
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that in the first week of May the full U.S. Senate will vote to take up the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which includes authorization for the Fargo-Moorhead diversion project. Hoeven has been pushing for the legislation, making the case to Senate leadership that permanent flood protection is far less expensive and more effective than recovering from severe flooding, as North Dakota learned in 2009 and 2011. "We have been pushing for t… Continue Reading
