News Releases
Hoeven, Blumenthal, Lieberman, Graham, More Than 50 U.S. Senators Introduce Resolution Calling for Free and Fair Elections in Iran
WASHINGTON - In support of the Iranian people, Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and more than 50 senators today introduced a bipartisan resolution calling on the government of Iran to respect universal human rights and hold free, fair and open elections later this week that meet international standards. Hoeven, Blumenthal and Graham recently returned from a senate mission to the Middle East, which they say highlighted t… Continue Reading
02.28.12
Hoeven Asks Secretary of State Clinton for Help with Egyptian Detainees
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today emphasized to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton the need to do everything possible to get the travel ban lifted on the American non-governmental organization (NGO) workers still in Egypt. He did so at a hearing of the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee, at which Clinton was testifying. Secretary Clinton told Hoeven that the U.S State Department is doing all it can to seek a resolution for the American NGO worke… Continue Reading
02.28.12
Hoeven Addresses American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials, Meets with NDDOT Director Francis Zeigler
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today addressed the annual conference of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to stress the importance of reauthorizing the national highway bill, which is now being debated in Congress. Hoeven said he favors a six-year bill, which is being discussed in the U.S. House of Representatives, but that the two-year bill moving through the U.S. Senate is the more likely bill to pass and contains strong funding for North Dako… Continue Reading
02.28.12
Congress Needs To Approve The Keystone XL Pipeline Project
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today said he's pleased that TransCanada is working to keep the Keystone XL pipeline project alive by beginning construction on a leg that will connect Cushing, Okla. to the Gulf Coast, but that Congress needs to approve the full project because after more than three years of study, the Obama Administration has denied it. The Keystone XL pipeline is a shovel-ready, $7 billion, privately-funded infrastructure project that will carry Canadian oil from the provinc… Continue Reading
02.27.12
Delegation Announces More Than $2.2 Million in Federal Funding for Mandan Flood Clean Up
Washington - Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven and Congressman Rick Berg today announced that the State of North Dakota has been awarded $2,289,270 in federal funding to help the city of Mandan remove and dispose of temporary clay levees that helped protect the city during last year's flooding. "Too often the arduous work and prohibitive cost of cleaning up after a flood is overshadowed by the flood itself. But as Mandan's city leadership will tell you, the work is far from over once flood … Continue Reading
02.24.12
Hoeven: New Libya Faces Substantial Challenges
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today said Libya faces significant political and humanitarian challenges in the post-Moammar Gadhafi era, but the nation has made progress toward recovering its oil economy to help meet those challenges. Challenges include planning for upcoming national elections, integrating the various regional militias into a unified national army, providing humanitarian aid to assist the thousands of wounded and ensuring human rights for all Libyans after the war for freedom.… Continue Reading
02.24.12
Hoeven: Meeting With Netanyahu Reaffirms Need for Full and Timely Iran Sanction
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today said that his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu reaffirmed the need to fully implement U.S. sanctions on Iran in a timely manner. Hoeven, along with a bipartisan delegation of senators including Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), met with Netanyahu this week in Jerusalem to discuss the steps needed to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapons capability. Hoeven, along with Senator Graham and 34 other senat… Continue Reading
02.24.12
Hoeven: Cairo Meetings, Egyptian Statements Encouraging for NGO Situation
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today said recent statements by Egypt's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) regarding nongovernmental organization (NGO) operations in the nation are encouraging for American NGO workers, including North Dakota native Staci Haag, currently being detained and subject to trial in Egyptian courts. Hoeven and a bipartisan delegation of senators, including Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C) were in Egypt Monday meeting with government and military l… Continue Reading
02.22.12
Delegation Announces Close to $2.9 Million in Federal Funding to Repair Longfellow Elementary
Washington - Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven and Congressman Rick Berg today announced that the State of North Dakota has been awarded $2,899,504 in federal funding to help repair Minot's Longfellow Elementary School, which was severely damaged in last year's Souris River flood. "The faculty, staff and students at Minot's schools have gone through so much this past year," the delegation said in a joint statement. "This funding is another step on the road to recovery for the Minot communi… Continue Reading
02.21.12
Hoeven Meets with Fargo Native Haag, Egyptian Leaders in Cairo
CAIRO - Senator John Hoeven met with North Dakota native Staci Haag Monday at the United States Embassy in Egypt. Haag is one of seven American nongovernmental organization (NGO) workers detained and facing charges in Egypt. "Staci is doing well and I was very pleased to meet with her in person," said Hoeven. "She is staying at the embassy and U.S. Ambassador Anne Patterson is doing everything she can to assist her." Hoeven is in Egypt with a bipartisan delegation of senators including Senator… Continue Reading
02.20.12
Hoeven, Senators Meeting with Middle Eastern Government Officials on Security, Cooperation
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today announced that he is participating in a bipartisan Senate delegation to meet with Egyptian and other government officials in the Middle East to discuss national security and foreign relations issues pertaining to governments in the region. The delegation has already met with U.S. soldiers, as well as government and military leaders in Afghanistan, including Gen. John Allen and Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Other participants include Senators John McCain … Continue Reading
02.17.12
Highway Administration Approves New Plan to Fund Statewide Emergency Road Repairs
BISMARCK, N.D. - Governor Jack Dalrymple, Sen. Kent Conrad, Sen. John Hoeven and Rep. Rick Berg, announced today that the Federal Highway Administration has approved a new plan to fund statewide emergency road improvement projects, including needed road repairs in the Devils Lake Basin. "Working together, we pushed for a revised plan so that counties and cities throughout the state can get the emergency road repairs they need," Dalrymple said. "We will continue to work with local and federal of… Continue Reading
02.17.12
Hoeven Statement on Passage of the Payroll Tax Cut, Unemployment Insurance Extension
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed legislation that would extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance, as well as address a scheduled cut in Medicare reimbursement rates for doctors through 2012: "Today I voted in support of a measure that will extend the temporary payroll tax cut for working Americans, as well as unemployment insurance for those who are still unable to find work. The same bill will also address the so-ca… Continue Reading
02.16.12
Delegation Presses Air Force Leadership on Defense Priorities
Washington - Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven and Congressman Rick Berg today met with top Air Force leadership - including Air Force Secretary Michael Donley - to reemphasize the vital role North Dakota's Air Force Bases and Air National Guard play in America's national defense. "When you factor in the vital missions performed in North Dakota and our strategic location along the northern tier, it's clear to us that the Air Force Bases in Minot and Grand Forks should continue to play an imp… Continue Reading
02.16.12
Hoeven, Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Iran Nuclear Sanctions Resolution
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator John Hoeven and a bipartisan group of senators today held a press conference announcing their introduction of a formal resolution urging the U.S. to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability. Hoeven and others urged the Administration to quickly implement sanctions passed by Congress in the Defense Authorization bill passed in December that would bar any country or company that does business with the Iranian Central Bank from doing business with the Unit… Continue Reading
02.16.12
Hoeven: DOE Report Shows Keystone XL Would Lower Gas Prices
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today urged U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu to pursue energy infrastructure projects such as the Keystone XL pipeline, citing an Energy Department report that stated the Keystone XL pipeline would transport oil to be refined in the United States, and it would lower U.S. gas prices. "Here we have rising gas prices, putting a strain on our consumers, on business, on the economy, and yet the administration turns down a project that would help us redu… Continue Reading
02.15.12
Hoeven Meets with FEMA Official to Stress Need for Flexible Home Buyout Policy in Minot
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven met yesterday with James Walke, Risk Reduction Division Director for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to stress the importance of flexibility in using FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grand Program (HMGP) funds to buy out homes. The senator wanted to make sure that federal funding from various sources are used as soon as and as effectively as possible. In addition, Hoeven's legislation to allow building flood protection structures on previously bought out la… Continue Reading
02.15.12
ND Leaders Review Strategy to Raise DL Rail Line
Washington - Senators Kent Conrad and John Hoeven and Congressman Rick Berg today met with the leaders of Amtrak and BNSF Railway to review plans to raise a rail line in the Devils Lake basin that is threatened by floodwaters. "Time is of the essence here. The rising waters of Devils Lake continue to threaten this rail line and bridges near Churchs Ferry. As a result, passenger service on the Amtrak Empire Builder line is at risk. A flooded line would cause Amtrak to reroute trains which wo… Continue Reading
02.15.12
Hoeven to Vilsack: Crop Insurance Needs to Be Number One Priority in New Farm Bill
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today told U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack that a strong crop insurance program needs to be the number one priority in developing the new Farm Bill. He also urged the secretary to support agricultural research programs and a market-based approach to promote biofuel. Secretary Vilsack testified this morning in front of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, of which Hoeven is a member, to outline agriculture-related funding ini… Continue Reading
02.14.12
Hoeven Seeks to Attach Keystone Legislation to Highway Bill
WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven today spoke on the U.S. Senate floor on the importance of the Keystone XL pipeline to the country's energy independence and job creation, describing it as "vital infrastructure that's very much needed by our country." Hoeven filed an amendment yesterday to attach legislation approving the Keystone XL project to an important transportation authorization bill. "Whether you measure it by jobs, whether you measure it by energy security for this nation - really, … Continue Reading
