Vote Overturns President Biden’s Vaccine Mandate on Private Businesses

On Wednesday night, I voted to overturn President Biden’s vaccine mandate on private businesses through the Congressional Review Act, the official process for Congress to eliminate an executive branch rule. It passed by a bipartisan vote of 52-48 and will now move to the House of Representatives.

The Constitution does not allow Joe Biden to impose this COVID-19 vaccine mandate on private businesses. It is a blatant and obvious overreach of the federal government – and the good news is the courts agree.

At a time when businesses are struggling, the Biden Administration is further shrinking the workforce by forcing Americans to choose between their job and their individual right and decision of whether to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Our bipartisan resolution protects personal liberties, our economy, and – above all else – the Constitution and personal privacy.

Vote Opposes Raising the Debt Ceiling

On Thursday, I voted against a bill to increase the debt ceiling. Chuck Schumer put us in this terrible box confronted with nothing but bad choices. Democrats ran up an irresponsible amount of debt and they took any structural reforms off the table. In the process they held aid for farmers, ranchers, patients, and health care providers hostage.

Time and again Democrats punted on their responsibility to lift the debt ceiling, which they can do on their own without a single Republican vote. I will not green light their big government socialist agenda, which we know adds billions if not trillions of dollars to our national debt. I will not condone this behavior. It’s wrong and I will not vote to increase or facilitate the increase of the debt ceiling.

CBO Releases Extended Ten-year Analysis of Democrats’ Big Government Socialist Agenda

We all know there’s no such thing as a temporary government program. The $1.75 trillion Build Back Better price tag was a lie from the very beginning, hiding behind arbitrary sunset dates and budget gimmicks. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office noted last month this bill would add hundreds of billions of dollars to the national debt, but now they’re saying it actually costs $4.9 trillion if the gimmicks are removed. The massive $3 trillion increase in the deficit is perhaps worse than the price tag.

The American people deserve to know the true impact of this big government socialist agenda which will build America back broke. Flooding the economy with trillions of dollars in ‘free’ money is the last thing we need in this Biden era of skyrocketing inflation.

Testimony Highlights State-Federal Battles

I testified before North Dakota’s Legislative Assembly Interim Water Drainage Committee on our state’s battles with the Environmental Protection Agency’s and the Army Corps of Engineers’ Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service enforcement of Waterfowl Production Area easements.

Some of the threats we face are personified in our battles associated with the Waters of the United States, or WOTUS, and the Fish and Wildlife Service Waterfowl Production Area Easements. Both were enabled by separate acts of Congress – in an age where States’ rights and cooperative federalism were bipartisan concepts. But, both have been distorted for a similar purpose: a pathway for Washington to assert its control over North Dakota and its citizens with little to no regard for the state’s primacy or property rights.

Statement on Passing of Kansas Senator Bob Dole

Following the December 5 passing of former Kansas Senator Bob Dole, I was honored to attend memorials commemorating his lifetime of public service.

He was one of the most influential leaders of my life. His legacy is seen throughout the world and especially in America’s Midwest. Before North Dakota had a Republican Senator, we considered Bob Dole one of ours. He was a hero to millions, including me. May we mourn his death and celebrate his contributions through a life well lived.

Veterans Justice Outreach Improvement Act Introduced in Senate

I introduced the Veterans Justice Outreach Improvement Act with Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), legislation to require the Department of Veterans Affairs to expand and improve outreach on the Veterans Justice Outreach program to ensure every veteran eligible for the program is aware of the it.

Unfortunately, veterans involved in the criminal justice system have a higher risk of homelessness, suicide, drug abuse, and mental illness. The Veterans Justice Outreach program does critical work to combat this reality by reaching out locally to veterans in the justice system to ascertain their needs and ensure those who can benefit from these resources have the support they need.

Letter Supports Halting Fresh Beef Imports from Brazil and Protecting Cattle Producers

In a bipartisan letter with Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), we expressed support for the cattle industry’s recent requests for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to immediately suspend fresh beef imports from Brazil.

This industry should not be jeopardized by Brazilian beef imports that may contaminate U.S. herds and our food supply. We support the requests to suspend Brazilian fresh beef imports until a thorough investigation can be made into Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply food safety review process.

Letter Urges Biden to Reverse Vaccine Mandate for Truckers Crossing the Northern Border

In a letter with Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), I pushed back against President Biden’s vaccine mandates that will impact truckers and other essential travelers trying to cross the U.S.-Canada border. We stressed the impact of the vaccine mandate in further exacerbating the ongoing supply chain crisis and forcing American workers out of their jobs.

We fear that the imposition of vaccination mandates as a requirement to cross the land border will worsen the existing challenges facing our freight networks and supply chain, and could further fuel inflation and rising prices on top of what Americans are already seeing.

Our nation’s truck drivers worked diligently during the pandemic to facilitate critical cross-border freight movements that helped to feed and clothe American communities. Now, implementing these policies could cost them their jobs.

Naval Institute's Annual Defense Forum

I spoke to the Naval Institute's Annual Defense Forum on Wednesday about how important its organization has been over the last 150 years in promoting, informing, and supporting a strong U.S. Navy in times of war and peace.

EarthxTV

I had a good discussion with EarthxTV about my American Energy Jobs and Climate plan and my “Bully Pulpit” series. We both understand the need for innovative all-of-the-above energy solutions to deal with complex climate problems.

Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo Chamber

On Wednesday, I joined Senator Tina Smith to talk about energy and the environment with the Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo Chamber. We discussed how bipartisan ideas, the infrastructure law, and innovative energy projects like carbon capture can benefit North Dakota, Minnesota, and the globe.

Grants for North Dakota

Head Start Funds Awarded to Three Affiliated Tribes, Cankdeska Cikana Community College

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded $1,218,683 to Three Affiliated Tribes and $1,398,025 to Cankdeska Cikana Community College.

The funds come through the Head Start and Early Head Start programs, which promote school readiness for young children and toddlers from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development as well as early learning, health, and family well-being.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Awards $1.6 Million to University of Mary

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded $1,637,212 to the University of Mary.

The funds will be used for slope stabilization and ground water control on campus.

$2.1 Million to Fargo’s Family Healthcare Center

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded $2,190,195 to the Family Healthcare Center in Fargo.

This award is continuing funding from a previously approved project entitled, “Health Center Cluster.”