Senator Cramer’s Weekly Update november 21 - december 4

Congress Prevents a Rail Strike

I issued the following statement regarding the Senate's action to prevent a rail strike:

The role of congress is not to negotiate a rail settlement, but to approve one. Averting a rail shutdown was absolutely critical for preserving an already fragile economy. If the strike would have happened, it would have been devastating to consumers and shippers alike. It was time for congress to do its part, and I was glad to see strong, bipartisan support for averting a work stoppage.

Cramer and Lummis Issue Letter Urging Colleagues to Avert Rail Strike

I joined Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) in a letter to our Senate Republican colleagues urging them to vote in favor of an emergency agreement to avert a potential railroad labor strike.

Congress has been forced into a position to either intervene in labor negotiations or allow a rail strike that will cripple our economy. This is the last place we had hoped to be, and we are certain you feel similarly.

Our response determines whether rail workers receive their next paycheck, whether families can put food on the table this holiday season, and even whether the lights turn on.

However, it must also be noted how we choose to respond will set a precedent. It is our strong belief Congress must act to avert this rail strike; however, we cannot support an agreement that goes beyond what was negotiated by all parties and what was agreed to by union leadership.

Space Force Celebrates Third Birthday

I delivered remarks Wednesday evening at the Space Force 3rd Birthday Celebration! It’s hard to believe all the Space Force has accomplished in these first three years.

There is a command center in Hawaii to manage space operations in the Indo-Pacific, a Space Force-specific boot camp for new recruits, and they have had successful launches throughout the year. These are just a handful of the achievements from our Guardians.

Space is a critical domain. Now more than ever it’s vital we have a dedicated service to protect us from evolving threats and ensure we maintain America’s advantage in space.

Happy third birthday to the U.S. Space Force, I look forward to celebrating many more birthdays to come!

Biden Administration Proposes Methane Venting and Flaring Rule

President Biden’s proposed methane venting and flaring rule is nothing more than another layer of unnecessary, duplicative bureaucracy designed to impair oil and gas production on Federal and Tribal land.

North Dakota producers already capture 95 percent of gas emissions, but operators on Federal land are impeded by the same cumbersome bureaucracy that’s now threatening to penalize them.

I encourage North Dakotans to make their voices heard as the U.S. Department of the Interior collects comments from the public.

Hearing Highlights Anti-Inflationary Impacts of Infrastructure Investment

At a Senate Environment and Public Works Hearing, I highlighted the anti-inflationary impact of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

This five-year bill is so important compared to the alternative, which would have been a one-year flat line extension of the status quo. In this inflationary time, I think it’s an important point because it would have exacerbated inflation. We don’t talk enough about the anti-inflationary impacts of infrastructure.

The real challenge we have is the growth in demand because of the free money thrown out into the marketplace. The supply chain got broken.

I addressed the panel of witnesses in the transportation, construction, and general contracting industries on this because they are directly affected by higher cost of borrowing money, more expensive equipment and materials, and labor shortages.

We should not be complicating this law’s implementation with overbearing bureaucracy. We were prescriptive with the One Federal Decision rule for a reason.

Bill to Protect Camp Lejeune Victims Ensnared by Trial-lawyers’ Scams

Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and I introduced the Protect Camp Lejeune Victims Ensnared by Trial-lawyers’ Scams Act to cap the fees trial lawyers can charge in cases representing sick Marines and other individuals impacted by water contamination at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

During consideration of the PACT Act, Senate Democrats blocked votes on any amendments, including an amendment to cap legal fees for veterans. Since passage of the law, trial lawyers across the country have unleashed hundreds of millions of dollars in television ads and social media campaigns, seeking out Marines and other victims for Camp Lejeune-related cases and charging contingency fees as high as 60 percent.

The lawyers who profit from the service and sickness of veterans service and sickness are despicable and must be stopped.

Our bill caps the fees attorneys can charge so our Marines and Sailors will not be taken advantage of. I will continue to fight for our veterans and ensure their legacy is honored, not exploited.

Legislation Allows Year-Round E15 Sales

On Wednesday, I joined Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) in introducing the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2022, legislation allowing the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends higher than 10%.

Increasing the availability of biofuels like E15 would benefit the economy and the environment and this bill would end years of regulatory uncertainty and prevent a patchwork of uneven state regulations.

I have long supported year-round sales of E15. It gives consumers more options and lower costs while giving producers more certainty. This bill is common sense, and I urge its swift passage.

Kudlow Interview Discusses New Climate Reparations Fund

I joined Larry Kudlow on Fox Business to discuss the COP27 agreement to create a climate reparations fund.

It might be the most absurd international policy I’ve ever heard of. We can’t afford to give away money for the purpose of reparations as some sort of guilt payment.

In fact, these developing nations should thank the United States of America for providing security, stabilizing their governments, defending them, and feeding them. Instead, they demand payments and John Kerry is dumb enough to sign off on it.

We don’t have the money. Even if we did have the money, it wouldn’t be in the top one million things I would do with it on behalf of taxpayers. It’s a crazy scheme.

Kudlow Interview Discusses Omnibus Bill, 2023 Budget

I joined Larry Kudlow on Fox Business to discuss the impact of an omnibus bill versus a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government by the end of the year.

If we were to have a one year continuing resolution that takes us to the end of this fiscal year, we would have some serious problems related to our funding priorities, particularly for the men and women in uniform and our military, who can’t afford the cuts a continuing resolution would cause.

What concerns me is trying to negotiate two fiscal years at the same time instead of appropriating a year in advance. Congress needs to return to regular order in order to ensure our government is funded properly and in a timely manner.

This benefits the left, and damages our economy and reputation all without the advantage of public transparency.

2022 Military Academy Nominations

At the end of November, I announced my nominees to be appointed to the U.S. military academies. One of the great joys of serving North Dakota in Congress is nominating some of our best young patriots for appointments to our military academies. We send our best of the best.

The nominees are as follows:

• Mikko Vallis – U.S Air Force Academy. Mikko, son of Michael Vallis, a Technical Sergeant in the Air Force stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base, and Abegail Vallis. He is involved in Track and Field, the Fine Arts Department, piano, photography, and block coding. Mikko is from Grand Forks and he is a volunteer at the Grand Forks Parks Department.
• Elyssa Heppner – U.S. Naval Academy. Elyssa, daughter of Donald and Kathleen Heppner, is involved in Track and Field, Central Valley band, Academic Olympic Team, and bass guitar. She is the Student Council President, works at Luther Memorial Home in Mayville, and volunteers at Sunday School. Elyssa is from Buxton.
• Zachary Schwab – U.S. Military Academy (West Point). Zachary, son of Larry Schwab and Laura Lenca, is involved in the National Honor Society, International Thespian Society, church kid program volunteer, pole vaulting, and weightlifting. He is also president of the choir and drumline cymbal section leader. Zachary is from Fargo and works as a Student Technician for West Fargo Public Schools.

After visiting with Mikko, Elyssa, and Zachary, I am honored and grateful they are willing to answer the call to serve. They will be great ambassadors of our state.

Letter Pushes for Representation from the Coal Industry

In a letter to Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin J. Oberman, my colleagues and I requested a plan to fill three vacant seats on the STB’s Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee with coal industry representatives. These positions have been vacant for more than two years.

Coal remains the largest volume commodity on our nation’s railways. The lack of rail service is keeping coal from being shipped to utilities under service contracts and is even reducing the amount of mined coal.

Missed trains and large delays caused by a lack of crews and irregular schedules have forced some coal mines to limit the production of coal, which ultimately results in lost jobs, despite the high demand and abundantly available resources.

Letter Urges Senate Appropriators to Fund Carbon Materials Science Initiative in FY23

Joe Manchin (D-WV), John Barrasso (R-WY), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and I sent a letter to Senate appropriators calling for $25 million in FY2023 funding for the Carbon Materials Science Initiative at the U.S. Department of Energy. The initiative was enacted to research converting coal and coal waste into raw materials necessary for advanced technologies and industrial applications.

With support from the Department of Energy, researchers have demonstrated that coal and coal waste can be used to produce graphite for batteries, metal composites and alloys, building materials and piping, rare earth elements, and other essential products necessary for advanced technologies and industrial applications.

We are excited that the private sector is leveraging this coal-to-products and carbon ore processing research to commercialize several products. Funding this research will bolster our economic and national security by creating new sustainable sources for materials needed by our construction, aerospace, defense, transportation, and energy storage industries.

Letter Urges for Less Burdensome and More Affordable Emissions Rule on Commercial Motor Vehicles

I’m urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to not place overly burdensome emissions regulations on commercial motor vehicles.

The EPA should finalize a rule which is technologically achievable, acceptable, and affordable to American customers and haulers.

Bill to Ban Chinese Communist Party Members from Obtaining Extended Stay Visas to the United States

I helped introduce legislation with Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) to ban the issuance of B-1 and B-2 nonimmigrant visas to the 93 million Chinese Communist Party members.

You don’t need to have CIA-level clearance to know China is a bad actor. We need a strategic decoupling from China.

Every day, the Chinese Communist Party actively works against the United States’ interests. Our bill provides greater scrutiny of visas for these members regardless of how long they want to enter our country.

Letter Warns CCP Against Violent Crackdown on Protesters

I joined Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and a bipartisan group of my colleagues in sending a letter to the Chinese ambassador to the United States warning the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime of the consequences of a violent crackdown on peaceful protesters.

We caution the CCP in the strongest possible terms not to once again undertake a violent crackdown on peaceful Chinese protesters who simply want more freedom. If that happens, we believe there will be grave consequences for the US-China relationship, causing extraordinary damage to it.

Demonstrations have erupted across China in response to the CCP’s severe measures restricting freedoms to contain rising COVID-19 infections.

Rail Companies Issue Status Reports on Grain Car Backlog

I announced BNSF Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway publicly filed weekly grain backlog status updates as required by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board. A summary of the reporting data specific to North Dakota for the last 10 weeks is below.

U.S. Army Corps Omaha District Commander

I met with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Omaha District Commander Col. Mark Himes to discuss drought response, water levels, and aquatic recreation access in the Missouri River Basin.

We also discussed next steps for the Dakota Access Pipeline’s Environmental Impact Statement.

Spirit Lake Tribal Chairman

It was great to talk with Spirit Lake Tribal Chairman Doug Yankton regarding proper return of the remains of tribal members, future projects for the area, and upcoming legislative priorities.

Fincantieri Marine Group

I spoke to Marco Galbiati, CEO of Fincantieri Marine Group, about its important relationship with the Navy, the need for a strong shipbuilding industry in the U.S., and my inflation price adjustments amendment in the National Defense Authorization Act.

Main Street Partnership

I enjoyed my discussion with the Main Street Partnership on a common sense, solution-oriented approach to policy that benefits the American people. Our citizens should be able to expect results from Congress.

North Dakota Catholic Conference

It was good to meet with North Dakota Catholic Conference Executive Director Christopher Dodson! We discussed the legislative priorities of the Catholic community including the best ways to support women and children in America, feed a hungry world, and address the religious freedom concerns regarding the Respect for Marriage Act.

Grants for North Dakota

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Success Story: Environmental Protection Agency Awards $240,000 Brownfields Grant to North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality

The Environmental Protection Agency awarded a $240,000 Brownfields grant to the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality through the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

The funds will be used by NDDEQ to expand public education and outreach of the North Dakota Voluntary Cleanup Program to underserved communities and assess approximately two to four sites through the state. The objective of the award is to assist in remediating and reusing brownfields sites throughout the state, including assessment, abatement, and cleanup of asbestos and petroleum sites.

Department of Health and Human Services Awards $2.7 Million in Head Start Indian Grants

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded the following Head Start Indian Grants:

• $1,434,599 to the Cankdeska Cikana Community College
• $1,251,249 to the Three Affiliated Tribes

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.

Department of Agriculture Awards $1.45 Million for Water and Waste Disposal to City of Ashley

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Rural Development has awarded a total of $1,450,000 in Water and Waste Loans and Grants to the City of Ashley, North Dakota.

• $823,000 in a Water and Waste Disposal Loan
• $627,000 in a Water and Waste Disposal Grant

This investment will be used for sewer main replacement for the City of Ashley along Highway 11 prior to the North Dakota Department of Transportation road project. The infrastructure is aging and needs replacement and updating, this project will address the sanitary sewer infrastructure needs for this section of town and will provide the residents of Ashley with a sustainable sanitary sewer system for years to come.

National Science Foundation Awards $192,000 to North Dakota State University

The National Science Foundation awarded $191,801 to North Dakota State University to investigate the properties and toxicity of environmental contaminants, such as microplastics and nanoplastics.

This will fund a project entitled, “RII Track-4: NSF: Data-driven Computational and Machine Learning Assessment of Structure-Toxicity Relationship of Micro/NanoPlastics.” This project will offer an efficient and cost-effective prediction of microplastics and nanoplastics properties to assess the possible environmental impact of these contaminants.