Senator Cramer’s Weekly Update August 15-21

Export-Import Bank Director Bachus Tours Killdeer Mountain Manufacturing and Participates in Roundtable with North Dakota Small Businesses

On Monday, I hosted Export-Import (EXIM) Bank Director and former Congressman Spencer Bachus (R-AL) in Dickinson, North Dakota for a roundtable to discuss supporting jobs by expanding export opportunities for U.S. businesses.

The roundtable outlined opportunities for North Dakota small businesses to open new markets, grow sales, and strengthen resiliency by leveraging EXIM programs. North Dakota benefits greatly from the EXIM Bank. Since 2014, North Dakota’s total export value has reached $47 million from machinery manufacturing sales, crop production sales, and plastic and rubber products.

EXIM provides critical financing to American exporters to ship our goods, innovation, and freedom across the world while supporting small businesses and jobs at home.

Before the roundtable, we toured Killdeer Mountain Manufacturing’s (KMM) Dickinson facility, which supplies wire harnesses, fiber optic subassemblies, and repair parts for both commercial aircraft platforms and naval and air force fighters. These aircraft are then purchased by companies that utilize EXIM-backed bank loans to participate in the global marketplace.

Blue Flint Ethanol Hosts Carbon Sequestration Project Tour and Safety Tailgate with Construction Professionals

I joined the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) for a tour of Blue Flint Ethanol LLC’s carbon sequestration project and Tailgate Tuesday. Blue Flint Ethanol LLC’s plant in Underwood, which is located next to Coal Creek Station, is working to store all the carbon dioxide produced at the plant, approximately 200,000 tons per year, below ground for long-term storage. The tour included stops at the plant to learn about combined heat and power and fermentation expansion projects.

Carbon capture and sequestration are the future of affordable, reliable, and abundant energy in the U.S. and North Dakota is leading the way in developing, constructing, and implementing these innovative technologies.

It was great to see hardworking North Dakotans and the Associated Builders and Contractors in action during the tour of Blue Flint Ethanol and participate in their Tailgate Tuesday to promote construction safety and communication.

Hosted by ABC, Tailgate Tuesdays bring together association members, contractors, and worksite employees for a good meal and discussion on safety. The discussion featured construction craft professionals at the Blue Flint Ethanol Plant and focused on behavior-based safety, decision-making awareness, and communication around job site hazards.

North Dakota Peace Officer Association Annual Meeting Honors Law Enforcement Community

I delivered remarks at the North Dakota Peace Officer Association’s annual meeting highlighting my continued support for the selfless men and women in the law enforcement community.

It was a privilege to address the North Dakota Peace Officer Association and reaffirm my support for the work they do to provide for the safety, security, and protection of rights of individuals and our communities.

It’s not just members of law enforcement who wake up every day and choose to protect and serve our communities, even as crime rates rise, but their families carry the burden as well. We cannot thank them and their families enough for their service and sacrifice, it does not go unnoticed.

USDA Makes Changes to Improve Emergency Relief Program for Producers

Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced adjustments to disaster assistance to expedite Emergency Relief Program assistance to producers who purchased increased crop insurance coverage. The changes also ensure producers who made farm equipment sales are not wrongly excluded from increased payment levels due to adjusted gross income limits.

I’m pleased to see the U.S. Department of Agriculture heed our calls in Congress to improve disaster assistance for agriculture producers. These adjustments will provide much-needed relief for North Dakota farmers and ranchers who suffered from disaster-related losses in 2020 and 2021.

I will continue to work with USDA to ensure producers receive assistance.

Upcoming Public Schedule

This week, I will attend the groundbreaking of a new soybean processing plant facility in Casselton, participate in a press conference with Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) and Test Resource Management Center (TRMC) Director George Rumford to announce the latest development in the Sky Range program, tour SpaceAge Synthetics, and honor Fargo World War II veteran Vernie Otterson.

Congressional Badge of Bravery Presentation

• Tuesday, August 23
• 10:00 AM CT
• Bismarck Federal Building, Eagle Room
• 220 E Rosser Ave, Bismarck

Soybean Processing Facility Groundbreaking

• Wednesday, August 24
• 10:00 AM CT
• Central Cass School
• 802 5th St N, Casselton

Test Resource Management Center Sky Range Announcement

• Wednesday, August 24
• 1:30 PM CT
• Grand Sky Aviation and Business Park
• Northrup Grumman Hangar, Grand Forks
• 2 Grand Sky Blvd, Emerado

Grand Sky Test Resource Management Center Community Engagement Session

• Wednesday, August 24
• 3:00 PM CT
• Minnkota Power
• 5301 32nd Ave S, Grand Forks

SpaceAge Synthetics Tour

• Thursday, August 25
• 9:00 AM CT
• SpaceAge Synthetics
• 1402 39th St NW, Fargo

Cass County VSO Presentation to Honor Vernie Otterson

• Thursday, August 25
• 11:00 AM CT
• Eventide
• 5250 32nd Ave S, Fargo

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.

Grants for North Dakota

Grand Forks Receives $7.8 Million from Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill for Public Transportation Rehabilitation

The Federal Transit Administration awarded a $7,768,742 grant to the City of Grand Forks from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Funding from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act continues to deliver wins for North Dakota from airports and bridges to drinking water and transportation projects. These dollars have a noticeable impact on our communities and this grant will improve public transportation facilities in Grand Forks.

The funding will rehabilitate public transportation facilities in the City of Grand Forks from the Buses and Bus Facilities Grants and Low-No Emission Grants program.

HHS Awards $3 Million to the North Dakota Department of Human Services for Mental Health Services

The North Dakota State Department of Human Services received a $3,000,000 grant for Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The funds will be used to provide resources to improve the mental health outcomes for children and youth, birth through age 21, with serious emotional disturbances and their families.