Senator Cramer’s Weekly Update June 6-12

Bill Introduced to Increase Transparency of Travel Nursing Agencies

Last week, I introduced the Travel Nursing Agency Transparency Study Act, legislation requiring the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study and report to Congress on the business practices and the effects of hiring agencies across the health care industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nurses serve on the front line and provide an essential service to our communities, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, hiring agencies are reportedly taking advantage of the demand created by workforce shortages, charging inflated rates, and keeping a significant percentage for their own profits. Such business operations of these agencies could have far-reaching effects on the quality of our health care system in rural America and must be reviewed.

When health care providers pay travel nurse agencies, both the providers and the contracted nurses should know how much the agencies keep for themselves. The Travel Nursing Agency Transparency Study Act ensures the business practices of these agencies get the critical sunshine they need. The American people and the entire health care industry deserve a better understanding.

The Travel Nursing Agency Transparency Study Act is supported by the North Dakota Medical Association (NDMA), North Dakota Hospital Association (NDHA), and American Hospital Association (AHA).

Kudlow Interview Covers Biden Administration’s Harmful Energy Policies

I joined Kudlow on Fox Business to discuss skyrocketing oil and gas prices caused by negative signals sent from the Biden Administration to global energy markets. Just in the last couple of weeks, the President has canceled three major federal leases.

The Applications for Permits to Drill are taking longer and longer to get, if they can even be attained at all. While the Environment, Social, and Governance movement is also sending very negative signals to the investment community.

I also highlighted new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations amidst record-high energy prices. Last week, the Administration announced regulations coming out of the EPA dealing with more traditional pollutants at the distribution and storage levels of the liquid fuels value chain, adding more burden on an already overly burdened commodity.

We all need to admit their goal is to starve the demand by starving the supply. It’s time for, not just Republicans, but industry to push back and tell the President, “this can’t work.”

Senators Oppose Securities and Exchange Commission Overreach

I joined Senators John Hoeven (R-ND) and Tim Scott (R-SC) in pushing back on a proposed rule from the Securities and Exchange Commission that would place unworkable climate disclosure regulations on farmers, ranchers, and agriculture producers.

We have serious concerns regarding the SEC’s regulatory overreach, as well as the impact that this proposed rule will have on the agricultural industry.

We called on the SEC to rescind the overreaching proposal, which would require publicly-traded companies to include certain climate-related disclosures in their registration statements and periodic reports.

This proposed rule moves well beyond the SEC’s traditional regulatory authority by mandating climate change reporting requirements that will not only regulate publicly traded companies, but will impact every company in the value chain.

Bill Introduced to Keep Our Communities Safe

I joined Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) in introducing the Keep Our Communities Safe Act, legislation closing the legal loophole requiring immigration authorities to release illegal aliens back into the United States who have not been accepted for deportation to other countries after being detained for six months in the U.S. – a practice also referred to as “catch and release.”

Right now, violent criminals and illegal immigrants who break our laws are allowed to be released back into the United States. This is reckless and completely irresponsible. The blatant disregard for the rule of law is not only bad policy, but is dangerous to communities who are suffering because of Joe Biden’s open border and catch and release policies.

The Keep Our Communities Safe Act closes loopholes in a broken immigration system.

Letter Calls on President Biden to Engage with Ongoing Contract Negotiations at West Coast Ports

I joined Senator Braun (R-IN) and 14 Senate colleagues in sending a follow-up letter calling on President Biden to engage with stakeholders and Congress on the ongoing contract negotiations at America’s West Coast ports. While negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association started on May 10, it has been reported contract talks have already been suspended once.

If the negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association are not completed before the contract expires on July 1, experience shows there are likely to be additional disruptions to our nation’s supply chain, which would exacerbate freight congestion and harm manufacturing and agriculture in our states.

Bipartisan Policy Center Legislative Action Award

I’m honored to accept the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Legislative Action Award this year recognizing Senate and House members who work to build and pass consensus-driven solutions.

The greatness of America lies in our self-governance and the diversity each state brings to the table. My goal is to always bring North Dakota solutions to Washington and find the best ideas my colleagues have to offer.

Otto von Bismarck, the namesake of North Dakota’s capital city, said, “politics is the art of the possible.” From passing the largest highway bill in history to significant investments in cleaning up orphaned and abandoned wells, I have appreciated working on good, pragmatic policy to get real solutions for North Dakota and the nation.

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.

Starting June 3, the STB required BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway, and Union Pacific to file service progress reports further explaining efforts to correct service deficiencies. They will continue to file service progress reports every two weeks for six months. Starting June 15, the STB will also require all class I railroads to report additional employment data for six months.

Senate Space Force Caucus

Thanks to Chief of Space Operations General Raymond for hosting the Senate Space Force Caucus! It’s always a special time when we can get together and discuss the importance of our United States Space Force, its great potential, and the opportunities it’s bringing to states like North Dakota.

Premier of Saskatchewan

I had a great conversation with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe regarding port of entry hours and North American energy independence.

Energy trade with Canada is pivotal to ending dependence on bad actors like Russia and Venezuela. I look forward to our continued work together.

Chevron

Thanks to Chevron CEO Mike Wirth for the conversation on the current geopolitical energy landscape. America's energy resources are a tool for global good.

We should be producing more energy and using it to promote freedom and security.

ExxonMobil

I met with ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods on Wednesday to discuss American energy.

Washington Democrats and activist investors are actively targeting oil and gas through increased regulation, punitive ESG standards, and harmful rhetoric. Producers need investment certainty, not political whiplash!

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota

Thanks to Megan Houn with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota for stopping by to discuss issues affecting health care customers in North Dakota. It was a great conversation on better understanding telehealth across the state and how we can improve behavioral health access.

Grants for North Dakota

North Dakota Receives $829K from the Great American Outdoors Act to Improve Outdoor Recreation and Perform Infrastructure Maintenance

The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded $829,000 from the Great American Outdoors Act to improve outdoor recreation opportunities on the Maah Daah Hey Trail and perform maintenance to improve access to national grasslands in North Dakota.

• $650,000 for Civilian Conservation Corp Campground updates near the Maah Daah Hey Trail, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and Bakken Oil Formation;
• $164,000 for reconditioning, spot surfacing, and replacement of culverts on seven roads to improve access to the Dakota Prairie National Grasslands; and
• $15,000 for the Maah Daah Hey Trail Reroute and Trailhead to reroute the trail and improve the trailhead to improve safety and visitor experience.

Department of Transportation Awards $16.3 Million to Support North Dakota Airports

The Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration awarded 18 grants totaling $16,259,507 to support North Dakota airports.

• $6,075,180 to Grand Forks Regional Airport Authority
• $2,243,673 to City of Minot
• $1,665,000 to Dickinson Municipal Airport Authority
• $1,505,631 to Golden Valley County Airport Authority
• $1,150,000 to Carrington Municipal Airport Authority
• $600,000 to Bowman Municipal Airport Authority
• $553,003 to Cavalier Municipal Airport Authority
• $511,000 to City of Williston
• $381,770 to Stanley Airport Authority
• $300,000 to Watford City Airport Authority
• $252,000 to Garrison Municipal Airport Authority
• $237,814 to Kenmare Municipal Airport Authority
• $201,925 to City of Mohall
• $170,511 to Mandan Airport Authority
• $130,000 to Ashley Municipal Airport
• $122,000 to Linton Municipal Airport Authority
• $80,000 to Tioga Municipal Airport Authority
• $80,000 to Adams County Airport Authority

North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality Receives $2.5 Million Performance Partnership Grant

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded a Performance Partnership Grant of $2,530,966 to the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality.

The funds will be used to perform delegated program activities, perform quality assurance activities, and maintain regional and national databases associated with environmental programs. These address clean air, clean water, hazardous and solid waste, drinking water, underground storage tanks, underground injection control, and radon.