Judge Rejects Federal Government Efforts to Dismiss DAPL Protests Recovery Costs Suit

U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota Judge Dan Traynor denied the United States Attorney General’s motion to dismiss North Dakota’s claim for damages from the federal government resulting from the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. 

The White House's negligence led to these riots and upheaval. The State of North Dakota had to bear the cost of tens of millions of dollars to bring in outside police forces to keep our people safe.

At this point it would be a really good time – since they haven’t for the last several years – for the Department of Justice and the Attorney General of the United States to pay the tab.

Now, if the Attorney General of the United States doesn’t want to do the right thing, then bring it on. Let’s have a trial. Let’s get to discovery. We are glad to go on that expedition to prove our case and make sure the people of North Dakota are reimbursed fully because of the negligence of the federal government.

Discussing Democrats’ Spending Bill, Inflation on Fox Business

I joined Larry Kudlow on Fox Business Thursday to discuss Democrats’ massive spending bill and inflation in the economy.

High energy prices, open borders, and supply chain problems all fall squarely in the hands of Joe Biden. He is the cause of all these disruptions in our economy and the American people know it.

North Dakota National Guard Homecoming

On Sunday, I helped welcome home the North Dakota National Guard, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment as they returned from a successful nine month mission. I thank God this battalion was kept safe during their mission. We all slept better at night knowing North Dakota’s skilled National Guard was in our capital protecting us.

The National Guard is the greatest institution of liberty and liberty isn’t cheap, especially in our founders great experiment of self governance.

The Biden Administration’s Bank Account Snooping

I’ve heard from community bankers, credit union presidents, and literally thousands of North Dakotans expressing their concern about the Biden Administration’s unprecedented proposal to expand reporting of private financial data to the Internal Revenue Service.

Senate GOP Press Conference

I delivered remarks on how this Administration has gone from incremental steps to vast leaps towards socialism at a Senate GOP Press Conference Tuesday.

Marx is on our doorstep right now. It shouldn’t surprise us that they have the boldness to do this.

Bill to Block Democrats’ IRS Snooping Proposal

I joined Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) in introducing the Prohibiting IRS Financial Surveillance Act, a bill to prevent the Internal Revenue Service from implementing Democrats’ plan to give the agency access to transaction information of virtually every American.

Democrats are trying to give the IRS more power and more reach into Americans’ private information, and my Republican colleagues and I will do everything we can to stop it.

Questioning Treasury Department about Nord Stream 2 at Banking Hearing

On Tuesday, I questioned Department of Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo on President Biden allowing Russia to build the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

President Biden is putting dirtier Russian natural gas over clean American natural gas. His actions to green light Nord Stream 2 not only increase emissions and hurt our European allies who strongly oppose it, but are also unilateral and outside the law. I’m concerned whose side the Biden Administration is on when they make these decisions.

Environmental Protection Agency Renews Commitment to visit North Dakota at an Environment and Public Works Committee Hearing

On Wednesday, I discussed the significance of unique approaches to rural water systems and the importance of states like North Dakota being a part of the decision-making process in Waters of the U.S. with Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water Assistant Administrator Radhika Fox.

A one-size-fits-all regulatory approach by the EPA for chemicals negligibly present in North Dakota would only raise compliance costs on the state’s rural water systems. I’m grateful Mrs. Fox reiterated her commitment to work with states in all steps of the decision-making process and separately renewed her commitment to visit North Dakota to talk with stakeholders as the EPA works to craft a durable WOTUS rule.

Lawmakers Urge Department of Veterans Affairs to Open Burial Eligibility in State Veterans Cemeteries

I joined Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) on a bipartisan, bicameral letter calling on the Department of Veteran Affairs to implement reforms to the Veterans Cemetery Grants Program.

The letter requests all members of Reserve Components and the National Guard be granted eligibility for burial in state veterans’ cemeteries, so long as their service was terminated under honorable conditions. Dozens of commentators, including leaders of state veterans’ cemeteries from across the country, have reiterated their support.

National Guardsmen and Reservists swear to defend this country just as their Active Duty counterparts do, and we must make sure they receive the respect and recognition they deserve.

Supreme Court to Hear Case on Coach's Right to Pray

This week, I joined Senator James Lankford (R-OK) on an amicus brief in support of Coach Joe Kennedy in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District. The brief asks the Supreme Court to review and reverse the Ninth Circuit’s decision which allowed Coach Kennedy to be fired for silently kneeling and praying after school football games.

Freedom of religion and speech are cornerstones of our nation. All people are entitled to their faith, and our government does not have the authority to dictate the time and space of where that faith is practiced.

Meeting with Luke Messer and Bosma Enterprises

It was great to see my friend and former colleague Indiana Congressman Luke Messer along with leaders at Bosma Enterprises, one of the Midwest’s largest nonprofit organizations providing employment and training for those who are blind or visually impaired. Thanks for the meaningful discussion!

Nominee for Assistant Secretary for the Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management

On Tuesday morning, I met with North Dakotan Brad Crabtree, Assistant Secretary nominee for the Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management.

We discussed the importance of carbon capture, utilization and storage technology, enhanced oil recovery and our state’s leadership role in energy production and reducing emissions.

Nominee for Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation at the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration

I talked with the nominee for Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation at the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration, Corey Hinderstein, about nuclear modernization as a nonproliferation method and the importance of contending with our adversaries’ nuclear capabilities.

Domestic Energy Producers Alliance

I had the opportunity to speak to the Domestic Energy Producers Alliance on American energy leadership and the harmful provisions in the Democrat’ tax and spend spree. American energy is the best energy and we have nothing to apologize for!

Grants for North Dakota

University of North Dakota Awarded $5 Million for Carbon Capture

The U.S. Department of Energy awarded $5,000,000 to the University of North Dakota Energy and Environmental Research Center.

The funds will be used by UND as the lead on the “Plains CO2 Reduction” project in 13 Northwest states and four Canadian provinces to identify and address onshore regional storage and transport challenges facing the commercial deployment of Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage in an expanded region.

Justice Department Awards $882k to North Dakota Attorney General

The U.S. Department of Justice awarded $882,000 to the North Dakota Attorney General.

The funds come through the National Criminal History Improvement Program to improve law enforcement records management systems.