Senator Cramer’s Weekly Update april 3-16

North Dakota Court Blocks Enforcement of Biden Administration Overreaching WOTUS Rule

U.S. District Court Judge for North Dakota, Daniel Hovland, granted the petition for preliminary injunction, prohibiting enforcement, implementation, or application of the Biden administration’s revised Waters of the U.S. definition.

Beginning with President Obama, and furthered by President Biden, it is the environmentalist’s dream to regulate our water to the raindrop. Once again, North Dakota is among leaders in the fight to remind them such actions are illegal.

Thanks to Attorney General Wrigley, our state is spared from federal mediocrity.

EPW Republicans Push Back Against Proposal to Increase Oil and Natural Gas Emissions Regulations

I led all of my Environment and Public Works Committee Rebublican colleagues in pushing back against the Environmental Protection Agency's supplemental proposal to further regulate methane and other emissions.

Our letter outlined impending consequences of the rule, including analyses it will decrease U.S. oil and natural gas production, increase costs for consumers, and offshore market opportunities to foreign suppliers with subpar environmental standards.

CNBC Interview Highlights Consequences of Impractical Biden Administration Emissions Reduction Proposal

I joined Brian Sullivan on CNBC’s “Last Call” to discuss the Environmental Protection Agency’s new light- and medium-duty vehicle emissions standards. The proposal is so stringent, the agency projects electric vehicles could make up 67% of new light-duty vehicles within the next nine years.

The Biden administration is trying to settle climate change by pushing a supply where demand isn’t ready. There are so many problems with this electric vehicle utopia, and it's not going to add up.

Kudlow Interview Spotlights North Dakota's Strong Self-Management and Refining Industry Investment Opportunities

I joined Larry Kudlow on Fox Business to discuss North Dakota’s leadership in the oil, gas, and refining industries, as well as our state's investment-friendly environment.

North Dakota is the right place to invest because we have the right regulatory climate, legal climate, and tax climate to do it.

We also talked about North Dakota's consistency in meeting all ambient air quality standards prescribed by the Environmental Protection Agency, which allows us more flexibility to manage our resources and permit energy projects. In other words, "leave us alone, we'll keep our own air clean, our own water clean, our own land rich, and we'll do just fine because we live here and we love it.

Letter to Sony CEO Raises Concerns About Anti-Competitive Behavior in the Gaming Industry

I sent the Sony Corporation a letter regarding its anti-competitive behavior and to request information on the company’s acquisition agreements. In addition, I highlighted North Dakota's leadership in establishing academic opportunities for students to engage with the gaming industry.

North Dakota Delegation Introduces Bill to Encourage Exchange of Public Land and Mineral Rights

I joined the North Dakota congressional delegation in reintroducing the North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act. Our bill would allow North Dakota to relinquish its lands and minerals on Tribal Reservations to the U.S. Department of the Interior in exchange for those in the state which are federally-owned.

North Dakota holds more than 130,000 acres of minerals and over 31,000 surface acres within Tribal Reservations, although they are largely unavailable for development. At the same time, existing laws do not adequately accommodate land and mineral exchanges between the state and the federal government.

Fragmented land ownership and mineral rights in North Dakota have hampered our state’s resource development for far too long. Allowing the state to exchange land and minerals with the Department of the Interior and tribes is a commonsense solution to benefit all parties involved.

Resolution Would Reverse Biden Administration Rule on the Endangered Species Act

Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and I introduced a Congressional Review Act resolution to preserve the regulatory definition of “habitat” within the Endangered Species Act.

The resolution comes after the Biden administration rescinded the definition of “habitat,” a 2020 classification which importantly narrowed the scope of the term “critical habitat.” Dropping the distinction could reduce regulatory certainty for many stakeholders.

The Biden administration likes to talk about investing in America, yet every rulemaking it puts out makes things more complex. Scratching the 2020 definition of 'habitat' only empowers bureaucrats to control broad swaths of land with little-to-no relevance to endangered species.

Conference Remarks Call for Public and Private Sector Coordination on Nuclear Energy Development

At a Nuclear Energy Institute conference titled "Investing in Advanced Nuclear Energy: Meeting Clean Energy Needs Across the Economy," I delivered remarks to underscore the importance of positioning American nuclear energy suppliers for global leadership.

North Dakota has an all-the-above energy portfolio – coal, wind, natural gas, oil, and hydropower. We use very little nuclear, so I don’t believe in it because of the power plants in my backyard. I believe in nuclear energy for the same reasons I support carbon capture and sequestration: its value proposition, environmental advantages, and reliability.

The United States has taken our foot off the gas over the last several decades, and bad actors have filled voids in the supply chain. It’s time we lean into bringing nuclear back into the fold.

Bill Pushes Back on Biden Administration’s Burdensome Small Business Rule

Last week, I joined Senator John Boozman (R-AR) in introducing the Small LENDER Act to preserve access to capital for Main Street businesses.

Washington bureaucrats and the Biden administration have fallen so far down the identity politics rabbit hole they actually think banks and lenders should focus on factors like race, gender, and ethnicity rather than the creditworthiness of their clients.

This legislation addresses a new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule, which requires community banks and lenders to collect and report social data on entities earning gross annual revenues of $5 million or less in their preceding fiscal years.

Legislation Aims to Improve Electronic Health Record System

Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) and I introduced the Department of Veterans Affairs Electronic Health Record System Standardization and Accountability Act, a bill to prevent U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facilities from further implementing the Oracle Cerner electronic health record system until it undergoes significant improvements.

It’s time for the VA to enter the 21st century by implementing a robust and integrated electronic health records system. However, doing so should not come at the expense of veteran safety.

Letter Urges Expedited Rollout of Next Generation Television Standard

Senators Todd Young (R-IN), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and I sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission calling for the expedited rollout of the Next Generation Television standard.

The Next Gen TV standard is essential to the continued vitality and competitiveness of local television broadcasters’ free, local, and trusted service in our communities.

This pro-consumer, innovative technology will allow local stations to provide viewers improved pictures and sound, interactive features, expanded news options, advanced emergency alerting, and tailored content.

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.

North Dakota Association of Farm Mutual Insurance Companies

Thank you to the North Dakota Association of Farm Mutual Insurance Companies for stopping by the Bismarck office to discuss the many services they provide to the state.

Grants for North Dakota

Infrastructure Law Success Story: North Dakota Receives Over $80 Million to Strengthen Water Infrastructure on Tribal Lands

The Bureau of Reclamation awarded North Dakota $80,235,800 in bipartisan infrastructure law funding to upgrade water systems on tribal lands.

From improving pipelines to installing generators and repairing roads, updating and replacing rural and tribal water infrastructure across North Dakota is essential.

• $54,380,000 for Three Affiliated Tribes
• $13,023,707 for Turtle Mountain
• $10,639,723 for Standing Rock
• $2,192,370 for Spirit Lake

Infrastructure Law Success Story: North Dakota Receives Over $62 Million for Drinking Water Infrastructure Upgrades

The Environmental Protection Agency awarded $62,283,000 to North Dakota’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program for Fiscal Year 2023. These resources were allocated in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which authorized a total of $200 million for North Dakota’s State Revolving Fund programs.

Access to clean drinking water is essential for every community. The infrastructure law provides substantial funding increases to ensure our systems are up-to-date, reliable, and support public health initiatives underway across North Dakota.

Infrastructure Law Success Story: University of North Dakota Receives $8 Million to Develop Inaugural Critical Minerals Production Facility

The University of North Dakota is on the cutting edge of our energy future.

The U.S. Department of Energy awarded the University of North Dakota $7,999,999 to advance construction of an inaugural critical mineral extraction and separation facility.

This grant builds on the group’s efforts to research, find, and affordably extract rare earth elements and minerals in North Dakota. The significance of developing this domestic supply chain for national and energy security cannot be overstated.

North Dakota Receives $7.7 Million for Grand Forks Flood Control Project

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded North Dakota $7,749,573.75 to upgrade the storm sewer system in Grand Forks.

The resources will support the construction of a new parallel force main and pump station to mitigate runoff and flooding, particularly in the Vail Circle, Glen Circle, and Westward Acres neighborhoods.

Pembina County Water Resource District Receives $1.8 Million for Severe Winter Storm and Flood Repairs

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded the Pembina County Water Resource District $1,850,104.50 to repair legal drains damaged by a severe winter storm and subsequent flooding.

This funding will help replace the fill, aggregate, and rip rap at 12 of the 14 sites within Drain 81, replace corrugated metal pipe at five sites, and salvage and reinstall 24-inch culverts at two sites.

North Dakota Airports Receive Over $3.4 Million

The Federal Aviation Administration awarded North Dakota airports a total of $3,410,500, most of which was provided in the bipartisan infrastructure law.

• $705,000 for Jamestown Regional Airport to rehabilitate parts of Taxiway E, several general aviation aprons, and multiple taxilanes
• $484,800 for the Adams County Airport Authority to repair Taxiway C and build a 490-foot taxi lane connecting a hangar area with a parking area
• $304,000 for Linton Municipal Airport Authority to reconstruct 1,750 feet of the existing access road
• $304,000 for Wahpeton Airport Authority to repair 5,700 feet of Taxiway A pavement
• $304,000 for Kenmare Municipal Airport Authority to reconstruct 1,750 feet of the existing access road
• $247,000 for Barnes County Municipal Airport Authority to acquire a replacement carrier vehicle and snow blower attachment
• $239,700 for the Tioga Municipal Airport Authority to improve its airfield guidance fixtures and the Taxiway A lighting system
• $223,000 Standing Rock Tribe to construct a 400-square-foot terminal building, including a pilot briefing area for flight planning and coordination
• $200,000 for Gwinner Municipal Airport Authority to reconstruct 200 feet of existing taxilane pavement
• $159,000 for Casselton Regional Airport Authority to reconstruct 1,750 feet of the existing access road
• $150,000 for the Bowman Municipal Airport Authority to support the partial construction of an 8,000-square-foot storage hangar
• $90,000 for the Ashley Municipal Airport to expand its general aviation apron by 3,333 square yards

North Dakota Airports Receive $2.4 Million for Infrastructure Improvements

The Federal Aviation Administration awarded a total of $2,446,000 to North Dakota regional airports through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The grants will will be administered as follows:

• $705,000 for Jamestown Regional Airport to rehabilitate parts of Taxiway E, several general aviation aprons, and multiple taxilanes
• $304,000 for Linton Municipal Airport Authority to reconstruct 1,750 feet of the existing access road
• $304,000 for Wahpeton Airport Authority to repair 5,700 feet of Taxiway A pavement
• $304,000 for Kenmare Municipal Airport Authority to reconstruct 1,750 feet of the existing access road
• $247,000 for Barnes County Municipal Airport Authority to acquire a replacement carrier vehicle and snow blower attachment
• $223,000 for Standing Rock Tribe to construct a 400-square-foot terminal building, including a pilot briefing area for flight planning and coordination
• $200,000 for Gwinner Municipal Airport Authority to reconstruct 200 feet of existing taxilane pavement
• $159,000 for Casselton Regional Airport Authority to reconstruct 1,750 feet of the existing access road

University of North Dakota Receives $822,678 for Projects to Support School-Based Mental Health Needs

The U.S. Department of Education awarded the University of North Dakota $822,678 for projects to support school-based mental health needs in indigenous and rural communities.

The funds will be administered through ED’s Mental Health Service Professionals Demonstration Program, which awards competitive grants to test and evaluate partnerships between institutions of higher education and states or local education agencies.

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Cankdeska Cikana Community College Receive $2.8 Million in Head Start Indian Grants

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded a total of $2,879,916 in Head Start Indian Grants:

• $1,445,317 to Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
• $1,434,599 to Cankdeska Cikana Community College

The grants aim to promote early childhood learning, health, and development initiatives, as well as family and community support services.