Senator Cramer’s Weekly Update JUly 31 - August 13

Senators Host Farm Bill Roundtable

I hosted a roundtable discussion with U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, to gather stakeholder input for the 2023 Farm Bill. U.S. Senator John Hoeven (R-ND), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, and North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, also participated.

North Dakotans know there are a lot more people who eat food than grow it. As a net exporter, not only do we grow the durum used for pasta in Manhattan, but crops grown in our backyard feed and fuel the globe.

With the authorization of the Farm Bill set to expire in seven weeks, the roundtable gave attendees the opportunity to directly provide their input on North Dakota's agricultural priorities.

The Farm Bill is critical to supporting our producers, and its reauthorization should be focused on bolstering the work they do.

General Atomics Hosts Flight Test and Training Center Grand Opening

I was honored to speak at the grand opening of Hangar 2, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.’s (GA-ASI) new Flight Test and Training Center located at Grand Sky Business and Aviation Park in Grand Forks County. The facility addresses the high demand for flight crew training and sensor system testing.

When people talk about Grand Forks, they talk about the sky, the culture, and the ecosystem General Atomics and others have developed here. This is a dynamic time for Grand Forks, and it matters to our state and the security of a free world.

Fox News Discusses Forced Takeover of Electric Vehicles, Biden Administration’s Attacks on U.S. Energy

I joined Larry Kudlow on Fox Business to discuss the “market corruption” of electric vehicles and the United States’ emissions advantage compared to polluting countries like China.

We’ve actually, as a country, reduced greenhouse gas emissions more than the next eight reducers added up, that’s how good we are. Innovation has always been the American advantage… Instead of transferring climate guilt by having China build our solar panels and our electric vehicles, we should sell them a cleaner fuel source, which natural gas is.

North Dakota Army National Guard Readiness Center Breaks Ground in Dickinson

I participated in the groundbreaking of the North Dakota Army National Guard Readiness Center in Dickinson. The new facility will support the training and operations of the 816th Military Police Company, which was activated on September 1, 2017.

I don’t think it can be overstressed how important teamwork is on this particular project. With the increasing role our National Guard has played in national security, readiness is everything, especially during these dangerous times. Our Guardsmen are the best in the nation at protecting the homeland and when called upon, keeping freedom safe around the world.

The North Dakota Legislature helped meet the inflation-driven cost increases not covered by the federal government. Costs of everything kept rising, so I was able to get another $5.4 million authorized to cover cost of completion in the National Defense Authorization Act. The center will help meet current Army space requirements to house, support, and train the North Dakota Army National Guard unit, totaling 81 soldiers, 43 military vehicles and trailers, and other authorized MTOE equipment.

Bismarck Mandan Chamber EDC Hosts Business Roundtable

I participated in a roundtable sponsored by the Bismarck Mandan Chamber EDC, where participants discussed issues impacting their businesses, such as interest rates and inflation, permitting reform, the Environmental Protection Agency Methane proposed rule, healthcare affordability, and more.

It was great to have the opportunity to provide attendees with an update on some of my legislative priorities, to highlight the state’s continued benefits from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and to note several wins in the Senate’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024.

North Dakota’s unemployment rate is one of the lowest in the country and opportunities are almost endless, but too often our excellence is impeded by federal mediocrity. From inflation to punitive environmental regulation, I always appreciate hearing how I can be of assistance.

Associated Builders and Contractors Presents Eagle Award

I received the Eagle Award from the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), recognizing legislators’ exemplary support for the American construction industry. I was grateful for their recognition upon receiving a 100% on ABC’s 117th Congress scorecard.

The award was presented at the construction site of Lakewood Elementary, Mandan’s newest school project, which highlighted the work of several ABC members. During my remarks, I emphasized how conservative principles do not need to be compromised to get things done. I also discussed economic growth and interest rates and their impact on the industry.

It is easy to support our ABC members. From supporting infrastructure to pushing back on burdensome regulations, my record is proof you don’t have to compromise conservative principles to get things done in Washington.

Senators Call on EPA to Withdraw Harmful Proposed Power Plant Regulations

I joined nearly 40 of my Senate colleagues in writing a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asking for the withdrawal of the “Clean Power Plan 2.0,” a proposed rule which will force the closure of coal and gas-fired power plants.

The proposal would require generation shifting from fossil-fuel power to other types of energy, which is in direct conflict with West Virginia v. EPA. Our letter also argues the rule reflects rushed decision-making that is arbitrary and capricious, subverts public participation, and negatively impacts electric reliability across the country.

While the Agency falsely claims this does not run afoul of the Supreme Court’s decision, it is undeniable the proposal would require generation shifting that the Court has definitively found Congress has never granted EPA the authority to require under the Clean Air Act.

DOI Approves Mine Plan, Supports Operations in Central North Dakota

The U.S. Department of Interior approved a new federal mine plan for BNI Coal to support the continued operation of the Center Mine.

The Center Mine supplies coal to the Milton R. Young Station, which consumes virtually all of the coal produced at the mine under agreements through 2037. BNI mines and reclaims about 200 acres a year to supply lignite coal to fuel the Young Station, which generates low-cost, reliable domestic energy for customers in North Dakota and Minnesota.

While I am disappointed this process was needlessly prolonged, I am pleased to see the approval of BNI’s new mine plan. We need affordable, reliable power and the Center Mine is a significant source of coal in the region.

Senators Highlight Concerns With Proposals to Roll Back Crucial Reforms to ESA

I joined my Senate colleagues in writing a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (FWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to address our concerns with proposals to diminish crucial reforms to the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

In particular, we expressed concern with three proposals issued by the FWS, two of which were jointly issued with the National Marine Fisheries Service which is an agency within the NOAA.

Instead of returning the ESA to an overly burdensome and ineffective statute, the Biden Administration must prioritize efforts that empower private landowners and other stakeholders to achieve the goal of removing species from the ESA list.

Senators Demand Investigation into ALA’s Religious Discrimination Against Brave Books

I joined U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Mike Braun (R-IN) in writing a letter to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) demanding an investigation into the American Library Association’s (ALA) active religious discrimination against Brave Books, a Christian children’s book publisher.

As part of their Library 2023 Worldwide Virtual Conference, ALA gave guidance on how to prevent individuals from holding events in public libraries organized by religious publishers, such as Brave Books. ALA claims Brave Books seeks to “censor LGBTQIA materials or disparage or silence LGBTQIA library users and exploit the open nature of the library to advance their agenda.”

As a recipient of federal funds, the ALA is prohibited from using taxpayer dollars to violate the First Amendment. However, it appears the ALA is ignoring this prohibition for the sole purpose of silencing Brave Books while simultaneously advocating for Drag Queen Story Hour.

The senators said public libraries must remain open to the public, and their availability should not be subject to the political whims of the ALA. They also demanded all current funds and considerations for all future federal funds be immediately halted until the investigation into ALA’s conduct has finished.

Rail Companies Issue Status Reports on Grain Car Backlog

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 from the last 10 weeks is below.

Meetings

North Dakota Association of Home Builders

I visited Dabbert Custom Homes, a member of the Home Builders Association of Fargo-Moorhead, to discuss our state’s housing market and workforce shortages the home building industry faces. It was a pleasure to visit with the team at Dabbert, including Rose Marcellus and Hannah Johnson who are interns with the Home Builders Association of Fargo-Moorhead.

AARP North Dakota

I appreciated the chance to meet with AARP North Dakota members to hear about the importance of family caregiving and the challenges they face with the high cost of many prescription drugs.

Unity Medical Center

It was great to stop by Unity Medical Center in Grafton to tour the facility and to learn more about the issues facing Critical Access Hospitals in North Dakota. I appreciate CEO Alan O’Neil, as well as the facility’s Board of Directors and staff, for hosting me on a tour.

Grants

National Science Foundation Awards $265,001 to North Dakota State University

The National Science Foundation awarded a total of $265,001 to North Dakota State University to study plant legumes and rhizobia genes that work together to control the efficacy of nitrogen fixation on crops like soybeans, peas, and alfalfa.

This research will provide tools to manipulate the legume-rhizobia symbiosis to increase the benefits it provides to agricultural systems while reducing input costs.

National Science Foundation Awards Nearly $400,000 for Protein Manipulation Research

The National Science Foundation awarded $357,033 to North Dakota State University. These funds will support research of protein manipulation and active-learning opportunities for K-12 and undergraduate students.

National Science Foundation Awards $4 Million for Tribal Energy Resilience

The National Science Foundation awarded the University of North Dakota a combined total of $4,000,000 to provide sustainable, reliable, and efficient engineering infrastructures and solutions for gaps in tribal energy. These funds will also support educational opportunities to train tribal members, improve tribal workforce, and expand technical capacity to implement innovative energy sources.

The project is in collaboration with North Dakota State University, Kansas State University, Haskell Indian Nations University, Turtle Mountain Community College, Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, and the Tribal Research Network Group.

Health and Human Services Department Awards $1.2 Million to Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program

The Department of Health and Human Services awarded a total of $1,209,702 to the University of North Dakota. These funds will assist rural hospitals to stabilize and sustain their local healthcare infrastructure.

Health and Human Services Department Awards $1.7 Million for Aging Research

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded a total of $1,703,626. This grant will support researchers as they study how lungs may be changed during AD progression and how lung inflammatory stress may exacerbate the disease.

North Dakota Receives Nearly $12 Million for Clean Water Initiatives, Programs

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded a total of $11,897,000 to the following programs and initiatives:

• $162,000 to North Dakota for reducing lead in drinking water at schools and childcare facilities across the state. The funds will expand on existing lead remediation programs and help to improve public health in the state.
• $1,502,000 to the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program with the primary purpose of addressing emerging contaminants.
• $10,233,000 to the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality for a capitalization grant funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which funds the state’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund program.

EPA Awards $7.6 Million to Improve Drinking Water in North Dakota

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded a total of $7,640,000 to the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program.

The DWSRF supports a number of North Dakota water initiatives, including projects to address emerging contaminants in drinking water. The program improves and protects water quality and public health for communities throughout the state.

The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act authorized $200 million for North Dakota’s State Revolving Fund programs to accelerate water infrastructure improvements.

Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative Receives More Than $3 Million for Distribution System Repairs

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded $3,163,851 to the Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative. These resources will support repairs to its distribution system, which was damaged during a severe winter storm and flooding event from April 22-May 25, 2022.

The storm’s impact on electric infrastructure left many residents without power, posing an immediate threat to their health and safety. In response, the Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative used force account resources, rental equipment, and contract services to restore the distribution system to its pre-disaster design, function, and capacity.

DOT Awards Nearly $300,000 to Maintain Pipeline Safety and Regulations

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $290,796 to the North Dakota Public Service Commission. These funds will be distributed through the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s State Pipeline Safety Base grant program which is responsible for inspecting pipelines within North Dakota’s state boundaries and enforcing federal and state pipeline safety regulations.