Senator Cramer’s Weekly Update JUly 17 - July 23

Congress Prepares for Senate Passage of National Defense Authorization Act

The annual authorization for this year’s National Defense Authorization Act began its floor process last week with the passage of several amendments:

• Romney Amendment #823: Removes China's status as a developing country.
• Cruz Amendment #926: Prohibits the export or sale of petroleum products from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to China, Russia, Iran, and Korea.
• Scott Amendment #510: Prohibits the purchase and operations of unmanned aircraft systems from strategic adversaries.
• Grassley Amendment #273: Improves a report on the Baltic Security Initiative through updated budget and strategy requirements.

We will vote on several more amendments this week and expect to pass the final bill out of the Senate before August.

Senator Cramer Puts Spotlight on Fargo Moorhead Project in Oversight Hearing

Last week, I invited and introduced Metro Flood Diversion Authority Executive Director Joel Paulsen at an Environment and Public Works (EPW) hearing. Joel Paulsen established himself as the expert in the room as he and the Fargo-Moorhead Diversion took center stage, impressing all of my colleagues!

In his role, Mr. Paulsen oversees the delivery, operations, and maintenance of the non-federal portions of the Fargo-Moorhead Area Flood Diversion Project, the Army Corps of Engineers first public-private partnership (P3) project in the agency’s history.

This includes managing the construction of a $1 billion, 30-mile diversion channel to carry Red River floodwaters around the Fargo-Moorhead metro during severe floods. After its expected completion in 2027, the project will provide flood protection for nearly 250,000 residents and help prevent an estimated $194 million in annual flood damages throughout the metropolitan area.

I then questioned Joel on the inflexibilities, challenges, and “stovepiping” within the Corps. I also sought answers on how policymakers might encourage and incentivize innovation and highlighted my work with the Corps to identify these problems.

Newsmax Covers Biden Administration’s Decision to Stop Funding Wuhan Lab

I joined Greta Van Susteren on Newsmax to discuss the Biden administration’s decision to stop funding China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology. The Biden administration will impose a 10-year ban on funding for the Chinese research laboratory over failures to provide appropriate documentation regarding research protocols.

The pandemic heightened our awareness of our vulnerabilities, but we ought to be looking for ways to do more things with friends and people we trust. We need to lead the charge rather than acquiescing, not just our dollars, but our leadership to people who quite frankly can’t be trusted.

Proposed BLM Rule Aims to Drive Energy Production to Our Adversaries

The Bureau of Land Management’s proposed onshore oil leasing rule will hike up the bonding requirements and fees for oil and gas companies, raise royalty rates, and tighten permitting regulations on federal lands.

The Biden administration’s backwards, twisted policy only makes sense to their radical environmentalist base who have no concern for middle-class Americans who must bear the costs of these fantasies. They say this will “increase taxpayer returns,” when in reality, it robs taxpayers from an important revenue stream and jobs.

The real goal of the radical Left is to regulate and tax the energy sector out of business, which will hurt the very people Democrats say they care about, while driving energy investment to polluting countries who have little concern for the environment or their people. This policy is good for Russia, Venezuela, and Saudi Arabia, but bad for the United States and the global environment. I will do everything I can to stop it.

Legislation to Reduce Debt-based Driver’s License Suspensions

My Senate colleagues and I introduced the Driving for Opportunity Act, bipartisan legislation which will provide incentives to states choosing to end debt-based driver’s license suspensions.

Millions of Americans have had their driver’s licenses suspended simply because they did not have the money to pay fines or fees, and not for public safety reasons. These debt-based driver’s license suspensions make it harder for Americans to go to work to pay off their debts and place an unnecessary burden on law enforcement, diverting resources to improve public safety.

Without a license, people can’t commute to work or the doctor’s office, hold a job, or support their family financially, creating a never-ending cycle of debt.

North Dakota Delegation Calls on EPA Administrator to Withdraw Duplicative, Burdensome Methane Rule

Senator John Hoeven (R-ND), Congressman Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), and I called on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan to withdraw the agency’s proposed rule imposing burdensome and duplicative methane emission regulations on energy producers.

We pushed back on the rule’s one-size-fits-all approach and outlined how it would force energy producers to shut down operations due to unworkable mandates, harming the nation’s energy security, reducing revenues to states, tribes and local governments and eliminating good-paying jobs.

At a time when this country should be doing all it can to improve energy security and independence, and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, EPA has instead proposed a rule that would weaken the domestic energy industry through burdensome restrictions on oil and gas operations.

Letter Requests DOJ, FBI Refrain from Exposing Whistleblowers with Taxpayer Money

I joined my Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) regarding the unclassified FBI-generated 1023 document on the alleged bribery scheme between then-Vice President Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, and a foreign national.

Whistleblowers put their lives, careers, and reputations on the line to bring the truth to light. They play a vital role in exposing government misconduct at all levels.

DOJ and FBI have refused to produce a fully discernible version of the FD-1023 to either the Senate or the House. Getting a full and complete 1023 is critical for the American people to know and understand the true nature of the document and to hold DOJ and FBI accountable.

Israel President Addresses Congress

I thank Israel's President Isaac Herzog for addressing Congress last week and reiterating the importance of the bilateral relationship between our two democracies. When America is strong, Israel is stronger, and when Israel is strong, America is even more secure.

Cramer and Armstrong Request Reconsideration of Proposed Mercury Air Toxics Standards Rule

Congressman Kelly Armstrong and I sent a letter to the EPA Administrator Michael Regan requesting the withdrawal or significant revision of the proposed regulation rule known as the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS).

The EPA did not provide any scientific justification for the proposed regulation and even admits current exposure associated with mercury is well below levels of concern from a public health perspective.

The operators of North Dakota's lignite power plants outlined substantial flaws in EPA's methodology and datasets while identifying a number of consequential technical errors, including no new technological developments and underestimating the cost of additional mercury removal by more than three times. These and other flaws within the proposal make for a regulation that is not technically or legally justified.

Bipartisan Legislation to Allow Burial of Servicemembers, Family Together

I joined my Senate colleagues in introducing the Keeping Military Families Together Act. This bipartisan legislation would grant the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) permanent authority to bury spouses and dependent children of members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty at the time of their death.

Additionally, the bill would give the VA permanent authority to furnish a memorial headstone or marker, in cases where remains are unavailable, for spouses and dependent children of active duty servicemembers.

It is only right we codify existing authority to allow spouses and children who pass before their servicemember to be properly buried in a VA cemetery. These families deserve to be together in their final resting place.

Conservative Achievement Award

Thank you to the Conservative Political Action Coalition and Matt Schlapp for presenting me with the Conservative Achievement Award. My voting record reflects my commitment to conservative principles, and I will always protect North Dakota’s conservative values.

Legislation Allows Emergency Haying of Eligible CRP Acres

Last week, I joined my Senate colleagues in introducing the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Flexibility Act. This bipartisan legislation would allow the U.S. Department of Agriculture to approve expedited emergency haying of CRP acres in response to drought and other weather-related disaster events.

In years of significant drought, not only must North Dakota producers contend with poor conditions, they are also forced to navigate inflexible CRP rules.

Barring haying of CRP acres before August in years of drought or forage scarcity is unrealistic. Our bill outlines the parameters in which emergency haying can occur, providing much-needed flexibility for producers during years of need.

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.

Chairwoman Janet Alkire

I had a productive conversation with Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's Chairwoman Janet Alkire about the challenges facing the tribe, including access to medical care and law enforcement shortages. I look forward to working with the Chairwoman to ensure Standing Rock receives the resources they need.

Commercial Metals Company

Thank you to CMC Metals for stopping by my DC office to discuss pending trade legislation and my bipartisan PROVE IT Act.

ND Corn Growers Association

I enjoyed meeting with the North Dakota Corn Growers Association to talk about this year's Farm Bill, supporting year-round E15, and my PROVE IT Act.

Enes Freedom

I met with Enes Freedom last week to discuss human rights in Türkiye, its current challenges, and our strong support for democracy, peace, and prosperity in the country.

Commissioner Brendan Carr

I met with Commissioner Brendan Carr from the Federal Communications Commission to discuss extending the life of North Dakota’s 701-area code, reforming the Universal Service Fund, and restoring spectrum authority.

North Dakota is one of only a dozen states with a single area code, and 701 is part of our identity as North Dakotans. Only a small number of the 300 service areas use all of their assigned numbers, yet an outdated system means we are running out of them.

I am grateful to have spoken with Commissioner Carr about the North Dakota Public Service Commission’s concerns, and I look forward to working with him and his colleagues on a solution.

Grants

HHS Awards Nearly $600,000 to Advance Nursing Education

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded North Dakota State University $586,462 to support the Advanced Nursing Education-Nurse Practitioner Residency Fellowship Program.

These funds will help prepare Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to effectively provide primary care by supporting the establishment, expansion, and enhancement of existing community-based Nurse Practitioner (NP) residency and fellowship training programs.

National Science Foundation Awards NDSU Nearly $300,000 for Biomaterials Program

The National Science Foundation awarded $298,345 to North Dakota State University to support its biomaterials program. Specifically, these funds will go toward the design and mechanistic studies of microenvironment-sensitive polymeric nanoparticles for simultaneous contents release and ultrasound imaging.