Senator Cramer’s Weekly Update december 5-11

Bipartisan Legislation Will Develop New Technology to Identify and Plug Abandoned Wells

Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and I introduced the Abandoned Well Remediation Research and Development Act, which invests in research and development efforts to identify and remediate abandoned gas and oil wells.

Last year, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included our REGROW Act, which built on North Dakota’s program to put displaced energy workers back to work plugging orphaned wells. However, methods for identifying, repurposing, and remediating abandoned wells can still be improved.

North Dakota has led by example remediating abandoned wells and further progress has been made with the passage of the REGROW Act. Our bill keeps this momentum going by investing in new and innovative ways to track the problem and ultimately mitigate the damage so land is returned to productive use, emissions are reduced, and safety issues are addressed.

Kudlow Interview Covers Permitting Reform

I joined Larry Kudlow on Fox Business to discuss permitting reform and our untapped ability to export American energy.

It would be great if Kevin McCarthy’s very narrow House Majority takes up an H.R. 1 and there's permitting reform or regulatory reform it could send over to the Senate. The two votes that separate Republicans from the majority in the Senate make passing our priorities difficult, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't do permitting reform. I would be all about that. The reasons I didn't support Sen. Manchin’s permitting reform package was because the Democrats ended negotiations before we could agree on something.

We also discussed the need to export American energy as Europe heads into a difficult winter. We have not stepped up the way we could and should have as a nation that produces a lot of natural gas and oil. Not exporting energy to our allies is a national security risk, an economic risk, and dumb policy.

Resolution on Anti-Regime Protests in Iran Approved by Senate Foreign Relations Committee

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the Senate resolution reaffirming the United States’ support for the Iranian citizens who have taken to the streets in peaceful protest for their fundamental human rights, and condemning the Iranian security forces for their violent response.

Every day, we learn more about the Iranian regime and the lengths it will go to retain power and control. The Iranians' fight for equal rights and freedom has been heard around the world as they push back against violent security forces.

The bravery of the Iranian citizens cannot be overstated, and we stand with them in their peaceful protests against their tyrannical government.

Carols in the Capitol

We truly “Need A Little Christmas” in the Senate this time of year. I’m grateful for the opportunity to sing carols with Steve Amerson and the Liberty University Choir in the United States Capitol and speak with them about what this season means to me.

There’s power in the ministry of music, particularly when singing about angels proclaiming the birth of our Savior born in a manger.

Letter Urges President Biden to Be Honest About Real-World Costs of Climate Agenda

I joined Senator John Thune (R-SD) in calling out President Biden and his Administration for forcing their radical environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies onto the American economy in pursuit of their unrealistic environmental agenda.

Our letter highlights various actions by financial regulators that threaten to choke off certain industries’ access to capital, which could increase the price of food and energy for businesses and families in the midst of record-high inflation. As America grapples with inflation, administrative actions that increase prices should be the last thing on President Biden’s agenda.

Letter Urges U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to Eliminate Prohibition on Supporting Civil Nuclear Energy

Joe Manchin (D-WV) and I sent a letter to the Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, urging him to begin financing nuclear energy projects and support the continued development and deployment of advanced nuclear technology.

Bipartisan support for advanced nuclear is based not only on its promise to reduce emissions and its potential to deliver global clean energy at scale to support economic development, but also on the understanding that U.S. global leadership in this field is vital to our core national security interests.

International demand for U.S. advanced nuclear technology has only intensified in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Europe’s severe energy crisis. Prioritizing and deploying U.S. nuclear technologies complements our broader foreign policy objectives to counter Russian and Chinese efforts to use civil nuclear exports for their own political and economic ends.

Letter Urges National Labor Relations Board Chairman to Reverse Inconsistent Rule for Franchises

I joined Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) on a letter to National Labor Relations Board Chairman Lauren M. McFerran to oppose the Board’s proposed joint employer rule, which would create a new expanded standard inconsistent with the common law, circumvents Congressional authority, and will negatively impact our nation's economy.

This rule would have immediate and long-term negative effects on millions of workers and thousands of businesses at a time when the economy is already facing the highest inflation rates in four decades.

By moving forward with this misguided proposed rule, the Board would overwhelmingly hurt entrepreneurs who are utilizing the franchise model to own their own business. Many of these entrepreneurs are women, minorities, and veterans, 32 percent of whom say they would not own a business without franchising.

The Board should maintain the 2020 rule, which brought clarity and certainty to the business community.

Letter Calls for Improved Access to Brain Scans to Diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease

Edward Markey (D-MA) and I sent a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure requesting reconsideration of the 2013 national coverage determination brain imaging procedures used for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease.

Specifically, the NCD restricts brain imaging for Medicare recipients to a single scan during a person’s lifetime, contingent on a patient’s enrollment in a clinical trial. New evidence suggests that "amyloid PET" imaging of the brain is effective in detecting Alzheimer’s disease, although scans cost thousands of dollars out of pocket.

There has been significant progress in Alzheimer’s and related dementias research. In light of new research showing the effectiveness of "amyloid PET" imaging technology, we support reconsideration of the national coverage determination and urge it be updated to improve access.

Confirmation of Mac Schneider as U.S. Attorney for North Dakota

McLain “Mac” Schneider was confirmed to be the U.S. Attorney for North Dakota on Tuesday evening.

Congratulations to Mac on his confirmation to be the U.S. Attorney for North Dakota.

Mac loves our great state, and I know he will serve North Dakota well.

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 Attorney General

I caught up with North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley. Many times, his office is the tip of the spear towards maintaining North Dakotans’ way of life.

I value our partnership, and I will continue to work with him and his staff to help combat the many challenges before us.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director

I spoke with Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Rohit Chopra about “junk fees,” protecting independent and community banks from overburdensome regulation, and the implications of Big Tech companies behaving more like banks.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Paul District

It was great to meet U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Paul District Commander Col. Eric Swenson.

I appreciated his update on the work being done in Minot and Fargo-Moorhead diversion projects and I look forward to passing and enacting another Water Resources Development Act.

Grants for North Dakota

Northland Health Partners Community Receives $2.7 Million from Department of Health and Human Services

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded $2,702,873 to Northland Health Partners Community in Turtle Lake, North Dakota.

This award is continuing funding from a previously approved project entitled, “Health Center Cluster.”

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Success Story: Turtle Mountain Receives $564,692

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded $564,692 to the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

These funds will be used to assist the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa in remediating and reusing brownfields sites throughout the reservation. The tribe will oversee and perform planning, assessment, and cleanup of brownfields sites at the San Haven medical complex and throughout the reservation.

The goals of this funding are to provide financial support for an effective tribal response program and to ensure that states and tribes maintain a public record of sites included in their programs.

NASA’s Space Technology Research Grants Program Awards $650,000 to University of North Dakota

NASA’s Space Technology Research Grant program awarded a $650,000 grant to the University of North Dakota.

This project will build tools to manage data and traffic for space-based wireless communications systems, which will expand their capability for real-time and safety-critical applications. For this project the University of North Dakota will use its own planetary habitat to study these off-Earth communications.

North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality Receives $969,309 Performance Partnership Grant

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded a Performance Partnership Grant of $969,309 to the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality.

The funds will be used by North Dakota to address clean air, clean water, hazardous and solid waste, drinking water, underground storage tanks, underground injection control, and radon. The Performance Partnership Grant provides North Dakota greater flexibility to address its highest environmental priorities, improve environmental performance, achieve administrative savings and strengthen the partnership between North Dakota and the Environmental Protection Agency.