Senator Cramer's Weekly Update may 16-22

Dick Armey Book Celebration

It was wonderful to celebrate former Majority Leader Dick Armey on Wednesday for the release of his memoir “Leader,” which I believe everyone should read! It’s written so literally in his voice, you almost hear his deep, gravelly tones as you read every sentence, especially those containing one of his famous, “Armey’s Axioms.”

He’s every bit Texan as he is North Dakotan: honest, blunt, often funny, usually charming and always optimistic. Dick Armey was and remains the most principled political leader I’ve ever known. While fiercely committed to the cause of liberty in all institutions and disciplines, he never let perfect be the enemy of better. He never let demagoguery, even when it could prove politically advantageous, get in the way of doing the right thing.

I’ve always looked up to Dick Armey. He and my dad were rural electric linemen together. It’s clear growing up and being educated on the prairie provided him with a clear understanding that hard work comes first and foremost. It also taught him good manners and a cheerful demeanor makes everything easier.

I'm thankful for all he has taught me and for stopping by my office to chat, meet my staff, and autograph books.

Federal Court Blocks the Biden Administration from Ending Title 42

On Friday, Western District of Louisiana Judge Robert Summerhays granted a preliminary injunction on the Biden Administration’s plan to end Title 42 border expulsions.

The Courts are once again getting it right. The United States is in the midst of the greatest border crisis in our history, thanks to the destructive policies of the Biden Administration. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents need every tool available, including Title 42, as they work to end the chaos at our southern border.

Three million immigrations have illegally crossed the border since Biden took office and if Title 42 were to be lifted, we could see one million illegal border crossings in the next six weeks. While the Administration continues to deny there’s a crisis at the southern border, we need to keep Title 42 in place.

Bipartisan Policymaker Conversation on Energy and Inflation

In a bipartisan policymaker conversation with Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and the Federal Reserve Banks of Dallas and Minneapolis on energy and inflation, I discussed the many negative signals being sent by the Biden Administration.

There’s nothing wrong with a 2050 aspiration, but we have to deal with a 2022 reality, and the urgency of the two are clashing. Energy is being weaponized in the war in Europe and they are asking for our help. The lack of a short-term, mid-term, and long-term plan that investors and innovators can count on is a problem. We can’t let politics get in the way.

We also discussed the role of the Federal Reserve, the need for oil and natural gas related infrastructure to reduce emissions and enhance productivity, Denbury’s carbon negative fossil fuel project in North Dakota, and my America First approach to energy and trade.

Letter Demands Explanation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Failures that Caused Baby Formula Shortages

In a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, my colleagues and I demanded answers on its inadequate investigation into Abbott Nutrition’s Michigan manufacturing facility and failure to mitigate the nationwide baby formula shortage.

We are also seeking answers regarding when the White House was made aware of the situation and what steps should’ve been taken to limit the harmful impact on families and their newborns.

It’s unacceptable the FDA and key officials in the Biden Administration did not anticipate this crisis. Abbott Nutrition holds 48.1% of the U.S. market in infant formula. President Biden should’ve taken immediate action as soon as a voluntary recall was issued.

American families deserve answers from the FDA on its activities which may have contributed to the exacerbated infant formula shortages.

Letter Seeks to Defund President Biden’s Disinformation Board

I joined my Republican colleagues in sending a letter to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security expressing opposition to the Department of Homeland Security’s Disinformation Governance Board and urging that any funding for such board be prohibited in the FY 2023 appropriations bill.

While DHS has promised the board will ‘protect privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties,’ we do not take solace in words alone. A fine line exists between tackling disinformation and government censorship. Exactly where the Disinformation Governance Board falls on this line remains unclear and the potential for abuse is egregious.

We urged any and all funding for the board be prohibited during the Homeland Security appropriations process.

Hearing Discusses Biden Administration’s Controversial 30x30 Proposal and Waterfowl Production Area Easements

At a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing, I pressed U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams on the Biden Administration’s expansive 30x30 agenda. The Biden Administration is talking about tripling the protected acres in the United States, which should at the very least trigger a comprehensive National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review.

I also confronted Director Williams on the lack of progress on the Waterfowl Production Area easements appeals process with North Dakotan landowners despite her previous assurances and commitments to address the issue.

I have heard from hundreds of North Dakota landowners encumbered with Fish and Wildlife Service WPA easements. Their experience has been disastrous through Democratic administrations and Republican administrations alike with the Service trampling private property rights, not living up to contractual obligations, and using confrontational enforcement tactics like showing up on people’s property armed and wearing body armor.

Director Williams needs to work directly with landowners to remedy the heavy-handed enforcement of WPA easements, especially in light of the fact many appeals have been elevated to her attention.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Awards $6 Billion in Crop Disaster Assistance

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has made $6 billion in disaster assistance available for commodity and specialty crop producers affected by severe drought, poor weather, and natural disasters during the 2020 and 2021 crop years through the Emergency Relief Program. This disaster assistance is funded through last September’s Continuing Resolution, which I supported.

North Dakota’s farmers have suffered significant hardship in recent years. At a time of immense market uncertainty, soaring input costs, and dramatic supply chain disruptions, with a hungry world and looming food shortage, these funds will provide much-needed certainty to help cover losses caused by events out of our farmers’ control.

I urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture to quickly deliver this disaster assistance to producers so there’s additional financial flexibility during this uncertain time. All affected producers should familiarize themselves with the details of the program and work with their FSA office to receive assistance in a timely manner.

Rail Companies Issue Status Reports on Grain Car Backlog

I announced BNSF Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) 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.

Resolution Calls on White House to Combat Crime

I joined Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) in introducing a resolution to keep our communities and law enforcement safe and supported. The Biden Administration needs to work with Congress to develop a plan to combat the rise in crime and the crisis at the southern border.

It’s long past time for the Biden Administration to combat the spike in crime as violence skyrockets across the country. We need to counter the rise in violent crime by reinforcing strong criminal justice policies, by laying blame on the perpetrators of violent acts, and by securing the southern border.

Senate Passes Resolution Commemorating National Police Week

On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate unanimously adopted a resolution I co-sponsored with Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and 83 of my colleagues marking National Police Week and reiterating support for the men and women in law enforcement.

Now, more than ever, law enforcement needs our constant support. They wake up every day and do one of the hardest jobs there is, and they do it without asking for praise or recognition. On National Police Week, let’s back the blue.

Senate Passes National Public Works Week Resolution

I joined Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) in leading a bipartisan resolution designating the week of May 15-21 as National Public Works Week. The resolution encourages the public to recognize and celebrate the important contributions public works officials make every day to improve public infrastructure in the United States. It passed the Senate unanimously Wednesday night.

On this National Public Works Week, we celebrate and recognize the hard work of those who build and maintain our nation’s infrastructure.

Our roads, bridges, ports and water systems are critical to our economic growth and the flow of goods and services. Investing in aging infrastructure enables food, manufactured goods, and services get to those who need them.

Letter Champions Taiwan’s Inclusion in Proposed Indo-Pacific Economic Framework

On Wednesday, I joined Senators Jim Risch (R-ID), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and 49 Senate colleagues in penning a letter to President Joe Biden urging the Administration to include Taiwan as a partner in the proposed Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. In addition to recognizing Taiwan’s importance to the United States as an important trading partner, the senators underscored that failing to include Taiwan runs counter to U.S. economic interests in the region.

This could be a meaningful first step for the United States to assure its allies and partners that we are economically engaged in the region, which accounts for 60% of the world economy and two-thirds of all economic growth over the last five years.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shows the value of tangible economic support by the United States and like-minded allies and partners, and the same is true for Taiwan.

Legislation Seeks to Empower Investors and Neutralize Wall Street’s Biggest Investment Firms

I helped introduce the Investor Democracy is Expected (INDEX) Act to address problems stemming from the consolidated corporate ownership and voting power within Wall Street’s largest investment advisers and their index funds.

With passive investing exploding in popularity over the past two decades, these firms have quietly become the largest owners in almost all public U.S. companies. As such, they are able to leverage the investments of millions of index fund investors into the dominant voting bloc at shareholder meetings.

The INDEX Act would require investment advisors of passively-managed funds to vote proxies in accordance with the instructions of fund investors—not at the discretion of the adviser. Deconsolidating this voting power will neutralize the dominance of these investment advisers and foster a healthier, more competitive, and more democratic corporate governance ecosystem.

Preserving the voice of investors is a crucial aspect of the success of America’s financial institutions. The INDEX Act empowers individual investors and ensures transparency in the management of investment funds.

Amicus Brief on Kerr v. Planned Parenthood

I joined an amicus brief requesting the Supreme Court take up Robert Kerr, SC Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) v. Planned Parenthood and Julie Edwards.

The amicus brief argues Congress intended for states to be able to make their own determinations as to which providers could participate in the Medicaid program, and that clients of delisted providers should not have been granted standing to sue the state on the providers’ behalf.

This case presents an ideal opportunity for making clear that third parties are never entitled to enforce Spending Clause legislation unless Congress creates an express right of action. That will not only resolve the split among the lower courts in this case, but in all Spending Clause cases.

Missile Defense Agency Director

Thank you to Missile Defense Agency Director Vice Admiral Jon Hill for visiting about our advanced weapons systems, opportunities in space defense, and modernization of assets at North Dakota’s Cavalier Space Force Station.

Nominee to be U.S European Command and NATO Supreme Allied Commander

It was great to meet with General Christopher Cavoli, the nominee to be U.S. European Command and NATO Supreme Allied Commander.

Thanks for your thoughts on budget needs in the next NDAA, Ukraine, how Finland and Sweden could strengthen NATO against Russia, and energy security as national security.

Polish Minister

Thanks to Polish Minister Piotr Naimski for discussing nuclear energy and opportunities to work together to advance clean, reliable energy. Increasing nuclear energy will provide Poland reliable baseload power, reduce emissions, and counter Russia’s malign influence.

I also had the opportunity to introduce him to former Majority Leader Dick Armey. They discussed the strength and resilience Poland has shown throughout the years.

American Exploration and Production Council

The American Exploration and Production Council joined me to discuss the geopolitical opportunity at our hands when it comes to energy.

We need to be producing American energy, exporting LNG to Europe, streamlining permitting processes, and pushing President Biden to send positive market signals to industry.

Associated General Contractors of North Dakota

It was good to speak with Donn Diederich from the Associated General Contractors of North Dakota about implementation of the bipartisan infrastructure law and the significance of this investment for North Dakota.

We also discussed the best ways to address the labor workforce shortages occurring across the nation.

Government Students

Three AP Government high school seniors, Adlai, Joey, and Holly stopped by my office to discuss their end of the year projects on increasing crime rates and water conservation. I appreciate your intelligent questions and interest in government.

Grants for North Dakota

Army Awards $7.6 Million Contract to Harvey Company for Flood Protection

The U.S. Army awarded a $7,653,000 contract to HSG Park Joint Venture, LLC in Harvey for a flood protection project in Drayton.

This contract provides for the replacement of an existing dam with a new dam that includes a fish passageway to improve biotic connectivity, in support of the Drayton Dam Fish Passage Mitigation and Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Area Flood Risk Management Projects.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Awards $5.6 Million in Head Start Funds to North Dakota Tribal Communities

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded a total of $4,272,883 in Head Start Indian Grants to North Dakota tribal communities:

• $1,647,772 to the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians
• $1,218,684 to the Three Affiliated Tribes
• $1,406,427 to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

HHS also awarded $1,398,025 in Head Start Indian Grants to Cankdeska Cikana Community College.

The funds come through the Head Start and Early Head Start programs, which promote school readiness for young children and toddlers from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development as well as early learning, health, and family well-being.