Senator Cramer’s Weekly Update october 13 - 17

Israeli Hostages Released from Gaza Under Ceasefire Deal

Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of President Donald Trump's peace plan, requiring the release of all hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from most of Gaza. After 738 agonizing days in captivity, all 20 living hostages have been returned to Israel.

Senate Democrats Block Defense Bill, Pay Raise for Service Members

Senate Democrats blocked consideration of a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government 10 times and have pivoted to obstructing the passage of individual appropriations bills. Senate Democrats voted against taking up the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Defense Appropriations Act.

This bill would have supported service members and their families, funded military readiness efforts, strengthened the defense industrial base, and more.

Remarks at UAS Summit Highlight Pivotal Role Grand Forks Plays as Epicenter of Unmanned Aerial System Industry

Last week, I addressed attendees virtually at the 19th annual Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Summit and Expo in Grand Forks. This is a gathering of policymakers and industry leaders from around the world the latest regulatory, economic, and technological updates in the unmanned aerial system industry.

Due to the ongoing government shutdown, neither my guest, U.S. Secretary of Transportation and National Aeronautics and Space Administration Interim Administrator Sean Duffy, or I were able to attend the event in person.

I also announced Grand Forks Air Force Base will serve as the home of the new Point Defense Battle Lab, which will play a pivotal role in countering the type of small drone warfare being instigated by adversaries. The battle lab will play a major part in the service’s efforts to develop and test advanced technologies to defend military installations from threats of UAS.

Previously, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth issued a memo directing Pentagon leadership from around the world to establish Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF) 401 to better align existing authorities and resources to rapidly deliver joint Counter-UAS capabilities to America’s warfighters. The JIATF is critical, it’s urgent, and it needs to happen quickly. As chairman of the Senate Armed Services (SASC) Airland Subcommittee, I immediately started pitching North Dakota’s well-established expertise in this area.

Click here to watch my full remarks

Amtrak Completes Over $30 Million in Upgrades at North Dakota Train Stations

Amtrak announced it has spent over $30 million to complete work at five North Dakota train stations for accessibility upgrades and improvements. These improvements bring the five stations into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The funding was invested in the following stations across North Dakota:

• $10.4 million to the Rugby station for a 750-foot boarding platform equipped with a snowmelt system and accessible paths between the station and parking area. Construction included sloped walkways and safety barriers, LED light fixtures for full coverage lighting at the platform, detectable warning systems, new signage, and refreshed station interior.
• $10 million to the Williston station for a 700-foot boarding platform equipped with a snowmelt system, new parking area, and accessible paths between the station and parking. Construction will conclude next month with completion of sloped walkways, railings, egress, energy efficient LED light fixtures, detectable warning systems, and signage.
• $4.5 million to the Devils Lake station for a new 300-foot boarding platform equipped with a snowmelt system, sloped walkways and safety barriers, and accessible paths to the station building. The platform has energy efficient LED light fixtures that provide full coverage lighting at the platform, detectable warning systems, and new signage.
• $4.5 million to the Fargo station for a 645-foot boarding platform with sloped walkways and accessible paths. Platform construction included railings, egress gates, energy efficient LED light fixtures, detectable warning systems, new signage, and a refreshed interior.
• $400,000 to the Stanley station for an accessible path between the station building and parking area, repair and replacement of detectable warning systems on the platform, station signage, and a refreshed interior.

University of North Dakota Earns Gold Recognition as 2025-26 Military Friendly School

The University of North Dakota (UND) earned Gold recognition as a 2025-26 Military Friendly® School, placing the university among the top 10% of institutions across the nation for its commitment to serving military service members, veterans, and their family members. UND has been named as a top Military Friendly School for more than 15 years.

In a press release, UND said "institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a survey." The survey collected data from more than 1,800 schools, 830 of which earned special awards.

North Dakota Native John D. Odegard Named to National Aviation Hall of Fame

John D. Odegard, a North Dakota native, was selected for induction into the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF). Odegard, who died in 1998, founded the University of North Dakota's School of Aerospace Sciences in 1968. While the school started with two aircraft, UND said it has become the second-largest degree granting college, with more than 2,000 students, 500 faculty and staff members and one of the largest fleets of civilian aircraft in North America.

The 62nd annual enshrinement will take place on Sept. 24. The NAHF said its Class of 2026 is "a remarkable ensemble of individuals who have left an indelible mark on the aviation and space industries. Their contributions span a wide spectrum of accomplishments, furthering the frontiers of flight and exploration." This year's honorees include:

Ukraine Delegation

I met with Olga Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.S., the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak, and other Ukrainian leaders. We had a good discussion on the meeting between President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as well as the Senate’s version of the NDAA and other legislation to put more pressure on Russia to agree to end its aggression in Ukraine.

Erbolat Dosaev, Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan

I had a productive meeting with Erbolat Dosaev, the Deputy Head of the Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan. We had a good discussion of critical minerals, trade, and North Dakota’s decades-long relationship with Kazakhstan.