Senator Cramer’s Weekly Update August 18 - 29

Statement on Minneapolis School Shooting

Last week, two children were killed and 18 individuals were injured in a shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis.

U.S. Air Force Town Hall in Minot Emphasizes Significance of Nuclear Modernization

During a public town hall meeting in Minot, I highlighted the importance of modernizing the United States’ nuclear deterrence capabilities. Sponsored by the U.S. Air Force, the meeting provided landowners and community members with an overview of the Sentinel program and discussed the program’s projected impact on communities surrounding Minot Air Force Base (AFB).

Air Force leadership also delivered an update to attendees on the supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) being prepared to assess plans for potential property use at Air Force Bases in Montana and Wyoming while ensuring compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. The supplemental EIS, which predominantly focuses on property surrounding Malmstrom AFB in Montana and F.E. Warren AFB in Wyoming, will address design refinements and facility siting updates since completion of the March 2023 EIS.

For more than 50 years, Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) have been a crucial component of the United States’ nuclear arsenal. There are 400 Minuteman III missiles located across three bases in the United States, including Minot AFB, which is the only base in the nation to house two legs of the nuclear triad. The Sentinel program was established to rejuvenate the nation’s nuclear arsenal by replacing the 50-year-old Minuteman III ICBM weapon system with the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM, which is designed to be viable through 2075.

President Donald Trump and his administration are prioritizing improving the nation’s nuclear capabilities, and his Big Beautiful Bill reflects this by funding and accelerating key modernization initiatives within the U.S. nuclear triad. The president’s legislation, which Congress passed in July, allocates $2.5 billion for the Sentinel program, provides $500 million to ensure the Minuteman III program remains safe and viable, secures $100 million for re-entry vehicle enhancements, and allocates $210 million for the MH-139 helicopter to monitor and maintain the missile fields.

Inaugural Versus UAS/Counter-UAS Symposium Highlights North Dakota’s Innovative Defense Ecosystem

To showcase North Dakota’s leadership in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), counter-drone innovation, and national security readiness, Anno.Ai and Dunlevy Consulting hosted the Versus UAS/Counter-UAS Symposium at Camp Grafton in Devils Lake. The event highlighted North Dakota’s innovative defense ecosystem and the state’s growth as a UAS center of excellence.

I delivered opening remarks to symposium attendees. I also highlighted the pivotal role North Dakota plays in advancing UAS and counter-UAS technologies and reiterated the significance of the Golden Dome missile and airborne defense system in forging U.S. defense policy, international collaborations with allied nations in unmanned systems, and the need for infrastructure to accelerate testing, training, and technology deployment.

In 2024, a drone attack by an Iran-affiliated militant group on the Erbil Air Base in northern Iraq left three service members wounded, including U.S. Army pilot and North Dakota native Garrett Illerbrunn. U.S. retaliatory strikes were successful from a military perspective, but the tragedy highlighted the need for technological capabilities to counter the threat, not just react to it.

The symposium featured a live demonstration of UAS and counter-UAS systems in realistic operational scenarios. Brigadier General Mitch Johnson, Adjutant General of the North Dakota National Guard, participated in a presentation to provide an overview of how North Dakota is supporting the nation’s growing demand for UAS and counter-UAS testing, training, and technology transition infrastructure.

North Dakota is a leader in next-generation UAS development and plays a key role in national security. It leverages state institutional support like the University of North Dakota’s Space Studies program with federal strategic infrastructure such as Grand Forks Air Force Base. The base is home to key Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations and the Space Development Agency to provide cutting-edge solutions for emerging global threats.

Satellites Viewed During Visit to Vandenberg Space Force Base with Secretary of the Air Force Dr. Troy Meink

I visited Vandenberg Space Force Base (SFB) in California with Secretary of the U.S. Air Force Dr. Troy Meink to view a variety of satellites before they launch. The launches demonstrate responsive, rapid pathways to putting necessary capabilities in orbit. Vandenberg SFB is tasked with providing agile, responsive, and resilient spaceport, test range, and installation capabilities for the country. The visit also featured a tour of Vandenberg SFB’s launch and range infrastructure, the 18th Space Defense Squadron, and the 533rd Training Squadron.

Vandenberg’s host unit, Space Launch Delta 30, supports West Coast launch activities for several agencies, including the Air Force, Department of Defense (DOD), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

I toured the Space Development Agency (SDA) and National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)’s payload processing facility where we viewed 21 satellites from SDA’s Tranche 1 (T1) Transport Layer. The satellites were integrated during our visit, ahead of their operation out of SDA’s Operations Center – North at Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB) in North Dakota as well as Operations Center – South at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama.

The 21 T1 Transport satellites are scheduled to be launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Sept. 10. The remaining 105 T1 Transport satellites launch in 2026.

Federal Trade Commission Resolves "Clean Truck Partnership" Antitrust Concerns

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced closure of its investigation into whether several truck and engine manufacturers and their trade association violated the antitrust laws by entering the “Clean Truck Partnership” with the California Air Resources Board. The major truck and engine manufacturers provided written commitments to essentially invalidate the Clean Truck Partnership and will not enter into any similar agreement in the future.

The FTC reported four manufacturers—Daimler Truck, International Motors, PACCAR, and Volvo Group—control up to 99% of the heavy-duty truck market in the United States. When the manufacturers signed the Clean Truck Partnership in 2023, they agreed to abide by "a series of CARB regulations limiting truck sales and greenhouse gas emissions." The FTC said the Clean Truck Partnership raised several antitrust concerns including the following:

• The agreement forced manufacturers to produce “zero emissions” engines rather than internal combustion engines, and these output restrictions remained in place even if the CARB regulations were later invalidated.
• The agreement did not foreclose one truck manufacturer from enforcing its restrictions against a competing truck manufacturer.
• The agreement locked in place terms with limited political accountability and opportunity for elected officials to modify them.

The Commission unanimously voted to close the investigation and accept the letter commitments by a vote of 3 to 0.

North Dakota Army National Guard Completes 2026 Best Warrior Competition

The North Dakota Army National Guard announced it concluded the 2026 Best Warrior Competition at Camp Grafton Training Center in Devils Lake. According to the North Dakota Army National Guard, 20 soldiers from across the state demonstrated their skills and resilience over the course of four days through physical fitness events, land navigation, marksmanship on the range, camouflage, and scenario-based tactical challenges.

U.S. Army Sgt. Richard Tangen, 957th Engineer Company, won the Non-Commissioned Officer category. The winner of the enlisted category was Spc. John Shrock, Delta Detachment, 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment.

Congratulations to Sgt. Richard Tangen and Spc. John Shrock, the winners of this year's North Dakota Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition. Best of luck to them as they prepare to compete at the regional level. Our North Dakota Guardsmen are the best in the nation!

President Trump's Big Beautiful Bill Delivers Peace Through Strength

President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, also known as the Big Beautiful Bill, passed the U.S. Senate at the beginning of July by a vote of 51 to 50, investing in generational defense capabilities and strengthening our nation's defense. The bill provides key funding to support counter-UAS programs and the modernization of our nuclear arsenal.

President Trump's historic Big Beautiful Bill provides more than $1.3 billion in funding for development, production, and integration of counter-UAS programs. This investment doubles down on North Dakota’s leadership in unmanned systems.

Minot Air Force Base is the only base to have two legs of the nuclear triad. The Big Beautiful Bill invests in “peace through strength” by modernizing the nuclear arsenal and funding new helicopters for our airmen to monitor missile silos spread across North Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana.

New York Appeals Court Eliminates $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against President Trump

A New York appeals court threw out a $500 million judgement imposed on President Donald Trump in a lawsuit by New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Another nail in the lawfare coffin. I talked to President Trump during this farce of a trial and reminded him the American people were on his side. Now everyone knows what patriots always have: he was targeted for who he was and what he fought for. I’m proud of him for standing strong.

EPA Blocks California Emissions Inspections Rule

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced this week its proposed disapproval of California's emissions-testing Heavy-Duty Inspection and Maintenance Requirements. This rule applies to diesel heavy-duty vehicles over 14,000 pounds that operate in California, regardless of whether they are registered there.

Way to go EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin on another win! Keep them coming!

Small Business Administration Orders Lenders to End Debanking

This week, the U.S. Small Business Administration ordered lenders to end their debanking practices following President Trump's executive order earlier this month. Lenders must remove reputational risk and equivalent concepts from guidance and examination materials by Dec. 5.

Genovac CEO Brian Walters

I enjoyed visiting with Genovac CEO Brian Walters and touring the company’s facility in Fargo. We discussed the innovative work being done at Genovac and its contributions to the biotech industry. Genovac and North Dakota are well positioned to lead the incredible advancements defining this industry.

Sea Foam

I appreciated the opportunity to meet with Sea Foam leaders at their Bismarck office to discuss federal overreach affecting their industry. I enjoyed the demonstration illustrating how their innovative products help engines and equipment run better and last longer.

Sio Silica

I enjoyed the opportunity to visit with representatives from Sio Silica about mining and processing critical minerals in North America. Businesses like this are what we need to create economic opportunity and will lead to both global and national security.

North Dakota Pharmacists Association

I met with folks from the ND Pharmacists Association to discuss the barriers they face in caring for patients across the state and share what I’m working on in Washington.

DOD Raises Ceiling of Contract by $17.5 Million for General Dynamics Project

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) announced it has increased the size of its contract with General Dynamics, a global aerospace and defense company, by $17,500,000. The contract will go towards a project supporting Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) ground management, integration, operation, and sustainment efforts. This announcement brings the cumulative value of the contract to $1,148,297,413. The project is expected to be completed by the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2027. In addition to Grand Forks, work will also be performed in Scottsdale, Ariz. and Huntsville, Ala.

Fiscal Year 2025 research, development, testing, and evaluation funds in the amount of $8,750,000 are being obligated at the time of the award. The Space Development Agency (SDA) is the contracting organization. Grand Forks Air Force Base hosts SDA’s ground-based Operations Center North where PWSA satellites are flown.

With Grand Forks’ vital warfighting and ground-based capabilities, North Dakota is harnessing innovation and bolstering its national defense presence. This contract modification will significantly invest in Grand Forks and support the brave men and women as they execute these missions to ensure our warfighters have the capabilities they need as quickly as possible.

U.S. Department of Energy Sends $3.8 Million to North Dakota for Energy Saving Programs

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the award of nearly $3.8 million to North Dakota for energy saving programs. DOE is providing $2,452,161 in retrofit program funding, $311,906 in Weatherization Readiness Funds (WRF), and allocating $544,548 in Training & Technical Assistance Allocation funds. As part of his plan for American energy dominance, President Trump has restructured weatherization and other energy program grants by prohibiting consideration of the social cost of carbon and similar criteria from the application process to ensure the limited grant funding meets program objectives.

Further, the department awarded $512,360 in State Energy Program funds to North Dakota to ensure energy reliability, availability, security, and cost savings for businesses and residents.

DOT Awards $750,000 to Harvey Airport

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced an award of $750,000 to the Harvey Municipal Airport through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP).

Specifically, this grant funds phase 2, which consists of construction of 4,270 square feet of the hangar. This grant includes future year funding planned for this project, subject to appropriations. This project constructs a new 5,625 square foot sponsor-owned hangar for aircraft storage.

The FAA AIP provides funding to airports nationwide for planning, capital, and safety enhancement projects.

National Park Service Awards $425,175 to Expand Pembina Gorge Recreation Area

The National Park Service (NPS) announced an award of $425,175 to the North Dakota Department of Parks and Recreation through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The funds will facilitate the acquisition of about 149 acres of land for outdoor recreation at the Pembina Gorge Recreation Area.

Since 1965, the NPS has provided more than 48,000 LWCF grants, primarily funded with federal offshore oil and gas lease revenue, to states and local communities. LWCF awards allow states to further allocate these funds to support public parks and state conservation projects and expand outdoor recreation access.

In 2019, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) helped pass the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. The legislation reauthorized and reformed the LWCF program to ensure states receive at least 40 percent of its funding. Grants distributed through the LWCF program are locally determined and reviewed at the state level through a process designed and managed by state partners of the NPS.

National Science Foundation Awards Nearly $2 Million to UND

The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced the award of $1,999,846 to the University of North Dakota (UND). The university’s NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program will foster close collaboration with stakeholders to work on projects assessing the status of land and water resources, explore practices for their efficient and sustainable use, and develop effective strategies to protect these essential natural resources.

National Science Foundation Awards $250,000 to Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College

The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced an award of $250,000 through the Tribal Colleges and Universities Program to Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College in New Town, N.D. The funds will support a project to build cybersecurity infrastructure and research activities at the college.

FAA Awards Over $660,000 to North Dakota Airports

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced an award of $662,696 through the Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) program for projects at several airports across North Dakota. The funding will be distributed as follows:

• $363,000 to the Harvey Municipal Airport Authority for construction of a 5,625 square foot hangar for aircraft storage.
• $209,446 to the Stanley Municipal Airport Authority for the expansion of the existing West Apron by adding 778 square yards.
• $90,250 to the Hillsboro Municipal Airport Authority for the construction of an 11,250 square foot hangar for aircraft storage.

The AIG Program was established by the fully-paid-for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to provide airports with funding for modernization and safety projects. Since its creation, airports in North Dakota have received over $50 million in program funding.

Department of Transportation Awards Over $300,000 to North Dakota Public Service Commission for Pipeline Safety

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced an award of $364,401 to the North Dakota Public Service Commission through the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA) Fiscal Year 2025 State Base Pipeline Safety Grants Program.

PHMSA’s State Pipeline Safety Base grant program reimburses up to 80 percent of the operating costs for state programs charged with inspecting transmission and distribution pipelines within state boundaries. State pipeline safety programs assure safety by inspecting pipelines within their state boundaries and enforcing federal and state pipeline safety regulations. The grants enable PHMSA to build on its existing partnerships with states by funding the personnel, equipment, and activities needed to carry out inspections, and conduct enforcement in areas where these facilities are located.