Senator Cramer’s Weekly Update January 5-9

Promoting America First Energy Production

In the days since the United States successfully arrested Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, the Trump administration announced plans to control the country’s oil exports and encourage investment by American oil companies. Venezuela’s gain should not come from the American producer.

Before U.S. oil companies spend billions of dollars in Venezuela, let's expand U.S. refining capacity for U.S. oil like the Davis Refinery project in North Dakota, which produces more oil than Venezuela. It makes us less reliant upon foreign sources, not more, creates jobs and infrastructure right here at home and positions us where we should be—as price makers not price takers.

70% of the US refining capacity is built for crude from places like Venezuela, Canada, and Saudi Arabia, an outdated relic from the days of oil embargoes and not reflective of America’s place at the top of the global oil industry. Our energy independence is limited by this outdated model.

Senate Votes on Misguided Democrat War Powers Resolution

The Senate voted on a Democrat-led war powers resolution in reaction to President Trump's successful arrest of Venezuelan narco-terrorist and dictator Nicolás Maduro.

National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

On National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, we thank the brave men and women who put on the badge every day to protect our communities. Your courage, sacrifice, and service do not go unnoticed. Our nation is thankful for these heroes, and we will always back the blue.

President Trump Bans Import of Foreign Drones

President Trump issued a ban to prohibit the importation of all new models and components of drones manufactured by foreign manufacturers.

America needs a cutting-edge small drone industry. Given the scope and scale of market manipulation by foreign adversaries, President Trump is absolutely right to ban the import of drones and components from those adversaries to protect American industry.

Working Familes Tax Cut Secures the Border and Makes Our Communities Safer

The Working Families Tax Cut delivers the largest border and immigration investment in modern history and boosted funding for local, state, and federal law enforcement. The border is secure and our communities are safer.

Matt Perdue

I enjoyed meeting with Matt Perdue, the newly-elected President of the North Dakota Farmers Union. Members are in good hands with an advocate like Matt at the helm.

Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd, Nominee for CYBERCOM Commander and NSA Director

I had a discussion with Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd, nominee to serve as Commander of U.S. Cyber Command and Director of the National Security Agency. We focused on the importance of keeping our air- and space-based ISR capabilities diversified and why staying ahead of our adversaries matters.

Lt. Gen. Frank Donovan, SOUTHCOM Commander Nominee

Lt. Gen. Frank Donovan is exactly the leader U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) needs to deter threats, respond fast, and defend our homeland. Our discussion focused on the importance of ensuring adequate intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance coverage and SOUTHCOM’s critical role in the Western Hemisphere.

Washington Watch

I joined Tony Perkins on "Washington Watch" to discuss the successful operation to arrest Nicolás Maduro.

The details of the Venezuelan operation are phenomenal to say the least. There should be no mistake: the U.S. military is the best in the world. Nicolás Maduro is a drug kingpin indicted in the United States. He was given many opportunities for off ramps. He chose not to do that, and frankly, that's what mad men do.

DOT Awards Over $2.2 Million to North Dakota Colleges, Highway Patrol

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced an award of $2,220,687 to two North Dakota colleges and the North Dakota Highway Patrol. The funds will be distributed as follows:

• $1,249,653 to North Dakota State University (NDSU) under the High Priority Commercial Motor Vehicle (HP-CMV) Program. NDSU will use these funds to conduct research and testing of autonomous vehicles in winter conditions, focusing on two-lane rural highways in North Dakota. The project will identify challenges associated with operating and maintaining autonomous trucks in harsh weather conditions, the effects of extreme cold on sensors and autonomous driving systems, implications of extreme winter conditions for safety inspections, operational conditions for autonomous trucks in relation to operational design elements and to provide recommendations on a safety plan and a structure for safety testing and operation in winter.
• $689,661 to NDSU under the HP-CMV Program. This grant will fund a project to build a searchable database of state agency and university partnerships to organize information on existing and future collaborative projects. The project will also organize a safety summit to disseminate project information with state agencies, universities, and other interested stakeholders.
• $198,817 to the North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) under the HP-CMV Program. This funding will help NDHP identify additional out-of-service vehicle violations by implementing a second Performance-Based Brake Testing machine. By removing unsafe CMVs from the roadways, NDHP will reduce the potential for fatal and injury crashes by 15%.
• $82,556 to Williston State College under the Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training Program. This funding will assist the college in recruiting and enrolling qualified students for its Commercial Driver’s License program.