Senator Cramer’s Weekly Update June 10-14

Senate Armed Services Committee Advances the NDAA with Significant Wins for North Dakota and the Nation

The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) held a full committee markup last week for the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). By a vote of 22-3, the Committee advanced the legislation on Thursday and it will now head to the Senate floor for consideration. Each year, Congress passes a National Defense Authorization Act to direct critical investments and policies to provide for our constitutional duty: the common defense.

The world is a dangerous place and desperately needs President Reagan’s "peace through strength" leadership. Today’s global threats are not constrained by budget caps and neither should our response to them. The increased investment into critical defense programs is an important step in meeting the threats we face.

The FY25 NDAA supports a total of $923.3 billion in national defense funding that improves intelligence capabilities, continues growing the Space Force, and modernizes the nation's nuclear triad. The legislation authorizes $878.4 billion for the Department of Defense and $33.4 billion for national security programs within the Department of Energy (DOE). It also provides a national defense topline increase of $25 billion, including increased procurement of combat vessels, aircraft, and vehicles.

The missions and people across our state play a central role in our national defense, and this bill makes critical investments in the work they do, both present and future. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this bill into law.

Upon final passage, the 64th annual NDAA will authorize multiple projects across the state of North Dakota:

Minot

• Requires the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) count to be no less than 400 total, protecting the nation’s nuclear deterrent capabilities.
• Provides $3.7 billion for Sentinel ICBMs, modernizing the nation’s Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD).
• Directs the restoration of nuclear capabilities across the entire B-52 strategic bomber fleet.
• Requires a plan for acquiring and deploying up to 450 Sentinel ICBMs.

Grand Forks

• Provides critical funding for the development and deployment of future Air Force intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions at Grand Forks AFB.
• Provides $1.9 million in planning and design funding to begin the process of maintenance for the Grand Forks Air Force Base runway.
• Authorizes $3 million in additional funding for the development of corrosion resistant coatings produced by Technology Applications Group (TAG) in Grand Forks. TAG is a leader in magnesium surface protection and inventor of the Tanite anodize coating.
• Authorizes $8 million in additional funding for development of new UAV technology produced by Ideal Aerosmith in Grand Forks. Ideal Aerosmith is the leading supplier of precision inertial guidance test systems, flight motion simulators, and a premier provider of aerospace test engineering services, ATE system engineering, and quality contract manufacturing services to the aerospace industry.
• Prohibits the premature retirement of Global Hawks.

Fargo

• Supports a $6 million increase in funding for continued development of cold spray repair and additive manufacturing technology done by VRC Metals.
• Provides $2 million in additional funding for advanced composite research done by North Dakota State University.
• Creates policy I co-led establishing an equivalent identifier to a combat status identifier for remotely piloted aircraft crews, such as the Happy Hooligans. This ensures they receive appropriate mental health care coverage and benefits.

Bismarck

• Authorizes $10 million and supporting legislation to ensure there is a clear sustainment plan for the UH-72 Lakota helicopters, utilized by the North Dakota Army National Guard.

Cavalier Space Force Station (SFS)

• Supports $5 million for updates to the PARCS radar at Cavalier Space Force Station.

Letter Addresses Biden Administration’s ‘Mass Amnesty’ for Migrants

Under the Biden administration, the United States has seen the worst border crisis in American history. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported more than 7.8 million encounters with illegal immigrants at the southwest border over the last three years, and more than 9.5 million encounters nationwide. At the onset of the Biden administration, the president signed a series of executive orders rolling back former President Donald Trump's border security initiatives, leading to a spike in illegal border crossings.

Recent reports revealed the administration granted thousands of illegal immigrants “mass amnesty” by terminating more than 350,000 asylum cases in a two-year period. This change in practice was instituted by a 2022 memo from ICE Principal Legal Adviser Kerry Doyle, instructing agency prosecutors to advise immigration judges on nonpriority cases suitable for dismissal. As a result, the report indicates 102,550 cases were dismissed in 2022, followed by 149,000 in 2023, and 113,843 cases in the first four months of 2024, compared to just over 26,000 during the entire Trump administration. Since 2021, 77% of asylum seekers have been allowed to remain in the United States, according to a study published by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse.

I led sending a letter signed by 20 of my Senate colleagues and addressed to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Attorney General Merrick Garland on Wednesday, questioning the administration’s dismissal of more than 350,000 asylum cases in a two-year period.

The letter criticizes President Biden, arguing the action is “too little, too late,” and an implicit admission the administration possesses the authority to correct the problem.

"This administration’s approach has consistently downplayed the severity of the border crisis, initially denying its existence, then reluctantly acknowledging it, and now attempting to address it through inadequate measures,” we wrote in our letter. “The repeated failures in border management under your leadership have led to an unprecedented backlog of 3.5 million asylum cases, posing a substantial burden on our immigration system and increasing the risk of criminal activities by illegal aliens."

Click here for the letter

Legislation Introduced to Increase Access to Capital for Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs

I introduced the Unlocking Capital for Small Businesses Act on Tuesday to provide a simpler regulatory regime for private placement brokers and finders, exempting them from U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission registration required under the Securities Exchange Act.

One of the primary challenges facing small businesses in the United States is access to capital. A recent report published by Goldman Sachs revealed over three quarters of small business owners are concerned about accessing capital.

Small businesses are the heartbeat of North Dakota’s communities and our nation’s economy, and the regulatory environment should be primed to accelerate their growth. Eliminating the overbearing regulations faced by finders and removing hurdles for entrepreneurs who rely on capital will allow them to start or grow their businesses. The Unlocking Capital for Small Business Act is a commonsense, long-term investment in Main Street America.

Click here for bill text. Click here for one pager on the bill.

Squawk Box on CNBC

I joined CNBC's "Squawk Box" to discuss former President Donald Trump's visit to Capitol Hill, his message to Republican senators, state of the 2024 race, and more.

Maria Bartiromo's Wall Street on Fox Business

I joined Maria Bartiromo on Mornings with Maria to discuss the former President Trump's recent visit to Capitol Hill, the Dismantle DEI Act, and more.

Grants

USDA Forest Service Northern Region Announces Funding to Improve Access, Recreation Opportunities in North Dakota

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service Northern Region announced its investment of over $26 million from the Great American Outdoors Act to enhance recreation opportunities for thousands of residents and visitors across North Dakota, Northern Idaho, and Montana. It will fund the following:

• The Civilian Conservation Corps Campground, located near Theodore Roosevelt National Park, will receive funding to expand the main trailhead, create a dedicated equestrian trailhead, improve parking, install a pressurized water system, and upgrade the pavilion and picnic tables to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
• The National North Country Scenic Trail will receive funding for a maintenance project to resurface the trail with specified aggregate, and include the reduction of erosion to protect drainage areas, harden the trail surface to align with user expectations, and increase visitation.

I cosponsored the Great American Outdoors Act, a comprehensive federal lands package, which Congress passed and former President Donald Trump signed in August 2020 to address the maintenance backlog on national parks and public lands managed by the National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Education, Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Fish and Wildlife Service.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Awards More Than $3.2 Million to North Dakota

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the award of $3,245,147 to the University of North Dakota (UND). This funding is distributed through the National Institute of General Medical Sciences for the following programs and initiatives:

• $1,057,500 to UND’s Center for Biomedical Research Excellence, Epigenomics of Development and Disease.
• $2,187,647 to UND for its Translational Science Engaging North Dakota (TRANSCEND) program.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Awards $988,046 to North Dakota

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the award of $988,046 to the following projects and initiatives in North Dakota:

• $546,014 to the North Dakota Department of Agriculture for continued operation of the agency's environmental programs, while providing greater flexibility to address its priorities, improve performance, achieve administrative savings, and strengthen the partnership between the department and EPA.
• $314,032 to the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality to provide funding for its Leaking Underground Storage Tanks corrective action program, which includes assessment, remediation, and enforcement-related activities.
• $128,000 to the North Dakota Industrial Commission, Oil & Gas Division to protect underground sources of drinking water from injection activities.

Weekly Radio Town Hall Schedule

Jay Thomas

Every other Tuesday from 3:00 to 3:30 p.m. CT

WDAY 970 AM - Fargo

"Mitchell in the Morning" with Todd Mitchell

Every Wednesday from 8:15 to 8:50 a.m. CT

KFYR 550 AM / 99.7 FM - Bismarck

Noah Chelliah

Thursdays from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. CT

KNOX 1310 AM - Grand Forks

Rick Jensen

Thursdays from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. CT

KHND 1470 AM - Harvey

"What's On Your Mind" with Scott Hennen

Every other Friday from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. CT

AM 1100 The Flag - Fargo

WDAY 970 AM - Fargo

KTGO 1090 AM - Tioga

Michael Bell

Every other Friday from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. CT

KFYR 550 AM / 99.7 FM - Bismarck

OFFICES:

My offices are open in Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, Fargo, Williston, and Washington, D.C. To request an appointment, call any of the offices below or visit my website at www.cramer.senate.gov.

Bismarck

328 Federal Building

220 East Rosser Avenue

Bismarck, ND 58501

701-204-0500

Grand Forks

114 Federal Building

102 North 4th Street

Grand Forks, ND 58203

701-402-4540

Minot

105 Federal Building

100 First Street SW

Minot, ND 58701

701-837-6141

Fargo

306 Federal Building

657 Second Avenue N

Fargo, ND 58102

701-232-5094

Williston

125 Main Street

Suite #217

Williston, ND 58801

701-441-7230

Washington, D.C.

313 Hart Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

202-224-2043

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