Senator Cramer’s Weekly Update September 4 - 10

USACE Releases Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Dakota Access Pipeline

I issued the following statement after the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) released the Draft Environment Impact Statement for the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), encouraging all North Dakotans to make their voices heard.

The Dakota Access Pipeline saga has gone on for nearly a decade, almost as long as I have been serving North Dakotans in Congress.

I fundamentally disagree with the need for an Environmental Impact Statement, especially after the pipeline has been safely operational for several years. Nonetheless, I am grateful this Draft Environmental Impact Statement was finally released.

As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) and Senate Armed Services Committees (SASC), I closely monitor the USACE and urge the Biden administration to bring this foolishness to a conclusion and let North Dakota oil flow. Our nation needs it.

DAPL revolutionized the Bakken and has been foundational to our state’s success. I encourage North Dakotans to participate in the public comment period and provide their input to make their voice heard.

During the Obama Administration, on July 25, 2016, the USACE published a final Environmental Assessment and a Mitigated Finding of No Significant Impact for the DAPL crossing of Lake Oahe. Litigation was filed against the USACE on this determination. Upon President Trump taking office, the USACE granted the easement on February 8, 2017, to allow construction to be completed.

The DAPL has and continues to safely deliver crude oil since first becoming operational on June 1, 2017. Nevertheless, several federal court decisions have directed further analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This is the third NEPA analysis covering the roughly 1,000-foot reservoir crossing provided by the USACE in seven years.

Executive Director of ND Rural Water Systems Association Testifies at Senate EPW Hearing

I introduced Eric Volk, Executive Director of the North Dakota Rural Water Systems Association, during a Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) hearing.

Panelists provided a variety of perspectives on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which authorized $55 billion in funding for a range of water infrastructure programs, including grants for small and disadvantaged communities, lead service line replacement and emerging contaminants, support for innovative water technologies, and funding for wastewater treatment and stormwater management. Most of this funding is set to flow through the State Revolving Loan Fund programs, which helped deliver $63 million in water infrastructure funding to North Dakota in 2022, approximately $44 million more than the state received in 2021.

I began by questioning Mr. Volk about the State Revolving Loan Fund programs and how its funding formula has benefited rural states like North Dakota, as well as the value technical assistance provides to rural water systems across the state.

This applies not just to water but certainly to the highway piece of it as well, and that is to have a formula that consistently recognizes rural states and the unique needs of rural states and we don't have a formula that simply sends all the money to large population centers.

I concluded by addressing the workforce shortage in rural America’s drinking water and wastewater sector and asked for feedback on a path forward to ensure these critical services continue to be delivered in our communities.

Senators Participate in Panel Discussion, Highlight PROVE IT Act

As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, I joined Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, for a panel hosted by the Climate Leadership Council to discuss our bipartisan Providing Reliable, Objective, Verifiable Emissions Intensity and Transparency (PROVE IT) Act.

This legislation directs the Department of Energy to conduct a comprehensive study comparing the emissions intensity of certain goods produced in the United States to the emissions of those same goods produced in other countries.

The PROVE IT Act is an opportunity to make meaningful reforms. Verifiable data will be a useful tool for our government to build the bonds amongst our allies while putting a spotlight on global polluters and adversaries like China and Russia.

This bill will give credit where credit is due: the American innovators and workers who produce goods under the cleanest standards in the world. Senator Coons is a great partner in making the case, proving there can be bipartisan win-wins in Congress.

Newsmax Discusses FBI Tracking Chinese Nationals Posing as Tourists

I joined Greta Van Susteren on Newsmax to discuss the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Defense tracking more than 100 incidents of Chinese nationals posing as tourists to attempt to breach U.S. military bases and other federal sites.

There’s over 100 of [Chinese nationals posing as tourists] they've caught, or they've identified, but there could be thousands that are doing this, and nobody knows anything about it.

There are things that can be done and should be done, but we have to have an administration that's willing to do them—like we had when Mike Pompeo restricted the B-2 visas to one entry within a month, not multiple entries over the course of 10 years, which is something the Biden administration did away with as soon as he became president.

UND Hosts National Security Fellowship Investiture Ceremony

I joined the University of North Dakota (UND) President Dr. Andrew Armacost to celebrate the establishment of the Mark and Claudia Thompson Endowed Faculty Fellowship in National Security. The investiture ceremony recognized the endowment’s first recipient, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Jeremiah Neubert.

During his time at UND, Dr. Neubert has conducted research in education, visually controlled robotics, vision systems, and artificial neural networks. The majority of his work has focused on Unpiloted Aerial Systems (UAS) performing tasks such as tracking objects with a gimbal system, documenting the building construction, automated inspections of infrastructure, and wind turbine inspection.

Philanthropists Mark and Claudia Thompson, owners of H.A. Thompson and Sons, a plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and mechanical contractor services company headquartered in Bismarck, created this gift to enable the university to attract and retain highly skilled professionals while maintaining a prominent place in the country’s national security efforts.

Congratulations Dr. Jeremiah Neubert on being the first recipient of this prestigious endowment, and thank you Mark and Claudia Thompson for your incredible generosity. Whenever I think about how blessed I am to partner with UND, I am reminded how fortunate we are to have a leader like Andy Armacost as our president.

UND does incredible research which has contributed to the security of our nation, and to the security of free people around the world. When serving on the Senate Armed Services Committee, you get to advocate for things going on in your home state which have tremendous ramifications for the warfighter. Thank you General Armacost for letting me be a part of this celebration. I look forward to continuing to work with UND to support our national security.

A Strong Farm Bill Supports National Security

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I penned an op-ed in the Washington Examiner highlighting the need to pass a strong Farm Bill. Its passage would provide stability for farmers and ranchers while strengthening U.S. national security and soft power.

Smart, efficient federal programs allow farmers and ranchers to mitigate risk while maintaining strong food supply chains and promoting American leadership abroad. When we support and assist producers, we enable them to better feed, fuel, and clothe the world.

Derek Chollet, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Nominee

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I appreciated the chance to meet with Derek Chollet to discuss his nomination to be Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.

Admiral Lisa Franchetti, Chief of Naval Operations Nominee

It was great to sit down with Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the nominee to be Chief of Naval Operations. During our meeting, I invited her to visit North Dakota to see our state’s capabilities firsthand.

Kusti Salm, Permanent Secretary of Estonia’s Ministry of Defense

I was pleased to have a discussion with Kusti Salm, Permanent Secretary of Estonia's Ministry of Defense, regarding the war in Ukraine and Estonia’s strong example to NATO of robust defense spending.

Alzheimer's Walk in Bismarck

I gave remarks at the Alzheimer's Walk in Bismarck this weekend, addressing the importance of finding a cure for the disease. The real goal is to end this disease, and I can see a day when we end this. We have to keep providing the resources, intellect, and political pressure to get to that point.

Rail Companies Issue Status Reports on Grain Car Backlog

BNSF Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway 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 from the last 10 weeks is below.

HHS Awards More Than $1 Million for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded a total of $1,213,931 to the following programs and initiatives:

• $486,761 to the Spirit Lake Tribe for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Healthy Transitions grant project, which seeks to improve and expand access to appropriate services and supports for youth and young adults (ages 16-25) who either have, or are at risk for developing, serious mental health conditions.
• $727,170 for the Sanford Bismarck Healthy Transitions grant program.

National Park Service Awards More Than $730,000 to North Dakota Communities

The National Park Service, through the North Dakota Department of Parks and Recreation, awarded a total of $733,487 to the following projects through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF):

• $72,000 to the Mandan Park District towards the replacement of an existing playground at the Legion Park in order to improve accessibility and update the exterior of the warming house.
• $191,515 to the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians to build a splash pad at Ox Creek Park in Belcourt, N.D.
• $55,000 to Finley, N.D., to renovate Finley Park by replacing the current non-ADA compliant playground equipment with new, improved, safer ADA compliant equipment.
• $80,000 to Wishek, ND, to renovate their outdoor swimming pool by: fixing leaking pipes, replacing the pool filter system, installing new concrete pool walls, floor and PVC liner.
• $204,120 to Lakota, N.D., for the conversion of the currently unused and damaged wading pool into a zero-entry wading pool with splash features.
• $130,852 to Hazen, N.D., to improve public outdoor recreation opportunity for the community by renovating North Star Park.

NSF Awards $120,036 to NDSU for Cybersecurity Education and Training

The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a total of $120,036 to North Dakota State University (NDSU) to support cybersecurity education and training for Criminal Justice professionals.

The project will focus on providing scenario-based offensive security and web-based showcase labs with interactive simulations and case studies in three progressive courses.