Senator Cramer’s Weekly Update december 22 - January 2

U.S. Arrests Venezuelan Dictator Nicolás Maduro

At the direction of President Donald Trump, the United States conducted a joint interagency operation in the capital of Venezuela, successfully arresting dictator Nicolás Maduro and bringing him to America to face the justice system. President Trump said the operation was one of the “most stunning, effective, and powerful displays of American military might and confidence" throughout our nation's history.

General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the operation reflected unprecedented coordination between U.S. forces and the intelligence community. The mission, dubbed Operation Absolute Resolve, involved more than 150 aircraft executing a tightly synchronized global maneuver. According to Caine, the operation launched in the early hours of Jan. 2 and capped months of intensive planning, rehearsals, and interagency integration. He described it as a complex, high-risk mission that only the United States military has the capability to execute.

I issued the following statement on social media commending President Trump, our military, and our law enforcement community for a successful mission:

No half-measures. Under President Trump, with Secretary Rubio, Secretary Hegseth, Attorney General Bondi, FBI Director Patel, and our unmatched military, Nicolás Maduro has been taken into custody and will face justice in the United States. When America leads, the world is safer.

Welcoming the New Year

Happy New Year! I am blessed to be able to serve you, the people of North Dakota, as your United States Senator. I take the trust you put in me seriously, and I look forward to what we can accomplish together in 2026.

Sharing a Christmas Message of Joy and Hope

Each year at Christmas, we pause to focus on what truly matters: the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. May this season remind us true joy isn't found in our circumstances, but in the Savior born on Christmas Day. From my family to yours, have a joyful, merry, and peaceful Christmas.

North Dakota Recieves Nearly $200 Million for Rural Health Transformation Plan

When Congress passed the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, it established the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) to strengthen rural health care by providing states funding to support innovation, expand access, and enhance quality of care. The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) announced the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services will receive $199 million in initial funding for its RHTP. North Dakota’s approved application includes a five-year plan to strengthen and stabilize its rural workforce, bring high quality health care closer to home, and confront immediate threats to rural health while building lasting sustainability.

Rural hospitals are essential to the health and economic stability of their communities. The creation of this fund reflects a clear commitment by the Trump administration to prioritize rural healthcare and protect access to care where it is needed most. I look forward to this money getting to North Dakota and providing the support it was designed to deliver.

The unprecedented funding provides key opportunities for North Dakota’s rural health care systems:

Strengthens and Stabilizes Rural Health Workforce

The funding allows rural hospitals in North Dakota to expand rural healthcare training programs, improve retention in rural and Tribal communities, and use technology as an extender for rural providers.

Makes North Dakota Healthy Again

North Dakota’s RHTP initiatives support the launch of Eat Well ND to enhance nutrition education for North Dakotans, initiates ND Moves Together to provide education on the benefits of physical activity, and promotes connection and resilience to improve mental health with a focus on children.

Brings High-Quality Health Care Closer to Home

The state’s five-year plan right-sizes rural healthcare delivery systems, enhances the telehealth and mobile clinic infrastructure; and expands community health worker and paramedic infrastructure, training, and certification. It ensures rural residents have access to transportation to local health care facilities and develops care coordination programs for patients with chronic disease or behavioral health conditions.

Connects Tech, Data, and Providers for a Stronger North Dakota

North Dakota’s application outlines key initiatives to gain efficiency with modern tech and data, including cooperative purchasing agreements for technology, regulatory and financial infrastructure, use of staff, and bulk purchasing of supplies and equipment. It also summarizes plans to harness artificial intelligence to detect early signs of chronic disease and behavioral health conditions, expand the capacity of rural providers, and utilize new technology for rapid transport, automated prescription pickup kiosks, and laboratory capability to process self-collected specimens.

Passing of Former North Dakota Governor Allen I. Olson

Former North Dakota Governor Allen I. Olson, who served as the 28th governor from 1981 to 1984 and as the state’s attorney general from 1972 to 1980, passed away on Friday, Dec. 26. 

Al Olson was the first governor I met and voted for. He was always a class act. I have only good memories of him as a servant and as a North Dakota patriot. I pray God brings peace and comfort to his family and blesses his memory during times of grief.

Olson was born in Rolla and raised on a farm near Sarles. According to a release from Governor Kelly Armstrong’s office, he earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of North Dakota, then served in the U.S. Army as a Judge Advocate General’s Corps lawyer and as chief of military justice in Munich, Germany. The release said, "In 1967 he returned to North Dakota and served as assistant director of the Legislative Research Committee (now Legislative Council) from 1967 to 1969, directing the state’s first study of strip mining, soil banks and land reclamation." Olson was elected as attorney general in 1972 and was re-elected to a second term in 1976. He was then elected governor in 1980.  During his time as governor, Olson worked with the Task Force on Drunk Driving, supported the Garrison Diversion program, and oversaw the creation of the Department of Human Services and Cross Ranch State Park.

Next Generation of Leaders: 2025 Service Academy Nominees Announced

The five United States service academies train future officers for the nation's armed forces, providing rigorous leadership, military, and academic training for a commissioned officer role after graduation. This year, I had the honor of nominating two young patriots: Cormac Dunnick and Oliver Schaefer.

One of the great joys of serving North Dakota in Congress is nominating some of our best young patriots for appointments to our service academies. After visiting with Cormac and Oliver, I am honored and grateful they are willing to answer the call to serve. They will be great ambassadors of our state.

I nominated Cormac to the U.S. Military academy (West Point). The son of Ev and Kendra Dunnick, he competes in basketball and trapshooting. He is a member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and enjoys hunting, weight-lifting, and golf. Cormac is from Grand Forks and attends Red River High School.

Additionally, I nominated Oliver to the U.S. Air Force Academy. The son of Mark and Kristi Schaefer, he competes in track and field and cross country. He volunteers for the Serenity Therapeutic Equine Program and enjoys reading, military history, and board games. Oliver is from Minot and attends Des Lacs Burlington High School.

North Dakota students interested in pursuing an appointment to a U.S. service academy can find more information here or reach out to my Military Academy Coordinator in Grand Forks with any questions at 701-205-6576.

Bill Introduced to Reauthorize Wildlife Crossings Program

The Wildlife Crossings Program provides grants for infrastructure improvements designed to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions. States and tribes can apply for grants to create safe paths for wildlife to cross roads and highways, often in the form of enlarged culverts, underpasses, and bridges. The program was authorized for five years in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which is set to expire next year. I partnered with U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), John Curtis (R-UT), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) to introduce legislation to reauthorize the program.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law created the Wildlife Crossings Program to better protect people and animals from the dangers of vehicle collisions, especially in rural states like North Dakota where the two frequently cross paths. Our bill reauthorizes and expands the program to support infrastructure projects directly aimed at improving roadway safety. I’m grateful to Senator Alsobrooks for her leadership of this bipartisan effort, which will benefit critters and communities across the nation.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, each year there are over 1 million wildlife vehicle collisions. These accidents result in tens of thousands of injuries, hundreds of fatalities, and cost over $8 billion.

Mark Wiseman Named Next Ambassador of Canada to the U.S.

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Mark Wiseman will become the next Ambassador of Canada to the United States on Feb. 15. Wiseman's career spans three decades in law, business, and finance.

I look forward to working with incoming Canadian Ambassador to the United States Mark Wiseman to address the many challenges our two great nations face.