Senator Cramer’s Weekly Update March 17 - 21

Jury Finds Greenpeace Liable for Damages Against Energy Transfer and Dakota Access Pipeline

Last week, a jury found Greenpeace liable for defamation for its involvement in the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) protests in Morton County in 2016-17 against DAPL parent company, Energy Transfer. As a result of the verdict, Greenpeace will pay about $660 million in damages to Energy Transfer and Dakota Access LLC.

This is what justice looks like in America. This is what happens when common sense prevails. I'm grateful to Energy Transfer for initiating the lawsuit, and for not just walking away, which it certainly could have done.

Justice has been done with Greenpeace and its radical environmentalist buddies who encouraged this destructive behavior during the Dakota Access Pipeline protests with their defamatory and false claims about the pipeline. They can think twice now about doing it again. Congratulations to Energy Transfer on the big victory. Thank you for your investment in North Dakota, in American excellence, and in this important fight.

NDSU Bison to Visit White House and U.S. Capitol on April 9

The North Dakota delegation announced the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Bison football team will visit the White House and U.S. Capitol on April 9, where they will meet with President Trump in honor of the team winning the NCAA Division I FCS national championship.

Like President Trump, the Bison never get tired of winning. Looking forward to celebrating our victory together.

President Trump, Defense Secretary Hegseth Award Boeing U.S. Air Force's NGAD F-47 Fighter Contract

President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the award of a contract to Boeing, as part of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Program. This will build the next-generation U.S. fighter jet, the F-47.

Peace through Strength is back. This is what deterrence looks like, and a lot more. Thank you President Trump, Secretary Hegseth, and the Air Force!

North Dakota Delegation Introduces Bill to Empower Greater Development of State-Owned Energy Resources

I joined U.S. Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) and U.S. Representative Julie Fedorchak to introduce the bicameral North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act to enable greater development of state-owned lands and minerals.

Specifically, the bill would authorize the State of North Dakota to relinquish state-owned lands and minerals contained within the Tribal Reservations to the U.S. Department of the Interior and, in exchange, receive federal land and minerals of equal value within North Dakota. The delegation secured Senate passage of the legislation last Congress, a critical step that will help streamline the bill’s advancement in the 119th Congress.

Our Trust Lands Completion Act is a win-win-win solution for North Dakota, tribes, and the federal government. It’s proof not every transaction in Washington requires a loser. This will restore tribal land ownership and go a long way toward simplifying energy and resource development to generate more revenue for education in the state. It’s time to pass this bill.

Letter on Chinese Adoptions Sent to President Trump

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) halted all international adoptions, except those between blood relatives, in August 2024. Approximately 300 children in the PRC had been matched with American families prior to the announcement.

As a co-chair of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, I joined U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and U.S. Representatives Robert Aderholt (R-AL-04) and Danny Davis (D-IL-07), along with U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), in sending a bipartisan, bicameral letter to President Trump requesting he engage with the Chinese government to finalize the pending adoption cases.

The sudden termination of China’s adoption program in August 2024 only exacerbated our concern for these children’s well-being. Many of these children have special health care needs, and some will soon age out of care systems without the support of a permanent family. It is particularly critical that these children have access to the care and support that they need — which hundreds of American families approved for adoption are willing to provide.

This follows similar efforts requesting President Biden intervene and urge the PRC to complete pending adoptions and requesting the Department of State seek further clarification on the details and reasoning for China’s decision. The letter was signed by 41 Senators and 58 Representatives.

Four Bills Introduced to End Biden EV Mandates

The Biden administration repeatedly issued regulations directing the mass adoption of electric vehicles (EV) by consumers. These regulations forced manufacturers of cars and trucks to build more and more EVs, and even ban the sale of gasoline powered vehicles.

I joined U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Mike Lee (R-UT) in co-sponsoring four bills to protect consumer choice in automotive markets and roll back the misguided, overbearing rules.

For four long years, the Biden administration pushed EV mandate after EV mandate, attempting to force consumers toward costly vehicles. These bills roll back Washington’s burdensome, heavy-handed rules, putting consumers and their choice in the driver’s seat.

The Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act, led by Senator Crapo, repeals the Biden Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final tailpipe emissions standards for passenger cars and trucks, which are a de facto mandate for electric vehicles, and ensures future tailpipe regulations do not limit the availability of new motor vehicles based on their engine type.

Senator Mullin’s bill, the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act, preserves consumer choice and maintains competition in the automotive markets by preventing the implementation of the Biden EPA’s Advanced Clean Cars II regulation, which bans the sale of all conventional gasoline-powered cars by 2035.

The Freedom to Haul Act, introduced by Senator Sullivan, will safeguard the trucking industry from impractical and costly mandates by preventing the implementation of the Biden EPA’s “Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3” rule, a de facto EV mandate on the trucking industry.

Finally, Senator Lee’s Stop California from Advancing Regulatory Burden (Stop CARB) Act eliminates Clean Air Act waiver exemptions which allow California and other states to dictate national emissions standards. California has over 100 active waivers that set higher emissions standards than the EPA, increasing costs and decreasing consumer choice in vehicles.

North Dakota National Guard Roughrider Conference

Such a blessing to speak with our North Dakota National Guard members at their Roughrider Conference last week in Bismarck and thank them for their unparalleled service both abroad and here at home. I always value an opportunity to engage on critical matters such as their important work at the southern border and fighting floods and fires, and their diplomatic role with the State Partnership Program.

The NDNG is on the front line of future technology to strengthen our national security, and advancing these opportunities will remain a top priority for my office.

National Agriculture Day

On National Agriculture Day, we recognize our outstanding farmers, ranchers, and producers who feed and fuel the world. Every day is Agriculture Day in North Dakota. Thank you for your hard work!

Land Transferred from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Spirit Lake Tribe

The U.S. Department of the Interior announced the completion of its land transfer to the Spirit Lake Tribe.

Thank you, Secretary Burgum, for completing the transfer of hundreds of unused acres back to the Spirit Lake Tribe from the Fish and Wildlife Service. It is a recognition of tribal sovereignty and treaty rights. FWS has not used the land for grazing in decades, and it is only right that it be returned and the Spirit Lake Tribe to determine its use.

USDA Announces Details for Emergency Commodity Assistance Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced additional information on the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program market-based assistance.

Thanks to President Trump, Secretary Rollins, and Senator Hoeven for a prompt rollout of the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program. From adverse weather events to trade disputes, our producers are routinely on the frontline. With spring work weeks away, this $10 billion is a timely reinforcement to support their vital efforts.

Interview with "Mornings with Maria" on Fox Business

I joined Maria Bartiromo on Fox Business to discuss the recent moves by a blatantly biased left-wing judge to block the Trump administration's deportation flights. We also spoke about spending cuts and the budget resolution.