Senator Cramer’s Weekly Update August 21 - August 27

Orphaned Wells in North Dakota Plugged, Reclaimed With REGROW Act

I visited two orphaned well sites outside of Minot with the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources. The two sites are in the process of being plugged and reclaimed by the state with funding from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included Senator Ben Ray Luján’s (D-NM) and my REGROW Act.

Orphaned wells are wells which are no longer in use and according to the U.S. Department of the Interior, are “environmental hazards and jeopardize public health and safety.” Also known as abandoned wells, they can contaminate groundwater, emit noxious gases, limit productive land use, create flooding and sinkhole risks, and can harm wildlife.

We took a really good idea created by the state of North Dakota and we ran with it. This brilliant idea used federal pandemic assistance dollars to keep oilfield workers employed during an economic downturn using the very skills they've learned from producing oil and put them to reclaiming old abandoned oil wells.

This is a win-win-win for workers, the environment, and North Dakotans. We can use the land to mine what's underneath it for the good of the economy, our national security and our country, and for the good of society. This land can take on a new purpose and grow food all over again like it did before an oil well ever existed here.

U.S. Bank Fargo Call Center Hosts Tour, Employee Town Hall

I participated in a tour of the U.S. Bank call center in Fargo and answered questions at an employee town hall. The Fargo operations center is home to 400 employees in the greater Fargo-Moorhead area.

Established in 1996, this center provides credit card customer service to small businesses, consumer cards, and corporate and government clients, as well as 1,300 small banks across the U.S. through Elan Financial Products, producing 15 million cards annually.

The round-the-clock nature of a service center means employees are the front-facing side of an institution handling the millions of customers and cards within U.S. Bank. To be able to do their jobs with precision is critical, but a human touch and compassion matters too.

Too often Washington is focused on punitive regulations, but satisfying customers is the best incentive for banks to be successful. As a U.S. Bank customer myself, it was a great opportunity to interact with the team at the call center.

Christians United for Israel Hosts Night to Honor Israel

It was truly special to speak at Christians United for Israel’s (CUFI) Night to Honor Israel in Bismarck. Thank you to CUFI and Pastor John Hagee for your incredible ministry, vision, and leadership. This work is critical to remind the church about our connection to God's chosen people in Israel.

Senate Armed Services Republicans Request Department of Defense Halt Auctions of Border Wall Materials

I joined Republican members of the Senate Armed Services Committee in a letter to Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary Lloyd Austin to request termination of sales on all border wall construction materials. The letter follows reports the DoD is aiming to quickly dispose of the parts before provisions of the FINISH IT Act can be implemented.

We are deeply disappointed to learn that rather than using construction materials that were purchased to secure the southwest border for that purpose, the Department of Defense has begun auctioning these materials off for other purposes.

The Biden administration can't be trusted to secure the southern border. Instead of finishing the wall, it has the audacity to try and quickly auction off materials before Congress passes a law blocking them. The FINISH IT Act will require the Department to use these construction materials to secure the southwest border as originally intended, or to transfer them to border states for that purpose.

Senators Demand Answers After Biden Admin Releases $6 Billion to Iran in Secret Negotiation

I joined my Senate Republican colleagues in a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen demanding answers regarding the approximately $6 billion released to Iran in exchange for American prisoners.

When the Obama administration released $400 million in liquidated assets to Iran in 2016, we warned that this dangerous precedent would put a price on American lives. Seven years later, the current administration is providing a ransom payment worth at least fifteen times that amount to the world’s largest state sponsor of terror, in yet another violation of the United States’ long-standing ‘no concessions’ policy.

Attorney General Merrick Garland Visits Fargo and Bismarck

I issued the following statement regarding Attorney General Merrick Garland’s visit to Fargo and Bismarck to meet with local, state, and federal law enforcement officials.

I extend a warm North Dakota welcome to Attorney General Merrick Garland. North Dakota is a special place committed to the rule of law and safe communities. I always appreciate when federal leaders choose to visit our state and see firsthand its unique capabilities, great people, and natural beauty.

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.

Citizens' Climate Lobby

It was great to visit with North Dakota members of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby about the PROVE IT Act, which I introduced with Senator Chris Coons (D-DE). We also discussed grazing management, cleaning up orphaned wells, and permitting reform.

Emily Wilcox

I appreciate Emily Wilcox visiting my Fargo office to share with me about the Great Clips franchise locations she operates across North Dakota and the issues cosmetologists face in our state.

Missouri River Energy Services

It was great to have the opportunity to attend a Missouri River Energy Services meeting in Valley City to discuss reliable electricity, transmission and tax policy, and to see my friend, Mayor Dave Carlsrud. Missouri River Energy Services is helping keep the lights on for 61 communities in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa.

Bismarck Airport TSA Tour

I had the chance to meet with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) federal security officials to see firsthand screening technology at the Bismarck Airport which is improving the safety and passenger experience of airline travelers.

LifeSource

I met with members of LifeSource, an Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) headquartered in Minneapolis, to learn more about its mission of saving lives through organ, eye, and tissue donation. Each OPO is assigned its own donation service area, and LifeSource serves North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and portions of Wisconsin.

North Dakota Retail Association and North Dakota Petroleum Marketers Association

I enjoyed meeting with folks from the North Dakota Retail Association and North Dakota Petroleum Marketers Association. The small businesses they represent are the heart of our main streets, and I appreciated hearing how I can help them thrive.

City of Horace Bean Days

I enjoyed participating in the City of Horace’s Bean Day parade with Mayor Kory Peterson for the city's celebration of its 150th anniversary. It was great to see so many familiar faces.

EPA Awards Nearly $800,000 to the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a total of $792,192 to the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ) for the following programs and initiatives:

- $693,192 to the NDDEQ through Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grants, which will fund activities that demonstrate progress toward the National Recycling Goal and Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal and advance a Circular Economy for materials, as well as support the state-led implementation of plans to advance post-consumer materials management

- $99,000 to the NDDEQ to provide low interest financing for costs associated with the planning, design and construction of eligible drinking water improvement projects and activities to protect human health