Senator Cramer’s Weekly Update November 17-21

Receiving the National Council for Adoption's Friend of Adoption Award

The National Council For Adoption (NCFA) held its Adoption Hall of Fame ceremony to honor individuals “who have made significant contributions to building a culture that supports all members of the adoption constellation.” NCFA awarded me with the Friend of Adoption Award to recognize my commitment and contributions to the cause of adoption. My wife, Kris, and I are adoptive parents, and adoption is one of the greatest joys of my life.

This past summer, I shepherded through a provision in the Working Families Tax Cuts bill to restore partial refundability of the Adoption Tax Credit (ATC) for the first time since 2011, easing the financial cost of adoption and supporting prospective and adoptive families. As of September, significant changes to the tax credit’s refundability have already taken effect for tax year 2025 to provide relief for lower- and middle-income families. To ensure the successful administration of the restored ATC this tax filing season, I joined the rest of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption co-chairs in sending a letter to the Internal Revenue Service urging the administration to work together to improve the process, so families can effectively utilize the credit. In a strong show of the bipartisanship inherent in adoption advocacy, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced me at the ceremony and presented me with the NCFA’s Friend of Adoption Award. We serve as Senate co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Coalition on Adoption. Our shared commitment to supporting adoption in Congress has led to partnering on other bipartisan issues.

Adoption unites us because children are worth uniting for. It’s really an honor to receive the National Council For Adoption’s Friend of Adoption Award. Being able to work on behalf of adoption, this cause that matters so much, is a great joy.

I frequently partner with Klobuchar on adoption legislation, like the Supporting Adopted Children and Families Act to expand eligible uses of federal adoption funding, and the Safe Home Act to spread awareness of the practice of unregulated custody transfers.

U.S. Air Force Welcomes General Ken Wilsbach as Chief of Staff

General Ken Wilsbach formally assumed responsibility of serving as the U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff during a ceremony at Joint Base Andrews. As the 24th Air Force Chief of Staff, he oversees 665,000 active, guard, reserve, and civilian personnel, and sets the strategic direction for force modernization and global operations. General Wilsbach previously served as the Commander of Air Combat Command (ACC), which operates more than 1,600 aircraft, 35 wings, 12 bases, and 1,371 units at more than 263 operating locations worldwide, with 155,205 total military and civilian personnel. ACC develops strategy, doctrine, concepts, tactics and procedures for air, space, and cyber-power employment. It was an honor to attend the ceremony and celebrate General Wilsbach’s milestone.

Attending the Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia, Canada

Each year, global defense leaders from more than 80 countries gather in Nova Scotia, Canada, for the Halifax International Security Forum (HFX). Framed around the themes of “Dialogue, Decency, Democracy,” the 2025 forum showcased the United States’ commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the strength of the U.S.-Canada partnership, and collective security challenges facing democratic allies around the world. I traveled to Halifax for the annual event with a bipartisan group of my Senate colleagues. I participated in a panel, moderated by CBC Radio host Susan Bonner, examining how democracies pair power with moral responsibility. The panel, titled, “Democracies Demand Decency,” focused on how the future of democracies is determined by the citizens who vote and the institutions, leaders, and values they vote for.

In our unique form of democracy, a representative republic where the citizens are self-governed and the government is a true reflection of the people, the future is shaped by the citizens, not the preferences of self-ascribed world leaders. I was very encouraged over the last couple of days by the commitment and conviction of European leaders, Canadian Members of Parliament, the Minister of National Defence, and others. I’m very grateful to Senator Shaheen for thinking me worthy, frankly, and inviting me here to Halifax. But without question, as intriguing and compelling as some of the panels were, the bilateral meetings were really of the upmost importance this weekend.

While in Halifax, I met with key leaders from across the globe, including Canadian Member of Parliament James Bezan, Canada’s Minister of National Defence David McGuinty, European Union Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Taiwan Chen Ming-chi, and more.

Resolution Passed Recognizing National Adoption Month and Day

Across the United States, more than 100,000 children in foster care are waiting to be adopted. For many, adoption provides children the stability of a permanent home and the opportunity they need to thrive. To encourage families throughout the nation to consider adoption, as co-chairs of the Senate Congressional Coalition on Adoption (CCA), I partnered with U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) to pass a resolution designating November as National Adoption Month and Nov. 22 as National Adoption Day. Since the first National Adoption Day in 2000, more than 85,000 children have joined permanent families through celebrations happening across the country. In 2023 alone, 50,193 children were adopted from foster care. Yet 36,411 children remained in foster care despite being legally free for adoption and having a primary permanency plan of adoption.

The resolution celebrates children and families involved in adoption, as well as promotes national awareness of adoption and children awaiting families. It importantly encourages Americans to prioritize the safety, permanency, and welfare of all children.

NTIA Approves North Dakota’s Final Proposal for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced it approved North Dakota's final proposal for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, which was a product of the fully-paid-for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Approval of North Dakota’s proposal makes it one step closer to being the first state in the nation to be 100% connected with reliable, high-speed internet.

The state utilizes allocated funds through the BEAD program to expand access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet service. These funds will be used for infrastructure deployment projects and other initiatives to help bridge the digital divide.

EPA, Army Corps Unveil WOTUS Proposal

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the Trump administration's proposed definition for Waters of the United States (WOTUS).

We all know agriculture and energy are North Dakota’s economic foundation. We feed and fuel the world, but these industries really need regulatory stability to attract the type of investment we need to thrive. Thank you to President Trump, EPA Administrator Zeldin, Assistant Administrator Kramer, and the state of North Dakota for fighting back against the overreach and serving as North Dakota’s true water protectors.

Letter Calls for Suspension of Chief Judge Boasberg

I joined U.S. Senators Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Mike Lee (R-UT), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) in calling for Chief Judge Boasberg to be suspended. He undermined confidence in the courts, short circuited due process, and played a partisan role in the Arctic Frost probe, ignoring his responsibility to uphold the law in the Constitution.

In a letter to United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan, we asked for Chief Judge Srinivasan to suspend Judge Boasberg for "his role in improperly granting gag orders in the Arctic Frost probe."

Lieutenant General Christopher LaNeve, nominee for Vice Chief of Staff of the Army

Lieutenant General Christopher LaNeve is a fantastic nominee for Vice Chief of Staff of the Army. We discussed his vision for acquisition reform and maintaining a flexible force well into the future.

Broadband Association of North Dakota

North Dakota is a national leader in providing access to high-speed and reliable broadband. I enjoyed visiting with members of the Broadband Association of North Dakota during their trip to Washington. We talked about the future of the Universal Service Fund and their efforts to ensure every corner of North Dakota is 100% connected.