Senator Cramer’s Weekly Update May 5 - 9

MOMS Act Introduced to Support and Empower Mothers

Pro-life members of Congress have long recognized the importance of providing strong support for pregnant mothers. To honor moms across the country ahead of Mother’s Day, I joined U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-AL) and Eric Schmitt (R-MO) in introducing our More Opportunities for Moms to Succeed (MOMS) Act. The bill provides resources and support for women in the earliest stages of motherhood, including prenatal, postpartum, and early childhood.

The MOMS Act includes my Unborn Child Support Act which supports expectant mothers and their unborn children by giving them the option to receive child support from the father during pregnancy. It also authorizes the creation of Pregnancy.gov, a federal clearinghouse with information about pregnancy resource centers, adoption agencies, and a national list of federal funding opportunities for non-profits and healthcare entities. The MOMS Act establishes a grant program to support women in carrying their pregnancies to term and care for their newborn babies. It also creates a grant program to expand access to prenatal and postnatal telehealth appointments in rural and medically underserved areas.

Supporting moms throughout motherhood is essential to fostering a culture of life, and we want moms empowered and supported. The MOMS Act will help provide them with the resources they need in the early stages of motherhood, and help them gain access to the child support payments they may need.

VA Secretary Collins Questioned on Veteran Access to Care

Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Doug Collins testified before the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) about the future of the VA. During the hearing, I emphasized the nationwide health care labor shortage, which can be addressed in part through VA and rural provider partnerships with rural critical access hospitals.

North Dakota is in this rectangular spot in the middle of the North American continent that's about 350 miles across and about 200 miles up and down, there are 36 critical access hospitals in rural communities.

Fortuna, North Dakota to Fargo, North Dakota, where the only VA Hospital is 412 miles [away] and takes roughly six hours and 19 minutes if you don't stop to go to the bathroom.

North Dakota’s 36 critical access hospitals often have available beds space capacity to serve additional patients, which could help alleviate backlogs at VA facilities. There is an abundance of community infrastructure not being utilized. There must be a way to better utilize existing infrastructure, save money, and create opportunity for veterans and struggling hospitals in rural America.

Bill Introduced to Strengthen Civilian Defense Workforce

The United States civilian defense and national security workforce is experiencing shortages in crucial areas, particularly cybersecurity. To address these shortages and improve recruiting for the defense industrial base, I joined U.S. Senators and fellow members of the Senate Armed Services Committee Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Mike Rounds (R-SD), in introducing the Defense Workforce Integration Act.

This bipartisan legislation would bolster the civilian defense and national security workforce by leveraging existing programs and best practices within the U.S. Department of Defense to retain the talent and motivation of those who desire to serve in uniform but are medically disqualified.

Our civilian defense and national security workforce mightily contribute to the safety and security of the country. Many Americans are medically disqualified from military duty and civilian careers each year, yet they have valuable skills and a desire to serve. This bipartisan bill streamlines the hiring of these candidates for other positions, so we can preserve talent, fill vital vacant positions, and foster growth in the industrial base.

Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Improve Home Appraisal Process

U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) joined me in introducing the bipartisan Appraisal Industry Improvement Act to improve access to housing in rural communities.

Rural housing markets are experiencing a shortage of trained appraisers and an aging appraiser workforce. Two thirds of appraisers are older than 51, while only 13% are younger than 35. These dynamics contribute to worker shortages, resulting in delays for appraisals and extending the homebuying process for purchasers and sellers. North Dakotans have experienced an average wait time of 21 days for home appraisals, while the national average is between six to nine days.

Housing markets, and especially rural markets like the ones we see across North Dakota, are negatively impacted by a shortage of trained appraisers. Our economy has a labor crunch and appraisers are no exception. Adding state-licensed appraisers to the national registry and supporting training and education efforts are solutions to speeding up the homebuying process. This bill improves access to the housing market without decreasing the quality of appraisals.

To support the home appraisal workforce and speed up the appraisal process, the bill will add state credentialed trainee appraisers to the national Appraiser Registry run by the Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council as well as add representation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Housing Service. It also allows ASC grants for state appraiser certification and licensing agencies to support education and training to address appraiser industry workforce needs. The legislation authorizes ASC to decrease annual registry fees if they determine the fees adversely impact functions and renews licensed residential appraisers’ ability to conduct appraisals on FHA properties.

Nick Chase Nominated to Serve as U.S. Attorney for North Dakota

President Trump nominated Nicholas W. Chase to serve as United States Attorney for the District of North Dakota. Earlier this year, U.S. Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) and I recommended President Trump nominate Chase for the position.

Chase serves as a North Dakota District Court Judge for the East Central Judicial District appointed by Governor Doug Burgum. He previously served for 20 years in the U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of North Dakota, including as Acting U.S. Attorney and First Assistant U.S. Attorney. A North Dakota native, Chase has also worked in private practice and as a federal judicial law clerk.

We appreciate the Trump administration nominating Nick to be the U.S. Attorney for North Dakota, and will work to advance his confirmation as quickly as possible. Nick has dedicated his career to public service and the pursuit of justice in North Dakota and has a proven record of building cooperation among federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies.

Interview with Larry Kudlow on Fox Business

U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and I joined Larry Kudlow to talk about Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and Ambassador Greer's upcoming meeting with China on trade policy. Spoiler alert: President Trump has a strong hand.

Interview with Red River Farm Network

Red River Farm Network’s Jamie Dickerman stopped by while he was in Washington, D.C., to discuss the Farm Bill and President Trump’s trade strategy. I also told Jamie that President Trump understands we are five percent of the world’s population and 20 percent of the world’s consumption. We have the largest economy in the world, and the president been trying to leverage that in his negotiations to achieve fairer treatment of the U.S. on trade.

Statement on Pope Leo XIV's Election

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost's election as Pope marks the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church and over a billion Catholics worldwide.

United States - United Kingdom Trade Deal Announced

President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a trade deal between the United States and the United Kingdom (UK). The agreement includes billions of dollars in expanded access for American agricultural exports to the UK.

Successful Stratolaunch Hypersonic Test Flight

The Department of Defense announced Stratolaunch’s successful hypersonic test flight with successful recovery of all payloads. This was the first reusable hypersonic flight test since the X-15 program ended in 1968.

Jerry and Renae Doan

Thanks to Jerry and Renae Doan for stopping by while they were in D.C. The best stewards of the environment are the farmers and ranchers who work the land every day, not Washington bureaucrats.

Jackie Cushman - Adams Memorial Commission

Great to sit down with Jackie Cushman from the Adams Memorial Commission to discuss efforts to commemorate John Adams, John Quincy Adams, their remarkable family, and the instrumental roles they played in our nation’s founding.

AIPAC

Grateful to meet with Yehuda Neuberger of AIPAC to discuss the importance of the bilateral U.S.-Israel defense partnership and the need to tighten existing sanctions on Iran.

American Land Title Association

Had a great discussion with American Land Title Association members from North Dakota about my SECURE Notarization Act during their visit to Washington. Thanks for stopping by!

Clint Romesha - America's Warrior Partnership

It was nice catching up with Medal of Honor recipient and North Dakotan Clint Romesha and CEO of America’s Warrior Partnership Jim Lorraine. We discussed their work with North Dakota veterans and how they are helping prevent suicides.

Honeywell Aerospace

As Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee Airland Subcommittee, I enjoyed meeting with the Honeywell Aerospace Technologies team to hear about their F-35 Power and Thermal Management System.

American Road & Transportation Builders Association

With North Dakota’s rural population, transportation infrastructure is a key piece of our economic puzzle. I met with the American Road and Transportation Builders Association and discussed my vision for a highway reauthorization bill. The sooner we can get it done the better it will be for North Dakota and the country.