Senator Cramer's Weekly Update January 27 - 31

Doug Burgum Sworn in as Interior Secretary

Former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has become the 55th Secretary of the Department of Interior. He was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday by a vote of 79-18 and sworn in on Friday.

Burgum is the second North Dakotan to lead the Interior Department. Thomas S. Kleppe served as Secretary in 1975 - 1977 under President Ford.

Doug Burgum is tailor-made for the Secretary of the Interior. North Dakota embodies Teddy Roosevelt’s multiple use doctrine for public lands, balancing energy development, ranching, conservation, and recreation on some of the most beautiful, productive landscapes in the nation. Doug’s leadership in North Dakota and coordination with our tribes are models for our nation. He has a lot of work to do righting the ship, but his consensus-driven leadership style is up to the task.

EPW Announces Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee Leadership

The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee announced my Chairmanship of the Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Subcommittee for the 119th Congress. I previously served as Ranking Member of the subcommittee from 2021 to 2024.

The T&I Subcommittee has jurisdiction over the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water projects, civil works projects, public buildings, and regional economic development. During my tenure on EPW, the committee has debated and unanimously passed the most substantive highway bill in history and three consecutive Water Resource Development Acts, all of which were signed into law.

The T&I Subcommittee is one of the few places left in Congress where bipartisanship and regular order are the norm, and why not? Americans expect and they understand their roads, bridges, waterways, and efficient interstate commerce are both a federal responsibility and a priority.

My goal on the committee is to improve the nation’s infrastructure by getting the next highway bill and the Water Resources Development Act done on time while right-sizing the bloated federal real estate portfolio. We have a lot to do and I’m look forward to working with Chairman Capito, and Ranking Member Whitehouse, and my colleagues on the committee, and of course the Trump administration to get the job done.

I will also serve on the Senate Environment and Public Works Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Innovation and Safety Subcommittee, as well as the Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife Subcommittee.

Lee Zeldin - New EPA Administrator

The United States Senate confirmed Lee Zeldin to serve as the 17th Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Wednesday, by a vote of 56 to 42.

Lee is primed and ready to slash the mountains of backwards regulations at the EPA to restore primacy of states and common sense. I look forward to working with him as he brings some sanity back to EPA and makes the bureaucracy work for the people it purportedly serves.

Scott Bessent Sworn in As Secretary of Treasury Following Senate Confirmation

The Senate confirmed Scott Bessent to serve as the 77th Secretary of the Treasury by a vote of 68 to 29 on Monday.

Scott Bessent is right. “We do not have a revenue problem in the United States of America, we have a spending problem.” Let’s get the government out of the way to unleash the power and competitiveness of our workers and deliver the America First economic agenda POTUS promised.

Sean Duffy Becomes New Secretary of Transportation

Sean Duffy whas become the 20th Secretary of Transportation following his Senate confirmation vote of 77 to 22 on Wednesday.

Strong economies depend on safe, efficient transportation infrastructure. Sean Duffy will focus on building and fixing our roads, waterways, and bridges. As we begin work on the next highway bill, I look forward to working with my former House colleague in his new role as Secretary!

Chevron Partners with Engine No 1. to Power Data Centers

Chevron, the second-largest energy producer in the United States, announced a partnership with Engine No. 1 to power data centers with American natural gas.

Data centers need abundant electricity and the United States, including North Dakota, has abundant natural gas to meet the need. It is good to see Chevron lean in on domestic energy production!

Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing Highlights Defense Innovation and Acquisition Reform

The Department of Defense (DOD) has faced criticism for its slow and cumbersome acquisition system, which has hampered the timely delivery of advanced technologies to the warfighters. The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) held a hearing to discuss the use of defense innovation and acquisition reform to address longstanding challenges in the DOD’s procurement processes.

We heard testimony from three witnesses: former Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition James Geurts; Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Palantir Technologies Shyam Sankar; and Chief Executive Officer of Divergent Technologies Nathan Diller.

I highlighted the need for implementing the right technology and acquisition reforms to move at the speed of China and other adversaries.

When I first joined SASC, DOD was considering bids for a cloud computing contract known as Jedi. In early 2019, the department selected Microsoft and Amazon to compete for the contract, which was ultimately awarded to Microsoft. Predictably this led to an immediate protest. This back and forth resulted in a delayed award for a critically important product DOD needed.

I was very frustrated by the ability of a company who didn't win the contract, […] to protest the company who did and then hold up modernization by five years. […] But then we fast forward to today, where we read about now what I believe to be the most innovative agency within the DOD, the Space Development Agency, which has been under attack since the day we stood it up by swamp creatures, legacy space operators, and legacy acquisition and procurement officials, and a protest that I almost guarantee will slow [down] the proliferated warfighter space architecture, which is the worst thing that could happen.

Secretary of the Army Nominee Questioned about Delayed Establishment of Western Water Cooperative Committee During SASC Confirmation Hearing

The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) held a hearing to consider the nomination of Dan Driscoll to be the 26th Secretary of the Army. Driscoll, who was nominated by President Donald Trump in December, is a businessman, Army veteran, and Yale Law School graduate.

In this position, Driscoll would have the primary responsibility of overseeing all aspects of the U.S. Army. Among other duties, he will be tasked with recruiting, organizing, supplying, equipping, training, mobilizing and demobilizing personnel, maintaining military equipment, the construction of buildings and utilities, and the acquisition of real property necessary to carry out responsibilities. The Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) also reports to the Secretary of the Army.

I asked Driscoll about bipartisan language I authored in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022 requiring the USACE to establish a Western Water Cooperative Committee (WWCC). The WWCC provides North Dakota and other Western states with a platform to bring problems directly to the USACE and help ensure USACE policies align with state water rights and water laws.

While the legislation was signed into law December 2022, and fully funded a year later, the WWCC has not been established yet. After sending a letter to the Army Corps with U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) last October, some clarity has been given on the process the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Army are working through.

I was told the WWCC’s charter currently sits before the DOD's Advisory Committee Management Office and will be approved within 30 days, at which point it moves back to the Army for action.

It’s a law! It's been approved by the only people that matter, the people in Congress and the President of the United States. So, 30 days to approve something that they're required to do by law seems a little outrageous to me, but I'm going to be generous today. After the ‘30 days,’ which we'll see, I’ll believe it when I see it, it goes back to the Army for action. […] That doesn’t give me a lot of solace. […] It’s a law, and has been a law for over two years.

I then asked Driscoll if he would commit to getting the charter approved by DOD’s Advisory Committee Management Office at least within 30 days, if not earlier.

“Unequivocally, Senator,” said Driscoll. “I intend to work with this committee and follow the law, and so I would absolutely commit to looking into that.”

SVAC Hearing Focuses on Veteran Access to Care

The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) held a hearing to examine and discuss the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Care program. Veterans and advocates appeared before the committee to highlight their experiences and the ongoing challenges veterans face when accessing care from VA direct care system and community providers.

In a rural state like North Dakota, with limited VA providers and facilities, the Community Care Program is a lifeline for many veterans looking to receive timely care at a location close to their home. However, the VA continues to put up road blocks for veterans trying to utilize this option.

During the hearing, I emphasized the workforce shortage the healthcare industry is facing, reiterating the staffing mandate issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that makes it even worse. The rule requires the implementation of new staffing requirements at long-term care facilities which are already understaffed due to a lack of workforce. I said, "Access is not just about the quality of care. It’s about access, period, if the alternative is none."

I think the best way to improve care is competition. Whether it's a competition between the private sector and the public sector, or two private sectors, or two public sector agencies, a little bit of competition is fine. I don't want to gut the VA's direct care system […] that said, there are all kinds of barriers to Community Care, a lot of it is the bureaucracy itself.

AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act Introduced

Each week, nearly 47 million Americans rely on AM radio to deliver updates on news, sports, weather, and emergency alerts. Despite this, several car manufacturers proposed removing AM radio in their newer vehicles.

I joined U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Ed Markey (D-MA) in introducing the bipartisan, bicameral AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. The legislation aims to address critical public safety and communication challenges by ensuring broadcast AM radio remains accessible in all passenger vehicles, including electric vehicles.

If enacted, the bill would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue a rule requiring new vehicles to maintain access to broadcast AM radio at no additional cost to the consumer and provide small vehicle manufacturers at least four years after the date DOT issues the rule to comply. The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act also requires automakers to inform consumers, during the period before the rule takes effect, that the vehicles do not maintain access to broadcast AM radio.

AM radio connects millions of listeners across the country to reliable news, critical emergency alerts, and vital weather updates every week. I joined my colleagues in reintroducing the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act to prevent automakers from removing this essential communication tool from vehicles. We must keep Americans safe, and this legislation will protect life-saving access to necessary alerts, while preserving emergency communication infrastructure.

Main Street Tax Certainty Act Introduced

I joined U.S Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), and 32 Republican Senators in introducing the Main Street Tax Certainty Act. The bill would make the President Trump's 20 percent small business tax deduction from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent.

Small businesses are essential in North Dakota’s rural communities and are the backbone of our economy. Our bill helps employers succeed by making this deduction permanent and building on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to extend tax relief for small businesses.

Senate Resolution Commemorates 80th Anniversary of Liberation of Auschwitz

I joined U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), James Lankford (R-OK), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) in introducing a resolution commemorating the liberation of Holocaust camp Auschwitz 80 years ago. The Senate passed the resolution unanimously Tuesday.

Eighty years ago today, good triumphed over the evil of the Holocaust as Allied Forces liberated Auschwitz. We will never forget the atrocities of the Holocaust. In the wake of an alarming uptick in anti-semitism, we remember the murder of millions of Jews on this solemn day.

Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly

It was my honor to meet with Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly during her visit to Washington. There are many great opportunities to work on projects mutually beneficial to our great nations.

President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Neel Kashkari

Neel Kashkari, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, stopped by to give me an update on our region’s economic growth. We discussed my bill, the Fair Access to Banking Act, inflation, and skills-based immigration.

Interview with Larry Kudlow Discusses U.S. Foreign Policy

I had a good discussion with Larry Kudlow and U.S. Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24) on President Trump’s America First agenda and solutions to our trade disparities. The U.S. and Canada have a strong bond, which is why I’m confident we’ll quickly reach a resolution on tariffs.

Discussion On Mornings with Maria Focuses on Confirming President Trump’s Nominees

The Senate is quickly confirming President Trump’s nominees, despite some Democrats stalling. I spoke with Maria Bartiromo on Fox Business about the budget, deterring illegal immigration, and how we can enact President Trump’s agenda.

Common Ground Segment with Brett Baier Discusses Bipartisan Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act

I joined U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) in a Fox News Common Ground segment to feature our bipartisan bill, the Honoring Fallen Heroes Act. There is a growing awareness of the long-term health risks firefighters and first responders face. When these heroes have a line-of-duty death, there should be more line-of-duty benefits.

We also talked about the Trump administration's temporary review of federal grants and loans.

Washington Watch with Tony Perkins Highlights my Unborn Child Support Act

I joined Tony Perkins on Washington Watch to discuss my Unborn Child Support Act, which allows pregnant women to receive child support payments.

Interview with Newsmax Discusses President Trump's Cabinet and Secretary Noem Confirmation Process

I joined Sharla McBride on Newsmax to discuss President Trump's cabinet and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's confirmation process through the Senate.

Army Corps of Engineers Awards $10 Million Contract For FM Diversion

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) awarded a contract of $10,097,097 to BCSS, LLC to fund the excavation, replacement and repaving of the existing Highway 75 intersection in support of the Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Area Flood Risk Management Project.

Midair Collision Occurs Over Potomac River at Reagan National Airport

A tragic midair collision over the Potomac River between an American Airlines plane and a Black Hawk military helicopter occurred on Wednesday. There were no survivors.

My prayers are with the families of all who were lost on the Potomac. Matthew 5:4: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted"

Weekly Radio Town Hall Schedule

Jay Thomas

Every other Tuesday from 2:00 to 2:30 p.m. CT

"Mitchell in the Morning" with Todd Mitchell

Every Wednesday from 8:15 to 8:50 a.m. CT

KFYR 550 AM / 99.7 FM - Bismarck

Noah Chelliah

Thursdays from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. CT

KNOX 1310 AM - Grand Forks

Rick Jensen

Thursdays from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. CT

KHND 1470 AM - Harvey

"What's On Your Mind" with Scott Hennen

Every Friday from 10:00 - 10:30 a.m. CT

AM 1100 The Flag - Fargo

WDAY 970 AM - Fargo

KTGO 1090 AM - Tioga

Michael Bell

Every Friday from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. CT

KFYR 550 AM / 99.7 FM - Bismarck

Contact Me

My offices are open in Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, Fargo, Williston, and Washington, D.C. To request an appointment, call any of the offices below or visit my website at www.cramer.senate.gov.

Bismarck

328 Federal Building, 220 East Rosser Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58501

701-204-0500

Grand Forks

114 Federal Building, 102 North 4th Street, Grand Forks, ND 58203

701-402-4540

Minot

105 Federal Building, 100 First Street SW, Minot, ND 58701

701-837-6141

Fargo

306 Federal Building, 657 Second Avenue N, Fargo, ND 58102

701-232-5094

Williston

125 Main Street, Suite #217, Williston, ND 58801

701-441-7230

Washington, D.C.

313 Hart Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510

202-224-2043