Senator Cramer’s Weekly Update November 3-7

Senate Advances Bipartisan Bills, Takes Key Step Toward Ending Schumer Shutdown

By a vote of 60 to 40, the U.S. Senate voted to proceed to an appropriations package, bringing Congress one step closer to ending the longest-lasting government shutdown in history. Late hour negotiations delivered five additional Democrats, securing the 60 votes needed to invoke cloture. Three Democrats had voted with Republicans during the previous 14 attempts. I credit the progress to President Donald Trump’s engagement over the past few days. The vote is the first step of a plan by Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) to reopen the government. It opens the door to passing a modified version of the continuing resolution (CR) Senate Republicans have now voted for 15 times. The latest version of the CR will extend current government funding levels through the end of January 2026 and incorporate the content of three individual appropriations bills the Senate passed this year, including Agriculture-FDA, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction-VA. The Senate will vote to pass the CR and appropriations bills later in the week and send them to the House, which is expected to pass the bills. The legislation will then be sent to the White House for President Donald Trump to sign into law.

President Trump Announces DOJ Investigation into Meatpacking Companies

After I called on President Donald Trump last week to look into price fixing and other anticompetitive behavior in the meatpacking industry, he renewed the Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into the Big 4 meatpacking companies for “illicit collusion, price fixing, and price manipulation.” I’ve pushed for this investigation for years and am grateful to see progress. During President Trump’s first term, I sent a letter to the DOJ and although then-Attorney General Barr started an investigation, it was never completed and seemingly ignored by the Biden administration. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the investigation is now underway. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins called for “transparency, accountability, and a fair market that rewards those who actually raise and produce our beef — not the corporate middlemen gaming the system.”

I appreciate President Trump's leadership and Attorney General Bondi's effort to rededicate the DOJ to its anticompetitive mission and follow through with its antitrust investigation into the Big 4 meatpackers.

Meeting with FERC Chairman Laura Swett

Congratulations to Laura Swett on recently being named Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman. As former North Dakota utility regulators, Representative Julie Fedorchak and I felt right at home in our morning meeting with Chairman Swett. She understands the value of states’ rights and is willing to shake up norms to make sure we meet the growing electricity demand. If America is going to win the AI revolution, we need to be poised with the right policies to get electricity to data centers.

Four Key Pentagon Nominees Testify at SASC Hearing

The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) held a hearing to consider the nominations of Timothy D. Dill to be Assistant Secretary of War for Manpower and Reserve Affairs; Dr. Maurice L. Todd to be Assistant Secretary of War for Readiness; Michael Payne to be Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE); and Alexander J. Velez-Green to be Deputy Under Secretary of War for Policy. I questioned Payne about independent assessments being diluted by program advocacy. I also asked Velez-Green about a reported “pause” in Ukraine aid and claims made by Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby that the British Royal Navy should reduce its presence in the Indo-Pacific. Too often, independent assessments get diluted by program advocacy and can be masked by cherry picking operational scenarios to match or disadvantage the platform being evaluated.

Over the summer, the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales sailed in the Pacific. Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby reportedly made a comment to the British along the lines of “is it too late to call it back? Because we don’t want you there.” I asked Velez-Green if he had knowledge of the specific discussion. Velez-Green said it would be inappropriate to comment on private discussions between different governments given the setting, but Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has publicly said “it is most important for our European allies to focus on their home theater as they work to build out their capacity.” “That is the guidance that the Secretary has offered in a public setting, and my personal view is, I think that does make a lot of sense because we believe in a NATO that is as strong as possible,” said Velez-Green. “That is a sincerely held view. My personal belief is we have an interest in NATO being as strong as possible on an enduring basis, with the United States deeply engaged. But for that to happen, especially as we face the rise of China, our allies simply have to step up and focus those resources where they're needed most.”

Following up on a statement made earlier this week by Austin Dahmer, nominee for Assistant Secretary of War for Strategy, Plans and Forces, regarding a pause in aid to Ukraine, I asked Velez-Green to reconcile statements denying a pause with a Department of War publication which states, “some assistance provided to Ukraine — as well as assistance to other nations — is on pause as the Defense Department reviews its own capabilities.” “I can say categorically, the policy leadership neither ordered nor even recommended a pause to any weapons shipments to Ukraine as it was reported,” said Velez-Green. “Full stop, no caveats. That reporting was completely inaccurate in substantial part because we do not have the authority to order any adjustment to weapons deliveries one way or the other. I am aware of brief disruptions to certain deliveries as a result of the capabilities review that Mr. Purnell referenced in the July 2 transcript that I believe was referenced on Tuesday, but I am not aware of a pause ordered by the Secretary to any of the weapons shipments at the time.”

EPA Approves North Dakota Coal Combustion Residual Program

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin traveled to North Dakota to announce the approval of North Dakota's Coal Combustion Residual (CCR) program application. After two years of delay, the proposed approval was announced earlier this year due to direct involvement from President Trump and Administrator Zeldin. States are authorized to apply for primacy to operate their own permit programs as long as such programs meet federal baseline standards. CCRs consist of solid byproducts from coal-based power plants, including fly ash, bottom ash, boiler slag, and flue gas desulfurization solids like synthetic gypsum.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney Passes Away

Vice President Dick Cheney, who died on Nov. 3, was the definition of a public servant and leader who served our nation throughout his distinguished career. Kris and I are praying for his family and loved ones.

Safer Supervision Act Introduced to Reduce Repeat Crime and Waste

I joined U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) in introducing the Safer Supervision Act to improve efficiency of supervised prison release programs and reduce repeat crime and government waste. Supervised release is a post-imprisonment supervision period to help offenders rehabilitate and reintegrate into society.

The bipartisan legislation restores Congress’ original intent for law enforcement to focus on high-risk criminals to keep America’s streets safe and for tax dollars to be spent where they are most effective.

Legislation Introduced to Recognize USS Frank E. Evans Sailors

I joined U.S. Senator Adam Schiff in introducing the USS Frank E. Evans Act to have the names of 74 sailors who lost their lives in the fatal accident of the USS Frank E. Evans during the Vietnam War memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

In 1969, the USS Frank E. Evans sank off the coast of Vietnam after being accidentally struck by an Australian aircraft carrier. Because the Department of War maintains the sinking of Frank E. Evans took place outside of the declared war zone, the sailors who perished have been deemed ineligible for inclusion on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., despite the fact that these men were deployed to the region for the war.

Meeting with the American Bakers Association

Thanks to members of the American Bakers Association for meeting with me to discuss the work they’re doing across North Dakota and the issues they’re facing.

"Ed Henry: The Briefing" on NEWSMAX

I joined Ed Henry on Newsmax's "The Briefing" to discuss the Schumer Shutdown, Jack Smith’s egregious 'Arctic Frost' probe, and more.

Real people are being affected in real ways by the far-left fringe’s demand for a shutdown, and Democrats are caught in a really tough spot. I believe after Tuesday's elections they'll get more serious about reopening the government.

"Varney & Co." on FOX Business

I joined Stuart Varney on FOX Business to talk about the Schumer Shutdown.

Democrats can say elections have nothing to do with the Schumer Shutdown, but I think they have a lot to do with it. They can’t win an election without their radical left-wing base. It’s all about politics for them.

We also had a good discussion about President Trump's "peace through strength" approach to the challenges in Nigeria and Venezuela.

"Kudlow" on FOX Business

I joined Larry Kudlow on FOX Business to discuss the Schumer Shutdown. We need to end the Schumer Shutdown not only because it's a distraction and a disaster, but it's the basic function of government. Democrats’ demand to extend Biden's COVID bonuses another year is ludicrous.