On January 5, 2011, John Hoeven was sworn in as North Dakota’s 22nd U.S. Senator, following ten years of service as the state’s governor.
Senator Hoeven’s priorities in the Senate include working to implement national policies similar to the ones driving North Dakota’s economic success. He is committed to creating a business climate that fosters job growth and robust economic activity. Equally important to the senator are measures to reduce the nation’s budget deficits and debt. He believes a commonsense approach that fosters free enterprise and empowers people to innovate and invest will strengthen our national economy and create jobs for our country in a sustainable, ongoing way.
Agriculture remains the top industry in North Dakota, with our state leading the nation in the production of a variety of commodities, including flaxseed, canola, durum wheat, spring wheat and dry edible beans. Our farmers and ranchers do a tremendous job providing us with the highest quality, lowest cost food supply in the world. As lead Republican on the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I worked to pass into law a strong, long-term farm bill for our producers and continue working to ensure the farm bill is implemented effectively and efficiently for our farmers and ranchers. I also continue working to help our producers through an unprecedented series of challenges, such as weather disasters and the impacts of COVID-19.
The federal government should empower schools, administrators, and teachers to create local strategies that best prepare students to succeed in a global, high-tech economy; not mandate, one-size-fits all regulations. As governor of North Dakota and now as a U.S. Senator, I have supported policies to ensure accountability in education is coupled with adequate local flexibility.
In order to prepare our students to compete, we need to ensure that our teachers have access to the necessary resources and professional development. The future of our nation and our ability to compete in a global economy will depend on solid science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, training, and research. I am a member of the Senate STEM Education Caucus and the Senate Career and Technical Education Caucus, and I sponsored the Innovate America Act, which would increase the number of STEM schools and place increased emphasis on developing STEM education.
As the country’s second largest energy producer, our state is an energy powerhouse because we are able to harness our abundant energy resources, and equally important, build the pipeline and transmission line infrastructure needed to deliver those resources to consumers. Thanks to innovation and advancements in technology, and our efforts to put the right tax and regulatory framework in place, we have been able to dramatically increase energy production and improve environmental stewardship. In addition to the thousands of jobs created, our domestic energy renaissance has led to enhanced national security by reducing our reliance on foreign imports. As a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Committee, I am working to advance a states-first, all-of-the-above approach that ensures we continue to have affordable and reliable supplies of energy to heat and cool our homes, power our businesses and fuel our transportation systems.
Our country faces considerable health challenges. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency has placed a significant burden on our health care system, and now more than ever, it is important to thank our nurses, doctors and health care professionals whose tireless work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has helped save lives. In the Senate, I have worked to provide additional resources for the health and safety of our medical professionals, as well as for those who have been impacted by the pandemic. With my support, Congress passed several pieces of legislation to provide support for our nation to combat this public health emergency.
Also, we need to continue to work to improve access to quality, affordable health care. Unfortunately, health care costs have risen dramatically under Obamacare, with families facing increased premiums and higher deductibles, as well as limited health insurance options. We need patient-centered health care that provides individuals and families with greater choice and competition in order to lower costs. That includes policies to lower the cost of prescription drugs and ensuring coverage for those with pre-existing conditions.
Having served as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs for the past four years, I worked to empower tribal sovereignty, including in the areas of economic development, job creation, energy development and natural resource management as well as improve health care, education, public safety and housing in tribal communities.
We need to continue to empower tribes to create solutions that work for their members by supporting efforts to strengthen tribal self-governance. Doing so will spur economic development in Indian Country and increase opportunities for tribes. I continue to strive to uphold our trust and treaty responsibly so that tribes in North Dakota have every opportunity to thrive and succeed. In fact, two bills I sponsored, the PROGRESS for Indian Tribes Act and the Indian Community Economic Enhancement Act, became law and provide tribes with tools to further their economic development.
During my time as Chairman, we also prioritized improving public safety in tribal communities. That includes passing Savanna’s Act, legislation named for Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, who was tragically murdered in 2017, that requires law enforcement to develop more effective methods to address missing and murdered Native Americans. Additionally, I established a U.S. Indian Law Enforcement Advanced Training Center at Camp Grafton, which will provide tribal law enforcement in the Great Plains area with the necessary training and skills to serve and meet the challenges in their communities. Further, through my role on the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have worked to advance the goals of my SURVIVE Act by dedicating funding from the Crime Victims Fund (CVF) for tribes to provide services to victims of violence. Each year since FY2018, we have secured more than $150 million from the CVF to assist victims of crime on the reservations.
One of the most important challenges we face as a nation is restoring our economy to its pre-pandemic growth. At the same time, we need to focus on reducing our deficit and debt and making the right kind of pro-growth legal, tax and regulatory reforms that will create good jobs and opportunities for all Americans.
For too long, the federal government has stood as an obstacle to economic growth. Government doesn’t create jobs and economic growth; people do. The role of government is to remove obstacles and create a positive business climate that will help spur job creation and economic growth, as we have in North Dakota. If we empower the private sector to invest, innovate and create jobs, we will build a higher standard of living for our citizens.
The U.S. faces no shortage of national security concerns across the globe including increasing challenges from Russia and China and the persistent threat of terrorism. We have to meet these challenges head-on, and that means marshaling all elements of our nation’s power to keep Americans safe.
North Dakota plays a critical role in our national defense thanks to its top-notch military installations and the outstanding efforts of our men and women in uniform. Minot Air Force Base is the nation’s only dual-nuclear base, hosting both nuclear bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles. Grand Forks Air Force Base is a premier Air Force hub for unmanned aircraft activities, including the RQ-4 Global Hawk. The 10th Space Warning Squadron, part of the U.S. Space Force at Cavalier Air Force Station, provides strategic missile warning and space domain awareness. In addition to these active duty missions, North Dakota also is home to outstanding and award-winning National Guard units that are critical to managing emergencies and other priorities within the state and, when called upon, conduct missions that support the nation’s security. I am proud to advocate on behalf of North Dakota’s military members and their critical missions in the Senate.
Many national surveys, publications and agencies consistently rank North Dakota as one of the best places to live. Our state ranks high in categories ranging from happiness and well-being, to starting a business. We continue working to do all we can to maintain the high quality of life we expect in North Dakota. That means providing infrastructure to meet our needs, supporting our law enforcement officials, and ensuring we have the resources necessary to keep our growing communities safe.
To maintain the high quality of life we expect in our state, I am working to ensure that we invest in transportation infrastructure and improvements to move people and products safely and efficiently in our communities. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I continue to work to improve and expand roads, bridges, airports and rail systems in North Dakota.
The cornerstone of U.S. security and the foundation for a peaceful future is a strong U.S. military. We can never take for granted the sacrifices of our servicemen and women. We must provide them with the best equipment, facilities, and support possible so they can continue to defend our freedoms. Additionally, as our brave men and women leave military service, we must ensure they receive the health care, benefits, and recognition they have earned. Through my position on the Senate Appropriations Committee, I work to ensure our military and veterans are getting the support and resources they need to meet today’s security threats, modernize the force for the challenges of the future, and keep our nation’s promise to take care of our servicemembers and their families after service.
North Dakota has abundant water resources and it is important that all areas of our state have access to an affordable and reliable supply of water. If they are carefully managed, these resources will provide tremendous economic and recreational opportunities for residents and visitors. Well-constructed, properly managed flood protection infrastructure can protect the lives, livelihoods and property of North Dakotans across our state.
From my position on the Energy and Water Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee, I am working to restore, improve and build up our state’s water infrastructure, especially flood protection projects for North Dakota.