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President Trump Delivers State of the Union Address
President Trump delivered a strong State of the Union address with an optimistic outlook for our country and a compelling case for continuing the policies which have led to this Great American Comeback. Whether through tax reform, trade deals, deregulation, a secured border, a rebuilt military, or America’s energy revolution, the President’s record of delivering real results for the American people cannot be denied. Now it’s time to put division aside, work with President Trump, and renew our focus on tackling unifying issues like infrastructure, education, and high prescription drug costs. In case you missed it, watch President Trump’s address here.
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President Trump Acquitted
The Senate voted to acquit President Trump after a long, partisan process. Shortly before the vote, I went to the Senate Floor to give my closing remarks on the impeachment trial and to announce I would be voting to acquit the President. The two articles which came before the Senate were without merit. They were an affront to the institution and to our Constitution, representing the very same partisan derangement that worried our Founding Fathers so much that they made the threshold for impeachment this high. I did not arrive at my conclusion to support acquittal hastily or flippantly, and I don’t believe any of my colleagues did either, including those who come to a different conclusion from mine. Watch my remarks below.
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Clarifying WPA Easement Director’s Order
Robert Wallace, the U.S. Department of Interior Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks joined a Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee oversight hearing in which we discussed the recent Director’s Order on Waterfowl Production Area (WPA) Easements. I chair the EPW Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife and at the hearing, sought clarification on the process of implementing the Order, the expected timeline, the newly-established appeals process, and the future release of these maps.
The Director’s Order addresses a longstanding and serious problem for many North Dakota landowners. The Order is the direct result of Interior Secretary David Bernhardt’s visit to Hope, North Dakota, last October where he heard directly from landowners. The Order promises new maps overlaid on aerial imagery, detailing the boundaries and acreage of its easements to landowners, and provides the first-ever administrative appeals process for landowners who have FWS easements pre-dating 1976 on their property.
I wrote a Letter to the Editor for the Minot Daily News, outlining what North Dakotans whose lands have these pre-1976 WPA easements should expect. The success of this first-ever appeals process depends on public involvement. Read my piece here.
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USDA Issues Third Round of MFP Payments
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the third and final tranche of 2019 Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments. I’m grateful to President Trump and Secretary Perdue for their continued support for American agriculture. These payments come at an important time for our producers, who face uncertainty in the Chinese market. The Trump Administration’s recognition of our producers as a target of unfair retaliation is noticed and appreciated.
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Migratory Bird Treaty Act
President Trump’s Administration released a proposed rule to define the scope of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). Under the Obama Administration’s interpretation of the MBTA, anyone could be prosecuted without even making a deliberate effort to kill species protected by the MBTA. Had it not been stopped in court, this interpretation would have had severely negative consequences for North Dakotans.
The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee discussed the proposed rule during a Fish & Wildlife Service oversight hearing. In North Dakota, we had three oil companies zealously prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s office over 28 birds that inadvertently flew into the company’s pits. These companies were lawfully practicing commercial activities and never intentionally sought to harm these birds, yet they were criminally prosecuted. The previous US Attorney’s actions against these companies and workers were more of a representation of their hatred of the industry than it was the love of birds. The new proposal is common sense and I applaud the Trump Administration’s efforts. Watch the exchange here.
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Discussing ISR and Space Force at SASC
During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, the U.S. Southern Command Commander Adm. Craig Faller and U.S. Africa Command Commander Gen. Stephen Townsend came in to discuss their needs for the upcoming fiscal year. During this time, I addressed their Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) needs like those provided by the MQ-9 in Fargo and the Global Hawks in Grand Forks. Each Commander reported receiving 25 percent or less of the ISR capabilities they need.
I also inquired as to how the newly created U.S. Space Force could assist in their respective missions. Our full exchange is below.
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Introducing Teleabortion Prevention Act
I joined Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana to introduce the Teleabortion Prevention Act, which would make it a federal offense for healthcare providers to perform a chemical abortion without first physically examining the patient, being present during the chemical abortion, and scheduling a follow-up visit for the patient. Proponents of abortion say it should be a safe, rare decision made between a mother and a qualified doctor, but now there is a movement to provide abortions with little-to-no consultation with a physician. Killing an unborn child is wrong, and encouraging women to undergo that procedure without knowing the impact is egregious. Our pro-life legislation counters these efforts and works to protect mothers and unborn children.
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North Dakotans in Washington, D.C.
It's always nice to see my friends from Grain Growers in Washington. We covered a wide range of topics affecting them, including RMA issues, WPA easements, MFP payments, wetland setbacks, and the Phase One trade deal with China.
Visiting with North Dakota’s Tribal College students is one of my favorite meetings every year. I’m inspired by their stories and grateful for our time together. We discussed issues unique to tribal colleges including broadband, cultural education and degree programs.
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Contact Me
My offices are open in Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, Fargo and Washington, D.C. Stop by or call any of the following offices, or visit my website at www.cramer.senate.gov.
Bismarck
328 Federal Building
220 East Rosser Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58501
701-699-7020
Minot
105 Federal Building
100 First Street SW
Minot, ND 58701
701-837-6141
Fargo
306 Federal Building
657 Second Avenue North
Fargo, ND 58102
701-232-5094
Grand Forks
114 Federal Building
102 North 4th Street
Grand Forks, ND 58203
701-699-7030
Washington, D.C.
400 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
202-224-2043
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Weekly Radio and TV Schedule
RADIO
What's On Your Mind
Fridays from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. central
KFYR 550 AM - Bismarck
1100 The Flag - Fargo
KLTC 1460 AM - Dickinson
KTGO 1090 AM - Tioga
Jarrod Thomas Show
Thursdays from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. central
KNOX 1310 AM - Grand Forks
Rick Jensen
Thursdays from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. central
KHND 1470 AM - Harvey
Jay Thomas
Every other Tuesday from 3:00 to 3:30 p.m. central
TELEVISION
Chris Berg - Point of View
6:30 p.m. central (Semi-Monthly)
Valley News Live - Fargo
Blessings,
Kevin Cramer
U.S. Senator for North Dakota |