North Dakota

July 1, 2009 -- FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota Lt. Gov. Jack Dalrymple today announced that three local companies are parties to major contracts to supply 2009 food-grade soybeans to South Korean soy food importers.

The purchase agreements call for SB&B Foods of Casselton, Brushvale Seed of Wahpeton-Breckenridge, SunOpta of Moorhead and Wisconsin-based DeLong Company to export about 275,000 bushels of identity preserved soybeans to members of the Korean Federation of Soybean-Curd Industry Cooperatives (KFSCIC). The federation represents 12 Korean tofu-processing cooperatives. The sales are valued at about $5 million.    » read more »

June 23, 2009 -- Washington – Senators Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan and Congressman Earl Pomeroy announced today that North Dakota will receive more than $70 million in federal funding to give a boost to schools across the state that are at risk of teacher shortages and budget cuts.

“These funds will enable our schools to attract the best teachers and keep them on staff to ensure that North Dakota’s children continue to receive the quality education they need and deserve,” the delegation said.    » read more »

Application for Part 1 of North Dakota’s State Stabilization Funds Approved Today

June 22, 2009 -- U. S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that more than $70 million is now available for North Dakota under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. This funding will lay the foundation for a generation of education reform and help save hundreds of thousands of teaching jobs at risk of state and local budget cuts. North Dakota will be eligible to apply for another $34.6 million this fall.

Today’s funding is being made available per North Dakota’s successful completion of Part 1 of the State Stabilization Application, which was made available on April 1st.    » read more »

Governor Hoeven joins NextEra Energy Resources, Otter Tail Power Company and Minnkota Power Cooperative, to dedicate the Ashtabula Wind Energy Center

June 17, 2009 -- Valley City, N.D. – Today North Dakota Governor John Hoeven and local community leaders joined officials from NextEra Energy Resources, the largest wind and solar energy producer in North America, Otter Tail Power Company and Minnkota Power Cooperative, Inc. to dedicate the Ashtabula Wind Energy Center.

More than 200 local and regional guests joined Governor Hoeven and company officials at the site near Valley City to celebrate the commercial operation of the 196.5-megawatt Ashtabula Wind Energy Center and the organizations that helped make the facility a reality.    » read more »

June 5, 2009 -- BISMARCK, N.D. - North Dakota Governor John Hoeven today spoke with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson to request that EPA expedite his previous request to raise the ethanol blended gasoline variance to 15 percent from the current 10 percent blend.

The move would help to expand the market for domestically produced biofuels, according to Hoeven. The Governor, as chairman of the Governors Biofuels Coalition, made the formal request in February to President Barack Obama.

“The nation needs greater energy independence, and domestic ethanol producers need a boost under current market conditions,” Hoeven said. “Increasing the proportion of ethanol to 15 percent would move us closer to both goals.”    » read more »

At hearing requested by Dorgan, questions raised about how dealers and consumers will be impacted

June 3, 2009 -- (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – At a Senate Commerce Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) questioned the President and CEO of both Chrysler and General Motors about the effects of their dealership closings in North Dakota and their plans to ensure dealerships and consumers are treated fairly.

James Press, President of Chrysler, and Fritz Henderson, CEO of General Motors, both testified at the hearing, along with John McEleney, Chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association.    » read more »

June 4, 2009 -- BISMARCK, N.D. - North Dakota Governor John Hoeven was in Williston today to dedicate the new Williston State College (WSC) Petroleum Safety and Technology Center. The center was started with funding from the state's Centers of Excellence initiative, with an emphasis on creating economic and employment opportunities in the state's oil and gas industry.

Hoeven was joined by Williston Mayor Ward Koeser, WSC President Dr. Raymond Nadolny, WSC Train ND Executive Director Deanette Piesik, North Dakota Commerce Commissioner Shane Goettle, North Dakota Petroleum Council President Ron Ness and Wayne Biberdorf, manager of strategic projects for Hess Corporation.    » read more »

June 2, 2009 -- BISMARCK, N.D. -- North Dakota Governor John Hoeven has called on President Barack Obama to stop the forced closing of General Motors dealerships in rural areas. The company has announced it will close 1,100 dealerships nationwide. Although it has not so far released a list of closings, some North Dakota dealerships have received notification of GM’s intention to close their operations. The U.S. government now holds a 60 percent equity share in the business.    » read more »

Lawmakers Want Temporary Levees Turned into Permanent Protection

June 2, 2009 -- Washington – With floodwaters receding across North Dakota, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is advocating that temporary dikes be removed completely from communities impacted by spring flooding. However, Senators Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan and Congressman Earl Pomeroy are concerned that removal of the emergency dikes would leave communities with reduced flood protection.

The Congressional delegation today urged FEMA officials to allow federal funds targeted for dike removal to instead be used to upgrade the temporary levees used in this spring’s flood fight to more permanent structures.    » read more »

May 29, 2009 -- (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) welcomed North Dakota native Roxana Saberi home to North Dakota today, four months after she was first arrested in Iran.

A statement from Senator Dorgan follows.
TEXT OF STATEMENT
BY SENATOR BYRON DORGAN

May 29, 2009

“Roxana Saberi and her family have been through a lot in the past four months. She was wrongly arrested and imprisoned, falsely accused of being a spy, sentenced to eight years in prison, and finally released after an outpouring of support from people around the world.

“After all of that, it feels good to welcome Roxana home to North Dakota.    » read more »

UND Program Will Train the Best and Brightest for UAS Operations

May 27, 2009 -- Grand Forks – The University of North Dakota is uniquely positioned to be “the future hub” of the development and operation of cutting-edge Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), Senator Kent Conrad said today in a speech outlining the future of UAS technology.

“These aircraft are clearly the way of the future and that future resides right here in Grand Forks,” Senator Conrad said. “At the University of North Dakota we are ready to train the UAS pilots of tomorrow. As demand for unmanned aircraft increases, these men and women will patrol our borders, conduct combat operations half a world away, and ultimately keep America safe.”    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- BISMARCK, N.D .- Federal aid in housing grants, disaster loans and direct federal assistance mission assignments now stands at $42.7 million, the Federal Emergency Management Agency reported today. As part of the $42.7 million, FEMA has obligated $24.48 million in 46 Mission Assignments to other federal agencies, including $15 million to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for removing temporary flood protection measures, such as earthen levees, sandbags and flood protection products.    » read more »

DAV Leader Thanks Senator for Support of Veterans Issues

May 26, 2009 -- Fargo – In recognition of Memorial Day services for America's veterans, Senator Kent Conrad today met with Fargo-area veterans and veteran care leaders to discuss the recently-adopted Congressional budget resolution, which boosts federal support for veterans’ health care.

“We have a solemn obligation to honor our veterans by delivering the best health care our federal government can provide,” Senator Conrad said. “This new budget makes great progress, yet still more needs to be done. We need to continue to work to ensure our veterans of today and tomorrow receive the care and respect they deserve.”    » read more »

Lawmakers Ask President to Justify Shut Down of Hundreds of Auto Dealerships

May 22, 2009 -- Washington – Senators Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan and Congressman Earl Pomeroy today expressed serious concern about how the closing of Chrysler and General Motors dealerships will impact North Dakota and other rural states.

In a letter to President Obama the delegation requested that the Administration’s Auto Task Force provide more transparency and justification about the decision by the auto companies to shut down hundreds of dealerships, especially those in rural America. The delegation noted the closures could lead to additional hardships for rural auto owners, who will have to travel even further to get their vehicles serviced.    » read more »

Governor to Attend Memorial Day Observances

May 22, 2009 -- BISMARCK, N.D. - In accordance with a proclamation signed by the President, North Dakota Governor John Hoeven has proclaimed Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, a day of prayer in North Dakota, and has directed all government agencies to fly the American and North Dakota flags at half staff until noon on that day.

Hoeven will commemorate Memorial Day by attending an observance at the Veterans Memorial located on the state Capitol Grounds beginning at 10:30 a.m. He will also attend a ceremony at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, south of Mandan, beginning at 12 p.m.    » read more »