As the agenda for the #116thCongress is being set, I’ve held several meetings with top administration officials and North Dakota leaders this week to discuss shared priorities.
We discussed states’ rights and my concern about the consolidation of litigation authority that's empowered bureaucrats to fight against @POTUS.
He's a qualified nominee and I look forward to supporting him.
This morning I spoke with @SecWilkie about rural health care, strengthening the relationship between @DeptVetAffairs and Native American veterans, and giving them health care control.
As a member of @VAChair, I plan to bring him to our state to meet North Dakota veterans.
I also spoke with @SecAFOfficial about the importance of the nuclear triad in North Dakota and about their budget.
Sitting on both @BudgetGOP and @SASCMajority allow me to help craft a @usairforce budget that reflects their mission and the right priorities.
This afternoon I met with a familiar face, Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney.
With the entire Fargo-Moorhead Flood Diversion Authority in town, I was able to hear their update on the latest local projects.
Nicole Nason’s nomination to run @USDOTFHWA is now before the @EPWGOP.
I met with her to discuss the importance to North Dakota of reauthorizing the highway bill and repairing our crumbling infrastructure.
All these meetings give me a chance to advance a pro-North Dakota agenda and to influence policies as they are being made.
The CBO is limited in its scoring ability and can't include certain pay-fors like repurposing unused COVID relief funds or the increased revenue from economic gain.
"It'll increase inflation."
It's the opposite.
Investing in infrastructure puts people to work, gives taxpayers a long-term asset, and helps with the supply-side of the economy by getting more goods to market.
I will not object to the Electoral College votes when they are counted on January 6th, and – unless overwhelmingly persuasive evidence is presented before the Senate when we debate the objections – I will not vote to reject the results.
I share the concerns of my colleagues and the countless North Dakotans who have reached out about the election.
Last year Democrats tried to use COVID-19 to implement questionable election procedures like universal vote-by-mail, ballot harvesting, and ballot curing.
These practices – and the subsequent lack of transparency in places like PA, MI, NV, and GA – have raised reasonable questions about the elections process which need to be addressed, regardless of whether or not it is enough to change the outcome.
Last night, as I presided over the Senate, we passed comprehensive veterans mental health care improvement legislation, which contains my provisions expanding @DeptVetAffairs research into Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.
Our bill:
➡️ authorizes the VA Secretary to enter into public-private partnerships to research HBOT,
➡️ requires the VA to use an objective test to measure the effectiveness of HBOT, and
➡️ commissions a comprehensive review and study of HBOT.
Saturday I heard another compelling story from a North Dakota veteran named AJ about the powerful difference HBOT can make in the lives of our veterans.
Our bill advances the study of this impactful treatment & hopefully leads to more opportunities for veterans to receive it.
We must not let the unlawful actions of some detract from important discussions about race tensions in our nation.
Nor should we allow the destructive actions of out-of-state professional rioters to define the civil activism of good people in our state and its communities.
Most importantly, we cannot allow the actions of a criminal cop to diminish our respect for the many noble and heroic officers who protect and serve, knowing every day may be their last.
Governor @DougBurgum and Fargo’s local leaders and law enforcement officials handled yesterday's situation effectively, facilitating a peaceful demonstration and moving quickly to subdue the violence.
Delivered floor remarks last week announcing my support for Major General Scott Spellmon, whose promotion to Lieutenant General and nomination to be the @USACEHQ Chief of Engineers and Commanding General is before the Senate.
As the epitome of cumbersome bureaucracy, I rarely compliment the @USACEHQ.
General Spellmon, however, has worked closely and thoughtfully with me on issues like the Snake Creek Embankment and western state water rights.
He listened intently to my concerns and provided thorough, honest responses which will be used as a guidepost for @USACEHQ policy going forward.