senator

Bill Introduced By MN Sen. Smith Aims To Help School Districts Hire Teachers

WASHINGTON – Minnesota Senator Tina Smith introduces a bill to try to end a nationwide teacher shortage. The Democrat says 48 states are struggling to make sure there’s a teacher in every classroom. She adds it’s especially hard to hire educators for science, math and special education positions and in rural areas. The Addressing Teacher Shortages Act would allow districts…

Rep. Kevin Cramer Praises Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court Nomination

WASHINGTON – North Dakota Congressman Kevin Cramer believes Washington D.C. Appellate Court Judge Brett Kavanaugh is a great nominee for the Supreme Court. “He’s always leaned towards the state’s rights versus the overreach of the federal government. Particularly in environmental cases that involve the EPA. I think for North Dakota you could not do better than Judge Kavanaugh and that’s…

“A Very Good Story to Tell on Results” Sen. Heidi Heitkamp Stands by Her Record in ND Senate Race Interview

  It was an easy primary election win for Democratic U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota since she faced no party challenger. November will be another story when she comes up against Rep. Kevin Cramer for her seat in the Senate. KVRR talked to Senator Heitkamp Tuesday about the race that is heating up between the two candidates. Campaign…

Senate Agriculture Committee Set to Vote on the Farm Bill

WASHINGTON – The Senate Agriculture Committee releases a bipartisan farm bill proposal. Democratic Minnesota Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith are both on the Ag Committee. Klobuchar says the bill protects nutrition assistance programs and Smith adds it protects the sugar program. The House Farm Bill failed last month when the conservative members blocked it over an unrelated immigration bill. The…

Michelle Fischbach Resigns Senate Seat, Sworn in as MN’s Lt. Gov.

Courtesy: KMSPST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) – State Senator Michelle Fischbach of Paynesville resigned from the state senate and took the oath of office Friday, officially becoming Minnesota’s lieutenant governor. Fischbach, a Republican, has kept her state senate seat so the GOP could hold its one seat majority in the upper chamber. With the session now over and Gov. Mark Dayton promising there will be no special session,…

Sen. Heidi Heitkamp Endorsed by ND AFL-CIO

FARGO, ND – The North Dakota AFL-CIO endorsed Sen. Heidi Heitkamp at its convention in Fargo Friday. Delegates there represented more than 17,000 North Dakota union members. The AFL-CIO supports the Democrat in her race for reelection against Congressman Kevin Cramer because they say Heitkamp has lead the charge to protect North Dakotan’s pensions. “One of the big issues in this…

Sen. Heidi Heitkamp Supports Gina Haspel’s CIA Director Nomination

Sen. Heidi Heitkamp meeting with CIA Director Nominee Gina Haspel (Courtesy: Sen. Heidi Heitkamp’s office)Washington, DC – Democratic North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp will join her Republican colleague, Sen. John Hoeven in voting in favor of Gina Haspel becoming the country’s first female CIA Director. In a statement, Heitkamp says after meeting with Haspel and other intelligence leaders, she has…

Sen. Hoeven learns about NDSU’s defense projects

Research projects are being in coordination with the Department of Defense

FARGO, N.D. — Senator John Hoeven met with researchers at NDSU to discuss the works being done at the university. The projects are being done in coordination with the Department of Defense. Hoeven is a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee. Hoeven toured laboratories with research on bio–reactive materials, water filtration bio–fouling, and coatings for military infrastructure. NDSU has received nearly…

MN Senator Tina Smith introduces broadband bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tina Smith has introduced the Community Connect Grant Program Act to connect Minnesotans and Americans to one another. She says in order to do that everyone must have access to affordable and reliable broadband services. This bill would create access to facilities to deploy broadband service, modernize minimum speed and keep pace with 21st century needs….

Dakota Co. Judge nominated as next U.S. Attorney of MN

Erica MacDonaldWASHINGTON, DC – President Trump has nominated Minnesota Judge Erica MacDonald to be the state’s next U.S. Attorney. MacDonald has been a Dakota County Judge since 2009. She also has eight years of experience as Minnesota’s Assistant U.S. Attorney. Senator Amy Klobuchar calls MacDonald “A dedicated public servant who is well–qualified to serve as Minnesota’s next U.S. Attorney.” MacDonald’s…