Gov. Burgum honors 9/11 victims and U.S. military members who died in the Global War on Terrorism
Gov. Doug Burgum issued the following statement as he joined North Dakota National Guard members and local residents Saturday to pay tribute to 9/11 victims and to honor the U.S. military members from North Dakota who have died in the Global War on Terrorism on the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
“The unthinkable acts of terror delivered against thousands of innocent citizens on 9/11 forever changed our nation, yet failed to break our American spirit and resolve. We must always remember our fellow Americans – including the four North Dakotans – who lost their lives and the incredible acts of courage by first responders and rescue workers who braved danger to bring others to safety. We are eternally grateful for their service,” Burgum said. “We also pay tribute to our men and women in uniform, including our North Dakota National Guard members and U.S. Air Force personnel stationed in North Dakota, who fought and continue to fight terrorism around the globe. With utmost respect, we honor the 29 North Dakotans who have given their lives for our country in the Global War on Terrorism. The sacrifices made by these Service members and their families deserve our deepest gratitude, support and prayers on this day – and every day.”
The governor observed the 20th anniversary of 9/11 by delivering remarks during a ceremony at the Memorial to the Fallen in the Global War on Terrorism near Fraine Barracks in Bismarck.
Ceremony honors three with induction into the Native American Hall of Honor
Dave Dauphinais, Lydia Sage-Chase and Sitting Bull honored during annual event
Gov. Burgum on Thursday joined in recognizing the three 2021 inductees at the annual Native American Hall of Honor ceremony at the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum.
This year's honorees are Dave Dauphinais, a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and Vietnam War veteran who earned a Silver Star and three Bronze Star medals; Lydia Sage-Chase, a member of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation who was a teacher and cultural leader; and legendary Hunkpapa Lakota Chief Sitting Bull.
Since 2016, the Hall of Honor has recognized Native Americans who have gone above and beyond in representing their tribe and culture. The program is a partnership of the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission, the State Historical Society of North Dakota and the State Historical Society Foundation.
Honorees are recognized in the Hall of Honor exhibit at the Heritage Center with a formal display of their personal artifacts and a video that shares their remarkable histories.
Burgum recognizes team members with 2021 Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Public Service
Gov. Burgum on Thursday announced the 2021 Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Public Service, recognizing team members for their dedicated work in state government and making a positive difference in the lives of North Dakota citizens during an extremely challenging year.
“Team North Dakota members continue to provide excellent service to our citizens, often in new and innovative ways, delivering on our shared purpose to Empower People, Improve Lives and Inspire Success,” Burgum said. “The more than 900 nominations we received this year is a testament to team members’ exceptional work and a Governor’s Awards record. We are deeply grateful for these individuals, their teams and their tireless dedication to the state of North Dakota and its citizens.”
Burgum and Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford presented the awards during an in-person and virtual ceremony livestreamed from the Capitol during State Team Member Recognition Month.
The full list of award recipients can be found at the link below.
Burgum issues statement on President Biden’s executive action to address COVID-19
Gov. Burgum released the following statement in response to President Joe Biden’s plan released Thursday to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
“President Biden's misguided plan steers our country down a dangerous path away from states' rights and the freedom of private businesses to make their own decisions on vaccinations. We stand opposed to this blatant federal overreach,” Burgum said. “Safe, effective vaccines remain our best tool for preserving hospital capacity and ensuring access to care, but forcing a vaccine mandate on private employers is not the role of the state or federal government.
“We have reached out to the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office to discuss options for mounting a legal challenge to this mandate, which goes against everything I believe as a governor, a business owner and an American,” Burgum continued. “The White House needs to be reminded that the states created the federal government, not the other way around, and we will always vigorously defend states’ rights.”
Lt. Gov. Sanford opens conference supporting North Dakota's energy communities
Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford on Wednesday opened the U.S. Department of Energy's virtual workshop, titled "Revitalizing North Dakota’s Energy Communities," highlighting available resources and potential pathways for regional economic support in North Dakota.
“Could you imagine a world in which our carbon would have value being sold for beneficial reuse? This is only possible with a policy for fostering innovation, not over-regulation and burdensome regulations. We have an opportunity to partner with the federal government to make this a reality,” Sanford said. “If we truly want to address carbon as a nation, the only way to achieve this goal is through innovation. We need to develop these new and emerging technologies here and develop markets for our carbon so that we can incent the rest of the world to adopt what we developed here at home.”
Registration open for 2021 Main Street ND Summit
The North Dakota Department of Commerce is now accepting registrations for the 2021 Main Street ND Summit.
This year’s Main Street ND Summit will be held Oct. 12 beginning at 8 a.m. at the Rustad Recreation Center in West Fargo. Both in-person and virtual options are available to those wishing to attend.
Registration for the 2021 Main Street ND Summit can be found at msnd.link/2021-registration. Visit msnd.link/MainStreetND-2021 for more information and updates about this year’s summit.
Team ND is working as one to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) and other state agencies continue to work to slow the spread of COVID-19 in North Dakota and administer safe and effective vaccines. In partnership with federal, local and tribal partners, Team ND has tackled this pandemic through a whole-of-government, whole-of-community approach.
- For the most up-to-date COVID-19 information, see the NDDoH website.
- NDResponse.gov is your one-stop site for the latest news, as well as state and federal resources for COVID-19.