Update on the Next COVID-19 Relief Package
Congress spent last week negotiating a year-end spending bill and a targeted COVID-19 relief package, which was finalized late Sunday night. I look forward to reviewing the details and sharing them as quickly as possible.
I spoke to KX News about the negotiations on Thursday.
Commemorating the First Year of Space Force
Sunday marked the first-year anniversary of the creation of the United States Space Force. On Wednesday, I highlighted this milestone with Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett and Space Force's Chief of Space Operations General Jay Raymond during a virtual meeting of the Space Force Caucus. Friday, Vice President Mike Pence hosted an event celebrating the anniversary at the White House.
Space is the next warfighting domain. Allowing America's presence in space to diminish is not an option. I have been impressed by the progress made in standing up Space Force during year one and appreciate our space leaders visiting North Dakota to learn how our state can contribute to this ongoing effort. I am optimistic about what year two will bring.
Reflecting on the EXIM Bank One Year after Reauthorization
One year ago, under President Trump's leadership, Congress came together to re-authorize the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM), our nation's export credit agency. American exporters face an unlevel playing field in the global marketplace, where adversaries like China stack the deck. The EXIM bank counteracts that, ensuring our producers and manufacturers can compete around the world.
I published an opinion piece with EXIM Chairman Kimberly Reed reflecting on EXIM's past year.
Joining ND Association of Nonprofit Organizations Press Conference
On Wednesday I spoke to members of the North Dakota Association of Nonprofit Organizations as part of the organization's virtual State of the Nonprofit Sector Press Conference.
I'm grateful to North Dakota's nonprofits for the work they do and for the opportunity to talk with them.
Calling on the Administration to Waive Tax Filing Penalties for Those Delayed by COVID-19
Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) and I led a bipartisan letter to U.S. Department of the Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Charles Rettig urging the Trump Administration to eliminate late filing penalties for taxpayers whose filing delay is caused by COVID-19.
“Many taxpayers are facing economic hardships and business closures due to COVID-19. Taxpayers expect fair treatment from their government, and the current unwillingness to provide an expedited process for taxpayers and their advisors to request pandemic-specific relief places an undue burden on them. We ask that you move to address these issues immediately so the American people can receive the relief they urgently need.”
Defending Right to Freely Exercise Religion
I joined a resolution led by Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) defending the free exercise of religion.
For months, liberal governors and mayors have cherry-picked parts of the First Amendment to support. The freedom to exercise religion is protected just as much as the right to protest under the First Amendment, and it is wrong for liberal leaders to target certain constitutional freedoms.
Bringing the Notary Process into the 21st Century
On Tuesday REX Real Estate CEO Lynley Sides and I published an opinion piece on the Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic (SECURE) Notarization Act. This bipartisan legislation Senator Mark Warner and I introduced earlier this year permits immediate nationwide use of Remote Online Notarizations, a type of electronic notarization where the notary and signer are in different physical locations.
Americans for Tax Reform Support Ending Wind Subsidies
Americans for Tax Reform, a political advocacy group, recently applauded my efforts to end the Production Tax Credit (PTC) for wind energy.
In July I led a letter to Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax policy, urging him to oppose another wind PTC extension. The wind production tax credit is fundamentally unfair and has long outlived its expiration date.
Introducing the Bipartisan FRESH Air Act
Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and I introduced the Filtering and Retrofitting the Environment for Safe and Healthy Activities Indoors and Revenue (FRESH AIR) for Businesses Act, a bipartisan bill to provide a tax credit to businesses and nonprofit organizations that purchase or upgrade their air ventilation, filtration, and purification systems to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and other airborne diseases.
Contact Me
As recommended by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), our in-state offices are taking precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our staff members are available by phone or email and are taking in-person meetings by appointment only.
Bismarck
328 Federal Building
220 East Rosser Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58501
701-699-7020
Grand Forks
114 Federal Building
102 North 4th Street
Grand Forks, ND 58203
701-699-7030
Minot
105 Federal Building
100 First Street SW
Minot, ND 58701
701-837-6141
Fargo
306 Federal Building
657 Second Avenue N
Fargo, ND 58102
701-232-5094
Williston
125 Main Street
Suite #217
Williston, ND 58801
701-441-7230
Washington, D.C.
400 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
202-224-2043
Weekly Radio and TV Schedule
RADIO
What's On Your Mind with Scott Hennen
Fridays from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. central
WDAY 970 AM - Fargo
KFYR 550 AM - Bismarck
AM 1100 The Flag - Fargo
KLTC 1460 AM - Dickinson
KTGO 1090 AM - Tioga
The 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
WDAY 970 AM – Fargo
TELEVISION
Chris Berg - Point of View
6:30 p.m. central (Semi-Monthly)
Valley News Live - Fargo
Photo credit: North Dakota Tourism and the Office of U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer
Credits:
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