News Releases for September 2006
September 12, 2006
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Hoeven Lobbying Administration, Congress For Disaster Assistance
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven is in Washington D.C. today to lobby the Bush administration and members of Congress for a federal agricultural disaster bill. Hoeven is joined by South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds, Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture Gene Hugoson and agriculture producers from all three states. The group will be meeting with Hunter Moorhead, Agriculture Advisor to President Bush, as well as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns. Hoeven and Rounds will also lobby Congress.
"We are combining our efforts with other drought affected states to push for targeted drought relief for our farmers and ranchers," Hoeven said. "Twenty other states have now joined our efforts supporting a disaster bill this year. It is important that we get assistance for our producers, and we will keep working for a disaster assistance package."
Hoeven is also asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to partner with the North Dakota Trade Office by providing one dedicated Foreign Agriculture Service Officer in North Dakota. The new position would work with the Trade Office in expanding trade volume by identifying additional markets in as well as providing assistance with transportation issues.
While in Washington, Hoeven is covering other issues as well. He will meet with U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works George Dunlop to discuss Missouri River water issues. Hoeven wants additional drought conservation measures to keep more water in the upper Missouri River basin reservoirs.
On Wednesday, Hoeven will meet with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Stephen Johnson regarding North Dakota's state implementation plan for the energy industry. Hoeven is working with EPA to finalize their approval of North Dakota modeling on Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) standards, which is an important regulatory requirement for continued energy growth in the state, along with good environmental stewardship.
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