John Hoeven
Senator for North Dakota · Republican · United States
“You had to kind of shoot a 3-pointer. A super guy, great sense of humor, good friend. We will miss Ralph in terms of his full-time status, but the good news is, he will be on senior status and still involved. He is just a tremendous judge, and I am very confident that Judge Traynor will do a fantastic job carrying on his legacy.”
Senate23 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, I rise today in support of Judge Daniel Traynor's nomination to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Judge Traynor is seeking to fill a seat being vacated by Judge Ralph Erickson, who will be taking senior status upon Judge Traynor's confirmation.”
Senate23 July 2026Source ↗
“His judicial record reflects a deep respect for the Constitution and appreciation for the limited role of the judiciary and a commitment to deciding cases based on the law rather than on his personal opinion or policies.”
Senate23 July 2026Source ↗
“He was born in Devils Lake, ND. He received his bachelor of arts from the University of North Dakota and his juris doctorate from the University of North Dakota School of Law. Judge Traynor's roots in our State have shaped his understanding of the law's impact on individuals, on families, on businesses, and on our rural communities.”
Senate23 July 2026Source ↗
“Air Force, along with their three children--Mary, Mack, and Joe--are rightfully proud of what Judge Traynor has accomplished. He understands the values of hard work, service, and responsibility that are central to the people of North Dakota and the Eighth Circuit. I am proud to support his nomination.”
Senate23 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, I rise today to highlight and ask unanimous consent to pass a resolution I introduced to call for greater action from the Canadian Government to fight the almost annual wildfires that send smoke over the border, blanketing much of the United States.”
Senate22 July 2026Source ↗
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“Air Force, along with their three children--Mary, Mack, and Joe--are rightfully proud of what Judge Traynor has accomplished. He understands the values of hard work, service, and responsibility that are central to the people of North Dakota and the Eighth Circuit. I am proud to support his nomination. I am confident that he will serve with distinction on the court of appeals. For all these reasons, I call on my colleagues to join me in supporting his nomination. With that, Mr. President, I yield the floor.”
Senate23 July 2026Source ↗
“His judicial record reflects a deep respect for the Constitution and appreciation for the limited role of the judiciary and a commitment to deciding cases based on the law rather than on his personal opinion or policies. The Eighth Circuit plays a critical role in interpreting and applying Federal law throughout our region of the country. The citizens it serves deserve a judge who approaches that responsibility with independence, impartiality, and fidelity to the Constitution and the rule of law. Judge Traynor possesses each of these qualities. He does not legislate from the bench. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Judge Traynor is a devoted husband, father, and member of his community. His wife Patricia, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S.”
Senate23 July 2026Source ↗
“He was born in Devils Lake, ND. He received his bachelor of arts from the University of North Dakota and his juris doctorate from the University of North Dakota School of Law. Judge Traynor's roots in our State have shaped his understanding of the law's impact on individuals, on families, on businesses, and on our rural communities. Throughout his career, Judge Traynor has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to public service and to the faithful application of the law. Since his confirmation to serve as judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota, Judge Traynor has distinguished himself through his diligence, impartiality, and careful attention to the facts and law before him.”
Senate23 July 2026Source ↗
“You had to kind of shoot a 3-pointer. A super guy, great sense of humor, good friend. We will miss Ralph in terms of his full-time status, but the good news is, he will be on senior status and still involved. He is just a tremendous judge, and I am very confident that Judge Traynor will do a fantastic job carrying on his legacy. Today, I have the privilege of supporting a nominee in Judge Traynor who embodies the highest standards of judicial service and who has dedicated his professional life to upholding the rule of law. Judge Traynor is a man of integrity, intellect, and deep faith in our constitutional system. He has earned a reputation as a thoughtful and fair jurist whose commitment to justice is respected by those who know him and those who have appeared before him. Judge Traynor is a lifelong North Dakotan through and through.”
Senate23 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, I rise today in support of Judge Daniel Traynor's nomination to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Judge Traynor is seeking to fill a seat being vacated by Judge Ralph Erickson, who will be taking senior status upon Judge Traynor's confirmation. I want to take this opportunity to thank Judge Erickson for his many years of serving on the bench. Whether at the State district court, the Federal district court, or as a circuit court judge, Ralph Erickson has been a dedicated public servant, and we thank him for his hard work over the decades. I actually have known him since high school. He was on both the football team and the basketball team, and he is a huge guy. I remember he was a good lineman, and I remember that if he stood in the lane at basketball, you couldn't get anywhere near the basket.”
Senate23 July 2026Source ↗
“And to my colleague from Washington, we work together on many things, important things. I appreciate that. I think we both come from border States and recognize the importance of this incredible bond and relationship that we have with our friends in Canada, and I want to make clear, I have tremendous respect, appreciation, and admiration for our friends and allies and that this is about working together for mutual benefit. And with that, I would yield to my good friend and colleague from the State of Ohio.”
Senate22 July 2026Source ↗
“And with that, I would yield the floor to my colleague the good Senator from Ohio.”
Senate22 July 2026Source ↗
“With more than 3,640 wildfires in Canada this year alone, it is clear that more action needs to be taken to prevent and stop these fires. That is what I am calling for. And in the resolution itself, I make it very clear that this is something that is important to benefit both countries. So, again, you know, I think it would be--if my colleague wants to object, I understand she has that right. But I think it is unfair to characterize that other than I am saying we need more action on these wildfires. Now, if she feels we don't need more action on these wildfires, it is just fine, OK. But she shouldn't misrepresent what I am trying to do, which is call attention to the fact that we need more work done so we can avoid these wildfires in the future and that that is something that is mutually beneficial for both of our Nations.”
Senate22 July 2026Source ↗
“I went back and forth to Canada so many times I couldn't even count. But, and I go on, with a shared border between the United States and Canada, we want to manage it to the benefit of people residing in both countries. We feel for those in Canada whose homes and communities are directly impacted. I am reading from the speech I just wrote; I was listening to the mischaracterization. We also recognize and thank the thousands of firefighters and emergency responders who are working to combat wildfires and protect lives and personal property under dangerous conditions. At the same time, we need responsible forest management, including hazardous fuels reduction, timber harvesting, grazing, and other forest restoration practices that help reduce the severity and the frequency of catastrophic wildfires.”
Senate22 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, if I could, I am wondering if my colleague heard the speech I just gave. I guess I want to repeat it because maybe she might have missed it. The United States and Canada--this is what I said, so I can't think of a bigger mischaracterization of what I just said. And I am not even sure why. If she wanted to come down and criticize our President, that is fine. She can do that, I guess, whenever she wants if that is what she wants to do. But to completely mischaracterize what I said, I don't think is fair. So I am going to reiterate what I said just a minute ago for the record. The United States and Canada have a longstanding and close relationship based on our shared values and common interests. I even referenced the fact that I grew up 50 miles from the Canadian border.”
Senate22 July 2026Source ↗
“So with that, as if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 811, which is at the desk. I further ask that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.”
Senate22 July 2026Source ↗
“So the resolution I have introduced does three things: Specifically, it recognizes the significant impact that smoke from the Canadian wildfires has on the safety, health, and well-being of the American people, and it calls upon the Government of Canada to take responsibility for the cross-border impact of these wildfires, including immediate efforts to extinguish the fires and prevent their reoccurrence. And finally, the resolution urges President Trump to further discuss with Canadian Prime Minister Carney the importance of extinguishing these fires and finding ways to prevent their reoccurrence, something that we can do together and we should do together for the mutual benefit of both our great countries.”
Senate22 July 2026Source ↗
“But at the same time, we need responsible forest management, including hazardous fuels reduction, timber harvesting, grazing, and other forest restoration practices that help reduce the severity and frequency of catastrophic wildfires. With more than 3,640 wildfires in Canada this year alone, it is clear that more action needs to be taken to prevent and stop these fires. And, in fact, in the United States, we have worked many years to help our friends in Canada battle these fires, but, clearly, more action needs to be taken.”
Senate22 July 2026Source ↗
“But with that shared border between the United States and Canada, we need to manage it to the benefit of the people that reside in both countries. I mean, we have water that flows up into Canada, and we are always working on water quality issues and all those kinds of things. We understand that what we do here in the United States affects our friends in Canada as well. So we feel for those in Canada whose homes and communities are directly impacted by the fires. We also recognize and thank the thousands of firefighters and emergency responders who are working to combat wildfires and protect lives and personal property under dangerous conditions.”
Senate22 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, I rise today to highlight and ask unanimous consent to pass a resolution I introduced to call for greater action from the Canadian Government to fight the almost annual wildfires that send smoke over the border, blanketing much of the United States. Over the past several days, more than 100 million people nationwide have been under air quality alerts due to the smoke from Canadian wildfires. This smoke has real impacts to the health and well-being of individuals and families. In my home State of North Dakota, this is an issue we are very familiar with. Unfortunately, over the past number of summers, we have been experiencing hazy skies from wildfires in Canada. The United States and Canada have a longstanding and close relationship based on our shared values and common interests. I know; I grew up 50 miles from the border.”
Senate22 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.”
Senate22 July 2026Source ↗
“She goes: Well, because you do. You really like him. You respect him. So I just said: Yes, I know I do, but he is my buddy. You are not supposed to tell your buddy that; they are just supposed to know it. But it is true. I think we all did, both sides of the aisle. We will miss him incredibly. The country, the State of South Carolina will miss him. Our country will miss Lindsey Graham and his incredible service. May God bless Lindsey and his entire family.”
Senate14 July 2026Source ↗
“But it is almost like they had one more call--one more call--where Lindsey was able to call President Trump again or President Trump was able to call Lindsey and they talked about, you know, who should replace Lindsey during that period before the election when the people of South Carolina will elect their next Senator to replace Lindsey, and they decided on Darline. And how fitting. How appropriate. So big thanks to President Trump for recommending to Governor McMaster that he appoint Darline. We are so pleased to have her here, and it is so fitting and appropriate. My wife Mikey and I are praying for Lindsey and for his whole family. I have to say that my wife Mikey was always a big Lindsey fan. One time, we are at dinner or something, and she just tells Lindsey how much I like and respect Lindsey. I said to her: Why did you do that?”
Senate14 July 2026Source ↗
“He was a loyal and loving brother and uncle who once said of his sister: Of all the things that have happened in my life, her turning out so well is the highlight of it by far. It is only fitting that his sister Darline will serve in his place. We extend her a warm welcome to the Senate like Senator Graham did with so many of us. It is almost as if Lindsey and President Trump had one more call after the call that night where they talked. Lindsey had gotten back from Ukraine, and the President called him or he called the President. They talked on the phone, and it was shortly after that that Lindsey had his heart attack and died.”
Senate14 July 2026Source ↗
“I think the time that, on the Judiciary Committee, he really said what he thought, what he felt in his heart about Justice Kavanaugh was perhaps, if not his finest moment, one of his truly finest moments where he truly stood up and said what he felt was right on the national stage and made an incredible difference, a lasting and important, incredible difference. And it wasn't rehearsed; it was just Lindsey spontaneously being Lindsey, saying what was in his heart. There is that old saying: Speak from your gut and your heart. Boy, did he, and it made a huge difference. That was vintage Lindsey Graham. His leadership on defense, judiciary, and budget issues will be felt for years to come. But for all his accomplishments in the Senate and around the globe, Senator Graham was most proud of his family.”
Senate14 July 2026Source ↗
“Of course, he had a tremendous relationship with President Trump, and they truly cared about each other. They were real friends. They worked together, but they truly were friends. We will miss all of that. As the former chairman and the senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Graham shaped the Federal judiciary. Think of how impactful that has been from the Supreme Court down to the district courts. He played a central role in the confirmations of Supreme Court Justices, including Justices Alito, Kavanaugh, Gorsuch, and Barrett, while also helping to oversee a massive conservative shift in the Federal judiciary.”
Senate14 July 2026Source ↗
“As chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, Senator Graham advanced conservative causes that have made our Nation stronger and more prosperous. He helped steer through the Working Families Tax--the One Big Beautiful Bill, or the OB3. It has got a lot of names, but the important point is that it really made a huge difference for our country and for working families. He cared about that. He cared about taking on the big challenges and doing big things. Likewise, as the Budget chair, he was instrumental in helping us fund border security and law enforcement. He was a big part of helping us implement the Trump agenda, and that was so appropriate. Lindsey was really--you know, as they say in sports, he was a triple threat. He was a triple threat. He was a force in our Republican caucus, and he could work with the Democrats.”
Senate14 July 2026Source ↗
“With his help, we were able to successfully convince the Department of Defense to change its policy and allow guardsmen and reservists to concurrently receive their Federal tuition assistance and their GI bill benefits in full. Given our close, personal friendship and his ardent support of our servicemembers, our national defense, and our military, I liked to call him ``Grambo.'' For me, that was his nickname, ``Grambo''--you know, kind of like ``Rambo.'' Well, he was ``Grambo.'' He really was the Senate version of ``Rambo'' in all things military, and he was relentless, as we saw. I mean, right up until almost the day he died, he was working and advocating for our military, on behalf of American military strength, and our role as, truly, the leader of the free world.”
Senate14 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to my colleague but, most of all, to my friend, Senator Lindsey Graham. We were all shocked to learn of his passing this weekend, and I mean it--stunned. It is hard to imagine the Senate without Lindsey. It already seems quieter. We will miss his humor, his advice, and, of course, his friendship. Lindsey was dedicated to serving the people of South Carolina and the Nation. He spent nearly his entire adult life in public service, from the military to the South Carolina House, to the past 31 years--31 years--here, both in the House and in the Senate. In having spent 33 years in the Air Force, the South Carolina Air Guard, or the Reserves, Senator Graham was a staunch supporter of our men and women in uniform. Since 2010, he served as co-chair of the National Guard Caucus.”
Senate14 July 2026Source ↗
“I urge our Democrat colleagues in a bipartisan way to join us and support the effort to continue securing our border and to go after the criminals that have illegally entered our country and continue to do harm. I yield the floor.”
Senate2 April 2025Source ↗
“In February, the President of Mexico agreed to send 10,000 National Guard troops to help secure its northern border with the United States. The Canadian Government has named a fentanyl czar, listed Mexican cartels as ``terrorist groups,'' and launched a Canada-U.S. joint strike force to combat organized crime, fentanyl, and money laundering. Additionally, the Canadian Government increased its law enforcement presence at the border, with a 56-percent increase in border personnel at land borders and ports of entry. CBP officers, Border Patrol agents, and State, local, and Tribal law enforcement are stepping up to take on the fentanyl crisis at our borders.”
Senate2 April 2025Source ↗
“The precursor chemicals are coming from China. They go down to Mexico and from there, they're pushed up into our communities. The numbers reflect this. In 2023, officials in North Dakota seized 21,000 more fentanyl pills than the year before, 30 pounds more meth, and 2\1/2\ times more pounds of cocaine. Last month, the Republican majorities in both Chambers, the House and the Senate, voted to continue funding for key programs at DHS and DOJ that combat the rise in illicit drugs like fentanyl. Unfortunately, our colleagues across the aisle voted against that effort. While the United States stands prepared to take on the scourge of fentanyl that is impacting our citizens, other countries must step up as well. As a result of the actions taken by this administration, both Canada and Mexico have begun to be engaged partners on this issue.”
Senate2 April 2025Source ↗
“These Executive actions have served as the first steps in reversing the catch-and-release policies that allowed members of cartels, gangs, and violent transnational criminal organizations, like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, to remain in the United States while operating criminal enterprises. By declaring an emergency at the border, DHS, DOD, and DOJ were able to take a whole-of-government approach and begin working together to identify the criminals that were illegally operating these networks within our country. The result of these harmful Democrat open border policies has been felt by us all and has turned every State into a border State. Leadership for the DEA Omaha Division, which includes my State, said it plainly and simply--the repeated presence of fentanyl in our communities is due to outside forces.”
Senate2 April 2025Source ↗
“But the work is not done. While taking advantage of the failed border policies of the prior administration, cartels and other transnational criminal organizations, or TCOs, flooded the border and gained a criminal foothold in our country. The presence of the cartels and other bad actors operating within our borders led to criminal acts like drug trafficking, human smuggling, and other illegal activities. On his first day in office, President Trump signed a series of Executive orders addressing the border crisis that had been affecting our country and began the process of removing criminals who had illegally entered under the previous administration.”
Senate2 April 2025Source ↗
“This sharp drop of illegal encounters is thanks to a new administration and a new Republican majority in the House and Senate, which has prioritized securing our border by resuming policies that brought historically low encounters just 4 years ago. And, I mean, policies that we put in place 4 years ago that worked then, we have put them back in place. They are working now. So all that discussion on the part of the Biden administration saying, oh, my gosh, they needed some new law somehow, just isn't so; is it? The numbers make that abundantly clear. And, of course, that means reinstating the migrant protection protocols, or the ``Remain in Mexico'' policy. Again, commonsense policies. Reinstating these policies helped curb illegal entries of individuals at our border and has begun the process of making our country safe again.”
Senate2 April 2025Source ↗
“Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to waive the mandatory quorum call with respect to the Lawrence nomination.”
Senate27 March 2025Source ↗
“Wright will bring the right vision to the Department of Energy, supporting the deployment of all these new technologies so that we can truly become not only energy independent, energy secure, but, in fact, energy dominant. Mr. Wright received strong bipartisan support from our Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support his confirmation to be the next Secretary for the Department of Energy. I yield the floor.”
Senate3 February 2025Source ↗
“Madam President, I am pleased to come to the floor today to urge my colleagues to confirm Chris Wright to be Secretary of Energy. Mr. Wright has demonstrated tremendous leadership in the energy industry over the past more than 30 years. He is a true pioneer in advancing new technologies that unlocked the shale energy revolution in our country. When I started as Governor of North Dakota in 2000, our State was producing about 100,000 barrels of oil per day, but that production was declining.”
Senate3 February 2025Source ↗
“Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.”
Senate3 February 2025Source ↗
“He has extensive experience in Native American affairs, and not only does he have the support of all of the Tribes in our State, he has the support from more than 180 Tribes from across the Nation. Doug received overwhelming bipartisan support from our Energy and Natural Resources Committee. He came out of committee 18 to 2. So I strongly urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote for his confirmation when we vote here very soon on his approval to be the next Secretary of the Interior for the United States of America. I yield the floor.”
Senate30 January 2025Source ↗
“To accomplish these goals, we must recruit and retain more border security professionals, modernize our border security tools like autonomous towers, and better utilize technology like the counter- unmanned aircraft systems along the border. The cause of these threats to our homeland is clear: President Biden's failure to secure the southern border. Senate Republicans stand ready to work with President Trump to advance the policies that kept our border secure during his first administration. That is exactly what my colleagues and I will be working to accomplish every day in the coming months because border security is national security. I yield the floor.”
Senate15 January 2025Source ↗
“So we weren't there, but we would have loved to have been there. Bison Nation really supports this team, and you can't do it without that kind of fan base, although I have to tell you that the Montana State Bobcats were there in force, because I talked to players or I talked to some of the folks who were there, some of the alumni and fans who had gone to the game, and they said that Montana State really supported their team well. So with that, I am going to turn to my colleague Senator Cramer, who is going to offer some more remarks. Like I said, we are excited because our work is not done. We will continue working with the team and look forward to a White House visit. Senator Cramer.”
Senate9 January 2025Source ↗