[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 173 (Thursday, October 31, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S6329]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              NORTH DAKOTA

  Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, I rise today to mark the 130th birthday of 
the State of North Dakota. On November 2, 1889, President Benjamin 
Harrison signed the documents turning Dakota Territory into two States, 
North Dakota and South Dakota. In the 13 decades since then, the people 
of North Dakota hive embraced the many opportunities and challenges of 
living in the geographic center of North America.
  God has blessed us with abundant natural resources, and with hard 
work and innovation, North Dakotans have fed the world and fueled our 
Nation. We are top producers of wheat, sunflowers, dry edible beans, 
navy and pinto beans, canola, flaxseed, and honey. Our ranchers raise 
1.7 million beef cattle--or almost three head of cattle for every North 
Dakotan.
  As the Nation's second largest producer of oil in the country, we are 
one of the reasons the United States becomes closer every year to being 
energy independent. As one of the country's top 10 coal-producing 
States, our lignite reserves have an 800-year supply. Before there were 
Federal reclamation laws, North Dakota was enforcing its own, and our 
air quality has been ranked at among the best in the Nation. We proudly 
embrace an ``all of the above'' energy policy that, in addition to oil 
and coal, supports production of wind and biofuels.
  Every year, visitors and new residents discover the beauty of our 
State, with its distinct geographic regions. A young Theodore 
Roosevelt's years of ranching in the North Dakota Badlands greatly 
influenced his conservation policies as our Nation's 26th President. 
North Dakota has been regarded the birthplace of conservation as 
Roosevelt, who was known as the Conservation President, established 
vast protections for wildlife and public lands through new national 
forests, bird reserves, game preserves, national parks, and national 
monuments. He said, ``I would not have been President had it not been 
for my experience in North Dakota.''
  My State can often be found at the top of quality of life rankings in 
America, largely due to the strong sense of community engagement and 
social support present from border to border.
  I speak for all North Dakotans in the pride we have for what our 
State has given to the Nation and world in our first 130 years, but, in 
true North Dakota spirit, I believe most would agree with me that we 
are just getting started and the best is yet to come. Happy Birthday, 
North Dakota.

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