[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 17, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7070-S7071]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     SENATOR CRAMER'S MAIDEN SPEECH

  Mr. HOEVEN. Madam President, I rise today because it is my honor to 
introduce my colleague, who actually needs no introduction, but for 
this speech today I have the pleasure to introduce Kevin Cramer, who 
will be delivering his official maiden address to the U.S. Senate.
  I have known Kevin for many years and he has always been an 
incredibly

[[Page S7071]]

diligent worker for the people of North Dakota. He has served our State 
in many different capacities. He served as tourism director and did a 
tremendous job promoting our State, promoting tourism, and, really, 
promoting the beauty and the history of our State in a way that brought 
a lot of national attention and really made a difference in terms of 
tourism for our State.
  He also served our State as economic development director, something 
that is certainly near and dear to my heart. I have always believed 
that job creation is job one, and so, to me, that is the engine that 
drives the car. Kevin served as the economic development director under 
Governor Schafer, my predecessor, and, again, did a fantastic job. He 
knows the importance of supporting our farmers and our small 
businesses, the energy industry, and all the things that really make 
our State go, and he has been a huge part of helping to create an 
environment in our State that, from a tax and a regulatory environment, 
has been very supportive of the growth and development of our economy 
and all aspects of our economy--as I say, from ag to energy, to 
technology, to manufacturing and throughout the small business world--
and, like me, he is a true champion for small business. We are big 
believers that small business is what makes this economy go. Whether it 
is North Dakota or the United States of America, it is small business 
that makes our economy go.
  As Governor, I had the opportunity to appoint Kevin to our State's 
public service commission in 2003, and he followed that and ran and was 
elected to the PSC by the people of North Dakota and served as the 
public service commissioner for the State until 2012. Certainly, in 
that role he was a big part of the growth and development of our State.
  Back in 2000, when I started as Governor, we produced less than 
100,000 barrels of oil a day. Today, we now produce more than 1.5 
million barrels of oil a day. The only State that produces more oil 
than North Dakota is Texas, and Kevin was a big part of building that 
climate where the industry just developed amazing technologies and this 
whole shale play came to be. Of course, now the United States is the 
largest producer of oil and gas in the world.
  So he truly understands that you have to help to promote that kind of 
economic development, but, at the same time, there is a reasonable role 
for regulation and things have to be done right and well and with good 
environmental stewardship.
  Prior to joining me in the Senate, Kevin served for three terms in 
the House of Representatives, where we worked together on many of our 
State's priorities. We share the same beliefs in not only our great 
State but in this great country, and we certainly had a tremendous 
working relationship in the House and now, of course, I am pleased to 
have him as a colleague in the Senate.
  We both served as members of the farm bill conference committee a 
year ago and were able to put in place a strong farm bill for our 
farmers and ranchers.
  We both work to rein in regulation, as I said, to grow our economy, 
and to support our military. He is a member of the Armed Services 
Committee and also the Veterans' Affairs Committee and has already 
passed a resolution supporting our veterans with his Battle of the 
Bulge resolution, which has been passed by this body.
  These are just a few of the things that he has already done as a 
Member of the U.S. Senate.
  He has been a dedicated public servant for the people of North 
Dakota. He is also a very devoted family man. He and his wife Kris have 
three sons--Isaac, Ian, and Abel--and two daughters--Rachel and Annie. 
They are the proud grandparents of five. Now, I have him by one. I have 
six, but this is a competition. So we will see where it ends up.
  He has a great family and has been a great partner in the Senate, 
and, of course, I look forward to continuing to work with him.
  Again, I am very pleased today to introduce Senator Kevin Cramer for 
this speech.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota.

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