Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[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.
____________________
