ND North News

Senator Kevin Cramer, representing North Dakota, recently shared a series of updates on legislative activity and energy policy via his Twitter account. The posts highlighted Senate actions on appropriations bills, developments in North Dakota's energy sector, and foreign policy positions regarding Russia.

On August 4, 2025, Senator Cramer reported the passage of several key legislative measures: "Last week:

The Senate overwhelmingly passed 3 bipartisan FY26 appropriations bills.

I delivered a floor speech highlighting Democrats’ unprecedented obstruction.

@SVACGOP and @BankingGOP held markups and unanimously advanced provisions I led.

Read more https://t.co/OLfTtrPjld"

Later that day, he emphasized the role of coal in the region’s power supply: "More progress for North Dakota and American energy dominance! North Dakota lignite coal provides affordable, reliable power for the consumers who depend on it.

https://t.co/MhJB0Gw0c5"

On August 6, Cramer addressed U.S. sanctions policy against Russia: "I joined @Varneyco to discuss why the U.S. should impose added sanctions on Russian oil purchases if Putin doesn't agree on a ceasefire deal.

It's time to accept the reality that Putin has complete dominance of Ukraine as his goal and everything else is just a stall tactic. https://t.co/fMerszbQxi"

The appropriations process referenced by Senator Cramer is an annual legislative procedure through which Congress allocates funding to federal agencies for each fiscal year. Bipartisan cooperation is often necessary to pass these spending bills in both chambers.

North Dakota is one of the leading producers of lignite coal in the United States. Lignite coal remains an important source of electricity generation in the state due to its availability and cost-effectiveness.

Senator Cramer's comments about Russia reflect ongoing debates within Congress over how best to respond to Russian military actions in Ukraine. Sanctions have been one tool used by U.S. policymakers seeking to influence Russian behavior amid continued conflict.