At the North Dakota State Capitol this week, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) delivered remarks before the North Dakota House of Representatives on American exceptionalism and the intersection of state and federal policies. Senator Cramer was invited to speak in the House Chamber by North Dakota House Speaker Kim Koppelman. Excerpts and a link to the full remarks as delivered are below.
“I consider it a really high honor to be able to stand in North Dakota’s People’s House and address you and to share some thoughts about what I think are great opportunities for our great state and our great nation,” said Senator Cramer. “I have seen how state and federal policies intersect and looked for ways we can work together to maximize the incredible opportunities we can deliver to the people of North Dakota. This year, I believe there is great potential.”
Senator Cramer began his remarks by applauding North Dakota for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Congratulations to you and the state on how well the state has navigated the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Senator Cramer. “The urgency and the uncertainty of this crisis required fast decisions which will always make people smarter after the fact than they may have felt at the time the action was required. But, from my perch in our nation’s capital, North Dakota takes a back seat to no one.”
He then covered policy issues where state legislative efforts overlap with federal ones, such as energy, infrastructure, national security, the Paycheck Protection Program, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, and tort reform.
On Tort Reform:
“While many businesses in our neighboring state of Minnesota have been sidelined by overly restrictive government mandates, North Dakota businesses continued to operate safely and efficiently. We are better off this year because of it. But sadly, since then, the threat of nuisance litigation has been held over the heads of many, many employers. That’s not the culture of our state. Let’s make North Dakota a regional sanctuary for businesses that do the right thing.”
On Infrastructure:
“My priority is to pass a long-term highway bill that prioritizes the distribution of funds by the government through a formula so rural states like North Dakota with our vast miles and small population get adequate resources and flexibility to spend the money on the priorities that make sense to us, to you, and your constituents.”
On National Security:
“Whether it’s two of the three legs of the nuclear triad in Minot; Space Force operations in Cavalier; critical Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance capabilities in Grand Forks and Fargo; or our National Guard installations in Bismarck and throughout the state, North Dakota punches way above its weight class in defending our nation.”
On Future Military Opportunities:
“[Military leaders have] come to see the amazing work being done in our state for the security of our nation, work made possible by the defense professionals thriving in the environment you helped create. And that work will lead to greater opportunities for the region. Future space missions at Grand Forks Air Force Base may be on the horizon, and we expect to see Space Force research opportunities coming soon to the University of North Dakota.”
Throughout his speech, Senator Cramer thanked state leaders like Governor Doug Burgum, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, Transportation Director Bill Panos, Game and Fish Director Terry Steinwand, Environmental Quality Director Dave Glatt, and University of North Dakota (UND) President Andrew Armacost for their leadership and partnership in these efforts and others.
His remarks then pivoted to cultural issues such as women’s sports, censorship, and socialism.
On H.R. 1:
“Washington D.C. calls this voting rights. I’m glad to see North Dakota knows better. It’s a partisan bill that takes all the bad ideas that have created the distrust we see today in our system, makes them permanent, and forces states to follow all of them.”
On the Equality Act:
“The Equality Act levels unequal treatment on unborn children and religious Americans. It’s antithetical to our nation’s founding, trampling on the First Amendment. It is the job of our nation’s leaders to uphold God-given rights, not chip away at them.”
On Women’s Sports:
“We have all praised and encouraged our daughters and sisters and granddaughters as they compete in sports. We applauded their achievements and the great strides they have made. We’ve hoped that maybe they could get a scholarship to the college of their choice. How disappointing to see their progress be trampled by mandates to pad the egos of biological boys. We are turning into a culture that teaches our daughters the best way to succeed is to be a man.”
On Socialism and Cancel Culture:
“The rise of socialism as a legitimate economic and cultural model is the enemy of creativity and innovation. The woke culture being pushed on us aims to erase our history and judge our nation by its sins rather than its unmatched contributions to freedom here and around the world.”
“It’s a sect of society that carries a banner of justice and equality but seems fine with disenfranchising those with whom they disagree and deploying the actions of history’s oppressors, not the oppressed. Book banning never seems to end after just a couple authors. Censorship rarely stops with the silence of just a few fringe actors. Rewriting history seems to only increase the chance of buried lessons that will be repeated.”
“The success of cancel culture and its legislative agenda relies on the failure of dissenting voices at the federal level and acquiescence at the state level. … States like ours are becoming the guardians of God-given liberties and freedoms. Where persuasion in the public square fails, states stand as a defense against federal tyranny. If you hear one thing from me, let it be this: stand strong, friends. Stand strong.”
Senator Cramer concluded his remarks with a strong defense of American exceptionalism.
“We live in the most exceptional country in the history of the world. Better than that, you and I get to serve the people in this great nation of ours. Our country needs North Dakota’s example in many areas. Common sense, work ethic, respect for each other, and – do I dare say – traditional values and virtues rooted in faith in the God who created us and put us here. We don’t all have to look or be the same to share common values. We don’t all have to vote the same to love one another. In fact, diversity in a nation that values the individual is one of our greatest strengths when channeled properly.”
“Let me be crystal clear – we have no reason to rewrite our history. We are the most exceptional country in the history of the world. We have never been perfect. No nation has. We are still forming our ‘more perfect union.’ Our exceptionalism should be championed in the classroom and in all of our institutions, not spoken of as a pejorative. The United States is still a shining city on a hill, and I refuse to be guilted into apologizing for American greatness. I hope you’ll join me in that fight.”
To read the speech in its entirety, click here.
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