John Hoeven

This Senate resolution designates November 7, 2026, the first Saturday of that month, as "National Bison Day," continuing an annual tradition that began in 2012. The measure highlights the bison's historical, cultural, and economic importance to the United States, noting its status as the national mammal, its central role in the spiritual and economic lives of Native American tribes, and its presence in conservation programs on tribal, federal, and private lands. It recognizes efforts by roughly 87 tribes through the InterTribal Buffalo Council, along with ranchers, conservationists, and government agencies, to restore and sustain bison populations across the country. The resolution does not create new programs or allocate funding; it simply encourages Americans to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. As a symbolic resolution, it affects no specific group legally but serves to honor tribal nations, bison producers, and conservation partners nationwide.

This resolution designates October 26, 2026, as the "Day of the Deployed," continuing a Senate tradition dating back to 2011. It honors the more than 2,000,000 members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including reserve components, who have deployed to over 200 countries, particularly highlighting their service since the September 11, 2001 attacks. The resolution recognizes the sacrifices made by deployed service members and their families, and calls on Americans to reflect on the courage and dedication shown by military personnel past, present, and future. It encourages citizens nationwide to mark the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. As a simple resolution, it carries symbolic significance but does not involve funding, create new programs, or establish legal requirements.

In the nature of a substitute.

This bill extends the Frontier Community Health Integration Project Demonstration, a Medicare program that tests new approaches to delivering healthcare in rural frontier communities. Specifically, it doubles the length of the demonstration period from five years to ten years, allowing participating healthcare providers and communities more time to implement and evaluate their integrated care models. The change takes effect on December 31, 2026. The bill was introduced by four Senate Republicans from rural states and referred to the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees Medicare programs. No specific funding amount is mentioned in the legislation, as it extends an existing demonstration rather than creating a new appropriation.

This Senate resolution expresses concern about the harmful effects that smoke from recent Canadian wildfires has had on Americans and calls on the Canadian government to take greater responsibility for addressing the problem. The resolution recognizes that wildfire smoke crossing the U.S.-Canada border has negatively affected the safety and health of U.S. residents and calls for Canada to increase its firefighting efforts and work to prevent future fires through forest management practices. The resolution also urges President Trump to discuss the wildfire issue with Canadian leadership to emphasize the importance of extinguishing current fires and preventing future ones. This is a non-binding resolution that expresses the Senate's position rather than creating new law or spending, and it was referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

The HEATS Act modifies federal rules for geothermal energy development by eliminating the requirement for federal drilling permits when companies conduct geothermal exploration and production on private land where the federal government owns less than 50 percent of the subsurface geothermal resources. The bill streamlines the process by allowing projects to proceed 30 days after a company submits a state permit to the federal government, significantly reducing federal oversight and environmental review timelines. The legislation exempts these activities from major federal environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act and from consultation requirements under the Endangered Species Act, though it maintains the federal government's ability to collect royalties from electricity production and conduct inspections to verify payment. The bill does not apply to geothermal activities on Native American lands or tribal trust resources, which remain subject to existing federal protections. This change primarily affects private landowners and geothermal energy companies seeking to develop resources on non-federal lands with mixed federal subsurface ownership.

In the nature of a substitute.

The BINS Act of 2026 expands a federal farm lending program to help agricultural operations build and upgrade fertilizer storage facilities. Currently, the Farm Storage Facility Loan Program helps farmers finance storage for crops and renewable biomass, but not fertilizer. This bill amends that program to make farmers eligible for low-interest loans to construct or improve facilities for storing fertilizers, including dry storage bins, liquid tanks, ammonia pressure vessels, and related equipment like conveyors and pumps. The Agriculture Department has 180 days after the bill becomes law to update its regulations to implement these changes and clarify which fertilizer storage structures qualify for loans. The legislation, introduced by Senators Hoeven and Klobuchar, aims to help farmers better manage their input costs by allowing them to purchase and store fertilizer when prices are favorable.

The SCALE Act of 2026 creates a new federal grant program to help states and Indian tribes implement soil health and wildlife habitat improvement projects on agricultural land. The program will provide up to $10 million per year in grants to eligible states and tribes for a five-year period, with the option to renew, supporting activities like technical assistance, financial aid, research, and education focused on practices consistent with federal soil health principles. States and tribes must match federal funding dollar-for-dollar with their own resources, though states unable to meet full matching requirements can receive proportional federal funding. The bill allocates $50 million annually from the Commodity Credit Corporation for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, with the Department of Agriculture required to award grants within 180 days of enactment and limited to using only 3 percent of funds for administrative costs. Grants come with minimal federal restrictions, allowing states and tribes significant flexibility in designing their own programs while requiring performance tracking and compliance audits.

This bill expands the United States-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund, or BARD Fund, which has supported joint agricultural research between the two countries since 1977. The legislation adds a new "accelerator program" component designed to speed up mid-stage agricultural research projects and provide scientists with management guidance, technical assistance, and consulting services to help move promising research toward practical applications. The bill authorizes $8 million per year in funding for the BARD Fund for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to support this expanded work. According to the bill, the BARD Fund has already generated significant returns, with previous research investments of $315 million producing $16 in economic value for every dollar spent. The legislation affects agricultural researchers, scientists, and the farming industries in both the United States and Israel by providing additional resources to develop new agricultural practices and technologies addressing food production challenges.

The Dakota Water Resources Act Amendments of 2026 would update a decades-old law governing water supply projects in North Dakota and South Dakota by authorizing significant additional federal funding to complete several major water infrastructure projects. The bill provides roughly $637 million for non-tribal projects, including the Northwest Area Water Supply system, the Eastern North Dakota Alternate Water Supply Project, the Southwest Pipeline Project, and various rural water district improvements. It also authorizes about $743 million for tribal water systems serving the Spirit Lake, Three Affiliated Tribes (Fort Berthold), Standing Rock, and Turtle Mountain reservations, along with funding for a feasibility study on a new water system for the Lake Traverse Reservation. The legislation allows some flexibility to shift funds between related projects, sets a two-year deadline for completing engineering reports on several of these efforts, and adjusts funding amounts over time to account for rising construction costs. Overall, the bill primarily benefits rural communities, municipalities, and Native American tribes in the Dakotas by helping ensure reliable access to clean drinking water and supporting long-delayed infrastructure projects.

SOS: Sustaining Outpatient Services Act This bill allows for payment under the Medicare prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services of certain items and services that are furnished at off-campus outpatient departments. Specifically, the bill allows for payment of items and services for which payments to physician specialists (under the Medicare physician fee schedule) did not exceed $2 million during the previous year.

S. 3335 would require the Department of Energy to reestablish the National Coal Council, a federal advisory committee that would provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Energy on coal-related matters and issues affecting the coal industry. The council would operate under a charter filed with Congress in June 2025 and would be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, which governs how such advisory bodies conduct their business. The legislation does not specify funding amounts or timelines for implementation, leaving those details to the Department of Energy. This bill primarily affects the coal industry, energy policymakers, and the Department of Energy, as it would create a formal mechanism for industry input on federal coal policy. The bill was introduced by a bipartisan group of senators from coal-producing states in December 2025.

The John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Act directs the Federal Aviation Administration to reform how it handles mental health disclosures from pilots and air traffic controllers, aiming to reduce the stigma that discourages these workers from seeking help. Within 18 months, the FAA must update its medical certification regulations to encourage self-reporting of mental health conditions, and it must periodically review and improve the special issuance process that allows pilots and controllers with mental health diagnoses to remain certified to work. The bill also requires the FAA to implement recommendations from a 2024 rulemaking committee on mental health and medical clearances, expand training for aviation medical examiners, and address staffing backlogs, backed by up to $15 million per year from 2026 through 2028. Additionally, the FAA must launch a public information campaign from 2026 to 2028 to destigmatize mental health care in the aviation industry and make support resources more accessible to pilots and controllers. Throughout the process, the agency must consult with industry stakeholders, unions, and medical experts, and report to Congress on its progress and any decisions not to adopt recommended changes.

This resolution designates November 1, 2025, as National Bison Day.

This resolution designates October 26, 2025, as the Day of the Deployed in honor of the deployed members of the Armed Forces and their families.

The amendment introduces new provisions that enhance existing regulations by establishing stricter compliance requirements and increasing penalties for violations. Additionally, it allocates additional funding for enforcement and oversight to ensure effective implementation of the updated measures.