Burgum Releases Statement in observance of Veterans Day

Gov. Doug Burgum released the following statement in observance of Veterans Day on Friday, Nov. 11.

“Our nation continues to be a shining beacon of freedom for the world because of the service and sacrifice of our military veterans and the families who support and serve alongside them,” Burgum said. “On Veterans Day, and every day, we share our gratitude with the more 50,000 military veterans in North Dakota and pledge our support for the men and women in uniform who defend our liberty and fight to protect our American values, promoting freedom and democracy around the world and creating peace through strength.”

As commander-in-chief of the North Dakota National Guard and the son of a World War II Navy veteran, Burgum has worked with the state Legislature to enact laws and policies that have made North Dakota one of the best states for veterans, including legislation last year that:

• Expanded eligibility for in-state tuition rates at North Dakota colleges and universities to National Guard and Reserve members, their spouses and dependents.
• Lowered property taxes for veterans by increasing the Disabled Veteran Property Tax Credit to apply to the first $8,100 of taxable valuation.
• Cut red tape to allow the dependents of both military members who die in the line of duty and 100% disabled veterans to receive free tuition at North Dakota colleges and universities.
• Empowered the state treasurer to identify investment opportunities with the greatest return for the Veteran’s Aid Fund and the Postwar Trust Fund Earnings accounts – increasing funds used to directly serve veterans.
• Allowed military spouses to claim unemployment benefits when they lose employment due to military-related relocation.
• Allowed payment of death benefits for a National Guard service member who is killed while in state active-duty status.
• Improved behavioral health services for veterans and created sentencing alternatives for veterans involved in the justice system.

Burgum thanks Team ND members for response to record-breaking winter storm

Gov. Burgum expressed his gratitude for Team ND members' response to a major winter storm Thursday and Friday that shuttered the Capitol and other state facilities, forced closures on Interstates 29 and 94 and other highways, and dumped a record amount of snow for Nov. 10.

The North Dakota Department of Transportation, North Dakota Highway Patrol, North Dakota Department of Emergency Services were among the agencies working to ensure public safety through the blizzard conditions.

"Grateful for all the @NDDOT, @NDHighwayPatro, @nddes and other Team ND members working with local officials to keep motorists safe!" Burgum tweeted. "Please use caution and avoid unnecessary travel, and stay tuned to the NDRoads app or http://travel.nd.gov for the latest road conditions."

The National Weather Service measured 17.1 inches of snowfall in Bismarck on Thursday, breaking the previous record for Nov. 10 of 9.1 inches in 2012.

Lt. Gov. Sanford addresses Basin Electric Power Cooperative annual meeting

"Basin Electric’s success is a credit to the 131 member cooperatives that make up its all-of-the-above energy mix," Sanford said. "We’re grateful to all of the board members and managers from all of the co-ops in the nine states that get their wholesale power from Basin Electric. With 3 million electric customers, you all play a key role in providing reliable, low-cost wholesale power to rural America. Your investment in our infrastructure and communities provides not only energy, but jobs and economic strength."

Basin Electric generates and transmits wholesale bulk electric power to customers, primarily to its 131 member rural electric systems in nine states: Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. Basin's largest subsidiary is the for-profit Dakota Gasification Co., which owns and operates the Great Plains Synfuels Plant near Beulah, N.D.

Workforce emerges as major theme as session prep accelerates

With the 2023 legislative session fast approaching, the Governor’s Office and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) have been working with state agencies to craft the executive budget proposal for presentation to the Legislature’s organizational session on Dec. 7.

Workforce is shaping up to be a major theme of the session. North Dakota has more than 18,000 online job openings listed with Job Service North Dakota and an estimated 40,000 total available jobs, but only 650 people currently on unemployment status statewide. North Dakota was tied for the fourth-lowest unemployment rate in the nation in September, at 2.2%.

In recent weeks, Gov. Burgum and Lt. Gov. Sanford joined with legislators, fellow statewide elected officials and various stakeholders to announce several proposals addressing the workforce challenge, as well as other priorities including tax relief, community development and child care. Read more about the proposals by clicking the link below.

Burgum is scheduled to deliver the executive budget address on Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. in the House chamber. The governor will deliver his 2023 State of the State Address when the 68th Legislative Assembly begins its regular session on Jan. 3.

Read more

Click Here for more information.