Heidi Heitkamp Releases Plan to Protect the Safety, Security and Traditions of Our Western Communities
Heitkamp Pledges to Locate Staff in Oil Patch, Host Townhall Meetings; Will Seek Federal Oil Royalties For Infrastructure Growth
MANDAN, N.D. – Former North Dakota attorney general and U.S. Senate candidate Heidi Heitkamp released her plan to help protect the security and traditions of the western oil patch communities. Media reports recently reported that the growing oil boom in Western North Dakota has made North Dakota the nation’s second-leading oil producer.
“Whether it is the lack of affordable housing or overburdened roads, our communities in the West are struggling to cope with the rapid growth of the oil boom,” said Heitkamp. “As Senator, I’ll locate staff in the oil patch to make sure I’m doing everything I can to protect our communities, and I’ll work with anyone in the Senate to bring funding back to North Dakota to help rebuild our roads, and expand affordable housing. The Federal government made $318 million in federal oil royalties last year alone, and it’s time some of that money comes back to North Dakota.”
Heitkamp’s Plan includes:
Ensure Federal Oil Revenue Helps Fund Infrastructure Development in the Oil Patch
In 2011 alone, the Federal Government collected $318 million in oil royalties on federal land in North Dakota. As Senator, Heidi will fight to ensure that a substantial portion of those royalty dollars come back to North Dakota to help assist city, county and tribal governments in their efforts to fund local infrastructure development, such as improving county and tribal roads, expanding health care, funding public safety expansion, providing assistance for education and daycare and expanding affordable housing. Heidi will work to ensure the federal government is a partner in developing the Bakken, not just a profiteer.
Devote Senate Staff to the Oil Patch
Recent census datashows that Williston was the fastest growing micropolitan area in the country and Dickinson was #4. Heidi will locate U.S. Senate staff in the oil patch to assist with constituent services. Heidi believes it’s critical as senator to hear firsthand the concerns about how we can support infrastructure growth in the oil patch, and will do that by locating staff in the area and hosting quarterly town halls on issues of concern to those who live and work in the oil patch.
About Heidi: Today, as a director of the Dakota Gasification synfuels plant, she’s a champion for North Dakota’s energy industry. Heidi believes we need to use all of North Dakota’s rich energy resources wisely, creating and keeping high-paying jobs right here. Heidi says it’s time to put country first, put politics aside and work together to cut government spending, balance the budget, create jobs and get our economy back on track—while protecting North Dakotans. Heidi lives in Mandan with her husband, Dr. Darwin Lange, a family practitioner. They have two grown children, Ali and Nathan.
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