Hoeven Welcomes President Trump to North Dakota for Celebration of America’s 250th Birthday, Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Dedication

MEDORA, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today welcomed President Donald J. Trump to North Dakota for a celebration marking America’s 250th birthday and the dedication of the Theodore Roosevelt President Library. Hoeven met President Trump at the Bismarck Airport for the arrival of Air Force One, before joining the President to fly out to Medora. The senator thanked President Trump for visiting the state and joining efforts to honor the life and legacy of Theodore Roosevelt, the United States’ 26th president. Hoeven has worked to advance the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, including: Introducing and securing passage of legislation to secure the library’s 93-acre site. Hoeven authored the bill enabling the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation to purchase the land from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). The senator worked with local and state officials and the Medora Grazing Association to negotiate the legislation and find an agreement for the land purchase. The agreement ensured the availability of acres for grazing and included a written commitment from the USFS to maintain the Medora Grazing Association’s contract for its full 10-year term. Hoeven also passed legislation in the Interior appropriations bill to support loans of historic artifacts for display at the library. Most recently, the senator secured Senate passage of his bipartisan legislation to provide up to $50 million in federal matching grants for the library and authorization for the library to display artifacts and materials from Theodore Roosevelt’s life, and Hoeven is working to advance its approval in the House. Hoeven’s bill follows the model used for establishing and funding the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, located in Springfield, Ill. “This is a momentous occasion for our state, marking the completion of an institution that will stand for generations in honor of our 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt. We appreciate President Trump for joining North Dakotans in this celebration,” said Hoeven. “This library is an asset to not only North Dakota but our entire nation. We authored and secured passage of the legislation to enable the library to purchase the land for this beautiful new library. We also continue working to provide federal funds matching private contributions and to authorize the use of federal artifacts and materials in the library’s exhibits on a permanent basis, similar to the model used for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Teddy Roosevelt charted the course for our country’s heritage of conservation and the stewardship of our natural resources. Moreover, his is a story of overcoming loss and adversity, growing into the person and public servant that our nation needed at that time. Every American deserves the opportunity to hear that story, and that’s exactly what this institution offers to the public.” Today’s celebration comes as the first of a series of events Hoeven will participate in to mark the grand opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. On Friday, Hoeven will join a conversation with North Dakota’s governors, both present and past, including Governor Kelly Armstrong, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, Jack Dalrymple and Ed Schafer. On Saturday, Hoeven will address the grand opening ceremony for the library, where he will discuss efforts to secure the institution’s 93-acre site and provide federal support for the display of artifacts and materials from Theodore Roosevelt’s life. -###-