Jamestown    U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer was in Jamestown Friday, August 30, for a“Coffee With Cramer” town hall,  at Babb’s Coffee House in Downtown Jamestown, where over two dozen people attended.

During his Jamestown stop, at Babb’s, Senator Cramer began the town hall by answering questions on agriculture, including about the data reports from the National Agricultural Statistics Service and the Risk Management Agency. Senator Cramer also spoke on the 2018 Farm Bill and his work to fix the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule through his Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee Chairmanship.

Next, the Senator fielded a question on the rising debt and deficit by expressing his belief that we must address the growing cost of mandatory spending.

“30 percent of the budget is discretionary,” said Senator Cramer. “Without hurting those already receiving benefits, we must tackle the rising cost of Social Security and Medicare, or they will go insolvent.” 

Later, Senator Cramer spoke on dealing with the rising cost of prescription drugs. He shared his vision of wanting to find ways to reward innovation while protecting against out-of-control profit and greed. Congress is currently debating several bills to help lower drug costs, and Senator Cramer committed to continuing to help advance these efforts.

Senator Cramer also answered questions on trade, pensions, veterans benefits, the judiciary, and his recent trip to the southern border.

“The best part of public service is the public,” says Senator Cramer. “Coffee with Cramer events—in addition to weekly talk radio town halls— afford me the direct access to North Dakotans I need in order to serve our state well.”

Following his Babb’s appearance, Cramer went on to Collins Aerospace in Jamestown, to discuss national defense issues.

 

He said, “Many cargo loading systems- used all around the world on commercial and military aircraft- are made right here in Jamestown by Collins Aerospace,” said Senator Cramer. “I appreciate the opportunity to meet with the team at Collins and to tour their facility. I am always impressed.”

“It was a pleasure to host Senator Cramer at our cargo systems facility today, and for the team to highlight the products we manufacture locally here in Jamestown,” said Bryan Bauw, General Manager, Cargo Systems, Collins Aerospace. “Our business continues to redefine aerospace with technologically innovative solutions for our commercial and military customers, and we’re grateful for Senator Cramer’s support.”

Collins Aerospace is a unit of United Technologies Corp., a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry. Of their 70,000 employees nationwide, over 400 are located in their Jamestown facility, which focuses on cargo loading systems and developing bullet-proof shielding on the Ch-47 Army lift helicopter.

Senator Cramer’s tour of the aerospace facility comes as the Senator announced Friday morning, he will host NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine in Grand Forks. During his time in North Dakota, the Senator and Administrator will meet with aerospace stakeholders, observe the achievements in aerospace and unmanned systems at Grand Sky, and visit with UND students as they tour the university’s space program.

“Grand Forks is well-known as a premier location for space exploration research and emerging space technology,” said Senator Cramer. “I’m looking forward to hosting his tour of Grand Forks and reacquainting him with a community with which he is very familiar.”

 

Photos: CSiNewsNow.com and Sen. Cramer’s Office.