Rep. Heitkamp Opposes Mulvaney Nomination, Citing Concerns for American Workers and Retirees

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 -- The office of Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., issued the following news release:

U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today voted against the nomination of Rep. Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina to serve as the director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, citing concerns about his lack of commitment to protect Social Security and support American manufacturing jobs.

During a one-on-one meeting with Mulvaney (http://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/1/heitkamp-urges-key-nominee-for-continued-support-of-north-dakota-flood-protections) and during his U.S. Senate confirmation hearing (http://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/1/heitkamp-presses-trump-nominee-to-protect-american-workers-by-defending-social-security-supporting-export-import-bank), Heitkamp questioned his views on Social Security, which he has supported cutting in the past. She also pressed him on his views on the Export-Import Bank, which he voted to shut down in the U.S. House of Representatives despite its role in supporting American jobs and businesses for the past 80 years.

"Standing up for North Dakota workers and retirees means rejecting cuts to their hard-earned Social Security benefits. It also means promoting export opportunities that create good-paying American jobs here at home--and that's why this nominee's views on Social Security and the Export-Import Bank are serious causes for concern," said Heitkamp. "But now that he has been confirmed to lead the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, I'll work with Rep. Mulvaney to advance the issues that matter most to North Dakotans--from providing continued federal support for permanent flood protections in the Minot and Fargo areas, to defending the Social Security benefits workers have earned."

Just last week, Heitkamp secured a commitment from President Trump to help Congress (http://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=14030263-756E-48E1-8C1A-788FF73AFA40) get the Ex-Im Bank up and running again so it can support American workers and businesses. Right now, the lack of a majority on the Ex-Im Bank Board is halting in excess of $30 billion worth of deals waiting in the pipeline from being approved. That $30 billion worth of American exports supports almost 174,000 American jobs.

In December 2015, Heitkamp led Congress in passing her bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Export-Import bank, but continued opposition (http://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2016/9/heitkamp-takes-to-the-u-s-senate-floor-to-call-for-immediate-changes-allowing-export-import-bank-board-to-function-support-american-workers) from some members of Congress has prevented it from properly functioning.

Heitkamp has also long fought to make sure the federal government lives up to its responsibilities and assists North Dakota in recovering from past flooding and helping protect communities throughout North Dakota from future floods. Last year, Heitkamp helped successfully secure federal support from (http://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=7dd21a28-3d03-41e0-ac0f-123ebd5ae174) OMB and Army Corps leaders for a Minot study start and a Fargo construction start (http://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2016/2/at-heitkamp-s-urging-minot-fargo-flood-funding-included-in-president-s-budget-army-corps-work-plan), in addition to critical funding for both projects. OMB helps set federal funding priorities, which is why Heitkamp has already pushed Mulvaney on the importance of federal support for North Dakota flood protections.

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