Republican U.S. House candidate Rick Berg will hold three campaign rallies around the state in the final stretch before Election Day.
The events in Fargo, Grand Forks and Bismarck later this month were announced Friday, one day after Democratic incumbent Rep. Earl Pomeroy concluded an endorsement tour with fellow Democrats, North Dakota Sens. Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan.
Berg's rallies will encourage supporters to participate in the campaign's get out the vote efforts. The events are open to the public.
The Fargo "Final Approach to Victory" event will be held 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Fargo Air Museum.
Berg will rally with Grand Forks supporters Friday during a 5 to 7 p.m. "Burgers with Berg" event at the Victory Office, 1923 Gateway Drive.
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The tour will conclude Oct. 26 with a "7 Days till Victory" event at the state Republican Headquarters in Bismarck.
Pomeroy advances one-time payment for Social Security recipients
Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., announced Friday that he secured the commitment of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to advance a bill he introduced to give 54 million Social Security recipients a one-time $250 payment.
The Seniors Protection Act of 2010, which Pomeroy introduced in July, was designed to provide the recipients with the one-time payment if there is no cost of living adjustment in 2011. The Social Security Administration announced Friday that there would be no adjustment, marking the second consecutive year that recipients won't see an increase in their benefits
Pomeroy, chairman of the Ways and Means Social Security subcommittee, said he received the commitment of Pelosi and Ways and Means Chairman Sander Levin that the bill will be brought to the floor and passed when the House reconvenes in November.
In a written statement, he said the assistance is necessary because the current economy means "seniors are struggling to make ends meet."
Minot bypass gets $14 million
The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $14.1 million in federal funding to support a Minot bypass project, North Dakota's congressional delegation announced Friday.
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The project includes completing a bypass around Minot and a railroad grade separation, which would improve movement into and out of the city's agriculture park, the Great Plains Energy Park, the Port of North Dakota Intermodal rail facility and Burlington Northern's rail complex.
The Minot oil facility has the ability to receive and ship up to 30,000 barrels of oil per day, the equivalent of 136 truckloads. The project's improvements would allow the facility to "dramatically" expand its capacity, according to a news release.
Rep. Earl Pomeroy and Sens. Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan said the $14.1 million of funding announced Friday is in addition to $2.8 million that the delegation previously secured through the annual transportation appropriations bill.
