Fargo Standard

Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) held her fourth statewide Fedorchak Forum, providing North Dakotans with a platform to discuss various issues. During the forum, she addressed topics including health care reforms, Medicaid changes, landowner rights, and education funding.

Regarding Medicaid reforms in the One Big Beautiful Bill, Fedorchak clarified that vulnerable populations would not lose access to benefits. She highlighted two key reforms: enforcing eligibility rules and requiring community engagement for able-bodied adults aged 19-64. "Disabled people, people with severe illnesses, senior citizens on fixed incomes or senior citizens who can't afford their nursing home coverage, single moms with dependent children who need help—that's the traditional Medicaid population, and they will not be impacted by the reforms we made," she stated.

Fedorchak also addressed concerns about rural hospitals being affected by changes to Medicaid Provider Taxes. She assured that North Dakota hospitals remain unaffected as the state does not use provider taxes for Medicaid funding. "It doesn’t impact our hospitals, and it doesn’t impact our long-term care either," she added.

On rural health care funding, Fedorchak mentioned that the One Big Beautiful Bill makes no changes to federal support formulas for state Medicaid programs. Additionally, a new $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program will assist rural North Dakota hospitals over five years.

Discussing landowner rights under the Landowner Easements Rights Act, Fedorchak expressed her commitment to advancing legislation allowing landowners to reclaim control over easements from Fish and Wildlife. “We really think this is a landowner’s rights issue. You should have the ability to manage your own land,” she said.

Addressing fiscal discipline and national debt concerns, Fedorchak emphasized a multifaceted approach through pro-growth tax cuts and government program reforms included in the One Big Beautiful Bill. She also advocated for returning to budgeting through regular order processes in Congress.

In terms of education funding in North Dakota, Fedorchak shared news of released funds for after-school programs and highlighted her support for Head Start funding requests. On student loans, she supported setting caps on federal loans as a measure against rising higher education costs.

Fedorchak discussed AI regulation challenges due to inconsistent state-level regulations following a Senate decision removing a proposed moratorium on such regulations from federal legislation. She hopes this development will expedite necessary federal guidelines.

The next date for Fedorchak Forums will be announced soon as part of ongoing efforts to engage with constituents on congressional matters.