John Hoeven

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FILE - In this June 24, 2013 file photo, Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., leaves the floor of the Senate at the Capitol in Washington. The explosive derailment of a tanker car near Casselton, N.D., on Dec. 30, 2013, has North Dakota’s senators pushing harder than ever for expanded oil pipelines. Both Hoeven and Democrat Heidi Heitkamp say they’ve stressed to federal officials in recent days that the North Dakota accident and other recent derailments show, at least in part, the need for more pipelines. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

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FILE - In this June 24, 2013 file photo, Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., leaves the floor of the Senate on Capitol Hill in Washington. On Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014, Hoeven said the Department of Transportation needs to speed up its timeline for finalizing new rules on the construction of rail tanker cars. His comments came after an item published in the federal register indicated that new rules for tankers might not be finalized until sometime after January 2015. The fiery derailment of a train Dec. 30, 2013, near Casselton, N.D., prompted new questions about the safety of oil transportation. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

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FILE - In this Dec. 30, 2013 file photo, a fireball goes up at the site of an oil train derailment in Casselton, N.D. The crash prompted new questions about the safety of oil transportation. On Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014, Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said the Department of Transportation needs to speed up its timeline for finalizing new rules on the construction of rail tanker cars. His comments came after an item published in the federal register indicated that new rules for tankers might not be finalized until sometime after January 2015. (AP Photo/Bruce Crummy, File)

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Chairman of the Committee on Resolutions, Gov. Bob McDonnell, R- Va., introduces Speaker of the House, Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio at the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Fla. on Tuesday, August 28, 2012, as Co-Chairman Rep. Marsh Blackburn, R- Tenn., right, and Sen. John Hoeven, R- N.D., look on. (Rod Lamkey, Jr./ The Washington Times)

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Sen. John Hoeven, Republican of North Dakota, complained about "another obstructive tactic" over the Keystone XL pipeline. (Associated Press)

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** FILE ** Alex Pourbaix (left), TransCanada Corp.’s president for energy and oil pipelines, addresses North Dakota officials and oil industry representatives with Sen. John Hoeven, North Dakota Republican, in Bismarck, N.D., on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/James MacPherson)