FARGO — Members of Congress who were instrumental in establishing the federal Rural Export Center in Fargo say a $1 million boost in federal funding for rural export efforts was meant for the Fargo center.

Comments from U.S. Sens. Kevin Cramer, John Hoeven and Amy Klobuchar echo assertions made by Rural Export Center Director Heather Ranck, who is facing an effort to remove her from her job after she raised concerns about how the additional dollars are being spent.

Asked if it was their understanding that the additional $1 million was intended to go to the Fargo operation, Cramer and Hoeven, both Republicans from North Dakota, were direct in their answers.

"Yes, That was the expectation," Cramer said.

Hoeven said that at the time the additional money was approved, "We anticipated that the funding would go to the REC in Fargo, but the final language for the program did not limit the funding."

A spokesperson for Klobuchar, D-Minn., said Klobuchar has been a longtime champion of rural exports and has worked productively with Ranck for a number of years.

After introducing the original bill creating the Rural Export Center, Klobuchar's office pushed for higher funding levels for the center, Klobuchar's spokesperson said, adding that at the time the additional funding was approved, only the Rural Export Center in Fargo existed.

The funding in question was approved in December 2022, when Congress voted to boost the annual funding for rural export support from $500,000 to $1.5...

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