Testimony Before the North Dakota Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Relating to Damaging a Critical Infrastructure Facility

Bette Grande Heartland Institute
Published January 18, 2019

Chairman Unruh, and members of the Committee, thank you for taking the time today to discuss the issue of critical infrastructure. The Heartland Institute, founded in 1984, is an independent, national nonprofit organization whose mission is to discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems. Heartland is headquartered in Illinois and focuses on providing national, state, and local elected officials with reliable and timely research and analyses on important policy issues.

My name is Bette Grande, a research fellow at The Heartland Institute, and I am here today in support of Senate Bill 2044.

SB 2044 is presented today to establish the need to protect the critical infrastructure needed to maintain our daily lives. Infrastructure is necessary for the water supply to flow safely to our homes and businesses; power to cool and heat our buildings; communication lines for personal, business, and emergency use; and transportation of goods and supplies.

Interference with these areas disrupts our free-market economy, costing everyone precious time, money, and resources. Safety for the citizens in our communities is put in jeopardy when vandals interfere with these critical infrastructures. 

The uninterrupted flow of commerce is important to the everyday lives of the citizen of this state and no one has the right to interrupt, destroy, damage, or vandalize others property. The welfare of the people must be protected for the safety of all.

Thank you for allowing me to testify today on this important legislation.

Sincerely,

Bette Grande
Research Fellow, Energy Policy
The Heartland Institute