Congressional Roundup
Congressional Roundup: SD delegation unanimous in support for debt limit deal
South Dakota’s three members of Congress expressed varying levels of enthusiasm for the deal to avert a default on the national debt, which all three voted for this week. Rep. Dusty Johnson was featured in an NPR story Thursday that credited “low-key lawmakers” like him for getting the bill through the House of Representatives. Johnson […]
Congressional Roundup: Johnson seeks a fix for tribal mortgages
Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, introduced legislation this week to streamline the approval process for mortgages on tribal land. Some tribal land is held in trust by the federal government, and mortgages involving property on trust land must be reviewed and approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The BIA Mortgage Handbook establishes timelines for […]
Congressional Roundup: Rounds seeks solutions for classified document mess
Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, is a cosponsor of a new bill proposing solutions to high-profile problems with the handling of classified information. The sponsor of the bill is Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia. Four Democrats, three Republicans, including Rounds, and an independent are cosponsors. Rounds said in a news release the bill would “increase accountability […]
Congressional Roundup: Thune aims to close crop insurance loophole
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the latest installment in a series of periodic updates on the activities of South Dakota’s congressional delegation. Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, teamed up with Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, to introduce legislation to discourage the conversion of undisturbed grasslands to cropland. The proposed bill expands the existing “sodsaver” policy, currently in […]
Congressional Roundup: Rounds works across the aisle on housing
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the latest installment in a series of periodic updates on the activities of South Dakota’s congressional delegation. — Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, joined with fellow Senate Banking Committee member Tina Smith, D-Minnesota, to introduce legislation this week that would “improve rural housing programs, cut red tape and increase the accessibility […]
Congressional Roundup: Applauding Biden for summertime E15
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the latest installment in a series of periodic updates on the activities of South Dakota’s congressional delegation. — Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, applauded the Biden administration’s Friday decision to allow the summertime sale of E15 fuel, which is gasoline blended with up to 15% ethanol. “As I have repeatedly made […]
Congressional Roundup: Thune wants to rein in electric vehicle incentives
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the latest installment in a series of periodic updates on the activities of South Dakota’s congressional delegation. — Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, says the federal government gives too much help to the electric vehicle industry. Automakers can tap into the Department of Energy’s $40 billion pool for loans and loan […]
Congressional Roundup: Johnson bill supports hospitals serving low-income patients
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the latest installment in a series of periodic updates on the activities of South Dakota’s congressional delegation. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, introduced a bill last week that would prevent discrimination against health care providers or pharmacies that participate in a federal discount drug-pricing program. The 340B program allows certain health […]
Congressional Roundup: Thune proposes permanent estate tax repeal
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the latest installment in a series of periodic updates on the activities of South Dakota’s congressional delegation. — Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, introduced legislation last week to repeal the federal estate tax, which he calls the “death tax.” The bill is supported by 40 Republican cosponsors, but no Democrats. The estate tax […]
Congressional Roundup: Watchdog group rates effectiveness of SD delegation
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the latest installment in a series of periodic updates on the activities of South Dakota’s congressional delegation. All three of the people representing South Dakota in Congress are among the most effective in their party, according to new scores published by a congressional watchdog group. In its “effectiveness scores” for the […]
Congressional Roundup: Sustainability vs. safety
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first in a series of periodic updates on the activities of South Dakota’s congressional delegation. A new bill from Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, would take money away from sustainability efforts in schools and redirect it to school safety. The bill takes aim at $500 million in funding appropriated by […]