It comes as no surprise to those who know me that I have an abiding interest in competitive athletics. With a dad who was a basketball star in the Big Ten, it was sort of expected that we would like sports. My mom, who was less than enthusiastic about this... Continue Reading
Ellsworth Air Force Base is well-known to all South Dakotans, especially those who live in West River. It’s not only home to two B-1B Lancer combat squadrons and MQ-9 Reaper ground control stations, but it’s a staple of the community and is something in which our state takes great pride.... Continue Reading
Second by second, time ticks off the clock as the senior point guard, knowing his team is about to clinch a spot in the pinnacle of all tournaments – NCAA’s March Madness – dribbles the ball past half court. As the buzzer rings, his teammates rush the court, and the... Continue Reading
This won’t come as any surprise to most South Dakotans, but flying to and from rural America can be a challenging and oftentimes frustrating experience. Even on the best flying days, travelers often face fewer options at smaller airports. Add the seasonal threats of inclement weather to the mix, and... Continue Reading
Each year, millions of people from around the world travel to Washington, D.C., to take in the sights and sounds of our nation’s capital. Between all of the historic buildings and locations scattered throughout the District are great places to eat, rest after a long day on the National Mall,... Continue Reading
Honey production is an important part of South Dakota’s agriculture economy. In fact, we’re consistently one of the top honey-producing states in the country. While that’s a badge of honor many South Dakotans wear proudly, and rightly so, the United States produces less than half the amount of honey it... Continue Reading
Do you remember Gordon Gekko, the character portrayed by Michael Douglas in the iconic 1987 movie “Wall Street”? If you do, you might also remember scenes in which Douglas’ character makes phone calls from his state-of-the-art Motorola, which had Americans wondering what it must be like to have one of... Continue Reading
Landowners have until February 26 to enroll eligible land in the current Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up. Between the improvements that were made to CRP in the 2014 farm bill and today’s low commodity prices, both point to CRP as a useful option for South Dakota farmers and ranchers... Continue Reading
My goal as an elected member of Congress is to deliver to you the most efficient, effective, and accountable federal government possible. Accountability is a hallmark of our democracy, and without it, the American people would rightfully lose faith in their elected representatives and our system of government. I have... Continue Reading
Representing the state of South Dakota in the U.S. Senate is one of the greatest honors of my life, but it wouldn’t mean anything without you: the dedicated and hard-working people who call South Dakota home. Those of you whom I’ve been lucky to meet and get to know over... Continue Reading
I’ve been a vocal opponent of the Obama Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) over-intrusion into the American people’s lives. Perhaps the most egregious example came in the form of the agency’s Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule that turns nearly every body of water – no matter how large or small... Continue Reading
Last week, President Obama delivered his final State of the Union address. In the lead-up to the speech, there was a lot of discussion about the nature of the president’s legacy. Less discussed, however, was that most of the president’s so-called legacy may not outlast his presidency, since most of... Continue Reading
