One of the best pieces of advice my parents gave me as a young man getting ready to leave for college was to never forget where I came from. More than 30 years later my parents’ advice still rings true. As a United States Senator I can think of no... Continue Reading
For many, Labor Day weekend is one of the last chances for summer fun. The end of summer means students will begin heading back to school, the cool fall weather is around the corner, and football games, volleyball matches, marching band competitions, and booster club meetings will soon fill evening... Continue Reading
South Dakota businesses that classify their operations as “family owned and operated” take pride in that description. Family farmers, ranchers, and businesses are proud to pass on their legacies from one generation to the next knowing their lifetime of hard work has paid off and their good family name will... Continue Reading
Nearly 50 years ago President John F. Kennedy stood on the banks of the beautiful Missouri River surveying what was, at the time, the largest rolled-earth dam in the world, Oahe Dam. Building the dam was a massive endeavor for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Standing 245 feet tall... Continue Reading
Kimberley and I do our best to maintain a healthy diet. We eat our fruits and vegetables, we consume many high-fiber foods, and we try not to eat too many sweets. Part of our well-balanced diet and exercise also includes a good source of protein. We always enjoy eating a... Continue Reading
Our country is headed for a fiscal cliff. We’re also headed for a national security crisis thanks to one large component of this fiscal cliff — the $1.2 trillion automatic budget sequestration due to go into effect Jan. 2, which would disproportionately cut funding for our defense needs. The sequestration... Continue Reading
National headlines are filled with stories about getting people back to work and stimulating the economy. Increased media attention has put a spotlight on some of the best business climates and practices throughout our country, and South Dakota continues to resurface in the national dialogue as a great place to... Continue Reading
It is tough to live in South Dakota and not find yourself spending some time on the open road. As South Dakotans, we grow up making trips to neighboring towns for sporting events, visiting family, and sometimes even a trip to the nearest airport. Additionally, ranchers, farmers, and businesses frequently... Continue Reading
For many of us, summer is a time for fun around the campfire and enjoying the outdoors. It is a time for kids roasting marshmallows and parents exchanging stories and keeping a watchful eye to make sure no one gets hurt. However, for others, summer fires mean quick moving grassfires... Continue Reading
Across our country on Independence Day, families and friends gather around patriotic symbols of freedom and liberty. Every year thousands of people flock to the National Mall in Washington, DC, Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and right in our own back yard to Mount Rushmore National Monument. With the faces of... Continue Reading
Representing South Dakota as a Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee is a privilege and responsibility I take very seriously. I was pleased the Senate recently passed its version of the 2012 Farm Bill by working through more than 70 amendments. This bill will provide adequate risk management for crops... Continue Reading
Two years ago this week, the Obama administration hailed the advent of the “Summer of Economic Recovery.” The president’s stimulus bill had passed a Democratic-controlled Congress just over a year before, accompanied by rosy predictions on job creation from the administration. President Obama claimed that “the economy is headed in... Continue Reading
