We recognize heroes in all shapes and sizes from all walks of life, but there are also heroes who garner less attention than others. Some heroes who too often get overlooked are those families who open their hearts and homes to children through adoption. November is National Adoption Month, and... Continue Reading
South Dakota towns, both large and small, are great places to live, to work, and to raise families. Like towns and cities everywhere, however, there are problems that endanger lives and can tear at the fabric of our communities. South Dakota has a tragically high rate of methamphetamine abuse, and... Continue Reading
As I traveled throughout South Dakota during the month of October, I’ve had the privilege of visiting several schools to speak with students of all ages and their teachers. Wherever I go, I am impressed by the dedication our of state’s teachers and administrators. My father was a teacher and... Continue Reading
American history is full of colorful examples of public resentment of taxes. The Boston Tea Party is perhaps the most famous display of taxpayer outrage, and a revolt against whiskey taxes nearly tore our young nation apart during the presidency of George Washington. This is not a phenomenon unique to... Continue Reading
I have found that when you ask a non-South Dakotan what they associate our state with, most of the time they respond, “Mount Rushmore.” This makes sense. We are the Mount Rushmore State; it’s written on our flag. For many who call our state home, however, another notable icon is... Continue Reading
There are few symbols of the cost of our freedom as potent as the Gold Star service flag, which adorns the homes of those families who have lost a loved one in service to our country. Every year, our nation takes the last Sunday in September to honor those families,... Continue Reading
When a person is in good health it can be easy to forget that there are many people in South Dakota and across the nation who overcome disabilities every day. As a Senator, I have the opportunity to meet with various groups representing Americans with disabilities, and I never cease... Continue Reading
Mark Twain once wrote, “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” Many South Dakotans surely know, or are themselves, people who embody Twain’s adage. Like many people my age, I am starting to consider exactly what these words mean as I discover... Continue Reading
As I return to the Senate after spending most of August traveling around South Dakota, I am more convinced than ever that Congress must act quickly to pass meaningful legislation without succumbing to the temptation of waiting until after the November election to come up with solutions. Like most Americans,... Continue Reading
Even though I know thousands of South Dakota parents are going through the same thing, somehow that doesn’t make it any easier. This week, my wife Kimberley and I joined the ranks of the empty nesters. We dropped our youngest daughter Larissa off at college, and in that simple act,... Continue Reading
As I have traveled across South Dakota this month, I have found the number one issue on the minds of South Dakotans continues to be the high cost of energy. For many rural South Dakotans who must travel great distances for work or school, the cost of fuel hits especially... Continue Reading
South Dakota wheat farmers, so far in 2008, have been blessed with one of the most abundant harvests ever, with bin-busting record winter and spring wheat yields being reported across all areas of the state in August. Adequate to surplus rainfall has fallen across much of South Dakota this spring... Continue Reading
