This time of year is typically a busy period for Congress because all federal spending measures must be signed into law by the end of September. Sadly, Congress has not sent one of the 12 Fiscal Year 2008 Appropriations bills to the President for his signature. Because of this inaction,... Continue Reading
Today it is hard to imagine a world without the Air Force protecting us in the skies above, yet it was only 60 years ago, on September 18th, 1947, that the Air Force became an independent service. The theme of the Air Force’s 60th anniversary celebration is Heritage to Horizons:... Continue Reading
People associate South Dakota’s economy primarily with agriculture and tourism, and with good reason. The expanse of farm land that stretches for miles punctuated with the Black Hills and Mt. Rushmore on the western edge are dominant symbols of our state. It is important, however, to look beyond agriculture and... Continue Reading
September 9th marks the beginning of National Assisted Living Week. Many people will have the experience of requiring some kind of long-term health care in their lifetime, including assisted living. The challenges that families face in providing necessary care for loved ones can be daunting, and long-term care services are... Continue Reading
A few weeks ago I wrote about how much there is to explore in South Dakota. When the Senate went into recess for the month of August, I came home to talk with people and hear about issues important to them and see first-hand a number of exciting things that... Continue Reading
August is a time when many set work aside for a while to spend time with their families and to enjoy a relaxed pace away from the pressures of their jobs. For many who serve in the South Dakota National Guard, however, this August will find them far away from... Continue Reading
August is here and that means many things to people in South Dakota. For me, August is a time when Congress is out of session and I have the opportunity to travel around the state and visit with South Dakotans about the issues that are important to them. It also... Continue Reading
Over the past few years, drought conditions and other natural disasters have financially strained tens of thousands of agriculture producers across South Dakota and the country. In May, Congress responded to the needs of America’s producers by enacting emergency disaster assistance for our farm and ranch families. Congress clearly intended... Continue Reading
In a country as affluent as America, no child should go without health care because their parents can’t afford health insurance. In 1997, as a member of the House of Representatives, I supported the creation of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, commonly known as SCHIP. The program currently provides... Continue Reading
One of South Dakota’s greatest natural resources is the beautiful and vast forests that draw visitors from all over the nation. However, this natural resource is constantly threatened by the devastating effects of dry conditions and wildfires. Already this summer we have seen the destructive results of the Alabaugh Canyon... Continue Reading
Discovery has been part of the Homestake Mine from the very beginning. With the recent choice of the mine as the sight of a Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory, it will now be a place to make ground-breaking scientific discoveries. This is a huge victory for the Lead area... Continue Reading
The high cost of healthcare, including long-term care, is consistently one of the most important concerns I hear about from individuals, families and businesses. In South Dakota, the average annual cost of a one-year nursing home stay is over $50,000 and growing ($70,000 nationally). As we begin to tackle the... Continue Reading
