I support net neutrality. I support rules that prevent blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization of internet traffic. I believe these principles should guide us on Capitol Hill as we work to expand broadband access to even the most remote and rural areas of the country. You might be surprised to... Continue Reading
Ellsworth Air Force Base has a long and storied history near the Black Hills of South Dakota, and thanks to the U.S. Air Force’s recent update about its planned fleet of next-generation bombers, it looks like Ellsworth’s story will have yet another chapter. After months of review, Air Force leaders... Continue Reading
If you’re a dedicated C-SPAN viewer or can harken back to your old high school civics class, you know that in addition to voting on bills and treaties, senators have the unique responsibility of providing their advice and consent with respect to various executive and judicial branch nominations made by... Continue Reading
I think we can all agree that there’s at least one thing more annoying than having snow on the ground in mid-April: receiving an abusive or illegal robocall. And it doesn’t matter if it’s April or September, there’s never a good time to receive one. In fact, unsolicited robocalls are... Continue Reading
Up until 2018, the only good news about Tax Day was the fact that we had 365 days until the next one. This year is a little different, though. There’s plenty to celebrate, not the least of which is that 2018 is the last time you and your family will... Continue Reading
Mark Zuckerberg is nearly as much of a household name as the platform he created itself. Facebook, which was developed by Zuckerberg in his college dorm room, has revolutionized how people connect with one another. Each month, it’s used by more than 2 billion people from all corners of the... Continue Reading
South Dakota is no stranger to wildfires. In fact, while we’re technically still in the offseason, it was only a few months ago that the Legion Fire scorched tens of thousands of acres in Custer State Park and forced numerous home evacuations in the area. Thankfully, no one was injured.... Continue Reading
The United States has experienced numerous technological revolutions throughout its relatively short history that have been so monumental that life as Americans knew it would never be the same. Henry Ford made automobiles and the assembly line a reality. Scientists helped American astronauts take “one giant leap for mankind.” And... Continue Reading
Agriculture, which is supported by hardworking farmers and ranchers across South Dakota, is the state’s top industry. It adds more than $20 billion to the economy each year, and, according to the South Dakota Department of Agriculture, “98% of farms in South Dakota are family owned and operated – in... Continue Reading
As chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, I’ve hosted my fair share of memorable hearings over the last three-plus years, several of which have included folks from right here in South Dakota. While they’re all notable for one reason or another, my recent hearing, which featured five of the president’s... Continue Reading
The recent blizzard that blanketed communities across South Dakota with a fresh layer of the white stuff was a harsh reminder that Mother Nature’s winter grip remains strong. Punxsutawney Phil didn’t do us any favors either. So, while snow still covers a vast majority of the state, spring will be... Continue Reading
I’ve often said that my Senate committee assignments put me in a unique position to give issues that are important to South Dakota the attention they deserve, and there are plenty of results to show for it. For example, my spot on the Agriculture Committee allows me to advocate for... Continue Reading
