Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) praised the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) decision to expand commercial drivers’ hours-of-service during the national COVID-19 pandemic.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Representative Dusty Johnson (R-SD) sent a letter to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue urging the department to take all necessary steps to ensure there are no disruptions to our nation’s food supply chain as we combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Over the last few days, South Dakota has confirmed several cases of COVID-19, known as the coronavirus. While I am confident that our state and local governments will work together to protect the health of our communities, it is important that we all take extra precautions to support vulnerable populations during this time.
South Dakotans,
I have added a coronavirus resource page to my website to keep South Dakotans updated on the latest coronavirus developments. Information will be added regularly, and you can also follow me on Twitter at @RepDustyJohnson or on Facebook at Representative Dusty Johnson for updated information.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) applauded the U.S. House’s final passage of the Supporting Older Americans Act of 2020. Johnson is an original cosponsor of the bipartisan bill which will reauthorize critical social and nutrition services for older Americans. Earlier this year, he saw the benefits of the program first-hand when he delivered Meals on Wheels to seniors.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) commended U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Purdue who stated, in response to committee questioning by Johnson, that USDA was considering new Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) labeling standards for beef.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives approved $7.8 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations to assist the response to COVID-19, also known as the Coronavirus:
Disclaimer: The information below reflects CDC guidlines from March 2020. Visit CDC.gov for updated guidelines.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today issued a public service announcement video following a congressional briefing from Vice President Pence on COVID-19, also known as the Coronavirus.
Click here to watch the full video.
If you’ve turned on the news in the last month or so you’ve probably heard this word over and over: Coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19.
This week, the president addressed the nation regarding the U.S. response to the outbreak. So far, officials have determined more than 80,000 cases globally – the majority of them in China.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to address safety concerns following the USDA decision to lift a ban on Brazilian beef into the U.S. The U.S. suspended imports in 2017 following several public health concerns.
South Dakota’s congressional office has a tight-knit team – there are eight full time staff in Washington, three in Sioux Falls, two in Rapid City, and one in Aberdeen. That’s 14 folks, plus me, who handle all the congressional-related work in our entire state.
PIERRE, S.D. – U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson today announced the 2020 Congressional Art Competition, which puts the artwork of South Dakota students in the nation’s Capitol building. The South Dakota Arts Council (SDAC) is now accepting entries on behalf of Rep. Johnson’s office.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today praised the bipartisan Consumer Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills Act (H.R. 5826), which passed out of the U.S. House Ways & Means Committee this week. Johnson is a co-sponsor of the bill.
“This is a pro-patient bill,” said Johnson. “When families are faced with a medical crisis, the last thing you want to receive is a surprise bill in the mail. Patients deserve transparency and that is exactly what this bill delivers.”
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today sat down with actor Chris Evans to participate in a civic engagement project called, “A Starting Point.”
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today issued a statement following the president’s 2020 State of the Union Address to Congress:
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today issued the following video statement ahead of the president’s State of the Union address:
Click here to watch the video. Remarks as prepared below:
I expect the President to talk about four things:
First, that we’re a safer world after the death of General Qasem Soleimani, the world’s deadliest terrorist.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Darren Soto (D-FL) today introduced the Food Safety Modernization for Innovative Technologies Act, a bill which would formalize a regulatory framework for food derived from cell-cultured technology.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today attended the signing of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement at the White House.
“USMCA is the win for producers we’ve been working towards for nearly two years,” said Johnson. “South Dakota’s farmers want a level playing field, and that’s exactly what this free trade agreement provides. I was proud to stand by the president during today’s signing of the USMCA, and I look forward to seeing the added jobs and trade opportunities this agreement will bring to our nation’s economy.”
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) announced that his office is seeking internship applicants for Summer 2020 in his Washington, D.C., Rapid City, Aberdeen, and Sioux Falls offices.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Representative Dusty Johnson says this is a difficult time for farmers.
The past few weeks, Johnson has been traveling across South Dakota talking to producers and hearing their concerns. He says we are in the fifth year of declining farm revenue and that Chinese tariffs on commodities like soybeans have put a strain on farmers.
Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Natural Resources Committee unanimously passed the Tribal School Federal Insurance Parity Act (H.R. 895), which was introduced by U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) earlier this year.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) released the following statement after the president signed the United States-China Phase One trade agreement today:
“The Phase One U.S.-China trade agreement is a step in the right direction,” said Johnson. “Producers want certainty and China needs to play fair - this agreement hits the mark on both fronts. This China agreement paired with the USMCA are the wins our producers need.”
U.S. Sen. John Thune said Iran has an opportunity to change course now that Iranian General Qasem Soleimani has been killed in the Pentagon's airstrike.
Soleimani was the "architect behind Iranian-sponsored chaos and conflict in the Middle East for decades," including U.S. military deaths in Iraq, Thune said in a statement.
It’s been nearly a year since I packed a suitcase and flew to our nation’s capital to be sworn in as South Dakota’s lone representative. It was a proud moment for my family and me. I stood on the U.S. House floor, raised my right hand, and swore my oath to the U.S. Constitution alongside my three boys and better half. A few weeks later, I was appointed to a leadership position as a Subcommittee Ranking Member on the Agriculture Committee – it’s been an honor helping to lead a committee that does such important work for South Dakota.
This week, South Dakota Representative Dusty Johnson became just the second member of Congress to speak Lakota on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Johnson spoke the language as a way to advocate legislation that would advance the practice of Lakota languages.
He emphasized the importance of indigenous languages as the life-blood of cultural understanding.
The last member to speak Lakota on the floor was Representative John Kyl of Iowa. He used a Lakota phrase on the floor in 1963.
Washington, D.C. – Today, legislation authored by U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) was included in the House passed National Defense Authorization Act (S. 1790).
Washington, D.C. – Today, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) finalized a rule impacting able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program (SNAP) benefits. This rule significantly reduces waivers, requiring ABAWDs to enroll in a training program, pursue higher education, or seek employment in order to remain eligible for SNAP benefits. U.S.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today applauded the Trump administration for approving a major disaster declaration for several South Dakota counties, including Aurora, Brookings, Brule, Charles Mix, Davison, Douglas, Gregory, Hanson, Hutchinson, Kingsbury, Lake, Lincoln, McCook, Miner, Minnehaha, Moody, Sanborn, Turner, Union, and Yankton, and the Yankton Indian Reservation and Flandreau Santee Indian Reservation following severe flooding and tornadoes from September 9-26.
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Greg Murphy (R-N.C.), and Dr. Phil Roe (R-TN) today introduced the Worker’s Choice Act, which would amend the National Labor Relations Act to empower employees in a unionized workplace to independently negotiate their employment terms with their employer.
U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., recently returned from a trip to Israel, where he said he met with residents and officials of all walks of life about the country's relationship with the United States.
Johnson, of Mitchell, said that while he’s not involved with committee work that is directly related to Israel, he said Middle East issues come up in Congress on a weekly basis.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today applauded the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT’s) decision to award the City of Brookings $18.7 million in critical infrastructure funding under the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) program. Today’s announcement follows requests from the delegation to DOT Secretary Elaine Chao for the project’s funding.
Washington, D.C. – Today U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) issued the following statement following the U.S. House of Representatives formal vote on the impeachment inquiry:
“I voted against the impeachment resolution,” said Johnson. “The process it establishes doesn’t provide the transparency and fairness we need. It concentrates power in the hands of Adam Schiff, who is given a veto over Republican efforts to call witnesses and subpoena records. A tainted impeachment process does not better us as a nation.”
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today sent a letter to President Trump in support of Gov.
Washington, D.C. – Today U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) introduced the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Cost Benefit Improvement Act to formalize the office of the Chief Economist at the CFTC and require the Commission to assess the cost and benefits of any Commission actions or added regulations. The House Agriculture Committee will consider this legislation on Wednesday during the markup of the CFTC reauthorization.
A heartfelt “thank you” for service and sacrifice was at the core the deactivation ceremony for South Dakota Army National Guard’s Bravo Battery, 1-147th Field Artillery Battalion and 147th Forward Support Company (FSC) Saturday at the Lincoln High School gym in Sioux Falls.
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) voiced support following notice of a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee hearing on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Integrity Act of 2019, a bill that Johnson introduced along with Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN). The hearing will examine the Environmental Protection Agency’s Small Refinery Exemption waivers and mismanagement of the RFS program.
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Liz Cheney (R-WY), and Frank Lucas (R-OK), introduced the Livestock Risk Management and Education Act, a bill that would provide grants to certain state land-grant universities to better equip livestock producers with risk management training. Cattle Association’s and educators had the following to say:
American Farm Bureau Federation, Scott VanderWal, Vice President:
Since I joined the U.S. House of Representatives in January, I’ve done my best to steer clear of the political circus we see on a daily basis in Washington. Instead I’ve worked successfully with my colleagues to pass legislation preventing child abuse and making it easier for Americans to save for school and retirement. I’ve been laser focused on passing the United States Mexico and Canada Trade Agreement, moving forward welfare reform, and implementing the 2018 Farm Bill.
A South Dakota woman has spent months raising funds to support a trip to the nation’s capital, hoping to speak to lawmakers about CMT, a nervous system disorder. When she wasn’t able to raise enough to make the trip Congressman Dusty Johnson came to her instead.
“It won’t break me. I tell people all the time I have CMT, but CMT does not have me,” said Clarkson.
Place a politician into a roomful of curious news reporters and there’s a chance that mayhem will ensue, with questions being shouted and the elected office holder trying his or her best to come up with a politically correct answer.
It’s a process that doesn’t always work well, judging from recent television news coverage of political press conferences.
This won’t be new news to you, but Congress sure has a hard time sticking to a budget. Let me back up – Congress has a hard time even creating a budget and many hardworking Americans, including our nation’s military, could end up paying the price.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) announced that his office is seeking internship applicants for Spring 2020 in his Washington, D.C., Rapid City, Aberdeen, and Sioux Falls offices.
Washington, D.C. – Today U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) introduced the Empower Parents in College Act (H.R. 4253), which would provide more flexibility for universities to partner with local child care providers to offer child care services to their student-parent population.
School is back in session, which means so is Congress. I spent the last six weeks in South Dakota for the summer in-state work period. I’ve said it before – I don’t think Congress needs a six-week break. We have work to do in Washington. However, my time spent in the state was valuable. When Congress is in session, I typically try to cram my weekends full of meetings and visits with constituents or local businesses, so it was refreshing to have more time to meet with many of the community leaders and constituents I haven’t sat down with yet.
As the cicadas buzz fills the sky in the waning days of summer and South Dakota’s students begin to head back for their first few weeks of school, you can bet that Dakotafest is right around the corner. For those of you who don’t know, Dakotafest is a three-day celebration of our state’s agricultural community held just south of my home of Mitchell.
U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson was in Aberdeen for a town hall-style event at the Twist Cone.
His event, called “Inside Scoop with Dusty” drew a crowd of about 40.
Earlier in the day Johnson met with a group of constituents at Aberdeen Development Corp. and toured Avera St. Luke’s Hospital.
Residents asked Johnson a variety of questions. The following is a sample of the answers he gave.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) cosponsored the End Child Trafficking Now Act, which would require adults claiming familial relation to migrant children to prove their relationship. Children should never be trafficked, yet from October 2018 to May 2019 the Department of Homeland Security identified nearly 4,800 migrants presenting as family units to be fraudulent. According to the U.S.