Weekly Column

BIG Update

Earlier this week, I met with police chiefs and sheriffs from across South Dakota to talk about public safety. Our law enforcement officers are on the front lines protecting our state. Because they understand better than anyone what support our communities need, I keep in touch with them regularly.

BIG Update

The overflow of illicit substances into our country has made our communities less safe and strained public resources. This influx of dangerous drugs was exacerbated by a previously unsecured southern border and the continued flow of fentanyl from China. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, 42% of pills tested for fentanyl contained at least 2mg of the substance, which is considered a potentially lethal dose. Today, fentanyl is tragically the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45.

BIG Update

Holy Week is a powerful reminder of God’s love and sacrifice. It offers another chance to reflect on our lives and look forward in hope to what is to come – the return of Christ.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to join others on Good Friday at the Sioux Falls Prayer Breakfast for fellowship and prayer. We’ll be hearing stories from Chaplain Barry Black that inspire hope and about living a life that makes a difference.

BIG Update

Farmers face many factors that they have no control over. They can’t control the weather, commodity prices, or input costs. Yet they work hard every day to feed and fuel the world despite these unknowns.

I introduced the Fertilizer Transparency Act to give farmers accurate, weekly information on fertilizer prices. The United States Department of Agriculture currently publishes this data annually and on a voluntary basis.

BIG Update

Last year, a number of states, including South Dakota, were found to have improperly issued Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL) to drivers illegally in this country. In fact, the Trump Administration found that South Dakota was in “systemic noncompliance” with the law. That means someone who is no longer legally authorized to be in the United States could have a valid government ID and drive on our roads. 

BIG Update

The Working Families Tax Cuts, which I voted for, delivered a historic $50 billion investment to strengthen rural health care via the Rural Health Transformation Program. This is a major commitment to support the rural health workforce, modernize technology, and improve efficiency for the community hospitals and clinics that serve families across South Dakota.

BIG Update

This week, the House Agriculture Committee passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act, also known as the Farm Bill, with a bipartisan 34-17 vote. I’ve met with ag producers across South Dakota and they all agree – we need a Farm Bill. 

BIG Update