Safety and Discovery

BIG Update

Public safety begins in our communities. Our police officers, firefighters, and emergency services personnel are on the frontlines every day to keep South Dakotans safe. This week, I toured the Public Safety Building in Lake Norden – an outstanding example of a community prioritizing safety and resilience. After their public safety building burned down in 2023, the people of Lake Norden came together to build a brand new facility that serves the entire region.

I also met with leaders from Working Against Violence, Inc. (WAVI) in Rapid City. WAVI provides critical services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault across western South Dakota. Their dedicated team provides shelter, therapy, and guidance, which are all essential services for families seeking safety.

BIG Idea

Deep beneath the Black Hills of South Dakota, researchers are working to answer some of the biggest questions about our universe – discoveries that could help explain why we live in a matter-dominated world. The U.S. Department of Energy is a key partner in these efforts, and I was honored to join Undersecretary Dr. Darío Gil for a beam signing ceremony marking the next phase of construction at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF). Projects like this don’t just advance scientific understanding, they create high paying jobs right here in South Dakota and generate economic and scientific benefits felt across the country.

BIG News

My bill to make it easier for families to buy a home on tribal trust land was signed into law by President Trump. The Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act cuts through unnecessary bureaucracy at the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and streamlines the mortgage approval process on trust land.

Right now, a mortgage that requires BIA approval can take more than a year to move forward – far too long for families trying to put down roots. With this new law, those approvals will happen faster, helping more families achieve the American Dream and improving homeownership opportunities across Indian Country.

I’m grateful to Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds for their leadership in getting our bill signed into law.