Strengthening Accountability

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. 

You may remember a young girl named Dalilah that President Trump mentioned in his State of the Union address last month. Tragically, she had been struck and severely injured by an illegal immigrant who was driving a semi truck. This accident should not have happened. Any driver operating an 80,000-pound truck needs to meet the highest safety standards.

This week, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed Dalilah’s Law, which I cosponsor, to strengthen CDL requirements. It ensures truck drivers understand English and forbids states from issuing CDLs that expire after the expiration date of a visa. These common-sense safety standards will save lives and keep our roads safe.

Click here for Johnson’s remarks 

BIG Idea

South Dakota farmers feed and fuel the world. As I continue my work on the E-15 Rural Domestic Energy Council, I met with ethanol producers from South Dakota to talk about the importance of getting a year-round E-15 deal to President Trump’s desk. It’s essential that consumers have access to a lower‑cost option at the pump.

We also talked about the Renewable Fuel Standard and the potential for expanding new markets for ethanol. Opportunities in maritime and aviation fuel, renewable chemicals, and other emerging sectors can strengthen demand for ethanol, create jobs, and boost rural economies.

BIG News

America is a generous nation, but as we’ve seen in Minnesota, billions of dollars meant to support Americans’ health care, child care, and other services have been stolen. Our government cannot reward that kind of wrongdoing or allow illegal immigrants who commit fraud to remain here. America’s safety net programs must be safeguarded to serve the people they were created to help.

This week, I voted to pass the Deporting Fraudsters Act out of the House to protect the safety net programs designed to support needy American citizens. This bill simplifies the legal process to ensure individuals who defraud the United States government are held accountable.