Weekly Column

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

BIG Update 

This week, I held a roundtable with producers to talk about issues facing South Dakota agriculture. We covered topics including the upcoming House committee activity on the Farm Bill, my efforts to secure year-round E-15, trade deals impacting South Dakota agriculture, and overall price concerns.

Decisions made in Washington shouldn’t be guess work. It was great to connect with these producers who are in the fields every day to hear their concerns and ideas. 

BIG Idea 

Housing supply in the United States has not kept up with demand. There’s currently a 5.5 million housing unit shortage in America. Rising construction costs, unnecessary regulations, regulatory delays, and outdated zoning have exacerbated this housing shortage and have made homes unaffordable for many families.

BIG Update

Free, fair, and accountable elections are vital to the survival of our democracy. Without common sense guardrails, our election system is severely compromised. I’ve been supportive of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act to protect our elections. It requires individuals to provide proof of citizenship when they register to vote in federal elections. It also requires states to remove noncitizens from existing voter rolls.