Weekly Column

I‘m heading to the 65^th Annual Black Hills Stock Show this weekend. It’s one of my favorite events of the year – a midwestern city becomes a “slice of the Old West” – when cowboys and ranchers come from across the country. As I shake hands and greet folks, year after year, I’m reminded of the uphill battles our ranchers face every day.

This week, Republican Members of Congress were assigned to their Committees. I am proud to serve on the House Agriculture Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for the 118^th Congress.

In week one of our House Republican Majority, we brought a number of bills to the House Floor to counter the threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party.

“Groundhog Day.” “Stalemate.” “Deadlocked.” “Messy.” What is going on in the House of Representatives?

While many are planning their new year’s resolutions, getting ready to go back to school, and soaking up the last days of the holidays, Congress is gearing up for a shift in majority.

From end-of-year deadlines, performance reviews, next-year planning, data analysis, end-of-year budgets, businesses do a lot to close out the calendar year. This year, it seems Congress has one thing in common—the budget.

A big snowstorm came across the state this week, canceling school and closing offices for many people. While remote working and learning has made snow days a thing of the past, being inside day and night makes it easy to get bored in the evenings. When this much snow comes down, it’s time to think up some fun activities to do at home.

On Thursday, the House voted with bipartisan support to pass the annual defense bill—the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This bill has been passed on time for 62 consecutive years. This is a pillar of defense policy and funding, a critical way to protect national security.