Weekly Column
As Russia continues an aggression campaign against its neighbor, this raises growing concerns across the globe and will have significant implications not just for Ukraine, but for the worldwide energy supply. If Russia invades Ukraine, Germany will withdrawal its approval of the Nord Stream 2, a natural gas pipeline that runs through the region.
In 2021, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (USCBP) seized 11,201 pounds of fentanyl—a 234% increase from 2020. This amount of fentanyl is enough to kill every American seven times. Fentanyl is the deadliest drug in the United States and is 50 times more powerful than heroin.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is set to implement the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) rule on February 7—this Monday. This rule imposes new requirements on entry-level Commercial Driver License (CDL) applicants before they can get behind the wheel.
This weekend is the 64th annual Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo in Rapid City. I am looking forward to attending along with over 330,000 others from across the country. I have gone to the Stock Show a dozen times, and it continues to be one of the best ways to hear from ranchers and producers in the state, catch up with old friends, and keep a pulse on South Dakota ag.
This week marked one year since President Biden took office. I wish I could say happy anniversary, but it isn't that happy. Let's be honest, it's been a bumpy ride.
I'm not somebody who just complains. I also focus on solutions, so I'm going to identify four areas where I think this administration has failed and how we can do a better job as a country.
Sunday night, New York City passed a law that will allow noncitizens (green card holders and DACA recipients) the right to vote in municipal elections. More than 800,000 noncitizens will now be eligible to vote. This is a serious mistake.
Earlier this week, the White House held a roundtable to discuss the meat and poultry supply chain. Farmers, ranchers, and independent processors from across the country shared their experience and expertise with this Administration. I hope their firsthand account isn't used to score political points – the White House has the opportunity to take what they heard and implement a real fix.
As my third year in Congress comes to a close, I have been reflecting on all that has happened in the short span of a year. I started off the year being sworn in for my second term as South Dakota's lone representative and was appointed to two committees—the Agriculture Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Guest Columnby David Forsythe, Wounded Warrior Fellow with Rep. Dusty Johnson's Office
Last week, the National Defense Authorization (NDAA) for fiscal year 2022 passed the House with a 363-70 vote. This week it passed the Senate. The annual NDAA includes strong policies for our military and wins for South Dakota's Ellsworth Air Force Base and the future of the B-21 bomber mission.