Weekly Column

Each year congressional offices across the country interview potential candidates for our nation's military and service academies.

It's one of the best parts of my job. South Dakota is home to some of the best and brightest students, many of them hoping they'll go on to serve our country at one of our nation's esteemed military institutions.

Nearly 100 days ago, President Biden stood before America and promised unity and a path forward. He told us that path forward would include Republicans – it hasn't yet. I'm an optimist though, and during my first two years in Washington, when faced with a global pandemic, Congress stepped up to the plate and passed bipartisan legislation to help all Americans.

"Fighting Escalates in Eastern Ukraine, Signaling the End to Another Cease-Fire."

"Russia seems to be preparing to invade Ukraine but it's not clear whether Putin will go through with it."

At the start of the 117^th Congress when control of the Senate and White House changed, I had concerns regarding legislation coming down the pipeline. I saw politically-motivated changes to the Supreme Court coming from a mile away – that's why the first bill I introduced this year was to safeguard the Supreme Court by capping the number of justices at nine.

South Dakota is lucky to call home to seven of our nation's National Parks, Monuments and Recreation Areas. As we celebrate National Parks Week in the month of April, I can't help but reminisce on the beauty of places like the Badlands, Mount Rushmore, and the Missouri River.

"I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop and use the natural resources of our land; but I do not recognize the right to waste them, or to rob, by wasteful use, the generations that come after us." -Teddy Roosevelt

Over the last two months, Speaker Pelosi has passed one large bill after another. From the federalization of state elections to immigration reform, we've just about seen it all.

I'm eager to move past the first 100 days of the session and hopeful we can move on to legislation that has a chance of passing in the Senate. So what's the next big thing Congress will tackle?

Over the last two months there has been a growing crisis at the southern border.

Following decisions to end the Migrant Protection Protocols or the "remain-in-Mexico" policy and the reestablishment of catch-and-release policies, there has been a surge in illegal crossings at the border.