Weekly Column

It is Groundhog Day again on Capitol Hill. Every week, for the past seven weeks, House Democrats have claimed we will vote on their massive spending bill. Not surprisingly, it's 5pm on Friday and a vote in the U.S. House was open for over eight hours. This bill is so large, and so partisan, even Democrats cannot come to an agreement within their own party.

The supply chain's breakin' down

and its making consumers' frown.

It's a problem I'm hoping to snuff

‘cause the season's spooky enough.

The time has come for the cheaters to pay

More than 10,000 bills get introduced in Congress each year. Most of them, even good ones, don't see legislative action. It's even more challenging to pass a bill when you aren't the political party in power. Despite the long odds, I was able to pass an important cattle industry bill out of committee this week.

Break out your blaze orange vests; pheasant season is back again in South Dakota!

As the leaves begin to turn and the air turns crisp, I am taken back to the many fall afternoons I've spent walking fields in the hopes of flushing a rooster. Like many South Dakotans, I cherish the great memories made during the tradition of sportsmanship with my family and friends.

This guest column is written by Shawnee Red Bear, who works in Congressman Johnson's Washington DC office

This Monday, October 11^th, marks the 31^st year South Dakota will celebrate "Native American Day". South Dakota is one of just 14 states that observes Native American Day instead of Columbus Day.

This past Wednesday, I hosted a telephone town hall with constituents 35 and under.

Now some of you may be thinking, Dusty, why would you host a town hall exclusive to younger folks?

I'm most effective at my job when I'm talking to my bosses, and my bosses are the voters. Knowing what's important to younger people in South Dakota is just as crucial as knowing what our seniors care about.

If you turned on the news this week or scrolled through social media, it is likely that you came across the tragic story of 22-year-old Gabby Petito whose body was found in Wyoming this week. A little less than two weeks ago, Petito's family filed a missing person's report when her fiancé returned home to Florida from a cross-country road trip without her.

With August recess wrapping up and Members of Congress soon returning to Washington, I wanted to provide you with some of the highlights from my time spent in South Dakota over the summer work period.