Weekly Column
George Floyd's murder was unacceptable. Racism is unacceptable. Violence is unacceptable. Trampling on the rights of journalists, protestors, property owners and others is unacceptable. Using language that divides, rather than unites, is unacceptable. Ignoring the problem is unacceptable.
Much of our attention in recent days has understandably been focused on George Floyd's death and the violence that followed. It's easy to understand why. The images are jarring and have deeply troubled the hearts of all decent people.
Last I heard, 20 million Americans had not received their stimulus checks.
In the three months since the CARES Act passed Congress, I've been patient. South Dakotans have been patient – all while waiting for the help some of them desperately need.
My patience has run low. My office has heard from hundreds of South Dakotans who are not only waiting on stimulus checks but are also waiting months for their tax returns. This is unacceptable.
People like to compare the U.S. and China, so much so I think many people have forgotten a key point – our values are not the same, not even close. Large economies, yes, but China is a communist, authoritarian nation with a state-run media and a government obsessed with surveillance and control.
I'll say it right off the bat, the Class of 2020 graduation looks different than those of the past – that's no secret. Graduating amid a pandemic shouldn't make your day any less special, though. A graduation day is still something to celebrate and all of South Dakota knows our 2020 graduates worked hard to get to where they are.
Mother's Day will look differently this year. Families will have their Sunday brunch at home and our kids won't be bringing back handmade crafts orchestrated by their gracious teachers who have saved many a dad throughout the years. Friendly reminder dads – Mother's Day is a few days out.
Over the past weeks and months, we have stress-tested our economy, our health care system, and the resilience of the American people. This pandemic has also tested our food supply systems. While we fully expect grocery store shelves to remain stocked, it does not mean there won't be impacts further up the chain, especially for South Dakota farmers and ranchers.
As of April 13th, nearly eight thousand Paycheck Protection Program loan applications were approved in South Dakota alone. Our state has seen $1.15 billion go out to businesses facing devastating losses because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While America is facing a crisis, we can hold onto hope. The CARES Act was focused on ensuring our businesses are still there when we come out on the other side of this pandemic.
Q: Will I receive a $1,200 check from the federal government to help with the economic stress of COVID-19?
It's no secret, the COVID-19 pandemic has placed serious hardships on many South Dakotans and Americans across the country. From the closing of schools, to the negative effects on small businesses, as well as the struggles of social isolation, this illness is greatly affecting all our day-to-day lives. To mitigate these effects, South Dakota's delegation is working around the clock alongside our state and local officials to provide relief to those affected. |
Over the last few days, South Dakota has confirmed several cases of COVID-19, known as the coronavirus. While I am confident that our state and local governments will work together to protect the health of our communities, it is important that we all take extra precautions to support vulnerable populations during this time.