Weekly Column
Since I joined the U.S. House of Representatives in January, I've done my best to steer clear of the political circus we see on a daily basis in Washington. Instead I've worked successfully with my colleagues to pass legislation preventing child abuse and making it easier for Americans to save for school and retirement.
When you read "Nationally Recognized by the National Security Agency (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS)," do you think of South Dakota? Well, you should. In Madison, South Dakota, you'll find one of the nation's top-ranked cybersecurity programs within the walls of Dakota State University (DSU).
This won't be new news to you, but Congress sure has a hard time sticking to a budget. Let me back up – Congress has a hard time even creating a budget and many hardworking Americans, including our nation's military, could end up paying the price.
Nearly seven million Americans in the United States are adopted. In 2015, more than six-hundred seventy thousand children spent time in our foster care system. One out of every twenty-five families with children have an adoptive child. Families adopt for a number of reasons, but whatever the reason, it is a beautiful and selfless decision.
Washington is a town where investigations can last for years and cost millions of taxpayer dollars. Some investigations happen in order to check a box before moving onto the next task. We all know in D.C. there are two types of investigations. Investigations that are "for show" and investigations that are "for real."
In cattle country we need an investigation "for real."
The six-week August break did folks some good – my colleagues on the right, and many on the left, are ready to get to work on passing the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA). It's amazing the spark that ignites when legislators spend six weeks hearing from their bosses back home. Democrats and Republicans are finding common ground on this issue – that's a win for America.
School is back in session, which means so is Congress. I spent the last six weeks in South Dakota for the summer in-state work period. I've said it before – I don't think Congress needs a six-week break. We have work to do in Washington. However, my time spent in the state was valuable.
Most of South Dakota's students are back in the swing of the school year. Whether your child is beginning kindergarten or just moved into their first dorm room to begin freshman year at college, education - from pre-K to secondary - is central to the American way and our progress as a nation.