House Passes Noem’s Women, Peace, and Security Act, Sends Bill to President Trump

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Kristi Noem’s Women, Peace and Security Act is headed to President Trump for his signature after unanimous passage in the U.S. House of Representatives today. The legislation would require the U.S. to develop a comprehensive strategy to increase and strengthen women’s participation in peace negotiations and conflict prevention globally as well as ensure greater accountability to Congress.

“When America’s security depends on the success of peace negotiations, we must make sure every proven conflict prevention tactic is on the table,” said Noem. “We know women can be influential forces in producing lasting peace, yet we’re often underrepresented when it comes to conflict prevention and resolution. With this legislation, we can better ensure women are able to use their influence to produce more sustainable outcomes during future conflict resolution and peace negotiation processes. I strongly encourage President Trump to sign this legislation quickly.”

Research shows that peace agreements are 35 percent more likely to last at least 15 years when women are involved.  The Women, Peace and Security Act would – for the first time – establish women’s participation as a permanent element of U.S. foreign policy under Congressional oversight.

Noem first introduced the Women, Peace, and Security Act in May 2016. While it was passed by the House, the Senate didn’t act on the legislation before the end of the last Congress.

As a result, Noem reintroduced the legislation in May 2017 and worked with Senate sponsors to push the legislation toward passage. With approval from both the House and Senate, the bill now heads to the president for his signature.

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Senator Rounds to Host Tele-Townhall on Wednesday

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) is inviting all South Dakotans to join him in a live, toll-free tele-townhall on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, at 7:50 p.m. CT/6:50 p.m. MT to discuss issues important to South Dakotans. During the tele-townhall, Rounds will be taking live questions from participants.

You can participate in the tele-townhall by calling the number or clicking on the link below:

What: Tele-townhall
When: Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, at 7:50 p.m. CT/6:50 p.m. MT
Call #: 877-229-8493
Pin #: 115923

Livestream: https://video.teleforumonline.com/video/streaming.php?client=15923

If you are unable to join the call but would like to leave a message for Senator Rounds, you can always contact him by calling one of his offices or emailing him on his website at www.rounds.senate.gov.

**Please note that the phone line will go live approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call.

The #2 advertising position at SDWC is available on a first-come first serve basis for interested advertisers to push a message out for your cause or candidate leading up to the 2018 legislative session, or the 2018 election.  And Dakotawarcollege.com is a great place to get your message in front of South Dakota’s decision makers and opinion leaders.

If someone is making laws or promoting legislation, they’re stopping here to check South Dakota’s political climate. South Dakota War College provides candidates, companies, and organizations a unique opportunity to direct a targeted message at South Dakota’s politically active elected officials, and community opinion leaders.

And those opinion leaders include the SDGOP’s cadre of involved activists who will be choosing candidates for Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Auditor, Treasurer, etc.

Founded in 2005, ‘dakotawarcollege’ quickly rose through the ranks of other politically driven social media in South Dakota to become the most widely read, and continuously updated independently operated political website in the state.  We’ve been featured in the media for our coverage, we’ve been quoted by C-Span, and we’ve been consistently and continuously recognized for several years by the Washington Post as one of South Dakota’s top political websites.

Our non-campaign season traffic averages 2500-3000 unique individual visits daily, with read times averaging around 14 minutes. At times of flurried activity, the SDWC has reached as high as 8900 unique visits. Since around 2007, the SDWC runs an average of 1- 1.5 Million page hits a year.

For advertising, we offer 300×350 px banner spots in the main advertising section based on page placement. We also offer space for smaller advertisements on the left. All ads are through site, maintain their position, and are not rotated based on site depth.

For more information on advertising opportunities, contact the webmaster at [email protected].

I’m going to see if I can finally launch a companion website that isn’t fatally ignored, and dies a lonely death, so I’ve launched something more of a personal nature, Daktopia.com, which you’ll find in the side feed.

It’s more of a holding place for selected photos and personal observations that I might have put here at Dakotawarcollege.com, but are a little out of place on a political website, such as the picture of a squirrel getting drenched in the rain on my deck this past Saturday:

I’ve got no set frequency of posting, so it’s just “there,”  and provides me a somewhat off-beat forum where I can write and share about things that interest me.

Check it out at daktopia.com

Go check it out!

The SDGOP held their Central Committee Meeting in Chamberlain this past weekend, and the most notable thing coming of it was that I heard a couple of new GOP legislative candidates are popping up and expressing interest in running.

There are a number of spots that the GOP is likely going to be recruiting for, such as District 2 house, District 3 House, District 5 Senate,  District 7 House and Senate, District 9 Senate, District 12 House, District 17 House, District 18 Senate, District 20 House, District 21 Senate, Distrcit 25 House, District 26b House, District 30 if a seat opens up there, District 32 House, and others that may pop up due to vacancy.  Some of those might change as people start announcing that they are (or aren’t) running.

If you’re looking at running as a new GOP Candidate in 2018, drop me a personal note here, and we can chat. As noted previously, I’m potentially looking at a few things to help new candidates out.

Getting Our Troops the Resources They Need to Succeed
By Sen. John Thune

For more than 50 years, Congress has passed and the president has signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), an important bill that helps fulfill our commitment to America’s men and women in uniform. It’s almost always a bipartisan exercise that demonstrates to the American people that issues related to the military deserve to rise above the day-to-day political fights that often consume Washington.

While President Obama played politics with this critical legislation, going as far as vetoing it in 2015 in an attempt to gain leverage over other legislative items, I’m glad the bill received nearly 90 votes from Republicans and Democrats in the Senate this month. Our troops aren’t bargaining chips. It doesn’t work that way. The strong support for this bill, both in Congress and at the White House, is the kind of message we should be sending to the troops, and I was glad to support it.

I often say that if we don’t get national security right, everything else is just table talk. Passing the NDAA is an important step in ensuring our troops have what they need in order to defend our country, but our work doesn’t end here. Passing the NDAA is like opening a checking account, but Congress still needs to pass subsequent appropriations bills that will essentially put money in the account so we can write a check and support our troops. Both steps are critical.

With this year’s NDAA, our troops will get a 2.1 percent pay raise. More money in their paycheck means they’re able to provide more for their family and improve their quality of life, and it helps maintain our all-volunteer force. By authorizing an increase in troop size and prioritizing military modernization, we can starting rebuilding our military. By strengthening accountability measures, we can reform the Pentagon, which would have a positive trickle-down effect on our troops. And by ending ineffective or redundant programs, we can do a better job of using taxpayer dollars more efficiently. More can be done, and while Congress is constrained by spending caps and other limitations, these recent steps are an important start.

Our commitment to the troops doesn’t end when they stop wearing the uniform. Shortly after the Senate approved the defense bill, I reintroduced legislation that would require the federal government to provide disabled veterans with an automatic cost of living adjustment (COLA) in certain circumstances when, under current law, it is not guaranteed. Passing the Veterans’ Disability Compensation Automatic COLA Act would provide some much-needed certainty to these veterans and their families.

With ongoing threats to the United States and our allies around the world, including those posed by rogue nations like North Korea, it’s more important than ever that we remain vigilant in our effort to defend freedom and democracy here and around the world and provide the armed forces with the tools and resources they need to effectively complete their missions.

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Strengthening our Armed Forces
By U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.)

As it has for the past 56 years, the Senate again passed bipartisan legislation to provide for the defense of our nation. The National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, is one of the most important pieces of legislation to pass out of Congress each year, as it provides our armed forces with the tools to successfully complete their missions and keep us safe. This year’s NDAA includes provisions that will rebuild our military, at a time when it is the smallest it has been since World War II.

This year’s NDAA takes important steps to reinvest in our military capabilities and allows us to appropriately address the readiness shortfalls we’re facing. Earlier this year, Defense Secretary James Mattis said that he was “shocked” by the decline in U.S. military readiness. The size of our armed forces has shrunk to levels that raise our risk of not being able to deter adversaries or, with deterrence having failed, defeat them in combat. At a time of increased global uncertainty and unrest, it is critical that our men and women in uniform are in the best position possible to defend our great nation.

To better support our troops, this year’s NDAA authorizes a 2.1 percent across-the-board pay raise for members of the armed forces. Since our military is made up completely of volunteers, we are hopeful that this will incentivize our service members to remain in our armed forces. It will make sure our troops and their families – who sacrifice so much to keep us safe – are adequately compensated for their service.

I was pleased that this year’s NDAA contains 13 provisions I offered, including a bill to help the families of wounded warriors. Unfortunately, in many cases, wounded warriors require around-the-clock care long after their service to our country. It oftentimes falls on family members to act as caregivers. My measure that was included in the NDAA would require that the Department of Veterans Affairs caregiver program be added to the list of statutorily-mandated counseling items for military members transitioning into civilian life.

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I’m proud of Congress’s bipartisan tradition of passing the NDAA each year. We put the defense of our nation, our troops and their families before the politics of the day. I’m hopeful that we can do that more often in the weeks and months to come as we try to tackle other important issues, like tax reform and addressing our national debt. It’s clear that national defense remains a top priority for Congress, and this year’s NDAA shows our troops that they have our full support. I’m honored to serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee and to play a role in making life better for the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States of America.

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Ellsworth’s Place in Our Military’s Strategic Framework
By Rep. Kristi Noem

When America needs a workhorse, when we need to flex our muscles and show our strength, when we need to respond to terrorists in the Middle East or deter a tyrannical North Korean dictator, America turns to Ellsworth Air Force Base.

Even so, it wasn’t that long ago the base, which sits right outside of Box Elder, was on the list for closure. Given the mission-critical roles Ellsworth’s bomber fleet has served in recent decades and that the expanded Powder River Training Complex sits in our backyard, an attempt at closure now seems to be in the rearview. So, we’re looking forward, and I’m optimistic South Dakota’s base is in the right position to receive America’s next-generation bomber, the B-21 – a critical asset to combat foreign threats long into the future.

While this plane will modernize the country’s airpower beyond what many can imagine, we faced opposition to its development time and again. Just over a year into my first term, in fact, I fought to defeat an amendment that would have delayed B-21 development by a decade. We were successful and plans for the B-21 pressed forward.

By 2015, we were on the cusp of expanding the Powder River Training Complex, which is reserved air space near the base. Nothing can replace the value of air time for our airmen. Proper training and readiness are critical to our airmen’s safety and success in the field. With the expansion of air space at Powder River, Ellsworth Air Force Base and the U.S. Air Force would have critical access to one of the largest training ranges in the country.

I met repeatedly with top military, transportation, and aviation officials, urging folks to commit to the expansion. In March 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration finally approved the Air Force’s expansion plan, which not only expanded training space but produced $23 million in fuel savings for the Air Force every year by allowing for critical exercises to be done so close to the base.

During this same time, Ellsworth’s 28^th Bomber Wing moved under the control of the Air Force Global Strike Command, which provides combat-ready forces for nuclear deterrence and global strike operations. The transition further reinforced Ellsworth’s place within the military’s strategic framework.

As we continue to upgrade base operations and military equipment, we must also invest in the next generation of service members. One of the most significant honors I have is to nominate young South Dakotans to our four U.S. service academies: the Military Academy in West Point, New York; the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland; the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado; and the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York.

Year after year, I am amazed by the integrity, grit, and determination of the South Dakota students who apply. This year, applications are due to my office by October 31. Anyone interested can learn more by visiting my website at noem.house.gov/ServiceAcademy or by calling our office at (605) 275-2868.

The United States has the world’s most powerful and skilled military. Our men and women in uniform are second to none. With the B-21, we are modernizing our fleet. With Powder River, we are investing in the training and new technologies needed to combat modern threats. And through our service academies, we are equipping the next generation with the skills and confidence required to succeed. Improving our readiness in these ways will not only prepare us for the next major crisis; these actions send a message to our enemies that we’re ready to respond with strength and precision – no matter the threat.

Appreciation for South Dakota Newspapers
A column by Gov. Dennis Daugaard:

The week of Oct. 1 is National Newspaper Week, an opportunity to recognize the important role newspapers play in our country. In South Dakota alone, there are 126 newspapers, some of which have been published for more than a century. Those newspapers employ hardworking reporters and others who work long hours to bring the news to our doorsteps.

In 21^st Century America we can sometimes forget that a free press is priceless thing, often not present in other countries. We don’t think about the many places around the world where people cannot freely assemble, nor express their beliefs, where there is no freedom of the press and where journalists can be jailed for publishing something about those in government.

We are fortunate America is not one of those places. Here we recognize that a free society requires a free and independent press. We know in order to keep government at all levels in check, we need reporters who ask tough questions, find the facts, present them objectively, and present different sides of a policy issue.

As President John F. Kennedy said in his 1961 speech to the American Newspaper Publishers Association, “Without debate, without criticism, no administration and no country can survive. . . And that is why our press was protected by the First Amendment – the only business in America specifically protected by the Constitution . . .”

Today, technology has changed the way some of us get our news. Some prefer reading online news, versus picking up the morning paper. Some are getting their news from social media, blogs and internet sites.

Whatever the medium of delivery, good news reporting must include fact-checking. Many online sources have failed to do this, but good newspapers have historically been more reliable.  We are seeing newspapers adapt to the changing times, by posting stories online.  Many offer e-edition subscription options for those who prefer to read their news on a screen. We even have some reporters on social media sharing their stories, posting photos and videos, and live-tweeting events. Newspaper organizations are often much more credible than other kinds of online sources. Newspapers, and particularly the papers in South Dakota, are also closer to the people who read them.

Newspaper Week is an occasion to thank those who put in long hours in the news room. Don’t let them hear from you only when you are dissatisfied. When you are happy with something, take a few minutes to send them an email or pick up the phone. Thank your local reporter for covering the event you organized. Tell them you appreciate their work to cover your local sports team. Express gratitude when they sit through the whole city council meeting. After all, they’re not just putting ink on a page; they’re preserving our way of life.

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