Seniors, Soldiers, and the State Fair
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
August 29, 2025
BIG Update
I joined the Peaceful Pines Senior Living Center in Huron to talk about my work in Washington and the policies in the One Big Beautiful Bill that will help seniors. Policies like cutting taxes on Social Security, expanding access to home and community-based care, and ensuring longevity for health and social programs will make a meaningful impact on the lives of many seniors.
I also shared some of the things I’ll continue to work on in Congress like banning individual stock trading for members of Congress and the threat of farmland purchases from the Chinese Communist Party.
Johnson speaks with Peaceful Pines residents
BIG Idea
The Chinese government will find any avenue to infiltrate and influence the United States. In fact, technology developed and manufactured in China, like LiDAR, can be used as spyware here in the United States. LiDAR is commonly used in autonomous vehicles and transportation projects, creating highly detailed 3-D maps of our infrastructure. If our adversaries, like China, have access to critical infrastructure like maps of ports, railways, airports, roads, or bridges, they could disrupt our supply chains and cause a national security crisis.
I introduced a bill to prohibit the U.S. Department of Transportation from using Chinese-made technology for transportation projects. Congress must protect our critical infrastructure from the malign interests of the Chinese Communist Party.
BIG News
The State Fair is a beloved event in South Dakota. Many people gather for food, fellowship, and a celebration of what makes South Dakota great. During the Bull Bash, I helped honor Vietnam veterans who served our country. This recognition is hosted annually by Red Wilk during the rodeo.
Johnson honoring Vietnam veterans at the State Fair
I also joined the South Dakota Pork Producers at the fair to talk with producers about some of the things I’ve been working on. I’m leading the Save Our Bacon Act which will end California’s Proposition 12 rules that negatively impacting pork producers across the country. We also discussed trade and commodity prices and how Congress is working to support our producers.
Johnson meets with Pork Producers
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I thought the big bad Bill would have protected farmers and ranchers. Trump said he loves farmers.
What do farmers and ranchers need to be protected from?
This is true. The last time Trump destroyed the ag markets, he sent them multiple checks with taxpayer dollars. All of that to accomplish nothing and to do it all over again. Brilliant!
Dusty is purposely snowing the nursing home residents telling them he saved them for paying federal incomes on their social security. If they are nursing home residents, they will not have enough or any earned income to have any federal income do. Also telling residents of a nursing home who are likely on Medicaid is rich considering the much more onerous paperwork requirements of the law he brags about could well get them dropped from the program.
The tariff exception just went away. Replaced by at least an 11 percent sales tax, and a sales tax up to 50%. Thanks Busty!