Senator John Thune and Senator Mike Rounds have always been well liked in South Dakota. And in one of the most recent polls taken on the topic, both remain in the top ten of the most popular US Senators in the entire country:
Thune is tracking in the top 5 as the #4 most popular Senator in the nation, and Rounds comes tailing by only a whisker, within the margin of error at #6. Which goes to show you that they’re doing something right as the standard bearers for South Dakota in Washington.
For more details:
For Morning Consult’s state-level survey data, weights are applied to each state separately based on age, gender, education, race, homeownership, marital status, presidential voting history and — for a subset of states — race by education as well as an age-by-gender interaction.
Margins of error for responses from all voters in each state range from +/-1 to +/-6 percentage points.
For more detailed information, you can download the 50-state data set for senator approval ratings here.
A Dangerous World Calls for a Strong America BySen. John Thune
I often say, “If we don’t get national security right, the rest is just conversation.” In just the last year, we’ve seen our ally Israel come under attack from terrorists, and our own military has been attacked by Iran-backed militias 170 times, all while Russia and China continue their campaigns of aggression and strengthen their alliance with one another. Times like these underscore the need for American strength.
The reality is that we are not as prepared as we should be to address these threats. The weakness that the Biden-Harris administration has shown on the world stage has emboldened our adversaries. At the same time, our military readiness is not where it needs to be to deter aggression. We have service branches that are below their recruitment targets. We have planes that can’t fly and ships that can’t sail because of deferred maintenance. And we have shortages of munitions and weapons.
Last month, my colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee put forward a National Defense Authorization Act for next year that takes steps to address the challenges we’re facing. It fully funds deterrence initiatives and strengthens partnerships to counter Russia and China. It makes critical efforts to modernize military technologies and strategies that will define tomorrow’s conflicts. And it authorizes the purchase of new combat vessels, vehicles, and aircraft to upgrade our aging fleets.
I’m particularly proud to report that this bill includes full funding for the next steps of the B-21 mission, including necessary support facilities. The Air Force calls this new plane the future backbone of its bomber force, and I am incredibly proud that its first mission will be hosted at South Dakota’s own Ellsworth Air Force Base. One of my top priorities is making sure that Ellsworth has everything it needs for this critical advancement in our nation’s defense.
The annual defense bill is one of the most important pieces of legislation we consider each year. I believe there should be a sense of urgency about getting it to the floor. My colleague Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) recently released a blueprint for making a generational investment in our military. He noted that our defense budget as a share of our economy has fallen to near record lows, and he proposes a defense buildup similar to President Reagan’s initiative in the 1980s.
We have no time to waste to build up our military, and the first step is getting this year’s defense bill passed in a timely manner. History has shown that weakness invites aggression. The strength of our military is the surest way we have of securing peace, and it must be a priority.
Delivering Wins for Indian Country By Rep. Dusty Johnson July 26, 2024
BIG Update
The assassination attempt on President Trump is a very serious act that should not be overlooked. Congress is working to get to the bottom of this. The House held committee hearings this week to get answers about what happened at the rally in Pennsylvania. The hearings resulted in Kimberly Cheatle stepping down from her position as Director of the Secret Service, after members on both sides of the aisle called for her resignation.
I voted to establish a special task force to investigate and identify ways to strengthen security measures. The bipartisan task force passed the House unanimously – all members agree that we can’t let this major security failure ever happen again.
BIG Idea
In South Dakota, the average life expectancy is 78 years old. But, for Native American enrolled members on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, it’s 58 years. That’s a remarkable 20-year gap. One of the reasons for that is the poor quality of health care in Indian country. The federal government has trust and treaty obligations to address this, but the quality of care is second class. The Indian Health Service (IHS) faces a lack of oversight, questionable financial integrity, staffing needs, and employee shortcomings.
I introduced the Restoring Accountability in the IHS Act to improve the delivery of care for Native Americans relying on IHS by promoting the recruitment and retention of staff, best practices on information-sharing, cultural awareness, and accountability.
This week, I testified in the House Natural Resources Committee on my bill to improve service for Indian country.
Click here or the image above for Johnson’s remarks.
BIG News
The public safety crisis on Indian reservations is serious. Tribal law enforcement agencies are faced with a lack of resources and officers, contributing to long response times and insufficient safety. I’ve requested additional funding for tribal law enforcement, field hearings in Indian country, and introduced legislation to ease the burden on tribal law enforcement.
This week, the House passed the appropriations bill for the Department of Interior which oversees tribal safety programs within the Bureau of Indian Affairs. I fought hard to get an increase in funding, and this package included the following:
$2.81 billion for the Bureau of Indian Affairs – a 14.5% increase from the FY24 enacted level – which includes:
$746 million for Public Safety and Justice programs – a 34% increase from the FY24 enacted level.
$414 million for Criminal Investigations and Police Service – a 51% increase from the FY24 enacted level.
$55 million for Tribal Courts – an 18% increase from the FY24 enacted level.
Fiscal responsibility is important, so I’m glad these funding increases are done without raising the cost of the bill. We made significant cuts elsewhere to provide resources for essential safety programs. This is a huge win for Indian country.
Rapid City State Senator Helene Duhamel was featured in a recent article by the National Council of State Legislatures regarding her position at the Pennington County Sheriff’s office, and her work in law enforcement:
Law enforcement, corrections officers and people in related public safety professions make up just under 4% of the 7,575 lawmakers nationwide. An analysis of lawmakers serving during 2024 legislative sessions revealed there were 287 members with experience in some kind of public safety role.
and..
NCSL also included people in non-sworn law enforcement roles in this survey. South Dakota Sen. Helene Duhamel (R) serves as majority whip and chair of the Senate Judiciary committee when the legislature is in session, but the rest of the year she works as the public information officer for the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office.
“Working in law enforcement gives me a unique perspective and informed voice on tackling public safety issues in the South Dakota legislature,” said Duhamel. “So often lawmakers come up with legislation that causes more harm than good or has a whole host of unintended consequences.
“At the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, I sit at the table as we struggle with crime, victimization, addiction, jail crowding, recidivism, homelessness, mental health crises and more. My unique perspective and access to law enforcement agencies help with creative, nontraditional approaches to community safety.”
Flags at Half-Staff at State Capitol in Honor of Former State Legislator Dayle Hammock
PIERRE, S.D.– Today, Governor Kristi Noem ordered that flags be flown at half-staff at the State Capitol from sunrise until sunset on Thursday, September 19th, 2024, in honor of former state legislator Dayle Hammock. He represented Lawrence County in the South Dakota State House of Representatives from 2019-2020 and also served as the Meade County Commissioner.
Hammock was known for his active community involvement and his service-oriented leadership. He was guided by a deep and abiding faith until a battle with cancer tragically took his life.
A service for former state legislator Dayle Hammock will be held at 10 AM on September 19, 2024, at Grace Fellowship, 524 W. Jackson Blvd, Spearfish, SD, followed by a luncheon.
As a “program assistant” — one former supervisor compared her day-to-day responsibilities to that of a secretary — Carroll kept a low profile through much of her first years, as she allegedly started an embezzlement scheme that pilfered nearly $2 million from the government entity she worked for.
and..
There, according to sources who spoke with The Dakota Scout, Carroll’s two-bedroom unit revealed that Carroll had an addiction to shopping — jewelry, clothes, and lotions — that became clear to anyone who stepped into her apartment.
So… Lonna Carroll, accused of stealing $1.8 million dollars from a program designed to help foster kids concocted her lotion larceny scheme to feed a shopping addiction?
Stealing from those who literally have the least to buy clothes and lotions? That’s more than a little messed up.
South Dakota Submits Official Request for Presidential Disaster Declaration
PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem formally requested a major disaster declaration from the President for 25 counties due to the severe flooding that occurred in South Dakota between June 16 and July 8, 2024. Governor Noem signed Executive Order 2024-06 declaring the disaster. According to the National Weather Service, the rain event that created this flooding was a 1,000-year event (see Image 1 below).
Today, we are submitting our request for a presidential disaster declaration to address the damage from a historic 1,000-year flood that impacted South Dakota,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “We have been working with families, local governments and officials, and FEMA for weeks to assess the damage. I am so proud of what South Dakotans have been able to do to start piecing our communities back together.”
In the aftermath of the flooding, teams from the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have been on the ground conducting thorough damage assessments across the impacted areas, working closely to assess the extent of the damage and coordinate the necessary response efforts.
“This thorough damage assessment was normal protocol for a presidential disaster declaration, and it’s an important part of the process to make sure all eligible counties and citizens are included,” said Kristi Turman, Director of the Division of Emergency Services at the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.
During the flood, at least 11 river gauges hit new preliminary record-high levels. The Big Sioux River at Sioux City crested nearly eight feet higher than previous records. New record crests were set at the following locations:
Big Sioux River at Canton, Hawarden, Akron, Richland, Jefferson, and Sioux City;
Vermillion River at Davis, Wakonda, and Vermillion;
West Fork Vermillion River at Parker; and
Turkey Ridge Creek at Centerville.
The request for a presidential disaster declaration highlights a critical need in the following South Dakota counties: Aurora, Bennett, Bon Homme, Brule, Buffalo, Charles Mix, Clay, Davison, Douglas, Gregory, Hand, Hanson, Hutchinson, Jackson, Lake, Lincoln, McCook, Miner, Minnehaha, Moody, Sanborn, Tripp, Turner, Union, and Yankton.
The Ringing Bell of Liberty By: Gov. Kristi Noem July 26, 2024
When anti-American criminals tear down our statues, deface our monuments, or burn our flag, we must hold them to account for their vile actions. This past week, anti-American criminals defaced the Washington D.C. replica of the Liberty Bell in the name of violence and hatred, writing “Hamas is coming” and other far more vulgar statements.
Pro-Hamas rioters in Washington DC this week
In 1776, when our Founding Fathers first declared independence from Great Britain, a bell in the tower of what would later be called Independence Hall rang out to summon the citizens of Philadelphia to gather. They would hear for the very first time the Declaration of Independence read aloud in public.
Colonel John Nixon, who was in command of the Philadelphia city guard, read aloud those immortal words, “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Inspired by those words, Americans fought and died to defend them and to make them true here at home. In the decades and centuries since, many nations around the world have been similarly inspired, taking to heart that simple yet revolutionary claim “that all men are created equal.”
The bell that rung that day became a symbol of the liberty that the Declaration of Independence proclaimed: the Liberty Bell. Inscribed on the bell is the beautiful phrase, “Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.”
In Washington D.C., the center of the federal government that the Declaration proclaims was instituted “to secure these rights,” a replica of the Liberty Bell was installed so that the leaders of our nation would never forget the purpose for which they hold elected office.
11 years after the Liberty Bell rang out to herald the reading of the Declaration of Independence, it rang again for another solemn occasion: the signing of the United States Constitution. Although it wasn’t in the original text, that Constitution established the First Amendment, which provided for “the right of the people peaceably to assemble.” It created no right to violently protest, deface public property, or espouse violence and genocide against an entire people.
Symbols have meaning, not merely because they exist, but because of what they symbolize. Statues honoring our leaders matter, not because they were better than anyone else, but because of the importance of their actions and what they symbolize.
The Liberty Bell symbolizes perhaps the two most important political documents ever written. In fact, the only document that I hold in higher regard is the Bible itself. In so defacing it, these criminals rejected the foundational truths that those documents proclaim. They defaced not just a bell, but the core principles that make the United States of America more than just a shape on a map – the principles that make us the greatest nation the world has ever known.
The American colonists were fighting for their right to exist as a free and independent nation. Today, the Israeli people are similarly fighting for their right to exist. And these pro-Hamas, anti-American criminals want them wiped off the face of the earth.
South Dakota will not stand for it. We will continue to speak out against hate. We will continue to proclaim the blessings of America. And we will forever celebrate “that all men are created equal” – and protect it with everything that we have.
Thune: The Senate Must Do More to Protect Our Nation
“We have a lot more work we should be doing, starting with action on one of the most important pieces of legislation we consider each year, the National Defense Authorization Act.”
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke on the Senate floor to condemn the lawless, pro-Hamas violence and vandalism that took place yesterday in Washington, D.C. He urged Majority Leader Schumer to schedule a vote on the National Defense Authorization Act, noting that more could be done to ensure the United States meets its security obligations at home and abroad. Thune also encouraged passage of the Kids Online Safety Act, which includes his Filter Bubble Transparency Act, legislation that would give users more awareness around social media algorithms.
Thune’s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):
“Mr. President, before I begin, I want to take a moment to address the events that transpired yesterday just a few short blocks from where we’re standing.
“The summer months are busy tourist months here in our nation’s capital, and for some, the view from Union Station is the very first sight they have of Washington, D.C.
“Those who emerged from Union Station yesterday afternoon, however, were confronted not with the beauty of the historic station but with a scene of lawlessness.
“Violent protesters tore down American flags that fly in front of Union Station, lit at least one of them on fire, and raised Palestinian flags in their place.
“Others defiled the monuments in front of the station with messages including, and I quote, ‘Hamas is comin’’ and ‘Globalize the Intifada.’
“Imagine being a Jewish person walking to work past those slogans.
“Mr. President, we have a proud tradition of public protest in the United States.
“But there is a difference between exercising free speech rights and the vandalism and violence we saw yesterday.
“In addition to what we saw in front of Union Station and elsewhere, an anti-Israel protester or protesters released hundreds of maggots and mealworms into the hotel where the prime minister – and a lot of other people – were staying.
“This is not part of the proud tradition of American political discourse.
“This is pure thuggery.
“And I am frankly appalled by how little we have heard in response from Democrats.
“The president addressed the nation last night – could he not have added a few words on this disturbing display?
“What about the vice president?
“Every single public official – and every single American – should be united in condemning this violence and vandalism, as well as rhetoric that elevates terrorism and foments antisemitism.
“We are better than this.
“And it’s time we started acting like it.
“Mr. President, I’m pleased to say that during a summer in which Democrats have focused on show votes, we’re actually going to vote this week on a substantial piece of legislation, the Kids Online Safety Act.
“Senator Blackburn has done a tremendous amount of work to deliver a bill that will take real steps to mitigate the harm social media can do to children, and I’m grateful for her leadership on this issue.
“The package before us also includes legislation from Senator Cassidy to update the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, and I applaud him for his work.
“I’m pleased also that my bipartisan Filter Bubble Transparency Act, which I introduced with Senator Blackburn and others, has been included in the final legislation.
“The Filter Bubble Transparency Act requires social media companies and other internet platforms to notify users that the content they are seeing has been selected for them by hidden algorithms, which create a unique universe of information for each user – a phenomenon that’s often referred to as the ‘filter bubble.’
“Platforms would also be required to give users the choice to switch to a version of the platform that is filter-bubble-free.
“And I am hopeful that along with the rest of the Kids Online Safety Act, this will provide a meaningful way to address some of the more problematic aspects of the internet.
“Mr. President, as I said, it’s good to be voting on something substantial here in the Senate.
“We’ve done essentially nothing for two months other than vote on guaranteed-to-fail legislation that Democrats hope will somehow win them votes in November.
“But voting on the Kids Online Safety Act is not enough.
“We have a lot more work we should be doing, starting with action on one of the most important pieces of legislation we consider each year, the National Defense Authorization Act.
“The Israeli prime minister’s speech to Congress yesterday – a speech that a number of my Democrat colleagues and Vice President Harris chose to boycott – was a timely reminder of the dangerous world we face:
“Iran-backed terrorist organizations like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis fomenting terror and instability in the Middle East.
“An emboldened Russia engaged in a ground war against Ukraine, on the doorstep of NATO allies.
“An increasingly aggressive China and an increasingly endangered Taiwan.
“And the unfortunate truth, Mr. President, is that we are not as prepared as we should be to confront these threats.
“We have service branches struggling with recruitment.
“We have ships that can’t sail and planes that can’t fly because of maintenance issues.
“And we have shortages of munitions.
“Our colleague Senator Wicker, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, recently put forward a blueprint for rebuilding our military.
“He points out that our defense budget as a share of the economy has fallen to near historic lows, hardly in line with the threats we face today.
“And he proposes increasing the defense budget over the next few years alongside important reforms to put our military in a position of strength not just now but well into the future.
“It’s a call we need to heed.
“Last fall, the Strategic Posture Commission offered a disturbing assessment, and I quote: ‘Today the United States is on the cusp of having not one, but two nuclear peer adversaries, each with ambitions to change the international status quo, by force, if necessary: a situation which the United States did not anticipate and for which it is not prepared.’
“‘… a situation which the United States did not anticipate and for which it is not prepared.’
“That is a pretty disturbing analysis, Mr. President.
“And it underlines the absolute imperative of addressing our military readiness TODAY.
“Which brings me to this year’s National Defense Authorization Act.
“I’m grateful that our colleagues on the Armed Services Committee have put forward a bill that – while it does not authorize all the investment our military needs – does take steps to address the challenges we’re facing.
“This year’s NDAA authorizes full funding for the European and Pacific deterrence initiatives and takes steps to strengthen our partnerships to counter Russia and China.
“It takes important steps to modernize our military and authorize financing for the technologies and weapons of tomorrow.
“And it authorizes the purchase of new ships, combat vehicles, and aircraft to update our aging fleets.
“I’m particularly pleased to report that this bill includes full funding for the next steps of the B-21 mission, including necessary support facilities.
“The Air Force calls the B-21 Raider – its new long-range strategic bomber – the future backbone of its bomber force.
“And I am incredibly proud that this mission will be hosted at South Dakota’s own Ellsworth Air Force Base.
“And one of my top priorities here in Congress is ensuring that the Air Force – and Ellsworth in particular – has everything it needs for this critical advancement in our nation’s readiness.
“Mr. President, the Senate Armed Services Committee passed this year’s National Defense Authorization Act on June 13.
“And well over a month later the Democrat leader still hasn’t found time for this critical legislation – nor is there any indication of when he will.
“It says a lot about Democrats’ priorities.
“But I hope that the Democrat leader will take a moment to consider that while he puts our defense on the back burner, our enemies are not delaying their ambitions or their aggressive activities.
“And I hope he will bring this legislation to the floor in the very near future.
Attorney General Jackley Praises District Court Stopping Proposed Rule Allowing Men into Women’s Locker Rooms
PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley praises a U.S. District Court’s preliminary injunction that stops a new U.S. Department of Education Title IX rule. The rule was scheduled to take effect on August 1, but has now been stopped in South Dakota and the five other 8th Circuit states who joined the lawsuit.
The law would require schools and universities to allow men into women and girls’ locker rooms, restrooms, and shower facilities. Teachers, administrators, and students also would be required to use an individual’s preferred pronouns.
“This decision protects female athletes and the original intent of Title IX,” said Attorney General Jackley. “We are protecting all athletes from potential harm by keeping the opposite sex of out of each other’s athletic facilities. The Department of Education should focus on the important mission of educating our youth, and Congress should step in and address these issues when DOE becomes confused.”
Other 8th Circuit Court states in the suit were Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and an Arkansas high school athlete. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.
Law enforcement, corrections officers and people in related public safety professions make up just under 4% of the 7,575 lawmakers nationwide. An analysis of lawmakers serving during 2024 legislative sessions revealed there were 287 members with experience in some kind of public safety role.
