Congressman Dusty Johnson’s Weekly Update – Great Faces, Great Places

Great Faces, Great Places!

BIG Update

This week, my bill, the Ocean Shipping Reform Implementation Act, passed the House overwhelmingly. This is a great victory for our nation’s supply chain. South Dakota exports $7 billion of manufactured and agricultural goods each year. The ocean shipping supply chain is crucial to producers and consumers in our state.

My bill gets tough on China and their unfair shipping practices. It bans the use of Chinese state-sponsored LOGINK software at U.S. ports and permits the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to investigate foreign shipping exchanges, like the Shanghai Shipping Exchange, to prevent unfair business practices. It also authorizes the FMC to simplify data standards for maritime freight logistics.

It’s got a lot of support, and I hope the Senate considers it soon.

BIG Idea

In 2023, we welcomed 14.7 million people to our beautiful state. Our tourism industry relies heavily on the ease of getting here. Secretary Jim Hagen and his team from Travel S.D. were in D.C. to discuss some of the ways we can get travel back on track and eliminate obstacles for tourists. We’re working together to make it easier to visit South Dakota. We talked about the need to reauthorize the annual aviation bill to improve our access to air travel. Last year, I voted in support of the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, which does exactly that.

Me and the South Dakota Tourism team

BIG News

Governor Kristi Noem and South Dakota Farm Bureau President Scott VanderWal were in D.C. this week to be witnesses at two of my committee hearings. Governor Noem spoke at the Agriculture Committee hearing, testifying on the danger that China poses to American farmland and agriculture. She and I have worked to secure America and South Dakota from the Chinese Communist Party threat, especially preventing the CCP from buying American ag land. Food security is national security – we can’t allow our biggest adversary to have control over our food supply. I’m grateful for Governor Noem’s partnership on this issue.

Noem and Johnson

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee welcomed Mr. VanderWal to speak about rural transportation challenges on behalf of the American Farm Bureau Federation, of which he is the Vice President. He has been supportive of my legislation, the MOVE Act and the SHIP IT Act, which would safeguard and streamline our supply chain. As the lone voice for South Dakota in the House of Representatives, it was a pleasure to welcome two fellow South Dakotans to share their perspectives with Congress.

Johnson and VanderWal

Governor Kristi Noem’s Weekly Column: Evil Foreign Governments Should Not be our Neighbors

Evil Foreign Governments Should Not be our Neighbors
By: Governor Kristi Noem
March 22, 2024

When you think of South Dakota, you might think about rolling fields of corn and soybeans and hills full of cattle, the Black Hills, or Mount Rushmore. You probably don’t think of the Chinese Communist Party. And that’s a good thing – we don’t want evil foreign governments for our neighbors. We don’t want nations that hate us to be part of our way of life.

The Chinese Communist Party is trying to infiltrate every aspect of our way of life. Sadly, we have a President and an administration here in Washington that has no interest in stopping them.

I have been involved in ag policy for 30 years. Throughout that time, I have watched China systematically take over more and more of our food supply chain. For years, they’ve been buying up our chemical, fertilizer companies, and food processing companies. Now, they’re trying to buy up our land.

The Chinese Communist Party are not our friends. They should not be free to purchase our precious ag land. Unfortunately, that has been allowed to take place. Between 2010 and 2020, the Chinese Communist Party’s holdings of US agricultural land increased by 5,300%. They now own more than 350,000 acres of US ag land valued at about $2 billion.

Recent media reporting indicates that the largest Chinese holder of American ag land is shipping food and medical supplies to China, where it is being stockpiled by the Chinese military. The Chinese Communist Party are using our ag land to steal from the American people.

The entire nation noticed when China purchased land in North Dakota that they claimed was for a corn processing plant. But there were two details about this purchase that raised suspicions. There wasn’t enough corn around to support that kind of a facility, and it was just a few miles from a US Air Force base.

I was determined to prevent a similar story in South Dakota. Ellsworth Air Force Base is home to the B-1 bomber. We house the MQ-9 Reaper drone. Very soon, we will be the first ever home of the brand-new state-of-the-art B-21 bomber. China wants intelligence on that bomber – but they will not get it by buying our ag land. Not in South Dakota.

For almost two years, I worked with our legislature, our ag community, and our business community to stop China and five other Evil Foreign Governments from buying ag land in South Dakota. Now, we’ve banned them.

We were not willing to wait for the federal government to take action. The Biden Administration has not stood up to this Chinese Communist threat.

States like South Dakota will step up where we can. But now that we’ve acted, the executive branch to do their duty. It is primarily the job of the federal government to keep our people safe.

It is time for the Congress and the Biden Administration to act to stop China and other nations that hate us from buying our ag land. Our security depends on it. And the Freedom of our kids and our grandkids depends on it.

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Dusty Johnson Introduces Scott VanderWal in House Transportation Committee 

Johnson Introduces Scott VanderWal in House Transportation Committee 

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) introduced Scott VanderWal, South Dakota Farm Bureau President and Vice President of the American Farm Bureau Federation as a witness on a panel for the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee Hearing on “Rural Transportation Challenges: Stakeholder Perspectives.” VanderWal has been supportive of provisions in Johnson’s MOVE Act and SHIP IT Act that streamline our rural transportation and supply chains.

“Producers and consumers need reliable infrastructure and dependable supply chains,” said Johnson. “I’m proud to welcome Scott VanderWal to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to share his perspective on how we can improve rural transportation that our country depends on.”

Former PUC Commissioner Ken Stofferahn passes away in Lincoln, NE.

It hasn’t widely hit the news, but former Democrat PUC Commissioner Ken Stofferahn passed away on March 18th in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Stofferahn had ran for US Senate in 1972 as a Republican, and served as a State Representative as a Republican from 1975-1977, at which time he was one of the rare South Dakota public officials who switched over to become a Democrat, running under that party’s banner for U.S. Senate (1978), U.S. House (1980), and Governor (1986).  From 1978-1996, Stofferahn served in the Public Utilities Commission as one of the state’s few Democrat officeholders.

An Obituary is available here, and a memorial service will be held at 9 AM Saturday, March 23 at First Lutheran Church, 1551 S 70th St, Lincoln, NE.

Former Speaker of the House and Hawaiian vacationer Spencer Gosch files to run for State House

Former Speaker of the House Spencer Gosch has apparently filed petitions this afternoon to run for the South Dakota House of Representatives once again.

It’s hard to imagine Gosch trying to come back after his disastrous stint as speaker, where he led a closed door impeachment process..

Back in September, Speaker @SpencerGosch promised a transparent impeachment process. Since then, he’s failed repeatedly to live up to that. https://t.co/iWfvahhbEe

— Joe Sneve (@Argus_Joe) December 27, 2021

… which earned him a lawsuit for his lack of open government.

And it comes after his taxpayer funded junket to Hawaii after he lost for Senate during his last time at bat.

In fact, that incident was so egregious, just a little over a year ago a bill was introduced in the State Legislature to try to prevent what happened the last time he was there:

A.I. generated illustration.

The bill stems from a legislative trip to Hawaii the former Speaker of the House, Spencer Gosch, and former House Minority Leader took in December with other legislators to a legislative conference in Hawaii. Gosch was defeated in the 2022 Republican primary for Senate, and Smith, a Democrat, lost to Gov. Kristi Noem in her 2022 re-election race.

and..

Bill supporter, Republican Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt of Sioux Falls, said the measure is about legislators’ accountability. She said there might be times when a non-returning legislature might be suitable to represent the state at an out-of-state conference.

You can read that here.

If he thinks he can run again, I guess it’s a free country. But I have the feeling the postcards are going to come flying..

Flags at Half-Staff at State Capitol in Honor of Former State Legislator Claire B. Konold

Flags at Half-Staff at State Capitol in Honor of Former State Legislator Claire B. Konold

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem ordered that flags be flown at half-staff at the State Capitol from sunrise until sunset on Monday, March 25th, 2024, in honor of former state legislator Claire B. Konold. He represented Codington County in the South Dakota State House of Representatives from 1997-2004.

Funeral services for former state legislator Claire B. Konold will take place at 11:00 am on March 25th, 2024, at Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Watertown, SD.

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Former newscaster Shad Olson receives continuance on Domestic Abuse Aggravated Assault/Strangulation charges

According to court records, on Monday former Black Hills area newscaster Shad Olson received a continuance from the court on his impending trial for Domestic Abuse Aggravated Assault/Strangulation, a third degree felony under South Dakota law.

If you recall, as related in the Argus Leader, the victim alleged that Olson had assaulted her on more than one occasions:

The victim asked Olson “if he was drinking already and he became mad.” She then told Olson, who she described as unemployed and lacking a source of income, that she “works hard to support their family,” to which he simply retorted she was a “crazy [expletive],” documents state.

and..

From there, the victim said Olson chased after her as she ran away from her home. They had been living together from some time, but she told the officer “she pays for everything in the home while Olson worries about the country,” the documents read.

The officer asked the victim if Olson had assaulted her before, with her replying “yes.”

The victim said Olson, who runs his own far-right, eponymic podcast, is “stressed over politics,” which influences his drinking. She then told the officer Olson blames his political frustrations on her.

Read that here.

Back on February 10, Olson pled “Not Guilty” to charges, and had been jailed through February 23rd until a $5000 cash bond was posted by former District 34 Legislative Candidate Jodi Frye.

A motions hearing is now scheduled for May 10.

Secretary of Pennington County GOP running for D34 House, already attacking her opponents in awful press release.

So I got an odd press release yesterday from ‘Heather Baxter’ from who is announcing her candidacy for South Dakota District 34 House. If you’re not familiar with Baxter, she’s the secretary of the Pennington County GOP, and along with Phil Jensen has sued the Pennington County Auditor a couple of times in the last year (51CIV22-001283, 51CIV22-001288) over something or another, costing taxpayers money for the hiring of outside counsel with expertise in elections.

And now, she’s apparently got a beef with the incumbents in District 34 House, as included in her announcement..

Who ever cobbled together her utterly gobbledygook of a press release needs to work on formatting when they’re cutting and pasting, because the end product that arrived in mailboxes was a mess. And I haven’t gotten to the content yet.

“My decision to run for office is deeply influenced by the lack of responsive leadership we see from our elected officials,” Baxter said, “we deserve leadership that hears, understands and cares for the people’s needs in the South Dakota Legislature, just like we would a patient.”

That’s just awful, and could stand to be trimmed up by half, if not 2/3.  Is the point of a press release getting a point across that someone will actually use, or self-aggrandizing?

The campaign season has begun. I have no doubt this is not the last awful communication we’re going to read from a candidate.

GOP County group featuring speaker who wants to replace Republicans. As opposed to members of the other party.

Well, that’s a new one.

Yesterday, the Hand County Republican Party announced the speaker for their Republican Lincoln Day Dinner, a function designed to raise money for the group to conduct election related activities. And, It’s not something I’ve ever seen in 35 years of Republican Party activism.

Are they highlighting one of our elected officials, taking time from Washington or Pierre? No. No it’s not. Or featuring someone from another community who might be looking at running for higher office in the near future?  Nope. Someone from out of State, promoting a message of Republican unity to win elections in the fall?  Well, we can’t have that.

Well, who are they bringing in?

Stu Cvrk, Chair of the recently formed Bon Homme GOP.

No, really.

As opposed to bringing in someone who might help the local party raise money and bring people in, they’re bringing in someone from a different county whose claim to fame in the SDGOP is working to replace ‘establishment Republicans?‘  (click on the link, I’m not kidding)

I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a GOP group featuring someone working to throw out the people they’ve elected to office within the GOP.

Working to beat Democrats? Sure. But typically not working to beat members of their own party.

So, Statewide GOP and Hand County Republican elected officials.. I really hate to ask the questionbut you aren’t going to buy tickets, and place ads in the Lincoln Day Dinner program to support a message of giving you the boot, are you? Because that seems counter-productive.

Food for thought.

Release: Senator Mike Diedrich Endorses Jason Green for Senate in Rapid City’s District 34

Senator Mike Diedrich Endorses Jason Green for Senate in Rapid City’s District 34

Rapid City, SD – After serving the people of District 34 for 13 years in the South Dakota Legislature, Senator Mike Diedrich announced today that he will not seek re-election to the South Dakota Senate after the conclusion of his current term.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve my neighbors in District 34 as your Senator,” said Diedrich.  “As I serve the remainder of this term, I would like to thank all my colleagues and friends who I’ve been blessed to work with over the years. So many have reached out to me, and I draw strength from them as I continue to fight cancer.  Most of all, I thank my wife Connie and my sons Chris and Ross for their unwavering support. They are my rock.”

We need good people who come without an agenda to solve problems and leave our state better for their time in Pierre.  That is why as my successor for District 34 Senate, I enthusiastically endorse my friend, Jason Green.”

“Like me, Jason is a former City Attorney and current in-house counsel for Monument Health. The experiences of solving problems every day prepared me very well to serve in the Senate. With those same experiences, I am confident Jason will continue District 34’s tradition of bringing people together and solving problems through steady leadership in the State Senate,” Diedrich said.

Jason Green states “I am humbled and honored to receive Senator Diedrich’s endorsement.  The community greatly benefited from Senator Diedrich’s service in many capacities over the years.  I intend to continue working hard for the people of District 34 just as he does.”

Green brings a wealth of experience to the Senate.  After more than 10 years in the City Attorney’s Office in Rapid City, Jason has continued to serve the community working as Associate General Counsel at Monument Health.  Green is a 2005 graduate of Leadership Rapid City, a former adjunct professor at the University of South Dakota West River Campus, and a Life Member of the NRA.

As a conservative Republican, Jason will focus on ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent in a fiscally responsible manner, improving infrastructure to provide Rapid City with access to vital resources and economic opportunity, supporting public safety, and continuing South Dakota’s tradition of limited government to maximize individual freedom.

Jason has a long history of community involvement, including volunteering with the Black Hills Federal Credit Union for more than 14 years, serving in many roles including being elected to several terms as Chairman by his fellow Board and Committee members.  Additionally, he has served on the Governing Board and Finance Committees for Wellfully, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to providing addiction recovery, behavioral and psychiatric residential care to youth in the Black Hills area.  Green also serves on the Rapid City Parks and Recreation Golf Course advisory committee.

Jason Green is a graduate of the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology and was recognized as an Outstanding Recent Graduate in 2007.  He also holds two law degrees, one from the University of South Dakota School of Law and the other from Loyola University Chicago.

“My promise to taxpayers is that I look forward to working hard every day for the people of District 34 and I ask for your support on June 4th in the Republican primary election.”