Governor Noem Signs Executive Order Forming Complete Census Committee

Governor Noem Signs Executive Order Forming Complete Census Committee

PIERRE, S.D. – Yesterday, Governor Kristi Noem signed an executive order forming the South Dakota Complete Census Committee. The 2020 Census concludes on September 30, 2020, and the purpose of the committee is to raise awareness among South Dakotans before that deadline.

Executive Order 2020-32 establishes the committee and authorizes it to ensure that South Dakota residents are appropriately counted in the 2020 Census. The Governor will appoint committee members from the following entities: the Governor’s Office, the Department of Education, the Department of Social Services, the Department of Tribal Affairs, and the Secretary of State. The committee will also include the following legislators or their designees: the President pro tempore of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and the Minority Leader of the House. The Governor shall appoint a chair or co-chairs, and the committee shall organize within fourteen days after the initial appointments of at least eight members to the committee.

To learn more about executive orders to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, please visitCOVID.sd.gov.

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Governor Noem Congratulates Build Dakota Scholarship Winners 

Governor Noem Congratulates Build Dakota Scholarship Winners 

PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem today congratulated 313 students who have been awarded the Build Dakota Scholarship for the 2020-21 school year.

“The Build Dakota Scholarship program is a tremendous opportunity for students and a powerful tool for workforce development,” said Governor Noem. “Students earn degrees in high-demand fields and upon graduation, can immediately begin building their future in South Dakota.”

Build Dakota aims to support students entering high-need workforce programs at South Dakota’s technical colleges to fill the state’s technical career fields with skilled professionals. The scholarships cover tuition and fees, books, equipment, and other related program expenses for eligible programs within nine high-need industry areas at South Dakota’s four technical colleges. Recipients were selected by technical colleges from a total of 1,189 applications.

“The Build Dakota Scholarship program matches today’s students with tomorrow’s careers,” said Dana Dykhouse, chairman of the South Dakota Board of Technical Education. “Our technical colleges are powerhouses for the state workforce. Industry partnerships, through which some businesses sponsor students and commit to pay part of their program expenses, expand the impact of Build Dakota dollars. This year 244 scholarship recipients have an industry partner.

In-state and out-of-state students of all ages are eligible to apply. Scholarship applicants must be accepted into their approved program of interest. Recipients of the scholarship must enroll full-time, complete their educational program on schedule, and commit to stay in South Dakota to work in their field of study for three years following graduation.

Applications for the 2021-22 school year open in January 2021. Find more information on Build Dakota Scholarships here.

Click here to access the complete list of this year’s Build Dakota Scholarship Winners.

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Over 250 upset people in red show up for Brookings City Council meeting

By one count tonight, there are around 250 unhappy people who went down to the Brookings City Council meeting (the hallways are packed) to express their extreme displeasure with the City Council over their proposal to extend and increase COVID restrictions, over-reaching restrictions into people’s homes.

The young lady speaking was the one who organized the change.org petition effort which is approaching 1800 people at this writing.

She didn’t mince many words when she expressed that she hopes some of the people in the room tonight will run for the seats in the next election held for the City Council.

The crowd is loud and a little raucus. And they don’t like the over reaching proposals initiated from city staff.

SD Dem legislators disavow author of Declaration of Independence, as well as father of our country

Remember when Democrats used to have Jefferson/Jackson dinners in South Dakota?

A lot has changed in the intervening years, as now it seems South Dakota Democrats consider Thomas Jefferson as well as another member of Mt. Rushmore – George Washington – as unacceptable and are trying to “cancel” any mention of their contributions to our country because like many of their contemporaries, they owned slaves:

Without Washington, there’d be no United States and subsequently no South Dakota, Venhuizen said. Jefferson was responsible for the Louisiana Purchase, which acquired territory from France that encompassed what eventually became South Dakota. Lincoln signed the Homestead Act, which led to the settlement of South Dakota. And Roosevelt frequented the west and inspired former South Dakota Gov. Peter Norbeck to create Custer State Park

and…

“I feel that it’s not a good time to propose statues with what’s going on on the national level,” said Rep. Jamie Smith, the minority leader in the South Dakota House of Representatives. “It’s an incendiary topic that is perhaps being used for political reasons.”

Rep. Erin Healy echoed Smith’s comments, saying that erecting more monuments of Jefferson and Washington won’t foster unity in South Dakota.

“Of course our nation has past, but we certainly don’t need to be adding fuel to the fire when it comes to statues of past presidents who were owners of slaves and weren’t perfect people,” she said, adding that she thinks it’s another step in the governor’s desire to differentiate South Dakota from the rest of the country.

Read it all here.

You know, nobody claimed the founding fathers to be any less imperfect than their contemporaries. But applying the cancel culture of the time to the people that founded our nation  – 1/2 of the people on Mt. Rushmore – just come off as liberal claptrap.

South Dakota Democrats.. just part of the same liberal statue destroying crowd that is plaguing the nation.

US Senator John Thune’s Weekly Column: Thank You to South Dakota’s Frontline Heroes

Thank You to South Dakota’s Frontline Heroes
By Sen. John Thune

As the coronavirus pandemic spread from city to city and state to state throughout the country, heroes emerged in some unlikely forms. Delivery drivers helped keep our economy moving, literally. Grocery store workers risked their own health and safety to ensure shelves were stocked and home necessities were available. Sanitation and utility workers helped keep our lights on, our internet connected, and trash off of our streets. And, of course, doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals stepped up in a big way and have been fighting on the frontline since this crisis first began.

From the early days of the pandemic, when Congress was grappling with how to respond, members of South Dakota’s health care community were some of the first and most consistent calls I made. I can recall sitting in my office in Washington in between meetings about what would eventually become the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act – bipartisan legislation that was unanimously approved by Congress in March – and getting real-time updates from medical professionals on the ground in South Dakota.

Congress knew that the virus wouldn’t affect every state the same way, so it was critical to hear what folks were seeing and hearing throughout the country. The feedback I received from South Dakota’s health care providers helped shape my approach to coronavirus relief discussions in Congress. I wanted to ensure our health care community had the tools it needed to prepare for what was coming and to act when necessary. Since the CARES Act’s passage, I’m proud to say that nearly $520 million in federal relief funds have been allocated to South Dakota’s health care community to help fight this battle.

Just because Congress acted, it doesn’t mean my reliance on these frontline workers’ advice and feedback has ended. This is an unprecedented crisis, and I want to be sure the federal investment in the response is working effectively and efficiently. I also want to be sure there aren’t additional needs that aren’t being met.

As I said, I’ve been in constant contact with South Dakota’s health care community – through phone calls, virtual meetings, and other correspondence. Seeing things firsthand can’t be replicated, though, which is why I recently made several stops to hear directly from providers in our state.

I was fortunate to meet with officials from Avera Queen of Peace Hospital in Mitchell and Prairie Lakes Healthcare System in Watertown. These folks are the real heroes, and I was humbled to thank them in person (socially distanced, of course) for their continued service. We covered a variety of topics, including progress on a COVID vaccine, the importance of testing and contact tracing, and telehealth services, just to name a few. Their insight continues to prove to be invaluable.

On telehealth, in particular, I think we’ve all learned just how important this vital service is to rural communities. It’s something I’ve been fighting to strengthen for years – both on the health delivery side and the rural broadband side. Both are critically important to telehealth’s success, and we’ve seen just how well it can work during the pandemic. It’s an issue that I will continue to advocate for and find permanent solutions to some of the obstacles that still exist.

Again, I can’t say it enough, but on behalf of a grateful state, I want to extend a hearty “thank you” to everyone, especially our health care heroes, who have stepped up over the last few months. That list also includes the people of South Dakota who have continued to show that personal responsibility is also a big factor in fighting this virus. I’ve been saying it from the beginning, but we’re all in this together, and South Dakotans have proven that’s true.

Click here and here for photos from Sen. Thune’s recent visits to Mitchell and Watertown.

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US Senator Mike Rounds’ Weekly Column: November Election Conversation with South Dakota’s Secretary of State

November Election Conversation with South Dakota’s Secretary of State
By U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) 

I chair the Cybersecurity Subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services Committee. In that role, we’ve worked extensively on election security. It’s well documented that Russia tried to influence the 2016 election by using a misinformation campaign on social media and they attempted to hack into at least 21 of our state election systems. Fortunately, Russia was not successful in changing the 2016 outcome. The 2018 midterm elections were free from outside interference—that was no accident. The 2018 election was protected due to changes in our public policy allowing the U.S. to respond with offensive and defensive cyber capabilities outside of a declared war zone.

As I’ve traveled around South Dakota during our in-state work period, I’ve received countless questions about the election this November. This time, the questions were not concerned about election interference from a foreign source. Instead, people are wondering how our new pandemic lifestyles will impact the election; specifically election security.  So, I decided to go directly to the source and ask your questions to the official in charge of running our state’s elections: Secretary of State Steve Barnett.

Mike Rounds [MR]: Should we be concerned about mail-in ballots?

Secretary of State Steve Barnett [SB]: South Dakota’s election processes provide safeguards to ensure fair and honest elections. Since 1913, South Dakota has offered our residents the opportunity to vote absentee. Over the past century, we’ve worked hard to perfect this process. Today, voters submit an absentee application form, which must be notarized or accompanied by a photo ID, to their local county auditor and receive their ballot in the mail. After a ballot is completed and returned, the signature on the request form and the signature on the ballot envelope are cross-checked to ensure validity. South Dakota is not the reason that the voting process in this election is making national news, as our processes have long been in place and provide security measures to ensure the integrity of our elections.

MR: Will the post office (USPS) be able to process the increase in election mail?

SB: I have confidence in the ability of the United States Postal Service to process the projected increase in election mail.  According to the USPS, they are anticipating election mail to account for less than 2% of their daily mail volume from mid-September to Election Day.  My office has been working closely with USPS officials in the state and will continue to do so.

To account for mail processing and delivery times, we encourage voters to request their absentee ballot as soon as they’re able and return the ballot to their county auditor with sufficient time allowed for delivery.  South Dakota’s absentee voting period begins 46 days prior to the election on September 18th and voters are able to request their absentee ballot right now.

MR: How does a voter request an absentee ballot?

SB: The first step is ensuring that you are registered to vote and that your information is up to date.  To verify this information, you may contact your local county auditor or search the Voter Information Portal (VIP) on our website at www.sdsos.gov. You may download the absentee ballot application form from our website or contact your county auditor to request an application.  Upon completing the application, the form must be submitted to your county auditor. If you cannot recall if you already requested an absentee ballot for the general election, you may contact your county auditor or check the VIP page on our website. The VIP page will also provide your polling location information if you choose to vote in person. A couple of important dates to remember for the upcoming election are:

September 18 – Absentee voting begins

October 19 – Last day to register to vote

November 3 – Election Day!

MR: What message do you have for South Dakota voters going into the November election? 

SB: South Dakotans should have confidence in the integrity of our election systems. The goal of all election officials in South Dakota is to ensure every South Dakotan has access to exercise their right to vote in fair and honest elections. Citizens exercising their right to vote is the foundation of our democracy and I encourage everyone to participate.

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Congressman Dusty Johnson’s Weekly Column: A Grateful Nation

A Grateful Nation
By Rep. Dusty Johnson

Today, military homecomings are met with open arms, tears of joy, parades, and celebrations – a concept that is a bit foreign to the nearly three million soldiers who returned home from the Vietnam War.

Too many of our Vietnam-era veterans were not welcomed home properly, but it’s never too late to do the right thing. That’s why it’s important for me to look these leaders in the eye and tell them that our grateful nation is thankful for their service.

During the August in-state work period, I partnered with the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration to present some of South Dakota’s Vietnam veterans with a token of our gratitude. In recent weeks I’ve hosted ceremonies for veterans in Winner, Mitchell, and Sioux Falls, and this week I met with thirteen of Rapid City’s finest.

Each veteran receives a lapel pin inscribed with the message, “A grateful nation thanks and honors you.” It’s a simple message, but it rings true. On the front face of the pin, a bald eagle stands center representing the courage, honor, and dedicated service to our nation.

Every veteran I’ve met has had a unique story and experience particularly based on their occupational specialty while serving – from radio operator to infantryman, combat illustrator to Huey door gunner – everyone’s service looked different.

There was one commonality between each of the men receiving this honor over recent weeks: not one of them asked for this recognition. Each veteran was nominated by a loved one, a wife, a daughter, a brother, or a fellow veteran. I’m grateful for those who took time out of their day to nominate these individuals.

I want to ensure no one is missed, so if you or a loved one served in the Vietnam War please contact my Rapid City office at 605-646-6454. Our grateful nation is ready to thank and honor you.

Governor Kristi Noem’s Weekly Column: The Duty of Leaders

The Duty of Leaders
By Governor Kristi Noem 

Today, the rule of law is under attack in America. In cities across the country, violent mobs are running rampant. They’re looting, rioting, and destroying property, businesses, and – in some cases – people’s dreams. Murder rates are up by double digits in 13 of our nation’s 15 largest cities. Many citizens are fleeing – what parent wants to raise their children in these violent situations?

For those of us in positions of leadership, it is our duty to respond and to protect our people. After all, violent, lawless mobs are emboldened when good men and women stand by and do nothing. Unfortunately, in too many places, that’s exactly what’s happening. In fact, some leaders have tried to walk with the mob, proudly “standing with them.” Unsurprisingly, the mob had no appetite for the political posturing and turned them away.

This past week, I denounced the violence in these cities. The Mayor of Seattle, Jenny Durkan, didn’t appreciate the spotlight it shown on her city. Durkan took to MSNBC to say that I’m “not only wrong,” but “purposefully wrong.” Though the rhetoric sounds nice, the facts dispute it. Seattle’s murder rate has increased 44% this year. Some of that increase is directly attributable to the Capitol Hill area of her downtown that became an “autonomous zone,” with barricades erected and signs stating, “You are now leaving the USA.” Durkan seems to have forgotten that rioters in this area (called both CHOP and CHAZ) terrorized residents, demanded tribute from business owners, and generated frequent shootings.

It is the duty of leaders like Durkan to protect their people from such violence. But instead of allowing her police department to do that, Durkan proposed slashing her police department’s budget and freezing new hires. Similar stories are playing out in cities nationwide. Leaders, afraid of backlash from the mob, turn their ire on the very law enforcement officers trying to keep us safe.

The media is making the problem worse. They repeatedly refer to violent rioters as “peaceful protesters,” giving cover to the mob. Earlier this week, as Kenosha burned on camera for all to see, CNN referred to the riots there as a “fiery but mostly peaceful protest.” Last night, one block from the White House, Senator Rand Paul was violently attacked by rioters – even having a bike thrown at him. He was protected by law enforcement, because – again, unsurprisingly – they continue to do their job.

It doesn’t have to be this way, especially not in the United States of America. To those tired of living in these cities, if you want a better home to raise your children, grow your business, and live your life in peace, I encourage you to come to South Dakota. Here, we respect freedom. We breathe fresh air. And we love our country.

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