Category: Dusty Johnson

Lactose Tolerant
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
June 4, 2021

June is National Dairy Month, and in South Dakota we have a lot to celebrate.

Over the last three years, milk production has grown 35% in South Dakota. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, total cheese production in South Dakota increased 16% in a year when many states were not as fortunate.

During my first term in Congress, I advocated for and rallied support from many of my colleagues across the aisle to pass the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement which provided necessary improvements to increase dairy market access for South Dakota producers. Canada needs to live up to their end of the USMCA bargain, and that’s why I urged the administration to ensure Canada is allowing producers to meet the tariff quotas set in place under USMCA – I’m glad they are taking action.

Despite these successes, dairy farmers in South Dakota are still facing hardships because of the pandemic, and they need our support now more than ever.

That is why I cosponsored the DAIRY PRIDE Act, a bill that would require manufacturers of plant-based foods and beverages to stop mislabeling their products as dairy products. Many non-dairy items have the words “milk,” “yogurt,” and “cheese” on their labels, when in reality they do not meet the FDA’s definition of dairy and do not possess the specific nutritional values found in real dairy products.

The DAIRY PRIDE Act benefits both dairy producers and confused consumers across the United States by simply requiring the FDA to follow their own rules. After a year of braving extreme demand disruptions and plummeting market prices, this is the boost our dairy producers deserve.

Dairy products provide important health benefits to millions of Americans, and I am proud of our South Dakota dairy farmers who work hard every day to feed our nation and fill our cereal bowls.

The pandemic has proven just how resilient our dairy producers are, and National Dairy Month is the perfect time to recognize their efforts. Make sure to thank and support your local dairy farmers in June!

Pack Your Bags
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
May 28, 2021

As COVID-19 cases are on the decline and more countries open up for summer travel, Americans are starting to pack their bags and get on the road.

According to TSA, nearly two million people went through airport security on May 23^rd – that’s the highest number of air travelers TSA has seen since the start of the pandemic in 2020.

Before you hit the road – or the tarmac – don’t forget a few of the essentials: money, your ID, sunscreen, and if you’re going abroad, your up-to-date passport.

With the shutdown of many federal offices during the pandemic, it wasn’t exactly easy to get a new passport – so be sure to plan ahead. Even if you already have a passport, make sure to double check your expiration date. Some countries even require passports to be at least six months from expiration (check out travel.state.gov for specific country travel information). But if for some reason you find yourself in a bind, always remember my office may be able to help.

A few weeks ago, my office received a frantic email from a constituent stuck in Denver on a layover. A South Dakota family was en route to their family vacation to Mexico when they were told by TSA their trip would be a no-go. The reason? Their child’s passport had gone through the wash and was considered “damaged” by TSA.

Thankfully, the constituent service representatives in my offices in Rapid City, Sioux Falls, and Aberdeen are trained to handle rare situations like these. Our office contacted the National Passport Agency in Colorado and we were able to get them a same-day appointment for a new passport. Within two hours, this family had an updated passport and were on their way to their family vacation.

My offices strive to make South Dakotans’ lives easier. Whether you’re gearing up for summer travel, needing assistance with a federal agency like the Social Security Administration, or have concerns with your VA benefits, please don’t hesitate to call our state offices.

Serving Our Heroes
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
May 21, 2021

On the last Monday of every May, our nation pays special tribute to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Our celebration of Memorial Day dates back to the Civil War, when fellow Americans began honoring the countless soldiers who lost their lives in battle. Memorial Day is often filled with picnics and parades, but its important to take a moment to truly reflect on the solemnity of the day.

While Memorial Day is set aside to honor the American heroes who never made it home, since coming to Congress, it’s been a priority of mine to support our servicemembers who did.

This past week the U.S. House passed the Native VetSuccess at Tribal Colleges and Universities Pilot Program Act, a bill I led along with Representative Gallego of Arizona.

The VetSuccess on Campus (VSOC) program currently provides services to thousands of veterans at 104 institutions across the country – our bill extends this program to Tribal Colleges and Universities – including those located in South Dakota.

The VSOC program provides veterans with access to many services including educational and career counseling, adjustment counseling, vocational training, expedited veteran readiness and employment services, and referrals through the Veteran’s Affairs medical centers.

For the tremendous sacrifices our veterans have made, they deserve resources and services that best prepare them to complete their education, secure employment, and make the adjustment back into civilian life. The VSOC program has been critical to the long-term success of our veterans, and I am grateful to extend this program to Native veterans attending Tribal Colleges.

I’m proud our bill passed the House and look forward to the day our Native veterans can take full advantage of the services they’ve earned.

As we collectively mourn the loss of those servicemembers who have died this Memorial Day, I will continue to be a strong advocate for our veterans who have fought to protect our nation’s freedoms.

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Help Wanted
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
May 14, 2021 

More than 36% of all Americans are fully vaccinated. Our nation is on track to get back to “normal.”

But if we really want to get back to normal, that means getting back to work. If you walk down Main Street in most towns across America, you’ll spot “Help Wanted” signs in most windows. There are more than eight million job openings in our country right now, but nearly ten million Americans aren’t working.

The April American jobs report significantly underperformed. Economists were anticipating over one million new jobs added to the workforce, but employment only rose by 266,000 jobs in April. We know our economy can only thrive if there’s a workforce to meet the demand of small businesses.

Over the last several months I’ve heard from South Dakota business owners struggling to fill open spots – they are busier than ever but finding workers has been a hurdle. South Dakota’s Retailers Association said this is impacting mom & pop businesses the most.

When I ask these business owners why they can’t find workers, they tell me that it doesn’t help that the federal enhanced unemployment pays many people more to stay at home than to work. Workers continue to receive an extra $300 a week on top of what they are already receiving in unemployment benefits.

So why not pay workers more? Well that’s the thing, most of these jobs are paying well above minimum wage.

The government created this problem and it’s our job to fix it, that’s why Senator Roger Marshall and I introduced the Get Americans Back to Work Act. Our bill would step down the enhanced federal unemployment benefit between now and June 30, returning us to the system that was in place before the pandemic.

It’s past time to get America back to work, and my bill does that.

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Congressman Dusty Johnson has posted a video to Facebook to let everyone know that if you’re vaccinated, you can shake that mask off and find a new use for it:

Dedicated to Service
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
May 7, 2021

Each year congressional offices across the country interview potential candidates for our nation’s military and service academies.

It’s one of the best parts of my job. South Dakota is home to some of the best and brightest students, many of them hoping they’ll go on to serve our country at one of our nation’s esteemed military institutions.

By the age of eighteen, many of these students have dedicated more time serving their communities than most adults. Mitchell Walker who will be attending West Point started his own business in middle school, moving lawns and taking care of neighborhood pets, all while running varsity track, playing varsity football, and serving in JROTC. Grace Blote who will be attending the Naval Academy volunteers at a local medical clinic, Health Concepts, in Rapid City.

The process to apply and be accepted to any one of the five academies is rigorous – four of the five academies require a congressional nomination – just to apply. When my office asked Garrett Gallaher why he wanted to attend a service academy, he said, “my decision to attend the Air Force Academy stems from my goal of becoming a pilot in the Air Force, a strong first step toward my goal of becoming a NASA astronaut after my military career. The U.S. Air Force Academy will present challenges that I have not encountered before, but I look forward to the camaraderie I will form with my fellow cadets in tackling these challenges together.”

These students are exceptional and their willingness to dedicate their lives to defending America’s freedom is honorable. If you see Mitchell Walker, Adelaide Crow, Robert O’Brien, Grace Blote, Camden Johnson, Lauren Letner, Caden Tegethoff, or Garrett Gallaher around town, be sure to commend them on their appointment.

Rapid City native Lauren Letner said it best: “I have always wanted a job that makes a difference in people’s lives, to do meaningful work.” I’m confident students like Lauren will continue to make a difference in the lives of many. These students will all represent our state well at their respective institutions – and as they prepare for their new journey outside of South Dakota – we’ll be waiting to welcome them back home!

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100 Days and $6,000,000,000,000
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
April 30, 2021

Nearly 100 days ago, President Biden stood before America and promised unity and a path forward. He told us that path forward would include Republicans – it hasn’t yet. I’m an optimist though, and during my first two years in Washington, when faced with a global pandemic, Congress stepped up to the plate and passed bipartisan legislation to help all Americans. I believe we can get back to that place.

This week during his first joint address to Congress, he offered similar sentiments of unity. He said, “We can’t be so busy competing with one another that we forget the competition we have with the rest of the world.” But for the next hour, the president went on to introduce proposals that will cost the American taxpayer trillions.

His first bill to pass the Democrat-controlled House and Senate cost $2 trillion. His other agendas will cost $4 trillion. $2 + $4 =$6 trillion. To give you some context, the federal budget Congress passed for fiscal year 2021, which includes all discretionary and defense spending, was $1.4 trillion. His plans don’t include standard budget spending to provide for our national defense, Social Security, and other yearly functions of government. That’s a lot of money.

Investment in our children & infrastructure doesn’t need to be partisan. As a fiscal conservative, I believe America can continue to be a superpower without spending ourselves into oblivion. We do need infrastructure investments throughout America, but not to the tune of $2 trillion.

Republicans have introduced more modest proposals in the $300-500 billion range. I was invited to the White House recently along with a few other members of the Problem Solvers Caucus to meet with the president’s chief of staff regarding infrastructure. His team seemed genuine, but we are on vastly different pages.

There have been some glimmers of hope over the past 100 days – as the US has surpassed 200 million administered COVID-19 vaccine doses. The president and his team deserve a lot of credit for that as does Operation Warp Speed and the CARES Act. Because of the vaccine, confidence in the American economy is back, and the light at the end of the tunnel is nearing.

If President Biden is serious about working together and passing bipartisan legislation, his proposals can’t all start with a “T.” Let’s get serious on prescription drug pricing, infrastructure investment, and job creation.

Creeping Threat
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
April 22, 2020

“Fighting Escalates in Eastern Ukraine, Signaling the End to Another Cease-Fire.”

“Russia seems to be preparing to invade Ukraine but it’s not clear whether Putin will go through with it.”

Those were two major headlines splashed across U.S. newspapers this week. It’s easy to skip past them – after all, Russia is 5,010 miles from South Dakota. So why do these headlines matter? First, Russia is not our friend. Putin is a power-hungry egomaniac – and his attempts to influence American politics is unacceptable.

Ukraine, a country that teeters between the East and the West, encapsulates the tale of being stuck in the middle of opposing ideological, cultural worlds. Since the turn of the 20th century, the Ukrainian government has sided with the Western world, becoming steadily more like Europe after centuries of being influenced and governed by the Soviet Union. Putin has set his sights on Russia’s neighbor to the southwest, looking to gain back control of the land its ancestors once claimed and undermine Ukraine’s growing Europeanization.

For nearly a month, Russia has been deploying more than 150,000 troops to the border of Ukraine, escalating tension and causing destabilization within the region. There’s one reason for this escalation: power.

While Russian aggression towards Ukraine is nothing new, we haven’t seen this scale of escalation since 2014 when Russian forces were successful in their annexation of Crimea – a clear violation of international sovereignty that remains status quo today.

Russia is too powerful, and any expansion of territory will not be good for the world. Any war with Ukraine threatens access to the Black Sea, threatening freedom of navigation. We can’t risk the spread of Russia’s malign influence on the world.

These threats are legitimate and national security issues aren’t limited to Russia. During a briefing this week, I learned of China’s continued violations of Taiwan airspace, North Korea’s continued research into ballistic missile development, and Iran’s increased uranium enrichment. America must stay vigilant, and while we cannot engage in every international conflict, one thing should be clear to President Putin: America is watching.

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Keep the Nine
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
April 16, 2020

At the start of the 117^th Congress when control of the Senate and White House changed, I had concerns regarding legislation coming down the pipeline. I saw politically-motivated changes to the Supreme Court coming from a mile away – that’s why the first bill I introduced this year was to safeguard the Supreme Court by capping the number of justices at nine. We’ve had nine justices since 1869 – nine justices are the right number for deliberation – and in recent years both Justice Breyer and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg have agreed.

Unfortunately, my intuition was correct and yesterday, prominent House and Senate Democrats introduced legislation to expand the Supreme Court to thirteen justices. I’m strongly opposed to this proposal – the size of the court shouldn’t bounce up and down based on who has won the most recent election. We’ve weaponized almost everything in our modern political system, but our courts have managed to stay somewhat above this fray. We shouldn’t endanger that tradition with court packing.

Speaker Pelosi said she would not bring the bill to pack the court to the House floor for a vote – that’s the right call. However, just this week, President Biden announced a commission to examine what impact expanding the court may have on our country. I’m hopeful this commission will follow the advice of Justices Breyer and Ginsburg, people who spent their lives adjudicating our laws, and recommend maintaining a nine-seat Supreme Court.

I won’t take that chance though which is why I’ve been building a coalition to protect the court in the House of Representatives. My bill to “Keep the Nine” has more than 140+ cosponsors has gained serious traction amongst like-minded conservatives.

Our Supreme Court can’t become a political football every time power shifts in Washington. We can’t risk compromising public trust of the highest court in the land, that’s why I support keeping the nine.

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Congressman Dusty Johnson has posted good numbers in his latest FEC Report as he builds his war-chest for the 2022 election cycle:

Dusty Johnson 1q FEC Report by Pat Powers on Scribd

The Republican Congressman started with $1,050,140.72 cash on hand, and added $148,601.37 in donations against $55,183.81 in spending, giving Dusty $1,143,558.28 total moving forward for the 2022 election.