Category: Kristi Noem

Governor Noem Responds to False CNN Report

@SoDakCampaigns

Governor Noem Responds to False CNN Report

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem responded to a false CNN report claiming that hospitalizations are “surging” in Pennington County. The report, which aired on February 8, 2022, also shamed attendees of the Black Hills Stock Show and violated HIPPA by improperly including footage of patients.

“South Dakotans deserve the facts so that they can make the best decisions for themselves and their loved-ones. Unfortunately, CNN’s claims about COVID-19 in Pennington County were not factual,” said Governor Noem. “This political hit job ignored the mountains of factual data that we sent to them. We are demanding a correction.”

“South Dakota will continue to focus on working together to take care of people who get sick with COVID-19,” Noem continued. “We will not allow divisive out-of-state media outlets to get in the way of the partnerships between the State of South Dakota and our excellent hospital systems.”

Because of HIPAA violations in CNN’s coverage, Monument Health has also requested that the false story be retracted:

“A six-hour visit by CNN was summarized inaccurately in the story referenced. The quotes pulled were taken out of context to support a narrative that simply is not true,” said Robin Zebroski, Vice President of Strategic Marketing and Communications at Monument Health. “Monument Health has seen a steady decline in COVID-19 hospitalizations in recent weeks, and the overall testing positivity rate has gone down as well. We strongly support Governor Noem and are disappointed by the CNN report.”

COVID-19 hospitalizations in Pennington County peaked three weeks ago, on January 18, 2022. Since then, they have declined by 32%.

“CNN did not reach out to the South Dakota Department of Health for this story. The Department of Health and the Governor’s Office provided data to be included in their story, but CNN ignored it,” said Joan Adam, Interim Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Health. “Governor Noem and the Department of Health will continue to work with our hospital systems to take care of people and ensure that up-to-date data is available to all South Dakotans. To find resources and facts, visit COVID.SD.gov.”

You can read the false CNN report here.

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Governor Kristi Noem’s Weekly Column: Why Putting America First Matters to South Dakota 

@SoDakCampaigns

Why Putting America First Matters to South Dakota
By Governor Kristi Noem
January 28, 2022 

In his first hours in office just over one year ago, President Joe Biden canceled the Keystone XL pipeline and delivered a severe blow to South Dakota families and American energy independence. A few months later, President Biden opened the door for the construction of a Russian pipeline, delivering a costly gift to a dangerous adversary. 

Today, we are seeing the high price of both decisions—and what happens when leaders in Washington do not put the American people first. 

In South Dakota, we are heavily dependent on energy: We need heat in our cold winters, air conditioning in our hot summers, and gasoline to fuel our long drives to just about anywhere we go. But President Biden ignored the energy needs of South Dakota—and of every American—when he stopped Keystone XL in its tracks to appease anti-energy extremists, on top of banning drilling on federal land. 

It did not take long for Americans to feel the consequences of those actions. President Biden’s orders immediately terminated dozens of jobs in South Dakota—where the pipeline was being constructed—and destroyed the potential for thousands more. Small towns like Philip and Midland lost businesses at their hotels and gas stations—and lost potential property tax revenue that would have funded their budgets for decades. President Biden made it more expensive for every family across the country to fill their gas tanks and heat their homes. Then last year, as inflation skyrocketed due to Washington’s trillions of dollars in spending, the price of gasoline went up right along with it. 

Facing a crisis of his own making, President Biden blamed oil companies and released 50 million barrels of oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve—a veritable drop in the bucket. To put that in context, Keystone XL was expected to carry 830,000 barrels of oil per day from Canada’s Western tar sands to Nebraska. 

When I drive across South Dakota, I am reminded of other decisions that a president can make that have tragic consequences at home. I saw the impact of those decisions first-hand as a member of the House Armed Services Committee.  Through our “Fallen Heroes Bridge Dedication” program, we honor our state’s sons and daughters in the military who died while serving in combat. Each time I drive across one of those bridges, I think of the 3,000 South Dakotans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. I think of the families they left behind. And I think of the men and women serving us today.

I thought of those brave soldiers when I read some troubling news this week. Russia has 100,000 troops on the Ukrainian border and is threatening to invade. At the same time, China is increasing its aggression toward Taiwan. President Biden is considering deploying thousands of U.S. troops to Eastern European countries in response to Russia’s actions, and the State Department ordered Americans to leave Ukraine on Sunday. The world is on edge as tensions rise, along with the threat of war.

The construction of another pipeline figures prominently in this geopolitical crisis, and one of President Biden’s decisions is again front and center. In May of last year, he waived sanctions on Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which will deliver Russian natural gas to Germany. In doing so, he handed a massive amount of leverage to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Should the new pipeline be completed, Europe will grow more dependent on Russia for energy, Ukraine will be more vulnerable to Russian aggression, and the Russian government will add billions of dollars per year to its treasury. 

A stronger, emboldened Russia threatens Europe, our allies, and America’s security. It is no wonder that President Donald Trump blocked this Russian pipeline and that Democrats and Republicans alike in Congress strongly opposed it as well. Together, they feared that Putin would leverage the pipeline to his own advantage and to America’s detriment. With Putin’s aggression toward Ukraine, we are seeing in real-time what a dangerous, emboldened Russia looks like. The consequences will be immeasurable. I pray that our leaders in Washington—including the president—recognize this threat and have the wisdom to protect our country, defend our freedom, and stand by our allies. 

We know all too well what a fragile world we live in. In South Dakota, we are doing our part to build a brighter future and prepare for challenges ahead. We respect our armed forces and our veterans. In fact, our Army National Guard and Air Guard are both top-ranked units in the nation. We realize the consequences of leadership—the impact that our decisions have on the lives of the men and women who serve. I am proud to live in a state where wisdom like that is the rule, not the exception. We are setting an example for the nation. Let’s call on Washington to follow our lead, put America first, and uphold the values that make us the greatest nation on earth.

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Governor Kristi Noem’s Weekly Column: New Year, No Fear

@SoDakCampaigns

New Year, No Fear
By Governor Kristi Noem
December 31, 2021

As we approach our third year of life during a pandemic, many Americans feel trapped on a merry-go-round of COVID variants and mandates. In contrast, South Dakotans should look forward with hope to the possibilities of the future.

I expect another year of steady growth in 2022 for our state. The past year saw our economy become the strongest in America as we led the nation in pandemic recovery and a host of other factors. Record tourism numbers drove revenues to historic levels as capacity crowds flooded businesses and communities. Meanwhile, unemployment rates plummeted below pre-pandemic levels. 

Because of the measures our state took during the pandemic, South Dakota has become one of the Top 10 fastest-growing states in the country. Our population grew at a rate nine times faster than the nation’s growth rate in the last year, based on U.S. Census Bureau data.  

With businesses growing and new companies moving to the state, we have so many open jobs that it would take more than 28,000 people to fill them all. Nearly a quarter of those available spots are in high-paying, skilled healthcare jobs.  

All of those available jobs have given workers new bargaining strength as they compete for higher wages and jobs that offer better opportunities for work-family balance. Many people have put themselves on the fast track for better career paths. A recent study found South Dakota is the No. 1 state in the nation for graduation rates in Associate Degree programs. 

While other states faced economic collapse, we maintained our status as a business-friendly state by making resources available, keeping taxes low, and ensuring that South Dakota continues to make it easy for anyone to start a business. We remained focused on fiscal responsibility, using one-time dollars to support capital projects that will strengthen our state for decades into the future. We invested to finish connecting the entire state to high-speed internet. And we are taking action to address problems with workforce housing, childcare, and water infrastructure to set our state up for sustained growth. 

The country faces serious economic challenges in 2022. But because South Dakota fast-tracked solutions and took an extremely conservative path in funding those solutions, we can approach this new year with unbridled optimism. 

Do not let the doom and gloom become your default in the new year. Choose to believe in the possibilities of success and let hope guide you to positive outcomes this coming year.

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Governor Noem Appoints Kay Schallenkamp and Brad Greenway to Board of Technical Education

@SoDakCampaigns

Governor Noem Appoints Kay Schallenkamp and Brad Greenway to Board of Technical Education

PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem has appointed Dr. Kay Schallenkamp and Brad Greenway to the Board of Technical Education. Kay Schallenkamp will replace Scott Knuppe, and Brad Greenway will replace Rod Bowar. Both appointments are effective November 1, 2021.

“The new members of the Board of Technical Education will ensure that South Dakota’s technical colleges remain the very best in America,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “Kay and Brad’s expertise will help put our kids and grandkids on a path to lifelong success.”

Dr. Kay Schallenkamp served 41 years in higher education prior to her retirement in 2014. She served as President of Black Hills State University (SD) from 2006-2014 and President of Emporia State University (KS) from 1997-2006. Prior to that, she served as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Provost at Chadron State College (NE).  She started her higher education career at Northern State University (SD) as a faculty member of communication disorders and later served as department chair and dean.

Schallenkamp is currently on the Board of Directors for the Crazy Horse Memorial, Board of Trustees for Baker University (KS), and the Cultural and Diversity Committee for the Sanford Underground Lab. She previously served on the Board of Directors for the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, the SD Board of Educational Standards, and the SD Board of Junior Achievement. She also served as a member of the Board of Directors for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the North Central Association (now the Higher Learning Commission) and the Renaissance Group.  In addition, she served as chair of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, the Presidents Council for NCAA Division II, and the National Teachers Hall of Fame, as well as the steering committee for the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. Schallenkamp served as a Consultant Evaluator for the Higher Learning Commission for 25 years.

Brad Greenway attended one year at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN before returning to Mitchell and graduating with an associate degree in Agriculture Management from Mitchell Technical Institute in 1984.

Locally, Brad serves on the township board, Davison County Fair Board, has been involved with the Davison County Pork Council for 30 years, and served on the SD Pork Producers Council from 2000 to 2015, including as president from 2005-2006. He served on the National Pork Board (Pork Checkoff) from 2009 to 2015. He most recently was a board member for U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action and served as chairman from 2016-2018.

Brad has received several statewide awards including Pork All American, Governor’s 2014 Ag Ambassador of the Year, Mitchell Technical Institute Outstanding Alumnus of the Year in 2016, and together with his wife Peggy received the South Dakota Pork Promoters of the Year award in 2015.  Greenway was selected as America’s Pig Farmer of the Year in 2016.

Brad and his wife Peggy farm just west of Mitchell, South Dakota, where they run a diversified farm. Their two adult children, Mandi and Brent, live in Mitchell with their spouses. Brent has recently joined the family farm. Brad and Peggy enjoy spending time with their children and three grandchildren.

Photos of Dr. Kay Schallenkamp can be found here. A photo of Brad Greenway can be found here.

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Noem Introduces Bill to Expand AMBER Alert System in Indian Country 

Pat Powers

Noem Introduces Bill to Expand AMBER Alert System in Indian Country 

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Kristi Noem today introduced the AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act, which would expand the AMBER Alert child abduction warning system on Native American reservations.

“The FBI lists more than 7,000 Native American children as missing today and yet law enforcement on many reservations lack critical access to the AMBER Alert system,” said Noem.  “Time is of the essence in these situations. The more people we can engage in searching for a missing child, the better our chances are of a safe recovery. The AMBER Alert system has been instrumental in many cases, but its reach needs to be extended to Indian Country.”

The AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act would clarify that Indian tribes are eligible for Department of Justice (DOJ) grants that help assemble AMBER Alert systems for law enforcement agencies.  Additionally, the DOJ currently operates a pilot program that offers AMBER Alert training services to tribes, but this legislation would make the initiative permanent while enhancing oversight.

Earlier this year, more than 100 gathered in Pine Ridge to raise awareness about the number of missing and murdered Native women and girls, which is said to occur at “epidemic” levels. Noem also cosponsored legislation to name May 5 as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls.

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