Congressman Dusty Johnson’s Weekly Column: Homegrown Solutions

Homegrown Solutions
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
September 18, 2026

BIG Update

Without water, not much else matters. Western South Dakota needs reliable access to water to support families, businesses, agriculture, and future economic growth. My bill to direct the Department of the Interior to study three proposed projects to deliver water to western South Dakota passed the House Natural Resources Committee this week. These studies are an important step toward meeting the region’s water needs and will give communities the information they need to plan for future growth. A federal feasibility study will provide detailed information about the potential benefits of bringing more water to West River. Earlier this spring, I testified in favor of this legislation before the Natural Resources Committee and I’m glad to see this bill move forward.

BIG Idea

Rising energy costs emphasize the need for homegrown options to fuel our economy. Biofuels give consumers a lower-cost option at the pump while supporting American farmers and strengthening our rural economy. I met with Growth Energy to discuss the importance of biofuels to South Dakota and the need to get year-round E15 across the finish line. The House has already passed year-round E15 with my support, and this week, the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced the Farm Bill with year-round E15 included. We should look to American producers to meet more of our energy needs and make the most of the resources we have right here at home.

Johnson meets with Growth Energy

BIG News

This week, House Republicans made federal fraud enforcement permanent. I voted to codify the Department of Justice’s efforts to investigate and prosecute cases of fraud. Every tax dollar lost to fraud is taken from someone the program was actually meant to help. Common-sense protections and accountability measures ensure federal dollars are not stolen from taxpayers. More than $280 billion in COVID relief funds were potentially stolen, while another $123 billion was wasted or misspent. The House has already passed legislation to prevent fraud before dollars go out the door, and now we are further empowering law enforcement to investigate and prosecute acts of fraud.

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