Dakota State University to Host U.S. Senate Cybersecurity Field Hearing

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thuneheadernew John_Thune,_official_portrait,_111th_CongressDakota State University to Host U.S. Senate Cybersecurity Field Hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, will convene and chair a full committee field hearing entitled “Confronting the Challenge of Cybersecurity” on Thursday, September 3, 2015, at 2:30 p.m. CT (3:30 p.m. ET) at Dakota State University.

“As our nation continues to confront and guard against dangers in cyberspace, experts in South Dakota have experience and insight to inform federal policymaking,” said Thune. “Bringing a Senate hearing to Dakota State offers federal government cybersecurity policymakers an opportunity to listen to these cyber experts and better understand the challenge of protecting individuals, businesses, and critical infrastructure throughout our nation.”

Dakota State University’s Cyber Operations Program is nationally recognized by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security as a National Center of Academic Excellence, holding education, research and cyber operations designations. It is one of the first universities in the country to hold all three prestigious designations. Approximately 20 percent of students at DSU are involved in its cybersecurity programs.

Witnesses:

  • Dr. Josh Pauli, Professor of Cyber Security and NSF SFS CyberCorps Program Director, Dakota State University (DSU)
  • Dr. Kevin Streff, Department Chair, Cyber Operations and Security, Dakota State University; Founder and Managing Partner, Secure Banking Solutions, LLC
  • Mr. Mark Shlanta, CEO, SDN Communications
  • Mr. Eric Pulse, Director of Risk Advisory Services, Eide Bailly
  • Mr. Jeremy Epstein, Lead Program Director, Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC) program, National Science Foundation (NSF)
  • Mr. Kevin Stine, Manager, Security Outreach and Integration Group, Information Technology Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Hearing Details:

Thursday, September 3, 2015

2:30 p.m. CDT/3:30 p.m. EDT

Full Committee field hearing at Dakota State University
Madison, South Dakota
Tunheim Classroom Building, Room 203

The hearing will be webcast through www.commerce.senate.gov. Witness testimony, opening statements, and a live video of the hearing will be available here.

Congressional delegation continuing to travel across state

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There’s no rest for the Washington Delegation!  They’re continuing to travel across the state during their August recess, with Congresswoman Noem still in the hills today, as Rep. Kristi Noem meets with the Black Hills Association of Realtors at 8:00AM to discuss the impact of EPA regulations and tax reform on homeowners.

At the same time, Senator Rounds is hosting a roundtable discussion with the South Dakota Retailers Association at 1481 Grille in Arlington to discuss his RESTORE resolution.

Senator Thune is also quite active, and has been hitting events across the state. I suspect we’ll see him at the State Fair, as well as the other elected officials.

On the other side of the aisle, Noem challenger Paula Hawks tweeted something on the 24th, after attending the Brown County fair on the 15th. Apparently, she’s starting out slowly. Very slowly…. Maybe the campaign will manage to find something to tweet about sometime soon.

And of course, the Democrat’s challenger to Thune is…. still non-existent. Although a LA filmmaker is starting to think about it.

Keep up the good work Republicans!  And Dems, nice try. And remember, there’s always 2018..

Attorney General Appoints Allender to Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training Commission

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jackleyheader2Attorney General Appoints Allender to Law Enforcement
Officers Standards and Training Commission

Marty JackleyPIERRE, S.D.- Attorney General Marty Jackley announced today the appointment of Steve Allender Mayor of Rapid City to the Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training Commission. He has been appointed to a two-year term effective August 2015. Allender replaces Ken Tracy of Mitchell on the commission.

“Steve Allender has 30 years of law enforcement service to the State of South Dakota. Steve is continuing his public service as Mayor of Rapid City, and his diverse background will assist him with the important  task of developing standards and training for law enforcement officers,” said Jackley. “I would also like to extend my appreciation to Ken Tracy for his years of service to law enforcement and the people of South Dakota.”

The South Dakota Law Enforcement Standards and Training Commission is an 11 person commission.  Eight of the commissioners are appointed by the Attorney General. They represent the South Dakota Highway Patrol, South Dakota Sheriff’s Offices, Police Departments, the State Bar Association, institutes of higher education, the Municipal League, County Commissioners and an enrolled tribal member who is a certified law enforcement officer. The other three commissioners are the Chief Agent from the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, a regional Federal Bureau of Investigation Agent, and the Attorney General. The Commission sets the training standards and certification process for the South Dakota law enforcement community.

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New Republican candidate on deck for District 30

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Somewhat lighter posting as I kicked off activities for both of my new positions today.  I’d liken it to drinking from a fire hose at full blast. I first had to figure out connectivity for my office computer through my network, and then get to work reviewing web sites, writing copy, producing a podcast, and a number of other digital media sorts of things.

I also had to do some training over lunch for the other position. It’s going to be no less nutty tomorrow, but that’s what I signed up for.

The world of politics certainly kept on turning during my day’s flurry of activity, as this evening I had a nice conversation with the GOP’s newest candidate for the State Legislature, Richard Mounce who is running for the house in District 30:

mounce

Mounce is an endodontist, which for us layfolk means that he’s a specialist dentist, focusing on root canal procedures such as the one I’m probably going to need on one of my back teeth, but conveniently keep ignoring.

Mounce is finishing up the work on his website, and plans to campaign in earnest next year for the seats being vacated by Lance Russell and Mike Verchio, both of whom are termed out of office.  Plan on that race being a free for all, as District 30 has had primaries when there were two incumbents, much less two open seats.

And it’s evident that he’s putting quite a bit of effort into his candidacy. That’s an awfully nice web site. My print work is comparable, but I can only wish I could code like that.

Regarding issues, dentist and businessman Mounce has noted specifics including:

My top priorities include:

  • Growing our economy (especially in the agriculture, tourism, small business and professional sectors)
  • Preserving cherished Second Amendment rights
  • Providing necessary yet sensible funding for our schools
  • Caring and responsible stewardship of South Dakota’s natural and financial resources
  • Supporting law enforcement
  • Aiding the global efforts of our military services, especially those at Ellsworth AFB
  • Improving rural access to health care and infrastructure investments

Read that here.

If you’re out West River, check out Dr. Mounce’s web site here, and keep an eye on him as next years’ races start to shape up.

Bonus…. Also, it looks like a Democrat is emerging from the nest to run west river. I think he’s a little small. Somebody should probably throw him back, as I don’t think his eyes are opened yet.

Hurst to consider taking beating for Democrats, as opposed to beating on them? That’s a change of pace.

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Kevin Woster is writing today that Rapid City Filmmaker Sam Hurst is considering taking the beating a run as a Democrat candidate for US Senate against our Senior US Senator John Thune:

Friends of Sam Hurst — the former network TV news producer, short-lived buffalo rancher and current independent filmmaker — are encouraging him to run for the U.S. Senate next year.

and…

Hurst, who has never run from a controversial opinion, has made some insightful-but-edgy evaluations of the state of the party in South Dakota. They stung. This is a wounded party, after all, with a clear and abiding memory of injuries sustained and perceived attackers, particularly those who come from within.

So there’d be some fence mending to find unity, if Hurst could beat whomever the party finds.

Read it here.

What exactly is Woster referring to in Hurst poking at the Democrat Party? Well, it’s literally disappeared off the Internet. But there are snippets out there, such as Bob Mercer has referenced:

Let Democrats worry about the fate of the party. It is at rock bottom. It stands for nothing. It has virtually no ability to raise money or mobilize its base to action on behalf of its candidates. It has no influence over politicians elected in its name. It cannot compete. Not forever, not for always, but right now, South Dakota Democrats need leaders who will yell, “Charge!” And it needs soldiers willing to aim their sabers into the fire. Perhaps 3,834 naïve, liberal, desperate, lost souls, would be a good place to begin.

Read that here.

Democrats… at rock bottom. The party …stands for nothing. …no ability to raise money or mobilize its base… no influence over politicians elected in its name. It cannot compete.

Man. And I thought I was harsh. Yep. I bet the Democrat party and it’s major donors are going to get right on that one.  Somehow, I don’t think that neon “vacancy sign” over the position for the Democrat candidate for US Senate is going to dim any time soon.

Dem Chances for a US Senate candidate looking even more dismal….

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You know it’s looking bad for Democrats coming up with a candidate against Thune when even Frank Kloucek has no interest in it….

Maybe they can search the trash from cleaning out the prior ED’s desk to see if there were any rolodex cards that might have been discarded…

Sounds like a pretty tough weekend.

@SoDakCampaigns

Get well wishes to a couple members of the Republican legislative family appear to be in order.

Representative Don Haggar’s wife and Senator Jenna Haggar’s mom Michelle suffered a broken kneecap last night while we were in Columbus, Ohio, after a fall on a sidewalk. We were all out eating pizza as a group, and it happened while she was returning to the hotel. We wish her a speedy recovery.

Also taking ill was State Representative Mike Verchio, who was reporting on facebook that after an emergency trip to the hospital, he had a pacemaker implanted on Friday. Again, we hope he’s feeling better soon.

Hopefully we can get through this weekend without any more injuries!

US Senator John Thune’s Weekly Column: Getting Washington Working Again For the American People

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thuneheadernew John_Thune,_official_portrait,_111th_CongressGetting Washington Working Again For the American People

When Republicans campaigned for the Senate majority in 2014, we made a simple, yet important pledge to the American people: If you elect Republicans to the majority, we will get the Senate, which has been dysfunctional for years, working again. That was not a half-hearted campaign slogan; it was a commitment on which we intended to deliver.

For far too long, the legislative process was nearly nonexistent in the Democrat-run Senate. Democrats were more focused on saving their own jobs than enacting policies that would help create good-paying jobs for hard-working Americans. The Senate floor transformed into a campaign hall, and basic legislative functions often took a back seat to political show votes that were intended to create fodder for 30-second campaign ads rather than solve key problems facing people across the country. Last year, the American people opted for a new direction, and seven months into the new Republican majority, I am happy to report that we have made significant progress.

It is halftime in the first session of this Congress, and Republicans and Democrats in the Senate have put some important points on the board on behalf of the American people. Most importantly, we have returned the Senate to what our Founders intended it to be: a place for open and honest debate, where committees are able to work and senators on both sides of the aisle are able to participate. With a divided government, I believe that the legislative outcome is better when members of both parties are part of the process.

Since reopening the Senate, we have passed more than 80 bills to help improve our economy, reform our government, protect some of the most vulnerable among us, and strengthen our national security. We passed a joint balanced budget resolution, the first since 2001, and did not raise a single dime in taxes during the process. We also passed legislation to approve the Keystone XL pipeline, strengthen our efforts to eradicate human trafficking in this country, provide a check on the Obama administration’s flawed Iran nuclear agreement, and long-overdue trade legislation to help expand access to American-made goods overseas. Additionally, we passed the first long-term bill to strengthen Medicare in over a decade – ensuring South Dakota seniors have access to the physicians they prefer – and an education reform bill that transfers power from Washington bureaucrats back to parents, teachers, and local school boards.

More than 200 bills have been reported out of our various committees, including 36 that were reported out of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which I chair. In particular, the Commerce Committee and full Senate passed my bipartisan legislation to reform the Surface Transportation Board and help ensure the rail backlog, which hurt South Dakota’s economy in 2013 and 2014, does not happen again. Also, just a few weeks ago, the Senate passed a long-term highway bill that is critical to South Dakota’s economy. This legislation not only passed with 65 votes, but includes a host of legislative priorities that I worked to include, such as provisions that will strengthen rail and highway safety, while cutting regulatory red tape for agriculture producers who rely on a national transportation system to get their goods to market.

On Saturday, I delivered the weekly Republican address to the nation and shared this important progress with all Americans. While we have accomplished a lot so far, there is much more work to be done during the second half of this session of Congress, and I will continue to fight for South Dakota’s priorities and the priorities of the American people.

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Senator Mike Rounds’ Weekly Column: Angels in Adoption

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RoundsPressHeader MikeRounds official SenateAngels in Adoption
By Senator Mike Rounds
August 21, 2015

Providing children with a loving home is one of the greatest gifts anyone can give. Strong families are an important pillar of society that help bring stability to communities and teach core values to future generations. Every child deserves the love and support that a family provides. I applaud those who are committed to strong and healthy families, especially those involved in adoption and foster care. That is why it is an honor to nominate Bethany Christian Services of Eastern and Western South Dakota as 2015 Angels in Adoption.

For more than 25 years, Bethany Christian Services has been helping children find loving, permanent homes in which to thrive and grow in South Dakota. Bethany accomplishes this by offering support for both international and domestic adoptions, which includes foster care adoption. I have always been pro-life, so participating in the Angels in Adoption program is important to me. Life is a wonderful gift, and families who adopt or foster children in need are giving back the gift of love. I admire organizations like Bethany Christian Services, who facilitate adoptions, help women through pregnancies and find foster parents for abused and neglected youth. Through their dedication and commitment to foster care and adoption, Bethany Christian Services has touched the lives of thousands of children and helped them overcome tough challenges at a young age. Nominating them as Angels in Adoption is the least I can do to say thanks.

Angels in Adoption is a non-profit program sponsored by Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) that seeks to raise awareness about the unique needs of children without families and advocate on behalf of orphans and foster children. Each year, Members of Congress have the opportunity to nominate an “Angel” – an individual, family or organization that has made extraordinary contributions on behalf of children in need of families.

According to CCAI, more than 100,000 kids in the U.S. are eligible for adoption, but nearly 32 percent will wait more than three years before being placed in a permanent home. Worldwide, the numbers are even more staggering. The Angels in Adoption program sheds light on the need for loving families to open their homes to these children. It also seeks to raise awareness about the rewarding and positive difference adoption makes in the lives of children, parents and their communities.

The adoption process can often be cumbersome and difficult, but organizations like Bethany Christian Services work to streamline the process and make certain both the children and adoptive families have a positive experience.  I’m proud to partner with CCAI to nominate Bethany Christian Services of Eastern and Western South Dakota as 2015 Angels in Adoption. May the organization – and others like it who offer adoption and foster care services – continue to do great work to help children find forever homes. I am inspired by all families who chose to open their homes and hearts to kids in need, as well as the organizations that support them. The impact adoption can have on families, children and societies is truly life-changing.

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Congresswoman Kristi Noem’s Weekly Column: Boosting Opportunity

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noem press header kristi noem headshot May 21 2014Boosting Opportunity
By Rep. Kristi Noem
August 21, 2015

South Dakota is a small business state.  Drive through nearly every town and the main street will be lined with family-owned businesses – the café, the grocery store, the seed dealer, the hair salon, you name it.  It’s part of what makes South Dakota so great to live in.  We can do business with people we know, and that’s a rare thing in today’s world.

My own family has run small businesses throughout our lives.  We’ve built up a family farm, managed a restaurant, even opened a hunting lodge at one point. Those experiences have given me an understanding of the challenges small businesses face in getting the word out about what they have to offer.  And doing so efficiently when margins are tight is imperative.

That’s why I was proud to work with the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce and Facebook for a “Boost Your Business” event earlier this month.  I wanted it to be another tool to help level the playing field so growing South Dakota businesses can better compete in their communities and across the globe.  All in all, more than 300 South Dakotans turned out for the event, learning from social media experts and their peers in South Dakota about how to use technology to grow their customer base.

I’m proud to be able to help facilitate opportunities like this.  To me, unlocking the potential of others is one of my primary responsibilities and something I work to do not only at events like this, but also through the policies I help advance as South Dakota’s lone representative in the U.S. House.

This year, I’ve helped push an opportunity-driven agenda that works to pave the way for South Dakota businesses to thrive.  For instance, I helped the House pass the America’s Small Business Tax Relief Act. Provisions in this bill make Section 179 expensing levels permanent, so small businesses and millions of Americans who depend on them can better plan for the future.  This has been a critical provision for many South Dakota farmers and small businesses.  If it’s made permanent, I’m hopeful we can give these job creators more incentive to invest and greater certainty.

Additionally, we took up and passed the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act.  According to the National Federation of Independent Businesses, “government requirements and red tape” ranked as one of the biggest issues facing small business. This bill helps cut through that red tape by requiring federal agencies to consider the impact on small business when writing new regulations.  It also provides greater opportunity for these growing businesses to offer input on the rules and regulations that will hit them hardest.

In South Dakota, 82,705 small businesses employ nearly 200,000 workers.  In fact, more than 96 percent of employers in our state are small businesses.  We need to make sure we do all we can to unlock the potential of each of these businesses.  So whether it means plugging family businesses into social media networks or giving them a bigger voice in the federal rule-making process, I’m committed to doing all I can to support them.

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