ROUND[S] UP 2024: A YEAR IN REVIEW

Welcome to the 2024 Round[s] Up: A Year in Review! I hope you had a joyful Christmas season with friends and family, and that your 2025 is off to a great start. I was fortunate to spend the holidays with my loved ones at home in Fort Pierre enjoying our yearly traditions and taking time to reflect on 2024.  My team and I are incredibly grateful for the trust and support from our constituents and we remain committed to working tirelessly on behalf of South Dakotans in 2025. Here is a recap of just a few things we kept busy with during 2024:

 South Dakotans I met with: I held 135 meetings in DC with folks from our great state.

Visited with South Dakotans from: 119 different towns across the state—from Britton to Edgemont and everywhere in between.

Other meetings: I had 196 other meetings, ranging from Trump’s cabinet nominees to the weekly Senate Bible study.

Votes taken: 308.

Hearings: I attended 62 hearings throughout 2024 for my committee assignments on Armed Services; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Indian Affairs; Veteran Affairs and the Select Committee on Intelligence.

Classified Briefings: I attended a total of 46 classified briefings. These mostly pertain to my work on the Senate Armed Service Committee and the Select Committee on Intelligence.

Legislation introduced: In 2024, I introduced 21 different pieces of legislation, ranging from an Act to fast-track combat veterans’ access to health care benefits to a resolution to permanently address federal overregulation in America and a recent piece of legislation to return education to our states by eliminating the U.S. Department of Education. I also cosponsored 73 bills in 2024.

Results: Four standalone bills that I introduced this year were signed into law, either by themselves or part of a larger package. In addition, I authored 40 provisions that passed as part of the National Defense Authorization Act in 2024. You can view a full list of those here.

My staff in South Dakota made visits to nearby towns a total of 153 times.

Our office responded to 45,354 incoming messages from constituents in 2024, with the primary concerns being health care, foreign relations and agriculture.

Our office received 545 requests from South Dakotans for assistance with federal agencies, with the primary issues being veterans administration, U.S. citizenship and immigration services and the IRS.

Steps taken in 2024: 1,343,181 steps or 619 miles. That’s about the same distance as walking across South Dakota from east to west AND north to south combined. Always on the move!

As we head into a new year, I am excited to continue working on your behalf in Washington. If you need assistance with any federal agency or simply want to leave a comment or concern, please don’t hesitate to send me a message or call one of my offices in Aberdeen, Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls or Washington.

Thune Delivers First Remarks as Senate Majority Leader

“My Republican colleagues have trusted me to lead our party – and the Senate – in the next Congress, and I will work every day to be worthy of that trust.”

Click here to watch the video.  

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) yesterday delivered his first remarks on the Senate floor as the majority leader for the 119th Congress.

What I’m looking forward to this year
By Congressman Dusty Johnson

Over the past four years, Americans have been burdened by the results of the Biden Administration’s policies, like an open border, high inflation, mandates that are increasingly difficult to meet for energy production, vehicle emissions, health care, firearms, and more.

When I travel around South Dakota, the one comment I hear from most people is they are struggling to make ends meet due to high prices. Since President Biden took office, I have voted against more than $13 trillion in progressive spending. Unfortunately, those spending plans passed with Democrat support and handed the bill to American families who are now paying more than $13,000 per year to buy the same goods, compared to four years ago. The President and Congress cannot spend beyond our means.

I’m optimistic for change. In a few short weeks, Congress and the Trump Administration will put conservative policies back in place. We’ll secure the border, restore fiscal sanity, extend Trump’s tax cuts, get tough on China, and make government more efficient.

Here are a few things I’m looking forward to in 2025:

Border security: More than ten million illegal immigrants have entered our country since January 2021. It’s time to finish the border wall, increase Border Patrol, and reimplement Trump-era policies like Remain in Mexico to prevent more individuals from entering illegally.

Fiscal sanity: Congress and the White House must work together to cut unnecessary federal spending. I’ve worked with Members of Congress to pass a spending package that cut spending for the first time in over a decade. While it didn’t bring the budget to where it needs to be, there is power in incrementalism, and I look forward to making more aggressive cuts to government spending.

China: It’s clear the Chinese Communist Party is not backing down from targeting America. Just this week, Chinese government hackers breached the U.S. Treasury Department looking for information on which Chinese companies may be designated for sanctions. China’s aggression cannot continue to go unchecked. We can’t allow them to continue to bully America. As a member of the Select Committee on China, I’m in a unique position to work with President Trump to protect America from our adversary.

Making government more efficient: The Biden Administration’s bloated approach to bureaucracy—from spending to government programs to regulations—is coming to an end. I’m excited for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and my role as part of the DOGE Caucus in the House to cut spending, reform welfare, cut regulations, and streamline government programs.

I’m expectant for a conservative House, Senate, and White House, that are aligned on policies to improve our economy, boost domestic production, lower prices for families, and make America a safer place.

Working Together for Safer Communities
By: Secretary Robert Perry
January 3, 2025

January serves as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, an important time for reflection, awareness, and action. This month is a solemn reminder of the urgent need to protect the most vulnerable among us from one of the most insidious crimes in our society. Today, I want to speak directly to you about what this means for us and how we can all make a difference.

Before becoming the Secretary of the Department of Public Safety (DPS), I dedicated over 30 years to various law enforcement roles, having the honor of working with many committed professionals. During this time, I witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of human trafficking on individuals, families, and entire communities. I have met survivors who carry the heavy burden of their experiences and collaborated with dedicated teams to bring traffickers to justice.

Human trafficking often occurs right in front of us, hidden in plain sight. It’s not just something that occurs in big cities or faraway places. Trafficking can occur in any community, with no regard to class, race, or other social factors.

Traffickers use our interstate highways as inconspicuous routes to travel across the country, making it easier to carry out their illegal activities while evading detection. They exploit people’s vulnerabilities, whether it be financial hardship, addiction, homelessness, or simply a lack of family support. They prey on the trusting nature of individuals and communities, turning lives upside down for their own profit.

Each trafficking victim is someone’s child, sibling, or friend. They deserve a future free from fear, exploitation, and harm. And it is all of our responsibility to ensure that future.

The fight against human trafficking begins with awareness. Recognizing the signs can save lives. For example, if you notice someone who seems unusually fearful, withdrawn, or controlled by another person; if they have bruises, appear malnourished, or cannot speak freely; or if they are living or working in conditions that seem unsafe or unsanitary, these could all be indicators of trafficking. Trust your instincts and reach out to the authorities. Your vigilance could make all the difference.

It’s equally important to educate our children and young people about the dangers of trafficking. Open conversations about online safety, healthy relationships, and recognizing manipulative behaviors are crucial in preventing exploitation. In today’s digital age, traffickers often use social media to lure unsuspecting victims. Let’s make sure our children know how to stay safe and seek help when they need it. There are many great online resources that can help guide you to creating a safer online experience for your family.

Our state has resources in place to combat this issue, but we cannot do it alone. I encourage you to partner with local organizations, churches, and community groups that are already doing incredible work to support survivors and raise awareness. Consider volunteering your time, donating to reputable anti-trafficking initiatives, or simply sharing information to spread the word.

If you suspect human trafficking, please do not hesitate to report it. The National Human Trafficking Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-888-373-7888 or by texting 233733. All calls are confidential, and you can remain anonymous. Every report matters, and every call could save a life.

Together, as neighbors and as a community, we can create an environment where traffickers find no foothold and where every individual can thrive without fear. Let’s stand united this January and beyond, committing to protect the vulnerable, support survivors, and bring traffickers to justice.

Robert Perry is the Cabinet Secretary for the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.

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Thune Joins Fox News to Discuss 119th Congress Priorities, President Trump Nominees

“It is a dangerous world… and it’s become increasingly dangerous as a result of failed policies of the Biden-Harris administration and a lack of strength projected on the global stage.”

Click here or on the picture to watch the video.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Fox News to discuss the urgent need to confirm President Trump’s national security nominees and the importance of American resolve in the face of global threats.

On confirming President Trump’s nominees:

“The president put forward a number of nominees in a lot of these key positions, and we’re going to do everything we can here in the Senate. We have the advice and consent role here in the United States Senate, we will perform that.

“We will have these hearings, allow people to ask questions, and then we will move very quickly to see that President Trump has his team in place, and especially, Sandra, in those key national security positions, as we look and see what happened just the last couple of days here in this country, and as we see what’s happening in an increasingly dangerous world.”

On securing the southern border:

“The incentive structure at the southern border has been for some time now, ‘Just come across the border and we will wave you in.’ And we’ve seen the results of that.

“We’ve seen crime in our cities, we’ve seen the threat of terrorism in this country, because of terrorists who are getting across the border – some apprehended, but who knows how many getting across the border – but we know that this is a portal for a lot of bad things.

“The southern border has to be secured, that’s got to be job one for the new administration and for this Congress. We will work with the president and his team to make sure that it is.”

On the national security threats facing our country:

“It is a dangerous world, Sandra, and it’s become increasingly dangerous as a result of failed policies of the Biden-Harris administration and a lack of strength projected on the global stage.

“As a result of that, you see what’s happening in the Indo-Pacific, you see it in the Middle East, you obviously see it at our southern border. These are all examples of failures of policy by this current administration, and why we so desperately need the Trump administration to come in – to project strength on the world stage, where people, again, respect the United States and understand what is at stake when it comes to America’s national security interests.

 “So, yes, we’re going to be working with the administration to get our military readiness to the place where it should be after years of underfunding by the Biden administration.”

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Incoming House Majority Leader Scott Odenbach discusses his views of what a school voucher program would look like with third party vendors, and goes into detail on how it will ‘help’ children with mental health issues, according to an interview in the Black Hills Pioneer,

There are third-party vendors out there that can help us administer it smartly with guardrails so that the money is only used by those families who take the money for either the tuition or for certain defined and approved expenses directly relevant to their child’s education. Take a look at what we’re able to do with virtual education. It’s mind blowing. You can have the best instructors in the world teaching your child virtually.

and..

I keep hearing this term, ‘no public money for private schools.’ And they the folks that are advocates for having a monopoly, if you will, and just the public school system. I think they’re wrong. I think that the public money is to be as directed by the legislature, and the Constitution directs us to use all suitable means to ensure that the benefits of education are available to everybody. And I don’t think public school is the best choice for everybody. I also think that these issues that we’re hearing about all the time of mental health, the school people are always telling us they want more mental health counselors, in many ways, an education savings account program to give parents choice of where to direct the funds will be a relief valve for a lot of those mental health issues for the kids that don’t fit in in the public school, or it’s not the right environment for them.

Read that here.

Scott argues it will be a ‘relief valve’ for children’s mental health because.. some of the kids who need the services won’t be in public schools anymore?

I suppose that’s one way to look at it.

After her two prior voluntary recusals due to a conflict of interest for pipelines crossing the land of family members, Summit Carbon Solutions is done waiting for PUC Commissioner Kristi Fiegen to step back from their most recent pipeline application.

The carbon sequestration pipeline company has made a formal request of the PUC for Fiegen’s recusal as a final step prior to going to court against the Public Utilities Commission to litigate against them and ask a court to determine whether there is a conflict, according to South Dakota Searchlight:

In a letter sent Thursday, Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions asked Public Utilities Commissioner Kristie Fiegen to disqualify herself. That would allow the governor to appoint another state official to fill in for Fiegen during the three-member commission’s consideration of the application.

and..

“As with your previous decisions,” said the company’s new letter to Fiegen, “the facts and established South Dakota law support a decision that you should step aside.”

On Friday, Fiegen responded with a letter to Summit. In its entirety, Fiegen’s letter said, “I am an elected Public Utilities Commissioner and will carry out my duties as such. I do not have a legal conflict. I am sitting on the docket.”

Read the entire story here.

This seems to be just the smoldering coals of something that’s going to burst into a fire for the PUC.

With a successful vote today to return Speaker of the US House Mike Johnson to leadership in the new Congress, an interesting story is coming out tonight noting that South Dakota Congressman Dusty Johnson helped convince members of the freedom caucus to join the majority of Republicans on the vote:

Although Johnson had convinced several conservative holdouts to back his bid, Freedom Caucus members Reps. Ralph Norman and Keith Self joined Rep. Thomas Massie to deny Johnson the gavel — and about a half dozen other Freedom Caucus members signaled they may be a problem on subsequent ballots, after initially not voting when it was their turn.

and..

While a number of important conversations ultimately swayed the holdouts — one source pointed out that Rep. Dusty Johnson was “uniquely well-spoken” and critical in convincing Freedom Caucus holdouts to back Johnson — Trump’s voice was undoubtedly the most important.

Read the entire story here.

Johnson Takes Oath of Office for 119^thCongress

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after taking the oath of office and being sworn in as South Dakota’s lone representative in the U.S. House:

“I’m really excited to continue to work for South Dakotans. This Congress, with a Republican House, Senate, and White House, presents a unique opportunity for strong, conservative victories like securing the border, unleashing American energy, cutting spending, and getting tough on China. We’ve got a lot to do. Let’s get to work.”

The 119^th Congress is Johnson’s fourth term in the U.S. House.

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Attorney General Jackley Appoints Former AG Mark Vargo As Attorney For Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training Commission

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that he has appointed former Attorney General Mark Vargo to serve as the attorney representing the South Dakota Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training Commission.

The South Dakota Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training Commission is a commission in the Office of the Attorney General that sets minimum standards and training requirements for law enforcement officers in South Dakota. The 13-member commission also hears and decides hearings involving law enforcement certification.

“Former Attorney General Vargo understands the importance of law enforcement certification when it comes to protecting the public,” said Attorney General Jackley. “Law enforcement that the public can trust is vital, and former Attorney General Vargo will provide the advice for the commission to make informed decisions.”

After having served as both an assistant U.S. Attorney for South Dakota and as Pennington County State’s Attorney, Vargo was named South Dakota Attorney General by Gov. Kristi Noem on June 28, 2022. He served until Attorney General Jackley, who was elected to the post in the November 2022 election, took office in January, 2023.

Attorney General Jackley appointed former Attorney General Vargo as an Assistant Attorney General to work on training and special prosecutions.  The appointment was made official Dec. 31, 2024.

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