Safety and Security
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
February 16, 2024

BIG News

This week, I voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. His willful and systemic refusal to follow the laws set by Congress to secure the southern border has created a national security and safety crisis in communities across America, including South Dakota. We have not seen a domestic crisis of this magnitude from a department’s making before. America is less safe because of the drugs and increased crime from illegal immigrants coming across the border. Congress had to act. I hope the Democrat-controlled Senate takes the impeachment seriously and the Administration takes notice and takes steps to secure the border.

Click here or the image above to view remarks from Johnson about his vote to impeach Secretary Mayorkas.

BIG Idea

I met with Community Healthcare Association of the Dakotas and Horizon Health Care to talk about federal funding for health centers that support underserved populations, the 340B drug pricing program, and the importance of telehealth. They awarded me the Distinguished Community Health Center Advocate award for my actions in Congress to support Community Health Centers.

BIG Update

Recently, the Biden Administration proposed a ban on new permits for new domestic liquified natural gas (LNG) exports. This is another decision the President made in an effort to advance his climate agenda, but the decision fails to recognize American-made energy is actually cleaner than energy from countries like Russia and Iran. Prohibiting new exports will force our allies to rely on dirtier energy from these adversarial countries, bolstering the economies of enemies instead of ours. Increasing exports could add as much as $73 billion to the U.S. economy and support 453,000 jobs by 2040, but with Biden’s ban, we lose all of that growth opportunity.

This week, I supported the Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act when it passed the House so we can continue to grow our LNG exports, ensuring America and our allies can remain energy secure.

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Justin is making us wait for his campaign finance disclosure report.

And you’re probably saying “who’s that?”

Justin. Justin McNeal.. you know who that is, don’t you?  You probably don’t even though he’s been running for Congress since about the 28th of December. According to his bio, Justin McNeal was born in Illinois and was raised in Texas, and moved to the state in 2021. He had some grandparents live here, so of course he thought – I should go to South Dakota and run for Congress. Because everyone does that after they live in the state for two years. You can find his website here, although it appears that it has some disclaimer issues.

Anyway, the point of the post is that Justin is kicking the can down the road with regards to filing his financial disclosure report that all congressional candidates have to do, so it looks like we might be waiting for it until the end of April. Assuming he makes it any farther in the race.

Kudos to McNeal for at least attempting to do some paperwork for the race, as the other guy, Patrick Schubert, hasn’t even gone so far to file anything but declaring his committee in August of last year. You would think that after having tried running in the last election in 2022 against Senator Thune, and tanking epically, not being able to achieve the ballot, he might have gotten his act together this time with 6 months on the trail this time. But, no.

While these guys are still trying to figure things out, current Congressman Dusty Johnson is adding to his total of $3.9 million in the bank to put towards the upcoming election.

I think we can all guess how this is going to go.

Gov. Noem Signs E15 Fuel Tax Refund into Law
Signs Six Other Bills 

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem held a bill signing ceremony for SB 78, which provides for an E15 fuel tax refund.

“Renewable fuels are a very important part of America’s all-of-the-above energy supply, and ethanol is vital to South Dakota’s future. The Biden Administration’s policies have driven gas prices up for South Dakotans, and this bill will provide our citizens with needed relief,” said Governor Noem. “It will make higher ethanol blends more readily available, bringing prices down at the pump. We’re committed to an all-of-the-above approach to energy that doesn’t pick winners and losers but lowers prices for all South Dakotans.”

Governor Noem was joined by the bill’s prime sponsors, Senator Casey Crabtree and Representative Drew Peterson, as well as leaders from the state’s ethanol industry. A photo from the bill signing can be found here.

Governor Noem also signed the following six bills into law:

• SB 16 makes appropriations for water and environmental purposes and to declare an emergency;
• SB 28 modifies tax refunds for elderly persons and persons with a disability, to make an appropriation therefor;
• SB 35 provides that certain personal information of a lottery prize winner may only be used for advertising or promotion with the winner’s consent;
• HB 1077 provides for the disbursement of the catastrophic county poor relief fund to the participating counties in the event of the discontinuance of the fund;
• HB 1124 provides for the temporary filling of water development district board positions created as a result of population increases, and;
• HB 1145 modifies brand registration and use laws.

Governor Noem has signed 71 bills into law this legislative session.

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SDEPA Applauds Passing and Signing of E15 Bill

PIERRE, S.D. (February 15, 2024) – South Dakota Ethanol Producers Association applauds Governor Kristi Noem and the South Dakota Legislature for passing Senate Bill 78. This bill provides a five-cent per gallon retail tax incentive for E15, a 15% bioethanol fuel blend.

“Thank you to Governor Kristi Noem, Senate Majority Leader Crabtree, Representative Drew Peterson, and all of South Dakota’s legislators who supported South Dakota drivers and farmers with this bill,” said Walt Wendland, SD Ethanol Producers Association Board President. “It will expand access to E15, which saves consumers money at the pump, bolsters our agricultural industry and state economy, and supports farming families across the state.”

E15 is a high-performance biofuel blend made from South Dakota-grown corn and is compatible with virtually every car, truck and SUV on the road today.

https://sdethanol.com/sdepa-applauds-passing-and-signing-of-e15-bill/

First ‘Med Ed’ Bill in the Nation Passes House with 63-6 Vote
Measure Stops Abortion Industry Misinformation from Endangering Women

Pierre, S.D. – The SD House of Representatives has passed a bi-partisan bill to protect pregnant women’s lives. The Med Ed Bill that received approval by a 63-6 vote is sponsored Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt (R), Rep. Joh Hansen (R), Rep. Oren Lesmeister (D), and 27 other lawmakers to establish clarity to medical professionals on the ability and necessity of providing emergency care to pregnant women under South Dakota’s life at conception law.

The South Dakota Med Ed Bill is the first legislation of its kind drafted to end the confusion caused by the abortion industry through direct education to medical professionals. Other states have taken similar steps administratively: The Louisiana Health Department put out guidance on their life of the mother provision and Oklahoma and Kentucky attorneys general issued advisory opinions.

Under HB 1224, the materials will be established through the Department of Health and with input from the attorney general, medical professionals and legal experts. The video will cover the details of the state’s abortion law, the most common medical conditions that threaten the life or health of a pregnant woman, the standards of care for treating a pregnant woman in a medical emergency, and a practitioner’s ability to use reasonable medical judgment in all situations.

Kelsey Pritchard, state public affairs director for SBA Pro-Life America, thanked Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt for bringing the legislation:

“We thank the sponsors and those who voted yes today to defend South Dakota moms. South Dakota is showing the rest of the nation how to protect women’s lives by making it abundantly clear that pregnant women can and must receive timely emergency care under our pro-life law. Abortion activists have sown confusion on this point around the nation to justify their agenda for no limits on abortion. This lie not only deceives but puts women in danger, and a Med Ed policy is the solution.”

During her comments on the House floor, Rep. Rehfeldt said:

“Mother’s lives are worth having a conversation about. Mothers lives are worth having a bill. The Department of Health is supportive of this bill as well as multiple stakeholders including healthcare, including some of our friends from organizations, and the best part about it is that it requires medical and legal expertise – to rely on their expertise so that we can best take care of moms.”

The bill passed in House State Affairs earlier this week with overwhelming support and zero testimony in opposition. Those who testified in favor of the bill included the Governor’s Office, the Department of Health, SBA Pro-Life America, SD Right to Life and Sanford Health. In her testimony on behalf of Sanford, Grace Beck said:

“At Sanford Health we recognize that each time a mother walks through our doors we’ve been entrusted with the health of two patients. The mother and the child. We are supportive of House Bill 1224 and appreciative of the prime sponsor’s efforts to provide clarity around our abortion laws.”

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America is a network of more than one million pro-life Americans nationwide, dedicated to ending abortion by electing national leaders and advocating for laws that save lives, with a special calling to promote pro-life women leaders.

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A very nice departure note came out a short time ago from Jazmine Kemp, Dusty Johnson’s Deputy Chief of Staff & Communications Director:

Colleagues & Friends –

After 7+ years on the hill, five of those with Dusty, my time in the House is coming to an end. Friday will mark my last day with the office.

It has been a privilege to work with so many of you, whether it was as a coworker, a source, or just a friendly face in the hallway – you have all made an impact.

Everyone says having a child changes your priorities – that being said, I will be taking some time off to stay home with my little one.

Please stay in touch and don’t hesitate to reach out if you ever need anything from me. Keep up the fight!

Signing off,

Jazmine Kemp | Executive Director
Republican Main Street Caucus
Rep. Dusty Johnson

As noted, the new mom is taking some time off for her new baby. Best wishes for Jazmine and family on her new adventures and wherever the road takes her.

Governor Noem Now Accepting Applications for Summer Interns 

PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem and her office are now accepting applications for the 2024 Summer Internship Program. This internship program provides students with a first-hand experience within state government and the functions of the Governor’s Office.

Student interns will work directly with the governor’s staff on projects centered around the applicant’s interests and strengths. Work may include researching projects, assisting with events and meetings, and staffing the general office. Additional duties include aiding the governor’s policy team, general counsel, constituent services team, and communications team. Interns will also have the opportunity to make meaningful connections and the experiences during their time.

The length of this in-person internship is negotiable and the schedule is flexible. The recommended availability is May through September.

Those who are interested and would like to be considered for an internship should submit a resume, cover letter, and letter of recommendation to brad.otten@state.sd.us. Applications should be submitted by Friday March 15, 2024.

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Couple of Valentine’s Days items I didn’t see until the trip home this morning, so I have to play catch up on them.

An Aberdeen reader sent me this Valentine’s poem circulating on one of the local facebook groups from a resident to former Congressional Explorer Toby Doeden:

I think the blurred part said friend you, don’t you think?

Who didn’t get a Valentine’s Day card yesterday?  Probably Shad Olson, who remains in Meade County custody after being arrested on charges of “22-18-1.1 – Aggravated Assault Domestic.”

If he did get a valentines day card, it probably would have been slipped under the door by someone wearing orange… Probably not the kind he was looking for.

Bringing back Pierre donut shop donuts to Brookings!

This morning while haunting the halls of the State Capital, I was given challenge coins by Senators Stalzer and Schoenbeck, and they are pretty darned nice!

Especially since I’ve been dealing with people lately who are challenged by those with an opinion.

Senators, thank you very much, it’s very appreciated.