Expanding broadband to more rural areas has long been a priority of mine. As we are increasingly reliant on an internet connection to run a business, provide health care, or do homework, it is more critical than ever that we close the digital divide.

In the last two years, Congress has allocated nearly $80 billion for broadband-related services. The good news is that, in addition to sustained investment from telecommunications providers, this funding should help expand broadband access to areas where connectivity challenges remain unresolved. The bad news is that this funding is split among 133 programs at 15 different federal agencies, with the lion’s share going to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which has previously fumbled attempts to expand broadband access.

In 2009, a government stimulus bill allocated $4.7 billion to NTIA to expand broadband in rural and unserved areas, a fraction of the funding it has available to it today. Even then the agency struggled with implementation as a number of agency-approved projects that faced serious issues, and 14 projects were temporarily or permanently halted. Other projects resulted in significant overbuilding, meaning there was taxpayer-funded construction of additional broadband infrastructure in areas that already had access to reliable internet.

Every federal dollar that has been spent should go toward its stated purpose: expanding connectivity to truly unserved areas. Without stringent oversight, I’m concerned NTIA and other federal agencies will repeat past mistakes with this recent influx of broadband funding, which is why I recently launched a nationwide oversight initiative to review federal broadband programs. As part of this effort, I’ll gather input from a diverse group of stakeholders and, if change is needed, we will get to work to make sure these programs are effective and efficient.

In addition to improving federal programs, I believe we need to recognize that the federal government will not solve the digital divide on its own. The United States’ light-touch regulatory approach to broadband policy has resulted in telecommunications providers in South Dakota and the rest of the country making network reliability, affordability, and resiliency a priority. During the pandemic, when demand for reliable internet soared, U.S. broadband providers were able to keep Americans connected, which was not the case in other countries.

We also need to continue making improvements to permitting for broadband infrastructure. My MOBILE NOW Act, which became law in 2018, helped move the federal government in the right direction, but there continue to be unnecessary delays and costs associated with permitting that get in the way of expanding internet access. A key part of my oversight effort is holding federal agencies accountable for implementing these permitting improvements so that construction can get underway and move forward without unnecessary delay.

For too long, we have talked about closing the digital divide, and it’s time to actually get it done. The best way to achieve this is by ensuring the funding and programs that Congress has already put in place actually go toward expanding internet access to areas that currently lack it. Anything short of a robust accountability effort risks leaving taxpayer dollars wasted and Americans still disconnected.

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A big snowstorm came across the state this week, canceling school and closing offices for many people. While remote working and learning has made snow days a thing of the past, being inside day and night makes it easy to get bored in the evenings. When this much snow comes down, it’s time to think up some fun activities to do at home.

I’ve compiled a list of ideas to get you started:

1. Watch C-SPAN. They show a completely unfiltered view of government – you can see exactly what is happening on the House and Senate floors and in committee rooms across the Capitol.
2. Bake chocolate chip cookies (my favorite)
3. Build a snowman and give him glasses and an orange tie
4. Watch my favorite Christmas movie – Elf
5. Play a board game or a card game – I love playing Exploding Kittens with my family
6. Read The Children’s Blizzard book by David Laskin. I read this several years ago and it changed how I thought about how resilient the South Dakota pioneers needed to be.
7. Do a scavenger hunt with your extended family on a video call

As South Dakotans, we are familiar with snowstorms, but remember ice and snow can be dangerous even when you are being cautious. If you have to leave your house, obey road closures, drive slowly and safely, wear your seatbelt, and bundle up when you leave the house.

Take care.

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Weren’t we noting the “relationship” status on this a week ago? From yesterday..

 

China’s Communist government hates America. That may seem overly harsh or simple – but it’s a fact. They want to be the strongest nation on earth, and they see America standing in their way. Unfortunately, we have a President in Washington who is not taking this threat seriously. If he won’t protect the American people from this very real and growing threat, then states need to step up and do what we can.

President Joe Biden is not standing up to the Chinese Communist Party. He isn’t stopping them from using TikTok to gather data on our citizens. He has not stopped them from purchasing agricultural land and buying up our food supply. He has not taken steps to stop taxpayer dollars from being sent to China.

South Dakota is taking the lead in each of these areas.

Two weeks ago, I banned TikTok for state government employees. Since then, state after state has followed our lead. The United States Senate has also followed our lead an unanimously voted to ban TikTok on U.S. government devices. I encourage the House and President Biden to follow through on this key action.

Our South Dakota Investment Council has also conducted a review of all state investments to see where our state’s finances may be tied to Communist China. They have already pulled state investments out of a few Chinese companies, and we all agree that Communist China should not benefit from South Dakota dollars.

Most recently, I announced my plan to block purchases of agricultural land by nations that hate us, and I will work with legislators to make that happen. We will create a new board, called the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States – South Dakota, which will make recommendations to me regarding foreign interests trying to purchase ag land in South Dakota. If they are tied to China or another nation that hates us, I will reject the purchase.

A recent report showed that 47 million acres of ag land – or nearly 2% of all ag land in the country – is held by foreign investors. In states like Florida and Texas, it’s more than 2.4%. South Dakota has a much smaller share, and I’m proud of that, but there is room for our laws to improve. We will take action to make it happen.

South Dakota will continue to lead by example. We will stand up to protect our people from the emerging threat of Communist China. And I hope that other states across the nation continue to follow our lead.

This column was initially printed as an op-ed on FoxNews.com.

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The banner at the South Dakota Secretary of State’s website says they’re closed due to weather. But the word is that the Christmas-time blizzard didn’t stop the Grinch from visiting, as I’m being told at least FIVE members of staff received coal in their stockings as they were told their services are no longer needed.

I’m told that in addition to former Deputy Jason Lutz who resigned on December 8 when Steve Barnett left, today Elections head Kea Warne and Business Services head Kyle Holt were told they are done, along with three other staff members, one of whom was with Elections, along with Director Warne, leaving little staff to respond to elections questions.

I had heard word earlier that part of the arrangement for Monae taking office early was that there were to be no changes until after the first of the year.

But with today’s snow day massacre, I guess that didn’t happen.

NEW: Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) named the new chair of Republican Main Street Partnership. Rep. Stephanie Bice is the new vice chair

— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) December 15, 2022

Dusty Johnson has been named the new chair of a coalition of Republican elected officials. According to the group’s website, “The Republican Main Street Partnership encompasses a broad alliance of conservative, governing Republicans, including more than 70 sitting members in Congress. We are dedicated to working to enact commonsense legislation that gets things done for the American people. Our members run and win in the most highly contested swing districts in the country.”

Rounds’ RESPECT Act Passes House; Heading to President’s Desk

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds’ (R-S.D.) legislation to repeal discriminatory federal laws targeting Native Americans passed the House of Representatives today. It now heads to the president’s desk for signature.

The Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes (RESPECT) Act would repeal 11 outdated federal laws, including laws that stripped Native American children from their families for the purpose of placing them in “Indian reform schools,” such as the now-infamous Carlisle Indian Industrial School.

A full list of laws the RESPECT Act will repeal is available HERE.

“While we cannot rewrite the past, we need to acknowledge it and continue to strive for a more perfect Union,” said Rounds. “It’s long overdue to remove these immoral, discriminatory federal laws from our books. Throughout history, Native Americans have been subjected to unfair treatment from our federal government, including the forced removal of their children from their homes. Clearly, there is no place in our legal code for such measures, and it is appalling these laws are still in our federal code. I am pleased this bipartisan, commonsense legislation is heading to the president’s desk to be signed into law.”

Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) are cosponsors of this legislation.

Companion legislation was introduced in the House on May 12, 2021, by Representatives Tom O’Halleran (D-Ariz.), Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Tom Cole (R-Okla.).

The RESPECT Act is supported by the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Association (GPTCA) and the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).

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Johnson, O’Halleran, Rounds RESPECT Heads to President’s Desk

 Washington, D.C. – Today, the Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes (RESPECT) Act passed the U.S. House by 349-80. This bill repeals discriminatory federal laws targeting Native Americans and was led by U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ), and Tom Cole (R-OK) in the U.S. House and sponsored by Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) in the U.S. Senate.

“Repealing these laws is a step in the right direction to right the wrongs against Native Americans,” said Johnson. “There is no reason these archaic and discriminatory laws remain on the books. Senator Rounds’ leadership on this bill was key to getting it passed in the Senate, and I am proud to help usher the RESPECT Act across the finish line in the House.”

Background:

The RESPECT Act repeals eleven federal laws, found here, that discriminate against Native Americans. One of which is the “Indian Reform Schools” that forcibly removed Native American children from their family and placed them in boarding schools.

The RESPECT Act is supported by the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Association (GPTCA) and the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).

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Governor Noem Announces State Office Openings and Closures for Thursday

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Gov. Kristi Noem ordered state government offices to be closed in Davison County and opened in several regions of the state on Thursday, December 15, 2022:

• In the southeastern part of the state, offices will open in Brookings, Lake, Miner, and Moody Counties;
• In the western part of the state, offices will open in Custer and Fall River Counties, as well as in the western portion of Pennington County (including Hill City, Keystone, and Rapid City).

“Although offices are open in these counties, state employees should be smart. If they live rurally and need to travel on roads that have ‘no travel advised’ by SD511, they should work with their supervisors to work remotely,” said Governor Kristi Noem.

Offices will remain open in Bon Homme, Clay, Hanson, Hutchinson, Lincoln, McCook, Minnehaha, Turner, Union, and Yankton Counties.

While executive branch offices in the rest of the state will be closed, employees will be working remotely.

Officials continue to closely monitor the storm which features heavy snow, freezing rain, and high winds. A decision on state government office availability for Friday will be made Thursday.

Citizens are encouraged to stay home Thursday if possible. If they must travel, they should checksd511.org or the SD511 mobile app.

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Governor Noem Closes State Offices Wednesday in All but 11 Counties

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Gov. Kristi Noem ordered all state government executive branch offices statewide, except in 11 southeast counties, to be closed Wednesday, Dec. 14, because of the winter storm that continues to impact the majority of the state.

State offices will be open for normal business hours in Bon Homme, Clay, Davison, Hanson, Hutchinson, Lincoln, McCook, Minnehaha, Turner, Union and Yankton Counties. Officials say weather and travel conditions are not as severe in those counties as they are elsewhere.

While executive branch offices in the rest of the state will be closed, employees will be working remotely.

Officials continue to closely monitor the storm which features heavy snow, freezing rain, and high winds. A decision on state government office availability for Thursday will be made Wednesday.

Citizens are encouraged to stay home Wednesday if possible. If they must travel, they should check sd511.org or the SD511 mobile app.

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