{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Republican\", state = \"SD\" and year = 2013 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E71FF577-B64F-4BA4-A19F-07C1C496D7ED", "Weekly Column: A Resolution to Succeed", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Rep. Kristi Noem \r\n\t\u2018Tis the season for resolutions!\u00a0\r\nJanuary 1 is a new beginning, so it\u2019s no surprise that setting New Year\u2019s resolutions has become a holiday tradition for many.\u00a0 While we all know that commitment to upholding many of these resolutions often fades, Abraham Lincoln reminds us that \u201cyour own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.\u201d\u00a0\r\nI join many South Dakotans in being frustrated with the progress made in Washington over the last few years.\u00a0 But it is a new year, and I am coming to the table with a renewed resolution to succeed.\r\nToward the end of 2013, Congress gained significant momentum on a number of issues that matter to South Dakota.\u00a0 That momentum has not been lost.\u00a0 First and foremost, Farm Bill negotiations continued through the holidays.\u00a0\r\nThe lead negotiators \u2013 Rep. Frank Lucas (a Republican) and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (a Democrat) \u2013 have come to a consensus on an outline of the reforms they agree can be made in the Farm Bill.\u00a0 Right before Christmas, they were able to get estimates back to see how much these reforms would cost \u2013 or in some cases, save.\u00a0\r\nNow, it is a matter of tweaking the bill to make sure all the numbers add up, but we are on track to finish a comprehensive five-year farm bill during the first part of 2014.\r\nWe also began to make progress on new sex trafficking legislation.\u00a0 Sadly, this is an issue South Dakota has seen more of in recent years.\u00a0 Local law enforcement officers have done a good job of identifying and bringing into custody those who are selling the victims of human trafficking.\u00a0 Many of the convicts are brought to justice under federal law, as there are harsher penalties \u2013 namely, life in prison \u2013 for sex trafficking at that level.\r\nTo ensure local law enforcement officers have all the tools they need and that there are no gaps in federal law, I\u2019ve been driving the End Sex Trafficking Act in Washington.\u00a0 This legislation addresses sex trafficking from the demand side by strengthening the federal law when it comes to those who solicit, patronize or obtain the services of a trafficked victim.\u00a0 As President George W. Bush stated during a Justice Department training on sex trafficking, \u201cWe cannot put [human traffickers] out of business until and unless we deal with the problem of demand.\u201d\r\nAdditionally, this year, I\u2019ll be working to reform the level of influence the government can wield over our local school lunches.\u00a0 Under current law, South Dakota schools face significant limitations when it comes to what they can serve our kids.\u00a0 In fact, the law says that schools can only serve an average of 2 oz. of meat per meal.\u00a0 That\u2019s just three chicken nuggets for a high school student.\r\nYes, we all want our kids to be healthier, but we don\u2019t want them to go hungry either.\u00a0 In mid-December, I introduced a new bill to lift the law\u2019s onerous meat and grain limitations, giving schools more flexibility to decide what they will feed our kids at lunchtime.\u00a0 Simply put \u2013 bureaucrats in Washington shouldn\u2019t be able to dictate what goes on our kids\u2019 plates here in South Dakota.\u00a0 This is an issue that is gaining momentum and will be a focus of my attention over the next year.\r\nCongress ended 2013 with a refreshing level of cooperation that I hope will be carried on throughout the next year.\u00a0 And as I prepare to return to Congress, I am determined to again instill in Washington something that President Abraham Lincoln spoke about: a resolution to succeed.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=9c3f1633-3315-4701-8b3b-4863fc292fc8", "New Opportunities, New Priorities in a New Year", "2013-12-27", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator John Thune \r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tAs we reflect on the highs and lows of 2013, we begin to chart course for the start of a new year. Theodore Roosevelt once said, \"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.\" While the partisan divides of Washington remain a barrier to stimulating the lagging economy and reining in federal spending, more can be done in the new year to solve short-term problems and achieve long-term goals that will keep America secure and financially stable.\r\nSouth Dakota ranchers and farmers are in urgent need of a new five-year Farm Bill. An unfinished Farm Bill creates uncertainty for agriculture producers, ag-related businesses, consumers, rural economies, and the stewardship of our land and water. Numerous western South Dakota ranchers were hard-hit by the early October snowstorm, many losing high percentages of their breeding herds as well as the current year\u2019s calf crop. The passage of a five-year Farm Bill, including the livestock disaster programs, will provide critically important economic assistance to these producers. I will continue to work with my colleagues on the Senate Agriculture Committee and members of the conference committee to ensure the passage of a defensible five-year Farm Bill.\r\nCongress needs to create incentives for good jobs through a pro-growth tax structure. Comprehensive tax reform can make American businesses more competitive in the global economy and can benefit families who are dealing with a growing and increasingly complex tax code. Tax reform can also help to address our ever-expanding budget deficit by unleashing economic activity that will ultimately raise federal tax receipts, even at lower tax rates. I will continue my work in the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee to fight for a tax structure that will create wealth and improve take-home pay for the people of our state and nation.\r\nThe new year holds important opportunities for our men and women stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base. The Air Force record of decision is expected to reach a conclusion on the expansion of the Powder River Training Complex by March of 2014. This would be the largest terrestrial airspace training range expansion in U.S. history. Following my request for a swift decision, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Air Force are currently working together to finalize the FAA record of decision by the summer of 2014.\r\nFor two years, Hot Springs\u2019 Black Hills Health Care System has been waiting in limbo for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reach a decision on the future of the VA facility. On December 13, 2013, I sent a letter along with Senator Johnson and Representative Noem to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki calling for him to return Hot Springs\u2019 Black Hills Health Care System (BHHCS) to full operation following the lack of leadership and breach of good faith by the VA over the past two years. I will continue to work with the Hot Springs community and stakeholders to fight for the VA to withdraw its proposal to reconfigure the BHHCS and return the Hot Springs VA campus to its former levels of operation and staff.\r\nWhile we are certain to face many challenges in the new year, the year also holds the promise of new opportunities to improve conditions in South Dakota and around the country. I look forward to new opportunities to serve South Dakota in the coming year and wish all South Dakotans a happy, safe, and healthy new year.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=1F93E2D1-15AD-4177-9AC3-572E8111B409", "Farm Forum: Noem says farm bill nearly done", "2013-12-20", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "After a long and frustrating wait, Congress will pass a bipartisan farm bill that covers a full five years, Rep. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., told reporters on Dec. 12.\r\n\u201cThe basic framework has been agreed to. There are some details to work out,\u201d Noem said. \u201cKnowing it\u2019s coming provides us with certainty.\u201d\r\nNoem repeated the conventional wisdom that a farm bill won\u2019t be passed by the House and Senate and signed by the president until January, but she is confident this drawn-out chapter in farm bill history will close in a positive way.\r\n\u201cThis has been the poster child for a messy process,\u201d Noem said. \u201cI am looking forward to making sure that vote happens. ... We know a five-year bill is coming. We are going to have a farm bill that works for South Dakota.\u201d\r\nNoem said lawmakers have sent their policy agreements to the Congressional Budget Office for \u201cscoring,\u201d in which analysts calculate how much programs will cost and how much cuts will reduce spending.\r\n\u201cWhat we\u2019re waiting for at this point is to get the actual numbers,\u201d Noem said, \u201cso when everybody is placing their final vote on the floor, they really know the details.\u201d\r\nThe House has adjourned and will not return to work until 2014.\r\nNoem called the delay into the new year \u201cunfortunate\u201d but praised the agreed-upon farm bill for having the most significant reforms of any farm bill \u201cin decades.\u201d\r\n\u201cThis eliminates controversial farm programs like direct payments that have been so highly criticized,\u201d she said, also noting provisions to tighten up food stamp eligibility requirements.\r\nShe said the bill will include retroactive livestock disaster programs, using language that she introduced as a standalone bill, and said ranchers who lost cattle in the October blizzard will get some payments. Noem said she won\u2019t know exactly what affected ranchers will be eligible for until after the CBO sends back its analysis.\r\nNoem said she hopes there can be a one-month extension of the previous farm bill, which expired Oct. 1 after an earlier one-year extension. She is worried that milk prices could spike without such a move, but Senate leaders have said it is not necessary.\r\n\u201cWe would be relying on one individual in USDA to make the right decision. I prefer to have a law in place,\u201d Noem said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=F70CD0DE-AEC6-4674-BA2B-FF144B538140", "Argus Leader: $633B defense bill protects South Dakota interests", "2013-12-20", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Lawmakers say a comprehensive, nearly $633 billion defense bill that cleared the Senate on Thursday will protect South Dakota priorities, including the long-term future of Ellsworth Air Force Base.\r\nThe Senate approved the defense policy bill late Thursday, a week after the House passed the same measure. It now goes to President Barack Obama.\r\nThe bill deals with several policy issues that South Dakota\u2019s congressional members have worked on, including covering the costs of combat pay for members of the military, funding for equipment and efforts to stop the epidemic of military sexual assaults.\r\nAll of South Dakota\u2019s delegation \u2014 Sens. John Thune, a Republican, and Tim Johnson, a Democrat, as well as GOP Rep. Kristi Noem \u2014 supported the sweeping legislation.\r\nThune said the bill will have a broad impact on South Dakota because it has a large military and retired military population.\r\n\u201cI\u2019ve always described South Dakota as punching above its weight for military service,\u201d Thune said. \u201cFor a small state, we have a pretty big impact on military readiness.\u201d\r\nThe most important element of the bill for South Dakota, he said, was including language that expresses Congress\u2019 support for building long-range bomber aircraft in the future. He said that is critical because it\u2019s a part of Ellsworth\u2019s core mission.\r\n\u201cThere are so many different weapons systems and priorities that people have when it comes to a defense bill,\u201d Thune said. \u201cThe capability for a long-range strike is something we think will be critical with the threats that are over the horizon.\u201d\r\nThe bill doesn\u2019t authorize funding for new bombers, but Thune said an expression of congressional support will send an important message.\r\nJohnson has said he supports the bill for much the same reasons. Johnson said the long-range bomber program is crucial for South Dakota and the country\u2019s strategic defense.\r\nFor Noem, the defense bill contains a personal legislative victory: She worked on language included in the final bill that addresses military sexual assaults, one of the most important pieces of the legislation.\r\nNoem drafted provisions that would strengthen investigations when they deal with sexual offenses, require a review of training on preventing sexual assaults and require defense officials to develop and define qualifications for people who are working internally on preventing sexual assault.\r\nThey are included in the final bill.\r\nNoem said she was troubled by the military\u2019s inability to deal with sexual assaults, and said she hoped the new defense bill would take important steps toward slowing the epidemic.\r\n\u201cThe women and men who voluntarily serve in our Armed Forces understand that they may be called to serve in dangerous places, but they should never face the threat of harm from their fellow service members,\u201d Noem said. \u201cThe sexual assault provisions included in the National Defense Authorization Act are not the silver bullet, but they do move us a few steps closer to winning the war against sexual assault in the military.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=6F9509D4-3EF3-4D6C-936D-2B2AF45F0EBC", "Weekly Column: Home for Christmas", "2013-12-20", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Rep. Kristi Noem \r\n\tChristmas 1943 carried with it a lot of optimism.\u00a0 Unemployment numbers were falling fast due to World War II-related employment, meaning the Great Depression was all but over.\u00a0 Manufacturers had successfully transitioned from making things like automobiles to producing essential military materials, further growing the U.S.\u2019s influence over the manufacturing industry.\u00a0 The year had also been seen as a turning point in the war, largely due to the success of U.S. military operations in Europe.\r\nNonetheless, the optimism that accompanied the year was singed with the harsh realities of wartime America.\u00a0 Canned goods, meat, cheeses, butter and cooking oils were rationed due to shortages of certain materials.\u00a0 And millions of American service members were deployed to serve in the grisly war.\r\nIt is no surprise that Bing Crosby\u2019s \u201cI\u2019ll Be Home For Christmas\u201d also debuted in 1943 and became an instant Christmas classic.\u00a0 It characterized what many families in America were going through.\u00a0 There was an undeniable optimism that the war would soon be over, but those emotions were mixed with the reality that soldiers serving abroad would be home for Christmas \u201conly in their dreams,\u201d as Bing Crosby sings.\r\nToday, we are again fighting to defend our nation and the values we represent.\u00a0 Just last week, I participated in an activation ceremony for members of the South Dakota Army National Guard, who will first head to Fort Hood, Texas, for training and then to Afghanistan.\r\nFor some of them, it is their first deployment.\u00a0 Others have already served tours in Iraq.\u00a0 Regardless of their service record, when our country needed their expertise in Afghanistan, they answered the call.\r\nNow, it is our collective responsibility to come together as a community around their families \u2013 not only during the holidays, but throughout the deployment.\u00a0 We must be there to cheer their kids on when they win a basketball game or nail that solo at a school concert - just as we are when they need a shoulder to lean on.\u00a0 And we must be there again when it is time to welcome these soldiers home.\r\nIn the days leading up to December 25, 68 soldiers of the 152nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion of the South Dakota Army National Guard completed their five-month deployment to Afghanistan and 124 soldiers with the 235th Military Police Company completed their nine-month deployment to Afghanistan.\u00a0 At ceremonies in Pierre and Rapid City, these women and men were able to tell their spouses, parents, families and communities: \u201cI\u2019m home for Christmas.\u201d\r\nTo those soldiers: Welcome home.\u00a0 I hope you know how grateful South Dakota is for your service and your sacrifice.\u00a0\r\nBetween the last-minute gift wrapping and your family\u2019s traditions, I hope you join me in taking a moment to give thanks for all those who are home this Christmas \u2013 our troops, our college students, our families who have scattered across the country.\u00a0\r\nAs Army Gen. Sidney B. Berry wrote to his wife on Christmas Eve 1966 from a village in South Vietnam: \u201cPerhaps the best aspect of separation is our increased appreciation and understanding of each other.\u201d\u00a0 This holiday season, take the time to be appreciative, to be understanding.\u00a0 From my family to yours, Merry Christmas.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=e7013328-81df-4ff1-88cf-6911f39aa623", "Prioritizing Development of the Next Generation Bomber", "2013-12-20", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator John Thune \r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tSouth Dakota\u2019s Ellsworth Air Force Base\u2019s 28th Bomb Wing is home to two of the three combat squadrons operating the B-1B strategic bomber. Of the three aircraft that currently comprise our bomber fleet, the B-1B has the highest payload, the fastest maximum speed, and operates at the lowest cost per flying hour.\r\nAs potential adversaries continue to modernize their anti-aircraft systems, our ability to penetrate those systems must also modernize. The next generation bomber will ensure our ability to operate effectively in anti-access and area-denial environments. As the Air Force continues to modernize, the Long-Range Strike Bomber remains a must-have capability for future combat operations and an important part of a 21st century strategy to protect our interests worldwide, both as a deterrent and as a military asset.\r\nBeyond greater national security concerns, the next generation bomber program is potentially important for South Dakota. As the current home to an important military workhorse, the B-1B, Ellsworth would be a natural fit for a future home to the next generation Long-Range Strike Bomber.\r\nOn Thursday, December 19, 2013, the Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act, which is the primary vehicle for authorizing defense spending for Fiscal Year 2014. Included in the compromise version of the bill was my amendment that puts Congress on record in support of the next generation Long-Range Strike Bomber. The amendment also highlights the importance of upgrading our current bomber fleet, including the B-1B Bomber based at Ellsworth Air Force Base in order to maintain combat effectiveness in the face of continued advancements in the anti-access capabilities of foreign powers.\r\nMy amendment emphasizes our commitment\u00a0to the ongoing development of the Long-Range Strike Bomber, and I will continue working with my colleagues in the Senate to ensure the necessary backing for the completion of this program. Our Armed Forces must have the next-generation capabilities that they need to defend our country against future threats.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=3C45095B-F760-4724-9E60-DD4A14C2203B", "Aberdeen News: Noem shares stories of Christmas, more at Aberdeen school", "2013-12-19", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., shared the meaning of Christmas with third-graders at O.M. Tiffany Elementary School on Wednesday afternoon.\u00a0\r\nIn town for meetings requested by area leaders and constituents, Noem visited with the elementary schoolers to read some Christmas stories and answer questions about her job as a representative in the U.S. House.\u00a0\r\n\r\nStudents\u2019 eyes lit up as O.M. Tiffany Principal Jared Ahlberg introduced Noem.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\u201cShe has a very important job,\u201d Ahlberg told students. \u201cShe knows President Barack Obama.\u201d\r\n\r\n\r\nChristmas is special to her family, Noem told students. There was work to be done every day growing up on a farm, so Christmas was a day the children would all have off.\r\n\r\n\r\nOne day, the kids decided it would be nice to give their dad the day off, Noem said. Doing chores someone might have to do every day would be a good gift to give, she told the school children before reading \u201c\u2018Twas the Night Before Christ\u201d by South Dakota author Tom Roberts.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\nThe book, a take on \u201c\u2018Twas the Night Before Christmas,\u201d features the story of Jesus. Noem gifted the book to the third-graders.\r\n\r\n\r\nThough her eldest child is in college, the Noem family always comes together to read the book and other stories during Christmastime.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\nIt\u2019s important to celebrate the birth of Jesus, but it\u2019s also a time to celebrate how special we are to one another, Noem said.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\u201cThat\u2019s the best thing about Christmas,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a good time of the year to be kind to someone.\u201d\r\n\r\n\r\nShe also shared the story of how Teddy Roosevelt III snuck a Christmas tree into a closet in the White House in 1902, when his father, President Theodore Roosevelt declared there would be no tree.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\nThird-grader Michael Aalseth said it was \u201ccool\u201d that Noem took the time to read stories.\r\n\r\n\r\nChildren asked Noem about everything \u2014 from questions about the Lincoln Memorial to whether she would consider running for president.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\nThe latter is unlikely, she said.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\u201cMy favorite thing in the world to be is a mom, and my favorite place in the world to be is in South Dakota,\u201d Noem answered.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\nThe children were most curious about the White House, meeting the president, life in Washington, D.C., and Noem\u2019s Christmas plans.\r\n\r\n\r\n\u201cI really liked her telling us the answers to our questions and learning more about her,\u201d said third-grader Tristan Leidholdt.\r\n\r\n\r\nHe said he learned a lot of things he didn\u2019t know before.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\u201cThis is my favorite thing about this job,\u201d Noem said. \u201cWe can get young kids excited to learn about government and get involved with their communities. It\u2019s pretty special.\u201d\r\n\r\n\r\nStudents also asked about a school nutrition bill introduced by Noem that would give local schools more flexibility with their lunch programs.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\u201cThey can decide how best to feed you guys,\u201d she told students.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\nNoem encouraged students to get involved in their community.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n\u201cSometimes, our laws don\u2019t make sense,\u201d she said. \u201cDon\u2019t complain about it. Do something about it.\u201d\r\n\r\n\r\nNoem said she tries to make time for school visits when she travels to South Dakota communities, but most visits are to high schools.\r\n\r\n\r\nShe has been to about a dozen elementary schools. While in Aberdeen, she also visited Northern State University, where she attended school for two years.\r\n\r\n\r\nLinda Daugaard, South Dakota\u2019s first lady, visited\u00a0O.M. Tiffany last year to read to students.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221084756/http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/events?ContentRecord_id=F0365AE8-8556-47C1-A321-192056B720A5", "Rep. Noem to Visit Bethany Meadows Senior Living Center", "2013-12-19", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Kristi Noem will visit Bethany Meadows Senior Living Center in Brandon, SD, on Friday, December 20.\u00a0 If you plan to cover this event, please contact Brittany Gross at brittany.gross@mail.house.gov. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\nWHAT:\u00a0 Rep. Noem to visit Bethany Meadows Senior Living Center\nWHEN:\u00a0 Friday, December 20 - 10:00AM-11:00AM (CT)\nWHERE:\u00a0 Bethany Meadows Senior Living Center (3008 E. Aspen Blvd, Brandon, SD)   ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:\u00a0 Rep. Noem will be visiting with the residents and staff of the Bethany Meadows Senior Living Center.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=9bdb4051-1fbe-4d02-ba82-55ed44c9c074", "Thune Amendment in Support of Next Generation Bomber Included in Defense Bill", "2013-12-19", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tSenator John Thune (R-S.D.) today voted in support of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which is the primary vehicle for authorizing defense spending for Fiscal Year 2014. Included in the compromise version of the bill was Thune\u2019s amendment (S.Amdt. 2093) that put Congress on record in support for the next generation Long-Range Strike Bomber.\r\n\u201cThe next generation bomber is an important part of a 21st century strategy to protect our interests worldwide, both as a deterrent and as a military asset,\u201d said Thune. \u201cMy amendment not only put Congress on record in support of the next generation bomber, but it also highlights the importance of upgrading our current bomber fleet, including the B-1B Bomber based at Ellsworth Air Force Base in order to maintain combat effectiveness in the face of continued advancements in the anti-access capabilities of foreign powers.\u201d\r\nThune\u2019s amendment did not receive a vote during consideration of the Senate\u2019s version of the NDAA due to the failure of the Democrat majority to allow an open amendment process. However, Thune\u2019s amendment was included in the compromise version of the NDAA, which passed the House on December 12, 2013. The bill will now be sent to the president for his signature.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221085010/http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/events?ContentRecord_id=00B22940-D632-46EE-962C-4E087BA40518", "Rep. Noem to Visit Aberdeen Elementary School", "2013-12-18", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Kristi Noem will visit the 3rd grade classroom of O.M. Tiffany Elementary School at 1:20PM (CT) on Wednesday, December 18. \u00a0If you plan to cover the visit, please contact Brittany Gross at brittany.gross@mail.house.gov.\nWHAT:\u00a0 Rep. Kristi Noem Visits 3rd Grade Classroom\nWHEN:\u00a0 Wednesday, December 18 \u2013 1:20PM (CT)\nWHERE:\u00a0 O.M. Tiffany Elementary School (819 8th Ave. NE, Aberdeen, SD)\nADDITIONAL INFORMATION:\u00a0 Rep. Noem will be visiting the school\u2019s 3rd grade classroom to discuss her role in Congress as well as take a moment to read to the students.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=D9AAA319-E159-434A-8ABE-49EE2F7FAF69", "Christian Broadcasting Network: Noem: Ministering My 'Biggest Job' in Washington", "2013-12-17", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "She has been called the \"Sarah Palin of the Prairie.\" But South Dakota Congresswoman Kristi Noem is blazing her own trail in Washington.\r\nShe's making her mark not just within the Republican Party but in the kingdom of God, too. And she's had to overcome many challenges along the way.\r\nTaking the Lead\r\nFor Noem, home is on the range, or more specifically, on her South Dakota farm, which is a world away from her duties on Capitol Hill. She feels total peace here and is just an ordinary mom.\r\n\"I am 100 percent convinced God created me to be a mom,\" Noem told CBN News at her home in Castlewood, S.D. \"Every other job that I have or duty that I have is just extra things that He's put on my plate.\"\r\nThose extra things have kept her busy since her election to Congress in 2010. She's clearly a GOP up-and-comer. She made big news from the beginning when she was chosen to be part of the GOP leadership team, a rare honor for an incoming freshman.\r\nWhile part of Noem's role is to communicate the party's message to all Americans, her main leadership responsibility is to represent the priorities of the large incoming Tea Party freshman class, which surprised Washington with major wins in 2010.\r\n\"It wasn't my job to sit at that table and only tell them what Kristi thought,\" Noem said. \"It was my job to sit there and let them know what every other member of my class thought, all 87 of them. And I was pretty vocal at that as well.\"\r\nAs one of the few Republican females in Congress, she also takes the lead against the so-called GOP war on women storyline.\r\n\"We've got to be willing to be brave enough to get out there on the airwaves and push back on it,\" she said. \"I think a lot of times politicians or people who serve in public office are scared about saying something wrong. And, so, that causes us to hold back when a real controversy gets stirred up.\"\r\nPushing through Crisis\r\nNoem knows a thing or two about pushing back and taking charge. Life as a simple farm girl meant hard work, attending rodeos, and singing at church.\r\nWhe she was young, she gave her life to the Lord during Bible school. Then, while in college, she received heartbreaking news: her father died in a tragic farming accident.\r\n\"When he passed away, my whole life changed,\" Noem recalled.\r\nShe felt lost when she was no longer able to go to her dad.\r\n\"I remember lying in bed that night not even knowing how we were going to do tomorrow because if we had a problem in our lives or if we didn't know what to do, dad always knew. He knew how to get through that,\" Noem explained.\r\n\"I sat up for several nights. I didn't sleep for a week and just read my Bible,\" she said.\r\nHow did Noem react to this crisis? This woman of the prairie got tough, left college early, and came home to run the family farm.\r\nIronically, her first crisis came in the form of an estate tax bill from the IRS for thousands of dollars.\r\n\"That was one of the things that got me interested in government and policy was seeing that we had our family operation almost destroyed because of bad tax policy,\" she said.\r\nHer Biggest Job\r\nAfter attending to the family farm, she entered local South Dakota politics and eventually came to Washington, where she's currently working on a crucial farm bill.\r\n\"In simplest terms, if we don't get a farm bill signed into law by the end of the year, we could see $8 a jug gallon of milk in the grocery stores, if we don't get it done.\"\r\nEven though \"Kristi the congresswoman\" pushes for conservative policy, as a believer in Jesus Christ, she's got something even bigger on her mind.\r\n\"It was hard to get things done. I could file bills that I thought were absolutely necessary and they may never get a hearing. But then God kind of taught me a lesson through the several months that I was there right away,\" Noem told CBN News.\r\n\"You know He placed me there, yes, to work on policy, but maybe my biggest job was to minister to individuals,\" she said.\r\nNoem said she spends her time not just trying to change minds on policy but trying to change hearts as an effective witness in a city with desperate needs.\r\n\"They will know we are Christians by our love. They will know that. And we will not attract anybody to our way of thinking if all we show them is ugliness,\" Noem said.\r\n\"The way that He's going to fix this country may be by changing people's hearts and getting them more geared toward Him,\" she added. \"And that's the quickest way we're going to get stuff done.\"\r\nPraying for Obama\r\nGod did business with her, too, softening her heart toward President Barack Obama, specifically during one of his State of the Union addresses.\r\nIt's a story that Noem remembers vividly.\r\n\"When I was standing back there looking at him as he gave his speech and disagreeing with everything that he said, I felt my heart get hardened,\" she recalled.\r\n\"I felt God really convicted me that the way that I was praying or the way that I was feeling wasn't accurate, that what I needed to be doing more was praying for the president,\" she continued.\r\n\"My whole perspective changed and I felt a real conviction lay heavy on my shoulders about the way I was praying and that God couldn't possibly use me until I started to pray how He had called me to pray,\" she said.\r\nThere's no doubt God always had a plan for Noem's life. Even in high school when she was crowned South Dakota Snow Queen.\r\n\"Oh my goodness, you brought that up,\" Noem said, laughing. \"In my defense, every girl in high school did the Snow Queen event. But, boy, what a good training ground for giving speeches about the wonderful things in South Dakota.\"\r\nNever Quit\r\nFor Noem, the blessings don't stop there. Remember how she had to leave college early after her dad died? Well, last year as a sitting congresswoman she finally got her degree after her sister insisted.\r\n\"She just said, 'I'm surprised you never finished your college degree because you never quit anything.' That just struck me because you know what? It does bother me to quit on something,\" Noem said. \"I decided then that I would go back and start taking classes and if it took me 10 years, I'd at least get my college degree finished.\"\r\nIt's no wonder her steadfast determination and strong conservative backbone have people comparing her to Sarah Palin.\r\n\"I think Sarah and I would probably get along if we ever got the chance to meet each other,\" she said. \"But I do think that I just want to be Kristi because if there's any other agenda there, I don't think that God will be able to use me how He wants to.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=D923A56F-D40B-421F-970F-73A2C9D07B57", "Argus Leader: Optimism on farm bill grows", "2013-12-13", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Lawmakers working on a new farm bill said significant progress is being made and they are confident Congress will finish the much-delayed legislation by the end of January.\r\nThose involved with the negotiations said the farm bill, which covers everything from food aid and conservation programs to farm subsidies and food stamps, is expected to be completed early next month. The legislation would then face votes in the House and the Senate later in January. There are even signs that a deal could be near on food stamps, the biggest challenge for the 41 members of the farm bill House-Senate conference committee.\r\n\"We've got a basic framework\" on the farm bill, said Rep. Kristi Noem, a member of the farm bill panel. \"We've definitely made progress, and I anticipate that we'll be able to dot our i's and cross our t's and get it put into law by the end of January.\"\r\nThe House passed a one-month extension to the farm bill Thursday. If a new bill or extension is not passed, the law reverts to a 1949 version that would lead to an increase in subsidy prices next year, starting with dairy payments. Wheat and other commodities would be affected soon after. One obstacle to an extension is that Democratic leaders in the Senate, led by Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., previously have opposed the idea.\r\nRep. Steve King, R-Iowa, said he was confident that an extra month would be enough time for lawmakers to reach an agreement. \"We're closer every day. I do think we're going to get this deal done,\" said King, alsoone of the 41 conferees.\r\nThe House is scheduled to leave for the year today with the Senate expected to adjourn Dec. 20, but conferees on both sides are expected to continue working on a farm bill next week.\r\nIn an interview, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said officials at the USDA are in daily communication with farm bill negotiators, providing information and making sure that what is being discussed is workable. Vilsack said the department is keeping a close watch on the farm bill talks, and as long as there are signs that a deal is within reach he does not plan to accelerate implementation of the 1949 law.\r\n\"If there appears to be some progress toward an agreement, there is no reason to do that, no reason to implement it,\" Vilsack said. \"If it lingers into February, into March or beyond, then at some point in time in that time frame you are going to be confronted with\" the 1949 law or the need for a farm bill extension.\r\nFor more than a year, the farm bill has been delayed because of a divide between Democrats and Republicans over how much tocut the popular food stamp program used by almost 48 million Americans. The GOP-led House has proposed a reduction of $40 billion over 10 years while the Senate has proposed $4.5 billion in its bill.\r\nNoem said cuts between $8 billion and $15 billion are being talked about, though she cautioned the farm bill discussions are ongoing and the numbers could change. The farm bill would spend about $500 billion over five years, almost 80 percent of it going to food stamps.\r\nWhile food stamps, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, remain a key issue in the farm bill talks, Vilsack said there are signs that lawmakers are making progress. It's \"not as big as it once was. We've moved away somewhat from that issue,\" he said.\r\nThe farm bill negotiations largely have been conducted behind closed doors by four lawmakers, with the top Republican and Democrat from both the Senate and House Agriculture Committees handling most of the talks along with their staff. The only meeting open to the public was the first gathering of the farm bill conference committee where lawmakers gave remarks.\r\nVilsack said he was \"hopeful\" a new farm bill is imminent. The former Iowa governor has likened the process to waiting at the church altar for his future wife to arrive. \"Before, I didn't think the bride was in the church. I think she is in the church now,\" he said. \"It's now just a question of whether she starts walking down the aisle.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=7A32BAAB-C549-4C20-95F9-107C063D63FF", "Weekly Column: Time to Bring the Farm Bill Home", "2013-12-13", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "It\u2019s hard to meet a South Dakotan who isn\u2019t in some way tied to agriculture.\u00a0 That\u2019s not incredibly surprising when you consider that the industry contributes $21 billion to our state economy each year.\u00a0\u00a0\r\nThat contribution is important.\u00a0 An economist for the state Bureau of Finance and Management recently argued that agriculture helped South Dakota weather the economic recession better than almost any state in the nation.\u00a0 So, when Congress starts talking about a farm bill that will set the legislative landscape for our number one industry as well as address food policy, forestry policy and much, much more, we know we\u2019re talking about a bill that will impact every South Dakotan\u2019s life.\r\nOver the last few weeks, Congress has made significant progress on the Farm Bill and we are on track to pass a full, five-year bill in the early part of next year.\u00a0 We have come to a preliminary agreement on the framework of that bill and the negotiators know what reforms they\u2019d like to make.\u00a0 Now, it is a matter of making sure all the numbers add up.\r\nTo do that, the draft framework was sent to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, which has provided estimates on how much farm bill provisions will cost as well as the savings produced by the included reforms.\u00a0 With these numbers in hand, the lead negotiators can now make adjustments to ensure all the numbers work out so that we can finally finalize the bill.\u00a0 It will take a few weeks for legal counsel and budget experts to review the legislation and make sure it is ready to become law, but we\u2019re on track to finalize a full, five-year farm bill in the early part of 2014.\u00a0\r\nLike many reading this column today, I am frustrated with the speed of the process, but we\u2019re making progress and many of the provisions that are important to South Dakota are remaining intact.\r\nFor instance, the proposed framework ensures supplemental crop insurance programs are market oriented. \u00a0In other words, the proposal is written so that government policies don\u2019t sway producers\u2019 planting decisions.\r\nWe\u2019ve also made some meaningful reforms to the food stamp provisions that will help uphold the integrity of the program while making sure those families who need support get the help they need.\r\nAdditionally, the preliminary agreement includes support for livestock disaster programs that will help those in western South Dakota who suffered catastrophic livestock losses earlier this year.\r\nI know how important this legislation is to South Dakota.\u00a0 It impacts every single one of our families in some way or another.\u00a0 We are making progress and a five-year farm bill is fully in our sights.\u00a0 I\u2019m ready to bring this bill home.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=8595DB07-CA4A-4170-88CC-F1641846B3F4", "House Passes Noem's Sexual Assault Legislation As Part of NDAA", "2013-12-13", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Included in the National Defense Authorization Act that passed the House today was legislation authored by Rep. Kristi Noem that works to address the sexual assault crisis in our military.\u00a0\r\n\u201cThe women and men who voluntarily serve in our Armed Forces understand that they may be called to serve in dangerous places, but they should never face the threat of harm from their fellow service members,\u201d said Rep. Noem.\u00a0 \u201cThe sexual assault provisions included in the National Defense Authorization Act are not the silver bullet, but they do move us a few steps closer to winning the war against sexual assault in the military.\u201d\u00a0\r\nThe legislation Rep. Noem authored helps to improve investigation procedures when dealing with sex-related offenses. It also requires the Pentagon to develop specific qualifications for individuals in sexual assault prevention related positions.\u00a0 It also requires that the military review their sexual assault prevention training and education programs and identify elements that should be used across the services. \u00a0\r\nThese reforms were originally introduced by Rep. Noem in H.R. 2227.\r\nThe Senate is expected to pass the National Defense Authorization Act next week, sending the bill to the President\u2019s desk.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221085031/http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/events?ContentRecord_id=5EC990D7-D7F7-463B-9870-F6D1D5A58E2C", "Rep. Noem in Harrisburg, Sioux Falls", "2013-12-13", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Kristi Noem will be making stops in Harrisburg and Sioux Falls this weekend.\u00a0 If you plan to cover one of this weekend\u2019s events, please contact Brittany Gross at brittany.gross@mail.house.gov. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\nSaturday, December 14, 2013:\nWHAT:\u00a0 South Dakota National Guard 1742nd Transportation Company Activation CeremonyWHEN:\u00a0 10:00AM-11:00AM (CT)WHERE:\u00a0 Harrisburg High School (1300 Willow Street, Harrisburg, SD)ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:\u00a0 Rep. Noem will speak at this event to honor those who will be deploying to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.\nWHAT: Rep. Noem to Volunteer for Salvation Army Bell RingingWHEN: \u00a011:30AM-12:30AM (CT)WHERE:\u00a0 HyVee (3000 S. Minnesota Ave., Sioux Falls, SD)   ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:\u00a0 Rep. Noem will join members of the First Baptist Church Bell Choir and volunteer to ring bells for the Salvation Army outside the HyVee in Sioux Falls.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=6fcee751-dcad-424d-b69b-548ad2bf374c", "\u2018Tis the Season of Giving", "2013-12-13", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator John Thune \r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tLike many South Dakotans, our family always enjoys looking back at many of our Thune Family Christmas cards from years past. While our daughters like to poke fun at the hairstyles and outfits of days gone by, the best part of looking through the annual Christmas cards is the opportunity to reflect on the many fond memories we have shared as a family and the many gifts we have been given.\r\nAs we share in the love and friendship of our friends and families throughout the holidays, we also remember the giving spirit of the season. Christmas is the time when the generosity in the hearts of South Dakotans is most on display. South Dakotans know that in difficult times we can depend on our friends and neighbors to support one another during the Christmas season. Not all South Dakotans have the means to make financial donations to those in need, but many South Dakotans will choose to donate their time and talents, offering a helpful hand to a neighbor in need, organizing food drives, and providing a warm meal and gifts to less-fortunate children.\r\nIt would be impossible to enjoy the gifts of the season without the generous service of those South Dakotans who will be spending Christmas very far away from friends and family because of their commitment to defending our nation in the Armed Forces. I know there are very few in South Dakota who do not know someone who will be spending Christmas in harm's way, and I ask that all South Dakotans keep these brave young men and women in their prayers.\r\nAs I gather with my wife Kimberley and our family this Christmas, I would like to wish all South Dakotans a Merry Christmas and thank you for the opportunity to work for you. It is an honor and a blessing for which I am truly grateful. May God continue to bless our nation and South Dakota.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=173479c7-d569-4a9b-8367-dfb4b06341a2", "Delegation Calls on Shinseki to Return Hot Springs VA to Full Operation", "2013-12-13", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tSenators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), and Representative Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) today sent a letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Eric Shinseki calling for him to return Hot Springs\u2019 Black Hills Health Care System (BHHCS) to full operation following the lack of leadership and breach of good faith by the VA over the past two years. The delegation\u2019s letter outlines their concerns with the VA\u2019s proposal which was introduced without providing any cost-benefit analysis to support the changes it was seeking to make. The letter also questions the VA\u2019s decision to move the Compensated Work Therapy program that was approved for BHHCS but was instead relocated to Walla Walla, Washington.\r\nThe delegation writes: \u201cWe are growing impatient with the lack of attention the VA has given to this matter. After two years of discussion and the tireless dedication of the Save the VA Committee and other stakeholders, the VA should certainly have made more progress by this point.\u00a0 However, given the remaining discrepancies concerning the data used by the VA to formulate its proposal and the lack of consideration afforded to alternatives, we again request that the VA make efforts to return the Hot Springs campus to its former levels of operations and staff before conducting a five-year review to gather new data.\u201d\r\nThe text of the letter is below:  __\r\nDecember 13, 2013\u00a0\r\nThe Honorable Eric Shinseki  Secretary of Veterans Affairs  Department of Veterans Affairs  810 Vermont Avenue, NW  Washington, D.C. 20420\r\nDear Secretary Shinseki:\r\nWe write to again request a response to our outstanding concerns with the Department of Veterans Affairs\u2019 (VA) proposal to reconfigure the Black Hills Health Care System (BHHCS).\u00a0 We were grateful for the opportunity to meet with you on January 28, 2013, and for representatives from our offices to meet with your staff and members of the Save the VA Committee (SVA) on May 6, 2013.\u00a0 However, we are extremely disappointed that several outstanding discrepancies in the proposal have gone unanswered since it was introduced two years ago.\u00a0 We highlighted these concerns in a letter dated May 17, 2013, and we have yet to receive a response.\u00a0 Even for bureaucratic standards, this delay is unacceptable and reaffirms our belief that the VA introduced this proposal with a blind determination to see it through, regardless of cost or how it might impact our veterans.\r\nAfter months of refusing to acknowledge rumors that a plan to restructure the BHHCS was in development, the VA released its proposal two years ago on December 12, 2011.\u00a0 When a plan was finally released, however, it was not accompanied by a cost-benefit analysis, leaving many to question how the VA arrived at its decision to reconfigure the BHHCS.\u00a0 It was not until June 12, 2012, a full seven months later, that the VA released its cost-benefit analysis to the community of stakeholders.\u00a0 By that time, the stakeholders had developed an innovative counter-proposal, per the VA\u2019s invitation, to create VA partnerships within the community of Hot Springs, SD.\u00a0\r\nAs you may recall, the SVA proposed the creation of a national post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment center and an integrated Compensated Work Therapy program (CWT) that would operate in conjunction with the local, privately-funded Veterans Enterprises.\u00a0 At this time, the VA assured that public feedback would be seriously considered and incorporated into any final proposal as appropriate.\u00a0 However, during a meeting on September 10, 2012, the BHHCS leadership said that they were unable to negotiate on the VA\u2019s original proposal.\u00a0 Over a year later, the trust between the BHHCS, veterans, the SVA, and other community stakeholders remains fragile.\u00a0 We believe that the SVA put forth innovative ideas that were crafted with the best interests of veterans in mind and deserve proper consideration by the VA.\u00a0\r\nIn the meantime, BHHCS leadership has pursued initiatives that we feel have made the Hot Springs VA campus less viable for veteran care.\u00a0 Recently, SVA representatives have shared with us reports of the VA turning away veterans seeking admission to the Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment Program due to lack of available patient space while it converts needed treatment space into administrative offices.\u00a0 The Hot Springs campus is highly regarded for its PTSD care, boasting an impressive 87 percent non-recidivism rate.\u00a0 We attribute these top marks not only to the peaceful environment that is unique to the Hot Springs campus, but also to the supportive community that lives up to its reputation as \u201cThe Veterans Town.\u201d\r\nWe also seek explanation for why a CWT program that was originally approved for Hot Springs by the VA Office of Construction and Facilities Management was instead relocated to Walla Walla, Washington.\u00a0 We find this removal of support to be consistent with the VA\u2019s desire to shutter the Hot Springs campus, an initiative that can be linked to retiring VA Undersecretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration, Dr. Robert Petzel.\u00a0 Dr. Petzel, who once served as director of Veterans Integrated Service Network 23, will leave behind a history of questionable management decisions and lapses in oversight.\u00a0 We hope that the VA will mitigate this negative influence by withdrawing its proposal.\r\nWe are growing impatient with the lack of attention the VA has given to this matter.\u00a0 After two years of discussion and the tireless dedication of the SVA and other stakeholders, the VA should certainly have made more progress by this point.\u00a0 However, given the remaining discrepancies concerning the data used by the VA to formulate its proposal and the lack of consideration afforded to alternatives, we again request that the VA make efforts to return the Hot Springs campus to its former levels of operations and staff before conducting a five-year review to gather new data.\r\nWe appreciate your timely attention to this matter and look forward to continuing the discussion on how we can best provide for our veterans.\u00a0\r\nSincerely,\r\nSenator John Thune  Senator Tim Johnson  Representative Kristi Noem", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=7AE4057C-027B-4433-80B1-D5A47F5622D6", "Rep. Noem Supports Two-Year Budget Agreement", "2013-12-12", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Kristi Noem today supported a two-year budget agreement that makes a series of modest reforms to both mandatory and discretionary spending and reduces the likelihood of another government shutdown next year.\r\n\u201cThis agreement is not perfect by any means, but it takes a small step in the right direction and starts us on a path to more productive budgetary discussions,\u201d said Rep. Noem.\u00a0 \u201cThe budget agreement came together through a bipartisan process that kept all our principles intact.\u00a0 It does not raise taxes or increase the deficit, but it does protect critical defense programs and makes small but permanent reforms to mandatory spending. \u00a0While it doesn\u2019t solve all our budgetary problems, the bipartisan agreement stops Congress from legislating from one crisis to the next and brings us closer to addressing our nation\u2019s fiscal crisis.\u201d\r\nThe bipartisan budget agreement reduces the deficit by $23 billion without raising taxes.\u00a0 Additionally, the agreement stays well below the Budget Control Act\u2019s spending caps for FY2014 and FY2015.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=66777dca-e634-43ce-a8bc-4d6cc71ff5ad", "Thune Statement on Doc Fix Bill Markup", "2013-12-12", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tSenator John Thune (R-S.D.) today issued a statement following the Senate Finance Committee\u2019s markup of the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) repeal and replace bill, the SGR and Medicare Beneficiary Access Improvement Act:\r\n\u201cI\u2019m pleased to have amendments in the Chairman\u2019s mark and approved by the committee that are important to improving the underlying bill for rural health care providers and beneficiaries, but I remain concerned about how rural providers will fare under this new reimbursement model and about the lack of identified offsets for this bill. Health care spending already amounts to over 25 percent of our federal budget, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that the next step in this process is finding a way to pay for this legislation.\u201d\u00a0\r\nThe SGR and Medicare Beneficiary Access Improvement Act passed by voice vote out of the Senate Finance Committee. Thune offered a number of amendments during today\u2019s Senate Finance Committee\u2019s markup, including two that were included in the Chairman\u2019s mark:\r\n1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 An amendment to protect access to rural therapy services: Thune\u2019s amendment would clarify that general supervision of outpatient therapeutic services by a physician or non-physician practitioner at critical access hospitals is sufficient for payment of therapeutic hospital outpatient services. This amendment is a modified version of the Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act that Thune introduced in June of 2013.\r\n2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 An amendment to prevent barriers to telehealth technology through the Alternative Payment Models (APMs): Thune\u2019s amendment would ensure that the current restrictions in the Medicare program that prohibit greater utilization of telehealth are lifted for physicians who agree to participate in a Medicare reimbursement plan that places greater emphasis on care quality and coordination. This amendment would ensure that providers who move into an APM are free to use telehealth technology to enhance patient outcomes and improve quality.\r\nThe committee voted to approve two of Thune\u2019s amendments during today\u2019s markup:\u00a0\r\n3)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 An amendment to reduce hospital re-admissions through telehealth technology and keep seniors in their homes longer: Thune\u2019s amendment would create a pilot program to provide budget-neutral incentives for home health agencies and other entities across the country to use telehealth technology to better monitor Medicare beneficiaries, improve health outcomes, and reduce Medicare expenditures. This amendment is based on Thune\u2019s Fostering Independence Through Technology (FITT) Act that he introduced in March of 2013.\r\n4) An amendment to provide additional technical assistance to small rural practices in the Value-Based Performance (VBP) program: Thune\u2019s amendment would specify that $10 million of the $25 million available each year from 2014 to 2018 to provide technical assistance to help providers transition into the new payment models be available solely for assistance to small practices located in rural areas.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=36250685-9368-4467-B1DE-5D1EF518F03E", "Hot Springs Star: House passes H.R. 3521", "2013-12-11", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By a vote of 326-1, the The U.S. House of Representatives voted Tuesday afternoon, to approve H.R. 3521, the joint resolution known as the Department of Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Lease Authorization Act.\r\nThe resolution authorized spending of nearly $240 million for 27 different leases in the United State and Puerto Rico, but did not include an early $10 million request submitted for a facility in Rapid City. The passage of the resolution will preserve the Hot Springs VA for Fiscal Year 2014, according to a press release from S.D. Representative Kristi Noem's office.\r\n\u201cThe Hot Springs VA Hospital has long provided critical care to South Dakota veterans,\u201d said Rep. Noem. \u201cToday is a small but well-deserved victory in our ongoing effort to preserve the Hot Springs VA and ensure it is able to continue to deliver the best possible healthcare to South Dakota veterans. This facility serves a critical role in the Hot Springs community and proudly serves the women and men who have fought and sacrificed for our country.\u201d\r\nThere were 28 projects requested by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs and the Rapid City project is the lone project not included in the resolution.\r\nThe vote comes on the second anniversary of the Department of Veterans Affairs announcing that the agency intended to reconfigure the Black Hills Health Care System. Passage of the resolution will ensure that the Hot Springs VA will remain open until the Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki makes an official decision.\r\nThe joint resolution will now go to the Senate for approval.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=B1E30A0A-8D35-46C9-A091-7ED4861D4ADD", "House to Vote on Bill Preserving Hot Springs VA for FY2014", "2013-12-10", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The House will vote today on the Department of Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Lease Authorization Act (H.R. 3521), which will preserve the Hot Springs VA for FY 2014.\u00a0 Votes are expected after 4:00 PM (ET) today.\r\n\u201cThe Hot Springs VA Hospital has long provided critical care to South Dakota veterans,\u201d said Rep. Noem.\u00a0 \u201cToday is a small but well-deserved victory in our ongoing effort to preserve the Hot Springs VA and ensure it is able to continue to deliver the best possible healthcare to South Dakota veterans.\u00a0 This facility serves a critical role in the Hot Springs community and proudly serves the women and men who have fought and sacrificed for our country.\u201d\r\nThe vote comes on the second anniversary of the Department of Veterans Affairs announcing that the agency intended to reconfigure the Black Hills Health Care System.\u00a0 If passed, H.R. 3521 would authorize 27 of the 28 major lease projects that were requested by the Department of Veterans Affairs.\u00a0 The only requested project that will not be given permission to move forward is a lease for a new VA facility in Rapid City, ensuring the Hot Springs VA will remain open until the Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki makes an official decision.\u00a0\r\nEnsuring quality health care for veterans at the Hot Springs VA has been an ongoing battle for Congresswoman Noem.\u00a0 In addition to pushing for its preservation through bills like H.R. 3521, Congresswoman Noem has met with Secretary Shinseki, sent letters regarding data discrepancies, and is working to host Secretary Shinseki for a tour of the Hot Springs VA.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=7877896f-82ad-433c-98d3-542b8d0e293a", "Thune, Wyden Introduce Bill to Promote Strong Rules to Protect the Digital Economy and Global, Open Internet", "2013-12-10", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tSenator John Thune (R-S.D.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness, today introduced legislation to protect the Internet from restrictive measures that obstruct the free flow of data in the global economy. The Digital Trade Act of 2013 would establish negotiating principles to address several key digital trade matters in future bilateral and multilateral agreements and in multistakeholder settings. Those principles include: preventing or eliminating restrictions on cross-border data flows, prohibiting localization requirements for data and computing infrastructure, ensuring that provisions affecting platform Internet sites are consistent with U.S. law, and recommitting the United States to the multistakeholder model of Internet governance. The bill requires the president to prioritize digital trade and ensure it benefits from robust and enforceable rules.\r\n\u201cDigital trade is a driver of the U.S. economy and critical to global innovation and economic growth,\u201d said Thune. \u201cThat growth is threatened by rising digital protectionism by several of our trading partners. It is imperative that the U.S. fight for strong rules to ensure that American businesses have the freedom to compete and innovate all around the world. Our common-sense legislation would establish important negotiating principles for international agreements affecting Internet-enabled commerce. I hope our colleagues will join us in supporting this bill to ensure the digital economy continues to flourish.\u201d\r\n\"America\u2019s trade negotiating objectives must reflect the fact that the Internet represents the shipping lane for 21st Century goods and services,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cTrade in digital goods and services is growing and driving economic growth and job creation all around the country. U.S. digital exports are beating imports by large margins, but out-dated trade rules threaten this growth by providing opportunities for protectionist policies overseas. The U.S. has the opportunity to establish new trade rules that preserve the Internet as a platform to share ideas and for expanding commerce and this legislation aims to help achieve these goals.\"\r\nThune and Wyden have been active in calling attention to the growing importance of digital trade issues. Last month, the senators wrote a joint op-ed calling for Congress and President Obama to secure digital trade rules that promote and preserve a global, open Internet.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=71F0B9C6-2436-41C5-AE34-6D7B14A4F143", "Rapid City Journal:  SD delegation seeks to head off Corps water plan", "2013-12-07", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "South Dakota's congressional delegation is pressing House and Senate negotiators to keep a provision in a massive water projects bill that would prevent the Army Corps of Engineers from charging some state residents for use of water.\r\nThe House and Senate have both passed large water projects bills this year. The two bills are now the subject of House-Senate negotiations to merge them.\r\nThe Senate's version includes a provision pushed by South Dakota's delegation that would prevent the Corps from restricting access to water in the Missouri River and stop the Corps from charging people who use water in Missouri River reservoirs in South Dakota, North Dakota and Montana, as it has proposed.\r\nSen. John Thune led the effort to get the provision in the Senate bill and called the Corps' proposal a power grab. He said he is pressing negotiators on the committee dealing with the water projects bill to keep the provision in the final bill.\r\n\"We argue they don't have the authority to do that,\" Thune said. \"We're doing everything we can to keep it in the conference bill.\"\r\nRep. Kristi Noem, who is also pressing House and Senate negotiators to keep the provision in a compromise bill, said the Corps' proposal would punish residents who worked with the Corps in good faith when it flooded land along the Missouri River in the past and built new flood protections.\r\n\"We're hoping this Senate language stays in, otherwise residents in some areas could start essentially being taxed for their own water,\" Noem said.\r\nThe water provision was included in the Senate version of a larger water projects bill. Negotiations over how to blend House and Senate versions of the bill are ongoing, though lawmakers say they are optimistic an agreement can be reached by the end of the year or early 2014.\r\nThe House passed its version of the water projects bill in October, with a rough cost of $8 billion according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office. The Senate passed its version, at about $12 billion, according to the CBO, in May.\r\nOther elements of the bill could also affect South Dakota.\r\nNoem said she will press lawmakers to retain language from the House bill that would require the Corps to provide more notification to residents in the event it decides it needs to release water to prevent more significant flooding.\r\nNoem said that one of the biggest complaints she heard two years ago, when the Missouri River flooded, was that residents only had a few days notice ahead of Corps plans to do controlled flooding.\r\nCongressional leaders, including Rep. Bill Shuster, the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, traveled to South Dakota to see the impact of the Corps' decision and held a hearing in South Dakota, Noem said.\r\n\"Chairman Shuster totally understands why that language needs to be included,\" Noem said. \"That's one of those instances where having people there to see the consequences will impact them.\"\r\nOther elements of the water projects bill could affect South Dakota in the future. Both the House and Senate versions of the bill would speed the Corps' environmental review process. That would allow many projects to move forward more quickly.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=CAC486DB-E682-4403-9632-A40C677D2328", "Weekly Column: Happy Birthday to the National Guard", "2013-12-06", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Before we became the United States of America, before we proclaimed that We the People have certain inalienable rights, before we had the Navy, Air Force, Army, Marines, and Coast Guard, the National Guard was there fighting for freedom and security.\r\nIn the colonial world, colonists needed to be self sufficient.\u00a0 They just didn\u2019t have the money to hire professional fighters, as was customary in Europe at that time.\u00a0 So, on December 13, 1636, the Massachusetts Bay Colony established a militia made up of citizen soldiers.\u00a0 Today, we know that militia as the National Guard.\r\nThe National Guard has grown into a worldwide military force.\u00a0 It is a cornerstone in many of our communities and it enables our country to meet the challenges of an uncertain world, just as it did during colonial times.\r\nWhen the Missouri River flooded, South Dakota\u2019s National Guard was there to patrol the levees and put up sandbags that protected homes and businesses.\r\nWhen an ice storm hit Sioux Falls and a blizzard buried West River, the National Guard was there to help dig out and clean up.\r\nAnd in the years since the twin towers fell, the South Dakota National Guard has defended our homeland and our commitment to universal freedom.\u00a0 That is a debt we can never repay.\r\nThis week, many of us will be wrapping up our Christmas decorating \u2013 and some may already be starting to wrap a few gifts too.\u00a0 While it\u2019s easy to get caught in the busyness of the holiday season, we can\u2019t forget that some South Dakota National Guard families will have a little quieter Christmas this year.\u00a0 Their gifts have already been shipped so they can make the 7,000 mile trip to Kandahar, Afghanistan, and beyond by Christmas morning.\u00a0 I can\u2019t even imagine.\r\nMany of those deployed today joined the South Dakota National Guard after 9/11, knowing there was a good chance they\u2019d have to spend at least one Christmas in a desert dust storm instead of a snow storm.\u00a0 That kind of courage, patriotism and selflessness should be admired.\r\nAnd as our world evolves, so does the National Guard.\r\nOne of the most incredible, forward-looking efforts the Guard has undertaken is the State Partnership Program.\u00a0 We live in a small world.\u00a0 Our economy and security rely on our relationships with countries halfway around the globe, meaning our national defense strategy requires a new level of cooperation with our allies.\u00a0\r\nThrough the State Partnership Program, the National Guard has built relationships with 71 countries, 25 partner nations contributed troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, and 31,000 partner-nation personnel are involved in U.N. peacekeeping operations.\u00a0 That reduces the demand for U.S. forces abroad, keeping more of our men and women in uniform home this Christmas.\r\nThis week, I hope you join me in wishing a happy 377th birthday to the National Guard.\u00a0 My family and I are so grateful for their continued service.\u00a0 Especially during the holiday season, we will be praying for all those who won\u2019t be home this Christmas.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=57cf4a34-fc9f-4f31-9839-bb6b6f618b92", "Simplifying Taxes for Our Mobile Workforce", "2013-12-06", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator John Thune \r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tOur increasingly mobile workforce has created opportunities for businesses to grow and expand throughout the nation. Employees can begin their day on one side of the country, travel several states away and still make it back home in time for dinner. Temporary work assignments for people whose jobs require them to travel and work in multiple states have become increasingly common.\r\nWhen individuals work across state lines for any period during the year, they may be required to file income taxes in their home state and in the states in which they earned income. Currently, there is no uniform standard for levying state income taxes on out-of-state workers. The result is that workers and businesses face a confusing system of 41 different state income tax reporting requirements varying based on the length of stay, amount of income earned, or both. Simplifying the current system will ease reporting burdens for employees and employers.\r\nWhile tax credits are issued in the home state to prevent double taxation, the burden of complying with 41 unique thresholds for income tax reporting complicates filings for businesses and individual employees. Residents of states without an income tax, such as South Dakota, are unable to recover income tax payments to other states.\r\nEmployees and employers should not be burdened with complex tax reporting requirements because jobs in the modern economy involve work in multiple states. That is why last month I introduced legislation along with Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), the Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act, which would establish a clear 30-day threshold test for state income tax purposes. Only after an individual is present and working for more than 30 days out of the year in a state could that state require the worker to file, and the business to withhold, state income taxes.\u00a0This legislation will greatly simplify state income tax filings, is fairer to those residents in states without an income tax, and should help to encourage tax compliance. Our legislation is supported by the South Dakota CPA Society, the American Institute of CPAs, along with several other groups and organizations.\r\nWhile this legislation is an important step to easing the tax reporting requirements for businesses and employees, it is just one of many measures that Congress should consider to reduce tax compliance costs. Streamlining our tax code will strengthen our economy, improve the competitiveness of our businesses, and greatly ease the tax burden for American families.\u00a0I will continue my work in the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee to fight for a tax structure that will create wealth and improve take-home pay for the people of our state and nation.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=6820DE52-BF95-46FB-A100-5B90B1118ED2", "Noem bill would cement some school lunch changes back", "2013-12-05", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Politico Pro \r\n\tRep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) will today introduce a bill to loosen the standards set by the massive overhaul of the school lunch program, potentially refueling criticism against the legislation that passed three years ago.\r\nNoem\u2019s bill, Reducing Federal Mandates on School Lunch Act, would eliminate calorie caps on meat and grain, giving schools some flexibility in what they can serve, especially for those in states such as South Dakota, Noem\u2019s home state, where it\u2019s expensive to get a variety of fruits and vegetables year-round and meet the overall calorie requirements.\r\nAlthough Noem\u2019s bill deals with a specific section of the 2010 Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, it could renew the negative attention the legislation has received since it was passed. Already this week, \u201cFox and Friends\u201d featured a video titled \u201cWe are hungry\u201d that went viral last year in a segment in which Noem discussed her bill.\r\nPrior to Noem unveiling her bill, criticism against the new standards had largely died down since the release of data from the Department of Agriculture that showed that 80 percent of schools were complying with the new standards.\r\nBut in a phone interview with POLITICO, Noem maintained that although schools are complying, they are struggling to meet the added costs. She said she is putting forward the legislation after hearing about hungry students and financially strapped school districts from school nutritionists and her constituents.\r\n\u201cEver since the new regulations were implemented, I\u2019ve been hearing about how difficult it is to deal with not only the added costs, but also with making sure kids are full,\u201d said Noem, who sits on the House Agriculture Committee.\r\nThis is also not the first time the meat and calorie caps set by the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act have been called into question. The Department of Agriculture responded to criticism from lawmakers and schools last year by tweaking the standards to eliminate meat and grain caps, as Noem\u2019s bill proposes, at least temporarily.\r\nThe USDA explained, at the time, that it understood how a limit on grains may be difficult for schools to manage as they could be served as part of the entr\u00e9e, such as a sandwich or pasta, as a side dish, such as rice or a roll, or even be part of a dessert, such as a fruit cobbler.\r\n\u201cThis variety may create challenges for school menu planners considering different portion sizes for a single meal and across the various meals that may be offered on a given day, and that must be summed to stay within the weekly ranges,\u201d the USDA said. \u201cWe understand that in practice, it may be difficult for [school food authorities] to offer meals with relatively larger grain items (e.g., 3 oz.) on the same day as meals with smaller grain items (e.g., 1 oz.), and stay within the weekly ranges.\u201d\r\nBut Noem\u2019s bill seeks to make the USDA\u2019s tweak permanent.\r\n\u201cLet\u2019s do it legislatively, and bring some certainty,\u201d she said.\r\nNoem has so far won the support of the National School Board Association, which said this week that the legislation would provide some relief to schools \u201cstruggling to meet the overly prescriptive and unnecessary federal mandates and balance the prohibitive cost against other essential student need.\u201d\r\nHowever, advocates of the school lunch reform say the legislation doesn\u2019t seem necessary because there\u2019s already agreement on the meat and grain cap and enough flexibility for schools to implement the legislation.\r\n\u201cThe reality is that the vast majority of districts are implementing (the standards) successfully,\u201d said Jessica Donze Black, director of the Kids\u2019 Safe and Healthful Foods Project for the Pew Charitable Trusts.\r\nThe USDA\u2019s Food Nutrition Service already is working with schools to provide assistance and address challenges, which include making the meat and grain flexibilities permanent, an agency spokesperson says.\r\nNoem\u2019s bill faces an uphill climb, given the current gridlock in Congress. She has yet to confirm Democratic support.\r\nRep. Steve King (R-Iowa) reintroduced similar legislation this year, but his bill, which would eliminate overall calorie caps, did not advance out of committee.\r\nThe Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, which was championed by the Obama administration, overhauled the school lunch program for the first time in 15 years. The legislation established a variety of new standards that include limits on calories, salt and fat, and call for schools to serve more whole grains, fruits and vegetables.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=A85F3C17-56E1-4A47-86B0-7920719012E4", "Noem Introduces New School Nutrition Bill", "2013-12-05", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Kristi Noem was joined by her colleagues today in introducing a new school nutrition bill that reduces federal mandates on school lunch standards, which have been a point of contention since their implementation at the beginning of the 2012 school year.\u00a0\r\n\u201cParents, students and school administrators alike have reached out to me with serious concerns about the new school lunch standards,\u201d said Rep. Noem.\u00a0 \u201cThis bill would give those who see our kids every day the flexibility they require to make sure students are getting the food necessary to be successful.\u00a0 Making sure our kids are healthy is one of my top priorities, but I also have a responsibility to make sure they don\u2019t go hungry either.\u201d\u00a0\r\nThe Reducing Federal Mandates on School Lunch Act has been endorsed by the National School Boards Association, the School Superintendents Association (AASA) and the Council of the Great City Schools.\u00a0 The legislation, which has not yet been assigned a bill number, would:\r\n \r\nMake the USDA\u2019s temporary easing of the meat and grain requirements permanent, allowing schools more flexibility in serving meats and grains while still staying within calorie maximums\r\nGive administrators flexibility on some of the rules that have increased costs for school districts", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=2a7eb842-edaf-4999-bfa9-a5e93fe179b5", "Thune Statement on the Passing of Nelson Mandela", "2013-12-05", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tU.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, today made the following comment on the passing of former South African President Nelson Mandela:\r\n\u201cNelson Mandela was a man of courage, honor, and conviction, and the world is a better place because of him. His legacy will continue to inspire generations to work toward greater freedom and justice throughout the world. Kimberley\u2019s and my prayers are with the Mandela family and the people of South Africa as they mourn the loss of this great man and leader.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221094543/http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/videos?ContentRecord_id=82EA7C58-6676-4522-98E9-D13134A48706", "Kristi Talks School Lunch Reform on Fox and Friends", "2013-12-03", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Kristi Noem discussed a new school nutrition bill that reduces federal mandates on school lunch standards, which have been a point of contention since their implementation at the beginning of the 2012 school year. To learn more, visit http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/2013/11/noem-unveils-new-school-nutrition-bill", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=e0782ef2-92c3-4f31-967d-149c49ac4640", "President Offers More Talk, No Action to Protect Americans From ObamaCare Pain", "2013-12-03", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tU.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, today issued the following comment regarding President Obama\u2019s latest ObamaCare sales pitch:\u00a0\r\n\u201cThe harsh reality facing many this holiday season is cancelled policies, spiking premiums, skyrocketing deductibles, and loss of access to their doctors. But instead of offering relief to millions of Americans suffering under his health care law, the president is offering another taxpayer-funded marketing campaign to try to convince them ObamaCare isn\u2019t as bad as it actually is. The American people don\u2019t need more White House speeches\u2014they just need a break from this broken law.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=9F9B14BF-3C56-4484-BA35-CA95D84C47A6", "Noem Weekly Column: Time to Serve Up Better School Lunch Standards", "2013-12-02", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Rep. Kristi Noem \r\n\tAs all parents know, no two kids are exactly alike.\u00a0 I have three kids.\u00a0 Kassidy takes after her father.\u00a0 She is a natural-born athlete.\u00a0 Kennedy on the other hand is more like me.\u00a0 She plays sports too, but she\u2019s a little scrappier than her sister.\u00a0 And Booker \u2013 well, he has more energy than the rest of the family combined.\u00a0 And that says a lot.\r\nEven though all my kids live pretty active lifestyles, they each have varying nutrition needs.\u00a0 Still, current school lunch standards put all our kids into a nationwide one-size-fits-all mold and it isn\u2019t working.\r\nThe new rules took effect at the beginning of the 2012 school year.\u00a0 In addition to stricter calorie regulations, schools are limited as to what can be included in the meals they serve.\u00a0 For example, schools can only serve about 2 oz. of meat per day.\u00a0 That\u2019s equivalent to a chicken breast that is a little smaller than a deck of cards.\u00a0 Similar limits were put on grains and new restrictions were added regarding fruits, vegetables and milk.\r\nParents, students and school administrators alike have reached out to me with serious concerns about the new regulations.\u00a0 In some cases, kids need more to be successful at basketball practice or other afterschool activities.\u00a0 I\u2019ve also heard from school administrators who know that school lunches are the only meal some of their students get every day and they want the flexibility to give them a little extra.\u00a0 On the other side, some kids are leaving school so hungry that they go home and binge.\u00a0 One student from Chester said: \u201cI probably have two bowls, three bowls of cereal when I go home.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 That\u2019s not healthy either.\r\nLast year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture relaxed some of the meat and grain restrictions after so many parents, school administrators and policymakers raised concerns.\u00a0 But their actions only last through the end of this school year.\u00a0 I want to make these changes permanent.\r\nThis December, I am introducing a new school lunch nutrition bill to loosen the regulations that dictate how much meat and grains our students can be served.\u00a0 It will also ease up on some of the rules that have increased financial strain on our school districts.\u00a0\r\nLike many of you, making sure our kids are healthy is one of my top priorities.\u00a0 Childhood obesity is a growing crisis across the country and South Dakota has one of the highest childhood obesity rates in the country.\u00a0 But overburdensome regulations aren\u2019t the right way to buck the trend.\u00a0\r\nWhile we have a long ways to go, South Dakota is one of the few states that is moving in the right direction on childhood obesity.\u00a0 Much of that is due to efforts on the local level where we\u2019ve worked to increase training and education so childcare providers and others can help keep kids more physically active and encourage them to eat more fruits and vegetables.\u00a0 It\u2019s made a difference.\r\nParents must also be involved in forming healthy habits at home.\u00a0 Around the dinner table at my house, we talk a lot about making healthy choices.\u00a0 Those discussions will go much further than restricting my daughter Kennedy to 2 oz. of meat at lunch during volleyball season.\r\nAs with many things that impact our kids, choices about nutrition should be made as close to home as possible.\u00a0 We need to give local schools more flexibility to make sure the kids they see coming through the lunch line every day are getting the food they need to be healthy and successful.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=fdbdd0f3-bc4d-4aa1-a9db-ca575c645b7c", "White House Must Stop Protecting Political Allies from ObamaCare", "2013-11-29", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator John Thune \r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tLabor unions were among the biggest supporters of ObamaCare when the bill was being debated in 2010. After endorsing the bill and working fervently to pass the legislation, unions heralded the passage of the president\u2019s signature law as monumental. Despite their support for the bill, the unions are now beginning to find out the ugly reality of what the law means for their members\u2019 health care plans and they want out. Top union leaders have been quoted as saying that the law will \u201cshatter\u201d health benefits and cause \u201cnightmare scenarios.\u201d Terence O\u2019Sullivan, president of the Laborers\u2019 International Union of North America said, \u201cIf the Affordable Care Act is not fixed\u2026 then I believe it needs to be repealed.\u201d\r\nIn September of 2013, media reports indicated that the White House was considering appeasing growing union concerns regarding ObamaCare by granting unions\u2019 request for special ObamaCare premium tax subsidies for union members with health plans known as Taft-Hartley plans. This carve-out would have allowed union members to receive taxpayer-subsidized premium tax credits on top of generous plans that already receive the employer tax exclusion, forcing taxpayers to double-subsidize union members\u2019 health plans. In order to prevent the White House from moving forward with this proposal, I introduced legislation to prevent the White House from making a special backroom deal for unions.\r\nOn October 30, 2013 and again on November 25, 2013, the Obama administration published regulations that seek to exempt these same Taft-Hartley plans from paying ObamaCare\u2019s reinsurance tax. The reinsurance tax, which is scheduled to begin in 2014, was designed to provide funds to health care plans in the ObamaCare exchanges to help absorb the cost of care for people with pre-existing conditions. The tax is scheduled to raise a total of $25 billion by 2016. If unions are granted this special carve out by the president, the burden will be shifted to all other Americans in self-insured plans, requiring them to pay more to meet the amount of revenue required by law.\r\nIf the Obama administration exempts unions from this tax, they will be sending a clear message that unions are once again above the law under this administration\u2019s regime. Unions should not be granted a special exemption just because the president fears further backlash on his signature law. To ensure that this is not allowed to happen, I introduced a bill that would prevent union health care plans from being exempted from the ObamaCare reinsurance tax. Rather than granting special backroom deals to political allies, the administration should support fairness for all by permanently delaying the law for every American. I will continue working with my colleagues in the Senate to ensure that we shield as many people as possible from the devastating impacts of ObamaCare and that all Americans are treated equal under the law.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=AE3B6CC2-FFFF-4108-885E-1C9467220A3F", "Madison Daily Leader: Noem visits Chester students at mealtime", "2013-11-27", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Chuck Clement \r\n\tThe students at Chester Area School had a special visitor in their cafeteria on Monday while they were eating a special pre-Thanksgiving meal of turkey and sweet potatoes.\r\n\r\nU.S. Rep. Kristi Noem dropped in during the noon meal to talk to the boys and girls. During her visit, Noem talked to the students about many things -- how the basketball teams looked for this season, her work in Washington, D.C., and her family. The South Dakota congresswoman also spoke about a proposal that she has sponsored to reform the most recent changes in the nation's school lunch program.\r\n\r\nNoem, a Republican House member, announced Monday that she would submit the Reducing Federal Mandates on School Lunch Act to Congress next week.\r\n\r\nTwo years ago, the Obama administration had supported changes in school lunches that encouraged more vegetables and fruits on the menus, calorie limits on grains and meat, and total per meal calorie counts. Since then, school officials have argued that the new meal standards from the federal government are too inflexible, leading to difficult meal price increases, complaints about meal sizes, and inconvenient restraints on what cafeterias can serve.\r\n\r\n\"A lot of our schools are having a hard time adjusting to (the new standards),\" Noem said, speaking to a Chester High School government class after the lunch period.\r\n\r\nNoem's legislation would make permanent the U.S. Agriculture Department's temporary easing of meat and grain rules and offer some flexibility to school administrators concerning requirements that have increased meal costs.\r\n\r\nIn a press release, Noem said, \"...forcing schools into a one-size-fits-all school lunch program doesn't work for our schools or our students.\"\r\n\r\nNoem also argued that the current meal standards \"place an unnecessary burden on school administrators\" in small and poorer school districts and reservations and \"send many of our kids home feeling hungry.\"\r\n\r\nSpeaking to the government students, Noem said that some complaints about the new meal rules centered on students throwing away too much food. She listened to questions and comments from the students. Erin Benson, a Chester senior, said that it didn't seem possible that elementary students should share the same meal standards as high school students.\r\n\r\nOther classroom discussion subjects included a new Farm Bill, the U.S. Forest Service and the national debt.\r\n\r\nNoem said that she considered a successful agricultural sector and the Farm Bill programs \"as a national security situation\" -- insurance that the U.S. would have a stable food supply.\r\n\r\n\"We wanted to make sure that we were able to feed ourselves and it was affordable,\" Noem said.\r\n\r\nAccording to Noem, the Forest Service should have the ability to move dead timber from the nation's forests to reduce fire danger. Congress and the Forest Service have worked on the Mountain Pine Beetle Response Project, an effort to remove dead trees and improve forest health.\r\n\r\nNoem expressed her concerns about federal spending and the U.S. national debt, which is currently estimated at $17 trillion. She also spoke about the sale of U.S. Treasury securities to foreign nations and overseas investors.\r\n\r\n\"We're borrowing from a communist country, China, to pay our bills,\" Noem said.\r\n\r\nAs of Oct. 2013, accounting shows that out of foreign-held U.S. debt, China holds $1.3 trillion, Japan has $1.1 trillion and European countries including Russia hold a total of $1.1 trillion. Overseas holdings of U.S. debt amount to about $5.7 trillion.\r\n\r\nThe remaining $11.3 trillion is held by governmental entities and many domestic investors. The Social Security Trust Fund contains $2.76 trillion in Treasury securities, government retirement funds (including federal and Postal Service employees) hold $827 billion, mutual funds own $946 billion, and state and local governments have $704 billion.\r\n\r\nOther holders of national debt include the Federal Reserve at $1.8 trillion, other investors (including personal trusts and estates, brokers, dealers and businesses) at $1.5 trillion, and U.S. Savings Bond holders at $182 billion.\r\n\r\nAs the Q&A session wrapped up, Chester Superintendent Heath Larson told Noem that he would appreciate any flexibility on school meal program rules that the federal government could provide.\r\n\r\nAccording to Larson, Chester's program had to change serving one of the students' favorite standby menu items, buns and peanut butter, because the meal planners couldn't keep the overall meal calorie count below official limits. He said the cafeteria had to offer the sandwiches as an a la carte item at extra cost.\r\n\r\nNoem had visited 15 high school students in Adam Gale's government class.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=CA218216-9E96-4688-A8FF-25FB34DC4680", "KSFY: Rep. Kristi Noem to introduce school lunch guidelines bill", "2013-11-26", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Do your kids complain about running on empty after not getting enough to eat during school lunch?\r\nDo they then come home from school and binge eat?\r\nRepresentative Kristi Noem heard some South Dakota kids have been grumbling about their empty stomachs and plans to introduce a bill to stop the rumbling .\r\nKSFY News spoke with Noem and a group of students at Chester Area School, Monday.\r\nSince new federal school lunch regulations took effect, many high school and middle school students told us Monday, they're not getting enough to eat.\r\nAnd while the new rules may have been designed to fight obesity and promote proper nutrition, some students say there are a few side effects.\r\nEighth grader Cole Pry doesn't think much of the smaller portions and changes in the school lunch program.\r\n\"I go home and I eat a lot. I probably have two bowls, three bowls of cereal when I go home, personally,\" Pry said. Many students say most days, their plates are anything but full.\r\nSophomore Evan Baumberger said \"some lunches are ok but there are some that feel like you could add more to them. For instance, I'm an athlete, and after school we usually have practices and usually I get hungry at the end of the day because lunch doesn't always fill me up.\" \"Every day I still consider bringing a school lunch but I'm sort of lazy.\u00a0 I don't want to go and make it and everything.\u00a0 So I do consider it though to get more in my meal , otherwise it's a very light calorie and you're super hungry. And by the end of the day, I'm starving,\" Pry said. It's not every day kids get to eat a turkey platter like this. Some days, lunch just gets dumped.\r\n\"It depends what kind of day it is, if you have practice after school you'd have to eat it but if you don't then, you just throw it away. I guess and don't think much about it,\" Baumberger said. So congresswoman Kristi Noem wants those who serve our kids everyday to decide how our kids eat lunch.\r\n\"I just want to make those guidelines instead of regulations. If we can let our local administrators determine how best to feed our kids with the guidelines from the federal government, I think that that's the best approach,\" Noem said. Chester Area School superintendent Heath Larson said \"I think the opportunity for some homemade food here in Chester has always been a big priority in what the kids have been used to, so with that opportunity we would certainly appreciate the flexibility and local control.\" \"For a lot of people around the area, this might be their only warm meal they might get for the day, and they really cut it back , which is really sad,\" Baumberger said.\r\nNoem believes it's important to have guidelines but she doesn't believe federal funding should be held over a district's head for making sure it's kids get enough to eat.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=c9bdb93d-703e-45e8-8d50-933f3e9eba2a", "Thune to Farm Bill Conferees: Long-Term Extension is Not an Option", "2013-11-26", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tSenator John Thune (R-S.D.) today sent a letter to Farm Bill conferees strongly urging them to reach an agreement on the controversial Farm Bill provisions rather than consider another long-term extension of the expired 2008 Farm Bill. Thune said in his letter, \u201cAn unfinished Farm Bill will continue the highly uncertain future for agriculture producers, ag-related businesses, consumers, rural economies, and the stewardship of our land and water brought about by last year\u2019s extension.\u201d\r\nIn his letter, Thune recommended that conferees drop the most controversial Commodity Title provision which authorizes payments based on planted acres and fixed commodity prices. According to Thune, conferees must first reach agreement on basic core program provisions that are not only effective for the agriculture producers, but also are defensible to taxpayers and our global trading partners.\r\n\u201cNo one gains by another long-term Farm Bill extension,\u201d said Thune. \u201cCommodity crop producers are facing rapidly dropping prices, livestock producers are waiting on disaster assistance, and conservation programs need to be locked in to help provide land stewardship tools to protect our soil and water.\u201d\r\nThe 2008 Farm Bill Conference Report was filed 151 days after the Senate passed its version of the Farm Bill. During that time, the 2002 Farm Bill was extended for six short-term intervals in 2007 and 2008 ranging from three months to one week. \u201cBased upon the timeframe established by the 2008 Farm Bill, there is still time for conferees to reach agreement and have a Farm Bill in place for 2014 crops,\u201d said Thune. \u201cI\u2019m hopeful we can enact a new Farm Bill that brings our agriculture policies into the 21st century.\u201d\r\nAlthough, the Senate-passed Farm Bill includes controversial Commodity Title provisions, the bill also contains several provisions championed by Thune, including livestock disaster programs, first authored by Thune and Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.) in the 2008 Farm Bill, and his sodsaver provision.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=B8B352FE-5AA7-44DD-8784-F320EEEDF8F9", "Capital Journal: Noem discusses farm bill, partisan politics with Riggs government class", "2013-11-25", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By David Rookhuyzen  \r\n\tU.S. Rep. Krisiti Noem spent an hour with government students at T.F. Riggs High School on Friday, mainly touching on her experience in Washington and the major things she hopes to accomplish before the end of the year.\r\nA good portion was spent discussing the work to pass a new farm bill, with Noem highlighting the need to help West River ranchers recover from the livestock losses they suffered during a blizzard last month.\r\nAnother purpose of a farm bill is to ensure that the country is able to feed itself and does not have to rely on other parts of the world, such as South America, to meet basic nutritional needs, Noem said.\r\n\u201cI think when we allow another country to feed us, they control us,\u201d she said.\r\nWhen asked about partisan strife and the recent government shut down, Noem said many of her peers are doing what they think will be best received back in their districts. Because of gerrymandering and regional political climates, many districts strongly support politicians who fail to compromise.\r\nThat\u2019s why she tries to get at least one co-sponsor of the opposite party on her bills, she said.\u00a0 \u00a0\r\n\u201cIf I can\u2019t find one Democrat to think what I\u2019m doing is a good idea, I probably shouldn\u2019t do it,\u201d Noem said.\r\nShe also suggested that another way to ensure that Congress is more productive is to improve the bill-passing process.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=425FE2AC-378F-43EC-85C3-A2E60AA3E0CC", "Noem Unveils New School Nutrition Bill", "2013-11-25", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Kristi Noem today unveiled a new school nutrition bill that reduces federal mandates on school lunch standards, which have been a point of contention since their implementation at the beginning of the 2012 school year.\u00a0 The announcement was made while Rep. Noem ate lunch with high school students in Chester, SD.\r\n\u201cAs a mother of three, I know every kid has a different activity level and different nutrition needs, so forcing schools into a one-size-fits-all school lunch program doesn\u2019t work for our schools or our students,\u201d said Rep. Noem.\u00a0 \u201cCurrent school lunch standards place an unnecessary burden on school administrators, especially in some of our smaller school districts, our poorest counties and our reservations, and send many of our kids home feeling hungry.\u00a0 My Reducing Federal Mandates on School Lunch Act gives flexibility to schools to help ensure our kids get the nutrition they need to be healthy and successful throughout the day.\u201d\r\nThe Reducing Federal Mandates on School Lunch Act will be introduced during the first week of December 2013.\u00a0 The legislation, which is endorsed by the National School Boards Association, would:\r\n \r\nMake the USDA\u2019s temporary easing of the meat and grain requirements permanent, allowing schools more flexibility in serving meats and grains while still staying within calorie maximums\r\nGive administrators flexibility on some of the rules that have increased costs for school districts", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221085042/http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/events?ContentRecord_id=35E79108-2A19-4200-9B64-7D2450E449CE", "Rep. Noem to Host Huron Roundtable Tuesday", "2013-11-25", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Kristi Noem will host a roundtable discussion with community leaders in Huron on Tuesday, November 26, at the Crossroads Convention Center. \u00a0If you would like to cover the event, please contact Brittany Gross at brittany.gross@mail.house.gov or call 202-225-2801.\n- TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26 -\nWHAT:\u00a0 Rep. Noem to Host Huron Roundtable\nWHEN:\u00a0 3:30PM-4:30PM (CT)\nLOCATION:\u00a0 Crossroads Convention Center (100 4th Street SW, Huron), Dakota Ballroom B\nADDITIONAL INFORMATION:\u00a0 Rep. Noem will hold a roundtable discussion to address key legislative issues that impact businesses and families in Huron and the surrounding area.\u00a0 A brief media availability will be held immediately following the event.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=421ee9ff-ee0a-4b06-a668-0d6c9ad311c3", "Thune Blasts Administration\u2019s Proposed Rule to Exempt Unions From ObamaCare Reinsurance Tax", "2013-11-25", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tU.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, tonight criticized the Obama administration\u2019s decision to publish (see page 70) a proposed rule that would exempt union health care plans, known as Taft-Hartley plans, from the ObamaCare reinsurance tax, which would likely force other self-insured plans, including those of employers, charities, and faith-based organizations, to pay more to meet the amount of revenue required by law.\r\n\u201cBy publishing this proposed rule, the Obama administration moves closer to ensuring that its political allies will receive special treatment under the law,\u201d said Thune. \u201cDespite endorsing ObamaCare and working fervently to get it passed, unions are now experiencing the ugly reality of this law, and they want out. This exemption is crony capitalism at its worst. I will continue to push for passage of my Union Tax Fairness Act, which would ensure that unions are not treated as if they are above the law.\u201d\r\nThe ObamaCare reinsurance tax is scheduled to begin in 2014 and requires all self-insured plans to pay a tax for each person covered under a health plan. The tax was designed to provide funds to health care plans in the ObamaCare exchanges to help absorb the cost of care for people with pre-existing conditions.\r\nOn November 19, 2013, Thune introduced the Union Tax Fairness Act (S.1724) to explicitly prevent the White House from exempting unions from the reinsurance tax. His legislation currently has 12 co-sponsors.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=4F99CDA3-5E28-4E9E-BCD4-AB1F7A802471", "Weekly Column: Freedom to Be Thankful", "2013-11-22", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Rep. Kristi Noem \r\n\tBy July, Halloween candy fills the shelves at Target, Wal-Mart and our local grocery stores.\u00a0 And before our kids can say \u201cTrick or Treat,\u201d you can find Christmas decorations everywhere with almost no mention of turkeys or cornucopias \u2013 unless we\u2019re talking about taking advantage of the early bird holiday sales that is.\u00a0 It shouldn\u2019t be that way.\u00a0 We should have the freedom to be thankful.\r\nNo, the world hasn\u2019t necessarily dealt us a perfect hand this year.\u00a0 Sioux Falls was hit by an ice storm that left tens of thousands without power for several days.\u00a0 In October, west river was hit with an unprecedented blizzard that impacted the livelihoods of hundreds more.\u00a0 But the power did came back on and we have friends and neighbors rallying around those impacted by Winter Storm Atlas, donating money and offering a shoulder to lean on.\u00a0\r\nYes, the nation\u2019s economy has failed to recover.\u00a0 The country\u2019s unemployment rate seems to rise unrelentlessly.\u00a0 But like the portrait Norman Rockwell painted during the Great Depression, many of us will still gather together this Thanksgiving with others.\u00a0 For at least a moment, we will focus on being thankful for our blessings.\r\nAnd of course, partisanship sometimes seems to have stalled progress in our federal government.\u00a0 But our country still recognizes the freedom of speech.\u00a0 We can vote and when a new voice comes to power, we are confident that violent riots won\u2019t erupt on the streets.\u00a0 We can vocally disagree and then come together at the same dinner table on Thanksgiving to break bread with \u201cthe other side.\u201d\r\nStill, not all our sons and daughters will be home this Thanksgiving.\u00a0 They will be serving their country in Afghanistan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and elsewhere.\u00a0 But the bombs and missiles that fall across the Middle East are far removed from our homes, schools, and places of worship.\u00a0 We must be thankful that we have a freedom from that kind of fear because of their service and the sacrifices made by all our veterans.\r\nAnd when all else fails, here in America, we have the freedom to worship.\r\nThis Thanksgiving, let us pause before the holiday shopping season sets in to give thanks for the food, family, friends, and fellowship that surround us on this day.\r\nLet us be grateful for those who are overseas maintaining our liberty, defending our freedom of speech and worship, and fighting to make sure we are free from fear.\r\nLet us give thanks.\u00a0 After all, we have so much to be grateful for.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221085108/http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/events?ContentRecord_id=C2961D36-0FA0-4B3E-BAA3-2CBBD9BE4389", "Rep. Noem to Unveil New School Nutrition Bill", "2013-11-22", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Kristi Noem will unveil a new school nutrition bill at Chester High School on Monday, November 25. \u00a0If you would like to cover Rep. Noem\u2019s visit to Chester, please contact Brittany Gross at brittany.gross@mail.house.gov or call 202-225-2801.\n- MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25 -\nWHAT:\u00a0 Rep. Noem to Hold Media Availability\nWHEN:\u00a0 12:00-12:15PM (CT)\nLOCATION:\u00a0 Chester High School (102 2nd Avenue, Chester, SD)\nADDITIONAL INFORMATION:\u00a0 Rep. Noem will unveil a new school nutrition bill and have lunch with Chester High School students.\n\u00a0\nWHAT:\u00a0 Rep. Noem to Speak to Chester High School Government Class\nWHEN:\u00a0 12:45-1:15PM (CT)\nLOCATION:\u00a0 Chester High School (102 2nd Avenue, Chester, SD)\nADDITIONAL INFORMATION:\u00a0 Rep. Noem will be speaking to Chester High School\u2019s government class about civic engagement and what she\u2019s working on as a Member of Congress.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=2ac6e623-8293-4c26-b2ad-c8f74c05f354", "Local Businesses Deserve Our Support", "2013-11-22", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Throughout the year, communities across South Dakota rely on the generosity of their local businesses. Whether asked to sponsor the local softball team, contribute to the community fireworks show, or support the homecoming parade, we expect local businesses to rise to the occasion and support developments, projects, and student organizations. While these businesses are typically among the first to step up and meet community needs, the conscious decision to shop local is what keeps their doors open and their businesses stimulating our local economies.\r\nThe lagging economy and rising health care costs have made the economic climate particularly difficult for many small businesses. This uncertainty has led to revenue and job loss, and many small businesses wonder how they will weather the economic storm. The hope for any small business during the holiday season is that members of their community will first choose to shop local for their holiday gifts. The loyalty and patronage of customers to small businesses across the state injects money into local establishments, helping them to lower prices and provide a greater array of products and services.\r\nIn Washington, I believe we must do more to provide certainty and support for our small businesses, which are the primary source of job creation in our country. Small businesses in South Dakota and across the country continue to struggle under the weight of ObamaCare mandates. According to a Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index survey earlier this year, nearly four in 10 small business owners are holding back hiring because of costs associated with implementing ObamaCare. Instead of putting up more roadblocks preventing small businesses from expanding and creating jobs, we should be working to provide certainty by repealing ObamaCare and starting over with common-sense reforms that actually reduce health care costs for businesses and families alike.\u00a0\r\nWhile Congress has much work to do when it comes to providing regulatory relief for small businesses and creating an economic climate that encourages businesses to expand and hire, the best way for South Dakotans to help small businesses is to shop local. As the holiday season kicks off, I encourage South Dakotans not to limit your small business patronage to Small Business Saturday. Remember to support your friends; support your community; and support small businesses by shopping local throughout this holiday season.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140228001848/http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/events?ContentRecord_id=44C14CC4-11C2-4DFF-95DB-7D6793B367A6", "Rep. Noem to Attend Pierre Events", "2013-11-21", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Kristi Noem will attend events in Pierre on Friday, November 22. \u00a0If you would like to cover either event, please contact Brittany Gross at brittany.gross@mail.house.gov or call 202-225-2801.\n- FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22 -\nWHAT:\u00a0 Rep. Noem to Speak to T.F. Riggs High School Government Class\nWHEN:\u00a0 1:15PM (CT)\nLOCATION:\u00a0 T.F. Riggs High School (1010 E. Broadway Ave., Pierre, SD)\nADDITIONAL INFORMATION:\u00a0 Rep. Noem will be speaking to the class about civic engagement and what she\u2019s working on as a Member of Congress.\n\u00a0\nWHAT:\u00a0 Rep. Noem to Speak at 96th Annual Farm Bureau Meeting\nWHEN:\u00a0 3:15PM (CT)\nLOCATION:\u00a0 Best Western Ramkota Hotel (920 W. Sioux Ave., Pierre, SD)\nADDITIONAL INFORMATION:\u00a0 Rep. Noem will be speaking to the Farm Bureau about the latest efforts to finalize the 2013 Farm Bill and other agriculture-related issues.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=09852a0c-3694-4762-86ad-df41060605c8", "Baldwin and Thune Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Increase Efficiency in Healthcare Delivery, Reduce Costs", "2013-11-21", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tU.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and John Thune (R-S.D.) today introduced bipartisan legislation that increases the transparency of healthcare costs in Medicare - helping doctors, health systems, private insurers, and research institutions provide more efficient, higher quality healthcare and better patient outcomes.\r\n\u201cMedicare is the single largest payer of healthcare services in the country, spending over $600 billion each year. But we have very little access to what we are paying for,\u201d said Baldwin. \u201cThe Quality Data, Quality Healthcare Act provides access to that data and puts it into the hands of those who can use it, increasing efficiency in the delivery of healthcare and helping us get better bang for our healthcare buck.\u201d\r\n\u201cProviding access to data that can be used to evaluate healthcare services is a critical component of increasing transparency and reducing healthcare costs,\u201d said Thune. \u201cOur bill would ultimately provide data to evaluate the areas of healthcare that are working and those that are not, thereby lowering costs and increasing efficiency. I hope our colleagues will join us in supporting this common-sense measure to improve the quality of healthcare while reducing costs.\u201d\r\nAs the largest payer of healthcare in the United States, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services sits on a wealth of information that can help inform healthcare providers in making better decisions that will improve patient care and reduce costs. Economists have argued that expanding access to Medicare cost and utilization data will increase efficiency in healthcare delivery, reduce costs, and improve the quality of care.\r\nCongress and the administration have taken initial steps to make Medicare data more widely available. One of the more promising efforts is the Qualified Entity (QE) program, which permits organizations to access and analyze Medicare data for select purposes. The QE program has the potential to empower our nation\u2019s healthcare decision-makers to make better choices. However, current law is far too restrictive on which organizations can participate in the QE program; what QEs can do with the Medicare data once they have received it; and the degree to which QEs can support their own data maintenance infrastructures.\r\nThe Quality Data, Quality Healthcare Act would provide for greater access to Medicare claims data by modernizing and reforming the QE program. The legislation would:\r\n\u2022Allow organizations receiving Medicare data to analyze and redistribute it to authorized subscribers (insurers, health systems, and physicians) so that subscribers can make more informed decisions; and\r\n\u2022Permit those entities to charge a fee to their subscribers so that the organizations can conduct robust analyses to improve healthcare quality and reduce costs.\u00a0\r\nOrganizations from across the political spectrum support Baldwin and Thune\u2019s \u201cmuch-needed\u201d efforts to reform the QE program, including: Council for Affordable Health Coverage, National Coalition on Health Care, AARP, Blue Shield of California, The Boeing Company, Castlight Health, Caterpillar Inc., Communicating for America, Community Catalyst Compass Healthcare Advisors, Corporate Health Care Coalition, The Dow Chemical Company, Health Care Cost Institute HR Policy Committee, National Association of Health Underwriters, National Association of Manufacturers, National Retail Federation Pacific Business Group on Health, Midwest Business Group on Health, U.S. PIRG, UPS, Xerox Corporation.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=a8a00238-447f-47f6-925d-0663a914abf0", "Thune Statement on Senate Democrats\u2019 Use of Nuclear Option", "2013-11-21", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tU.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, today issued the following statement on the Senate Democrats\u2019 use of the nuclear option to change the Senate rules for confirming executive and judicial nominees:\r\n\u201cSenate Democrats are desperate to talk about anything other than the disastrous train wreck of ObamaCare, and are willing to break the rules of the Senate to do so. With millions of Americans facing dropped coverage, sticker shock from premium hikes, and the loss of access to their doctor, it\u2019s not surprising that Democrats would want to change the subject away from all of their broken ObamaCare promises. Unfortunately for Americans, they don\u2019t have the luxury of simply changing the subject.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=6DE12EA3-C751-4A25-A26D-8AAD3F40C84C", "AP: South Dakota code talkers get Congressional Gold Medals", "2013-11-20", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "American Indians who sent coded messages to shield U.S. military communications from the enemy during World Wars I and II are being honored today at the nation's capital.Several South Dakota and North Dakota tribes are among 33 tribes to be recognized as part of the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony in Washington, D.C., for the Native American code talkers. Code talkers used their native language to send communications that enemies could not decode. Toni Red Cloud, who lives on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, said her late father, Melvin, and late uncle, William, were code talkers. She's still learning details of their service to the country because they never talked about it in front of her or her sisters. \"It's an honor,\" she said earlier this month of her father and uncle being honored posthumously. \"The whole family was patriotic. He (her father) kept us respectful of the flag and the country that he served. That was just the way he raised us.\" At least three other deceased Oglala Lakota code talkers from the reservation also will be recognized. \"It's a big honor, especially for the Lakota,\" Tribal President Bryan Brewer said. \"The Navajo, they're real famous for their code talkers, but our story has always been kind of quiet. This is a once-in-a-lifetime deal for the families.\" The Congressional Gold Medal is one of the highest honors bestowed by Congress. \"Drawing from their ancient heritage, the code talkers helped transform modern history through a system that was as effective as it was ingenious,\" U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem said. \"It is long overdue that we recognize the power and relief these code talkers brought our county and Allied forces.\" Other South Dakota tribes being recognized are the Rosebud Sioux, Cheyenne River Sioux, Crow Creek Sioux, Lower Brule Sioux and Yankton Sioux. The Standing Rock Sioux and Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, in South Dakota and North Dakota, also are being honored.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=39c2f774-11ec-48e9-b7bb-6b88f85fc623", "Thune Introduces Amendment in Support of Next Generation Long-Range Strike Bomber", "2013-11-19", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tSenator John Thune (R-S.D.) introduced an amendment (S.Amdt. 2093) to the National Defense Authorization Act that would reiterate Congress\u2019 commitment to the development of the next generation Long-Range Strike Bomber.\r\n\r\n\u201cAs potential adversaries continue to modernize their anti-aircraft systems, our ability to penetrate those systems must also modernize,\u201d said Thune. \u201cThe next generation bomber will ensure our ability to operate effectively in anti-access and area-denial environments. As the Air Force continues to modernize, the Long-Range Strike Bomber remains a must-have capability for future combat operations. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this important amendment to ensure our military continues to prioritize, and develop the next generation bomber.\u201d\r\n\r\nSouth Dakota\u2019s Ellsworth Air Force base\u2019s 28th Bomb Wing is home to two of the three combat squadrons operating the B-1B strategic bomber. Of the three aircraft that currently make up our bomber fleet, the B-1B has the highest payload, the fastest maximum speed, and operates at the lowest cost per flying hour. As the Air Force seeks to develop the next generation Long-Range Strike Bomber, the B-1B remains the workhorse of our bomber fleet, defending our nation at home while retaining our ability to strike against threats abroad.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=b784814b-2bfe-4741-b412-010cdc852093", "GOP Senators Introduce Bill to Prevent Special Union Exemption From ObamaCare Reinsurance Tax", "2013-11-19", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tFollowing media reports that the Obama administration is once again trying to find a way to exempt unions from ObamaCare\u2019s numerous taxes and mandates, U.S. Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), and eight of their Republican colleagues today introduced the Union Tax Fairness Act (S. 1724), a bill to prevent union health care plans, known as Taft-Hartley plans, from being exempted from the ObamaCare reinsurance tax.\r\n\r\n\u201cUnions should not be granted a special exemption from ObamaCare\u2019s reinsurance tax just because the president fears further union backlash on his signature law,\u201d said Thune. \u201cThese unions agreed to pay this tax when they endorsed ObamaCare, but now that they are finding out what the law means for them and their plans, they want out. Rather than granting special backroom deals to political allies, the administration should support fairness for all by permanently delaying the law for every American.\u201d\r\n\r\nAlexander said, \u201cThe Obama Administration should not reward its labor union friends and allies who helped pass the health care law by giving them a carveout from the law\u2019s worst provisions. This hefty reinsurance fee is one of the many job-killing taxes that helped pay for the passage of the law\u2014the administration should be embarrassed that it would consider exempting their union cronies without providing similar relief to our nation\u2019s employers and faith-based and charitable organizations.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cThe Obama Administration can't just circumvent Congress whenever it wants to curry favor with its political allies,\u201d said Hatch. \u201cSince the overwhelming majority of self-administered health insurance plans are run by unions, let's call this what it is: a political payback by the Administration to its union friends for backing this disastrous law. But the fact is, the White House doesn\u2019t have the authority to change the law on its own and, as this bill makes clear, any attempt at a Big Labor carveout from ObamaCare must be approved by Congress.\u201d\r\n\r\nThe ObamaCare reinsurance tax is scheduled to begin in 2014 and requires all self-insured plans to pay a tax for each person covered under a health plan. The tax was designed to provide funds to health care plans in the ObamaCare exchanges to help absorb the cost of care for people with pre-existing conditions. Thune\u2019s bill would prevent the White House from providing a special fix for unions that would exempt them from the reinsurance tax.\r\n\r\nIn addition to Alexander and Hatch, Thune\u2019s bill is co-sponsored by Senators James Inhofe (R-Okla.), David Vitter (R-La.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.).\r\n\r\nLast week, Thune, Alexander, and Hatch also led 18 of their Republican Senate colleagues in sending a\u00a0letter\u00a0that urged the Obama administration not to move forward with a proposed regulation that would exempt unions from the reinsurance tax.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=FE0DD1CF-2517-4AB5-A8A3-A639B23214AE", "AP: SD livestock industry counting on farm bill", "2013-11-16", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congress last enacted a farm bill in 2008, but it expired in September 2012 and was later extended through September of this year. As a result, key provisions protecting livestock producers were not in place when a devastating blizzard pounded South Dakota in early October.\r\nThe unusual, early-in-the season storm dropped up to 4 feet of snow in parts of the state, catching ranchers flatfooted. Images of dead, trapped cattle in the snow brought home the storm's devastating impact. State officials have estimated a loss of as many as 15,000 to 30,000 cattle in the Oct. 4-5 storm.\r\nHad a farm bill been in place, those ranchers would have access to help from the federal government through a livestock disaster program. But with none on the books, one of South Dakota's largest industries has had limited help as it tries to recover.\r\n\"The way (the livestock) died was simply not insurable,\" said Rep. Kristi Noem, R-S.D. \"That's why these types of programs are so important.\"\r\nNoem is at the center of farm bill negotiations as an appointed member of the committee trying to reconcile differences between two different versions of the bill. One was passed by the GOP-controlled House, the other by the Democratic-led Senate.\r\nThe livestock disaster program isn't particularly controversial: Both the House and Senate versions contain provisions for livestock producers. But there are serious differences between the bills on other issues, particularly funding for food stamps. Until those issues are resolved, there is no relief for ranchers.\r\nNoem said the wrenching images that emerged from South Dakota have had one positive effect \u2014 they've focused many lawmakers on the task of crafting a compromise.\r\n\"I think it helped give us a sense of urgency for why a farm bill is so important,\" she said. \"I've been pushing for this for two years, but that blizzard hitting South Dakota showed the rest of the members what can happen and what a tragic situation you have when we have no permanent programs in place.\"\r\nOther members of South Dakota's delegation have joined Noem in pushing for a deal, though she is the only one who is in direct negotiations. All have emphasized the importance of a quick resolution.\r\nSen. John Thune, a member of the Senate's Republican leadership, prodded House Republicans, writing a letter to Speaker John Boehner stressing the importance of moving quickly on the farm bill after the blizzard hit South Dakota.\r\nDemocratic Sen. Tim Johnson took to the Senate floor noting the outpouring of support for ranchers from in and out of South Dakota. However, he lamented that one place where response to the tragedy fell short was with the federal government.\r\n\"Because of the government shutdown, producers can't rely on their FSA offices for assistance,\" Johnson said. \"And since Congress hasn't finished a farm bill, West River ranchers have to wait for disaster assistance.\"\r\nBeyond restoring protections for livestock producers, the wide-ranging farm bill contains a number of pieces that are important to South Dakotans.\r\nThere is language that would keep the basic framework of crop insurance in place, a key piece for farmers. Both the House and Senate bills provide funding for academic agricultural research. And there are provisions designed to protect native soil and support land conservation.\r\nNoem said negotiations on the farm bill are ongoing and this week included meetings among staff on both sides. She said everyone involved realizes how important it is to pass legislation before the end of the year.\r\n\"We recognize that we need to get this done,\" she said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=B789B845-DE78-4225-A808-AB3BA4BB6CD3", "AP: Noem says her focus remains repealing 'Obamacare'", "2013-11-15", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Kristi Noem voted with the majority in passing the Keep Your Health Plan Act but says her long-term goal is repealing \"Obamacare.\"\r\nThe 261-157 roll call Friday in the House would let insurance companies sell individual coverage to everyone, even if it falls short of standards in the health overhaul.\r\nThe South Dakota Republican says the act will help temporarily, but her main focus is the American Health Care Reform Act.\r\nShe says it would repeal the president's health care law and replace it with legislation to increase completion, reform medical malpractice laws and change the tax code so health insurance costs are tax deductible.\r\nPresident Barack Obama announced Thursday that insurance companies would be given the option to keep offering consumers insurance policies that would otherwise be canceled.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=4a254780-d98b-4dda-a71e-100155bb3714", "Weekly Column: The Affordable Care Act's Unaffordability", "2013-11-15", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Since the new healthcare exchanges opened on October 1, my office has received dozens of calls and letters from South Dakota families who are seeing their premiums skyrocket.\u00a0\u00a0 Some of the South Dakotans calling into our office have explained that even when their plans were grandfathered in, their premiums were not.\u00a0\r\nOne family had to triple their deductable from $2,500 to $7,500 in order to get premiums down to where they were before Obamacare.\u00a0 That\u2019s just not acceptable and in many cases it\u2019s not affordable either.\r\nWe learned earlier this month that just 27,000 Americans signed up for coverage on Healthcare.gov between October 1 and November 1.\u00a0 Just 58 of those individuals were South Dakotans.\u00a0 Much of the blame for low enrollment numbers has been placed on website glitches, but as the President has said on many occasions, the Affordable Care Act is more than a website and I agree.\u00a0\r\nEven in states that ran their own exchanges and had a working sign-up website, enrollment was low.\u00a0 Just over 75,000 enrollees entered the program in these states, falling well below expectations.\u00a0\r\nThe poor enrollment is more than a communications problem for the administration.\u00a0 It is also a fundamental problem for the program.\u00a0 The healthcare exchanges were designed with an understanding that large amounts of young, healthy people needed to sign up in order to balance out the costs of older and less healthy individuals.\u00a0 Low enrollment figures mean these young people aren\u2019t signing up, which could cause premiums to increase even more.\r\nWe need to protect as many people as we can with reforms to the Affordable Care Act, but temporary fixes, such as allowing individuals to stay on their current plans for one more year, won\u2019t fix the healthcare law\u2019s underlying problems.\u00a0 The only way to do that is to replace the Affordable Care Act with a consumer-driven approach.\r\nI co-sponsored one such alternative, the American Health Care Reform Act.\u00a0 This legislation would increase competition by allowing Americans to purchase health insurance across state lines.\u00a0 It would reform medical malpractice laws and change the tax code so families and individuals could deduct healthcare costs on their tax filing, just like businesses already do.\u00a0 It would expand access to Health Savings Accounts and still provide a safeguard for individuals with pre-existing conditions.\u00a0 These reforms will give consumers more choices and target the core drivers of healthcare costs.\r\nThe healthcare law isn\u2019t working.\u00a0 South Dakotans have called my office and reported that their premiums are rising by $3,000, $7,000, even $12,000 a year because of the new government regulations created by Obamacare.\u00a0 For taxpayers, the costs are also on the rise.\u00a0 President Obama originally estimated the Affordable Care Act would cost around $900 billion, but more recent projections by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office show it will be closer to $1.8 trillion, double the original estimate.\r\nIt\u2019s just not affordable.\u00a0 This week, I launched a new effort to better hear the stories of those who have been impacted.\u00a0 South Dakotans can visit www.Noem.House.Gov/MyStory to tell me about the real impact the Affordable Care Act is having on their family.\r\nToo often we throw around numbers and projections, but here in South Dakota we are now finding out the real personal costs of the health care law.\u00a0 I look forward to hearing your story.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=73606f83-4075-413f-9463-b6e05475ed72", "Noem Supports Keep Your Health Plan Act", "2013-11-15", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Kristi Noem today commented on her support of the Keep Your Health Plan Act of 2013, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives with bipartisan support this afternoon.\r\n\r\n\u201cI am proud to join so many of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to provide temporary relief for those who have lost coverage because of the Affordable Care Act's egregious government regulations,\u201d said Rep. Noem. \u201cI remain focused, however, on providing permanent relief for Americans. I have sponsored legislation to fully repeal Obamacare and replace it with a consumer-driven approach that targets the largest drivers of healthcare costs.\u201d\r\n\r\nCongresswoman Kristi Noem signed on as a co-sponsor of the American Health Care Reform Act of 2013 in late October. Introduced by Rep. Phil Roe (R-Tenn.), the American Health Care Reform Act would:\r\n\r\n \r\nFully repeal President Obama's health care law, eliminating billions in taxes and thousands of pages of unworkable regulations and mandates that are driving up health care costs.\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\nSpur competition to lower health care costs by allowing Americans to purchase health insurance across state lines and enabling small businesses to pool together and get the same buying power as large corporations.\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\nReform medical malpractice laws in a commonsense way that limits trial lawyer fees and non-economic damages while maintaining strong protections for patients.\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\nProvide tax reform that allows families and individuals to deduct health care costs, just like companies, leveling the playing field and providing all Americans with a standard deduction for health insurance.\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\nExpand access to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), increasing the amount of pre-tax dollars individuals can deposit into portable savings accounts to be used for health care expenses.\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\nSafeguard individuals with pre-existing conditions from being discriminated against purchasing health insurance by bolstering state-based high risk pools and extending HIPAA guaranteed availability protections.\r\n \r\n\u00a0\r\nCongresswoman Kristi Noem signed on as a co-sponsor of the American Health Care Reform Act of 2013 in late October.\u00a0 Introduced by Rep. Phil Roe (R-Tenn.), the American Health Care Reform Act would:\r\n\u00a0\r\n \r\nFully repeal President Obama's health care law, eliminating billions in taxes and thousands of pages of unworkable regulations and mandates that are driving up health care costs.\u00a0\r\n \r\n\u00a0\r\n \r\nSpur competition to lower health care costs by allowing Americans to purchase health insurance across state lines and enabling small businesses to pool together and get the same buying power as large corporations.\r\n \r\n\u00a0\r\n \r\nReform medical malpractice laws in a commonsense way that limits trial lawyer fees and non-economic damages while maintaining strong protections for patients.\r\n \r\n\u00a0\r\n \r\nProvide tax reform that allows families and individuals to deduct health care costs, just like companies, leveling the playing field and providing all Americans with a standard deduction for health insurance.\r\n \r\n\u00a0\r\n \r\nExpand access to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), increasing the amount of pre-tax dollars individuals can deposit into portable savings accounts to be used for health care expenses.\r\n \r\n\u00a0\r\n \r\nSafeguard individuals with pre-existing conditions from being discriminated against purchasing health insurance by bolstering state-based high risk pools and extending HIPAA guaranteed availability protections.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=687708db-6f2e-4b1b-9747-beec9a87b37b", "Counting Blessings and Giving Thanks", "2013-11-15", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator John Thune \r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tWhen I was young, I remember my mother offering some great words of wisdom when I would complain about things that didn\u2019t go my way or vent my frustration about what didn\u2019t seem fair. She would listen patiently and say, \u201cRemember to count your blessings.\u201d It was her way of reminding me that despite the ups and downs of daily life, I had far more to be thankful for than I have ever had to complain about.\r\nI try to think of her advice when I become cynical or frustrated by the gridlock and partisanship of Washington. I try to think of her advice when I watch friends struggle to make ends meet as the economy continues to lag, family budgets continue to shrink, and health insurance rates continue to increase. Yet, in spite of the serious challenges our country faces, we remain uniquely blessed to live in America and have much for which to be thankful.\r\nOur state and nation have a rich history of pausing each year to give thanks for all that we have been given. We are thankful to live in a country where we can freely worship our Creator and speak our minds without fear. We are thankful to live in a state where family, friends, and neighbors help one another during the good times and the bad. We are thankful for the brave men and women who proudly serve our country defending the freedoms we hold dear.\r\nThanksgiving is not only a time to give thanks, but it is also a time to express our gratitude through acts of goodwill and charity. Consider volunteering in your community. Help wash the dishes after dinner. Throw a football with your siblings and laugh about the trouble you made as kids. Ask a veteran to share stories of a Thanksgiving spent overseas while in the military and remember the families of the men and women stationed abroad who won\u2019t be sharing this Thanksgiving with those they love.\r\nAs I take this time to count my many blessings, I remain thankful for my wonderful family, for the men and women who continue to defend our freedoms around the globe, and for the opportunity to continue to serve our state in the U.S. Senate. I want to wish all South Dakotans and their families a very happy and safe Thanksgiving.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=e87c7091-2707-4891-a969-85648add1278", "GOP Senators to Administration: No Union Carveouts from Obamacare", "2013-11-14", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tSenators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), John Thune (R-S.D.) and 18 of their Republican colleagues today urged the Obama administration against moving forward with a proposed regulation that would exempt unions from an Obamacare fee that applies equally to employers, charities, and faith-based organizations.\r\nThe Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a regulation on October 30, 2013, stating that the agency intends to propose further rulemaking which would aim to exempt certain Taft-Hartley union health plans from the reinsurance fee mandated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).\r\nIn a letter to Sylvia Burwell, director of the Office of Management and Budget, the senators write: \u201cThe [reinsurance] fee is undeniably expensive for unions, employers, charities and faith-based organizations whose health plans are not available in the new health insurance exchanges and will not see any of those dollars returned to them. For the year 2014, the fee is $63 per covered life\u2014a multi-million dollar levy for larger organizations.\u201d\r\nThey continue: \u201cThe regulation makes no justification as to why union members should be exempted from this fee while other similarly situated organizations (and, ultimately, their beneficiaries) must continue to pay it.\r\n\u201cIt has been widely reported that labor unions recently sought an exemption from the reinsurance fee through Congress but were rightly rebuffed. To think that the Obama Administration would consider such an action that benefits one group over another can only be characterized as cronyism at its worst.\r\n\u201cSelf-insured health insurance plans\u2014whether or not they also self-administer\u2014are all facing the same dilemma of being forced to subsidize insurance companies participating in the new exchange. The regulatory process is meant to implement the law as written, not as the Administration wishes it were. If the law will unfairly hurt certain groups, it should be repealed or amended through Congress.\r\nClick here to see the letter.\r\nAlexander is the senior Republican on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee, Hatch is the senior Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, and Thune is the senior Republican on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Together, those committees have key oversight roles concerning our nation\u2019s health care system.\r\nThe letter was also signed by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.),\u00a0Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), and Tim Scott (R-S.C.).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=f36e1ab1-dabf-417c-80bc-289a36137d8f", "Thune Shares South Dakota Family\u2019s ObamaCare Story on Senate Floor", "2013-11-14", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tFollowing media reports about the dropped coverage and higher premiums of Americans across the country, Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) led 33 of his Republican colleagues on the Senate floor today to draw attention to the stories of everyday Americans who are feeling the real world impacts of the president\u2019s broken promise that the public can keep the plans they had and liked.\r\nThune called attention to a story from a family in South Dakota who recently received a cancellation notice in the mail for their current health plan. The family said, \u201cWe\u2019ve had the same kind of health insurance for years. It worked for us, we are happy with it. When our current plan expires in 2014 it will no longer be available. We were told that our new policy will most likely cost over 100 percent more than what we pay now. We will not be able to afford it.\u201d\r\nClick here to watch the Senator\u2019s floor speech.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=849d1986-cd79-492a-94f9-aed7ebb64c8c", "Thune Comment on ObamaCare Enrollment Numbers", "2013-11-13", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tU.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) today made the following comment regarding the Obama administration\u2019s acknowledgment that only 106,185 Americans were able to sign up for ObamaCare in the first month of the enrollment period:\r\n\u201cAs millions of Americans continue to lose the health care they have and like, today we learned that an embarrassingly small number of Americans have signed up for ObamaCare. In South Dakota, only 58 were able to successfully sign up\u2014a miniscule number compared to the thousands who are losing their current care. The president and Senate Democrats need to uphold their promise that Americans can keep the care they have and like.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=FF23B65B-AD42-44FE-9A69-0486E4F7AEF6", "KELOLAND: World War Two Pilot Shines On Veterans Day", "2013-11-11", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Leland Steva  \r\n\tVeterans from all around the area congregated at Lincoln High School Monday morning to pay tribute to the men and women that have served this country, but one man stole the show.\u00a0\r\nVeterans Day holds a special meaning for many different people.\r\nA ceremony at Lincoln High School included plenty of music and patriotism. \u00a0But the highlight of the event was the keynote speaker, World War Two pilot Claude Hone.\r\nThe 93 year old reminisced about his times overseas; the good times and bad.\r\n\"I remember all the veterans, all the fellows I fought with a lot of my comrades. I remember, well, it brings tears to my eyes sometimes because they all died or passed on, but a lot of them were killed right in front of my eyes,\" Hone said.\r\nHone's speech impressed nearly everyone in the audience.\r\n\"Hearing Claude Hone, a wonderful World War Two veteran, who had a great story, not only a history lesson but also I think made it really entertaining for the crowd,\" Senator John Thune said.\r\n\"Claude's speech was just him reiterating his stories that I'll always remember, and I think that's the best way to record our history and recognize everything people do for us,\" Representative Kristi Noem said. While he kind of finished his speech to a standing ovation, the longtime Sioux Falls native still had more to say.\r\n\"Of course, I ran out of time; I wanted to finish my speech,\" Hone said.\r\nHone hopes his speech will help educate the younger generation to realize that Veterans Day is more than just a day off from school.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=211f835c-f988-4356-be0e-a2be8f2fe437", "Weekly Column: It is the Soldier Who Earned Our Liberty", "2013-11-08", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Rep. Noem \r\n\tFrom America\u2019s founding, it was the Declaration of Independence that proclaimed our freedom, but the soldier who won it. It is the Constitution that outlines our rights, but the soldier who secures them. Congress has the sole responsibility for declaring war, but we must never forget that it\u2019s the soldier who is put in harm\u2019s way by these decisions.\r\nThe greatness of this country rests in those who have fought to preserve everything that we hold dear. Many of those that have engaged in this fight call South Dakota their home. To those individuals, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for putting your country first.\r\nWhile the debt we owe to these women and men can never be repaid, we all have a responsibility to make sure these heroes get the respect and appreciation they have earned.\r\nThis week, we celebrate Veterans Day \u2013 a day set aside to honor America\u2019s veterans for their patriotism, their love of country, and their willingness to serve and sacrifice on our behalf.\r\nIn honor of this day, we must ask ourselves: What is it that we can do for those who gave up so much for us? What can we do for them, not just on Veterans Day, but on every day of the year?\r\nFirst, we must never forget the courage that has been shown over and over again by veterans throughout our country\u2019s history. In World War II, brave soldiers went head to head with one of the greatest evils our world has ever known. They defended our homeland, our way of life, and the promise of freedom for millions around the globe. In the Cold War, soldiers entered Korea and Vietnam in defense of democracy. In Iraq and Afghanistan, Americans are again called to defend our homeland and defeat terrorism so our children and grandchildren can grow up in a safer world.\r\nWe must also honor our veterans with our actions as well as our words. Across South Dakota, groups like the VFW and American Legion work hard to serve our veterans. I challenge every reader to support the organizations that support our veterans.\r\nFinally, we must all support not just the warrior, but the warrior\u2019s cause. Wherever our military\u2019s fight is taking place \u2013 whether it\u2019s in Afghanistan or back here in South Dakota as veterans try to re-adjust to civilian life \u2013 we must make sure we do all we can so that our troops and our veterans succeed.\r\nFor Congress\u2019 part, my colleagues in the House and I have passed a number of bills over the past year that would improve benefits to those who have served in our military. I\u2019m proud that even as the purse strings tighten, the House is focused on finding a way to give a cost of living adjustment to veterans in 2014.\r\nI am also working to shrink the Veterans Administration backlog. It is unacceptable for our veterans to be waiting for months and sometimes years for their healthcare benefit claims to be processed. I will continue to demand that the promises we\u2019ve made are promises we keep.\r\nI am proud of South Dakota\u2019s great tradition of military service. Ten Medal of Honor recipients and some of the greatest pilots in history hail from our state. Please join me this week and every week in remembering our veterans, their families, and the reason for which we are fighting today. Remember that while we live in liberty, it is the soldier who earned it on our behalf.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=91477d32-8ad8-4930-b072-1e13bdc5e1a6", "Creating Loving Families through Adoption", "2013-11-08", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator John Thune \r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tNothing is more central to the fabric of American society than the family. It is the glue that binds our communities and raises healthy children into successful adults. While each family looks a little different, the bonds of love, support, trust, and kindness are easy to spot in families throughout South Dakota. Some of these families aren\u2019t biological, but were created by ordinary people welcoming children into their hearts and homes through the process of foster care or adoption.\r\nNovember is National Adoption Month, and November 23rd will mark National Adoption Day. During this month, we recognize those who have welcomed adopted children into their homes, while also remembering the more than half a million children in foster care in the country. Sadly, more than 200,000 young adults have \u201caged out\u201d of the foster care system over the past decade without ever experiencing a permanent, loving family.\r\nAgain this year, I am a cosponsor of a resolution in the Senate to recognize November 23rd as National Adoption Day, and November as National Adoption Month. National Adoption Day is a collective national effort to raise awareness for over 400,000 children in foster care, 115,000 of which are waiting to be adopted.\r\nIn August, I nominated Ryan and Rhonda Kelly and their family of Rapid City for the 2013 Angels in Adoption Award. This award is presented annually by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, of which I am a member. Ryan and Rhonda\u2019s commitment to meet the unique physical and emotional needs of their four biological children and six adopted daughters from China is truly remarkable. Their desire to provide a loving, stable home to their adopted daughters inspires others to open their homes to children in need of a nurturing environment.\r\nEvery child deserves a place to call home and a loving family to support them. Through adoption, children get loving and supportive families and families are blessed with new lives to nurture.\u00a0I invite all South Dakotans to join me in recognizing the thousands of families across our state who\u2019ve made a difference in the life of an adopted child, and to consider opening your own home to a child in need.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=42455e2b-f6a3-42a3-9e1a-14c4196e1134", "Senate Passes Thune Resolution Recognizing Service of Vietnam Veterans", "2013-11-08", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tLast night, the Senate passed by unanimous consent Senator John Thune\u2019s (R-S.D.) bipartisan resolution (S.Res. 280) recognizing the sacrifice that U.S. combat troops made during the Vietnam War and pressing for renewed support for the veterans of that conflict. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam on March 29, 1973. Thune\u2019s resolution was cosponsored by Senators Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.).\r\n\u201cAs Americans gather to celebrate Veterans Day and reflect on the service of those who have bravely answered the call to defend our freedoms, I am pleased the Senate passed this bipartisan resolution to honor the service and sacrifice of America\u2019s Vietnam veterans,\u201d said Thune. \u201cForty years after withdrawing our combat troops from that theater, the cost of the war remains staggering. Vietnam veterans continue to deal with the wounds of that war on a daily basis. I am pleased that my colleagues have joined together to reaffirm our dedication to these brave men and women, as we owe all of our veterans a tremendous debt of gratitude and hold the solemn duty of providing for their care.\u201d\r\nSouth Dakota has a proud history of answering the call to serve, and Thune is especially mindful of the ultimate sacrifice made by so many in the Vietnam War, including 193 South Dakotans, which is why he is a cosponsor of S. 409, a bill to designate March 29th as Vietnam Veterans Day.\r\nPreceding Veterans Day this Monday, Thune took to the Senate floor Thursday night to recognize the selfless service and sacrifice of America\u2019s veterans, including the service of so many South Dakota men and women. Thune urged Congress to rededicate its efforts to caring for our service members and continue to combat mental health issues among veterans.\r\nVideo of Thune\u2019s floor speech can be viewed here and downloaded for use here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=7ED3DCF1-7CDA-4459-B167-E27947DED0AF", "KOTA: Chief Tidwell visits SD; more work to be done with pine beetles", "2013-11-07", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The pine beetle projects in the hills have been\u00a0successful, but there's more to be done.\r\nThat was a main message at Thursday's pine beetle meeting at Black Hills National Forest Supervisor's Office in Custer.\u00a0 Congresswoman Kristi Noem (R-SD) brought U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell into South Dakota to examine the beetle\u00a0devastation.\r\nAfterwards Noem and Tidwell met with local business owners\u00a0and industry leaders to discuss the damage and what's to\u00a0be done to move forward.\u00a0\r\nNoem says one program \u2013 The Mountain Pine Beetle Response\u00a0\u2013 is one of a kind. \"This program is going to allow for the treatment of 200,480 acres at a time. It's going to let\u00a0us identify and deal with high risk acres of the Black Hills\u00a0and to really do what we can to contain the infestation that\u00a0we have,\" said Noem. \u00a0 Tidell says the work that's been done so far to the pine beetles has been effective. \"Because of the work that's getting done, it's making a\u00a0difference. It's not only making these forests more\u00a0resilient, it's making these forests safer. It's safer for\u00a0our firefighters, it's safer for our communities,\" said Tidwell. \u00a0 One problem the U.S. Forest Service is facing when it comes\u00a0to fighting the beetle infestation is a $2 million dollar\u00a0cut in funding for 2014.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=82064665-4C47-4B65-B2E2-0E1F454C297C", "KOTA: National Trust for Historic Preservation report slams VA", "2013-11-07", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Alexandra Montgomery \r\n\tThe National Trust for Historic Preservation released a report Thursday criticizing the Department of Veterans' Affairs.\u00a0\r\n\r\nIt says the VA often ignores federal law and wastes taxpayer money by putting up new buildings. Representatives laid out their case on the steps of the Battle Mountain Sanitarium in Hot Springs Thursday morning.\u00a0\r\n\r\nThe gist of the 90 page document tells the VA that it needs to take a closer look at its facilities, and that closing places like the 105 year old Battle Mountain Sanitarium is unnecessary and a waste of federal dollars.\u00a0\r\nThe VA wants to build a new facility 60 miles north in Rapid City.\r\nIn addition, the report says in order to close the sanitarium, key stakeholders, veterans, Native American tribes, and other community groups needed to be notified. According to the report, this notification did not happen before the VA announced closure plans.\r\nRepresentatives from the National Trust for Historic Preservation say they hope that this revelation not only highlight mistakes made by the Veterans' Administration at this institution, but on a national scale. \"Hopefully this will bring Battle Mountain Sanitarium to a national scale and show that it's not just going to impact Hot Springs and the community here, but it's impacting people across the country who seek medical attention from the VA,\" said Jenny Buddenbord, senior field officer for the National Trust Historic Preservation.\u00a0\r\nDon Ackerman, a retired veteran, spoke on behalf of veterans. \"We want our VA where we can come in, and in one day take care of our medical needs and services. Seven trips to a local clinic or hospital to get the same amount of services does not make it more convenient for us,\" Ackerman said to claps from the crowd.\u00a0\r\nThe VA says it must balance its mission of providing modern facilities for veterans with its responsibility to preserve historic places.\r\nIn a written statement, Representative Kristi Noem says that the report's empirical evidence will help to encourage the Veterans Administration to fully utilize the Battle Mountain Sanitarium.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=16667419-91dc-4024-b372-bcbba5096922", "Delegation to Celebrate Contributions of Code Talkers in Gold Medal Ceremony", "2013-11-07", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), and Representative Kristi Noem (R-S.D.), today announced that Native American code talkers from eight of South Dakota\u2019s tribes will be recognized for their dedicated and valorous service during World War I and World War II at a gold medal ceremony to be held at the U.S. Capitol on November 20, 2013.\r\nThe Congressional Gold Medal award is among the highest honors of appreciation and recognition bestowed on an individual, institution, or event by Congress. In total, 33 tribes from around the country will be recognized, and over 200 silver medals will be presented to families of code talkers. Thune and Johnson were cosponsors of the Senate version of The Code Talkers Recognition Act of 2008 (H.R. 4544), which was signed into law in October of 2008 and directed the issuance of medals to honor the contributions of Native American code talkers during World War I and World War II.\r\n\"While long overdue, this honor is very well deserved,\" said Thune. \"Code talkers provided secure communications that the Axis powers were never able to decode, ultimately helping save lives and enabling Allied victory. These brave men, their families, and tribes are to be honored for their service and their story remains an inspiration to all Americans. I look forward to welcoming tribal leaders and the families of these heroic men to Washington to celebrate the valiant efforts of their ancestors.\"\r\n\"Code talkers from South Dakota and tribes throughout the country played a unique and vital role for the U.S. military in World War I and World War II,\" Johnson said. \"By using native languages, code talkers were able to communicate in a way that the enemy could not decode, thereby saving service members\u2019 lives. I am pleased the code talkers are finally receiving this justly deserved recognition, the Congressional Gold Medal.\"\r\n\"Drawing from their ancient heritage, the Code Talkers helped transform modern history through a system that was as effective as it was ingenious,\" said Rep. Noem. \"It is long overdue that we recognize the power and relief these Code Talkers brought our country and Allied forces in a time of need. I am proud our nation is honoring these brave heroes with the Gold Medal for the thousands of lives they saved and the victories in World War I and World War II that they helped secure.\"\r\nThe American military's use of Native American code talkers goes back to October of 1918. The code talkers were extensively used throughout both the European and Pacific theaters during World War II. Because the innovative communications used by the code talkers were based on native languages and not mathematical progressions nor machine-based code, enemy forces were unable to exploit Allied exchanges for the length of the war. These secure communications proved to be both faster and more secure than other methods of encrypting and sending messages, an incredible benefit in keeping the advantage of surprise during combat operations.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=4b24c50a-1fd0-4d50-95d1-d9ea3f968631", "Noem Discusses New Report by National Trust for Historic Preservation", "2013-11-07", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Kristi Noem today reacted to a new report by the National Trust for Historic Preservation that addresses the preservation of historic buildings, like the Battle Mountain Sanitarium in Hot Springs, S.D., by the Department of Veterans Affairs.\r\n\"The Battle Mountain Sanitarium has long provided critical care to South Dakota veterans and continues to serve a critical role in the Hot Springs community,\" said Rep. Noem in a written statement that was read at the report\u2019s unveiling on Thursday.\u00a0\r\n\"I fear that the Veterans Administration, however, has systematically neglected the historic properties in its care to the detriment of the veterans they serve,\" added Rep. Noem. \u00a0\"I am hopeful that the empirical evidence displayed in this report will help to encourage the Veterans Administration to fully utilize national landmarks, including the Battle Mountain Sanitarium, in order to deliver the best possible healthcare to our nation\u2019s veterans.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=abc22c5a-0f56-44d0-a6e3-d652881ea33e", "Noem Shows U.S. Forest Service Chief Pine Beetle Damage", "2013-11-07", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Kristi Noem today brought U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell to South Dakota to examine the pine beetle damage in the Black Hills.\u00a0 Along with local Forest Service representatives and industry stakeholders, Congresswoman Noem and Chief Tidwell took a ground and aerial tour of the impacted areas and then held a meeting with more than two dozen local business and industry leaders to discuss the pine beetle epidemic\u2019s impact.\r\n\"We have made progress on mitigating pine beetle damage, but South Dakota still has dead and dying trees left from these insect infestations that turn our forests into tinderbox.\u00a0 That is unacceptable when people\u2019s lives are at risk,\"said Rep. Noem. \u00a0\"Fortunately, we are gaining momentum behind this issue on the policy side.\u00a0 I am very appreciative of the Forest Service and Chief Tidwell\u2019s willingness to partner with South Dakota and support new ways to address this problem.\u00a0 Today\u2019s meeting was productive in giving all involved a better lay of the land.\"\r\nCongresswoman Noem has made combating pine beetle damage a priority in Washington.\u00a0 The second-term Congresswoman has hosted a House Natural Resources Committee field hearing in the Black Hills, authored language allowing for even more tools for the Forest Service to expedite treatments of insect and disease outbreaks that was included in the House Farm Bill, and collaborated with Chief Tidwell and the U.S. Forest Service to launch the Mountain Pine Beetle Response Project.\u00a0 The Response Project is the first effort of its kind and may be used as a model across the West to more effectively manage forests.\r\n\"Because of the support of Congresswoman Noem, the Forest Service has been able to do more of the work we need to do to better maintain forest health in the Black Hills,\" said Chief Tidwell. \u00a0\"The Mountain Pine Beetle Response Project in particular has been a landmark effort that we hope to use as a model nationwide.\u00a0 We understand more must be done and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with Congresswoman Noem, our local Forest Service, the State of South Dakota and South Dakota stakeholders to improve the health of the Black Hills National Forest.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=f371b11f-3f5e-448d-bfbe-927e5ac04d8e", "Delegation to Celebrate Contributions of Code Talkers in Gold Medal Ceremony", "2013-11-07", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tSenators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), and Representative Kristi Noem (R-S.D.), today announced that Native American code talkers from eight of South Dakota\u2019s tribes will be recognized for their dedicated and valorous service during World War I and World War II at a gold medal ceremony to be held at the U.S. Capitol on November 20, 2013.\r\nThe Congressional Gold Medal award is among the highest honors of appreciation and recognition bestowed on an individual, institution, or event by Congress. In total, 33 tribes from around the country will be recognized, and over 200 silver medals will be presented to families of code talkers. Thune and Johnson were cosponsors of the Senate version of The Code Talkers Recognition Act of 2008 (H.R. 4544), which was signed into law in October of 2008 and directed the issuance of medals to honor the contributions of Native American code talkers during World War I and World War II.\r\n\"While long overdue, this honor is very well deserved,\u201d said Thune. \u201cCode talkers provided secure communications that the Axis powers were never able to decode, ultimately helping save lives and enabling Allied victory. These brave men, their families, and tribes are to be honored for their service and their story remains an inspiration to all Americans. I look forward to welcoming tribal leaders and the families of these heroic men to Washington to celebrate the valiant efforts of their ancestors.\u201d\r\n\u201cCode talkers from South Dakota and tribes throughout the country played a unique and vital role for the U.S. military in World War I and World War II,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cBy using native languages, code talkers were able to communicate in a way that the enemy could not decode, thereby saving service members\u2019 lives. I am pleased the code talkers are finally receiving this justly deserved recognition, the Congressional Gold Medal.\u201d\r\n\u201cDrawing from their ancient heritage, the Code Talkers helped transform modern history through a system that was as effective as it was ingenious,\u201d said Rep. Noem. \u201cIt is long overdue that we recognize the power and relief these Code Talkers brought our country and Allied forces in a time of need. I am proud our nation is honoring these brave heroes with the Gold Medal for the thousands of lives they saved and the victories in World War I and World War II that they helped secure.\u201d\r\nThe American military's use of Native American code talkers goes back to October of 1918. The code talkers were extensively used throughout both the European and Pacific theaters during World War II. Because the innovative communications used by the code talkers were based on native languages and not mathematical progressions nor machine-based code, enemy forces were unable to exploit Allied exchanges for the length of the war. These secure communications proved to be both faster and more secure than other methods of encrypting and sending messages, an incredible benefit in keeping the advantage of surprise during combat operations.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=ee925341-c30f-4668-a162-3c916256be93", "Noem Supports New Alternative to Obamacare", "2013-11-06", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Kristi Noem today announced her support for comprehensive healthcare legislation that offers a consumer-driven alternative to President Obama\u2019s healthcare law.\u00a0 The legislation, referred to as the American Health Care Reform Act of 2013 (H.R. 3121), offers a number of reforms aimed at fixing the fundamental challenges faced in our healthcare system.\r\n\"The new healthcare law has long been regarded as unworkable, but the healthcare exchange rollout over the last few weeks has shown just how unworkable this law really is,\" said Rep. Noem. \u00a0\"Despite the promises made to Americans, people are losing both their preferred health insurance coverage and their doctors, while premiums skyrocket.\u00a0 It is not enough, however, to just repeal Obamacare.\u00a0 Now is the time to cure our healthcare system.\u00a0 The American Health Care Reform Act offers a practical, consumer-driven alternative to the President\u2019s healthcare law and addresses the fundamental problems that plague our healthcare system, rather than just masking the symptoms.\"\r\nCongresswoman Kristi Noem signed on as a co-sponsor of the legislation in late October.\u00a0 Introduced by Rep. Phil Roe (R-Tenn.), the American Health Care Reform Act of 2013 would:\r\n \r\nFully repeal President Obama's health care law, eliminating billions in taxes and thousands of pages of unworkable regulations and mandates that are driving up health care costs.\u00a0\r\n \r\n \r\nSpur competition to lower health care costs by allowing Americans to purchase health insurance across state lines and enabling small businesses to pool together and get the same buying power as large corporations.\r\n \r\n \r\nReform medical malpractice laws in a commonsense way that limits trial lawyer fees and non-economic damages while maintaining strong protections for patients.\r\n \r\n \r\nProvide tax reform that allows families and individuals to deduct health care costs, just like companies, leveling the playing field and providing all Americans with a standard deduction for health insurance.\r\n \r\n \r\nExpand access to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), increasing the amount of pre-tax dollars individuals can deposit into portable savings accounts to be used for health care expenses.\r\n \r\n \r\nSafeguard individuals with pre-existing conditions from being discriminated against purchasing health insurance by bolstering state-based high risk pools and extending HIPAA guaranteed availability protections.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20131205022941/http://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/videos?ID=07a758c8-7edc-48b3-bdf6-400d1ff2fedd", "Thune at Finance to Sebelius: You've Been Misleading the American People", "2013-11-06", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), Member of the Senate Finance Committee, today questioned Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, about the disastrous rollout of healthcare.gov and the administration's broken promises to the American people that they could keep the health care they have and like, period.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140228001851/http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/events?ContentRecord_id=3D285B7B-59D8-4849-8734-B5D491A59C91", "Noem Brings U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell to South Dakota", "2013-11-06", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Kristi Noem will meet with U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell on Thursday, November 7 to discuss the pine beetle crisis in the Black Hills.\u00a0 A press conference will be held immediately following the meeting. If you plan to cover the meeting or attend the press conference, please contact Brittany Gross at brittany.gross@mail.house.gov. \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\nThursday, November 7, 2013:\n\u00a0\nWHAT:\u00a0 Meeting with U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell, Rep. Noem and local stakeholders\nWHEN:\u00a0 1:00-2:30 PM\nWHERE:\u00a0 Black Hills National Forest Supervisor\u2019s Office (1019 N. 5th St, Custer, SD), Room 104   ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:\u00a0 Rep. Noem will meet with Chief Tidwell and local stakeholders regarding the pine beetle crisis in the Black Hills.\u00a0 Press are invited to cover the meeting.    RSVP:\u00a0 Please RSVP to Brittany Gross (brittany.gross@mail.house.gov)\nWHAT:\u00a0 Press Conference\nWHEN:\u00a0 2:45-3:15 PM\nWHERE:\u00a0 Black Hills National Forest Supervisor\u2019s Office (1019 N. 5th St, Custer, SD), Room 104   ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:\u00a0 Rep. Noem, Chief Tidwell, Tom Troxel (Black Hills Forest Resources Association) and Dan Beuhler (Neiman Timber Company) will speak at a press conference immediately following the meeting.\u00a0 They will discuss their aerial tour and site visit of pine beetle damage that occurred earlier that day as well as provide feedback on the meeting.  RSVP:\u00a0 Please RSVP to Brittany Gross (brittany.gross@mail.house.gov)", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=8a948ed1-e225-491b-9f9e-7afa91b45085", "Thune to Sebelius: \u201cYou\u2019ve Been Misleading the American People\u201d", "2013-11-06", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tSenator John Thune (R-S.D.), Member of the Senate Finance Committee, today questioned Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius about the disastrous rollout of healthcare.gov and the administration\u2019s broken promise to the American people that they could keep the health care they have and like, period.\r\n\u201cYou\u2019ve been misleading the American people and the president has, over and over and over again,\u201d said Thune about the president\u2019s promise that if you like the health care plan you have, you can keep it. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t like there were asterisks or footnotes. \u2026 this is a dishonest mistake.\u201d\r\nVideo of Thune\u2019s statement and questions at today\u2019s committee hearing can be viewed here and downloaded for use here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=2859e940-60f0-459c-ae2c-d020766a44e9", "KELOLAND: Noem Brings Issue Of Sex Trafficking To Washington", "2013-11-05", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Leland Steva \r\n\t The issue of human sex trafficking isn't just a concern locally, it has reached Capitol Hill. \r\nU.S. Representative Kristi Noem played a major role in bringing the issue of human sex trafficking to Congress. She\u00a0 sponsored a bill called 'The End Sex Trafficking Act of 2013.'\r\n\"I expect this bill to move through and be signed into law because everyone recognizes that this crime is horrendous. You want to do all you can to protect our children,\" U.S. Representative Kristi Noem said.\r\nThe goal of the bill is to target both the people providing the prostitutes and those soliciting the sex acts. The Republican Representative says there needs to be more discussion about this crime.\r\n\"Look at the number of children that are sex trafficked in South Dakota and across the world. It is shocking. You know when you look at 4.5 million potential victims worldwide, but up to 300,000 of them in the United States could be children. I don't think the normal, everyday person thinks about that very often,\" Noem said.\r\nThe website backpage.com is the most talked about website for sex trafficking in Washington, but Noem believes there are many other websites people should be aware of.\r\n\"I think any website that markets goods to people could be abused. We're tying to bring some clarity to internet laws that would allow us to try and protect those sites better,\" Noem said.\r\nNo matter the outlet, Representative Noem says she will continue to fight to protect children.\r\nNoem says the best way to prevent sex trafficking is more communication and public awareness.\r\nRead the story here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140222052122/http://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/videos?ID=c97cf160-4856-408a-8366-81c40ebc3235", "Thune Questions Forestry Witness Panel at Agriculture Subcommittee Hearing", "2013-11-05", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry and Natural Resources, today questioned the witness panel about pine beetle infestation management at a hearing today titled, \"Shortchanging Our Forests: How Tight Budgets and Management Decisions Can Increase the Risk of Wildfire.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=49df754a-fd25-44ab-b7cd-cda6b013c461", "Thune, McCaskill Call on U.S. Negotiators to Hold Line on Aircraft Emission Taxes", "2013-11-05", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tU.S. Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) sent a letter urging the U.S. delegation to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to protect U.S. passengers and airlines from the harmful effects of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) as EU leaders consider how to apply the ETS going forward. ICAO\u2019s 38th General Assembly recently rejected unilateral approaches to addressing aviation emissions, and the U.S. law authored by Thune and McCaskill directs the Secretary of Transportation to hold U.S. operators harmless from the EU ETS.\r\nLast Congress, Thune and McCaskill led an effort to provide the U.S. Secretary of Transportation with the authority to ensure that U.S. air carriers are not penalized or harmed by the EU\u2019s controversial and unilateral emissions scheme. The bipartisan legislation, the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act, was signed into law in November of 2012 and requires that the U.S. government must \u201chold operators of civil aircraft of the United States harmless from the emissions trading scheme.\u201d The legislation also directed the Secretary of Transportation and other government officials to use \u201ctheir authority to conduct international negotiations to pursue a worldwide approach to address aircraft emissions\u201d that would be based on consensus rather than the Europeans\u2019 ill-conceived unilateral approach.\r\nIn response to the legislation that was signed into law last year and strong opposition from other foreign governments, the EU postponed collecting taxes on international flights into and out of Europe for one year to allow for negotiations at ICAO\u2019s 38th General Assembly that was held in Montreal, September 24th through October 4th. Under the terms of the one-year postponement that expires early next year, the EU has been considering ways to impose certain portions of their controversial ETS tax scheme on foreign air carriers, which runs counter to the agreement reached by the General Assembly.\r\nA copy of letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and other officials is attached.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=9ff12717-1052-41ea-a0ec-9f7feb7ced97", "Brown and Thune Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Simplify Income Tax Collection for Individuals Working in Multiple States", "2013-11-05", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tToday, U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and John Thune (R-S.D.) led a bipartisan group of senators to introduce the Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act, legislation that would simplify and standardize state income tax collection for employees who travel outside of their home state for temporary work assignments. The bill would also help employers who must file withholdings and reporting requirements. Currently, individuals and employers face up to 41 different state income tax reporting requirements that vary based on length of stay, income earned, or both.\r\n\u201cThis common-sense legislation will help simplify and standardize tax filing for employees and employers that conduct business in multiple states,\u201d Brown said. \u201cThis is a great example of government working to reduce burdensome and confusing barriers to help ease the cost of doing business for employers and their workers.\u201d\r\n\u201cEmployees and employers shouldn\u2019t be burdened with complex tax reporting requirements because jobs in the modern economy involve work in multiple states,\u201d said Thune. \u201cOur legislation would establish a clear 30-day threshold test for state income tax purposes, preventing individuals from having to sort through the complicated tax reporting burdens from the multiple states where they travel for work. This legislation will greatly simplify state income tax filings, is fairer to those residents in states without an income tax, and should help to encourage tax compliance.\u201d\r\nThe Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act is supported by over 250 organizations and business groups.\u00a0\r\n\u201cRetailers welcome the introduction of this bill,\u201d National Retail Federation Vice President and Tax Counsel Rachelle Bernstein said. \u201cThe current morass of state laws dealing with state income tax burdens for workers on business travel outside their home states creates confusion and undue compliance burdens for both employees and employers.\u00a0This burden can be particularly onerous for the retail industry.\u00a0Buyers for both large and small retailers frequently travel out of state to visit vendors or attend trade or fashion shows.\u00a0Federal law to provide uniform rules for when these employees must file income tax returns in another state would greatly simplify this burden.\u201d\r\nWhile some states require state income tax filing for as little as one day of work in the state, the Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act would establish a common-sense, 30-day threshold to help ensure that an equitable tax is paid to the state and local jurisdiction where the work is being performed while alleviating employees and employers from burdensome tax requirements.\u00a0\r\nThe Council on State Taxation (COST), a nonprofit trade association that engages in interstate and international business, lists the Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act as its number one federal legislative priority. This legislation is supported by, the American Institute of CPAs, the South Dakota CPA Society, the American Council of Life Insurers, the Financial Services Roundtable, the Motion Picture Association of America, the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Retail Federation, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. A full list of supporting organizations can be found: HERE", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=f9f5998a-a060-4f92-9eaf-4c620338ed69", "Thune Questions Forestry Witness Panel about Pine Beetles at Agriculture Subcommittee Hearing", "2013-11-05", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tSenator John Thune (R-S.D.), member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry and Natural Resources, today questioned the witness panel about pine beetle infestation management at a hearing today titled, \u201cShortchanging Our Forests: How Tight Budgets and Management Decisions Can Increase the Risk of Wildfire.\u201d Key witnesses at today\u2019s hearing included Jim Hubbard, Deputy Chief, State and Private Forestry of the U.S. Forest Service and Tom Troxel from Rapid City, South Dakota, Executive Director, Intermountain Forest Association.\u00a0Also responding to Thune\u2019s questions were panelists Dr. Chris Topik, The Nature Conservancy, and Ms. Sallie Clark, National Association of Counties. Thune discussed funding priorities and environmental law challenges faced by the U.S. Forest Service and how these issues are hampering pine beetle suppression efforts in the Black Hills.\r\nVideo of Thune\u2019s statement and questions at today\u2019s subcommittee hearing can be viewed here and downloaded for use here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=b86b96bf-b1a9-4c9b-94d5-6afc68978dd9", "KELOLAND: Latest On The Potential Farm Bill", "2013-11-02", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Leland Steva \r\n\tThe U.S. House and Senate started negotiations this week to begin crafting a compromise farm bill.\u00a0U.S. Representative Kristi Noem talked today about the progress of the bill that could affect the entire country if it's not passed.\r\n\r\nU.S. Representative Kristi Noem is on the farm bill conference committee, the first South Dakotan since 1996. She vows to bring a new farm bill to the Rushmore State, and states the negative effects if the bill isn't passed.\r\n\"At the end of this year if we don't get a farm bill done we can see milk in the grocery store go to eight dollars a gallon. We can see a reversion back to 1940's law that would be very detrimental to making sure that every family here in KELOLAND has the chance to really take care of their family and doesn't take more money out of their pocket to do it,\" Noem said.\r\nThe multi-billion dollar potential legislation also looks to aid the ranchers out west that lost their livestock to the blizzard.\r\n\"I authored the livestock disaster programs that would cover that situation. And see a lot of people just don't understand that most of those cattle and livestock that died from instances that aren't covered by insurance. So really those producers have no coverage for their losses. Unless we get a farm bill signed into law it's simply not going to be there,\" Noem said.\r\nMany farmers and producers say they're frustrated for the delayed bill. Noem points to one issue holding up the passing of the bill.\r\n\"We've had a lot of discussion over the nutrition title. That's been the point of contention probably for the last six to eight months, but I think we've made a lot of progress,\" Noem said.\r\nStill, the deadline for a mutually agreeable farm bill is scheduled for the end of the year.\r\nNoem is also looking to establish a permanent office of tribal relations within the USDA to help tribes a better understanding on how to access programs on the farm bill.\r\nWhile there still is some sticking points, she is confident that the bill will be passed before the end of the year.\r\nRead story here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=59427755-2484-48ed-a997-133c56d105cf", "The Daily Republic: Noem: \"Now is time\" for farm bill", "2013-11-01", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "This was the first meeting of the Farm Bill Conference Committee of which Rep. Noem is a member.\r\n\"Now is the time to finish the farm bill,\" Noem said in a written statement. \"Despite the differences discussed in today\u2019s meeting, it was clear the conferees agree that we must strive for a farm bill that will provide certainty from the field to the fork and the pasture to the plate.\"\r\n\"From a strong crop insurance program to an effective livestock disaster program, South Dakota farmers and ranchers need a reliable safety net to ensure consumers continue to have access to a safe and affordable food supply.\"\r\nNoem is the first House member from South Dakota to be appointed as a member of the farm bill conference since 1996.\r\nThe conference committee will work to merge the farm bills passed by the House and the Senate into one piece of legislation. The conference committee\u2019s negotiated final product, called a conference report, will then need final approval by the full House and Senate before being sent to the president for his signature.\r\nNoem advocated the following four provisions in the House version of the farm bill, all of which were included in some form in the version passed by the House.\r\n\u2022 Livestock Disaster Protection Act: Would extend the Livestock Indemnity Program, the Livestock Forage Program, and the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program for the life of the farm bill as well as provide retroactive coverage, since the programs expired in 2011.\r\n\u2022 Protect our Prairies Act: Would encourage conservation of native sod and grassland.\r\n\u2022 National Forest Emergency Response Act: Would streamline processes to get boots on the ground faster for pine beetle mitigation efforts.\r\n\u2022 USDA Office of Tribal Relations: Would permanently establish an Office of Tribal Relations within the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help improve communication between USDA and tribal nations.\r\nRead the story here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=db210bc2-ac0b-4699-a9c8-c7a3a8f8d785", "Weekly Column: Certainty from the Field to the Fork", "2013-11-01", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Rep. Noem \r\n\tIt started with 17 hours of rain.\u00a0\r\nThen, the temperatures dropped and the 70-mile-an-hour winds set in, creating blizzard conditions for three days.\u00a0\r\nHundreds of South Dakota families dug out of the snow to find that tens of thousands of cattle had walked off of cliffs, drowned in rivers, or been smothered by the snow.\u00a0 South Dakota ranchers had no safety net.\u00a0 They are now struggling to stay in business and some may never recover.\u00a0 That is why we must have livestock disaster programs that mitigate some of the losses.\r\nThis week, I met with House and Senate leaders to begin drafting the final version of the farm bill as part of the 2013 Farm Bill Conference Committee.\u00a0 I am thrilled to give South Dakota a seat at the negotiating table.\u00a0 This is the first time a member of the House of Representatives from South Dakota has done so in nearly 20 years.\r\nThe Conference Committee is set up to negotiate the differences between the House\u2019s version of the farm bill and the Senate\u2019s.\u00a0 Both chambers passed legislation this summer, but they had a number of differences that must be worked out before a final bill is sent to the president for his signature.\r\nAs a member of this Conference Committee, I am focused on providing some certainty for South Dakota producers.\u00a0 One of the provisions I will be pushing for is the livestock disaster program that I authored, which was included in the House\u2019s version of the farm bill.\u00a0 This will not only guarantee that disaster relief will be available for the entirety of the next farm bill, but it will also work retroactively to help mitigate some of the damages resulting from last month\u2019s blizzard.\r\nComing from a farming family, I also know how important a strong crop insurance program is to ensuring some level of certainty and I have made it clear to the Conference Committee that this must be the cornerstone of the farm bill.\r\nIncluding important sodsaver provisions that protect our native grasslands and ensuring farm policy works for our Native American community are also very important components of the farm bill.\r\nFinally, if you go to the Black Hills, we have dead and dying trees left from insect infestations that turn our forests into a tinder box.\u00a0I am advocating strongly for efforts that give us the tools we need to address the pine beetle epidemic.\r\nWhile there are differences in how the House and Senate believe our farm policy should look, it was clear from last week\u2019s Conference Committee meeting that all the conferees agree we must strive for a farm bill that provides certainty from the field to the fork and the pasture to the plate.\u00a0 After all, uncertainty in farm policy also means uncertainty for families at the grocery store.\u00a0 Already, news organizations are reporting that without a farm bill, milk prices could rise to as much as $8 a gallon.\u00a0 Not everyone may farm, but everyone eats.\u00a0\r\nFinishing a farm bill is not going to be easy.\u00a0 But I come from a farm family.\u00a0 I have lost crops to hail and drought.\u00a0 I have lost cattle personally, although never anything close to the magnitude of what west river families are experiencing.\u00a0 I have also visited with a number of South Dakota ranchers since the October snowstorm.\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen their losses firsthand and I am committed to giving them the help they need to recover and the certainty they deserve to move forward.\r\nIt is time we finish our work and pass a farm bill.\u00a0 Our producers need it, and so do American consumers.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221091941/http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/events?ContentRecord_id=B16C056E-7AAC-4609-B3A2-D0360A3380E4", "Weekend Schedule for Rep. Kristi Noem", "2013-11-01", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Kristi Noem will be making stops in Sioux Falls and Watertown this weekend.\u00a0 If you plan to cover one of this weekend\u2019s events, please contact Brittany Gross at brittany.gross@mail.house.gov. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\nSaturday, November 2, 2013:\nWHAT:\u00a0 Hometown Heroes Salute\nWHEN:\u00a0 3:00-4:00PM (CT)\nWHERE:\u00a0 Joe Foss Field (1201 W. Algonquin St, Sioux Falls, SD)   ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:\u00a0 Rep. Noem will speak at this event, helping to recognize the airmen who have been deployed since 9/11.\nSunday, November 3, 2013:\nWHAT: Codington County 4-H Recognition Ceremony\nWHEN: \u00a02:00-3:00PM (CT)\nWHERE:\u00a0 Codington County Extension Complex (1910 West Kemp Avenue, Watertown, SD)   ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:\u00a0 Rep. Noem will be in attendance to help recognize and honor 4-H members and volunteers for their achievements and success.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=82959ce6-9bce-4b70-afb8-79090ae22d82", "Generations of American Heroes", "2013-11-01", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator John Thune \r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tAmong my favorite opportunities as U.S. Senator, is the privilege to welcome honor flights from South Dakota to Washington, D.C., to visit the war memorials on the national mall. I know first-hand the sacrifice made by our nation\u2019s veterans because my own father, Harold, is a decorated Navy pilot who served during World War II. Like my dad, many of these veterans have had limited opportunities to visit these important monuments\u2014making the trip to D.C. an important and emotional experience. When I escort the veterans around the memorials, I am always humbled by their quiet reverence for their comrades lost in battle and reminded of the ultimate sacrifice made by so many of our countrymen.\r\nLast month, in spite of an ongoing budget battle in Washington that closed the national war memorials, our country watched as WWII veterans from around the nation pushed past the barricades at the memorials to pay tribute to a piece of their own history. Despite attempts by the administration to make the shutdown as painful as possible by closing the memorials, these war heroes were determined to visit the monuments built in their honor. Though America faces tight budgetary constraints, our country has a responsibility to show our gratitude and honor the veterans who served our nation with distinction. Our veterans should never be marginalized by the political discourse of the day.\r\nAs our country celebrates Veterans Day, we pay tribute to the thousands of men and women from every war, in every branch of the military, who served this country with pride and dignity protecting our democracy at home and abroad.\u00a0We owe these brave heroes a tremendous debt.\u00a0 The South Dakotans who have courageously answered the call to serve and defend our freedoms are heroes to all Americans, but they have more importantly played an instrumental role in shaping who we are as South Dakotans.\u00a0Their selflessness is reflected in the values that have come to define our great state.\r\nAs we spend time with family and friends in the upcoming holiday season, we should take a moment to reflect upon those who have sacrificed on our behalf and renew our dedication to their care.\u00a0I encourage all South Dakotans to honor the sacrifice of our veterans and keep the brave members of our military and their families in our thoughts and prayers as they continue to serve on our behalf.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=3e2d72df-393c-4565-9230-7ff75bb87d0e", "Noem Attends Initial 2013 Farm Bill Conference Committee Meeting", "2013-10-31", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Kristi Noem met with House and Senate conference committee members today to begin writing a final draft of the 2013 Farm Bill.\u00a0 This was the first meeting of the Farm Bill Conference Committee of which Rep. Noem is a member.\r\n\"Now is the time to finish the farm bill,\" said Rep. Noem. \u00a0\"Despite the differences discussed in today\u2019s meeting, it was clear the conferees agree that we must strive for a Farm Bill that will provide certainty from the field to the fork and the pasture to the plate.\u00a0 From a strong crop insurance program to an effective livestock disaster program, South Dakota farmers and ranchers need a reliable safety net to ensure consumers continue to have access to a safe and affordable food supply.\u00a0\u00a0 I am optimistic that we will be able to work out our differences and sign a Farm Bill into law that works for South Dakota producers and American consumers.\"\r\nNoem is the first House member from South Dakota to be appointed as a member of the Farm Bill conference since 1996.\u00a0 The conference committee will work to merge the Farm Bills passed by the House and the Senate into one piece of legislation.\u00a0 The conference committee\u2019s negotiated final product, called a conference report, will then need final approval by the full House and Senate before being sent to the president for his signature.\r\nRep. Noem championed four main provisions in the House version of the Farm Bill, all of which were included in some form in the final version passed by the House. Rep. Noem discussed the importance of each of these programs during today\u2019s 2013 Farm Bill Conference Committee meeting.\u00a0 They include:\u00a0\r\n \r\nLivestock Disaster Protection Act: Would extend the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), the Livestock Forage Program (LFP), and the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP) for the life of the Farm Bill as well as provide retroactive coverage, since the programs expired in 2011.\r\nProtect our Prairies Act: Would encourage conservation of native sod and grassland, save taxpayer dollars and protect the habitat of wildlife critical to South Dakota\u2019s hunting industry.\r\nNational Forest Emergency Response Act: Would streamline processes to get boots on the ground faster for pine beetle mitigation efforts.\r\nUSDA Office of Tribal Relations: Would permanently establish an Office of Tribal Relations within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help improve communication between USDA and Tribal nations. This provision would not cost taxpayers any additional dollars and instead requires USDA to use existing resources to establish the office.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20131205012735/http://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/videos?ID=137b0f49-f974-4cc5-8fc6-87a96147ceb7", "Thune Calls on Congress to Pass Bipartisan INFORM Act", "2013-10-31", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, held a press conference to call on Congress to stop kicking the can down the road and pass his bipartisan INFORM Act, which would help better project the true size of our debt and its impact on future generations.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=e7b35b51-695f-44ec-808d-eef85ef58263", "Washington Post: Rep. Noem, Sen. Stabenow work to bridge differences over spending on food stamps and farmers", "2013-10-30", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Joann Weiner \r\n\tThe farm bill conference committee faces some steep hurdles as it tries to reconcile the sharp differences among those who would like to increase support for farmers and ranchers and those who would like to prevent sharp cuts to the federal nutrition assistance program known as food stamps.\r\nOn one side, some 47.6 million low-income people will see their food stamp benefits cut\u00a0starting Friday\u00a0as the temporary additional spending provided in 2009\u2019s stimulus bill expires. On the other side, farmers rely on the federal government to provide subsidized crop insurance, price support, and disaster relief. None of this is available without a farm bill.\r\nThat\u2019s one reason why following the re-opening of the federal government on Oct. 18, President Obama said that getting a new farm bill was one of his three priorities. The farm bill provides support to both groups. Food stamps have been part of the farm bill since the early 1970s.\r\nThe 41-member committee holds its first public meeting today when it will begin the process ofreconciling\u00a0the differences between the House and Senate versions of the farm bill. Rep. Frank D. Lucas (R-Okla.) chairs the committee.\r\nThe current farm bill expired at the end of September with the two chambers unable to agree on several issues, most importantly on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which is better known as food stamps. The House bill cuts $40 billion from the program over 10 years, while the Senate cuts about $3.9 billion. Total spending in the farm bill reaches almost $100 billion a year, with food stamps accounting for 80 percent of that spending.\r\nThe most influential woman in the process may be Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) who chairs the Senate Agricultural Committee. In June, the Senate passed a $955 billion 10-year measure that cuts farm spending by $18 billion. Stabenow is also on the budget conference committee and may be in a position trade revenue picked up in the farm bill for additional spending in the budget deal.\r\nOn the Republican side, Rep. Kristi Noem of South Dakota knows how important\u00a0getting disaster relief\u00a0is to her state. Ranchers lost tens of thousands of cattle to a blizzard that roared through the state earlier this month, and these ranchers have been unable to obtain federal assistance. Noem, who favored allowing the government to shut down as a way to put a cap on federal spending, believes that the federal government should assist ranchers following this natural disaster.\r\nAlthough each woman has been outspoken on just one of the issues,\u00a0each represents both food stamp recipients and farmers and thus must reconcile competing interests in the upcoming farm bill negotiations. As a senator, Stabenow represents her entire state, and, because South Dakota has just one representative, Noem also represents her entire state.\r\nFood stamps are an important source of federal assistance in both states. For Stabenow, about 1.8 million Michiganders received a total of $3 billion in food stamp benefits, or about $1,630 each in 2012,\u00a0according to\u00a0the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For Noem, about 103,000 South Dakotans received a total of $166 million in food stamp benefits, or about $1,594 each in 2012.\r\nThe farming side tells a slightly different story than the food stamp side. Stabenow represents 56,014 farms that received $119 million in federal government payments, or an average of $5,115 per farm, based on the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture\u2019s most recent\u00a0census data\u00a0for 2007. Farmers and ranchers in Noem\u2019s district are slightly better compensated by the federal government. The 31,169 South Dakota farms received $271 million, or an average $11,817 in government payments in 2007.\u00a0By comparison, food stamp recipients obtained about $1,200 that year in both Michigan and South Dakota.\r\nAs a final point, food stamp recipients, by definition, are low income. A household\u2019s net income can\u2019t exceed the poverty line to be eligible for food stamps,\u00a0according to\u00a0the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The poverty line for a family of three is about $19,000.\r\nBy contrast, the typical\u00a0Michigan farmer\u00a0had about $23,000 in net cash income while\u00a0a typical\u00a0South Dakota\u00a0farmer had about $71,000 in net cash income in 2012.\r\nRead the story here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=83c04e39-3992-407b-97ce-a30fcb6c25f3", "Western Senators Urge USDA to Partner with Timber Industry to Reduce Wildfire Risks, Strengthen Forest Health", "2013-10-29", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tA bipartisan and bicameral group of western lawmakers pressed the U.S. Department of Agriculture to partner with the timber industry to reduce wildfire risks in fire-prone areas, create jobs and improve community safety throughout the Rocky Mountain West. U.S. Senators Mark Udall (D-Colo.) and Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) led the letter, which was signed by Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) and John Thune (R-S.D.).\r\n\"The National Forest management program in this region falls far short of meeting the need for hazardous fuels reduction and forest restoration. ... There has never been a better time to foster industry partnerships that will reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires, restore forest health, and create sustainable rural jobs,\" the letter reads. \"That is why we ask for your renewed commitment to increasing the pace and scale of forest restoration in the Rocky Mountain Region - particularly in the wildland-urban interface and in backcountry areas supporting critical infrastructure and water supplies. Specifically, we ask you to consider increasing the investment in restoration and timber management, and continuing to pursue operational efficiencies.\"\r\nCongressmen Mike Coffman (R-Colo.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Kristi Noem (R-S.D.), Jared Polis (D-Colo.) and Scott Tipton (R-Colo.) also signed the letter.\r\nThe bipartisan coalition sent a similar letter last year pressing Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to partner with the private sector to treat \"more acres in our states - particularly in the wildland-urban interface, and backcountry areas with critical infrastructure.\"\r\nAccording to the National Interagency Fire Center, the Rocky Mountain region, which includes Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and most of South Dakota and Wyoming, experienced 2,482 fires so far this year. These wildfires scorched 230,526 acres.\r\nClick HERE\u00a0to read the senators' letter.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=0925365b-266c-48be-afd7-b634b839a9d7", "KOTA: Noem visits producers before meeting with the Farm Bill Conference Committee", "2013-10-28", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Alexa Block \r\n\tCongresswoman Kristi Noem met with KOTA Territory cattle producers in New Underwood Monday night. This comes just before she begins meeting with the Farm Bill Conference Committee. \u00a0\r\nProducers came out to the New Underwood Community Center for a hot meal and some words of support from Congresswomen Kristi Noem.\r\nJosh Geigle, a fourth generation rancher and farmer says the livestock loss is going to affect everyone. And he appreciates Noem's visit. \u00a0 \"It was good to see her, it's good to know that she thinks it's extremely important to help farmers and ranchers recover from a major disaster like this\" he says.\r\nNoem says as a member of the Farm Bill Conference Committee she is focused on disaster relief. She says \"my number one priority is going to be the livestock disaster programs which I authored the in house version and which I do think the Senate has in pre talks has already said that they do like and they do like those level of funding that are included.\"\u00a0\r\nNoem is confident the Farm Bill will be passed by the end of this year, but she says she wants it done sooner. And the first Farm Bill Conference Committee will take place this Wednesday in Washington.\r\nRead the story here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=c9fb7e56-cf19-4988-80aa-9bb0b6fd7831", "KELOLAND: Rep. Noem Prepares For Farm Bill Committee", "2013-10-25", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Jared Ransom \r\n\tAs the first farm bill conference committee meeting approaches, Republican Representative Kristi Noem gathers thoughts and concerns from those directly affected by the bill.\r\n\r\n\"Will we actually see a farm bill signed into law? And will it work for South Dakota? So that's been my priority from the beginning. \u00a0Hopefully we'll get one signed into law real soon that'll make sure we have a strong crop insurance program and livestock disaster programs as well,\" Representative Kristi Noem said.\r\nHer priorities going into next Wednesday's meeting line up with the concerns of producers near Aurora.\r\n\"The thought of whether we're going to get one or not. I had two farmers come up to me and say they haven't got a check yet. They're just very curious about whether we're even going to have a farm bill,\" Brookings farmer Doc Peterson said.\r\nSouth Dakota has not had someone on the farm bill conference committee since 1996, and Noem says the personal stories from home could help get a bill passed.\r\n\"They don't realize the kind of risks that agriculture takes and the volatility that the weather creates. The number one goal here is to make sure we have a strong economy in South Dakota, but also there's a responsibility to provide food for this country,\" Noem said.\r\nNoem suggests that if a bill is not passed by the end of the year, the United States may revert back to 1940s law when it comes to farm policy, but she is still confident that the House and Senate can come together for a final bill.\r\n\"We're really going to have to work to tell our story to get that done, but it's imperative that we get this bill done by the end of the year,\" Noem said.\r\nRead the story here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=c4ac1546-cbb1-46f7-a3bb-3f8fa38dc29a", "House-Passed Water Development Bill Includes Noem\u2019s Flood Communication Provision", "2013-10-25", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The U.S. House of Representatives today approved legislation that requires the Army Corps of Engineers to establish procedures to better communicate with the public when there is a high risk of flooding on bodies of water it manages, including the Missouri River.\u00a0 The provision, taken from legislation authored by Rep. Kristi Noem, was included in the Water Resources Reform and Development Act.\r\n\"The flooding of 2011 along the Missouri River is a painful memory for many in South Dakota, and some are still dealing with its aftermath. What I heard from many of those affected and displaced during the flooding was if they had been given better notification on potential flood risk they could have more adequately protected their homes and businesses,\" said Rep. Noem. \"The bill approved today by the House includes a provision that directs the Corps of Engineers to be prepared to communicate with the public more effectively in the future if, God forbid, South Dakotans ever experience flooding on that scale again.\"\r\nNoem added, \"I would also like to thank House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster for recognizing the need to improve communications from the Corps about flood risk and for including my provision in this bill. He visited South Dakota during the height of the flooding in 2011 to see the devastation first hand.\"\r\nChairman Shuster traveled to Pierre in August 2011 at Rep. Noem\u2019s invitation. He participated in a public roundtable alongside then-Chairman John Mica and toured local communities, homes and businesses that had been damaged by the flood.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=e1f5c561-1b04-4e47-bd4e-4b5a0f5d4fb9", "Noem Weekly Column: Tough Enough to Wear Pink", "2013-10-25", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Rep. Noem \r\n\tOctober is the month of pink ribbons. We see them on posters, bumper stickers and even on the cleats of professional football players. We see them on flags, windshields and on pins worn by brave survivors and family members fighting together. It seems like we all know someone battling breast cancer, and if we\u2019re lucky, we all know survivors as well. They may be wearing pink tutus and boas, but they walk for awareness, they fight for research and they join together during the month of October to tell the world they can do it, and they will.\r\nBreast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death among women, and research shows that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some time during her life. The good news is there have been advances in research, technology and early detection over the years that have helped decrease the number of breast cancer related deaths. The month of October is dedicated to research, awareness and prevention and there are always community events or walks to show your support.\r\nIn May my staff participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Washington and we became the third highest fundraising team on Capitol Hill. I was incredibly proud of our team and even more proud of all of the men and women that threw on some pink and showed up to support the thousands of women around the nation that fight to be around for all of life\u2019s little milestones.\r\nWe can all play a role in helping beat breast cancer by increasing awareness amongst the important women in all of our lives. Personally, I am blessed to have an amazing mother, mother-in-law and countless other female role models that have helped me through the years. They might have been teaching me to tie my shoes, sew on a button or helping me make my first Thanksgiving dinner, but I knew they were always there to guide my family and hold us together. The power and love the females in my life have shown me will forever shape my future. Everyone needs to take a moment and recognize the women in their lives because every woman needs to know the facts, and the fact is, every woman is at risk of developing breast cancer. I know I want to be around for all of life\u2019s little milestones, and breast cancer awareness is a big part of that.\r\nI encourage all South Dakotans to recognize this month and put an extra effort into spreading the word about breast cancer. These women are astonishingly brave and the month of October sheds some light on the issue, but more than anything it gives them hope. Hope that they can beat it, and the resolve to pour more time and resources into early detection and screening.\r\nIf you want to know more about how you can get involved in South Dakota, visit: http://www.komensouthdakota.org.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=bebfca1c-73dd-4b58-b4c8-ac27295dccce", "Website \u201cGlitches\u201d Demonstrate Why ObamaCare Isn\u2019t Ready for Primetime", "2013-10-25", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator John Thune \r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tThis month, hundreds of thousands of families throughout the country began receiving notices that their current health insurance coverage would be canceled. Despite the president\u2019s repeated promise during the 2009 debate on health care, \u201cIf you like the plan you have, you can keep it,\u201d families throughout the nation are being forced to abandon their current coverage. This has required many of them, scrambling under the weight of a looming individual mandate deadline, to look to the national health care exchanges for help.\r\nUnfortunately, the tool that many had hoped would be a resource to aid them in their health insurance search has proven to be an epic failure. The October 1st launch of the national health care exchange website, healthcare.gov, was heralded by the administration as a critical component of ObamaCare that would increase access to coverage and expand the number of available options through a user-friendly online website. Instead, the highly-anticipated launch was riddled with errors, long wait times, and so-called \u201cglitches.\u201d Despite the ongoing problems with the website, the administration continues to claim that many of these \u201cglitches\u201d are due to the overwhelming traffic on the website. Yet they have refused to say how many Americans have actually enrolled in the exchanges since the beginning of October.\r\nIn fact, in North Dakota, the administration requested that the state\u2019s largest health insurer refrain from publicizing the low number of people that have signed up for health insurance through the online exchange. The administration\u2019s blatant attempt to conceal the number of online applicants illustrates how poorly both the website and the law were designed.\r\nEven the administration\u2019s attempts to \u201cfix\u201d the website have resulted in misinformation and confusion. CBS News reported that one of the most recent \u201cfixes\u201d to healthcare.gov gives the wrong pricing information for those who want to browse the prices before signing up. Everyone 49 and younger gets a quote for a 27 year-old, while everyone 50 and older gets a quote for a 50 year-old. This poor planning and development is a clear attempt to mislead people before registering online.\r\nThe administration\u2019s rollout of healthcare.gov is symptomatic of what we already knew about ObamaCare, the law is not the solution to our health care problems. According to a recent Washington Post-ABC News poll, 56 percent of Americans believe that the website\u2019s glitches reflect greater problems with ObamaCare. On October 23rd, the White House announced that it would be delaying the individual mandate for six weeks in order to allow people more time to comply with the law. While the administration claims that the delay is not on account of the website glitches, it is clear that the law, like the website, was not ready for primetime and should be permanently delayed for all Americans.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=90f3f3df-ba82-4861-a4d6-cf719bb1d208", "KOTA: Noem announces first Farm Bill Conference Committee meeting", "2013-10-23", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem Wednesday announced that the first official public meeting for the 2013 Farm Bill conference committee will be held next week on Wednesday, October 30.\u00a0\r\n\"It is time to finish the work on this Farm Bill,\" said Noem. \u00a0\"I'm eager to sit down with my colleagues next week to begin these important negotiations.\u00a0 The certainty a new Farm Bill would provide our producers is important to South Dakota's economy, and the livestock disaster programs that would be renewed in this bill would bring much needed relief to West River ranchers who were hit hard by the recent storm. There are some significant differences between the two bills that we need to iron out, but I'm heading into this process optimistic and ready to work hard to complete this process.\"\r\nNoem, who lives on a ranch in rural Hamlin County, is the first House member from South Dakota to be appointed a member of the Farm Bill conference since 1996.\r\nRep. Noem championed four main provisions in the House version of the Farm Bill, all of which were included in some form in the final version passed by the House. They include:\u00a0\r\n \r\nLivestock Disaster Protection Act: Would extend the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), the Livestock Forage Program (LFP), and the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP) for the life of the Farm Bill as well as provide retroactive coverage, since the programs expired in 2011.\r\nProtect our Prairies Act: Would encourage conservation of native sod and grassland, save taxpayer dollars and protect the habitat of wildlife critical to South Dakota's hunting industry.\r\nNational Forest Emergency Response Act: Would streamline processes to get boots on the ground faster for pine beetle mitigation efforts.\r\nUSDA Office of Tribal Relations: Would permanently establish an Office of Tribal Relations within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help improve communication between USDA and Tribal nations. This provision would not cost taxpayers any additional dollars and instead requires USDA to use existing resources to establish the office.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=43cc5948-8a71-4748-bfb2-b6213d981b36", "Noem Announces First Farm Bill Conference Committee Meeting Next Week", "2013-10-23", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem today announced that the first official public meeting for the 2013 Farm Bill conference committee will be held next week on Wednesday, October 30.\u00a0\r\n\"It is time to finish the work on this Farm Bill,\" said Noem.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m eager to sit down with my colleagues next week to begin these important negotiations.\u00a0 The certainty a new Farm Bill would provide our producers is important to South Dakota\u2019s economy, and the livestock disaster programs that would be renewed in this bill would bring much needed relief to West River ranchers who were hit hard by the recent storm. There are some significant differences between the two bills that we need to iron out, but I\u2019m heading into this process optimistic and ready to work hard to complete this process.\u201d\r\nNoem, who lives on a ranch in rural Hamlin County, is the first House member from South Dakota to be appointed a member of the Farm Bill conference since 1996.\r\nRep. Noem championed four main provisions in the House version of the Farm Bill, all of which were included in some form in the final version passed by the House. They include:\u00a0\r\n \r\nLivestock Disaster Protection Act: Would extend the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), the Livestock Forage Program (LFP), and the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP) for the life of the Farm Bill as well as provide retroactive coverage, since the programs expired in 2011.\r\nProtect our Prairies Act: Would encourage conservation of native sod and grassland, save taxpayer dollars and protect the habitat of wildlife critical to South Dakota\u2019s hunting industry.\r\nNational Forest Emergency Response Act: Would streamline processes to get boots on the ground faster for pine beetle mitigation efforts.\r\nUSDA Office of Tribal Relations: Would permanently establish an Office of Tribal Relations within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help improve communication between USDA and Tribal nations. This provision would not cost taxpayers any additional dollars and instead requires USDA to use existing resources to establish the office.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=0316e828-2f34-4519-965f-c6e4002a9ffc", "Thune, Toomey Call on SEC to Follow the Law in Implementing JOBS Act", "2013-10-22", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tU.S. Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Senate sponsors of a major provision included in the bipartisan Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act, today sent a letter to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Mary Jo White to express concern over the SEC\u2019s implementation of the JOBS Act, which was signed into law in April of 2012.\r\nIn their letter, the senators write: \u201cThe additional measures that the SEC has proposed go beyond Congress\u2019s clear mandate in Section 201, and would impose unnecessary and burdensome requirements that will have adverse effects on small businesses and investors, and undo the progress made under Section 201.\u201d\u00a0\r\nThe full letter is included below.\r\n--\r\nOctober 22, 2013\r\nThe Honorable Mary Jo White  Chairman  U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission  100 F Street, Northeast  Washington, D.C. 20549\u00a0\r\nDear Chairman White:\r\nAs strong supporters of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act, we were pleased to see the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) act earlier this year to begin implementation of this important law.\u00a0 With unemployment remaining at chronically high levels, implementation of the JOBS Act, an important step in pushing our economy forward and putting Americans back to work, is long overdue.\r\nThe SEC\u2019s adoption of a final rule, in the manner mandated by Congress, to lift the ban on general solicitation for private securities offerings will work to facilitate capital formation for small businesses and entrepreneurs.\u00a0 As you know, this long-overdue change will remove an existing barrier to economic growth by encouraging investment in the private market from qualified investors.\u00a0\r\nUnfortunately, we are very concerned that the SEC\u2019s additional proposals under consideration, as they relate to changes to Regulation D, Form D, and Rule 156 under the Securities Act, would substantially undermine the intent of Congress.\u00a0 The SEC\u2019s final rule follows Congress\u2019s clear directive to the SEC regarding how to amend Rule 506.\u00a0 Section 201 of the JOBS Act instructs the SEC to amend Rule 506 to remove the ban on general solicitation provided that all purchasers of the securities are accredited investors, and to require that issuers take reasonable steps to verify that the purchasers are accredited investors. These instructions reflect Congress's considered decision of what additional investor protection measures should be included in an amended Rule 506, and the SEC has appropriately implemented Congress\u2019s judgment.\u00a0 The additional measures that the SEC has proposed go beyond Congress\u2019s clear mandate in Section 201, and would impose unnecessary and burdensome requirements that will have adverse effects on small businesses and investors, and undo the progress made under Section 201.\u00a0\r\nAs sponsors of this provision, we respectfully urge the Commission to note Congressional intent and not adopt the additional proposals in order to ensure the benefits of the JOBS Act are realized for small businesses and investors.\u00a0 As we stated in our previous comments to you, we were encouraged by your commitment to completing the JOBS Act rulemakings, and hope, going forward, you will act expeditiously to continue implementation of other provisions of the law.\u00a0\r\nSincerely,\r\nJOHN THUNE \u00a0 \u00a0   United States Senator \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\r\nPAT TOOMEY  United States Senator", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=382b95ae-acd1-466a-9dc1-162eb9152566", "Rose Garden Speech Should Address More Than Just Technical Glitches", "2013-10-21", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tU.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, issued the following statement in advance of the president\u2019s speech later this morning on ObamaCare\u2019s technical problems:\r\n\u201cIn addition to addressing ObamaCare\u2019s embarrassing technical \u2018glitches,\u2019 the president has a responsibility to be honest with the American people about the substantive, real-life consequences of his signature law. We now know that hundreds of thousands of Americans are receiving insurance cancellation notices, despite the president\u2019s promise that you can keep the health care plan you have and like. If and when the technical glitches get fixed, Americans will unfortunately still face the bleak reality of this train wreck\u2014problems no IT specialist can fix.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=d29279f6-5203-4815-8dc7-80f0241e04b3", "Argus Leader: Help for ranchers in blizzard limited, USDA chief says", "2013-10-18", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Christopher Doering \r\n\tU.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Thursday the administration can provide only limited help to livestock owners devastated by the early October snowstorm in western South Dakota, instead placing the onus on Congress to pass a new farm bill before ranchers will see any meaningful assistance.\r\nTo help producers, Vilsack said the USDA is reopening offices operated by its Farm Service Agency that were shuttered after Republicans and Democrats were unable to come to an agreement to fund the government, leading to a two-week shutdown that ended late Wednesday night.\r\nMichael Scuse, undersecretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, will be in South Dakota on Monday to visit FSA offices and meet with producers to let them know they can submit documents showing their losses from the storm. But ranchers will not receive any compensation until a new farm bill is in place. The USDA was given the authority to operate livestock disaster assistance programs in the 2008 farm bill, but the authority expired Sept. 30, 2011.\r\n\"In terms of being able to provide significant financial assistance, we really have to have Congress get its job done by getting a farm bill passed and making sure that in that farm bill is a livestock disaster assistance program\u201d to help ranchersaffectedby the weather the past two years, Vilsack said in an interview. \u201cTo the producers who have suffered through this difficult time, our hearts go out to them. I wish we had the programs in place.\"\r\nVilsack said for now there is little the White House can do to help ranchers without a farm law. The department plans to work closely with state health officials to make sure dead animals are disposed of properly. Officials also plan to provide information about low-interest disaster assistance loans that might be available to livestock owners.\r\nThe early October blizzard pounded the western part of South Dakota, including the Black Hills, with as much as 4 feet of snow. The storm knocked out power for many residents and left tens of thousands of livestock dead. For many ranchers, some who lost their entire herds, the heavy snow came one year after the state was hit with a widespread drought that forced some livestock owners to shrink their operations rather than pay high feed prices.\r\nDuring the shutdown, Republicans Sen. John Thune and Rep. Kristi Noem prodded the USDA to reopen FSA offices in areas hit by the storm, deeming them essential for local producers. Throughout the federal government, employees deemed essential stayed on the job during the shutdown. Thune and Noem said the offices needed to be opened to answer questions that ranchers might have about aid programs that will be available once a farm bill is passed so they know what documents to keep.\r\nDemocratic Sen. Tim Johnson said ending the shutdown is the first step to getting relief to those affected by the storm. Johnson, who will be touring the western part of the state with Scuse next week to see the devastation first hand, was critical of those who voted to shut down the government.\r\n\"I was surprised that many of the people in Congress who forced the government shutdown were the people who complained most when the government wasn\u2019t able, by law, to meet the needs of South Dakota\u2019s ranchers,\" he said.\r\nUSDA said the closure of the government prevented the agency from reopening the offices, a stance Vilsack reiterated again Thursday. \"Despite our compassion for producers, we can\u2019t ignore what the law basically says,\" said Vilsack, who greeted USDA employees arriving to work earlier in the day.\r\nThune and Noem remained skeptical Thursday that the USDA didn\u2019t have the authority. Thune expressed frustration that the USDA did not reinstate personnel in FSA offices \"during this critical time.\"\r\nNoem added: \"Clearly, it is a good thing that our FSA offices are open, though I believe USDA did have the authority to open them earlier and I wish they would have done so.\"\r\nIn an interview, Noem said she has put all her effort into passing a farm bill and she \"remains committed to getting it done.\" She is a member of the Senate-House panel of lawmakers charged with crafting one final piece of legislation to be voted on by each chamber. Conferees are in the early stages of working on a farm bill and could hold additional meetings as soon as next week.\r\nThe most recent farm bill expired Sept. 30, ending several food aid, rural development and agricultural programs, among others. Food stamps, subsidy payments and crop insurance programs remain in place.\r\nRead the story here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=b9a35d30-714a-4a5d-aee6-93e23690ba9b", "Noem Weekly Column: A Better Way to Restore Our Fiscal Future", "2013-10-18", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On October 16, Congress approved \u2013 and President Obama signed into law \u2013 legislation to end the partial government shutdown and increase our nation\u2019s borrowing limit, known as the \u201cdebt ceiling.\u201d I voted against this bill and would like to take this opportunity to explain why.\r\nMake no mistake, getting the government funded again and stopping any talk of potential default on our debt was a good thing.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t favor shutting down the government and am glad it is reopened.\u00a0 For me, this vote was not simply about whether to reopen the government; rather, it was about what kind of government we should have.\u00a0\u00a0 Do we want a government that lives within its means?\u00a0 Or do we want a government that spends much more than it takes in, leaving a crushing amount of debt for future generations?\u00a0 I voted \u201cno\u201d because I believe our spending problems are unsustainable and because the bill that was ultimately signed into law missed a real opportunity to fix the problems that have led us to a $17 trillion national debt.\r\nOne of the most pressing challenges facing our nation is our growing debt. Concern over our fiscal future is one of the reasons I oppose President Obama\u2019s trillion-dollar health care law, commonly referred to as Obamacare. In fact, concerns about Obamacare \u2013 including the unfair way it has been implemented \u2013 helped lead to the standoff that partially shut down the government on October 1.\u00a0\r\nTo be clear, the government shutdown was not the outcome I hoped for, though I do stand by my desire to see South Dakotans get the same treatment under Obamacare that the president has offered to corporations and large businesses. During the period the government was partially shut down, I remained hopeful that both parties would come together and negotiate on the issue of providing fairness under Obamacare.\u00a0 In the absence of those negotiations, the House began passing numerous bills to reopen basic, noncontroversial parts of the federal government. Those bills were unfortunately never considered in the Senate.\r\nOn October 10, I was part of a small group of Republicans that went to the White House in an effort to negotiate a way forward with President Obama. By that time, it was clear that the issue of government funding was going to be merged with the issue of raising the debt ceiling. At that meeting, the president was offered a temporary increase in the debt ceiling along with a way to reopen the government as long as both sides entered real, meaningful negotiations on reforming some of the programs that are the real drivers of our fiscal problems.\u00a0 The president did not accept our offer and began working with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on a deal to reopen the government and increase the debt ceiling, which formed the foundation for the bill that I ultimately could not support.\r\nThe process that I went through prior to casting my vote was neither simple nor easy. I supported reopening the government and wanted to see that happen as quickly as possible.\u00a0 While there were some positive aspects to the bill, it also included things that troubled me, including a $2.1 billion funding boost for an Ohio River dam and a one-time \u201cdeath gratuity\u201d payment of $174,000 to the widow of a millionaire lawmaker that passed away earlier this year. However, at the end of the day it all came back to one thing for me: our $17 trillion debt. While reopening the government was important to me, so too was pushing for a government that stops spending more money than it takes in.\r\nCongress and recent presidents from both political parties, including President Obama, have a long history of tying reforms to an increase in the debt ceiling. Unfortunately, we missed an opportunity to do so with this bill.\u00a0 With our national debt at $17 trillion and growing, I could not support the bill because it increased our debt ceiling without doing anything to address our country\u2019s structural spending problem.\u00a0\r\nI believe there is a better path. Members of Congress from both parties must work with President Obama on common sense reforms that we can all agree on.\u00a0 These reforms could include things like fixing our broken tax code by eliminating loopholes and making incremental reforms to entitlement programs that are the real drivers of our spending so they can better serve current and future beneficiaries.\u00a0\r\nDespite this recent episode, I still believe divided government can work to better serve the American people and I am committed to trying to make that happen.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=ec696e61-a45f-4bbe-8e93-ab7063e19347", "Pheasant Hunting: A South Dakota Tradition", "2013-10-18", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator John Thune \r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tThere is nothing like a crisp fall day in South Dakota for enjoying one of our great state traditions, pheasant hunting. Families throughout South Dakota dust off their hunting gear, organize weekend hunts, and invite out-of-town family and friends into their homes for a taste of this long-standing sporting tradition. While pheasant hunting may be the reason for these annual fall gatherings, for many of us the time spent with family, friends, and neighbors is the true highlight of the fall hunts.\r\nSouth Dakota has become famous for its hospitality and quality pheasant hunting. Dubbed the \u201cPheasant Capitol of the World,\u201d we have grown accustomed during these fall and winter months to seeing planes coming and going from our airports filled with passengers loading and unloading their gun cases, coolers, and blaze orange gear. Despite pheasant numbers being down for the 2013 season, the South Dakota Department of Tourism estimates that pheasant hunting will generate approximately $223 million in revenues for the state. Whether it is the licenses, gas, and gear that they buy, or the nights spent in lodges and motels throughout the state, clearly hunting in South Dakota is big business.\r\nBut for those of us who grew up pheasant hunting in South Dakota, we often do not think about the business it generates. Instead, we think about the treasured memories of quality time we have spent with families and friends, the lessons we learned about responsible hunting practices and gun safety, and the unforgettable feeling of bagging that first pheasant. All of these experiences have made pheasant hunting a sport passed down from generation to generation in our state, and one which I hope can continue for future generations.\u00a0\r\nAs we gather at our favorite pheasant hunting locations, take the newest family hunter out for the first day in the fields, and gather at night over a warm meal to tell stories of the \u201cshot of the day,\u201d we continue these treasured South Dakota traditions and instill an appreciation for nature and the outdoors in the next generation of hunters. I wish all hunters across South Dakota a safe and successful hunting season.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=b749b823-38aa-42e2-86d8-7715eba57c3f", "Noem Statement on Debt Vote", "2013-10-17", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Kristi Noem tonight issued the following statement on the debt vote in the House:\r\n\"This agreement will reopen the government and stop any talk of a default, which are both good things.\u00a0 However, I could not support this bill because it didn\u2019t do anything to address our continued deficit spending, which has resulted in a $17 trillion debt.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=a0e5df46-d45b-45ac-9ca8-3568286c6edd", "Thune Votes to Prevent Default, Open the Government", "2013-10-16", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tU.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after voting yes on the amended H.R.2775, a bill to end the partial government shutdown and prevent default:\r\n\r\n\u201cWe fought hard to protect as many Americans as possible from ObamaCare, and that fight doesn't end today, but we're now 16 days into a shutdown and risking a possible default, and Congress needs to end this impasse. This isn\u2019t a perfect proposal, it\u2019s far from it, but it will ensure that we don\u2019t blow past the default date that\u2019s been set by the Treasury, and it will force Congress to have a broad debate about Washington's dangerous levels of spending and debt, which are hamstringing the economy and mortgaging our children's futures. This debate should be an opportunity to focus on fiscal policies that will actually grow the economy and strengthen the middle class.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=16dce693-305a-4799-b616-74ff25349084", "Rapid City Journal: Mayors tell Noem they are concerned for ranchers", "2013-10-15", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Northern Hills mayors told Rep. Kristi Noem that one of the most pressing needs they have is removal of debris from creek beds that flow through federal lands near their communities.\r\nNoem visited with the mayors of Sturgis, Deadwood, Spearfish, Belle Fourche, Newell and Hermosa during a visit to the Black Hills Sunday. Following a meeting with Meade County ranchers, she asked the mayors about how they survived the storm.\r\n\"We tore up some equipment and our snow removal budget is toast, but we survived,\" said Chuck Turbiville.\r\nSturgis Mayor Mark Carstensen and Sturgis City Manager Daniel Ainslie both stressed to Noem that they were extremely worried about clogged drainage areas when 3 inches of rain fell following the record 3 feet of snow.\r\n\"The potential for flooding is there. The stream beds are a disaster in the canyons,\" he said. \"And none of us have the resources to clean up the river beds on BLM and Forest Service.\"\r\nNoem said she has attempted to call agencies such as the Forest Service and Department of Agriculture during the government shut down, but says she can't get her calls returned.\r\n\"It's kind of shocking to me that we can't even get a call back,\" Noem said during the meeting at the Sturgis City Hall.\r\nSturgis mayor Mark Carstensen said Sturgis City employees were tired after work 12- to 14-hour days for a week straight following the storm.\r\nCarstensen told Noem the things they could use most from the National Guard or other federal agency is trucks with grappling hooks to pick up debris and dump trucks to haul debris away.\r\nBelle Fourche mayor Gary Hendrickson said his community was looking at $350,000 to $400,000 in additional expenses from the storm.\r\nHe, too, said the community could use help from the National Guard and asked Noem about expediting FEMA funds.\r\nHis big concern was for ranchers who have suffered incredibly from the storm.\r\n\"We're all gonna feel that trickle down effect,\" he said.\r\nTurbiville said in Deadwood they hired snow removal contractors to help haul away nearly five feet of snow.\r\n\"We're going to have to go into reserves to pay for all these expenses,\" he said.\r\nThe city signed a disaster declaration which was forwarded to the governor along with one from Lawrence County.\r\nNoem encouraged all the mayors to keep track of additional expenses to be included for disaster aid.\r\nSpearfish Mayor Dana Boke said she was happy to report that TMone has been moved to the city's recreation center and employees were scheduled to be back on the job this week.\r\nThe TMone building, which is owned by the city of Spearfish, collapsed under the weight of the heavy snow during the blizzard of Oct. 4 and Oct. 5.\r\n\"We're working on a plan to replace the building,\" Boke said.\r\nNewell Mayor Mike Wolf said the biggest concern he has from the storm is that area ranchers are compensated for their losses.\r\n\"I want to make sure you guys are helping the ag producers,\" he said. \"From what I have heard, this is gonna break some of them.\"\r\nRead story here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=3c582c0e-041e-4e31-8f2a-fd7217456fff", "Rapid City Journal: Noem meets with Meade County ranchers", "2013-10-14", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Kristi Noem told ranchers Sunday in Meade County that she would impress upon her fellow members of Congress the urgency to reopen the federal government so that ranchers can begin the process of filing claims for cattle losses.\r\n\"These ranchers made it through the drought last year that was so devastating only to have a loss like this. It\u2019s going to be extremely challenging, but we will try to get this farm bill done as soon as possible,\" the Republican congresswoman said.\r\nNoem also asked ranchers if the current $100,000 cap on individual catastrophic losses in the farm bill would be enough to cover what they lost in the blizzard on Oct. 4.\r\nRancher Ed Poss lost about 300 head of cattle. His ranch manager Nick Uherka said Poss\u2019s loss alone would exceed that amount.\r\nRead the story here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 288, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"party\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Republican", "p1": "SD", "p2": "2013"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=SD&year=2013", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 288, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=SD&year=2013", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=SD&year=2013", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 288, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=SD&year=2013&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=SD&year=2013", "results": [{"value": "SD", "label": "SD", "count": 288, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&year=2013", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=SD&year=2013", "results": [{"value": "2013", "label": "2013", "count": 288, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=SD", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2013-10-14,http~3A~2F~2Fnoem~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Findex~2Ecfm~2Fin-the-news~3FContentRecord_id~3D3c582c0e-041e-4e31-8f2a-fd7217456fff", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=SD&year=2013&_next=2013-10-14%2Chttp~3A~2F~2Fnoem~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Findex~2Ecfm~2Fin-the-news~3FContentRecord_id~3D3c582c0e-041e-4e31-8f2a-fd7217456fff&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 97.56482997909188, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}