{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where state = \"SD\" and year = 2015 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=00E0793D-B932-4CB5-9A22-1DBE40C9E8B6", "Meet The Lawmakers Who Sleep, Shower, Work  All On Capitol Hill", "2015-12-26", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "NPR \r\n\tWhen South Dakota Republican Kristi Noem was looking for a new office at the beginning of this Congress, she knew she'd need one thing in particular: closet space.\r\nNoem is one of dozens of lawmakers who, by day, work in the office buildings on the House side of the U.S. Capitol and, by night, live in them.\r\n\"There's storage in this room here for my blankets and pillows,\" Noem told NPR in a recent tour of her office in the Rayburn building.\r\nThese lawmakers say office living has some political benefit, but it's mainly a good way to save a buck in Washington.\r\nNoem sleeps on a pullout in her office. She described her morning routine this way:\r\n\"There's a gym in the basement, so I get up in the morning and go down to the member's gym and work out with a group of people,\" she said. \"And then I go to the women's gym and shower and put my makeup on and stuff and come back up here and get dressed.\"\r\nSleeping in the office is not without some hazards, Noem said. One night in her old office, she was working late on her laptop when an unwelcome visitor arrived.\r\nA mouse.\r\nNoem is a farmer and a rancher, but she freaked out. She called a male staffer back to the office to help catch the mouse. They couldn't find it, so for her peace of mind, she had him duct tape the bottom of her office door \"so that it wouldn't come in while I was sleeping,\" she said.\r\nThe most prominent member of this \"Couch Caucus\"? Newly minted House Speaker Paul Ryan, who's been sleeping in his office for years.\r\nThe Wisconsin Republican told CNN's Dana Bash in a recent interview that he would keep doing it even if he is, now, second in line to the presidency.\r\n\"I'm just a normal guy,\" Ryan said.\r\n\"But normal guys don't sleep in their offices!\" Bash replied.\r\nMaybe it's not normal, but there are no rules against it.\r\nThere's also no official data on how many do it. Lawmakers estimate, though, that at least 40 House members sleep in their offices.\r\n\"I think there's more than you might expect,\" said Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., who sleeps on a futon in his office. \"There's quite a few of us, particularly the younger members with young families back home in our districts. There's quite a few  men and women.\"\r\nNoem is one of very few women who sleep in their office. Most of them are Republican men.\r\nIt's good politics, particularly among conservatives, to make it known back home they're not getting too comfortable in Washington. When Republican Bill Huizenga was campaigning for the Michigan seat vacated by Republican Rep. Pete Hoekstra, for example, voters wanted to know three things, Huizenga told NPR.\r\n\"People would ask me: What am I going to do about spending, what am I going to do about Obamacare and am I sleeping on my couch like Pete,\" he said.\r\nThe transition was easy for Huizenga because, as he quipped, \"I'm a cheap Dutchman.\"\r\nA handful of Democrats sleep in their offices, too, though Illinois Congressman Mike Quigley said he's not trying to make a political statement.\r\n\"It's not something I'm thrilled about,\" he said. \"It's just circumstances.\"\r\nQuigley started sleeping in his office, in part, to save money to put his two daughters through college. Every lawmaker NPR interviewed said saving money was the main reason they do it.\r\nMembers of Congress make $174,000 a year, but maintaining a residence in the neighborhoods around the U.S. Capitol can easily cost approximately $2,000 a month. That's a waste of money, these members said, if you're only staying in Washington a few nights a week  and keeping a house in your home state.\r\n\"Next year's schedule for the House activities? We're here 83 nights. So you're paying rent in a very expensive neighborhood for 282 nights you're not here,\" Quigley said.\r\nSince next year is an election year, lawmakers will spend even less time in Washington, so sleeping in the office is not just practical, but maybe, also good politics.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=4A7F5015-BC3F-4DB7-96C5-A36AF5180EFF", "Weekly Column: Learning Something from Yesterday", "2015-12-23", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "It has been an honor to serve you again this year. As we prepare to start 2016, I couldnt help but reflect on what a year it has been.\r\nI started 2015 with an appointment to the historic House Ways and Means Committee, which handles all tax, trade and economic growth policies. As the first South Dakotan to serve on this committee, its been a tremendous opportunity to make sure our priorities and values are reflected in the nations largest debates.\r\nJust days into the new year, the House passed the Keystone XL Pipeline Act with bipartisan support. This bill would have allowed work to begin. While Republicans and Democrats in the Senate also agreed to the legislation, the President vetoed it. In doing so, he deprived South Dakota of good jobs, millions of dollars in revenue for cash-strapped counties, and congestion relief for the roads and rails.\r\nThis was one of the first of more than 300 bills the House would pass throughout 2015. We also voted on a permanent repeal of the death tax, a bill to hold sanctuary cities accountable, and measures to rein in federal regulators. Although none of these items on our conservative agenda received the Presidents signature, there were a handful of areas where we found common ground with members from both parties.\r\n\r\nOver the last few years, Ive advocated for legislation to combat human trafficking. On May 29, we earned a major victory when the President signed our bipartisan Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, which included provisions I wrote with the needs of South Dakota and our children in mind.\r\n\r\nWe also passed a bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority bill, which put tools in place to hold the Obama administration accountable for meeting the trade objectives set by Congress. This legislation is already making an impact. Because of it, the public has full access to the pending Trans Pacific Partnership before Congress can act on it. That gives everyone time to review it and make sure its a good deal for America.\r\nAfter more than 13 years under No Child Left Behind, Congress also overhauled our federal education policy, finally getting us away from the federal government micromanaging local classrooms. In the bill, we gave states more flexibility, empowered parents, modernized the Impact Aid program, and stopped the federal government from pressuring schools into adopting specific academic standards, like Common Core.\r\nAdditionally, I helped drive forward the first long-term highway bill in a decade to make sure South Dakota farmers, businesses and families would continue to have access to a safe and reliable infrastructure. With 80,000 miles of roadway, 6,000 bridges, and thousands of miles of railways in South Dakota, it was critical that we give state and local governments more certainty, control and flexibility when addressing infrastructure problems. The Fixing Americas Surface Transportation Act accomplished that.\r\n\r\nFinally, we passed legislation to protect hardworking South Dakotans from pending tax hikes. In the package, we made improvements to 529 college savings plans, offered a permanent deduction for certain classroom expenses teachers take on, and permanently extended Section 179, which is important to many farmers and ranchers. The package also included an extension of the biodiesel tax credit through 2016 and stopped Obamacares medical device tax from taking effect until at least 2017.\r\nBeyond legislative initiatives, Im proud of the personal impact our office has made in the lives of many South Dakotans. Weve assisted more than 600 constituents who faced problems when trying to adopt a child, pay their taxes, receive veterans or Medicare benefits, and more. Weve also been able to show more than 130 South Dakota groups around the U.S. Capitol and made more than 170,000 calls to constituents to make sure you knew what I was doing.\r\nThere is much more to be done, but as John Wayne said, Tomorrow hopes we have learned something from yesterday.\r\nThank you for the opportunity to serve South Dakota. Have a happy New Year!", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=2e296729-027d-4995-860b-ab9e9c99d13a", "Traditions That Make the Holiday Season Special", "2015-12-23", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Sen. John Thune \r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tEvery family has their own way of celebrating during the holiday season, which makes this time of year so special and unique. Some people travel, and some stay home. Some people take the Clark Griswold approach to decorating, while others stick to a Christmas tree bound with a single strand of lights. For me and my family, the most important part of the holiday season is the celebration of Gods great gift to mankind in the person of his son, Jesus. However you and your family celebrate, the traditions you honor, the memories you make, and the sights and sounds you observe will have a long-lasting impact on generations to come.\r\nWhen I was younger, we used to spend Christmas Eve with my grandmother. Before our family would head to Okaton, South Dakota, for the annual Christmas Eve service, she would make her traditional Norwegian dish: lutefisk and lefsa. Today, while my family has swapped some of her specialties for those of our own  clam chowder is a Thune family favorite  the aroma of lutefisk and lefsa will forever take me back to my grandmothers house and remind me of the Christmas season.\r\nMy wife Kimberley and I kept many of my grandmothers special holiday traditions alive as we celebrated Christmas with our girls, watching them grow with each passing year. Seeing them light up with the joy of the season as they performed in church and school Christmas programs are memories I will forever cherish. Both Brittany and Larissa are now adults and are married themselves, starting new traditions along the way. We all still share Christmas Eve together just like we did with my grandmother when I was younger. And the Christmas season wouldnt be complete unless our family was able to catch old classics like White Christmas or Miracle On 34th Street  newer classics like Elf tend to make into the rotation as well.\r\nAs you and your family gather around the Christmas tree this year, exchanging gifts, laughter, and memories, remember the brave men and women in uniform who will celebrate away from their loved ones this year. It is because of their service and sacrifice that were able to be with our friends and families. They pay a big price for our freedom, and it should not go unnoticed, especially at this time of year. So too should we recognize the generosity of South Dakotans who dedicate their time and resources to help the less fortunate among us. South Dakotans are caring people with big hearts, and through their work, they are able to make the holiday season brighter for other people.\r\nTraditions help tie one generation to the next. So, as you and your family celebrate old traditions this holiday season or create news ones that youll enjoy for years to come, Kimberley and I want to wish you a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year. May this season be filled with happiness and excitement as you rejoice in the good news of the great joy that shall be for all the people.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=59139501-38DA-46E5-9959-83FD31899D86", "Noem concerned with IHS service units", "2015-12-18", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Black Hills Fox (KEVN) \r\n\tSouth Dakota Representative Kristi Noem is reaching out to Indian Health Service officials for information about the quality of care provided by IHS facilities in South Dakota.\r\nNoem wrote a letter to IHS Principal Deputy Director Robert McSwain discussing documented instances of patients put in serious danger when receiving care at IHS service units.\r\nShe says this letter comes in the wake of IHS service units in Rosebud and Pine Ridge being notified that they are at risk of losing accreditation from the Center for Medicare and MedicaidServices.\r\nSome of the issues that Noem highlights are staff washing instruments by hand because of a broke sterilization machine, as well as poor infection control measures.\r\nNoem is requesting more information from IHS including which facilities are at risk, and what reforms have been taken to rectify the issues.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=0A29FF16-AB9D-4F8B-A93F-1D5552DBE30A", "Noem, Pascrell Introduce Legislation Aimed at Improving Medication Adherence for Seniors", "2015-12-18", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representatives Kristi Noem (R-SD) and Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) today introduced H.R.4292, the Synchronization and Nonadherence Correction Act, which aims to improve medication adherence for seniors through strategies such as synchronizing prescription pick-up times.\r\nMedication adherence is a significant problem within the senior community. The failure to take prescribed medications consistently and at the proper times can result in additional or worsening medical conditions. This legislation makes it easier for seniors.\r\nEspecially for seniors with multiple complex medical conditions, understanding how each medication must be taken and when a new round needs to be picked up from the pharmacist can be extremely confusing. A failure to do it properly can have devastating effects, said Noem. If we can make this a smoother, less difficult process, the impact could be life-saving. Im optimistic the results of this pilot program will give us the tools we need to improve the quality of care delivered to Medicare recipients, while also preserving precious taxpayer dollars.\r\nEnsuring that seniors are taking their medications and taking them properly will help save lives, prevent unnecessary complications, and reduce health care costs, said Pascrell. By establishing a pilot program in Medicare to test the effectiveness of medication synchronization in improving medication adherence, we can lay the foundation for broader policy changes that will help keep our seniors healthy. We always aim to improve health care quality and reduce costs, and this bill does both.\r\nMore specifically, the Synchronization and Nonadherence Correction Act directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a pilot project to investigate what kind of programs work best to improve medication adherence for individuals with chronic diseases. The bill lists several models that combine synchronizing medications, certain compliance-based packaging (such as pouches that package the days pills together), and pharmacist counseling.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=3B4A6495-681A-446D-9DCA-16FD9416F00A", "Noem Seeks Information on Critical Conditions within Indian Health Service Facilities", "2015-12-18", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representative Kristi Noem today sought information about the quality of care provided at Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities in South Dakota. In a letter to IHS Principal Deputy Director Robert McSwain, Noem discusses documented instances where patients were put in serious danger when receiving care at an IHS service unit and raises concerns about losing accreditation from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Noem also solicits information about what steps are being taken to correct the problems.\r\nThis letter comes in the wake of IHS service units in Rosebud and Pine Ridge being notified that they are at risk of losing CMS accreditation, which would force many tribal members to find help miles and miles away from their homes.\r\nSafe and efficient Indian Health Service medical facilities are critical to the well-being of the more than 100,000 Native Americans in the Great Plains Area. For Tribal members who live in rural areas, IHS hospitals are the only health care facilities within a hundred miles or more. Sadly, the experiences of my constituents in South Dakota indicate that IHS Great Plains Area facilities are failing to provide quality care, and Tribal members are paying the price, wrote Noem.\r\nNoem further details problems discovered at the IHS Service Unit in Rosebud recently:\r\n \r\nStaff washed surgical instruments by hand because the sterilization machine had been broken for six months;\r\nNo infection control measures were taken for a patient with a history of an untreated highly infectious disease. When the patient was transferred, no documentation was created to inform the accepting facility of his history with the disease;\r\nStaff left a pregnant patient unattended and she delivered her premature baby on the floor of a hospital bathroom. The baby was initially not breathing. Staff intervened, but when the doctor arrived 20-30 minutes later, staff did not notify the doctor that the baby was premature or that it had been found on the floor. No equipment was available to deal with the situation. While staff obtained equipment, the baby was not placed in a warmer and was not given oxygen.\r\n \r\nNoem also outlines problems of Schedule II drug theft that were discovered in a 2010 Senate Indian Affairs Committee report.\r\nIn light of this, Noem has requested a robust report from IHS by January 31, 2016, that details:\r\n \r\nWhich IHS facilities are facing CMS termination notices and why;\r\nWhat reforms IHS and the Great Plains Area have taken in response to a 2010 Senate report outlining many underlying problems in the Great Plains Area;\r\nInstances of Schedule II drug theft;\r\nInstances where a health care provider offered care while under the influence of drugs or alcohol;\r\nInstances where a health care provider was practicing with a lapsed license, accreditation, or certification; and\r\nThe total amount spent in the Great Plains Area on administrative expenses.\r\n \r\nA full copy of the letter can be found below.\r\n----\r\nMr. Robert G. McSwain   Principal Deputy Director   Indian Health Service   Department of Health and Human Services   The Reyes Building   801 Thompson Avenue   Rockville, MD 20852\r\nDear Mr. McSwain,\r\nSafe and efficient Indian Health Service (IHS) medical facilities are critical to the well-being of the more than 100,000 Native Americans in the Great Plains Area. For Tribal members who live in rural areas, IHS hospitals are the only health care facilities within a hundred miles or more. Sadly, the experiences of my constituents in South Dakota indicate that IHS Great Plains Area facilities are failing to provide quality care, and Tribal members are paying the price.\r\nThe Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently notified the Pine Ridge and Rosebud IHS service units that they did not meet basic CMS guidelines in terms of quality care. If the hospitals do not fix the problems CMS identified in its review, their agreements with CMS will be terminated. Disturbingly, this is not the first time CMS has raised concerns about Great Plains Area hospitals. These notices come on the heels of CMS termination of its agreement with the Winnebago IHS service unit in Nebraska, also located in the Great Plains Area.\r\nThe CMS termination notices are not the only urgent problems facing my constituents. Just over a week ago, the people of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe were blindsided with the sudden closure of their hospitals Emergency Department (ED) on the grounds that it was simply too dangerous to treat patients there. It is my understanding that, the weekend the ED closed, three rape patients and one stabbing patient were forced to travel an hour away to Nebraska for care.\r\nThe lack of quality health care for Tribal members in the Great Plains Area is not a new problem. As I visit reservations across South Dakota, my constituents share all manner of anecdotes describing negative experiences with IHS facilities. Their stories are backed by congressional oversight work. In September 2010, Byron Dorgan, then-Chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, convened a hearing titled, In Critical Condition: The Urgent Need to Reform the Indian Health Services Aberdeen Area, for which your predecessor, Dr. Yvette Roubideaux, provided testimony.At the hearing, and in the subsequent December 2010 Committee report of the same title (see attached), the Committee depicted the frightening reality that Native Americans in the Great Plains Area face when they rely on IHS for medical care.\r\nThe Committees work detailed the Aberdeen offices lack of coherent policies and procedures governing even the simplest activities across the Great Plains Area, resulting in bureaucratic paralysis at best and a physical danger to patients at worst. The report contains a litany of instances in which the Aberdeen offices lack of guidance and oversight facilitated low standards in facilities across its jurisdiction. According to the report, for example, Great Plains Area facilities failed to secure narcotic drugs, which contributed to employee thefts of pills by the thousands and the dispensing of powerful Schedule II drugs almost indiscriminately. Additionally, the Committee found Great Plains Area facilities engaged in substantial amount of diversions or reduced services, resulting in unnecessary costs and potentially affecting health care access for numerous Native Americans. Most shockingly, the Committee found that employees at Great Plains Area facilities put patients in serious danger by conducting surgical procedures under the influence of controlled substances.\r\nAmong the more disturbing South Dakota-based anecdotes listed in the report:\r\nThe [Rapid City IHS Hospital] pharmacy submitted a report of theft or loss of controlled substances dated March 19, 2008, which indicates that 5,569 Hydrocodone tablets were missing due to employee pilferage. On that same day, the pharmacy issued an amended report indicating the loss of 5,417 Hydrocodone tablets; 965 Darvocet tablets; and 187 Xanax tablets, totaling 6,569 missing controlled substances in one day. The report identified employee theft as the reason for loss [sic] pills.\r\nThe [pregnant] patient arrived at the [Rosebud Hospital] ER with contractions every five minutes and was triaged as urgent. One and a half hours later, she was discharged from the ER. The patient proceeded to the outpatient department due to her continued contractions and was told to walk around and go to the bathroom for a urinalysis. Forty-one minutes after the patient was discharged from the ER, she delivered the baby in the outpatient clinic bathroom.\r\nThe following is a summary of the key issues identified [at the Rapid City IHS Hospital]:\r\n \r\nTwo medical doctors with expired state licenses;\r\nSix doctors and family nurse practitioners with expired CPR certifications;\r\nEight family nurse practitioners and physicians with lapsed ACLS [Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support] certifications; and\r\nOne family nurse practitioner with an expired DEA [Drug Enforcement Agency] license.\r\n \r\n\r\nFive years have passed since Sen. Dorgan released his report, more than enough time for the IHS and the Aberdeen office to make the changes that were desperately needed. Nevertheless, my constituents experiences and CMS recent findings at the Pine Ridge and Rosebud IHS Hospitals suggest little has changed. For example, among the myriad problems discovered at Rosebud in recent weeks:\r\n \r\nStaff washed surgical instruments by hand because the sterilization machine had been broken for six months;\r\nNo infection control measures were taken for a patient with a history of an untreated highly infectious disease. When the patient was transferred, no documentation was created to inform the accepting facility of his history with the disease;\r\nStaff left a pregnant patient unattended and she delivered her premature baby on the floor of a hospital bathroom. The baby was initially not breathing. Staff intervened, but when the doctor arrived 20-30 minutes later, staff did not notify the doctor that the baby was premature or that it had been found on the floor. No equipment was available to deal with the situation. While staff obtained equipment, the baby was not placed in a warmer and was not given oxygen.\r\n \r\nIn testimony at the Senate Indian Affairs Committees 2010 hearing, Dr. Roubideaux acknowledged the challenges facing the Great Plains Area, and noted that funding levels are not solely to blame. Rather, she said, we [IHS] can and we must make meaningful progress toward addressing these issues utilizing the resources we currently have.I agree with her assessment and hope you do too.\r\nIn light of the appalling situation in some of South Dakotas IHS service units and to help me determine what meaningful systematic changes IHS has made since the 2010 report, please provide the following information by January 31, 2016:\r\n1) An exhaustive list of IHS facilities that have been served with CMS termination notices for the time period January 1, 2012 to present. In providing this information, please include:\r\nThe facilities whose CMS contracts were terminated and of those, the facilities that are currently in good standing with CMS.\r\n2) Describe in detail the reforms IHS and the Great Plains Area made in response to the Senate Indian Affairs Committee report titled In Critical Condition: The Urgent Need to Reform the Indian Health Services Aberdeen Area, as well as any supporting documentation;\r\n3) A list of any instances of Schedule II drug theft from any facility in the Great Plains Area for the time period January 1, 2012 to present. In providing this information, please include:\r\nThe kind and amount of drug involved;\r\nWhether an IHS employee was found responsible for the theft;\r\nIf an employee was responsible for the theft:\r\nList whether the employee was disciplined;\r\nDescribe the nature of the discipline;\r\n4) A list of any instances in which any health care provider employed by any facility in the Great Plains Area was found to have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol in the conduct of their job for the time period January 1, 2012 to present. In providing this information, please include:\r\nWhether the employee was disciplinedl;\r\nDescribe the nature of the discipline;\r\n5) A list of any instances in which any health care provider employed by any facility in the Great Plains Area was found to have lapsed in any license, accreditation, or certification for the time period January 1, 2012 to present. In providing this information, please include:\r\nThe providers job title;\r\nThe facility where the provider was posted at the time of the lapse;\r\nThe type of license, accreditation, or certification that lapsed;\r\nThe amount of time the license, accreditation, or certification had been lapsed before it was reinstated;\r\n6) Provide a full accounting of funding allotted to the Great Plains Area, as well as the total amount spent by the Aberdeen office on administrative expenses (including administrator salaries and bonuses), each year for the time period January 1, 2012 to present.\r\nThank you for your assistance in this matter. If you have questions about my request, please contact my staff at 202-225-2801.\r\nSincerely,\r\nKRISTI NOEM   Member of Congress\r\n\r\nCC:\r\nThe Honorable Sylvia Burwell, Secretary, HHS\r\nMr. Andy Slavitt, Acting Administrator, CMS\r\nMr. Ron Cornelius, Great Plains Area Director, IHS\r\nMr. Gary Cantrell, Deputy Inspector General for Investigations, HHS OIG", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=6AE3DF3D-189A-49DB-AB43-B253DE0667FE", "Weekly Column: Anticipation for Tomorrow", "2015-12-18", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Rep. Kristi Noem \r\n\tIn our family, Christmas morning begins with the ring of a bell. No one could leave their rooms and see what Santa had delivered until that bell was rung. I remember our kids waiting in eager anticipation, hoping and trusting that theyd been good enough all year for Santa to leave them the toys they had asked for.\r\nIve been thinking a lot about the excitement of those mornings recently  probably because it isnt quite the same now that the kids have grown up a bit. But its made me think: what would our world be like if we all carried the hope and anticipation of Christmas morning with us every day?\r\nI admit it would be very hard to do. The world so easily weighs us down. Whether were talking about a struggling economy, the threat of terrorism, or challenges at home, it is natural to become cynical, frustrated, and even angry. I know Ive felt that way a time or two. In fact, its why I ran for Congress in the first place. I was so frustrated with all the administration was doing and desperately wanted to change the direction of this country. I still do and I still believe we can.\r\nWe live in the greatest country on earth. We believe that family is the cornerstone of a society and that freedom is not a privilege, but a right. We believe opportunity is all that is needed to build a healthy economy. And we remain committed to the American Dream, doing everything we can so our children and grandchildren can have a better life. Nowhere else in the world are those beliefs so ingrained into an entire countrys way of life.\r\nWhen the bell rings at the Noem house this Christmas, I will be saying a prayer of thanks. While Americas anticipation for tomorrow may not be the same as a childs on Christmas morning, we continue to believe there is hope for a better tomorrow in this country. Of course not everything is happening as wed like it to in this country, but we fundamentally trust that we are empowered to change it. I pray we never lose that hope.\r\nFrom my entire family to yours, I hope you have a very blessed Christmas and I pray that in all the busyness of this day, you take the time to celebrate the root of all hope, Jesus Christ.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=DDF83FA3-2E83-4A21-A918-D35E3B8740F1", "South Dakota Projects Get Bump in Year-End Funding Bill, Says Noem", "2015-12-18", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representative Kristi Noem today supported a bipartisan year-end funding bill that strengthens our national defense, provides more support for South Dakota rural water projects, and offers additional support for school districts that rely on the Impact Aid program, among other things. The legislation passed with broad support, 316-113.\r\nThis package is far from perfect, but Im confident its the best deal we could get given the hand we were dealt, said Noem. We fought hard to make sure our national security and defense systems were properly funded and upgraded the Visa Waiver Program to better ensure terrorists couldnt exploit security gaps. And Im happy with the outcome we earned on the security front. Im also pleased that we were able to successfully make the case that several South Dakota priorities were worth a national investment. From support for the Impact Aid program to funding for rural water, this legislation will have a direct impact on many South Dakotans.\r\nThe bipartisan legislation included support for a number of South Dakota priorities, including:\r\n \r\nGreater support for Rural Water. The Lewis & Clark Rural Water System was appropriated the full budget request of $2.77 million. Additionally, the fund for ongoing rural water projects, which Lewis & Clark and a handful of other projects are eligible to draw from, was funded at $47 million, a nearly $20 million increase over previously passed levels.The rural water fund was originally created in 2013 as the result of an amendment offered by Rep. Noem to the FY2014 Energy and Water appropriations bill as a way to make the Lewis & Clark project eligible for additional resources.\r\nContinued support for research at the Sanford Lab. The legislation offers added support for the Long Baseline Neutrino Facility, which will be conducted at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, S.D., and the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois.\r\nAdded support for Impact Aid. Through the bill, additional support is offered to the federal Impact Aid program, which provides payments from the federal government to local school districts to make up for lost local taxes.\r\nFlexible funding for IHS facilities that have lost, or are at risk of losing, CMS accreditation. In recent weeks, IHS facilities in Rosebud and Pine Ridge have been notified that they are at risk of losing CMS accreditation, which would force many tribal members to find help miles and miles away from their homes. This legislation includes $2 million in new, flexible funding so the IHS Director can take the actions necessary to ensure CMS accreditation status is reinstated and retained, and, once accreditation has been reinstated, to restore third-party insurance reimbursement shortfalls.\r\nPuts new limits on the EPA. This legislation rejects funding for new or expanded EPA programs that let top-down bureaucrats pick winners and losers. It also holds the agency to the lowest spending levels since 2008.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/weekly-column-counting-our-blessings-this-christmas", "Weekly Column: Counting our Blessings this Christmas", "2015-12-18", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.18.15\n\t\t\t Weekly Column: Counting our Blessings this Christmas \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tThe Christmas season is a special time that allows us to reflect upon the blessings in our lives and spend quality time with our loved ones. Jean and I are blessed to call South Dakota home, and we are especially grateful for our continued health and the health of our family. This year, we welcomed two new grandchildren  eight in all! We look forward to spending additional time with them and the rest of our family in the coming weeks.\r\nIt is well-known that the Rounds extended family is quite large. This year, just like years past, we expect at least 80 family members at our house on Christmas Eve. After attending 5 o'clock church service, we all gather to enjoy a meal of homemade chicken noodle soup and open presents. Grandpa Don reads the young ones the story of Christmas, reminding us all of the birth of our Lord  the greatest gift of all.\r\nDespite the many challenges facing our nation today, all of us have many gifts to be grateful for. We are all fortunate to call ourselves Americans and South Dakotans, living in the greatest country in the world where we are free to celebrate Christmas without fear of persecution. Our God-given freedoms as written in the Constitution must never be taken for granted.\r\n\r\nWe are also thankful for the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States of America and their families who make incredible sacrifices to protect and defend our freedoms. They are the reason we are able to celebrate this season safely here at home with our loved ones. During these uncertain times, they should be enormously proud of their contributions to our national defense and security.\r\n\r\nThis season, more than 160 South Dakotans are currently deployed. The South Dakota National Guard's 155th Engineer Company is stationed in Kuwait, and several other South Dakota soldiers are also stationed away from home. We would like to express our gratitude to the men and women who are deployed and their loved ones who are unable to spend the holiday together. The holiday season can be particularly tough for them. May they continue to find the strength to persevere, knowing they will soon be reconnected.\r\n\r\nI also want to take this time to express my gratitude for all South Dakotans who took time to write, call or meet with me as I traveled across the state this year. Your views and opinions are important to me as I work to make the best decisions for South Dakota. It is truly an honor to represent you in the United States Senate.\r\n\r\nWhile there are tough challenges ahead, I believe we are strong enough to tackle them head on. I look forward to working with my colleagues in 2016 to address them. Jean and I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Thanks for all you do to make South Dakota great.\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=1230efad-8738-4b2d-9bf9-a259433f5504", "Ending the Flawed Common Core Mandate", "2015-12-18", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Sen. John Thune \r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tParents around the country will tell you that for their childrens success, its important to have an effective educational system with teachers and administrators who are accountable to the local community. Its local control, not big government mandates, that hold the key to efficiently implementing educational plans that work best for kids, because what works for students in New York City might not work well for students in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and vice versa.\r\nFor too many years, though, that had been the case: a big-government, one-size-fits-all approach to education. This wasnt good for teachers, and it wasnt good for students. With the sweeping education reform bill that was recently signed into law, we will thankfully reverse that trend and return control to the people who know students the best, like their parents, teachers, and local school boards.\r\nWeve all heard the phrase teaching to the test, which was born from the nearly 15-year-old No Child Left Behind (NCLB) policy that was intended to boost teacher accountability. After hearing from school districts around the country, it became clear that while accountability has a role in our school systems, its also important for school boards to have the flexibility to set and administer standards that meet their own local needs. Ending the NCLB policy was long overdue  after all, more than 40 states were operating under NCLB waivers, which will no longer be necessary under the new law.\r\nPerhaps most importantly, the Every Student Succeeds Act puts an end to the U.S. Department of Educations bureaucratic Common Core mandate that has been a hotly debated topic for South Dakota teachers and families. Gone are the days of an over-reliance on standardized testing that consumed teachers time and frustrated parents and students alike. The long-standing education policy received a failing grade, and Im glad that states will now be able to determine their own academic standards and assessments without the heavy hand of the national school board that is the U.S. Department of Education getting in the way.\r\nThe education reform bill and the changes it will make have been endorsed by teachers, superintendents, school boards, state legislatures, and governors, and according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, it strikes a balance between accountability for the taxpayers investment on the one hand, and state and local control on the other. This is a win for everyone involved and will put students in a better position to succeed.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=9A4FF166-E446-43D0-B482-2164DE251920", "Noem Votes to Protect South Dakotans from Tax Hikes", "2015-12-17", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representative Kristi Noem today supported the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act, which shields Americans from pending tax hikes:\r\nTax hikes limit growth because they ultimately limit economic opportunities, said Noem. With this legislation in place, more of our hard-earned money will stay in the hands of taxpayers, giving families more control over how their money is spent. Im optimistic this package will also give farmers, homeowners, small businesses and families more certainty about what savings theyll be able to find during tax time this year and in the years ahead. Leaving what you earn in your wallet is essential to growing a healthy and sustainable economy.\r\nThe bipartisan Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act makes a number of temporary tax provisions permanent, delivering predictability, clarity and certainty for families and job creators. Included in the list of permanent extensions are:\r\n \r\nSection 179 business expensing limitations, which are important to many South Dakota farmers, ranchers and small businesses\r\nImprovements to 529 college savings plans\r\nDeduction for state and local sales tax\r\nDeduction for certain expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers\r\nDeductions for charitable giving\r\n \r\nThe legislation also temporarily extends the following through the end of 2016:\r\n \r\nBiodiesel tax credit\r\nDeduction for certain tuition and higher education expenses\r\nIndian employment tax credit\r\nMoratorium on Obamacares medical device tax (extended through 2017)\r\n \r\nFinally, this legislation includes a series of reforms designed to rein in the power of the IRS and better protect taxpayers, such as:\r\n \r\nFiring IRS employees who take politically motivated actions against taxpayers\r\nRequiring IRS employees to respect the Taxpayer Bill of Rights\r\nProhibit IRS employees from using personal email accounts for official business\r\n \r\nClick here for a section-by-section summary of the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=617b9751-5084-475c-bdf1-06d48007351c", "Thune, Rounds Introduce Bill to Protect Tribal Veterans Health Care", "2015-12-17", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, today introduced the Tribal Veterans Health Care Enhancement Act, legislation that would improve tribal veterans access to health care. Their bill would allow the Indian Health Service (IHS) to cover the cost of veterans copays for services rendered at the Veterans Health Administration (VA) and would require the agencies, in consultation with Indian tribes, to outline an implementation plan through a memorandum of understanding. Tribal veterans who seek treatment at IHS are often referred to the VA for services that require a copay.\r\nWe made a promise to tribal veterans, and its our responsibility to see that its honored, said Thune. By allowing IHS to cover VA copays incurred by tribal veterans, we can ensure that our nations heroes receive the care they have both earned and deserve. This legislation will build upon work we did through the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to improve coordination of care between IHS and the VA and streamline care for tribal veterans.\r\nI am pleased to join Senator Thune on this important piece of legislation, said Rounds. Native American veterans shouldnt have to worry about additional costs when they seek health care services. The important thing is that they receive timely, quality care. Our legislation will help streamline health care for all Native American veterans to make certain they receive the care theyve been promised. I appreciate Senator Thunes efforts on this issue.\r\nSpecifically, this legislation would:\r\n \r\nAllow for IHS to pay for veterans copayments for services rendered at a VA facility pursuant to an IHS referral;\r\n \r\n \r\nRequire IHS and VA to enter into a memorandum of understanding to provide for such payment; and\r\n \r\n \r\nRequire a report within 45 days of enactment with respect to:\r\n \r\n \r\n\r\nThe number, by state, of eligible Native American veterans utilizing VA medical facilities;\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n\r\nThe number of referrals, by state, received annually from IHS to the VA from 2010 to 2015; and\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n\r\nUpdate on efforts at IHS and VA to streamline care for eligible Native American veterans who receive care at both IHS and VA, including changes required under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act and any barriers to achieve efficiencies.\r\n\r\n \r\nClick here for bill text.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=421909DD-3024-4799-872E-70A6D60CB121", "Noem criticizes EPA after auditors say it broke campaign law", "2015-12-15", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Associated Press \r\n\tU.S. Rep. Kristi Noem is again criticizing the Environmental Protection Agency, this time after congressional auditors determined the agency broke the law in a social media campaign.\r\nNoem on Tuesday said the EPA must be held accountable for the violations in the campaign that intended to generate public support for a controversial rule to protect small streams and wetlands from development.\r\nThe Government Accountability Office says the campaign violated restrictions against lobbying and propaganda by federal agencies. The agency blitzed social media urging the public to submit comments on the draft rule.\r\nNoem says the EPA resorted to what auditors described as covert propaganda when it could not find enough supporters for the rule, which she labeled as possibly the largest federal land grab in our lifetimes.\r\nThe EPA says the rule will safeguard drinking water for 117 million Americans.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=A3A2887F-80EE-4F27-9F31-CA8FC3A9FA4C", "Noem: EPA Must be Held Accountable for Breaking the Law", "2015-12-15", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representative Kristi Noem today released the following statement, after the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) found the EPA violated federal law in promoting the agencys controversial waters of the United States rule on social media:\r\nThe waters of the U.S. rule could be the largest federal land grab in our lifetimes. Ranchers have raised concerns. Farmers have raised concerns. Homeowners, construction teams, and state governments have all raised concerns, and yet, the EPA has pushed the rule forward, said Noem. When they couldnt find enough supporters, the EPA resorted to what the GAO calls covert propaganda to create the illusion of grassroots backing. Not only did that violate the public trust, but they broke the law. The EPA must be held accountable for their actions.\r\nThe GAO found that the EPAs use of Thunderclap, an application that allows a social media message to be simultaneously shared across multiple Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr accounts, was an unauthorized use of the EPAs appropriations. It also found the agency in violation of a grassroots lobbying prohibition.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=35f89b81-6cf9-4d0a-89c0-346eb2f88592", "Thune Proud of Legislation That Will Benefit South Dakota", "2015-12-15", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tU.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today highlighted the numerous accomplishments the Republican-led Senate has achieved since Republicans took the majority in January. Many of those accomplishments will directly benefit South Dakota families and businesses.\r\nRemarks (as prepared for delivery):\r\nMr. President, from voting to repeal Obamacare to passing the first long-term transportation bill in a decade and the first joint balanced budget in 14 years, Senate Republicans have worked hard this year to fulfill our promise to get Washington working again for American families.\r\nAnd while some of our efforts have been blocked by Senate Democrats or the president, weve still managed to get a lot done.\r\nIm particularly proud of some of the legislation weve passed this year that will benefit South Dakota families and businesses, as well as families and businesses across the country.\r\nOne bill that Ive been working on for a long time  a bill that will mean a lot to South Dakota farmers and ranchers  is the legislation the House passed last week, the Surface Transportation Board reauthorization bill.\r\nThe Surface Transportation Board is responsible for helping to ensure the efficiency of our rail system by addressing problems and adjudicating disputes between railroads and shippers.\r\nUnfortunately, its been clear for several years now that the Surface Transportation Board needs to work better.\r\nThis became particularly apparent in 2013 and 2014, when a sharp increase in shipping demand and harsh winter weather conditions combined to create massive backlogs in the availability of rail cars for grain shipping, which in turn caused storage issues for farmers across the Midwest.\r\nThe U.S. Department of Agriculture found that the rail backlog lowered the price of corn, wheat, and soybeans in the Upper Midwest and forced shippers to pay record-high railroad car premiums  28 percent to 150 percent above the average previous levels  for roughly 65 consecutive weeks.\r\nThe Surface Transportation Board legislation Congress sent to the president last week will help prevent another situation like this in the future.\r\nThe bill, which I spearheaded, makes a number of significant reforms to the board.\r\nFor starters, it expands the number of board members and establishes a more collaborative process that will allow members to work together to identify and solve problems as they emerge.\r\nThe bill also provides the board with the investigative authority to address rail service issues even if an official complaint has not been made.\r\nThis will allow and encourage the board to be more proactive when it comes to addressing problems in our nations rail system.\r\nThe bill also increases transparency by requiring the Surface Transportation Board to establish a database of complaints and provide quarterly reports with key information to facilitate the effective monitoring of service issues.\r\nFinally, the bill improves the current process for resolving disputes between railroads and shippers.\r\nRight now, disputes can take multiple years and millions of dollars to resolve, which puts a tremendous burden on shippers and on railroads as well.\r\nThe legislation we developed improves this process by setting timelines for rate reviews, expanding voluntary arbitration procedures, and requiring the Surface Transportation Board to study alternative rate review methodologies to streamline and expedite cases.\r\nIt requires that the Surface Transportation Board maintain at least one simplified, expedited rate review methodology.\r\nThese changes will increase efficiency throughout the rate review process.\r\nMr. President, South Dakota farmers and ranchers depend on our nations railroads to bring their goods to market, and they also depend on our nations highways.\r\nThis year I was proud to work with my colleagues in the Senate on the first long-term transportation bill in a decade.\r\nOver the past several years, Congress made a habit of passing numerous short-term funding extensions for federal transportation programs.\r\nThat was an incredibly inefficient way to manage our nations infrastructure needs, and it wasted an incredible amount of money.\r\nIt also put a lot of transportation jobs in jeopardy.\r\nWhen Congress fails to make it clear how transportation funding will be allocated, states and local governments are left without the certainty they need to authorize projects or make long-term plans for addressing various transportation infrastructure needs.\r\nAnd that means that essential construction projects get deferred, necessary repairs may not get made, and the jobs that depend on these projects and repairs are put at risk.\r\nThe transportation bill we passed this month changes all that.\r\nIt reauthorizes transportation programs for the long term and provides five years of guaranteed funding.\r\nThat means states and local governments will have the certainty they need to invest in big transportation projects and the jobs they create.\r\nAnd that in turn means a stronger economy and a more reliable, safe, and effective transportation system.\r\nAs chairman of the Commerce Committee, I spent a lot of time working with committee members on both sides of the aisle to develop the transportation bills safety provisions.\r\nOur portion of the bill includes a host of important safety improvements, including enhancements to the notification process to ensure that consumers are informed of auto-related recalls and important reforms at the government agency responsible for overseeing safety in our nations cars and trucks.\r\nMr. President, another important success for South Dakota this year was the final approval of the expansion of the Powder River Training Complex  the military training airspace over South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming.\r\nThe expanded air space approved by the Air Force and the Federal Aviation Administration will allow our airmen and women to carry out critical training in conditions that more closely resemble combat missions.\r\nAfter working with the Air Force on this project for nearly nine years, I was proud to see this expansion finally completed and even more delighted to see the first large-force training exercise take place at the expanded Powder River Training Complex this month.\r\nForty-one aircraft took part in the exercise, including the B-1 bombers from Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota.\r\nThe expanded training complex will save Ellsworth $23 million per year in training costs by reducing the need for the B-1 bombers to commute to other states like Nevada and Utah for training.\r\nMr. President, supporting our men and women in uniform  like our airmen at Ellsworth  is one of our most important jobs as members of Congress, and this year Im proud to report that the Senate passed a national defense authorization bill that incorporates a number of critical reforms that will expand the resources available to our service members and strengthen our national security.\r\nThe National Defense Authorization Act for 2016 tackles waste and inefficiency at the Department of Defense and focuses funding on our warfighters, rather than the Pentagon bureaucracy.\r\nThe bill also overhauls our military retirement system.\r\nBefore this bill, the system limited retirement benefits to service members who had served for 20 years or more, which means huge numbers of military personnel, including many veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, retired after years of service without having accrued any retirement benefits.\r\nThe National Defense Authorization Act replaces this system with a new retirement system that will ensure that the majority of our nations service members receive retirement benefits for their years of service to our country, even if they have not reached the 20-year mark.\r\nMr. President, the bills Ive discussed today are just a few of the accomplishments of the Republican-led Senate.\r\nOver the course of this year, weve passed a number of significant pieces of legislation that will benefit Americans for years to come.\r\nWeve worked hard to help our nations veterans by expanding access to mental health resources, reducing wait times for medical care, and increasing the number of providers who can serve veterans.\r\nWe voted to repeal Obamacare and start the process of moving toward the real health care reform Americans are looking for: an affordable, accountable, patient-focused system that puts individuals in control of their health care decisions.\r\nWeve passed legislation to contain the out-of-control bureaucracy at the EPA and legislation to begin the process of safeguarding Medicare and Social Security by putting them on a more sustainable financial footing going forward.\r\nAnd weve passed cybersecurity legislation to protect Americans privacy and a major education reform bill that puts states, parents and teachers, and local school boards  not Washington bureaucrats  in charge of childrens education.\r\nBut while we may have accomplished a lot this year, we know theres still a lot that needs to be done.\r\nAmericans are still suffering in the Obama economy, and our nation continues to face terrorist threats at home and abroad.\r\nWhether enacting pro-growth policies at home or ensuring our military has the resources it needs to protect us from threats abroad, Republicans will redouble our efforts to make sure Washington is meeting the needs of American families and addressing the American peoples priorities.\r\nWe plan to spend the second year of the 114th Congress the way weve spent the first: fighting to make our economy stronger, our government more efficient and more accountable, and our nation and our world safer and more secure.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=7EA9F61D-D2C0-4C0C-8038-5BF06F2FD619", "Weekly Column: Home for Christmas", "2015-12-11", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Rep. Kristi Noem \r\n\tFrom the time that I was a little girl, Bing Crosbys Ill Be Home For Christmas has been one of my favorite Christmas songs. I remember singing along with it while it played on the radio and I admit that I didnt grasp the songs true weight until I got a little older.\r\nThe lyrics were originally written in 1942 - just months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Many of our young soldiers wouldnt make it home for the snow or mistletoe that year. They would be spending Christmas away  many of them for the first time.\r\nThis year, 162 soldiers from the Rapid City and Wagner-based 155th Engineer Company of the South Dakota National Guard will be spending Christmas in sandstorms instead of snowstorms. In August, they left for a one-year deployment to Kuwait. These families are in my thoughts and prayers every day, but especially in this holiday season. I cant imagine that this time of year is easy for them.\r\nDespite the sacrifices, thousands of South Dakotans stand up each year in service to our country. Im always humbled by the fact that our state has one of the highest National Guard service rates in the entire country. Its a tremendous testament to the courage and sense of duty that is instilled in South Dakotas young people. And like in so many other areas, when South Dakotans do something, we do it well.\r\nThe 114th Fighter Wing, for instance, is one of the nations premier flying units. The Sioux-Falls based Flying Lobos, as the 114th is called, has been nationally recognized for its accomplishments. It has an excellent safety record, experienced airmen, and the unwavering support of the Sioux Falls community.\r\nOver the next year, the U.S. Air Force will be looking for the next units to assign the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Because the 114th has consistently been recognized as one of the top flying squadrons in the country, it seems like the ideal location. I  alongside Senators Thune and Rounds, Governor Daugaard and Adjutant General Reisch  reached out to Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James earlier this month about this. We encouraged her to base the new technology within one of the nations most elite squadrons: the South Dakota National Guards 114th Fighter Wing.\r\nWe are still a few years off from a final decision and the F-35s wont be shipped to the selected Guard units until 2022 or beyond, but Im hopeful the 114th will be able to play a leading role in this new demonstration of military strength.\r\nSouth Dakota has a proud history of service with the National Guard. The sacrifices made  the holidays that have had to be missed  will not be forgotten, nor will they go unappreciated. Thank you to all who have served and to the families who have made the sacrifices alongside them. I am incredibly and sincerely grateful for all that you do in service to our country.\r\nThis holiday season, I hope you join me in keeping all our service members, their spouses, their parents, and their children in your hearts, minds and prayers.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=f62b73c6-25f5-4351-a505-2e87cfe82832", "Delivering On Our Promise to the American People", "2015-12-11", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sen. John Thune \r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tLast year at this time, Republicans were preparing to take control of the Senate  the first time Republicans would control the upper chamber since 2007  and follow through on the promises we made to the American people. Republicans were serious when we pledged to get Washington working again. It wasnt a half-heartened slogan we used to campaign for the majority, it was a commitment by which we intended to govern in the majority.\r\nRepublicans pledged to tackle the big issues, which is why in just the first few weeks of the new Republican majority, we sent a bill to President Obama that would have approved the long-stalled, job-creating Keystone XL pipeline. We also passed important legislation that gave the American people a voice on the presidents misguided nuclear agreement with Iran, a ten-year balanced budget that didnt raise a single dime in taxes, a bill that funds Americas men and women in uniform, numerous resolutions that would block burdensome EPA regulations, legislation that defunds Planned Parenthood, and a bill that repeals Obamacare.\r\nI was glad we were able to help secure the Powder River Training Complex (PRTC) expansion, which was an effort nearly nine years in the making. As I said in March when the expansion was first announced, while this was a long process, Im proud were able to provide our servicemen and women with the resources they need to be successful in a combat environment. In early December, PRTC commanders and airmen completed their first of what I hope will be many successful large force exercises.\r\nIt was a humbling experience to play an integral role in getting the first long-term highway bill in more than a decade signed into law. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, of which I am chairman, can be credited with nearly half of the legislative text included in the final version of the bill, including reforms that will enhance safety, provide regulatory relief, streamline grant programs, and improve the accountability and efficiency of oversight efforts. Having served on the conference committee that negotiated the final version, I was in a unique position to ensure South Dakotas interests were given key consideration.\r\nStates like South Dakota that depend on freight rail to ship products to and from their communities will benefit from the important Surface Transportation Board (STB) reforms that I helped usher through the Commerce Committee and full House and Senate. These reforms  the first of their kind for the STB  will end the uncertainty faced by businesses and agriculture producers and help protect the consumers who are ultimately impacted by disruptions in freight transportation.\r\nWhile weve been able to accomplish a lot of important things for the American people, there is more work to be done. We plan to spend the second year of the 114th Congress the way weve spent the first: fighting to make our economy stronger, our government more efficient and more accountable, and our nation and our world safer and more secure.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=b92d0620-39f5-4647-9217-efcbfa96fbc0", "Next Stop for Thunes Bipartisan STB Reforms: Presidents Desk", "2015-12-10", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tU.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and leadSenate sponsor ofS. 808,the Surface Transportation Board (STB) Reauthorization Act of 2015,issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives approved the bill by voice vote:\r\nWhen the ability to transport products to and from South Dakota is jeopardized, its the farmers, ranchers, businesses, and ultimately the consumers who pay the price, said Thune. This bill, which I hope is signed into law without delay, will help address the uncertainty encountered by businesses and agriculture producers who are forced to deal with the STB, and it will increase the boards accountability. By finding common ground among many different rail customers, shippers, and railroads themselves, we are reforming the STB for the first time since the boards establishment in 1996. This is good news for states like South Dakota that depend on freight rail as a critical tool for shipments  coming or going. \r\nTheSenate Commerce Committee approvedS. 808 by voice vote on March 25, 2015, and it cleared the Senate by unanimous consent on June 18, 2015. The bill now heads to the president for his signature.\r\nHighlights of S. 808:\r\n \r\nImproves the STBs current dispute resolution process by setting timelines for rate reviews and expanding voluntary arbitration procedures to address both rate and service disputes;\r\nEnsures the STB has the authority to proactively resolve problems before they escalate into larger disputes by providing the STB with the ability to initiate investigations on matters other than rate cases; and\r\nImproves the STBs structure and decision making processes by expanding the board membership from three to five, and with proper disclosure, allows board members to talk with one another.\r\n \r\nThe STB is the federal regulatory body responsible for economic oversight of the nations freight rail system. Run by a three-member bipartisan board, the agency has regulatory jurisdiction over railroad rates, mergers, line acquisitions, new rail-line construction, line abandonment, and other rail issues. The STB was created by Congress in 1996 as the successor to the Interstate Commerce Commission. Since that time, the STB has not been reauthorized or substantively reformed.\r\nThe Senate Commerce Committee, of which Thune serves as chair, has jurisdiction over our nations freight and passenger railroads, and is a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. In addition, Thune previously served as South Dakota State Railroad Director under former Governor George S. Mickelson from 1991-1993. At Thunes request, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a report earlier this year that concluded the rail backlog in 2013 and 2014 lowered corn, wheat, and soybean prices in the Upper Midwest and caused shippers to pay record-high railcar premiums, 28 to 150 percent above the average previous levels for roughly 65 consecutive weeks.\r\nClick here for a copy of S. 808 and here to see what stakeholders are saying about Thunes bill.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=4FE74702-0755-499B-BB68-FCBDC17C5543", "South Dakota Delegation wants F-35s at Joe Foss Field", "2015-12-09", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "KEVN - Black Hills Fox \r\n\tThe South Dakota Delegation believesSioux Fallsshould be the next beddown site for a new Air Force Fighter.\r\nOn Tuesday, the delegation wrote to Secretary of theAir Force, Deborah James, urging the Air Force to base the F35 Joint Strike Fighter at Joe Foss Field.\r\nRepresentative Kristi Noem says the South Dakota AirNational Guardhas been one of the nation's premier fighter units.\r\nShe says the state has continued to demonstrateoutstandingmission readiness, making South Dakota an ideal location.\r\nRepresentative Kristi Noem said, \"Being able to get the F35s stationed at Joe Foss Field would provide stability for that unit and I believe give us the perfect opportunity to demonstrate the excellence that we have always provided in keeping this countrysafe.\"\r\nNext year, the Air Force is expected to announce its basing decisions for the F35 Joint Strike Fighter, with two of those being Air National Guard bases.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=89F992C6-EA27-407B-B7E5-EF06BB907B49", "Lawmakers Want F-35 Jets in Sioux Falls", "2015-12-09", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "KELOLAND \r\n\tSouth Dakota leaders say Sioux Falls is the perfect place for fighter jets. The state's Congressional delegation wants the U.S. Air Force to select Joe Foss Field as the next base of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The Air Force will not make a decision until next year. The soonest we would see any planes would be in 2022.\r\n\r\nYou may have already seen F-16 planes performing touch and go maneuvers at the Air National Guard 114th Fighter Wing. Less than a decade from now, you could see F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets also land here.\r\n\"Being able to get the F-35 stationed at Joe Foss Field would provided stability for that unit and I believe give us the perfect opportunity to demonstrate the excellence we have always provided in keeping this country safe,\" Rep. Kristi Noem, (R) South Dakota, said.\r\nNoem, Senator John Thune, and Senator Mike Rounds all sent a letter to Secretary of the Air Force Deborah James, outlining why Sioux Falls is a perfect place for this unit. It will initially be divided into two different bases. Thune says the 114th Wing already has the infrastructure, buildings, and everything else to make it a contender.\r\n\"We have a great many assets to offer. Uncongested airspace, access to training, low altitude and super sonic speeds. 8,000 feet of runways with cables. All things necessary,\" Thune, (R) South Dakota, said.\r\n\"We wanted to remind the Air Force it would be wonderful to consider bedding these bombers when they come into the country and are ready to be activated,\" Noem said.\r\nThune says these will beef up our military readiness, but that is not all.\r\n\"If you're a South Dakota taxpayer, having this unit, having the F-35 housed there is something that's good for the economy. It creates jobs. It grows our economy,\" Thune said.\r\nThe F-35 program is considered by many to be one of the most expensive fighter plane projects in US military history. The cost per plane is between $110 to $133 million, according to several government studies.\r\nThe military ordered more than 2,400 of the planes since 2007. The military is expected to spend more than $395 billion on the F-35 by the time all the planes are in use. The U.S. is not the only country using the F-35 - just this week Italy added the fighter to its fleet. In all, ten countries use or plan to use the F-35.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=8E802A77-C276-4776-BB74-9B3686439E84", "A Bipartisan Bill Tightens Visa Waiver Program", "2015-12-09", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "KELOLAND \r\n\tKeeping the United States safe from terrorists has been on many people's minds following recent attacks.The topic is a big one on Capitol Hill as well with the US House even passing a bill to add to the nation's security.\r\n\r\nThe bill had bipartisan support, and passed through the house by a vote of 407 to 19. It adds new restrictions on a visa waiver program that currently allows 20 million people into the country every year.\r\nAfter the attacks in Paris, and closer to home in San Bernardino, California, lawmakers across the country want to keep people safe. The new House bill doesn't allow Syrian and Iraqi nationals, as well as passport holders who have traveled to Syria, Iraq, Iran or Sudan since March, 2011, to use the visa waiver program. US Representative Kristi Noem is happy with the legislation.\r\n\"Make sure the people traveling into the United States from other countries that have been terrorist hotspots or traveling through there are not able to come without a vetting process,\" Noem said.\r\nThe visa waiver program was launched in the 1980's to bring more tourists to America. Currently there are 38 countries that take part in the waiver program. This new bill would authorize the Department of Homeland Security to terminate any country's participation if it doesn't communicate with the US.\r\n\"It will also allow us to share information with other countries which help the process go much smoother,\" Noem said.\r\nLast month, the House approved a more controversial bill. That measure added new restrictions on accepting refugees from Syria and Iraq. This new bill isn't as strict, but Noem believes it still takes the right steps.\r\n\"It's critically important that we make sure that if there has been that kind of travel abroad that we do background checks and we make sure that we know who is coming into the United States in order to keep us safe,\" Noem said.\r\nThe people who used to be able to use a visa waiver program that would no longer be eligible would have to go through traditional visa approval process. That requires an in-person interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-education-reform-bill-a-victory-for-south-dakotas-130000-students", "Rounds: Education Reform Bill a Victory for South Dakotas 150,000 Students", "2015-12-09", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.09.15\n\t\t\t Rounds: Education Reform Bill a Victory for South Dakota's 150,000 Students \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Every Student Succeeds Act Restores Local Control of Education\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTONU.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today made the following statement on the Senate's passage of the final Conference Report for the Every Student Succeeds Act. This bipartisan legislation replaces the widely criticized No Child Left Behind Act and shifts authority for academic standards back to the states and local school districts. It now heads to President Obama's desk to be signed into law.\r\nI've always believed in local control of schools, said Rounds. The Every Student Succeeds Act takes education decisions out of the hands of Washington bureaucrats and puts it back in the hands of parents, teachers and local school boards, which is exactly where it belongs. Educators in our state will have greater flexibility to develop their own curriculum that best fits the needs of South Dakota's youth.\r\nOverhaul of our education system has been long overdue. The shortcomings of No Child Left Behind  which expired seven years ago and has been reauthorized for short-term, temporary, unworkable fixes only  were evident while I was working as governor. I commend my colleagues on the Senate HELP Committee, and Republican leaders in both chambers of Congress for working across the aisle to finally accomplish meaningful reforms to our education system that restore local control of education.\r\nAdditionally, the bill provides certainty for South Dakota's 39 federally impacted schools and authorizes grants to improve Indian academic achievement.\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=87e17086-a879-4dff-beb9-105784a3e446", "Bipartisan Legislation to Preserve Rural Access to Therapy Services Heads to President for Signature", "2015-12-09", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tU.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) issued the following statements after the U.S. House of Representatives passed their legislation (S. 1461) that would extend through calendar year 2015 a prohibition preventing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) from enforcing direct supervision policy for outpatient therapeutic services, a harmful regulation that would jeopardize access to therapy services in rural areas:\r\nGetting this important legislation to the presidents desk is a big win for rural states like South Dakota that require greater flexibility in order to maintain their ability to deliver the quality outpatient therapy services that patients deserve, said Thune. While it may seem inconsequential to some, extending this prohibition is important as we continue to work toward a more permanent solution that eliminates the barriers that would prevent seniors from having access to therapy services in their communities.\r\nMaking certain Kansans have access to quality health care remains one of my top priorities in Congress, said Moran. Rural hospitals find the federal governments direct supervision requirements impossible to meet, so Im pleased this legislation will soon become law to help preserve patients access to important therapy services in Kansas and across the country.This measure will also enable us to continue to advocate for passage of the Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services Act  the PARTS Act  bipartisan legislation I introduced to permanently address this outpatient therapy supervision issue.\r\nFolks in rural America shouldnt have to travel long distances to access quality health care, said Tester. I urge the president to sign this bill quickly so we can begin to reduce red tape and strengthen Critical Access Hospitals so they can continue to provide folks in rural areas with important health care services.\r\nThe Senate passed S. 1461 in September, and it now heads to the president for his signature. \r\nIn response to concerns raised by hospitals and lawmakers, including Sens. Thune, Moran, and Tester, CMS delayed enforcement of its direct supervision policy for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and small rural hospitals through 2013. Congress suspended enforcement of the regulation through 2014.\r\nThe regulation is scheduled to go into effect in 2015, but if S. 1461 is signed into law, it will extend the temporary relief to allow the senators additional time to advance their Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act (S. 257), which clarifies that general supervision of most outpatient therapeutic services by a physician or non-physician practitioner is sufficient for payment of therapeutic hospital outpatient services.\r\nThe PARTS Act will:\r\n \r\nRequire CMS to allow a default setting of general supervision, rather than direct supervision, for outpatient therapeutic services;\r\nCreate an advisory panel to establish an exceptions process for risky and complex outpatient services;\r\nCreate a special rule for CAHs that recognizes their unique size and Medicare conditions of participation; and\r\nHold hospitals and CAHs harmless from civil or criminal action for failing to meet CMS current direct supervision policy for the period 2001 through 2016.\r\n \r\nClick hereto read text of the PARTS Act and here to read text of the 2015 enforcement moratorium bill that is expected to be signed into law.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=e7c11071-b75b-4215-92c7-7c1c35ea4bd4", "House and Senate Adopt Thune Provisions to Address Youth Suicide", "2015-12-09", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tU.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) applauded the Senates adoption of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) conference report, which will reduce federal interference in education and put governors, school boards, parents, and teachers back in charge. Following his November 2015 letter to ESSA conference leaders, two Thune-led provisions to address tribal youth suicide, unanimously adopted earlier this year as part of the Senates consideration of the Every Child Achieves Act, were included in the conference report. The House of Representatives approved the conference report on December 2, 2015, and it now heads to the president for his signature.\r\nThunes amendments would require the secretary of education to coordinate with other federal agencies to report on efforts to address youth suicides in Indian Country and expand the use of Project School Emergency Response to Violence (Project SERV) funds to include preventative efforts against youth suicide and other school violence.Schools on Pine Ridge Reservations have been recipients of Project SERV grant funds, and this amendment would allow all grantees more flexibility in creating prevention programs.\r\nI have made it a priority to do as much as I can to help address the tribal youth suicide crisis in South Dakotas Indian Country, said Thune. Losing a friend or family member to suicide is a tragedy, and while there are numerous known factors that contribute to suicide  particularly youth suicide  we can and should do more to understand the problem and find constructive ways to prevent it from happening in the first place. Congress recognizes this importance, which is why I was glad to see such strong, bipartisan support for these measures.\r\nThunes first amendment would require the secretary of education to coordinate with the secretary of interior and secretary of health and human services to report on a variety of information, including:\r\n \r\nThe federal response to the occurrence of high numbers of student suicide in Indian Country\r\nA list of federal resources available to prevent and respond to student suicide outbreaks, including the availability and use of tele-behavioral health\r\nInteragency collaboration efforts to streamline access to programs, including information on how the Departments of Education, Interior, and Health and Human Services work together on program administration\r\nAny existing barriers to timely program implementation or interagency collaboration\r\nRecommendations to improve or consolidate existing programs or resources\r\nTribal feedback to the federal response\r\n \r\nThunes second amendment would expand the authorized use of Project SERV funds to include initiating or strengthening prevention activities in cases of chronic trauma or violence, such as the suicide crisis in Indian Country or gang violence in schools.\r\nLocal educational agencies and institutions of higher education seeking approval to initiate or strengthen prevention activities would be required to:\r\n \r\nDemonstrate a continued disruption or a substantial risk of disruption to the learning environment that would be addressed by such activity\r\nProvide an explanation of proposed activities designed to restore and preserve the learning environment\r\nProvide a budget and budget narrative\r\n \r\nSuch requests would be subject to the discretion of the secretary and the availability of funds.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=1E12181B-123B-49F7-8B5C-6EAB9592BA68", "South Dakota Delegation Urges Air Force to Base New Air Force Fighter in Sioux Falls", "2015-12-08", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard, U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) and South Dakota Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Timothy Reisch today wrote to Secretary of the Air Force Deborah James urging the Air Force to base the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter at Joe Foss Field in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Next year, the Air Force is expected to announce its basing decisions for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, to include two Air National Guard bases.\r\nThe South Dakota Air National Guard has been one of our nations premier fighter units since General Joe Foss founded the squadron nearly 70 years ago, the delegation wrote. The 114th Fighter Wing has demonstrated outstanding mission readiness and a superior record of excellence, making South Dakota an ideal location as the next beddown site of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.\r\nThere are currently more than 25 National Guard fighter bases in the U.S. After the first two basing decisions in 2016, Air National Guard units in additional states will also receive the F-35.\r\nFull text of the letter is below:\r\nThe Honorable Deborah Lee James  Secretary of the Air Force  HQ USAF/CC  1670 Air Force Pentagon  Washington, D.C. 20330-1670\r\nDear Madam Secretary,\r\nWe write today regarding the potential basing of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter at Joe Foss Field in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.\r\nThe South Dakota Air National Guard has been one of our nations premier fighter units since General Joe Foss founded the squadron nearly 70 years ago. The 114th Fighter Wing has demonstrated outstanding mission readiness and a superior record of excellence, making South Dakota an ideal location as the next beddown site of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.\r\nThe 114th Fighter Wing has been nationally recognized for its accomplishments in flying and combat readiness. Last year it was recognized with the Spaatz Trophy  denoting the 114th Fighter Wing as the highest rated Air National Guard flying unit  and this year the Wing was awarded the NGAUS Distinguished Flying Unit plaque and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. Its exceptional safety record, critical for conversion to a new weapons system, was validated this year as well, with the Major General John J. Pesch Safety Trophy in addition to a fifth consecutive Governors Safety Award of Honor.\r\nThe 114th Fighter Wing has exceptional, uncongested airspace providing supersonic and low altitude operations able to meet the unique requirements of the F-35 aircraft. Additionally, Joe Foss Field has two runways greater than 8,000 feet with cables, maintenance facilities and ramps to support any size squadron, and a state-of-the-art operations complex. Airmen of the 114th Fighter Wing are highly experienced and trained: 88% of the pilots are experienced averaging over 2,100 flying hours and 62% of maintenance personnel hold a 7-level AFSC.\r\nThe South Dakota Air National Guard enjoys the unwavering support of the Sioux Falls community and South Dakota citizens. The 114th Fighter Wing has established a standard of excellence among Air National Guard units clearly making Joe Foss Field an ideal location for beddown of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. Please feel free to contact us at any time if we can be of further assistance.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=FF48BFF7-A5E6-4E91-876A-76969881E6D8", "Security Upgrade of Visa Waiver Program Passes House with Noem Support", "2015-12-08", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representative Kristi Noem today joined a bipartisan majority of House members in passing H.R. 158, the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act. The legislation prohibits individuals who have traveled to countries with terrorist hotspots, like Iraq and Syria, from entering the U.S. without going through the full visa vetting process  even if they are from a country that participates in the United States Visa Waiver Program.\r\nMy number one priority is the safety and security of the American people, said Noem. The Visa Waiver Program  as it currently stands  poses security concerns that need to be addressed. With thousands of individuals traveling to Iraq and Syria from Visa Waiver Program countries, this is a commonsense change that makes a significant security upgrade.\r\nCreated in 1986, the Visa Waiver Program allows more than 20 million people annually from 38 participating countries to more easily travel to the U.S. for up to 90 days. It is estimated that approximately 5,000 Europeans have traveled to Syria and Iraq to join ISIL, many of whom are from countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program. To close this security gap, H.R.158:\r\n \r\nGives the Secretary of Homeland Security the authority to suspend a countrys participation in the program if they fail to share counterterrorism information with the U.S.\r\nDenies Visa Waiver Program status to those citizens from participating countries that have traveled to or are dual nationals of certain terrorist hotspots since 2011\r\nRequires all Visa Waiver Program countries to use fraud resistant e-passports\r\nAllows for the suspension of high-risk countries", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/south-dakota-delegation-urges-air-force-to-base-new-air-force-fighter-in-sioux-falls", "South Dakota Delegation Urges Air Force to Base New Air Force Fighter in Sioux Falls", "2015-12-08", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.08.15\n\t\t\t South Dakota Delegation Urges Air Force to Base New Air Force Fighter in Sioux Falls \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON  South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard, U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) and South Dakota Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Timothy Reisch today wrote to Secretary of the Air Force Deborah James urging the Air Force to base the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter at Joe Foss Field in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Next year, the Air Force is expected to announce its basing decisions for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, to include two Air National Guard bases.\r\nThe South Dakota Air National Guard has been one of our nation's premier fighter units since General Joe Foss founded the squadron nearly 70 years ago, the delegation wrote. The 114th Fighter Wing has demonstrated outstanding mission readiness and a superior record of excellence, making South Dakota an ideal location as the next beddown site of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.\r\nThere are currently more than 25 National Guard fighter bases in the U.S. After the first two basing decisions in 2016, Air National Guard units in additional states will also receive the F-35.\r\n\r\nFull text of the letter is below: \r\n\r\nThe Honorable Deborah Lee James\r\nSecretary of the Air Force\r\nHQ USAF/CC\r\n1670 Air Force Pentagon\r\nWashington, D.C. 20330-1670\r\n\r\nDear Madam Secretary,\r\n\r\nWe write today regarding the potential basing of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter at Joe Foss Field in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.\r\n\r\nThe South Dakota Air National Guard has been one of our nation's premier fighter units since General Joe Foss founded the squadron nearly 70 years ago. The 114th Fighter Wing has demonstrated outstanding mission readiness and a superior record of excellence, making South Dakota an ideal location as the next beddown site of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.\r\n\r\nThe 114th Fighter Wing has been nationally recognized for its accomplishments in flying and combat readiness. Last year it was recognized with the Spaatz Trophy  denoting the 114th Fighter Wing as the highest rated Air National Guard flying unit  and this year the Wing was awarded the NGAUS Distinguished Flying Unit plaque and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. Its exceptional safety record, critical for conversion to a new weapons system, was validated this year as well, with the Major General John J. Pesch Safety Trophy in addition to a fifth consecutive Governor's Safety Award of Honor.\r\n\r\nThe 114th Fighter Wing has exceptional, uncongested airspace providing supersonic and low altitude operations able to meet the unique requirements of the F-35 aircraft. Additionally, Joe Foss Field has two runways greater than 8,000 feet with cables, maintenance facilities and ramps to support any size squadron, and a state-of-the-art operations complex. Airmen of the 114th Fighter Wing are highly experienced and trained: 88% of the pilots are experienced averaging over 2,100 flying hours and 62% of maintenance personnel hold a 7-level AFSC.\r\n\r\nThe South Dakota Air National Guard enjoys the unwavering support of the Sioux Falls community and South Dakota citizens. The 114th Fighter Wing has established a standard of excellence among Air National Guard units clearly making Joe Foss Field an ideal location for beddown of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. Please feel free to contact us at any time if we can be of further assistance.\r\n\r\nSincerely,\r\n\r\n# # #\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/south-dakota-senators-insist-president-pursue-additional-military-options-in-isis-fight", "South Dakota Senators Insist President Pursue Additional Military Options in ISIS Fight", "2015-12-08", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.08.15\n\t\t\t South Dakota Senators Insist President Pursue Additional Military Options in ISIS Fight \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTONU.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and John Thune (R-S.D.), along with eight of their Senate colleagues, today sent a letter to President Obama insisting that he pursue additional military options to degrade and destroy ISIS abroad and protect the nation from further attacks against American citizens:\r\nThe American people are understandably concerned in the aftermath of the horrific attack in San Bernardino and increasingly apprehensive about the prospect of another terrorist attack on American soil, the Senators wrote. To safeguard our own national security, we must step up the military fight against ISIS as soon as possible, but it will require sustained, long-term American engagement to resolve the deeper problems that have allowed ISIS to incubate and gather strength in Syria and Iraq.\r\nIn addition to Rounds and Thune, the letter, led by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), was also signed by Senators Cory Gardner (R-Co.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), David Perdue (R-Ga.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and David Vitter (R-La).\r\nFull text of the letter: \r\n\r\nThe Honorable Barack Obama\r\nPresident of the United States\r\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW\r\nWashington, DC 20500\r\nDear President Obama:\r\n\r\nIn the wake of the recent wave of devastating terrorist attacks by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) on Paris, Beirut, and the Russian airliner flying over Egypt, as well as last week's attack in San Bernardino that appears to have been inspired by ISIS, we write today to both express support for your stated objective to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIS and to urge you to employ more effective means to accomplish that worthy goal. \r\n\r\nISIS poses a direct threat to our country, and the magnitude of that threat is growing as a result of this terrorist army's expanded operational reach. The recent attacks prove that ISIS now has the ability to carry out mass-casualty terrorist attacks well beyond its self-proclaimed caliphate in Syria and Iraq. The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency recently warned that ISIS likely has additional attacks planned, and the group has publicly declared its intention to strike the mainland United States. We also know that ISIS is aggressively pursuing a more robust chemical weapons capability and, to that end, has recruited scientists and other technical experts.\r\n\r\nThe American people are understandably concerned in the aftermath of the horrific attack in San Bernardino and increasingly apprehensive about the prospect of another terrorist attack on American soil. Over the past couple of years, as ISIS has murdered and raped its way across the Syrian and Iraqi countryside, it has also succeeded in reenergizing the global jihadi movement, driven by its evil ideology and fueled by its hateful propaganda. The King of Jordan has described the struggle against ISIS in stark terms, calling it a third world war against humanity. Likewise, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter testified recently that We're at war against ISIS. The group's ranks in Syria and Iraq have swelled to as many as 30,000 jihadists, due in part to its leveraging of social media platforms and dark corners of the Internet to recruit from all over the world. Even more alarming is the threat that ISIS and its adherents now pose to us here at home, in the form of a jihadist already living on U.S. soil and planning the next deadly attack.\r\n\r\nAs a nation, we have a clear and vital interest at stake in Syria and Iraq  preventing terrorist attacks against America and our allies  and that obligates us to intensify the effort to destroy ISIS. That vital interest can only be safeguarded through the elimination of the sanctuary that ISIS has carved out for itself in Iraq and Syria. We believe we are at a strategic inflection point in the fight against ISIS and that, without a well-informed strategy change to arrest this group's momentum, the task of defeating it will multiply in its difficulty and complexity. We listened carefully to your Oval Office address on Sunday but were disappointed to learn that the same ineffective approach will continue to be implemented.\r\n\r\nIn September, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, characterized the fight against ISIS as tactically stalemated, an assessment that we believe still holds true. To break this stalemate, we ask you to formulate a comprehensive military strategy against ISIS and bring to bear additional military means. In the near term, our principal strategic goal must be to shatter the ISIS narrative of invincibility, in order to stem this group's ability to recruit or inspire additional jihadists, both those who would physically travel to Syria or Iraq to join ISIS and those who would remain outside its sanctuary and conduct attacks on their home nations or neighboring ones, including the United States.\r\n\r\nIn order to effectively undermine the ISIS narrative, the coalition must inflict upon it highly visible territorial losses, starting with Iraq, including the recapture of Ramadi, Fallujah, and Mosul. To that end, we recommend that you pursue, at a minimum, several additional military options:\r\n\r\n \r\nU.S. military advisors. To bolster the Iraqi Security Forces, the Kurdish Peshmerga, and Sunni tribal forces, we should embed U.S. military advisors to serve alongside them in combat units down to the battalion level, including those on the front lines.We must work more closely with our local ground partners. Without effective ground forces, ISIS cannot be dislodged from the territory it now holds in Syria and Iraq.\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\nJoint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs). We should deploy and embed additional U.S. troops to serve as JTACs, embedded with our local ground partners, in order to make our airstrikes against ISIS more precise and more lethal.\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\nClose air support. We should deploy and utilize additional close air support platforms, including Apache attack helicopters, to provide more effective support to our ground partners who are in close contact with ISIS, in coordination with the embedded JTACs.\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\nAirstrike approval process. We should review the current approval process for coalition airstrikes, which we understand is unwieldy, and consider removing barriers that inhibit our pilots from attacking ISIS targets that are both timely and strategically significant.\r\n \r\n\r\nIn addition, we ask you to consider two more far-reaching courses of action:\r\n\r\n \r\nSafe zones. We should establish one or more safe zones inside Syria, primarily for the protection of Syrian refugees. Creating and maintaining these so-called no-fly and no-drive zones would be a substantial military and humanitarian undertaking, but in so doing we would help safeguard innocent men, women, and children not just from Bashar al-Assad's aircraft and barrel bombs, but also from ground attacks by Assad's forces and ISIS. We would also help avert the mass exodus of Syrian refugees fleeing their own homeland for other countries in the region and in Europe.\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\nNATO role. In light of the continuing threat posed to multiple member-nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), we should consider pursuing a robust and central NATO role in combating ISIS, as recently proposed by former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Admiral (Ret.) James Stavridis. Leading the planning, implementation, and command-and-control of a mission to establish safe zones in Syria may be an appropriate mission for NATO.\r\n \r\n\r\nThis list of potential courses of action is not an exhaustive one, but we believe that pursuing even some of these would represent a needed boost in the fight against ISIS. Further, a number of these options or related ones have been proposed by two of your former Secretaries of Defense, Robert Gates and Leon Panetta, and we agree that they are worthy of serious consideration. A more robust U.S. military effort is also likely to attract greater contributions from both NATO allies and, more importantly, regional partners.\r\n\r\nWe recognize that credible military action is necessarily only one element of any sound strategy to defeat ISIS. In addition, we know that the effort to dislodge ISIS from the territory it currently holds must be undergirded by a political framework that will sustain a lasting rejection of ISIS's bankrupt ideology, which will itself require significant Sunni participation in Iraqi national governance. We also recognize that the threat of ISIS cannot be divorced from the overall conflict in Syria, which continues to rage, fueled further by Russian and Iranian interference. To safeguard our own national security, we must step up the military fight against ISIS as soon as possible, but it will require sustained, long-term American engagement to resolve the deeper problems that have allowed ISIS to incubate and gather strength in Syria and Iraq.\r\n\r\nSuccess will not come easily or cheaply, but we urge you as our commander-in-chief to do whatever it takes to defeat ISIS and keep the American citizenry safe from harm.\r\n\r\n/s/\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Related Files", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=270a4df6-b402-4511-b4e8-0ea8f5e10661", "South Dakota Delegation Urges Air Force to Base New Air Force Fighter in Sioux Falls", "2015-12-08", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tSouth Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard, U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) and South Dakota Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Timothy Reisch today wrote to Secretary of the Air Force Deborah James urging the Air Force to base the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter at Joe Foss Field in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Next year, the Air Force is expected to announce its basing decisions for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, to include two Air National Guard bases.\r\nThe South Dakota Air National Guard has been one of our nations premier fighter units since General Joe Foss founded the squadron nearly 70 years ago, the delegation wrote. The 114th Fighter Wing has demonstrated outstanding mission readiness and a superior record of excellence, making South Dakota an ideal location as the next beddown site of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.\r\nThere are currently more than 25 National Guard fighter bases in the U.S. After the first two basing decisions in 2016, Air National Guard units in additional states will also receive the F-35.\r\nFull text of the letter is below:\r\nThe Honorable Deborah Lee James\r\nSecretary of the Air Force\r\nHQ USAF/CC\r\n1670 Air Force Pentagon\r\nWashington, D.C. 20330-1670\r\n\r\nDear Madam Secretary,\r\nWe write today regarding the potential basing of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter at Joe Foss Field in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.\r\nThe South Dakota Air National Guard has been one of our nations premier fighter units since General Joe Foss founded the squadron nearly 70 years ago. The 114th Fighter Wing has demonstrated outstanding mission readiness and a superior record of excellence, making South Dakota an ideal location as the next beddown site of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.\r\nThe 114th Fighter Wing has been nationally recognized for its accomplishments in flying and combat readiness. Last year it was recognized with the Spaatz Trophy  denoting the 114th Fighter Wing as the highest rated Air National Guard flying unit  and this year the Wing was awarded the NGAUS Distinguished Flying Unit plaque and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. Its exceptional safety record, critical for conversion to a new weapons system, was validated this year as well, with the Major General John J. Pesch Safety Trophy in addition to a fifth consecutive Governors Safety Award of Honor.\r\nThe 114th Fighter Wing has exceptional, uncongested airspace providing supersonic and low altitude operations able to meet the unique requirements of the F-35 aircraft. Additionally, Joe Foss Field has two runways greater than 8,000 feet with cables, maintenance facilities and ramps to support any size squadron, and a state-of-the-art operations complex. Airmen of the 114th Fighter Wing are highly experienced and trained: 88% of the pilots are experienced averaging over 2,100 flying hours and 62% of maintenance personnel hold a 7-level AFSC.\r\nThe South Dakota Air National Guard enjoys the unwavering support of the Sioux Falls community and South Dakota citizens. The 114th Fighter Wing has established a standard of excellence among Air National Guard units clearly making Joe Foss Field an ideal location for beddown of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. Please feel free to contact us at any time if we can be of further assistance.\r\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=5e7c78ce-0a49-4cb1-a31f-69b564074246", "South Dakota Senators Insist President Pursue Additional Military Options in ISIS Fight", "2015-12-08", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTONU.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and John Thune (R-S.D.), along with eight of their Senate colleagues, today sent a letter to President Obama insisting that he pursue additional military options to degrade and destroy ISIS abroad and protect the nation from further attacks against American citizens:\r\nThe American people are understandably concerned in the aftermath of the horrific attack in San Bernardino and increasingly apprehensive about the prospect of another terrorist attack on American soil, the Senators wrote. To safeguard our own national security, we must step up the military fight against ISIS as soon as possible, but it will require sustained, long-term American engagement to resolve the deeper problems that have allowed ISIS to incubate and gather strength in Syria and Iraq.\r\nIn addition to Rounds and Thune, the letter, led by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), was also signed by Senators Cory Gardner (R-Co.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), David Perdue (R-Ga.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and David Vitter (R-La).\r\nFull text of the letter:\r\n\r\nThe Honorable Barack Obama\r\nPresident of the United States\r\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW\r\nWashington, DC 20500\r\n\r\nDear President Obama:\r\nIn the wake of the recent wave of devastating terrorist attacks by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) on Paris, Beirut, and the Russian airliner flying over Egypt, as well as last weeks attack in San Bernardino that appears to have been inspired by ISIS, we write today to both express support for your stated objective to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIS and to urge you to employ more effective means to accomplish that worthy goal. \r\nISIS poses a direct threat to our country, and the magnitude of that threat is growing as a result of this terrorist armys expanded operational reach. The recent attacks prove that ISIS now has the ability to carry out mass-casualty terrorist attacks well beyond its self-proclaimed caliphate in Syria and Iraq. The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency recently warned that ISIS likely has additional attacks planned, and the group has publicly declared its intention to strike the mainland United States. We also know that ISIS is aggressively pursuing a more robust chemical weapons capability and, to that end, has recruited scientists and other technical experts.\r\nThe American people are understandably concerned in the aftermath of the horrific attack in San Bernardino and increasingly apprehensive about the prospect of another terrorist attack on American soil. Over the past couple of years, as ISIS has murdered and raped its way across the Syrian and Iraqi countryside, it has also succeeded in reenergizing the global jihadi movement, driven by its evil ideology and fueled by its hateful propaganda. The King of Jordan has described the struggle against ISIS in stark terms, calling it a third world war against humanity. Likewise, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter testified recently that Were at war against ISIS. The groups ranks in Syria and Iraq have swelled to as many as 30,000 jihadists, due in part to its leveraging of social media platforms and dark corners of the Internet to recruit from all over the world. Even more alarming is the threat that ISIS and its adherents now pose to us here at home, in the form of a jihadist already living on U.S. soil and planning the next deadly attack.\r\nAs a nation, we have a clear and vital interest at stake in Syria and Iraq  preventing terrorist attacks against America and our allies  and that obligates us to intensify the effort to destroy ISIS. That vital interest can only be safeguarded through the elimination of the sanctuary that ISIS has carved out for itself in Iraq and Syria. We believe we are at a strategic inflection point in the fight against ISIS and that, without a well-informed strategy change to arrest this groups momentum, the task of defeating it will multiply in its difficulty and complexity. We listened carefully to your Oval Office address on Sunday but were disappointed to learn that the same ineffective approach will continue to be implemented.\r\nIn September, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, characterized the fight against ISIS as tactically stalemated, an assessment that we believe still holds true. To break this stalemate, we ask you to formulate a comprehensive military strategy against ISIS and bring to bear additional military means. In the near term, our principal strategic goal must be to shatter the ISIS narrative of invincibility, in order to stem this groups ability to recruit or inspire additional jihadists, both those who would physically travel to Syria or Iraq to join ISIS and those who would remain outside its sanctuary and conduct attacks on their home nations or neighboring ones, including the United States.\r\nIn order to effectively undermine the ISIS narrative, the coalition must inflict upon it highly visible territorial losses, starting with Iraq, including the recapture of Ramadi, Fallujah, and Mosul. To that end, we recommend that you pursue, at a minimum, several additional military options:\r\n \r\nU.S. military advisors. To bolster the Iraqi Security Forces, the Kurdish Peshmerga, and Sunni tribal forces, we should embed U.S. military advisors to serve alongside them in combat units down to the battalion level, including those on the front lines.We must work more closely with our local ground partners. Without effective ground forces, ISIS cannot be dislodged from the territory it now holds in Syria and Iraq.\r\n \r\n \r\nJoint Terminal Attack Controllers(JTACs). We should deploy and embed additional U.S. troops to serve as JTACs, embedded with our local ground partners, in order to make our airstrikes against ISIS more precise and more lethal.\r\n \r\n \r\nClose air support. We should deploy and utilize additional close air support platforms, including Apache attack helicopters, to provide more effective support to our ground partners who are in close contact with ISIS, in coordination with the embedded JTACs.\r\n \r\n \r\nAirstrike approval process. We should review the current approval process for coalition airstrikes, which we understand is unwieldy, and consider removing barriers that inhibit our pilots from attacking ISIS targets that are both timely and strategically significant.\r\n \r\nIn addition, we ask you to consider two more far-reaching courses of action:\r\n \r\nSafe zones. We should establish one or more safe zones inside Syria, primarily for the protection of Syrian refugees. Creating and maintaining these so-called no-fly and no-drive zones would be a substantial military and humanitarian undertaking, but in so doing we would help safeguard innocent men, women, and children not just from Bashar al-Assads aircraft and barrel bombs, but also from ground attacks by Assads forces and ISIS. We would also help avert the mass exodus of Syrian refugees fleeing their own homeland for other countries in the region and in Europe.\r\n \r\n \r\nNATO role. In light of the continuing threat posed to multiple member-nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), we should consider pursuing a robust and central NATO role in combating ISIS, as recently proposed by former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Admiral (Ret.) James Stavridis. Leading the planning, implementation, and command-and-control of a mission to establish safe zones in Syria may be an appropriate mission for NATO.\r\n \r\nThis list of potential courses of action is not an exhaustive one, but we believe that pursuing even some of these would represent a needed boost in the fight against ISIS. Further, a number of these options or related ones have been proposed by two of your former Secretaries of Defense, Robert Gates and Leon Panetta, and we agree that they are worthy of serious consideration. A more robust U.S. military effort is also likely to attract greater contributions from both NATO allies and, more importantly, regional partners. \r\nWe recognize that credible military action is necessarily only one element of any sound strategy to defeat ISIS. In addition, we know that the effort to dislodge ISIS from the territory it currently holds must be undergirded by a political framework that will sustain a lasting rejection of ISISs bankrupt ideology, which will itself require significant Sunni participation in Iraqi national governance. We also recognize that the threat of ISIS cannot be divorced from the overall conflict in Syria, which continues to rage, fueled further by Russian and Iranian interference. To safeguard our own national security, we must step up the military fight against ISIS as soon as possible, but it will require sustained, long-term American engagement to resolve the deeper problems that have allowed ISIS to incubate and gather strength in Syria and Iraq.\r\nSuccess will not come easily or cheaply, but we urge you as our commander-in-chief to do whatever it takes to defeat ISIS and keep the American citizenry safe from harm.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=931E56FA-6202-4B46-AB2C-735CF5A9D903", "Biodiesel industry asks for action on tax extenders", "2015-12-04", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Farm Futures \r\n\tWhile many farmers wait for news about tax extenders and Section 179 expensing for tax year 2015, the biodiesel industry has an additional concern  a reformed biodiesel producer's tax incentive.\r\nTax negotiations heated up Thursday in D.C. as lawmakers introduced updated biodiesel tax legislation in the House and Senate.\r\n\"The biodiesel industry cannot grow and support good-paying jobs without some level of predictability on tax policy, and the legislative clock is winding down,\" said Anne Steckel, NBB's vice president of federal affairs. \"This tax incentive has strong bipartisan support, as demonstrated by the bills introduced today. It's good for the economy, it's good for the environment and it's good for consumers. And importantly the reforms included in today's bills will appropriately focus the incentive on U.S. production\"\r\nThe legislation, sponsored by Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Reps. Reps. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., and Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., builds on legislation that won unanimous support from the Senate Finance Committee in July.\r\nThe bills include a key reform restructuring the incentive from a blender's credit to a producer's credit focused on domestic production.\r\nUnder the existing blender's structure, biodiesel that is produced overseas and blended in the U.S. is increasingly taking advantage of the incentive, undermining U.S. production and directing U.S. tax benefits to foreign producers.\r\nAlready this year we have seen more than 500 million gallons of foreign fuel blended in the U.S. to take advantage of the incentive. By limiting the incentive to apply only to domestic production, the reform would save about $90 million, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation.\r\n\"I think lawmakers would universally agree we shouldn't be using U.S. tax dollars to support the production of foreign fuel,\" Steckel said. \"The whole point of this policy is to create American jobs and industry while strengthening our energy security and encouraging innovation in the fuels market.\"\r\nAdditionally, under the blender's structure, thousands of companies are eligible to apply for the credit at a variety of points along the distribution chain  making it difficult for the RFS to monitor compliance and fraud. By narrowing the eligibility for the credit to domestic biodiesel producers, the reform would streamline the process for taking the credit. The incentive will continue benefiting consumers by lowering the cost of biodiesel blended into diesel fuel.\r\n\"Today, one-third of petroleum used in the United States is imported from foreign countries and most of it is used to fuel our vehicles,\" Noem said. \"Especially with conflicts arising in energy-rich areas of our world, the need to decrease our reliance on foreign fuels grows every single day. A commitment to renewable fuels, like biodiesel which can be grown right here in America, is critical as we look to improve our security by becoming more energy independent.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=F87D2C3D-4A6B-4123-90BD-28136D9D21A2", "Weekly Column: Fueled By South Dakota", "2015-12-04", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Rep. Kristi Noem \r\n\tIt might surprise many of us, but there are a lot of people out in D.C. who dont seem to know the difference between South Dakota and North Dakota. I know my counterpart in North Dakota often gets the question: Is that the state with Mount Rushmore? No, thats South Dakota. For me, the question is: Are you the state with all of that oil? No, thats North Dakota, but while North Dakota has all that oil, South Dakotas corn and soybean production plays its own role in Americas energy security.\r\nEvery year, South Dakota harvests more than 400 million bushels of corn and 100 million bushels of soybeans. These commodities provide a pathway toward North American energy independence that can help boost our economy and our national security.\r\nToday, about one-third of the petroleum used in the United States is imported from foreign countries, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Most of this petroleum is refined into gas or diesel. Especially with conflicts arising in energy-rich areas of our world, the need to decrease our reliance on foreign fuels grows every single day. Now is the time to double down on domestic energy production, but unfortunately, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is looking to let off the gas.\r\nIn early 2014, the EPA proposed new Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volumes. These volume requirements, which impact corn-based ethanol and biodiesel alike, tell refineries how many gallons of renewable fuels should be blended into our overall supply. This gives both farmers and consumers more certainty and greater price stability.\r\nThe EPAs initial proposal was very disappointing, as the agency moved to significantly roll back our commitment to ethanol and biodiesel. Not only could this curb production, but the move would send the wrong message to investors, risk jobs, and threaten the creation of more developed biofuels.\r\nI, along with a bipartisan group of 30 lawmakers, reached out to the EPA shortly after their announcement. It was important that they reverse course.\r\nWhen the final numbers were announced in late November, the RFS remained beneath the levels I believe are appropriate. Nonetheless, the EPA did adjust the requirements at least slightly higher because of the pressure we put on them.\r\nEspecially at a time when the Middle East remains so volatile, our commitment to homegrown renewable fuels should not be in doubt. While the EPA is backing down, I am not. In recent weeks, I introduced an extension of the biodiesel tax credit. This legislation would ensure that domestically produced biodiesel was given a $1-per-gallon tax credit through the end of 2016. The legislation has bipartisan support and Im hopeful it can be wrapped into an end-of-the-year tax extenders package.\r\nMy number one responsibility is to keep the American people safe  protecting economic opportunities comes in at a close second. By throwing our support behind homegrown fuels rather than foreign oil, we are accomplishing both and creating a nation that is fueled by South Dakota in the process.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=1628c52e-0c77-45c7-be17-c2c064a7f101", "The Fight to Repeal Obamacare", "2015-12-04", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sen. John Thune \r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tBefore it became law, Republicans in Congress warned of the damage the so-called Affordable Care Act would cause and the burdens the American people would face as a result. Five and a half years later, Obamacare  as it became known  has chipped away at family budgets, squeezed small business growth, and led to fewer choices for patients and their doctors. Obamacare has broken nearly every promise its Democrat authors made to the American people, including the oft-repeated promise that if you liked your doctor and health care plan you could keep them, period.\r\nObamacare is broken  it always has been  which is why Republicans who campaigned for the Senate majority in 2014 promised voters that if they gave us the chance, we would send an Obamacare repeal bill to President Obama. Despite fierce opposition from Democrats and the president, Senate Republicans have now made good on that promise.\r\nNow that the Senate has passed a repeal bill, the ball will soon be in the presidents court. He can either support this measure and help lift the burdens Obamacare has placed on the American people, or he can double down on his failed policies. If the president chooses the latter, it will be clear to the American people that the only thing standing in the way of an Obamacare repeal bill being signed into law is the current occupant of the White House.\r\nThe evidence to suggest repealing this fundamentally flawed law is necessary couldnt be any clearer. Obamacare was supposed to lower health care premiums. It didnt. It was supposed to reduce health care costs. It didnt do that either. And it was supposed to protect the health care plans Americans wanted to keep, which couldnt be further from the reality. Obamacare was sold to the American people as a health care solution, but its turned out to be yet another health care problem.\r\nSince Obamacare was signed into law in 2010, Ive heard from countless South Dakotans who have shared with me their personal stories about how this burdensome law is affecting their families. One person recently wrote to tell me that her and her husbands health care plan is going up by more than $8,000 next year. Thats a staggering amount of money. What family can afford such a significant increase in expenses from one year to the next? Sadly, thats only one of many stories Ive heard, and these stories arent unique to South Dakota.\r\nIts time to move away from the presidents broken health care law and toward the kind of health care reform Americans are actually looking for: an affordable, accountable, patient-focused system that gives individuals control of their health care decisions. Its what the American people want, and its what they deserve.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=1166af36-8993-49ad-be6c-3a3bf3a936cd", "Senate Passes Thune Bill to Reauthorize Successful Sport Fish and Boating Fund", "2015-12-04", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tU.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) applauded the Senates bipartisan passage of his legislation, the Sport Fish Restoration and Recreational Boating Safety Act (S. 834), a bill that reauthorizes through fiscal year 2023 the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, a program that has benefitted millions of anglers and fishermen since 1950.\r\nSouth Dakota is rich in natural resources that provide an abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities for residents and those who visit our state each year, said Thune. Its important that these natural treasures are available for future generations, which is why I was glad the Senate reauthorized this critical program. The anglers and recreational boaters, the very people who contribute to this program, understand the importance of protecting our wetlands, fisheries, and recreational boating safety programs. \r\nOn March 25, 2015, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, of which Thune serves as chairman, passed S. 834.This important legislation was then included in the Fixing Americas Surface Transportation Act conference report, which passed the Senate last night by a vote of 83-16, and will soon be signed into law by President Obama.\r\nThe program collects user fees on fishing tackle and equipment, motorboat fuel, imported boats and fishing equipment, and small engines, raising roughly $600 million per year. The money in the fund is then allocated to federal and state programs for boating safety and infrastructure, fishery management, habitat conservation, and related programs and activities. South Dakota has received $9.1 million from the fund over the last two years.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=848ecf1c-36ee-4a69-92cf-3fc3dfc2d74d", "Thune Statement on First Large Force Exercise at New Powder River Expansion", "2015-12-04", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after the completion of the first large force exercise at the expanded Powder River Training Complex:\r\nCongratulations to our commanders and airmen on the completion of the first large force exercise at the expanded Powder River Training Complex, said Thune. Its exciting to see the culmination of so many years of effort on this airspace expansion finally come to fruition. Our airmen must have the training they need to return safely after protecting our nation abroad. This expanded training airspace is critical to that training and willnot onlybe an asset to South Dakota and our region for years to come, but will benefit aircrew readiness nationwide.\r\nForty-one aircraft took part in the large force exercise on December 2-3, 2015. In addition to B-1 bombers, F-16 fighter jets, KC-135 refueling tankers, and RC-135 intelligence-gathering planes participated in the exercise.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=3DB1323A-74C4-4518-B8B7-DE122986BC8E", "Noem supports first education overhaul since 2002", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "KELO Radio \r\n\tRepresentative Kristi Noem today supported the Every Student Succeeds Act, which represents the first major education overhaul since No Child Left Behind in 2002. The legislation, which passed the House with bipartisan support, reduces the federal role in K-12 education, restores local control, and empowers parents.\r\nI believe those closest to our kids  parents, teachers, local school districts, state governments  make the best decisions about how to educate our young people, said Rep. Noem. The Every Student Succeeds Act finally gets us away from having the federal government micromanage local classrooms. The legislation gives states much greater flexibility to spend money in a way that benefits their students most. It empowers parents to hold schools accountable, not the federal government. It modernizes the Impact Aid program, which many South Dakota schools rely on. And maybe most notably, the Every Student Succeeds Act ensures the federal government cant pressure states into adopting specific academic standards like the Common Core.\r\nThe Every Student Succeeds Act also includes language based on Rep. NoemsLocal Taxpayer Relief Act, which modernizes and streamlines the federal Impact Aid program. Created in 1950, the Impact Aid program provides payments from the federal government to local school districts to make up for local taxes lost on account of federal land within their school districts, such as military bases, national parks, or federal grasslands.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=2E399510-DEA3-424E-97F5-41500F01E6F0", "Noem, Pascrell Introduce Biodiesel Tax Credit Extension", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representatives Kristi Noem (R-SD) and Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) today introduced the Biodiesel Tax Incentive Reform and Extension Act of 2015. This bipartisan legislation would ensure that domestically-produced biodiesel be given a $1-per-gallon tax credit through the end of 2016.\r\nToday, one-third of petroleum used in the United States is imported from foreign countries and most of it is used to fuel our vehicles, said Rep. Noem. Especially with conflicts arising in energy-rich areas of our world, the need to decrease our reliance on foreign fuels grows every single day. A commitment to renewable fuels, like biodiesel which can be grown right here in America, is critical as we look to improve our security by becoming more energy independent. By putting our support behind homegrown fuels, we are taking strides toward increased security while also enabling states like South Dakota to fuel our nation.\r\nTo fuel our future and improve our air quality, we need to invest in alternative fuel sources. This bill supports that goal and also promotes domestic industry. This will help us take things like food waste and turn it into usable fuel. And biodiesel reduces emissions to the tune of 16 million metric tons per year, Pascrell said. Thats like taking 3.6 million cars off the roads every year. In North Jerseys rush-hour traffic, we call that a no-brainer. This is a smart incentive and a smart investment in domestic biodiesel.\r\nThe biodiesel tax credit expired on December 31, 2014. The Noem-Pascrell legislation would extend the credit retroactively for 2015 as well as fully renew and reform it for 2016.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=C8D1F4C9-B05C-4918-A61C-F03E209DC88B", "Noem Helps Drive Long-Term Highway Bill through the House", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representative Kristi Noem today helped the U.S. House of Representatives move forward the first long-term highway bill since 2005. The bipartisan Fixing Americas Surface Transportation (FAST) Act is a fully funded, five-year highway bill aimed at improving the nations surface transportation infrastructure. With House approval of the conference agreement, the legislation will move to the Senate before heading to the President, who is expected to sign the bill.\r\nSouth Dakota has 80,000 miles of highways, roads, and streets. We have about 6,000 bridges and thousands of miles of railways. Our farmers, our businesses, our families depend on the safety and reliability of this infrastructure, said Rep. Noem. Todays legislation is going to give our state and local governments the certainty they need to plan and conduct necessary maintenance on this intricate network of roads, bridges and railways. Its going to give our local teams more flexibility to address their unique transportation priorities as well. In the end, Im hopeful this will be a big win for all of South Dakota, helping to fuel continued economic opportunity and greater safety for our families and communities. \r\nThe fully funded FAST Act increases highway spending by 15 percent and transit spending by 18 percent over five years, meaning South Dakota would receive $133 million more than it would have under current funding levels. Additionally, the bill creates an incentive grant for states with 24-7 sobriety programs for drunk drivers and removes a requirement that asked states to collect excessive data on unpaved and gravel roads  both are important priorities for South Dakota.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/legislation-to-repeal-obamacare-heads-to-presidents-desk", "Legislation to Repeal Obamacare Passes Senate", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.03.15\n\t\t\t Legislation to Repeal Obamacare Passes Senate \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTONU.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today praised the Senate's passage of legislation to repeal significant portions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).\r\nWe knew the massive, 2500-page law was unworkable when it passed five years ago and that it would crumble under its own weight. And that is exactly what is happening. Health insurance providers are dropping policies and pulling out of the exchange, premiums are skyrocketing for South Dakota families and health care providers are facing uncertainty as they struggle with the law's burdensome new requirements. Repealing the ill-advised law is a necessary first step so we can implement a market-based, patient-centered plan that is actually affordable.\r\nAccording to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the ACA will cost Americans more than $116 billion a year, including $284 million in new taxes for South Dakotans over the next decade.\r\n# # #\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-long-term-highway-bill-brings-certainty-to-transportation-projects-restores-crop-insurance-cut", "Rounds: Long-Term Highway Bill Brings Certainty to Transportation Projects, Restores Crop Insurance Cut", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.03.15\n\t\t\t Rounds: Long-Term Highway Bill Brings Certainty to Transportation Projects, Restores Crop Insurance Cut \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t South Dakota to Receive $1.6 Billion in Transportation Funding\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTONU.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, today issued the following statement on the Senate's passage of the final Conference Report for the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, bipartisan legislation to fund America's highway and transit programs for five years. The FAST Act allocates approximately $1.6 billion for South Dakota transportation projects over the next five years. It now heads to President Obama's desk to be signed into law.\r\n\r\nA healthy economy is dependent on a strong, safe and vibrant transportation system that allows us to move people and goods with ease, said Rounds. Under the FAST Act, South Dakota will receive approximately $1.6 billion in transportation funding to update, repair and modernize important infrastructure in our state. While not perfect, this legislation spares rural America from damaging crop insurance cuts and strengthens lending for community banks, in addition to authorizing important road and infrastructure projects.\r\n\r\nThe FAST Act also provides long-term certainty and ends the costly, ineffective practice of short-term highway bill extensions. Over the last 10 years, Congress has passed 36 short-term extensions, frustrating contractors and state and local governments who have been unable to adequately plan for future projects. Finally, they will be able to implement a long-term, strategic plan to restore, repair and update our roads and bridges.\r\n\r\nThe FAST Act:\r\n \r\nAuthorizes and pays for five years of highway construction.\r\nMarks the first time in 10 years a long-term highway bill will be enacted.\r\nPrior to now, highway funding had been authorized through 36 temporary, short-term patches.\r\n \r\n\r\nOther important provisions in the FAST Act:\r\n \r\nStops Harmful Crop Insurance Cuts: Repeals the misguided crop insurance cut that was included in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015.\r\n\r\nRounds has been working to get rid of the $3 billion cut to the crop insurance program since it was announced it would be included in the Act. Prior to voting on the Act, House and Senate Leaders publicly offered to help restore these cuts, which is why Senator Rounds voted for it. Last week, he wrote to House and Senate leaders reinforcing his commitment to restoring the cut.\r\nEnds Regulatory Burden on Mortgage Loans: Incorporates the Helping Expand Lending Practices in Rural Communities Act (HELP Rural Communities Act), co-sponsored by Rounds, which gives individuals in rural areas mistakenly labelled as not rural the right to petition the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for the area to be properly reclassified as rural. This relieves local community banks and credit unions from burdensome regulations that unfairly limit their ability to lend and allows residents greater access to mortgage loans.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=304fb2f9-4635-47f2-91a9-c0ff2c0bc2c7", "Thune Votes to Repeal Obamacare, Urges the President to Put Americans First", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after the Senate passed legislation to repeal Obamacare:\r\nIts clear that Obamacare is not working, despite the presidents best efforts to convince the American people otherwise. Five years after the law passed, Americans are struggling to afford their health care thanks to the costs the law imposed, which is why the Republican-led Congress will soon send a repeal bill to the president for his signature.\r\nWhile the president will likely veto the bill and prioritize his own legacy over the well-being of American families, this debate is far from over. Republicans will not back down from the fight to help the individuals, families, and businesses hurt by Obamacare.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=6d72bec4-96dd-443c-8752-1c2db6ea8738", "Thune Statement on Passage of Bipartisan, Five-Year Transportation Bill", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, issued the following statement on the Senates bipartisan passage of the five-year Fixing Americas Surface Transportation (FAST) Act conference report. The FAST Act contains several Thune-led transportation and safety initiatives that benefit South Dakota, including provisions that were included in the Senates multi-year transportation bill that passed earlier this summer.Following a 359-65 vote in the House of Representatives, the Senate approved the measure by a vote of 83-16.The bill will now be sent to the president for his signature.\r\nPassing a bipartisan, multi-year transportation bill is a big win for America, especially for states like South Dakota that depend on a reliable and effective transportation system, said Thune. This bill, which will soon reverse the trend of passing one short-term patch after another, will end uncertainty for our transportation system and make important investments in infrastructure projects in our state and around the country. These necessary investments will spur much-needed job creation and sustained economic growth in communities across our region.\r\nI am proud of the work the Commerce Committee contributed to this effort and was humbled to have been selected to serve on the conference committee that negotiated the final version of this bill that is now headed to President Obama for his signature. The Republican-led Senate has worked hard this year to pass meaningful legislation that helps our economy and puts America in a better, more competitive position. The FAST Act is one more legislative achievement we can add to that list.\r\nLast month, Thune was named to the highway bill conference committee, which ensured South Dakotas interests would be represented at the negotiating table.\r\nFAST Act highlights:\r\n \r\nIncreased highway investment levels:South Dakota is estimated to receive a $133 million increase in overall highway spending over the next five years.South Dakotas apportioned highway funding will grow from $272 million in 2015 to an estimated $286 million in 2016  and ultimately $312 million in 2020.\r\n \r\n \r\nIncreased transit investment levels:Funding for transit in South Dakota will grow from $15.5 million in 2015 to an estimated $16.6 million in 2016, and approximately $17.8 million in 2020.\r\n \r\n \r\nIncreased tribal transportation investment levels: The existing Tribal Transportation Program that addresses tribal road and bridge infrastructure needs will be funded at $465 million in 2016, an increase of $15 million from current levels, and will grow to $505 million in 2020.\r\n \r\n \r\nCovered Farm Vehicles: Protects states from losing federal funding for granting additional regulatory relief to specially designated farm vehicles and drivers.\r\n \r\n \r\nAgriculture hours of service (HOS) relief: Provides HOS relief for truck drivers transporting bees or livestock by making permanent the temporary rest break flexibility option.\r\n \r\n \r\nConstruction HOS relief: Drivers transporting construction materials will have a larger radius they can operate in before additional paperwork requirements, including logging and hours of service rules, apply.\r\n \r\n \r\nCustom harvesters relief: Allows states to waive special hazmat licenses for custom harvesters operating diesel tanks (less than 1,000 gallons).\r\n \r\n \r\nFreight formula program: Creates a freight formula funding program in which South Dakota would receive over $8 million annually.\r\n \r\n \r\nPort metrics: Requires the Department of Transportation to issue yearly reports on port metrics allowing for more transparency and better planning to those that utilize our nations ports for import or export. \r\n \r\n \r\nDedicated funding for states without passenger rail: Adds freight rail eligibility to passenger rail grant programs, requires a 25 percent rural set-aside, and guarantees to states like South Dakota, which have no passenger rail, no less than 1.3 percent of appropriated funds from the programs. The total amount will depend on appropriations; if the program is fully funded, it dedicates to South Dakota no less than $3 million per year.\r\n \r\n \r\n24-7 sobriety: Rewards states for providing a 24-7 sobriety program, which started in South Dakota, by creating a new incentive grant under 23 USC 405 for states with a 24-7 sobriety program and by amending the penalty transfer section of 23 USC 164 to allow states to qualify for meeting the repeat intoxicated driver law with a 24-7 sobriety program.\r\n \r\n \r\nTesting of electronically-controlled pneumatic brakes: Requires a National Academies test on a new rail braking technology for unit trains carrying flammable liquids to ensure it would deliver the intended results and would not lead to network slowdowns.\r\n \r\nFor a list of FAST Act provisions that benefit South Dakota, click here, and for a summary of the Commerce Committees role in over half of the 1,300-page legislative measure, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=27222BBE-299E-465D-A3F1-DC70815DA2AB", "Noem Supports Legislation to Give Local Entities Greater Control of Education", "2015-12-02", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representative Kristi Noem today supported the Every Student Succeeds Act, which represents the first major education overhaul since No Child Left Behind in 2002. The legislation, which passed the House with bipartisan support, reduces the federal role in K-12 education, restores local control, and empowers parents.\r\nI believe those closest to our kids  parents, teachers, local school districts, state governments  make the best decisions about how to educate our young people, said Rep. Noem. The Every Student Succeeds Act finally gets us away from having the federal government micromanage local classrooms. The legislation gives states much greater flexibility to spend money in a way that benefits their students most. It empowers parents to hold schools accountable, not the federal government. It modernizes the Impact Aid program, which many South Dakota schools rely on. And maybe most notably, the Every Student Succeeds Act ensures the federal government cant pressure states into adopting specific academic standards like the Common Core.\r\nThe Every Student Succeeds Act also includes language based on Rep. Noems Local Taxpayer Relief Act, which modernizes and streamlines the federal Impact Aid program. Created in 1950, the Impact Aid program provides payments from the federal government to local school districts to make up for local taxes lost on account of federal land within their school districts, such as military bases, national parks, or federal grasslands.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=a3dc9a89-933b-4e7a-a490-0524363f101e", "Thune: The Time to Repeal Obamacare Is Now", "2015-12-01", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tU.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the need to repeal Obamacare and help lift the heavy burden it has placed on the American people. \r\nRemarks (as prepared for delivery):\r\nMr. President, five years ago, days after President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law, the senior Democrat senator from New York went on Meet the Press to discuss the bill.\r\nHe told the host, and I quote, Well, I think as people learn about the bill, and now that the bill is enacted, its going to become more and more popular.\r\nMr. President, I dont need to tell anyone that that never happened.\r\nFive years after Obamacare was enacted, a majority of Americans disapprove of the law.\r\nAnd thats a pattern that weve seen since the laws passage.\r\nSo why has the law failed to earn the support Democrats predicted?\r\nFor one simple reason, Mr. President: The law is just not working as President Obama promised.\r\nThe Affordable Care Act was supposed to lower health care premiums.\r\nIt didnt.\r\nIt was supposed to reduce health care costs.\r\nIt didnt.\r\nIt was supposed to protect the health care plans Americans wanted to keep.\r\nIt didnt.\r\nThe law was sold as a health care solution, but its turned out to be yet another health care problem.\r\nFive years after the laws passage, heres where we are:\r\nAmericans with job-based insurance are paying more for their health care, with the average employee seeing a $400 increase in his or her deductible since 2010.\r\nSmall business employees have fared even worse, with average deductibles now close to $2,000.\r\nAnd Americans are paying more for their premiums as well.\r\nAverage annual premium contribution for family coverage is currently $12,591, up from $9,773 in 2010.\r\nThats nearly $3,000 in additional premium costs, or another $250 a month.\r\nAnd for many families, this comes on top of an increase in their deductible.\r\nMeanwhile, thousands of part-time workers have lost their job-based insurance, thanks to Obamacare mandates that encouraged several large employers to stop offering health benefits to part-time employees.\r\nThe situation on the exchanges is no better.\r\nExchange premiums will rise once again this year, with many Americans facing rate increases in the double digits.\r\nMr. President, over the past few months, Ive heard from numerous constituents wondering how they will be able to afford the massive premium increases they are facing.\r\nOne constituent in Wessington, South Dakota, wrote to tell me that her and her husbands health care plan is going from $17,194 this year to a staggering $25,370 next year.\r\nThats an increase of more than $8,000.\r\nWhat family can afford an $8,000 increase in expenses from one year to the next?\r\nAnother constituent of mine wrote to tell me, and I quote, We just received our rate increase for our family health insurance. We have been paying $1283.81 a month and the $557.45 increase will bring it up to $1841.26. This amount has gone from 26 percent to 37 percent of our income. It is over twice of our house payment.  After having insurance coverage for the past 38 years, we are faced with dropping coverage, which is ironic since that is not the purpose of the Affordable Health Care Act. We are considering dropping insurance and facing the penalty just so we can continue to live in our house, pay the bills, and buy groceries.\r\nMr. President, I have received far too many letters like these, from individuals who are facing enormous premium increases.\r\nOne constituent who wrote to me is facing a 69 percent premium increase.\r\n69 percent.\r\nShe and her husband are facing a $22,884 insurance bill.\r\nShe could buy a brand new car for less.\r\nIts no surprise that a recent survey from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found that nearly 80 percent of uninsured Americans who have looked for insurance report that they cannot afford to buy health insurance.\r\nThe grim reality for millions of Americans is that the Affordable Care Act is anything but affordable.\r\nAnd unfortunately higher health costs are just one of the problems with this law.\r\nObamacare has also reduced Americans health care choices.\r\nFaced with expensive Obamacare mandates, insurance companies have chosen one of the few methods left to them to control costs: restricting consumers choice of doctors and hospitals.\r\nAmericans were promised they could keep the doctor they liked, but for many Americans, that is not true.\r\nThen there are the taxes imposed by the law.\r\nBecause the administration did its best to hide the true costs of Obamacare, most Americans dont realize that the law hiked taxes by a trillion dollars.\r\nBut in fact the law imposed almost a dozen new taxes, including an annual tax on health insurance that is passed on to consumers in the form of higher premiums, a tax increase on flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts, and a tax on wages and self-employment income.\r\nPresident Obama promised not to raise taxes on those making less than $250,000, but as we all know, he broke that promise many times over when Obamacare was signed into law.\r\nMany of these taxes directly impact low- and middle-income families.\r\nAdditionally, the laws tax on the makers of lifesaving medical devices like Pacemakers and insulin pumps, which went into effect in 2013, has already eliminated jobs in the medical device industry and driven up the price of essential medical equipment.\r\nAnd the medical device industry is not the only industry in which Obamacare is costing jobs.\r\nObamacares requirement that employers provide their workers with government-approved insurance or pay a tax has made employing full-time workers more costly, which has discouraged employers from hiring.\r\nWorkers in the retail and restaurant industries  many of them younger, less-skilled workers  have been hit particularly hard.\r\nIn all, the Congressional Budget Office has predicted that Obamacare will result in the equivalent of 2 million fewer full-time jobs in 2017 and 2.5 million fewer full-time jobs by 2024.\r\nThats not good news for our already sluggish economy.\r\nMr. President, all Americans remember the presidents claim that under Obamacare If you like your plan you can keep it  a claim that was named Politifacts Lie of the Year in 2013 after Obamacare eliminated the health care plans of more than 4 million Americans.\r\nNow hundreds of thousands of Americans will be losing their Obamacare health care plan after a number of the health insurance co-ops established under the law proved unsustainable.\r\nIn all, 12 of the 23 health care co-ops established by the presidents health care law have collapsed, resulting in the loss of billions in taxpayer dollars in addition to the loss of Americans health plans.\r\nTaxpayers have also lost more than $1 billion spent on failed or failing state exchanges like the failed exchanges in Oregon, Hawaii, Vermont, Maryland, and Massachusetts.\r\nMr. President, four years after telling Meet the Press that Obamacare would become more and more popular, the senior senator from New York admitted that Democrats had made a strategic error by focusing on Obamacare.\r\nAmericans, he admitted, were, and I quote, crying out for an end to the recession, for better wages and more jobs; not for changes in their health care.\r\nMr. President, the senator from New York was right: Americans didnt want Obamacare then, and they certainly dont want it now.\r\nObamacare is broken, and Americans know it.\r\nAnd its time to repeal this law and start moving toward the kind of health care reform Americans are actually looking for: an affordable, accountable, patient-focused system that gives individuals control of their health care decisions.\r\nThis week, the Senate will take up a repeal bill that will begin the process of lifting the burdens the Affordable Care Act has placed on Americans.\r\nI look forward to debating this bill and working with my colleagues to begin building a bridge to a better health care system for hardworking families across the country.\r\nIts time to give the American people the real health care reform they deserve.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=76220FEF-C29B-4434-97B0-603D6CF77AE0", "Public Comment Period Extended on VA's Proposed Reconfiguration of Black Hills Health Care System", "2015-11-30", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Members of the South Dakota, Wyoming and Nebraska congressional delegations today made the following statement in support of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) decision to extend the public comment period on the environmental impact statement regarding proposals for reconfiguration of the Black Hills Health Care System (BHHCS) until February 5, 2016. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Mike Enzi (R-Wy.), John Barrasso (R-Wy.), and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and U.S. Representatives Kristi Noem (R-S.D.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wy.) and Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), sent a letter to VA Secretary Robert McDonald earlier this month requesting the extension.\r\nWe are pleased that Secretary McDonald listened to our concerns and extended the public comment period for the VAs proposed changes to the BHHCS, said the Members. Any reconfiguration will impact veterans in the tri-state area who rely on the system for their health care needs. For this reason, it is critical that area veterans and stakeholders have adequate opportunity to voice their opinions regarding the future of its facilities.\r\nOn October 28, 2015, the VA released its draft environmental impact statement (EIS) with respect to the BHHCS. The delegations letter to Secretary McDonald requesting an extension of the comment period can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/public-comment-period-extended-on-vas-proposed-reconfiguration-of-black-hills-health-care-system", "Public Comment Period Extended on VAs Proposed Reconfiguration of Black Hills Health Care System", "2015-11-30", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.30.15\n\t\t\t Public Comment Period Extended on VA's Proposed Reconfiguration of Black Hills Health Care System \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Extended Until February 5, 2016\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTONMembers of the South Dakota, Wyoming and Nebraska congressional delegations today made the following statement in support of the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) decision to extend the public comment period on the environmental impact statement regarding proposals for reconfiguration of the Black Hills Health Care System (BHHCS) until February 5, 2016. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Mike Enzi (R-Wy.), John Barrasso (R-Wy.), and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and U.S. Representatives Kristi Noem (R-S.D.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wy.) and Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), sent a letter to VA Secretary Robert McDonald earlier this month requesting the extension.\r\nWe are pleased that Secretary McDonald listened to our concerns and extended the public comment period for the VA's proposed changes to the BHHCS, said the Members. Any reconfiguration will impact veterans in the tri-state area who rely on the system for their health care needs. For this reason, it is critical that area veterans and stakeholders have adequate opportunity to voice their opinions regarding the future of its facilities.\r\nOn October 28, 2015, the VA released its draft environmental impact statement (EIS) with respect to the BHHCS. The delegations' letter to Secretary McDonald requesting an extension of the comment period can be found here.\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=d102d28b-4b5d-46b1-bf70-ce917f60fe9a", "Public Comment Period Extended on VAs Proposed Reconfiguration of Black Hills Health Care System", "2015-11-30", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tMembers of the South Dakota, Wyoming and Nebraska congressional delegations today made the following statement in support of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) decision to extend the public comment period on the environmental impact statement regarding proposals for reconfiguration of the Black Hills Health Care System (BHHCS) until February 5, 2016. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Mike Enzi (R-Wy.), John Barrasso (R-Wy.), and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and U.S. Representatives Kristi Noem (R-S.D.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wy.) and Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), sent a letter to VA Secretary Robert McDonald earlier this month requesting the extension.\r\nWe are pleased that Secretary McDonald listened to our concerns and extended the public comment period for the VAs proposed changes to the BHHCS, said the Members. Any reconfiguration will impact veterans in the tri-state area who rely on the system for their health care needs. For this reason, it is critical that area veterans and stakeholders have adequate opportunity to voice their opinions regarding the future of its facilities.\r\nOn October 28, 2015, the VA released its draft environmental impact statement (EIS) with respect to the BHHCS. The delegations letter to Secretary McDonald requesting an extension of the comment period can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=1FC3DEBD-94A5-47E4-9E19-3FA5EA09F10E", "Weekly Column: A Prescription for Rural South Dakota", "2015-11-27", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Rep. Kristi Noem \r\n\tOur son Booker was pretty sick when he was little. There were a number of times when Bryon and I had to have the conversation: Its midnight and somethings not right again. Do we take him to the hospital? Do we go now? Do we wait until morning? Its not like theres a hospital around the corner. I assume many parents, particularly those in rural South Dakota, have had to ask those questions. Its not always an easy call to make, especially when the roads are icy and temperatures have dipped below zero. But with recent advances in South Dakotas telehealth options, these conversations may become a thing of the past.\r\nAlready today, families can see a doctor by just turning on their phones. Both Avera and Sanford Health, for instance, offer smartphone apps that let you connect instantly with a physician who can help parents determine how serious that fever is and what can be done about it. If only they had that when our kids were little!\r\nPerhaps even more incredibly, telehealth programs operating out of South Dakota are giving many local clinics a medical upgrade, shrinking the distance between you and state-of-the-art care.\r\nAt the push of a button, your hometown doctor can connect to an experienced emergency physician, an ICU care team, a pharmacist, even specialists in the areas of cardiology or diabetes. Through the use of two-way video feeds  much like you would use FaceTime or Skype  and specialized telehealth instruments, a doctor in Sioux Falls can have access to every bit of data being collected in the exam room.\r\nWith this information, they can talk your local physician through a crisis that they may not typically deal with or maybe just serve as a second set of eyes to help make sure youre getting the best care possible.\r\nI had the opportunity to tour Averas telehealth headquarters earlier this year. There were a few dozen computer stations that were staffed by accomplished physicians  many with more than two decades of experience. Each station was lined with four high-definition screens where the specialists could see everything from a patients vital stats to a real-time video feed of an operation they were counseling a local physician on. In that room, we saw high-quality health care being delivered across the Midwest to even the smallest of rural clinics. Sanford Health offers many of the same options through a similar program.\r\nA growing number of health care providers in South Dakota are being assisted by telehealth professionals like this. The Avera site I visited in Sioux Falls services 235 sites across the Midwest alone and claims to have touched the lives of approximately 790,000 patients  from young families to Medicare recipients.\r\nI never considered a life where Bryon and I werent raising our kids in rural South Dakota. We saw so much value in what you learn by growing up this way. Weve always loved it and I know many families in South Dakota feel the same way. Still, small health care providers are struggling to stay afloat, making it more difficult to attract families to small towns. Im hopeful new technologies can change this, which is why Ill be fighting to make sure folks in Washington, D.C., understand why thats so important that we support telehealth programs. Its worth the investment. After all, telehealth may just be the prescription we need to bridge the gap between rural America and state-of-the-art medical care.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=84d2d3d6-1f95-4ddb-a97a-ffc323c32d24", "Giving Thanks", "2015-11-25", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sen. John Thune \r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tThe holiday season, especially Thanksgiving, is a good opportunity to reconnect with friends and family so we can share old memories and create new ones along the way. The holidays give us the chance to reflect on and give thanks for the blessings of another year and celebrate our faith that tomorrow will be more joyous and prosperous than today. It is through this faith that I believe Americas best days lie ahead, and for that, I am thankful and excited for what is to come.\r\nI consider myself a lottery winner in the fact that I was lucky enough to be born in the greatest country on the face of the Earth, and because of that, my family and I can share in the rich traditions America has afforded us. Each Thanksgiving  depending on the weather in South Dakota, of course  my family tries to enjoy the great outdoors. Whether thats a pheasant hunt in the prairie or a makeshift football game in the backyard, I value every moment I am able to share with them. With two grown daughters, it has been a remarkable opportunity to see them grow and experience lifes ups and downs along the way, and I cannot wait to see what is in store for their futures. \r\nPresident Reagan was right about a lot of things and the importance of family and tradition were among them. He called families the cornerstone of American society and said they nurture, preserve, and pass on to each succeeding generation the values we share and cherish, values that are the foundation of our freedoms. In the family we learn our first lessons of God and man, love and discipline, rights and responsibilities, human dignity and human frailty. In todays chaotic world, Reagans words especially ring true.\r\nIn addition to my faith, family, and freedom, I am thankful for the brave men and women who defend and protect them. I often say that without a strong national defense, everything else is just conversation. It is because of the true sacrifice made by our military, who all too often spend the holidays away from their own families, that we are able to carve turkeys, watch football, and spend time with the people we care about. Please remember them this holiday season and the opportunities that are created because of their service  and to all who have served, thank you.\r\nWhether you are traveling or staying home this year, I hope this season is met with joy, happiness, and safety. From my family to yours, happy Thanksgiving and happy holidays.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=4743DC5D-2D8B-4803-9370-673064B187D9", "Rep. Noem Shares Creamy Bacon-Wrapped Pheasant Recipe", "2015-11-23", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "KDLT \r\n\tRep. Kristi Noem shares her creamy bacon-wrapped pheasant recipe with Meagan and Tom in the KDLT Kitchen.\r\nKristi Noems Creamy, Bacon-Wrapped Pheasant\r\nIngredients\r\n \r\n1 pheasant (or chicken)\r\n2-3 pkg. sliced corned beef (I use Buddig)\r\n7 strips of bacon (or as many pieces for the number of meat pieces)\r\n1 can cream of mushroom soup\r\n1 container (12 oz.) sour cream\r\nFresh mushrooms\r\nSalt\r\nPepper\r\nGarlic salt\r\nSage or poultry seasoning\r\n \r\n\r\nDirections\r\n \r\nDebone your pheasant.\r\nPreheat oven to 350 degrees.\r\nSeason pheasant portions with salt, pepper, garlic salt, sage or poultry seasoning, to taste.\r\nWrap individual pheasant portions in corned beef. Then, wrap bacon around. Place in a cake pan.\r\nIn a small bowl, mix the sour cream and cream of mushroom soup. Add mushrooms. Pour mixture over the meat.\r\nCover and cook 60-70 minutes.\r\nServe with rice or potatoes and enjoy!", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=C20EE446-BD31-49C1-BB7B-52F88ACEA37A", "Women Gather To Talk Health", "2015-11-23", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "KELOLAND \r\n\tSioux Falls women are gathering together to find new ways to stay healthy.EmBe hosted an eventwhere women joined a roundtable discussion on wellness.\r\n\r\nWe stopped by to see how you can use their advice to get fit.\r\nWomen are often busy balancing work and home life, and one of the first things to get put on the back burner is fitness.\r\n\"We have too much on our plate as women that we don't like to delegate tasks. That's where we're missing out on all of those opportunities to get active, get exercising,\" Nikki Weller, FormFitness Yoga Instructor, said.\r\nOne South Dakota woman who knows all about balancing a stressful job and home life is U.S. Representative Kristi Noem.She was the emcee of Monday's In Dialogue event and also took a few notes for her own workout routine.\r\n\"Running, CrossFit, P90X and today, they talked about the value of yoga. That it not only helps you be fit and exercise, but it helps you mentally as well,\" Noem said.\r\nThe group also discussed things like nutrition, and how to properly measure your overall health.\r\nMelissa Ellefson is the Wellness Director for POET and has some strong feelings about scales.\r\n\"I feel like women place too much of a self worth on the number that is on that scale. And you know, whether they're up a few pounds or down a few pounds, they just really fixate on that. Rather than how they feel,\" Ellefson said.\r\nAccording to these women, how you feel can be altered with a few, simple life choices.\r\n\"So many of the different things that are going on in this country, when we talk about health care costs or taking care of their families, there's challenges. It's always good to get a bunch of people together in a room and talk about those. And different solutions that might work for each other,\" Noem said.\r\nNoem says after this event, she might be adding yoga to her routine to help relieve stress.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=3BAA5109-6ADB-450D-9686-3DA0030C8CF4", "Rep. Noem Returns To Pine Ridge For Youth Suicide Issue", "2015-11-21", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "KELOLAND \r\n\tRepresentative Kristi Noem returned to the Pine Ridge Reservation Friday to talk about the area's suicide problem, and this time she brought along a key member of Congress on youth mental health issues.\r\n\r\nIt's an ongoing tragedy that won't leave Rep. Kristi Noem alone.\r\nFive weeks after she heard first-hand accounts of suicides and near misses, Noem returned to Pine Ridge with Pennsylvania Rep. Tim Murphy. Murphy is a child psychologist who's now pushing a sweeping mental-health reform bill.\r\nHe was moved, too.\r\n\"To listen to the stories today from school, and their tragic stories, and know how much weight they are carrying around in their hearts,\" Murphy said.\r\nIt's weight that kills, month after month.\r\n\"Just here at the Pine Ridge facility, we know that from December of 2014 to November 14 of 2015, that there were 20 suicides ending in death,\" said Indian Health Service Area Director Ron Cornelius.\r\n\"We just buried one this morning, an 18-year-old tribal member,\" said suicide-prevention worker Yvonne \"Tiny\" DeCory. \"We had another one a few weeks ago.\"\r\nShe fears it'll get even worse if the cash-strapped Sweetgrass Suicide Prevention program closes in a few weeks.\r\n\"That's a program that's used to give hope to students and youth and turn their lives around,\" Noem said. \"The fact that it's ending in December means we've got to figure out ways to extend that program and keep their funds flowing.\"\r\nMurphy's presence in Pine Ridge and the mental health law overhaul he is guiding through Congress could matter there.\r\n\"We needed to see a place like this to know how we could treat the bill and modify it so funding and mental health services could get to a place like this,\" he said.\r\nMaybe in time to save lives.\r\nAlong with funding issues, Noem, Murphy and Indian Health Service officials spoke with community members about establishing youth suicide-prevention therapy centers.\r\nAn initial plan would put one at the IHS facility in Rapid City, but Pine Ridge community members are pushing for one closer to home.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=44380F1C-47CA-4630-AF78-30D232133B7B", "House Representatives visit Pine Ridge to address suicide crisis", "2015-11-20", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "NewsCenter1 \r\n\tPine Ridge has seen a major rise in the numbers of suicides on the reservation.\r\n\r\nOn Friday, U.S. Representatives Kristi Noem and Tim Murphy will head to Pine Ridge to talk with students and community members about the resources that are needed to address this suicide crisis.\r\nNoem said she hoped this trip would help shed some light on the problems these students face and how the federal government can help. \"Most of you know about the suicide crisis that our tribes are going through right now. Their young people, boys and girls, are feeling a loss of hope and I want to bring Rep. Murphy down there to give some insight of what we might be able to do.\"\r\nNoem and Murphy will be meeting with students impacted by the suicide crisis and talking with Indian Health Services employees who work in the hospital's mental health program.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=53880D4B-E945-4087-97B7-8BAD4D0D0C80", "Noem shines light on troubled Pine Ridge youth", "2015-11-20", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "KOTA News \r\n\tRep. Kristi Noem focused on mental health Friday on a visit to Pine Ridge and vowed support for renewing a federal suicide prevention program slated to shut down in December.\r\nNome traveled with Rep. Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania who is the only child psychologist serving in congress. Murphy is working on mental health legislation and Noem wanted to show him the needs on a reservation wracked by a wave of youth suicides.\r\nThe GOP lawmakers met with students, health officials and tribal leaders.\r\nWhat we heard was that we have to have to do some things on the federal level to make sure there are more workforce providers that are trained in psychology and psychiatry and social work, said Murphy. This area is in crisis and in emergency mode this is an area we have to drive things home.\r\nAfter the meetings Noem says she hoped the federally funded Sweet Grass Suicide Prevention Project , which will run out of funding next month, continues.\r\nI'm going to go back to Washington to advocate and make sure that (program) can get extended and funded for the future and then and see if we can make our other grants more flexible to operate like that one does. Said Noem.\r\nAlso attending the meetings was Ron Cornelius from the Indian Health Service. He talked about a behavioral health center I.H.S. plans to build in Rapid City.\r\nHe agreed to return to Pine Ridge next month to discuss an idea of also building a smaller facility on the reservation.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=A9BDDC8C-8AE9-41F2-ACE4-CC606451F6AB", "Congressional Officials Meet With Pine Ridge Youth On Suicide", "2015-11-20", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "South Dakota Public Broadcasting \r\n\tCongresswoman Kristi Noem spent a day on Pine Ridge listening to the concerns of Lakota youth who are dealing with the tribes suicide epidemic. Twelve Pine Ridge students have committed suicide this year.    Tribal officials are concerned that one key effort in combating suicide, The Sweet Grass Program, is about to run out of funding.    Tribal leaders praise Noem for her efforts to help the youth of Pine Ridge, but they say more much needs to be done.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThats a program theyve used to give hope to suicidal students and youth and turn their lives around. The fact that thats ending here in December means that weve got to get busy to figure out how to extend that program and keep their funds flowing, says Noem.    Noem brought Congressman Timothy Murphy of Pennsylvania with her. Murphy is a psychologist who serves veterans at Walter Reed Military Hospital. Hes also a prime sponsor of a new Mental Health bill.\r\nTiny Decory is among those who met with Murphy and Noem. She is one of the youth advocates leading the effort to reduce suicide. She says despite the difficult work ahead, there is hope. Decory praises Noem for coming to hear the concerns of youth first hand.    She was here not long ago and now shes come back. And the kids say the same thing, you know, shes here, maybe shes willing to listen to us. Maybe something is going to come out. Before that our kids said why do we need to go back and get emotional and tell them our stories when nothing is going to get done, says Decory.\r\n\r\nTribal leaders stress the need for a treatment facility on Pine Ridge that can provide culturally appropriate care to young people in need. They say right now there are no mental health crisis centers on Pine Ridge and a trip to the nearest facility in Rapid City can overwhelm a familys resources.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=D7C4BDE9-972E-4B15-A032-51E64C9CDB1A", "Weekly Column: A Thankful Nation", "2015-11-20", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Rep. Kristi Noem \r\n\tI am finding it tough to get into the right mindset to write this column. In recent days, weve had to have some difficult conversations about how were going to keep the American people safe and away from terrorisms deadly fist. Ive traveled to Pine Ridge to talk to young people and tribal leaders about a tragic suicide epidemic afflicting Indian Country. My team and I have received hundreds of letters, emails and phone calls from South Dakotans who are concerned about how the federal government is caring for veterans, supporting our seniors, and digging out of debt.\r\nOur world can be such an ugly place. But in the midst of it all, most of us will sit down with family or friends on Thursday and give thanks for our many blessings. What an incredible national tradition that is.\r\nEspecially when times are tough, we need to take the time to reset  to step back and take an account of what we do have. For me, Im grateful for my family, for the partner I have in my husband Bryon, for the time I get to spend hunting with my oldest daughter Kassidy, for the laughter that seems to follow our second oldest daughter Kennedy wherever she goes, and for the tender heart of our son Booker.\r\nIm grateful for my mom and the incredible grandma she is to my kids and their cousins. Im grateful for the time I had with my dad and all the lessons he taught me. Im grateful for my mother-in-law and father-in-law who have been there to support us at so many turns along the way. Im grateful for my siblings and their spouses and my nieces and nephews; they have made our family of five so much bigger (and so much louder!)\r\nIm so incredibly grateful to live in South Dakota. Ive always loved our state and after spending a week or so in Washington, D.C., I become even more appreciative. I call coming home my detox.\r\nIm grateful for the people of our state  for those who offer words of encouragement, those who challenge me, those who pray for me, and those who ask questions and offer solutions.\r\nIm grateful to live in a nation that has made freedom the first tenant of our Bill of Rights; a nation that promises opportunity and strives to better itself and the world around us; a nation that takes the time every year to give thanks.\r\nFrom my family to yours, have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=26fb3a51-5d60-46c1-8006-8f0866369d47", "ISIS Must Be Stopped", "2015-11-20", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Sen. John Thune \r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tOur continued thoughts and prayers are with the victims of last weeks senseless attacks in Paris. Our admiration goes out to the law enforcement and military personnel who so bravely rushed toward danger to protect the innocent and weak. While the Paris attacks have dominated the headlines, we cannot forget the people of Beirut, Lebanon, who just days before the attacks in Paris also suffered great loss at the hands of ISIS terrorists. It is oftentimes hard to be strong when faced with such adversity  the American people know it all too well  but despite the hardship, France and Lebanon have stood strong, and the American people stand with them.  \r\nISIS has proven to be one of the most brutal instruments of evil the world has ever known. They kill and maim the innocent with no regard for humanity. ISIS campaign of violence is not limited to certain regions, nationalities, or religions. Faced with these dangers, we cannot be nave to think that if given the opportunity, ISIS would not try to perpetrate an attack on U.S. soil. ISIS represents a clear and present danger to the world, and it must be stopped.\r\nUnfortunately, I dont think President Obama is willing to take the necessary steps to ensure ISIS reign of terror is stopped. When asked about ISIS the day before the Paris attacks, the president said, I dont think [ISIS is] gaining strength  From the start, our goal has been first to contain, and we have contained them. Less than 24 hours after the presidents comments, nearly 130 people were massacred in the streets of Paris by the very people he said were contained. Following the attacks, the president described this enormous loss of life as a setback and said, We have the right strategy and were going to see it through.\r\nThis is much more than a setback, and unfortunately it is the presidents failed leadership and foreign policy that have escalated this situation. It was the presidents politically motivated decision to withdraw troops from Iraq that ultimately allowed ISIS to expand into northern Iraq. By controlling territory in Syria and Iraq, ISIS is able to train and recruit, as well as launch attacks through proxies in other countries.\r\nIn ISIS quest for further death and destruction, there are now fears it is trying to infiltrate the population of peaceful Syrian refugees trying to flee the civil war caused by the dictator Bashar al-Assad. Sadly, because of this threat, I believe the United States should hit the pause button with respect to accepting more Syrian refugees at this time. Should the president try to act unilaterally, Congress should cut off funding to prevent him from taking any action that would put Americans at risk. \r\nReal problems demand real leadership. Without it, America and our allies are increasingly vulnerable to future attacks. The president needs to stop talking about containment and start acting on a strategy that will root out and defeat ISIS wherever it can be found.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=66616B76-3958-4ED7-81C7-1EDA2D459809", "Noem to hold meeting on suicide crisis on reservation", "2015-11-19", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "KEVN - Black Hills Fox \r\n\tThe U.S. Department of Education has awarded Little Wound School a $325,000 grant to help the school recover from 12 suicide deaths on the Pine Ridge Reservation.\r\nThe Project School Emergency Response to Violence grant aims to help the Oglala Sioux Tribe deal with the deaths.\r\nFriday, Representative Kristi Noem will be in Pine Ridge along with Representative Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania, who is also a child psychologist, to talk about the suicide crisis.\r\nRep. Kristi Noem says, \"The young people, girls and boys, are feeling a loss of hope. I want to bring Rep. Murphy down there to give some expertise and some insight into what we might be able to do asfederal governmentrepresentatives, what kind of resources we can bring to be helpful into the future.\"\r\nThey'll be meeting with students and mentalhealthworkers and then host a community meeting in the afternoon.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=8319BD69-FDC4-4A77-B980-7EC700540C03", "Noem Votes to Prohibit Refugees from Syria and Iraq from Being Admitted to the U.S.", "2015-11-19", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representative Kristi Noem today supported legislation to temporarily prohibit Syrian and Iraqi refugees from being admitted to the United States. More specifically, H.R.4038, the American Security Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act, would put an immediate pause on the program until the FBI and relevant intelligence agencies could certify to Congress that an individual does not pose a threat. The legislation, which Noem cosponsored, passed the House today with bipartisan support.\r\nMy priority  and my fundamental responsibility  is to keep the American people safe, said Noem. Top security officials have admitted that we dont have the resources necessary to fully vet refugees from countries, like Syria, whose government is in shambles and where we lack a law enforcement presence. Until confidence in the vetting process can restored and we can certify that refugees do not present a safety threat to the American people, we must put a pause on this program. This legislation would certainly be an important step toward greater national security, but what our country needs as well is a comprehensive plan from the President regarding how he plans to defeat ISIL and overcome the threat of global terrorism.\r\nEarlier this week, Noem joined more than 100 of her colleagues in writing President Obama regarding their concerns about admitting refugees from Syria and Iraq and urging him to immediately suspend the program.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=587b221a-90d0-4777-87b9-f4a7555b0023", "Thune Welcomes Sioux Falls Pastor Named U.S. Senate Chaplain for a Day", "2015-11-19", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tPastor Jeff Wheeler of Sioux Falls Central Baptist Church today served as U.S. Senate Chaplain for a Day. U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) nominated Pastor Wheeler for the honor.\r\nIts a great honor for me to welcome to the United States Senate today our pastor from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Jeff Wheeler, who just offered our invocation this morning, said Thune. Id like to express how much Kimberley and I have appreciated the opportunity to worship and to benefit from his ministry and enjoy and are blessed by his teachings each and every week when we are back home in South Dakota.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=b9624e68-4844-4f98-8419-8642035aa140", "Thune, Heitkamp Ensure Beneficiary Access to Durable Medical Equipment", "2015-11-19", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tU.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) today introduced the DME Access and Stabilization Act, legislation that would provide bridge relief to rural DME providers in non-competitively bid areas through the end of 2018. This legislation will ensure that DME providers are able to meet the needs of Medicare beneficiaries in their areas. Additionally, this legislation seeks to address the underlying issues with DME reimbursement in non-competitive bidding areas.Examples of DME include hospital beds, blood glucose monitors, and wheelchairs.\r\nIt is important that people receive quality health care, no matter where they live, said Thune. Not only does this legislation ensure that suppliers in rural areas can provide services they need to people in all parts of South Dakota, but it may enable people to return home faster after hospitalization.\r\nSeniors in rural areas like North Dakota deserve continued access to needed medical equipment, like hospital beds, walkers, and oxygen supplies, said Heitkamp. Our bipartisan bill would smooth the transition to a new payment formula for businesses supplying and servicing these products, and make sure seniors, particularly those in rural communities, can continue to live independently and with dignity.\r\nThune and Heitkamp introduced this legislation to address the problem caused by the national rollout of competitively bid DME prices to non-competitively bid areas. Competitive bidding was created by the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003. Competitive bidding for DME started with Round 1 of bidding in nine metropolitan areas in 2008, but was suspended due to issues with implementation.Suppliers then had to rebid Round 1, and prices for Round 1 went into effect in January 2011. Round 2 competition started in 2011 in an additional 91 predominately metropolitan areas, and prices for Round 2 took effect in July 2013. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will then take these rates from the competitively bid areas and extrapolate them to non-competitively bid areas, which will threaten beneficiary access to DME because of inherent differences in supply and delivery costs between metropolitan and rural areas. \r\nOn January 1, 2016, the competitive bidding program will be rolled out to South Dakota and North Dakota, two areas without competitive bidding areas.According to an estimate, many providers in the upper Midwest will face a nearly 40 percent reduction on average in reimbursement for the most commonly ordered DME they provide to seniors, making it financially difficult to continue to provide DME.\r\nJoining Thune and Heitkamp in cosponsoring this legislation are U.S. Sens. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Angus King (I-Maine), and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=1276AE5F-E667-4BDB-BCE4-A0C340749BAD", "Noem: \"We can't adequately vet these individuals\"", "2015-11-18", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Argus Leader \r\n\tA South Dakota Congresswoman says the UnitedStatesshouldn't welcome anyrefugees from Iraq and Syria until federal agencies can ensure screening systems protect againstpotential links to terrorist organizations in those countries.\r\nU.S. Rep. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., on a media call Wednesday said she plans to support a House bill Thursday that will stop federalprograms that allowrefugees from those countries to resettle inthe United States until the FBI director and the Department of Homeland Security can ensure that the vetting process is secure.\r\nAfter reviewing the processes Tuesday, Noem said the United Statesshouldn'trisk admitting refugees from the war-torn countries.\r\n\"We feel as though we can't adequately vet these individuals,\" Noem said.\r\nShe said the screeningsystem was appropriate for asylum seekers fleeing other countries with more stable governments.\r\nRepublicanshave called on the Obama administration this week to suspend acceptance of refugees from Syria and Iraq after investigators said one of the culprits in a series of deadly Paris attacks might have been a Syrian refugee.\r\nInvestigators have since said the attackers identified so far are European citizens.\r\nWhen asked whether the United States should bar entry to Europeans, Noem said intelligence officials who briefed her on the attacks said that was unnecessary.\r\n\"They have assured us that that's not an actionthat needs to be addressed,\" Noem said.\r\nTheObama administrationhas said it plans to increase thenumber of refugees the U.S.will acceptto 100,000 by 2017, which human rights advocates say isinadequate to address the depths of the crisis. The U.S. accepted at least 130,000South Vietnameserefugees in the months after the fall of Saigon in 1975.\r\nAs of September, the United States has accepted 1,854 Syrian refugees.\r\nAccording to the United Nations, the civil war in Syria has killed 250,000 people since it began in 2011,and more than 4 million refugees have fled to other countries to escape the violence.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=6040FF3E-4DE1-41A3-8DC6-161659EE4EF0", "Tribal labor sovereignty protected by new legislation", "2015-11-18", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Ripon Advance \r\n\tU.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD) celebrated Tuesdays passage of the bipartisan H.R. 511 - the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2015 - to protect tribal sovereignty on labor issues.The legislation, long supported by many South Dakota Tribes, seeks to clarify that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has no jurisdiction over tribally owned and operated businesses. Tribes work daily to overcome high rates of poverty and unemployment, Noem said. They continually encourage economic development through self-determination. The last thing they need when trying to improve economic opportunities for their citizens is a federal bureaucracy meddling with their efforts. Im hopeful todays legislation will correct the record and reaffirm our commitment to tribal sovereignty. The legislation comes after a unilateral NLRB 2004 determination that the National Labor Relations Act could be applied to tribally owned businesses operating on tribal lands. Many tribes, however, warned that such a determination posed a threat to the foundation of Indian law and the principle of tribal sovereignty. Under H.R. 511, tribally owned businesses on tribal lands would not be subject to the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Act, effectively stripping the NLRB of the powers of administration and enforcement on reservation land for tribally owned businesses. Noem originally introduced the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act in 2011, re-introducing it in 2013 and helping move the bill forward in the House as a cosponsor during the current Congress.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=73B7CC5D-0D3B-4AA4-BFD2-1E5338A44AC9", "Rep. Noem wants terrorism plan from President Obama", "2015-11-18", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "KEVN - Black Hills Fox \r\n\tA spokesman for Russia's military general staff says it is developing plans for joint militaryoperationswith France.\r\nWhat should the United States' role be?\r\nSouth Dakota Representative Kristi Noem says we need acomprehensiveplan from President Barack Obama.\r\nRep. Kristi Noem says, \"I want him to show me a plan that shows he's taking this threat seriously, that he recognizes this ability and will to destroy the United States and all that we believeand thevalues that we hold dear. So this president is the commander in chief. It's his job to give us a comprehensive plan to defeat them, to destroy ISIL. And that's the kind of action we need to see out of our president right now.\"\r\nNoem says she believes the number one responsibility of the federal government is toprotectAmerica and provide for national security.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=7762D78E-1EEA-4B08-AEB5-E6026284FC20", "Thune, Noem: U.S. Should Hit \"Pause Button\" On Plans For Syrian Refugees", "2015-11-18", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "KDLT \r\n\tSouth Dakota's Congressional delegation is speaking out against plans for Syrian refugees potentially coming to America.\r\nThe U.S. House is set to vote tomorrow on a bill that would increase screening for refugees before they enter the United States. The bill would add a new requirement for FBI background checks. Rep. Kristi Noem says she supports the bill.\r\nPresident Obama is vowing to veto the bill. The White House says the legislation would introduce \"unnecessary and impractical requirements\" that would harm efforts to assist some of the world's most vulnerable people.\r\nThe President has pledged to accept about 10,000 Syrian refugees.\r\nBut Sen. John Thune and Rep. Kristi Noem say the U.S. needs to hit the \"pause button\" before allowing refugees into the country, at least for now.\r\n\"Until we find out what what is currently being done, what kind of risks are out there, how serious the vetting process is for people who are coming to this country, I think it's appropriate for us to at least have some sort of suspension or moratorium until we get a better handle on it.,\" said Sen. Thune.\r\n\"I think we need to put a pause on bringing refugees into the U.S. until we can fully vet them and know that we are not bringing in terrorists when we give a home to refugees that are seeking some comfort and protection,\" said Rep. Noem.\r\nThe federal government controls resettlement programs.\r\nDespite dozens of governors across the U.S. saying they will not accept Syrian refugees, states have no authority to bar refugees from moving to their jurisdictions.\r\nGovernor Dennis Daugaard's office says South Dakota has not received any Syrian refugees and doesn't believe any will be sent to the state.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=4fa70fee-a363-4a3a-b60b-604b5614815c", "Thune: ISIS Must Be Stopped", "2015-11-18", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tU.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D) today offered his condolences to the victims of the heinous terrorist attacks in Paris, France, and discussed how Americas top priority must be to act diligently to eliminate this threat and protect the American people from future attacks.\r\nRemarks (as prepared for delivery):\r\nThank you, Madam President.\r\nI want to begin by echoing the condolences shared by millions around the world regarding last week's attacks in Paris.\r\nOur thoughts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of those who died.\r\nAs a nation, we remain committed to supporting and defending the people of France in whatever way we can.\r\nThe attacks in Paris last week remind us again of the dangerous world we live in.\r\nAlthough Paris has become the focus of attention, the day before the attacks in France, two ISIS suicide bombers in Beirut blew themselves up, killing 40 people in a bustling urban area.\r\nOur thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Beirut, and to all those who have suffered loss at the hands of this horrific terrorist organization.\r\nMadam President, ISIS remains one of the most brutal and indiscriminate terrorist organizations in recent history.\r\nIts campaign of violence is not limited to a specific region, nationality, or religion.\r\nAs the events in Paris have shown us, the threat posed by ISIS reaches well beyond the borders of Iraq and Syria.\r\nIf it can, ISIS will spread its campaign of violence to innocent people all over the world.\r\nMadam President, the United States, as a champion of freedom and democracy, has a duty to stand up against ISIS brand of radical Islam and stomp it out wherever it exists.\r\nISIS represents a clear and present danger to the American people and our allies, and it must be stopped.\r\nPresident Obama, when asked about ISIS the day before the Paris attacks, made the following statement:\r\nHe said, quote, I don't think they're gaining strength  From the start our goal has been first to contain, and we have contained them. End quote.\r\nWe have contained them - Those are his words.\r\nUnfortunately, ISIS does not appear to be contained.\r\nMy colleague from California, the ranking member on the Intelligence Committee, responded this week by saying, quote, I've never been more concerned. I read the intelligence faithfully. ISIL is not contained. ISIL is expanding.\r\nYet Yesterday, President Obama unbelievably doubled down on this failing strategy, stating We have the right strategy and we're going to see it through \r\nAnd when referring to the Paris attacks, he called them a setback.\r\nA setback.\r\nMadam President, based on the number of casualties and population of France this attack was the equivalent of a 9/11.\r\nI would hardly call such an attack a mere setback.\r\nWhen it comes to the U.S. strategy against ISIS, one thing is clear: ISIS cannot simply be contained. ISIS must be defeated.\r\nFrom what we have learned so far, most of the terrorists involved in last weeks Paris attack were individuals who already resided in France and Belgium.\r\nThat means these are individuals who became radicalized at home, received training or support from ISIS, and in some cases traveled to Iraq or Syria for training and then returned to France to carry out these attacks.\r\nSince ISIS first occupied territory in Iraq and Syria and began recruiting foreign fighters, the possibility of these combatants returning home has been a concern to the United States and our allies.\r\nAnd this attack in Paris demonstrates the validity of that concern.\r\nAs a nation, we must remain vigilant in defending our homeland against this type of attack by radicalized individuals holding U.S or European passports.\r\nI also want to speak for a moment about the Syrian refugee crisis.\r\nAs we are all aware, the regime of Bashar al-Assad is responsible for the civil war in Syria that allowed ISIS to gain a foothold and expand.\r\nAssad used chemical weapons on his own people, and hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost as a result of the conflict he created.\r\nIt is completely understandable that the peace-loving people of that country want out.\r\nJust this week, several of my colleagues sent a letter to President Obama, expressing concerns about the possibility of ISIS infiltrating the Syrian refugee population, and asking what is being done to thoroughly vet these refugees.\r\nOver half the governors in this nation have stated they dont want Syrian refugees resettled in their states.\r\nI share their concerns.\r\nThe U.S. should not accept Syrian refugees as long as there is a threat posed by ISIS.\r\nIf we cannot be 100 percent certain that additional refugees from Syria do not put Americans at risk, the president's plan to accept up to 10,000 additional refugees this year should be rejected.\r\nAnd if the President tries to act unilaterally, Congress should cut off funding to prevent the President from taking any action that would put the American people at risk.\r\nIf we are really going to be serious about solving the Syrian refugee crisis, the answer is not deciding which countries are accepting how many refugees.\r\nThe answer is to defeat ISIS and remove Bashar al-Assad from power so the peace-loving people of Syria can return home.\r\nOn that point, I want to speak about a realistic strategy for defeating ISIS.\r\nSo far, the United States has relied almost entirely on airstrikes.\r\nPrior to the attacks in Paris, France was already the coalition partner conducting the second-greatest number of airstrikes against ISIS.\r\nThose airstrikes have been ramped up in recent days, but this is not a fundamental shift in our strategy.\r\nAirstrikes are important, but ultimately they cannot be a solution in themselves.\r\nIt was Obama's politically motivated decision to withdraw troops from Iraq that ultimately led to ISIS expanding into Iraq to begin with.\r\nObama stated yesterday that boots on the ground would be a mistake, but it was Obama's decision to withdraw U.S. troops that is partially responsible for creating this problem.\r\nAnd now we are at a point where retaking territory from ISIS will require ground forces - there is no way around it.\r\nIf President Obama is going to be realistic about defeating ISIS, he needs to form a coalition capable of taking the war to ISIS on the ground.\r\nThat does not require the U.S. committing ground troops, but it does require the US leading by example, and forming a coalition capable of fighting both in the air and on the ground.\r\nThe president needs to stop talking about containment, and start acting on a strategy that will root out and defeat ISIS wherever it can be found.\r\nThank you, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=86b27c02-6cb3-40b1-a6d3-f97fb4a73476", "Commerce Committee Approves Thune Bill That Would Improve Access to and Availability of Rural Health Care", "2015-11-18", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tU.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today applauded the Commerce Committees passage of the Rural Health Care Connectivity Act of 2015 (S. 1916). The bipartisan bill, which was introduced earlier this year by Thune, would amend the Communications Act to permit skilled nursing facilities (SNF) to apply for support from the Universal Service Funds (USF) Rural Health Care Program (RHCP). The USFs RHCP provides funding for telecommunications and broadband services used to provide health care in rural communities. The Communications Act specifies which types of health care providers are eligible to receive RHCP support, and SNFs are currently not included.Todays committee passage will allow the bill to be reported to the full Senate for future consideration.\r\nIm glad the Commerce Committee approved this important legislation, which will help support and improve the services that skilled nursing facilities, like the ones operated throughout the country by Sioux Falls-based Good Samaritan Society, provide to rural America, said Thune. We must continue to work toward bringing health care to rural communities that dont have the access and availability afforded to more urban areas, which is why Im hopeful the full Senate will be able to consider this legislation without delay.\r\nWhen the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) updated the RHCP and created the Healthcare Connect Fund in 2012, it proposed implementing a pilot program to examine funding SNFs. In January 2014, the FCC deferred implementation of the pilot program, claiming it needed additional statutory authority to allow SNFs to be eligible.\r\nThe Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society (Good Sam), headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, currently operates hundreds of SNFs nationwide, most of which are in rural communities. Through Internet-based connections to its national headquarters, Good Sam allows rural patients to remotely connect with hospitals and physicians. The Rural Health Care Connectivity Act of 2015 would help organizations like Good Sam provide better quality care for rural areas throughout the country.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=8a0ae69f-1804-4198-a587-93daa8a9e8a6", "Thune Named to Highway Bill Conference Committee, Participates in First Public Meeting", "2015-11-18", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tU.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) was recently named to the conference committee tasked with resolving the differences between the House and Senate transportation reauthorization bills and today participated in the committees first public meeting. In July, the Senate passed its version of the transportation bill, the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act, which contained several items that are important to South Dakota, including provisions to reduce the amount of time it takes to complete transportation projects and increase motor vehicle safety. As one of the 13 senators on the conference committee, Thunes selection ensures that South Dakotas interests will be represented at the negotiating table. \r\nWe all recognize how vital transportation is to South Dakotas economy and the importance of getting a long-term bill in place that provides certainty to our state, especially to those who are building our roads and bridges, said Thune. One of the most significant advantages we have in our economy is a competitive transportation network that connects our communities with others across the state and nation and helps give us access to markets all over the world. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the conference committee to make sure we meet the December 4 deadline and send a final bill to the president so it can be signed into law.\r\nThe Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, of which Thune serves as chairman, was responsible for several major titles of the DRIVE Act, includingkey transportation and regulatory reforms. A summary of the Commerce titles can be foundhere.\r\nEarlier this week, the House of Representatives passed a short-term extension of the Highway Trust Fund through December 4, 2015, which the Senate is expected to pass this week, to allow conferees enough time to complete their work on a long-term bill.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=05567271-7FF4-4AE9-9EF2-90351C94DEEB", "Noem Leads House in Protecting Tribal Sovereignty on Labor Issues", "2015-11-17", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representative Kristi Noem today led the U.S. House of Representatives in passing H.R.511, the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2015. This bipartisan legislation, which many South Dakota tribes have long supported, would clarify that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) does not have jurisdiction over tribally owned and operated businesses.\r\nTribes work daily to overcome high rates of poverty and unemployment. They continually encourage economic development through self-determination. The last thing they need when trying to improve economic opportunities for their citizens is a federal bureaucracy meddling with their efforts, said Noem. Im hopeful todays legislation will correct the record and reaffirm our commitment to tribal sovereignty.\r\nIn 2004, NLRB unilaterally determined that the National Labor Relations Act applied to tribally owned businesses on tribal lands. Tribes have expressed great concerns over the impact of this ruling, as it poses a threat to the foundation of Indian law and the principle of tribal sovereignty. H.R.511 would clarify in law that tribally owned businesses on tribal lands are not subject to the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Act. As a result, NLRB would not have administration and enforcement powers on reservation land for tribally owned businesses.\r\nRep. Noem first introduced the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act in 2011. She re-introduced the legislation in 2013 and helped move the bill forward in the House as a cosponsor this Congress.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-signs-letter-to-president-on-potential-isis-infiltration-of-syrian-refugee-flow", "Rounds Signs Letter to President on Potential ISIS Infiltration of Syrian Refugee Flow", "2015-11-17", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.17.15\n\t\t\t Rounds Signs Letter to President on Potential ISIS Infiltration of Syrian Refugee Flow \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t No refugee related to the Syrian crisis [should be] admitted to the United States unless the U.S. government can guarantee, with 100 percent assurance, that they are not members, supporters, or sympathizers of ISIS.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTONU.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today joined his colleagues in a letter to President Obama requesting the administration make certain no members, supporters or sympathizers of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) are infiltrating Syrian refugee movements to enter the United States. ISIS claimed responsibility for the synchronized terror attacks in Paris, and French and other European officials said at least one of the attackers used the flow of Syrian refugees to enter the European Union.\r\nWhile our country has a long history of welcoming refugees and has an important role to play in the heartbreaking Syrian refugee crisis, our first and most important priority must be to ensure that any refugee who comes to the United States does not present a threat to the American people, the Senators wrote. We believe that an essential component of that effort is ensuring that no refugee related to the Syrian crisis is admitted to the United States unless the U.S. government can guarantee, with 100 percent assurance, that they are not members, supporters, or sympathizers of the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), also known as Daesh or ISIL.\r\nEarlier this year, Rounds sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson urging them to maintain rigorous security vetting processes of all refugee applicants to make sure terrorist organizations like ISIS do not attempt to infiltrate the United States as refugees.\r\nThe letter, led by Sens. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), was signed by Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Daniel Coats (R-Ind.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.V.).\r\nFull text of the letter: \r\nPresident Barack Obama   The White House   1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW   Washington, D.C. 20500\r\nDear Mr. President:\r\nWe stand in solidarity with the people of France and against the terrorists who carried out the horrific attacks of November 13th that clearly were designed deliberately to kill as many innocent people as possible. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. As we mourn the loss of life and provide France all the support and assistance it needs, the U.S. government must redouble its efforts to keep the American people safe. We believe that an essential component of that effort is ensuring that no refugee related to the Syrian crisis is admitted to the United States unless the U.S. government can guarantee, with 100 percent assurance, that they are not members, supporters, or sympathizers of the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), also known as Daesh or ISIL.\r\nIt is already clear that ISIS is responsible for the barbaric attacks. Reports indicate that at least one of the attackers apparently utilized the flow of refugees to infiltrate into Europe. These facts require a serious and objective reexamination of the Administration's policy toward Syrian refugees to avoid unnecessary risks.\r\nWhile our country has a long history of welcoming refugees and has an important role to play in the heartbreaking Syrian refugee crisis, our first and most important priority must be to ensure that any refugee who comes to the United States does not present a threat to the American people. Compassion for Syrian refugees is important, but a fierce determination to protect the American people is also important.\r\nThe fact that ISIS may have utilized the flow of refugees to infiltrate Europe and potentially the United States is not a surprise. In September, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), James Clapper, publicly warned the U.S. intelligence community has a huge concern that ISIS may seek to infiltrate Syrian refugees who are flowing into Europe and potentially the United States. As they [refugees] descend on Europe, one of the obvious issues that we worry about, and in turn as we bring refugees into this country, is exactly what's their background? DNI Clapper added: We don't obviously put it past the likes of ISIL to infiltrate operatives among these refugees.\r\nOn October 21, 2015, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey told the House Committee on Homeland Security that the U.S. government may not have the ability to vet thoroughly all Syrian refugees coming into the United States. He explained that if a Syrian person is not already in the FBI's database, that person is unknown to the agency, leaving an inadequate basis for the person's background to be screened for terrorism risk. We can only query against that which we have collected, Director Comey cautioned. He also said, So if someone has never made a ripple in the pond in Syria in a way that would get their identity or their interest reflected in our database, we can query our database until the cows come home but we are not going tothere will be nothing  because we have no record on that person.\r\nGiven DNI Clapper's stated concern that ISIS may try to infiltrate Syrian refugee movements as well as FBI Director Comey's public acknowledgment of the U.S. government's limitations in thoroughly vetting all Syrian refugees, we respectfully request your Administration:\r\n \r\nList comprehensively the challenges, prior to the November 13th terrorist attacks, in the process for checking the background of Syrian refugees and checking potential risks to national security, including potential terrorism risks;\r\nDetail what special or enhanced measures will be added to the screening process for Syrian refugees in the aftermath of the November 13th terrorist attacks; and\r\nDescribe how it plans to address the vetting challenges that Director Comey describes.\r\n \r\nWe ask that your Administration immediately share this information with the American people. We look forward to a timely response. We cannot imagine a more urgent or higher priority.\r\nSincerely,\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-bills-to-eliminate-obamas-costly-energy-regulations", "Senate Passes Bills to Eliminate Obamas Costly Energy Regulations", "2015-11-17", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.17.15\n\t\t\t Senate Passes Bills to Eliminate Obama's Costly Energy Regulations \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTONU.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, today voted to stop the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from moving forward with its proposed Clean Power Plan regulations for existing sources and its final rule governing greenhouse gas emissions from new sources. The Senate passed two resolutions of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act, which will stop these rules all together. Rounds is a cosponsor of both resolutions.\r\nFrom farmers and ranchers to local government officials and the South Dakota families they represent, everyone is sick and tired of the reckless, costly regulations the EPA is attempting to force upon our economy, said Rounds. This administration has no regard for the cost of these regulations, which will raise electricity rates for every American in the country. Passing these resolutions is a win for American families who rely on reliable, affordable energy to keep their loved ones safe and our economy running.\r\nThe Congressional Review Act allows Congress to overturn actions by a federal agency, such as the EPA, after a rule is formally published and submitted to Congress. If the President signs the resolution of disapproval into law, it would completely nullify the Clean Power Plan, including any portions of the rule that have already gone into effect. Earlier this year South Dakota, along with 25 other states, filed a Petition for Review and a Motion to Stay in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit against the Clean Power Plan. If the President vetoes these resolutions, Congress would have the opportunity to override his veto.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=67508075-e96b-4489-afcd-66eff27bfa56", "Senate Urges President to Rein in Overreaching EPA", "2015-11-17", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today welcomed passage of legislation expressing the Senates disapproval of a federal rule detailing President Obamas carbon mandates, which would increase the price of electricity and reduce grid reliability.\r\nPresident Obama has once again attempted to circumvent Congress with his far-reaching and excessive carbon mandates. This new national energy tax is expected to cost hundreds of billions of dollars over the next 15 years and will force electricity prices even higher for Americans who are already struggling to pay their bills. President Obama should put aside his aspirations to expand the federal government at the expense of Americans family budgets and abandon his threat to veto these resolutions.\r\nTwenty-six states have challenged the final Clean Power Plan in court, requesting an initial stay on the rule.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=f4f9fb02-1e56-47df-98e9-30dbf941153f", "Thune Urges Prospective ESEA Conference Leaders to Include Tribal Youth Suicide Amendments in Final Bill", "2015-11-17", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tU.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today urged the prospective House and Senate leaders of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) conference committee to include his amendments that were adopted earlier this year as part of the Senates consideration of the Every Child Achieves Act (ECAA) in the final bill that they will report from their anticipated conference committee.\r\nThunes amendments would require the secretary of education to coordinate with other federal agencies to report on efforts to address youth suicide in Indian Country and expand the use of Project School Emergency Response to Violence (Project SERV) funds to include preventive efforts against youth suicide and other school violence instead of merely responding to the crisis. \r\nOne of the greatest tragedies that can befall a family is the loss of a child to suicide, wrote Thune.Sadly, suicide is the second leading cause of death for Indian youth in Indian Health Service areas, where the death rate is four times the national average.I am hopeful that my amendments will help address this pressing issue, and I respectfully request they be retained by the ESEA conference committee.\r\nFull text of the letter can be found below:\r\nThe Honorable Lamar AlexanderThe Honorable Patty Murray\r\nChairman Ranking Member\r\n455 Dirksen Office Building   154 Russell Office Building\r\nWashington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510\r\n\r\nThe Honorable John Kline  The Honorable Robert Scott\r\nChairman Ranking Member\r\n2439 Rayburn House Office Building  1201 Longworth House Office Building\r\nWashington, D.C. 20515   Washington, D.C. 20515\r\n\r\nDear Chairman Alexander, Chairman Kline, Ranking Member Murray, and Ranking Member Scott:\r\nThank you for your continued leadership and efforts to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). As you seek to conference the House- and Senate-passed bills, I ask that you retain the Senate-passed provisions that I authored that would help address the serious suicide epidemic in Indian Country in my state.\r\nS. Amdt. 2155, which was adopted by unanimous consent, would require the secretaries of education, interior, and health and human services to report on the efforts to address outbreaks of suicides among elementary school and secondary school studentsin Indian Country. Specifically, the report would include a federal response to this crisis, a list of federal resources available to prevent and respond to student suicide outbreaks, and interagency collaboration efforts to streamline access to response programs.\r\nMy second amendment, S. Amdt. 2232, would expand the authorized use of Project SERV extended services grants to include initiating or strengthening prevention activities in cases of chronic trauma or violence, such as the suicide crisis in Indian Country or gang violence in schools. This narrow expansion of authorization for grant recipients, which would remain subject to the discretion of the secretary of education, would better help restore and preserve the learning environment for students.\r\nOne of the greatest tragedies that can befall a family is the loss of a child to suicide. Sadly, suicide is the second leading cause of death for Indian youth in Indian Health Service areas, where the death rate is four times the national average. I am hopeful that my amendments will help address this pressing issue, and I respectfully request they be retained by the ESEA conference committee.                           \r\nKindest regards,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=788B8CCD-2DF4-41B9-BC75-BA4438282611", "Lawmakers Ask VA To Extend Comment Period On Hospital Study", "2015-11-15", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "KDLT \r\n\tSouth Dakota's congressional delegation is asking the Department of Veterans Affairs to extend the comment period on a study that looks at the impact that closing a Hot Springs hospital would have on veterans.     U.S. Sens. John Thune and Mike Rounds and U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem have requested the extension in a letter to VA Secretary Robert McDonald.     VA officials have proposed shuttering the historic Battle Mountain Sanitarium, transitioning long-term care services to Rapid City and leaving only an outpatient clinic in Hot Springs. Veterans have vehemently opposed this proposal.     The study released last month showed the VA's proposal would have an estimated 30-year cost of over $148.5 million.     The public comment period is scheduled to end Jan. 5. Lawmakers are asking to extend it to Feb. 5.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=91F854E3-7924-4525-ADD9-8D025D4F3EAE", "Weekly Column: Is it the IRS or a Scam?", "2015-11-13", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Rep. Kristi Noem \r\n\tIn a single day earlier this month, more than 100 South Dakotans received phone calls from scammers pretending to represent the IRS. Residents were told they were about to face legal action, unless they paid their taxes immediately. These types of scam calls happen nearly every day across the country. In fact, approximately 736,000 scam contacts have been made in the last two years alone, according to the IRS. As a result, nearly 5,000 Americans have fallen victim to one of these scams, costing them more than $23 million collectively. With the right information, however, you can protect yourself.\r\nIn many cases, the scammer will call, email or text you and claim the IRS will sue you, arrest you, or revoke your drivers license unless supposedly overdue taxes are paid immediately. This is exactly what recently occurred in South Dakota. The scammers goal is to con you into turning over your credit card number or bank information. This isnt how the IRS operates, however.\r\nThe IRS will never call you before sending a letter. They will never call you to demand an immediate tax payment, nor will they demand that you pay a tax without an option to question how much you owe. The IRS will also never demand that you pay your taxes in a certain way, such as on a credit or debit card. They will also never ask for your credit or debit card number over the phone.\r\nIf you are concerned that you are being contacted by a scammer, ask the caller for their name, badge number, and a call-back number. Then, hang up and call the IRS directly at 1-800-366-4484. Once you provide them with the information, they will be able to tell you if the call was legitimate. If the caller demands an over-the-phone payment, hang up immediately. Do not provide any information.\r\nScammers have also been known to target people through email. Know that the IRS will not ask you for personal information via email. If you receive such an email  even if its on official IRS letterhead  do not reply, open any attachments, or click any links. You can forward the email to phishing@irs.gov and they will investigate it, but then delete the email from your inbox.\r\nUnfortunately, criminals are quick to adapt to new technologies, meaning they are now using text messages to dig for personal information as well. Once again, the IRS will not contact you in this way. As with email, do not reply, open any attachments, or click on any links. You can forward the text to 202-552-1226 to report it, but then delete the text from your phone.\r\nInitially, scammers primarily targeted older Americans and new immigrants, but the IRS now reports that the crooks try to swindle just about anyone. Please stay alert. These scams can happen to anyone  any time of the year.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-press-white-house-for-increased-transparency-on-guantanamo-detainees", "Senators Press White House for Increased Transparency on Guantanamo Detainees", "2015-11-13", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.13.15\n\t\t\t Senators Press White House for Increased Transparency on Guantanamo Detainees \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTONU.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, along with Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), James Inhofe (R-OK), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), are urging President Obama to adhere to his own promise of increasing transparency, a commitment on which the administration has fallen short when it comes to detainees at Guantanamo and their transfer to other countries.  \r\nWhen a detainee is transferred, the only specific information released by the Department of Defense is the detainee's name and the name of the country to which the detainee will be transferred, wrote the Senators. The administration does not provide any information regarding the detainee's previous terrorist activities and associations, previous assessments of the detainee's risk level to the U.S. and our allies, or behavior while in detention. The administration does not provide even the most basic information regarding arrangements with the country that has agreed to receive the detainee.\r\nAs a result, Americans are left in the dark regarding the detainee's potential membership in al Qaeda or its affiliates, terrorist training, or previous hostile actions against U.S. troops. The American people, and often many of their representatives in Congress, do not even know if the detainee will be detained or released once they are transferred. Without this information, it is difficult for Americans to accurately assess the wisdom of transferring these detainees, the Senators continued. With 30% of former Guantanamo detainees confirmed or suspected of reengaging in terrorist activity, this lack of transparency with the American people is not acceptable.\r\nEarlier this year, Rounds visited the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, saying after his return, I have no doubt this is the right place to detain them - now and in the future. \r\nThe full text of the letter:\r\nNovember 12, 2015 \r\n\r\nThe President\r\nThe White House\r\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW\r\nWashington, DC 20500\r\nPresident Obama:\r\nWe write to express our continued concern regarding the administration's lack of transparency with the American public regarding law of war detainees at Guantanamo and those who are being transferred or released to other nations. In a speech delivered in May 2009, you said I ran for President promising transparency, and I meant what I said. And that's why, whenever possible, my administration will make all information available to the American people so that they can make informed judgments and hold us accountable. We strongly support efforts to increase the federal government's transparency with the American people, but the administration's actions with respect to Guantanamo detainee transfers have not been consistent with your commitment.\r\nWhen a detainee is transferred, the only specific information released by the Department of Defense is the detainee's name and the name of the country to which the detainee will be transferred. The administration does not provide any information regarding the detainee's previous terrorist activities and associations, previous assessments of the detainee's risk level to the U.S. and our allies, or behavior while in detention. The administration does not provide even the most basic information regarding arrangements with the country that has agreed to receive the detainee.\r\nAs a result, Americans are left in the dark regarding the detainee's potential membership in al Qaeda or its affiliates, terrorist training, or previous hostile actions against U.S. troops. The American people, and often many of their representatives in Congress, do not even know if the detainee will be detained or released once they are transferred. Without this information, it is difficult for Americans to accurately assess the wisdom of transferring these detainees. With 30% of former Guantanamo detainees confirmed or suspected of reengaging in terrorist activity, this lack of transparency with the American people is not acceptable.\r\nFor these reasons, we ask your administration to provide unclassified answers to the following questions regarding all detainees currently at Guantanamo:\r\n \r\nPrior to detention, in what terrorist activities or training did the detainee participate?\r\n \r\n \r\nPrior to detention, did the detainee engage in or support hostilities against U.S. or coalition troops?\r\n \r\n \r\nPrior to detention, with which terrorist organizations was the detainee affiliated?\r\n \r\n \r\nWas the detainee, at any point since being initially detained, deemed to be a high-risk threat to the United States, its interests, or its allies?\r\n \r\n \r\nWhile detained, has the detainee continued to express support for terrorism?\r\n \r\n \r\nWhile detained, has the detainee assaulted Joint Task Force Guantanamo guards?\r\n \r\nWhen your administration transfers detainees in the future, we ask your administration to make sure the information above has been provided to the American people and to also provide unclassified answers to these questions:\r\n \r\nWill the individual be detained by the recipient country?\r\n \r\n \r\nWill the detainee be allowed to leave the destination country?\r\n \r\nThis information can be provided without revealing sensitive intelligence sources or methods. Further, general information about the conditions of transfer can be shared publicly without undermining any legitimate concerns of the recipient countries. Any argument that this information cannot be declassified safely and provided to the American people creates the appearance that the administration does not want the American people to know the truth about the detainees at Guantanamo and those being transferred to other countries.\r\nIn May 2009, you made a compelling and important case for transparency. You continue to argue that it is in the national security interests of the United States to transfer these detainees. Based on your commitment to transparency, combined with your belief that these transfers are in our nation's interest, it is difficult to imagine any credible justification for keeping this basic information from the American people.\r\nWe respectfully request that your administration provide this information without delay.\r\nSenator Kelly Ayotte\r\nSenator James Inhofe\r\nSenator Tom Cotton\r\nSenator M. Michael Rounds\r\nSenator Thom Tillis\r\nSenator Tim Scott\r\nSenator Lindsey Graham \r\nCC:  Secretary of State John F. Kerry\r\n Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-military-construction-and-veterans-affairs-appropriations-bill", "Senate Passes Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill", "2015-11-10", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.10.15\n\t\t\t Senate Passes Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Includes $23 million construction project for new dormitory at Ellsworth, prevents funding to close GTMO\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTONU.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee, today released the following statement on the Senate's passage of its first appropriations bill for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016, H.R. 2029, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (MilCon/VA). It passed 93-0.\r\nI am pleased that the Senate is finally doing its job to pass appropriations bills, especially the Military Construction/VA bill to support our veterans, service members and their families, said Rounds. We have a duty to take care of our men and women who wear the uniform of the United States, during and after their service. This bipartisan appropriations bill recognizes the needs of a changing veteran population by providing specific funding for health care for female veterans, care for Iraq and Afghanistan vets and treatment for traumatic brain injury. It also includes specific funding provisions for construction and renovation of VA facilities and prevents the Department of Defense from using funds to close the terrorist detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The Defense Department construction portion of the bill includes a project at our own Ellsworth Air Force Base.\r\nThe Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act is one of 12 appropriations bills that are needed to fund the government in FY 2016. It passed out of committee earlier this year by a bipartisan majority vote of 21-9. In October, Senate Democrats blocked this bill from being openly debated and amended on the Senate floor. The bill includes $23 million to construct a new dormitory at Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/tri-state-delegation-requests-extended-public-comment-period-of-reconfiguration-of-black-hills-health-care-system", "Tri-State Delegation Requests Extended Public Comment Period of Reconfiguration of Black Hills Health Care System", "2015-11-10", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.10.15\n\t\t\t Tri-State Delegation Requests Extended Public Comment Period of Reconfiguration of Black Hills Health Care System \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Members of SD, WY and NE Congressional Delegations Send Letter to VA Secretary\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTONU.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, led his colleagues from South Dakota, Wyoming and Nebraska in a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert McDonald to request an extension of the public comment period in the wake of the VA's Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed reconfiguration of the Black Hills Health Care System (BHHCS). The letter was signed by U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Mike Enzi (R-Wy.), John Barrasso (R-Wy.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and U.S. Representatives Kristi Noem (R-S.D.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wy.) and Adrian Smith (R-Neb.).\r\nThe time constraints imposed by the current 60-day comment period may present a significant challenge for veteran stakeholders given that many may be traveling or spending time with family throughout the holiday season, wrote the Members. The VA's public comment meetings also overlap the holiday season, which may further limit stakeholder involvement. For these reasons, we respectfully request that the VA extend the comment period to February 5, 2016.\r\nAs you know, we continue to have concerns about the impact the VA's proposal to reconfigure the BHHCS will have on access to care for our region's rural veterans, veteran mental health services, the assumptions made about a future partnership with the Fall River Hospital, and data used to support this proposal, wrote the Members. Unfortunately, there also remains an underlying distrust among veterans and Hot Springs stakeholders that the VA has proceeded with a predetermined decision to vacate the Hot Springs VA hospital and domiciliary.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Related Files \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/video-available-in-advance-of-veterans-day-rounds-colleagues-introduce-new-legislation-to-improve-staffing-at-va-health-centers-", "Video Available: In Advance of Veterans Day, Rounds, Colleagues Introduce New Legislation to Improve Staffing at VA Health Centers", "2015-11-10", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.10.15\n\t\t\t Video Available: In Advance of Veterans Day, Rounds, Colleagues Introduce New Legislation to Improve Staffing at VA Health Centers  \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), along with Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), today held a press conference in the U.S. Capitol to announce the introduction of the Veterans Health Care Staffing Improvement Act, bipartisan legislation to make common-sense changes in staffing policies at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and improve veterans care at VA health care facilities.\r\nIt is our duty to make certain our veterans receive the care and support they have been promised, said Rounds. As a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, I am committed to making improvements at the VA to benefit veterans and cut down on the red-tape our vets have to go through to get the health care benefits they were promised. The Veterans Health Care Staffing Improvement Act will let veterans receive health care closer to home by removing bureaucratic barriers for their providers.\r\nAt many VA health centers around the country, veterans face wait times of weeks or even months for an appointment. These severe roadblocks to providing timely and quality health care to veterans stem in part from a shortfall of tens of thousands of medical staff. The Veterans Health Care Staffing Improvement Act would reduce bureaucratic obstacles to make it easier for the VA to boost staffing at VA health centers and reduce wait times.\r\nThe legislation would make it easier for service members who have served in medical roles to transfer directly into the VA system, make it easier to transfer or share medical staff and services across VA facilities, and allow Advanced Practice Registered Nurses and Physicians Assistants to provide a wider range of health care to patients, helping expand care in rural areas.\r\nVideo here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWHPWl-Xk-k\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=36d01d08-7cfc-43e9-aeac-56468da12e0f", "Celebrating Americas Heroes", "2015-11-10", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sen. John Thune \r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tSacrifice means different things to different people. For the brave men and women in our armed forces, sacrifice oftentimes means putting life  and the lives of their families  on hold for training, travel, and deployment. It means missing Christmas dinners, birthdays, weddings, and lifes other important milestones. True sacrifice is realized day in and day out by our troops and their families, and its important for the rest of America to not only recognize what our troops have done for the safety and security of our nation, but celebrate it.\r\nTheres one veteran in particular that my family celebrates every day: my dad, Harold. Like thousands of young men his age, my dad answered the call of duty, and in 1942 enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He fought on the USS Intrepid in the Pacific theater during World War II and flew important escort missions that covered dive bombers and torpedo bombers responsible for attacking the enemy fleet. He served through the end of the war and returned home to his friends and family in Murdo, South Dakota. Although we use the term frequently, the Greatest Generation almost seems inadequate to describe what these heroes endured.\r\nWith each new generation of Americans comes a new generation of veterans. Todays veterans  the thousands of young men and women returning home from the Middle East  need a different system of support than our parents and grandparents once required, and its our job to make sure that the system meets their needs.\r\nThe Senate recently passed important legislation to fund veterans health services and benefits, military housing and family support, and hospital and health facilities construction. The bill not only provides for the veterans themselves, but boosts quality of life for their families too. I introduced an amendment to this legislation that would further streamline care for tribal veterans receiving care at Veterans Administration facilities to ensure that access to care is as seamless as possible for all our nations veterans.\r\nEarlier this year, Congress passed and the president signed the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, important legislation that takes a step toward giving our heroes the mental health resources they need when they return home. We also made several changes to the Veterans Choice Program, changes that will give more veterans access to health care in their own communities.\r\nWhile America will never be able to fully repay what our veterans are owed, we should start with a simple thank you and continue our work to ensure our heroes receive the care they have earned.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=CD3C06AC-CB5B-46B1-AD86-A7087B7B99AB", "Noem Says 'Rejection Of Keystone Pipeline Robs SD Of Jobs And Economic Opportunity'", "2015-11-06", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "KDLT \r\n\tRepresentative Kristi Noem today expressed deep disappointment with President Obamas decision to deny approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline.\r\nPresident Obamas rejection of the Keystone XL Pipeline robs South Dakota of good jobs and economic opportunity, said Noem. This pipeline offered revenue for cash-strapped South Dakota counties and much-needed relief on the roads and rails that are currently crowded with oil transit. His rejection was a purely political decision. In the half-dozen years that Keystone has been under review, 10,000 miles of pipeline have been laid in this country. Thats more than eight Keystone XL pipelines.\r\nRep. Noem has been a vocal supporter of the Keystone XL Pipelines construction, arguing it would create jobs and generate revenue for South Dakota. She was a co-sponsor of the Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act, which was passed by the House and Senate but vetoed by the President earlier this year.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=C60DC1BE-585D-4652-BE27-6C25579FCAF4", "Rejection of Keystone Pipeline Robs South Dakota of Jobs and Economic Opportunity, Says Noem", "2015-11-06", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representative Kristi Noem today expressed deep disappointment with President Obamas decision to deny approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline.\r\nPresident Obamas rejection of the Keystone XL Pipeline robs South Dakota of good jobs and economic opportunity, said Noem. This pipeline offered revenue for cash-strapped South Dakota counties and much-needed relief on the roads and rails that are currently crowded with oil transit. His rejection was a purely political decision. In the half-dozen years that Keystone has been under review, 10,000 miles of pipeline have been laid in this country. Thats more than eight Keystone XL pipelines.\r\nRep. Noem has been a vocal supporter of the Keystone XL Pipelines construction, arguing it would create jobs and generate revenue for South Dakota. She was a co-sponsor of the Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act, which was passed by the House and Senate but vetoed by the President earlier this year.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=DBC890C7-A054-4A3B-88FC-BAAE058166B8", "Weekly Column: Serving Those Who Have Served", "2015-11-06", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "We have a fundamental responsibility to care for Americas veterans, but time and again, our efforts have fallen short. Recent years, in particular, have seen repeated instances of misunderstanding, mismanagement, and mistreatment when it comes to supporting our veteran community. Veteran suicides, for instance, occur at an average of about 22 per day. Tens of thousands remain homeless. In some areas, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has systematically ignored the urgent medical needs of our veterans.\r\nAnd in South Dakota, we are caught in a years-long fight to keep the doors open at a Hot Springs VA hospital that veterans want and need. This is a facility that has served veterans for more than 100 years. Its position in the Black Hills provides a level of serenity that aids in the healing process  especially for those facing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury, and similar illnesses. Those who receive care there have lobbied hard to make sure it stays open, as has the community. Despite all this, the VA has incrementally depleted the number of services offered in Hot Springs and pushed forward a plan to close the facility altogether. This is not what our veterans want, nor what they deserve.\r\nIn late October, the VA released its draft environmental impact statement regarding the closure of the Hot Springs hospital. This is one of the final steps when looking to close a VA facility. The findings once again highlighted the dramatic impact a closure would have. The public now has at least 60 days to review and comment on the report before VA Secretary Robert McDonald issues a final decision. Ive urged everyone who will be impacted to take part in this process.\r\nGeorge Washington said after the Revolutionary War had concluded that The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war  shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by our nation. Closing the hospital in Hot Springs  even reducing its services as the VA is already in the process of doing  does not leave a positive perception.\r\nIve been focused on writing and supporting legislation that better serves our states veterans and their families. This includes provisions to stop the VA from closing the Hot Springs hospital as well as legislation to make it easier to fire VA employees who are failing to serve our veterans with integrity, efforts to improve mental health services for veterans, and bills to increase post-service job training.\r\nThere is a role each of us can play in our communities too. This Veterans Day, I encourage you to touch the life of someone who has served. Bring them and their family a meal. Volunteer at one of the many veterans-centered charities in South Dakota  whether thats your local VFW, the American Legion, or another one. Attend a Veterans Day service. Or just tell them thank you. These women and men have put on our nations uniform and stepped into danger for the sake of our country and the values we stand for. Its our responsibility to serve them when they return.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-statement-on-presidents-rejection-of-keystone-xl-pipeline", "Rounds Statement on Presidents Rejection of Keystone XL Pipeline", "2015-11-06", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.06.15\n\t\t\t Rounds Statement on President's Rejection of Keystone XL Pipeline \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPIERREU.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement on President Obama's decision to reject the Keystone XL pipeline:\r\nThis decision is no surprise, said Rounds. While disappointing, this underscores the need for Congress to take affirmative action to see that this project is allowed to move forward. The Keystone XL pipeline would bring millions of dollars of tax revenue to local units of government in South Dakota. It would also ease the congestion on our rail system allowing us to move our crops to market in a more timely and efficient manner.\r\nThe Senate voted on legislation earlier this year to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. It passed the Senate 62-36 before being vetoed by the President.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=dafb79b0-289d-400b-b430-bb843da1a8f3", "Thune Statement on Obama Administrations Rejection of Keystone XL Pipeline", "2015-11-06", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after the Obama administration announced it has denied TransCanadas permit application to build the long-stalled Keystone XL pipeline:\r\nI would say that Im surprised, but with President Obamas commitment to appeasing the far-left environmental wing of his political base, todays decision is par for the course, said Thune. The Obama administration has spent seven years delaying this common-sense project. It has reviewed thousands of public comments and completed five environmental impact statements  all of which found the pipeline would have no significant impact on the environment. The pipeline would immediately support thousands of shovel-ready jobs during construction, including 3,000-4,000 in South Dakota alone. The only explanation for todays decision is that the administration has squeezed from this projects unnecessary delay every last bit of political expediency that remained.\r\nApproving the Keystone XL pipeline was a priority for the Republican-led Senate. In January, more than 60 senators supported a bill that would have approved this project. After the bipartisan legislation cleared the House of Representatives, President Obama vetoed the bill.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=27FEB70C-D535-40E2-A7AD-85FEC3AFDD96", "Thune and Noem question suicide program plan", "2015-11-05", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "KEVN - Black Hills Fox \r\n\tRepresentative Kristi Noem and SenatorJohn Thuneare voicing their concerns about the Indian Health Service's response to the suicide crisis on reservations in the state.\r\nThe pair was in Pine Ridge last month to talk about the suicide crisis.\r\nIn a letter toHealthand Human Services Secretary Robert McSwain, Thune and Noem say they're encouraged by the IHS plan to develop an intensive behavioral program to help people thinking about suicide on reservations in western South Dakota.\r\nBut they say they're concerned about the decision to locate that program in Rapid City, hundreds of miles from the people it is designed to help.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=79E3A4B8-4186-4416-AF5D-096B2540C6E7", "Noem weighs in on denial to delay review of Keystone XL Pipeline", "2015-11-05", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "KEVN - Black Hills Fox \r\n\tThe permitapplicationprocess for the Keystone XL pipeline is about as long as the proposed pipeline itself.\r\nOn Monday, TransCanada asked the US State Department to *delay consideration* of the Canada to Texas pipeline... on Tuesday South Dakota Public UtilitiesChairmanChris Nelson said the panel will *continue* to review the project despite the request.\r\nU.S. Representative Kristi Noem says she's *disappointed* the review will not be delayed because she believes it would have a greater chance of being approved, through a differentadministration.\r\nNoem says, \"This president more than likely will deny that permit and that would perhaps even give us a situation where we will not see it get built to thebenefitof our country.\"\r\nThis will be the second time in five years that construction of the portion of the pipeline that would cut through South Dakota has been reviewed.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=BB25AF3A-4802-474A-B8D9-85F4DE28F489", "U.S. House Passes Transportation Bill", "2015-11-05", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "South Dakota Public Broadcasting \r\n\tThe U.S. House of Representatives passed a multi-year transportation bill. Representative Kristi Noem says the measure gives certainty to state officials.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe trust fund is reliant on a gas tax, but as vehicles get more efficient, as vehicles get smaller, we drive less, the revenue stream has dried up, Noem says. So the Senate has some pay-fors in there that were debated. We amended some of those on the House floor as well. That will go to conference and thats where theyll be resolved.\r\nNoem says shes optimistic that lawmakers will come out of conference committee with the revenue to fund three years of the bill.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=D21AF950-E603-403E-A5B7-1C53B8E9552F", "S.D. representatives unite against clean water rule", "2015-11-05", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "South Dakota's three members of U.S. Congress are in unison in their opposition to the Waters of the United States rule.\r\n\r\nU.S. Rep. Kristi Noem called the Environmental Protection Agency's WOTUS rule the largest federal land grab in her lifetime.\r\n\"This is a life-changing for us in South Dakota for us in South Dakota, so we have to do all we can and get all hands on deck to get it stopped,\" Noem said. \"And this resolution disapproval certainly sends the message to the administration how adamantly we feel that this Waters of the U.S. regulation needs to be stopped.\"\r\nThe WOTUS rule is meant to clarify which waters of the United States are protected under the Clean Water Act, which is meant to restore and maintain the nation's waters, and expands the amount of water features protected protected from polluters.\r\nBut critics of the rule, including Noem and U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds and John Thune, believe it gives the federal government too much authority over landowners on properties containing waterways and wetlands.\r\nOn Wednesday, the Senate passed a resolution of disapproval to reflect the concerns that Rounds claims allows \"this EPA and the (Army) Corp of Engineers to continue to run roughshod over a huge percentage of the states and a huge percentage of the American public who really do disagree (with the rule).\"\r\nThe resolution of disapproval comes after the Senate failed to override the bill and send it back to the EPA for additional work. The bill to block its implementation received 57 votes, falling three votes short.\r\nThune also disapproved of the rule, which he claims allows the federal government to regulate ponds, ditches and other waterways not regulated under the Clean Water Act.\r\nLike Noem, Thune classified the rule as a \"thinly veiled land grab\" that would be detrimental to farmers, ranchers and business owners.\r\n\"The president should prioritize rural communities that depend on the land over his aspirations to expand the federal government and sign this bill immediately,\" Thune said in a news release.\r\nRounds hopes the resolution of disapproval will urge President Barack Obama to \"take a look at how bad this rule really is.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=F9ED6EDD-F6A2-47F8-BADE-A546DB49534D", "Thune, Noem Question Rapid City Site For Counseling Center", "2015-11-05", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "KDLT \r\n\tTwo members of South Dakota's congressional delegation are questioning the location of a proposed counseling center in the wake of a string of suicides affecting Indian communities around the state.\r\nU.S. Sen. John Thune and U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem wrote Thursday to Health Secretary Sylvia Burwell to ask why the intensive behavioral health unit was set to be built in Rapid City.\r\nThey say that would be too far away from the people on western South Dakota reservations that the center is supposed to help.\r\nFifteen people have killed themselves on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation since December, ranging in age from 12 to 24.\r\nThune and Noem say it's a crisis. They're asking the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide details of its response.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=23A4F893-B98E-4A55-B704-8A4609AE404D", "Noem, Thune Raise Questions about IHS's Approach to Suicide Crisis", "2015-11-05", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) and U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today raised questions about Indian Health Services (IHS) approach to the suicide crisis plaguing South Dakotas tribal communities. In a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell, Noem and Thune outlined specific concerns about a proposal to place a new IHS behavioral health program in Rapid City  hundreds of miles away from the individuals it is intended to help.\r\nWe understand that IHS intends to repurpose nearly $2 million in unspent appropriations to develop an intensive behavioral health program to assist individuals contemplating suicide on Indian reservations in western South Dakota, wrote Noem and Thune. While we are encouraged by this news, we are concerned about the agencys plans, particularly its decision to place the new facility at the Rapid City Service Unit. We worry that, by placing the facility so far from the reservations, IHS may not fully grasp the urgent nature of this crisis.\r\nThe rate of suicides among young people in the Oglala Sioux Tribe has reached epidemic levels. Since December 2014, 15 people between the ages of 12 and 24 have taken their own lives. There was also a high number of attempted suicides during that time. In October 2015, Noem and Thune traveled to Pine Ridge, South Dakota, to meet with students, law enforcement officers, tribal leaders and others to discuss the suicide epidemic and potential solutions. Many of the questions included in this letter precipitated from that meeting.\r\nA copy of the letter is included below.\r\n--\r\nThe Honorable Sylvia M. Burwell   Secretary   Department of Health and Human Services   200 Independence Avenue, SW   Washington, DC 20201\r\nDear Secretary Burwell,\r\nFor years, tribal communities in South Dakota have been plagued by suicides. This year alone, over a dozen young people have taken their own lives. Recently, we visited some of our constituents who reside in these communities. We spent the day discussing a wide variety of issues with both adults and young adults. Through our conversations, we found that, while positive steps have been made in anti-suicide efforts, much work remains to be done. It is evident that access to behavioral health services in these communities is imperative.\r\nHaving heard firsthand from many of those affected by this tragic epidemic, we write to gain a better understanding of Indian Health Services (IHS) approach in addressing this issue. We understand that IHS intends to repurpose nearly $2 million in unspent appropriations to develop an intensive behavioral health program to assist individuals contemplating suicide on Indian reservations in western South Dakota. While we are encouraged by this news, we are concerned about the agencys plans, particularly its decision to place the new facility at the Rapid City Service Unit  hundreds of miles away from the individuals the facility is intended to help. We worry that, by placing the facility so far from the reservations, IHS may not fully grasp the urgent nature of this crisis.\r\nGiven our concerns, and to help us better understand how IHS is addressing tribal members behavioral health needs and how it intends to administer this new program in Rapid City, please provide a written response to the following questions no later than December 1, 2015:\r\n1) Please provide a detailed account of IHS interactions with other federal agencies including, but not limited to, interactions with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, the Bureau of Indian Education, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to address the behavioral health needs of tribal members.\r\n2) How has IHS responded to the outbreak of youth suicides on Indian Reservations? Please provide specific examples of how IHS has interfaced with tribal leaders, members, and health care providers to ensure that those who need assistance receive it.\r\n3) Prior to reprogramming IHS funds to the new program at the Rapid City Service Unit, did IHS consult with the Great Plains Area Tribes? If so, describe those communications.\r\n4) How does IHS plan on responding to the growing need for additional inpatient behavioral health services on South Dakota reservations?\r\n5) How will IHS staff the new facility in Rapid City? Please include information pertaining to the number of staff onsite and their medical credentials.\r\n6) Please provide a current accounting of the number of vacant behavioral health provider positions at IHS service units throughout the Great Plains Region and explain how IHS staffing plan in Rapid City will affect its ability to recruit providers to fill these vacant positions.\r\n7) How will IHS identify patients on the reservations who are at risk of suicide?\r\n8) Once a patient has been identified as at risk for suicide, what steps will IHS take to ensure that they receive timely care?\r\n9) Given the limited resources our tribal members often have for transportation, will IHS be responsible to transport patients to the facility in Rapid City, and back to their homes?\r\n10) Does your plan include outreach to Native American children at their schools on the reservations? If so, explain the nature and extent of this outreach.\r\nThank you for your assistance in this matter. We look forward to your responses. If you have questions, please contact Representative Noems staff at 202-225-2801 and Senator Thunes staff at 202-224-2321.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-encourages-south-dakotans-to-send-feedback-on-tpp", "Rounds Encourages South Dakotans to Send Feedback on TPP", "2015-11-05", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.05.15\n\t\t\t Rounds Encourages South Dakotans to Send Feedback on TPP \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTONU.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today posted the full text of the just-released Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement on his website. South Dakotans interested in learning more about the proposed trade agreement are encouraged to review it and send their comments to Sen. Rounds.\r\nInternational trade plays an important role in American commerce, said Rounds. From higher wages for U.S. workers to supporting small businesses and agriculture, trade has a proven record of keeping our economy healthy and vibrant. However, we must make certain these agreements are fair and do not put hard-working South Dakota producers at a competitive disadvantage. The bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation passed earlier this year was an important first step in establishing clear guidelines for reviewing the TPP dealby enforcing transparency, maintaining Congress' important role in the approval process and giving South Dakotans a voice in the final product. I look forward to reviewing the TPP agreement in the coming months and hearing from South Dakotans before it comes for a vote in the Senate.\r\nOn November 5, 2015, the full text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement was made public. This text will be available for public comment for several months before Congress considers it for a vote.\r\nThe full text of the TPP agreement is available here.\r\nSouth Dakotans can share their thoughts and concerns regarding specific sections of the agreement with Sen. Rounds by calling his Washington, D.C., or South Dakota offices, or by emailing him here.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-democrats-block-defense-funding-bill-again-following-budget-deal", "Senate Democrats Block Defense Funding Bill Again", "2015-11-05", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.05.15\n\t\t\t Senate Democrats Block Defense Funding Bill Again \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTONU.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement on the Senate Democrats' filibuster of the Department of Defense (DoD) appropriations bill for the third time this year, following the budget deal of last week:\r\nRefusing to debate the 12 appropriation bills which provide the necessary funds to keep the government running, simply to create a crisis, is not acceptable, said Rounds. Yet again, Senate Democrats blocked an important appropriations bill from being openly debated and amended on the Senate floor, despite receiving overwhelming bipartisan support when it was reported out of committee earlier this year. It will also comply with the funding levels agreed to in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, which many Senate Democrats supported and the President signed less than a week ago. But most importantly, this defense appropriations bill will provide our military members and their families with the certainty and stability that they deserve. The United States continues to face new and evolving threats, both at home and abroad. Providing our troops with the tools and support they need to complete their missions is critical.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-resolution-recognizing-november-as-national-native-american-heritage-month", "Senate Passes Resolution Recognizing November as National Native American Heritage Month", "2015-11-05", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.05.15\n\t\t\t Senate Passes Resolution Recognizing November as National Native American Heritage Month \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tWASHINGTONU.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today applauded the Senate's passage of a resolution he sponsored recognizing November as National Native American Heritage Month. The resolution was adopted by unanimous consent.\r\nIn South Dakota, Native Americans have a rich and vibrant history that is deeply woven into the fabric of our society, said Rounds. We honor their heritage in many ways in our state, from attending a wacipi or pow\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=5c00e75e-dcd7-427e-bcbf-7d5130091c68", "Democrats Block Critical Funding for Our Men and Women in Uniform", "2015-11-05", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tU.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after Senate Democrats blocked the Department of Defense (DoD) appropriations bill, which includes important funding for our military personnel, their families, weapons, readiness, and infrastructure projects that contribute to our national security:\r\nIts incredible that Senate Democrats would repeatedly block a bill that funds our troops and their families, but even more perplexing since this bill meets the spending level Democrats agreed to just last week, said Thune. Todays filibuster proves that Democrats are willing to risk the safety and security of our armed forces for vague reasons they have yet to fully explain. Senate Republicans have worked in good faith with Democrats to keep this bill moving forward.Democrats must now do their part and abandon this cynical strategy immediately. \r\nThis is the third time this year that Democrats have prevented the Senate from considering the DoD appropriations bill, which garnered broad bipartisan support in committee and complies with the two-year budget deal Congress passed just last week.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=e3cc45ec-0784-4e41-bf8b-6f81018ea3fc", "Noem, Thune Raise Questions about IHSs Approach to Suicide Crisis", "2015-11-05", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tU.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) and U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today raised questions about Indian Health Services (IHS) approach to the suicide crisis plaguing South Dakotas tribal communities. In a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell, Noem and Thune outlined specific concerns about a proposal to place a new IHS behavioral health program in Rapid City  hundreds of miles away from the individuals it is intended to help.\r\nWe understand that IHS intends to repurpose nearly $2 million in unspent appropriations to develop an intensive behavioral health program to assist individuals contemplating suicide on Indian reservations in western South Dakota, wrote Noem and Thune. While we are encouraged by this news, we are concerned about the agencys plans, particularly its decision to place the new facility at the Rapid City Service Unit. We worry that, by placing the facility so far from the reservations, IHS may not fully grasp the urgent nature of this crisis.\r\nThe rate of suicides among young people in the Oglala Sioux Tribe has reached epidemic levels. Since December 2014, 15 people between the ages of 12 and 24 have taken their own lives. There was also a high number of attempted suicides during that time. In October 2015, Noem and Thune traveled to Pine Ridge, South Dakota, to meet with students, law enforcement officers, tribal leaders and others to discuss the suicide epidemic and potential solutions. Many of the questions included in this letter precipitated from that meeting.\r\nA copy of the letter is included below.\r\n--\r\nThe Honorable Sylvia M. Burwell   Secretary   Department of Health and Human Services   200 Independence Avenue, SW   Washington, DC 20201\r\nDear Secretary Burwell,\r\nFor years, tribal communities in South Dakota have been plagued by suicides. This year alone, over a dozen young people have taken their own lives. Recently, we visited some of our constituents who reside in these communities. We spent the day discussing a wide variety of issues with both adults and young adults. Through our conversations, we found that, while positive steps have been made in anti-suicide efforts, much work remains to be done. It is evident that access to behavioral health services in these communities is imperative.\r\nHaving heard firsthand from many of those affected by this tragic epidemic, we write to gain a better understanding of Indian Health Services (IHS) approach in addressing this issue. We understand that IHS intends to repurpose nearly $2 million in unspent appropriations to develop an intensive behavioral health program to assist individuals contemplating suicide on Indian reservations in western South Dakota. While we are encouraged by this news, we are concerned about the agencys plans, particularly its decision to place the new facility at the Rapid City Service Unit  hundreds of miles away from the individuals the facility is intended to help. We worry that, by placing the facility so far from the reservations, IHS may not fully grasp the urgent nature of this crisis.\r\nGiven our concerns, and to help us better understand how IHS is addressing tribal members behavioral health needs and how it intends to administer this new program in Rapid City, please provide a written response to the following questions no later than December 1, 2015:\r\n1) Please provide a detailed account of IHS interactions with other federal agencies including, but not limited to, interactions with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, the Bureau of Indian Education, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to address the behavioral health needs of tribal members.\r\n2) How has IHS responded to the outbreak of youth suicides on Indian Reservations? Please provide specific examples of how IHS has interfaced with tribal leaders, members, and health care providers to ensure that those who need assistance receive it.\r\n3) Prior to reprogramming IHS funds to the new program at the Rapid City Service Unit, did IHS consult with the Great Plains Area Tribes? If so, describe those communications.\r\n4) How does IHS plan on responding to the growing need for additional inpatient behavioral health services on South Dakota reservations?\r\n5) How will IHS staff the new facility in Rapid City? Please include information pertaining to the number of staff onsite and their medical credentials.\r\n6) Please provide a current accounting of the number of vacant behavioral health provider positions at IHS service units throughout the Great Plains Region and explain how IHS staffing plan in Rapid City will affect its ability to recruit providers to fill these vacant positions.\r\n7) How will IHS identify patients on the reservations who are at risk of suicide?\r\n8) Once a patient has been identified as at risk for suicide, what steps will IHS take to ensure that they receive timely care?\r\n9) Given the limited resources our tribal members often have for transportation, will IHS be responsible to transport patients to the facility in Rapid City, and back to their homes?\r\n10)Does your plan include outreach to Native American children at their schools on the reservations? If so, explain the nature and extent of this outreach.\r\nThank you for your assistance in this matter. We look forward to your responses. If you have questions, please contact Representative Noems staff at 202-225-2801 and Senator Thunes staff at 202-224-2321.\r\n\r\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=cc849281-42fd-417d-adfa-0daf219b1323", "Senate Urges President to Overturn One of Nations Largest Federal Land Grabs", "2015-11-04", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today welcomed passage of a bill expressing the Senates disapproval of the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, which amounts to one of the largest federal land grabs in history.\r\nThe far-reaching WOTUS rule is a thinly veiled land grab that is detrimental to farmers, ranchers, business owners and landowners across the country. The message from the Senate to President Obama is clear: Keep the federal government out of Americans backyards. The president should prioritize rural communities that depend on the land over his aspirations to expand the federal government and sign this bill immediately.\r\nYesterday, the Senate voted on a bill (S. 1140) directing the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw this flawed rule and issue a revised proposal. S. 1140, which needed 60 votes to move forward, failed in the Senate.Undeterred, the Senate voted again today on the resolution of disapproval, which only needs 51 votes to pass the Senate.\r\nAmericans across the country are fighting the WOTUS rule, which allows the federal government to regulate ponds, ditches, agriculture water, storm water, and other areas not typically regulated under the federal Clean Water Act. Thirty-one states have filed lawsuits against the WOTUS rule. An October decision by the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals extended to all 50 states an earlier injunction from a federal district court that blocked implementation in 13 states, including South Dakota.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=cfe9141c-c7b4-4b4b-9788-b4799c335634", "Thune Discusses Importance of Protecting Honest Online Reviews on NBCs TODAY Show", "2015-11-04", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tEarlier this morning, U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, appeared on NBCs TODAY Show to discuss the importance of protecting honest online reviews. The segment previewed todays Commerce Committee hearing on this topic and its impact on consumers and the economy.\r\nABCs Good Morning America also previewed todays hearing.\r\nTodays Hearing Information:\r\nHow Gagging Honest Reviews Affects Consumers and the Economy\r\nU.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing\r\nWednesday, November 4, at 10:00 a.m. EST\r\nSenate Russell Building 253\r\nClick here at 10:00 a.m. to watch the hearing live stream", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=2DC5C860-761D-4D41-85D2-7376D3909A82", "Noem aims to expand Black Hills National Cemetery with new legislation", "2015-11-03", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hot Springs Star \r\n\tRepresentative Kristi Noem today introduced the Black Hills National Cemetery Boundary Expansion Act, which would transfer nearly 200 acres of land outside Sturgis from the Bureau of Land Managements jurisdiction to the Department of Veterans Affairs. The transfer would give the Black Hills National Cemetery additional space to serve future veterans.\r\nOpened in 1948, the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis rests on around 100 acres of land. Unfortunately, the facility requires more room to continue serving future veterans. The Bureau of Land Management currently holds land adjacent to the Cemetery. Rep. Noems legislation would transfer that land, roughly 200 acres, from the Bureau of Land Management to the Department of Veterans Affairs in order to accommodate an expansion of the Black Hills National Cemetery.\r\nWithout legislation to make the transfer permanent, federal law limits transfers like this one to a lifespan of 20 years. Senators Thune and Rounds introduced a similar bill in the Senate earlier this year.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-statement-on-democrat-filibuster-of-bill-to-stop-wotus", "Rounds Statement on Democrat Filibuster of Bill to Stop WOTUS", "2015-11-03", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.03.15\n\t\t\t Rounds Statement on Democrat Filibuster of Bill to Stop WOTUS \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTONU.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee,today issued the following statement after Senate Democrats filibustered S. 1140, the Federal Water Quality Protection Act, of which he is an original cosponsor. The Federal Water Quality Protection Act would have prevented the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule from taking effect and would have tasked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers with completely redrafting the rule using specific direction from Congress.\r\nI am disappointed that Senate Democrats have blocked this commonsense bill to keep our navigable waters safe while also protecting the rights of South Dakota farmers, ranchers and private landowners, said Rounds. The overreaching WOTUS rule is one of the largest land grabs in the history of our country and grossly oversteps the intent of the Clean Water Act passed by Congress. Two separate federal courts have blocked its implementation on these grounds, and a bipartisan majority in Congress are working to stop it. I will continue to seek ways to protect South Dakotans from the WOTUS rules' burdensome new permitting requirements and steep new penalties.\r\nIn June, the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers issued a final WOTUS rule that expanded the scope of federal authority over land and water at the expense of states.So far, thirty-one states, including South Dakota, have filed lawsuits against the WOTUS rule and two courts have blocked its implementation.\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 750, "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 \"state\" = :p0 and \"year\" = :p1 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "SD", "p1": "2015"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=SD&year=2015", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 750, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=SD&year=2015&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=SD&year=2015", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 750, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=SD&year=2015&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=SD&year=2015", "results": [{"value": "SD", "label": "SD", "count": 750, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?year=2015", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=SD&year=2015", "results": [{"value": "2015", "label": "2015", "count": 750, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=SD", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2015-11-03,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Erounds~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fpress-releases~2Frounds-statement-on-democrat-filibuster-of-bill-to-stop-wotus", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=SD&year=2015&_next=2015-11-03%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Erounds~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fpress-releases~2Frounds-statement-on-democrat-filibuster-of-bill-to-stop-wotus&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 127.83672008663416, "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"}