{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=427E4A5D-3944-46B2-8F8F-C90E9D022EE6", "Weekly Column: Heritage, Honor, and Sovereignty", "2014-10-31", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Last year, I had the opportunity to help honor hundreds of Native American code talkers with the Congressional Gold Medal.\u00a0 These men were critical to our success in numerous battles during World War II, using their native languages to help protect, defend, and secure freedom.\u00a0 There are hundreds of stories about their bravery and altruism, but I\u2019ve never forgotten one article I read where an Oglala Lakota member explained that when he was first approached about becoming a code talker, he said:\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t want rank.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want money.\u00a0 I just want to do what I can to protect America and our way of life.\u201d\u00a0 To me, that statement reflects the selflessness and sense of duty that is embedded in the heritage and traditions of Native American communities.\r\nNovember is Native American Heritage Month and in South Dakota, much of our own history is tied to Indian Country.\u00a0 It\u2019s one of the reasons I\u2019ve remained committed to protecting tribal sovereignty, offering support for safer schools and an improved healthcare system on reservations, and promoting economic development in our Native American communities.\r\nOne of the issues I talk most about with tribal leaders is tribal sovereignty, or the ability for tribes to govern themselves.\u00a0 One area of concern has been the expansion of authority the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has tried to impose on Indian Country.\u00a0 The NLRB was set up to help oversee union elections, but it has become the bureaucratic arm of Big Labor.\u00a0 By further expanding jurisdiction, NLRB threatened the foundation of Indian law and the principle of tribal sovereignty.\u00a0 As a result, I introduced legislation to help combat the NLRB\u2019s expansion by prohibiting the agency from regulating tribally owned businesses on reservation land.\u00a0\r\nSouth Dakota tribal communities have also raised concerns about taxes on individuals who receive support from tribal governments.\u00a0 When state or federal agencies offer things like school supplies to families in need, the beneficiaries are exempt from paying taxes on those items.\u00a0 The law wasn\u2019t clear, however, when it came to benefits offered by tribal governments.\u00a0 Last year, I helped co-sponsor the Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act to help reduce the tax burden for these families.\u00a0 This bill was signed by the President in September.\r\nI\u2019m hopeful my tribal sovereignty bill, the Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act, and a provision I wrote in the Farm Bill that would permanently establish an Office of Tribal Relations within USDA will help bolster the economy in Indian Country, but I understand that more must be done.\u00a0 Unemployment in Native American communities is far too high and incomes are too low.\r\nLooking forward, I\u2019ll also continue my work to address human trafficking across the country \u2013 and specifically in Native American communities.\u00a0 A few weeks ago, I participated in the Wiconi Wawokiya Prayer Walk in Fort Thompson.\u00a0 The experience was remarkable.\u00a0 The prayers, singing and dancing helped focus our hearts and minds on healing for victims of abuse and trafficking.\u00a0 The tribal members involved in this effort are inspiring and the event was extremely powerful.\u00a0 It\u2019s something I\u2019ll never forget.\u00a0 Project SAFE, Mita Maske Ti Ki, and others are working hard to protect young people within the Native American community and I am committed to doing all I can to support their efforts.\r\nNative American heritage is woven into South Dakota\u2019s story.\u00a0 Tribal traditions have enriched our culture and played an important role in the American journey.\u00a0 Please join me this month in recognizing and honoring the Native American heritage that exists here in South Dakota.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "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"], "primary_key_values": ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=427E4A5D-3944-46B2-8F8F-C90E9D022EE6"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.760522136464715, "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"}