Tim Johnson

November 17, 2009 -- Washington, DC -- U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD), Chairman of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs (VA) and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, today announced that the Senate has unanimously passed the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill for FY2010.

Johnson authored the spending measure from his position as Chairman, and placed a strong emphasis on addressing the needs of rural and homeless veterans while also providing for important South Dakota priorities.    » read more »

November 4, 2009 -- Washington, DC -- U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) announced his support of the unemployment insurance extension, recognizing the challenging economic climate and the increased difficulty hardworking people are facing when trying to find another job. The bill passed this evening. Johnson released the following statement:    » read more »

Includes Continuing Resolution to Fund Federal Government

October 29, 2009 -- Washington, DC – As the Senate prepares to pass the finalized version of the Interior funding bill for fiscal year (FY) 2010, U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD), a member of the Interior Appropriations Conference Committee, was proud to announce the $6.7 million in South Dakota priorities he was able to fund as part of the final bill.

This conference report also contains a continuing resolution (CR) that will allow continued government operations through December 18, 2009.    » read more »

Stimulus funding moving to local communities

October 27, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) announced today that two South Dakota electric utilities will receive a total of $9.6 million to implement Smart Grid technology across the state. Black Hills Power of Rapid City will receive $5,592,602 and Sioux Valley Energy of Colman will receive $4,016,368. Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the projects will give the companies the ability to update and expand their innovative electricity technologies.    » read more »

Would permanently reauthorize Indian health care programs

October 15, 2009 -- Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD), a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, today joined with Chairman Byron Dorgan (D-ND) to introduce the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) of 2009, which would improve health care services throughout Indian Country. Johnson is an original co-sponsor of the bill.    » read more »

Secures strong funding for South Dakota as conference committee member

October 15, 2009 -- Washington, DC — U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD), a member of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, today announced that the full Senate has approved the conference report on the Energy and Water Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2010. Johnson secured more than $55 million in funding to continue water projects across the state and help move toward a clean energy economy. The House already passed the report and the bill will now go to the President.    » read more »

October 14, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Tim Johnson, Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee’s Subcommittee on Financial Institutions, held a hearing today that focused on the current conditions of our nation’s financial institutions and examined the continuing challenges institutions face.    » read more »

October 9, 2009 -- Sioux Falls, SD – U.S. Senator Tim Johnson released the following statement upon hearing news that the Nobel Peace Prize Committee has awarded President Barack Obama the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009:

“In their unanimous decision, the Committee has cited the President’s efforts toward international diplomacy and cooperation, as well as his goals to address global climate change and working towards a world without nuclear weapons.    » read more »

October 6, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) announced that the full Senate is expected to act quickly today to pass the Defense Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2010 as early as this evening. Johnson, a member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, secured more than $45 million in funding for South Dakota priorities.    » read more »

October 5, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) announced today that South Dakota will receive $11 million in energy efficiency and renewable energy project funding from the Department of Energy. These funds are the remaining 50 percent of the State Energy Program (SEP) funding, which was authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Funding will be used through the SEP to increase energy efficiency and reduce energy costs for residences, businesses and local governments.    » read more »

Stimulus funding continuing to move to local communities

October 1, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) announced today that South Dakota will receive $9,593,500 from the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG). The funding, from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, will be used to help the state improve energy efficiency, reduce fossil fuel emissions and create or save over 100 jobs.

“I am proud to see funding go to South Dakota to spur energy efficiency, in addition to putting more South Dakotans to work,” said Johnson. “As a member of the Energy Committee, I am pleased to see the stimulus money helping our local communities.”    » read more »

June 23, 2009 -- Washington, DC -- U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) today introduced legislation to reauthorize funding for the Public and Indian Housing Crime and Drug Elimination Program (PIHDEP). The bill will help fund public and Indian housing entities to battle crime and drug use in partnership with their local law enforcement.

“This effective program eliminated by the previous Administration left public and Indian housing without important resources,” said Johnson. “This bill would allow local communities to develop programs to better fight drug use and drug-related crime. I’m proud to introduce this bill and will continue to fight to provide critical funding for public and Indian housing in South Dakota and across the country.”    » read more »

June 17, 2009 -- Washington, DC -- U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) announced today that the Senate Energy Committee has passed the American Clean Energy Leadership Act of 2009, which would help expand energy development in South Dakota and increase production of low-cost electricity. The bill passed with strong bipartisan support.

“Clean energy is good for our state and good for rural America. It will help create jobs and transition our economy away from foreign sources of energy,” said Johnson. “I am proud to join with members of the Senate Energy Committee to craft legislation that includes ideas from both sides of the aisle while ensuring states like South Dakota play a vital role in 21st century energy development.”    » read more »

June 17, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) applauded President Obama’s efforts to give regulators more teeth as he proposes the largest regulatory overhaul since the Great Depression. President Obama, his economic team and the Treasury Department today announced its proposal for financial regulatory reform to address the lack of regulatory oversight demonstrated at the start of the current economic crisis.

As we all know, federal regulators were forced to make decisions with few good options last year based on the belief that weakened financial firms were so big and so interconnected that their failure would devastate the world economy.    » read more »

May 29, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D?SD) announced today that the Teaching the Young People AmeriCorps program at the Red Cloud Indian School in Pine Ridge will receive a $234,160 federal grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service. The funding allows 22 AmeriCorps members to receive up to $4,725 to pay for college or qualified student loans.

“These funds will allow AmeriCorps volunteers to continue meeting the needs of the Pine Ridge community,” Johnson said. “AmeriCorps volunteers are a great example of those who make our communities better. These programs maintain hundreds of thousands of volunteers and generate millions of hours of service to communities and families throughout the nation.”    » read more »