South Dakota

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 »

15 Additional Counties Qualify for Aid as Contiguous Disaster Counties

Washington, DC October 15, 2009- Today, Secretary of United States Department of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced that sufficient production losses in ten counties in South Dakota warrant a Secretarial natural disaster designation. In addition, 15 counties in South Dakota were named as contiguous disaster areas.

Rep. Herseth Sandlin recently hosted Secretary Vilsack to discuss the extensive flood damage in South Dakota and hold a town hall meeting with farmers and ranchers. During the forum, representatives of farming and ranching organizations along with area producers had the opportunity to ask questions of Rep. Herseth Sandlin and Secretary Vilsack.    » 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 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 »

Funding for Idaho, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Dakota and the U.S. Virgin Islands to create jobs, reduce energy use

October 1, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that nearly $72 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is being awarded to 7 states and territories to support energy efficiency and conservation activities.

Under DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program, these states will implement programs that lower energy use, reduce carbon pollution, and create green jobs locally.    » read more »

Bill includes more than $6 million in Johnson-secured funding for South Dakota

June 23, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Environment, joined with his colleagues this morning to pass the Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2010. The bill includes more than $6.7 million in Johnson-secured funding for South Dakota.    » 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 9th, 2009 - Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator John Thune today sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack urging him to reconsider the Farm Service Agency request from South Dakota that would enroll 20,000 additional acres in the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) program. The USDA recently denied the original request.    » read more »

Crapo co-sponsors legislation to increase funding share

May 22, 2009 -- Washington, DC—Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota) and Jon Tester (D-Montana) are taking steps to improve how money is distributed to rural transit systems across the country. The Senators have introduced the Rural Transit Improvement and Flexibility Act of 2009 to increase rural, elderly, and disabled transit funding in rural states like Idaho, Montana and South Dakota. Crapo, a member of the Senate Banking Committee with jurisdiction over public transit issues, is the lead Republican sponsor of the bill.    » read more »

Application for Part 1 of South Dakota's State Stabilization Funds Approved Today

April 20, 2009 -- U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that $85.4 million is now available for South Dakota under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. This funding will lay the foundation for a generation of education reform and help save thousands of teaching jobs at risk of state and local budget cuts.    » read more »

Washington, D.C. (March 19, 2009)—Today, South Dakota residents have reason to celebrate. South Dakota is now officially the 24th state in the nation, and the first in 2009, to pass a comprehensive smokefree workplace law protecting virtually everyone from secondhand smoke in public places and workplaces.

The American Lung Association applauds Governor Rounds and South Dakota lawmakers for passing this important legislation that will save hundreds of lives in the next decade alone.

Secondhand smoke kills close to 50,000 Americans annually, according to the U.S. Surgeon, and is the cause of a host of diseases and ailments, including lung cancer, heart disease, SIDS and childhood ear infections.    » read more »