Dusty Johnson

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, in times like this, it is easy to understand why we have a social safety net. Today, 6 million more Americans are on food stamps than were in February. Now, SNAP encourages work and education. Those are the critical ingredients in upward mobility. And by design, those requirements are flexible enough to account for difficult economic times. Despite that flexibility, the majority is using this appropriations process to prohibit future administrations from more effectively encouraging work and education. Now, yes, we are in difficult economic times, but as our economy recovers, work and education will be even more important. By setting aside that emphasis, we are not improving our country. We are not reducing dependence. We are not improving economic opportunity. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to reconsider.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, with that in mind, and to honor a day that unites us as Americans, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Oversight and Reform be discharged from further consideration of H. Res. 1036, and I, furthermore, ask for its immediate consideration by the House.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I understand the Speaker's ruling, but nevertheless, I wish the United States of America a very happy birthday.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, on July 3, 1776, John Adams expressed his belief that the signing of the Declaration of Independence should be commemorated ``with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.'' Well, I actually think we are going to check most of those boxes this July 3 in South Dakota in the beautiful Black Hills, as President Trump is there to watch fireworks over the incredible Mount Rushmore. Now, I know there is a lot of political unrest in this country. On any given day, there is plenty of political unrest in this Chamber. But July Fourth should be a time for us to come together and celebrate what binds us together: life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, during this COVID-19 pandemic, ag producers and consumers across the country have suffered as we have seen the cracks in our food supply system. Now, small State-inspected processors, meat processors, did what they could to step up and close the gap, fill the gap, but their efforts were hindered by the fact that Federal laws don't allow for State- inspected facilities to ship meat across State lines. I would observe that this pandemic is only accelerating the American desire to know where their food comes from and their desire to purchase directly from producers. So that is why, this week, along with Speaker Pro Tem Henry Cuellar, I introduced the DIRECT Act. This bill allows these State-inspected meat facilities to sell their meat across State lines through e-commerce. That is really going to unlock an incredible amount of potential as small producers and processors will have the option to put that product into the hands of consumers. I think it is important to remember that many States like South Dakota have State-inspection standards that are at least equal to what the Federal Government already requires, so this isn't a food safety issue. This bill would cut through the red tape. It would allow more flexibility. It would allow more opportunity for producers, for processors, and for consumers. Now, the DIRECT Act is a market-based approach allowing producers and retailers, under State inspection, to establish those connections with customers in different States through e-commerce. That is going to empower consumers to buy--if they want a particular branded product, they are going to be able to get that product. They will be given more freedom to choose. At the same time, we as a country won't have any reduction in our confidence that our food supply system is safe.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record my constituent, Belle Lunders proclamation on Trisomy 13 awareness. I thank Belle Lunders for sharing the significance of Trisomy 13 awareness. Trisomy 13 is a chromosomal disorder where the 13th pair of chromosomes have an extra copy creating three chromosomes. Trisomy 13 is the least common and most severe of the feasible autosomal trisomies. Median survival is fewer than three days. It affects one in every 8,000 to 12,000 live births. Babies born with Trisomy 13 can have many health problems and more than 80 percent don't survive more than a few weeks. Between 86 percent and 91 percent of live births do not live past their first year. Survival beyond the first year is associated with mosaicism. There is no cure for Trisomy 13 but different treatments depend on the symptoms. In most cases surgery and therapy are the best options. Prenatal testing and ultrasound can confirm a Trisomy 13 diagnosis through amniocentesis.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, last I knew, 20 million American had not received their stimulus checks. In the 3 months since the CARES Act, I have been patient; South Dakotans have been patient as they wait for help some of them truly need. Mr. Speaker, my patience has run low, especially since Americans are also waiting months for their tax returns. Ben, from Marshall County, filed his in February. He is $400 short on rent. He has been counting on his tax return. It is his money. But the IRS has not returned his phone calls, and they have not returned the phone calls or emails of congressional offices. Workers in hospitals and in factories and in packing plants and in banks are working overtime to meet the needs of this Nation. I do not see that same dedication from the leadership of the IRS, and it is past time, Mr. Speaker, for them to get it together.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Jonathan Coronado from Stevens Senior High School, Katherine Pardy from O'Gorman High School, and Ainsley Powers from Brookings High School for their recognition as 2020 U.S. Presidential Scholars. Jonathan, Katherine, and Ainsley have been recognized for their impressive scholastic achievements, leadership skills, and service to their communities. The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program honors our nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors, and I am proud of each of these students for bringing this high honor to the State of South Dakota. They have graduated in an unprecedented time and I'm sure they will each find unparallel solutions to the issues they face. Each have shown determination in the face of hardship, confidence in the face of uncertainty, and humility in the face of adversity. I am proud of the contributions they each have made and will continue to make to South Dakota. Our state and country are better because of hard working citizens like Jonathan, Katherine, and Ainsley. I would like to congratulate them each on their dedication and impressive recognition.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Thad Thome for his retirement from the United States Army after over 20 years of service. LTC Thome's record of service with the U.S. Army is truly impressive. He began his career after enlisting in 1989 by working in the 103rd Military Intelligence Battalion. He ended his enlisted service in 1992 as a Sergeant. LTC Thome earned his commission in 2000 and served with the 2nd Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment in Friedberg, Germany. After which, he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and from 2006 to 2007 to advise intelligence personnel. LTC Thome deployed as the Deputy J2 for CJTF-10 in Afghanistan during operations from 2014 to 2015, which brought the combat phase of U.S. operations to a close and began a new phase of Operation Resolute Support. He also served in the CENTCOM J2 Operations Division as the Global Force Management Team Lead, frequently traveling to Kuwait, Qatar, and Afghanistan from 2015 to 2017 to support combat deployed HQs with critical Intelligence personnel support to counter strength issues. LTC Thome's contributions to U.S. Army and Joint Forces Intelligence throughout his career ensured successful operations and the national defense of our nation. Originally from Rapid City, LTC Thome is a native South Dakotan and I am proud to have such an exceptional servicemember call South Dakota home. Our state and country are better because of citizens like him. I thank LTC Thome and his family for their tremendous sacrifice, and I extend my deepest congratulations for his retirement.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Jay Vogt for his appointment to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP). A South Dakota native, Mr. Vogt has been a passionate servant for the preservation historical places across the state of South Dakota and the entire nation. Mr. Vogt served as Director of the South Dakota State Historical Society and State Historic Preservation Officer. In the past, he served as the president of the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers (NCSHPO) and represented NCSHPO on the ACHP for several years. After a decade of service, Mr. Vogt was appointed Deputy Director of the South Dakota State Historical Society in 1999, where he spearheaded the preservation of historic Deadwood. Mr. Vogt has directed the State Historical Society since 2003 and oversees the management of the five programs--archaeology, archives, museum, historic preservation, research and publishing--and the administrative and development units. I commend Mr. Vogt for his outstanding record of service, dedication, and hard work. I extend my deepest congratulations to Jay Vogt for his contributions to South Dakota and our nation's historical places. I look forward to working with Mr. Vogt's as he advises both the president and Congress on historical preservation efforts across our nation.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Madam Speaker, yesterday's National Prayer Breakfast brought to my mind the quote by President Lincoln: ``I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.'' I, like Lincoln, feel inadequate to my task at times. I, like Lincoln, seek strength and discernment from prayer. I need prayer. It is not just Members of Congress that should be allowed to call upon prayer. Students, like my three sons, and millions more, deserve this powerful tool. That is why I thank the administration for their recent decision to protect the right to pray in schools. The freedom to seek strength from someplace other than ourselves enriches this Nation, just as it enriched President Lincoln.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the misnamed Protecting the Right to Organize Act. The American economy is thriving by almost any economic measure, and it seems as though an important job of Congress would be to continue to support the workers, the employers, and the jobs that have been powering this, the longest economic expansion in American history. What we shouldn't do is act to restrict State flexibility, worker flexibility, and worker choice. Unfortunately, the PRO Act eliminates the State's ability to decide that they want to be a right-to-work State; and unfortunately, the PRO Act hurts the franchise sector by imposing an aggressive new joint employer rule; and unfortunately, the PRO Act hurts workers who are involved in the gig economy by enacting unreasonable restrictions on who can be an independent contractor, and how they can work. Now, let's make no mistake about it. The impact of these changes will, indeed, mean less freedom, less flexibility, and over time, it will mean less prosperity. As a result, Mr. Chairman, I am voting ``no.''

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, this weekend will be time to burn the beetle. I am talking about the mountain pine beetle and the damage it has done to the majestic Black Hills National Forest. In recent years, that pine beetle has infected 430,000 acres in the Black Hills, leaving millions of dead trees. Now, the pine beetle thrives in an overly crowded forest. It craves density. So to tackle this problem, Federal, State, and local governments and private citizens have set to work thinning the forest. Initially, from the very beginning, it has been the State and local partners that have been most proactive and aggressive; but, in recent years, Federal policies have helped as well. The Forest Service started utilizing the categorical exclusions in the 2014 and the 2018 farm bills, allowing them to more quickly utilize sound forest management practices like tree thinning and controlled burns. This picture tells the story well. In areas where the forest has been actively managed, the trees live; in areas where they have not been, they die. And now, today, after years of battle, it seems as though we are nearing the end of this particular outbreak. That is good news, but it is no time to take our foot off the gas. One key action needed is to continue working with the timber industry to set and meet good harvest targets so we can get that excess timber out of the forest. Mr. Speaker, I started my comments by noting that it was time to burn the beetle, and in Custer, South Dakota, this weekend, that is exactly what they will do at their Burning Beetle arts festival. It is a good opportunity for us to remember the damage that has been done--430,000 acres--but also to remember the importance of good management, of good stewardship, and of good Federal policy when it comes to protecting great resources like the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Ryan Nenanber for his retirement from the United States Army after over 20 years of service. LTC Nenanber's record of service with the U.S. Army is truly outstanding. He began his career in 2000 when he was stationed in Ft. Wainwright, Alaska and served as an Anti-Tank Platoon Leader, Rifle Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Battalion Assistant Operations Officer. LTC Nenanber then served as a Special Forces Operational Detachment ALPHA Commander and an Advanced Operational Base Executive Officer in Fort Lewis, Washington. He spent time teaching our next generation of servicemembers at the U.S. Military Academy, and then was assigned to the U.S. Army North as a Strategic Intelligence Officer. LTC Nenanber has been deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and multiple locations in Asia. Currently, LTC Nenanber is the Chief of the Functional Training Branch at the United States Army Intelligence Center of Excellence. I want to specifically recognize LTC Nenanber's leadership when he commanded an Operational Detachment ALPHA team that captured the leaders of an Al-Qaeda affiliated cell north of Baghdad, Iraq that used young boys as suicide bombers. Through their brave actions, LTC Nenanber and his team saved countless young boys--many thought to be orphans--from certain death, and prevented the execution of many disastrous suicide bombings. Originally from Belle Fourche, LTC Nenanber is a native South Dakotan and I am proud to have such an exceptional servicemember call South Dakota home. Our state and country are better because of citizens like him. I thank LTC Nenanber and his family for their tremendous sacrifice, and I extend my deepest congratulations for his retirement.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the Sioux Falls Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System for achieving a Pathway Designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The Pathway Designation is a global credential awarded to health care organizations that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to a healthy work environment that empowers and engages nurses. Investing in a positive, state-of-the-art workplace for nurses can lead to a greater culture of excellence for the entire health care facility. This has been clearly demonstrated and recognized in Sioux Falls. Therefore, this designation is a win not only for the Sioux Falls VA, but also for the greater veteran community they serve. This award is a significant honor for the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System, validating their commitment to sustained excellence, professionalism, and dedication from the nursing staff and their patients. I commend the nurses of this organization for their outstanding record of service, care, and hard work. I extend my deepest congratulations to the Sioux Falls Veterans Affairs Health Care System for this designation.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Dylan M. Goetsch and Christopher W. Schmoker for their tremendous courage last year while saving a citizen from a house fire in Sturgis, South Dakota. After arriving at the scene of a burning home in May 2018, police Officer Dylan Goetsch and Sgt. Christopher Schmoker rushed into the house without hesitation, knowing Jason McKee was trapped inside. They journeyed to the upper level of the home not once, not twice, but three times in search of the trapped man. The smoke was so dense, Officer Goetsch was unable to see more than a few feet in front of him, but they did not retreat until they were able to drag Mr. McKee to safety. I was pleased to hear Officer Goetsch and Sgt. Schmoker are being awarded the Carnegie Medal by the Carnegie Hero Fund in honor of their bravery. This award is reserved for individuals who risk their lives to an extraordinary degree in the attempt to save the lives of others. I can think of no citizens more deserving of this award than Officer Goetsch and Sgt. Schmoker. I thank both these South Dakotans for their selfless courage. Our state and country are better because of citizens like them. I commend them for their outstanding heroism and congratulate them on the receival of the esteemed Carnegie Medal.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Madam Speaker, so often in this political environment, victories bring with them a winner, but many more losers. Today is different. Today is a celebration. Today brings with it a bounty of benefits to a multitude of winners. If you are a dairy family, today you are a winner. If you are a middle-class family, today you are a winner. If you grow wheat, if you write code, if you process cheese, you are a winner today. So often in this Chamber we lament deals that could have been, but today is a deal we are celebrating, with $2 billion of new agriculture exports, with 176,000 new jobs, with $68 billion of real growth in this economy. Madam Speaker, today, 300 million Americans are winners.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Madam Speaker, I am voting ``no.'' Impeachment is not in the best interest of this country. In fact, it has only deepened the partisan divide that truly plagues this country. When the Sun comes up tomorrow, I pray with all my heart that the anger and the division in this Chamber will give way to an honorableness, a productivity, and a time of working together.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Vidal Davila for his retirement from the National Park Service after almost forty-five years of service. Mr. Davila has been a passionate servant for our nation's national parks his entire life. He grew up regularly visiting national parks, cultivating a passion for protecting and preserving public lands from a young age. Mr. Davila has served in an impressive number of public lands across the United States, including Texas' Amistad Recreation Area, Texas' Big Bend National Park, and Texas' Guadalupe Mountains National Park. He also served in the Southwest Regional Office in New Mexico, the Great Basin National Park in Nevada, and, of course, South Dakota's Wind Cave National Park. Wind Cave has greatly benefited from Mr. Davila's leadership over the past twelve years. Mr. Davila became Wind Cave's superintendent in 2007 and was awarded Superintendent of the Year for Natural Resources by the Midwest Regional Director for his hard work and dedication to the park. He also has served as a member of the NPS Midwest Regional Office Bison Leadership Team since 2013 where he helped facilitate coordination between bison parks and National Park Service leadership. I commend Mr. Davila for his outstanding record of service, dedication, and hard work. I extend my deepest congratulations to Vidal Davila for his contributions to South Dakota and our nation's parks.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Madam Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Americans want lower drug prices. I want lower drug prices. My colleagues want lower drug prices. We have been told tonight that H.R. 3 is the proper vehicle to accomplish that goal. I regret to inform the body that it is not. H.R. 3 is not a bipartisan attempt to find common ground. Make no mistake about it, it will not become the law of the land. But for those of us who came to Congress to solve problems, there is some good news. There is a better way. H.R. 19, which was introduced by 111 of my colleagues and me this week, is markedly better than H.R. 3, and it can become law. I want to highlight four components of H.R. 19. First, it would end abuse of the patent system, and it would end the pay-for-delay agreements that allow generic manufacturers to actually be paid by their competitors to keep drugs off the market. Secondly, it would, for the first time ever, place a cap on seniors' out-of-pocket drug costs. That is supported by 75 percent of Americans. Third, it would establish a new negotiator within the Office of the United States Trade Representative, allowing us to push back against countries that expect that the U.S. should subsidize their drug costs. Finally, it would increase transparency in the doctor's office and at the pharmacy. That will be welcome news for the 90 percent of Americans who want to see more transparency in the drug pricing system. Madam Chair, with agreements this week on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement and the National Defense Authorization Act, we have some bipartisan momentum building in this town. Oh, my, perhaps it is a Christmas miracle. With that in mind, we should set aside the partisan H.R. 3 and instead apply that reemerging bipartisan spirit to lowering drug prices.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we live in a highly divided time, of course, high levels of polarization, but I would submit, Mr. Speaker, that one thing that every Member of this esteemed body can agree upon is they want people to be able to work their way out of poverty, that that pathway out of poverty is a critically important part of the American story. And one thing that I know deep in my heart, and I know that my colleague, Congresswoman Adams, agrees, and that is that education is a powerful tool. Education and hard work creates opportunity for people to be able to build better lives, and that is why we gather here today: the FUTURE Act, Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education Act. Now, Congress has long recognized the importance of historically Black colleges and Tribal colleges, of which there are a number in South Dakota, and we will hear more about them in a bit, and there are other minority-serving institutions. They play a critically important role in building that pathway out of poverty that we have been talking about. We also know what a large role STEM--science, technology, engineering and math--is playing in our country today, and we know that it will play an even larger role in the future. And so what this bill does, what the FUTURE Act does, is make sure that the Congressional commitment to that STEM education continues for a decade. Mr. Speaker, $255 million a year has gone to historically Black institutions, Tribal colleges, and other minority-serving institutions. It has unlocked great potential and great opportunity. We do know that these institutions work. We know that they are worth investing in. We know that graduates of those minority-serving institutions earn more and have more successful careers than people who do not graduate from those institutions. And, in fact, we know that for many of the institutions, their outcomes for their students are better than the outcomes for students who graduate from non-minority-serving institutions. This a powerful story, and it is worth investing in. We talked about that for a decade this program has been in place and it has been working. The 10-year authorization lapsed earlier this year--September 30, 2019. We have an opportunity here today for this Chamber to reinvest in what works and to get our work done on, at least, close to on time. So, Mr. Speaker, I have other comments to make, particularly about Tribal colleges, but at this point, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, for 22 years, Texas has been ably represented by Congressman Kevin Brady, who has done a fantastic job serving Texas in this country. But I do have to brag, he is still a favored son of his native State of South Dakota, where Rapid City and Vermillion remember him well. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady).

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, Chief Sitting Bull said: ``Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children.'' Now, Chief Sitting Bull has cast a long shadow in South Dakota and that general geographic area. His words are as true today as they were when he uttered them. And he is the namesake for one of the impressive, successful, hardworking Tribal colleges in South Dakota. They are collectively serving and improving the lives of thousands of, largely, Native students, although, some White students as well. And the outcomes are fantastic. They really are changing lives. They work every single day, often in difficult geographic environments, often in difficult financial environments, to help students who are so often first-generation students take those important educational steps to find that pathway toward a more successful life. This is worth investing in. I have been to these colleges. Over my 20 years in and out of the public sector, I have been to Oglala Lakota College, and I have been to Sitting Bull College and Sinte Gleska and Sisseton Wahpeton. The names of these presidents--Vermillion, Azure, Bordeaux, and Shortbull--these are legends in the educational arena. Those leaders and their staffs are using these dollars to deploy this STEM education in a way that really works. And we all know, Mr. Speaker, how important STEM education is. I suspect we all understand that 15 of the 20 fastest growing careers are in the STEM fields. They require advanced study in science, in mathematics. We understand that job growth over the course of the next 10 years in these STEM fields will be 100 percent higher than job growth in other fields. Now, that is not in any way an attempt to minimize the importance of other types of education, of course; but, if we want to have students at historically Black colleges and Tribal universities and other minority-serving institutions be prepared to be a key part of this growing American economy, the FUTURE Act and the STEM education that it supports is critically important. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, in August, I was at Sitting Bull College, and I had an opportunity, over the course of half a day or so, to speak with the instructors, the professors, the administrators, and, most importantly, the students there. The stories of these students brought such a smile to my face. If anybody is having a bad day, you have got to go to one of these Tribal colleges. You have got to hear from the students who are seeing the prospects for a better tomorrow improve every single day they sit in the classroom; to see these facilities, which are not the fanciest campuses in America, but are places where people with large hearts and with limited resources have built a center of learning and economic opportunity. One student had had a very difficult life, and I asked her: So why do you persevere? Why are you here? Why are you doing homework late into the night so you can be prepared for class? Wouldn't it be easier to go do something else? She said: Congressman Johnson, the life I have had isn't the life that I want to have. My children deserve better, and, sir, I am going to give it to them. Hard work alone can only do so much. Hard work, when paired with education, can unlock the universe. This is happening in our country, and it is worth investing in. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, just a short note about Congresswoman Adams. I have the honor of serving with her on both the Education and Labor Committee as well as the Agriculture Committee, and, every time we have a committee hearing, I get an opportunity to see her hard work, her respect, her conscientiousness, her approach toward making this institution be the best that it can be. She has done yeoman's work in getting us to this point. I would advise the Congresswoman as well as the Speaker that I have no further speakers and that I am prepared to close at the appropriate time, sir. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.