Weekly Round[s] Up: July 18-24, 2022

We had another busy week in Washington! I met with South Dakotans from across the state, attended hearings and briefings on topics ranging from the war in Ukraine to combating homelessness and visited with a number of military leaders. There’s always a lot to be done in Washington, and no two weeks are ever the same. Here’s the Weekly Round[s] Up, a glimpse into my week:

South Dakota groups I visited with: South Dakota’s FFA State Officers, Dakota Provisions, Hybrid Turkeys, Hendrix Genetics, South Dakota Poultry Industry Association, as well as students and parents from the Waubay and Webster schools. Additionally, I helped facilitate a briefing between Air Force officials and leaders in western South Dakota about the upcoming of the arrival of the B-21 raider bomber. It’s important that we are prepared for the growth that will be experienced in the Ellsworth Air Force Base area. We included language in this year’s NDAA to make certain school districts like Douglas, in Box Elder, are able to get the resources they need so that our kids can get a quality education.

Other meetings this week: Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog, the CEO of Bel Brands (I was disappointed that he didn’t bring any Babybel Cheese with him!), Senate Prayer Breakfast (Senator Alex Padilla from California was our speaker) and Senate Bible Study (our verse of the week was Psalm 111:10). Additionally, I had three meetings with nominees whose confirmations are being processed in the Armed Services Committee.

Met with South Dakotans from: Huron, Beresford, Waubay, Webster, Salem, Oral, Hoven, Aberdeen, Sturgis, Rapid City, Spearfish, Box Elder, Pierre and Dell Rapids.

Topics discussed: The B-21 Raider bomber and its impact on western South Dakota, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the hot weather back home in South Dakota and of course, 9.1% inflation.

Votes taken: 11 – Most of these votes were on nominations for positions in the executive branch or on a judicial court. I try to walk back and forth between my office building and the Capitol for each vote, which adds to my step count!

Hearings: Senator Foreign Relations Committee – we advanced the ratification of Sweden and Finland to be part of NATO. This now moves to the Senate floor; Senate Armed Services Committee – we held a hearing for the nominations of LTG Michael E. Langley to be the next commander of U.S. African Command and LTG Bryan Fenton to be the next commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command; Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation and Development – I served as ranking member of a hearing on opportunities and challenges in addressing homelessness. Jamie Kirsch of Rapid City testified. Jamie is a board member at Journey On, a Rapid City based non-profit focused on homeless street outreach.

Classified briefings: I had a classified briefing on the ongoing situation in Ukraine as part of my membership on the Senate Armed Services Committee. I also attended a classified cybersecurity education session.

My staff in South Dakota visited: Aberdeen, Red Owl, Watertown, Vermillion and Elm Springs.

Staff happenings: I took my summer interns in our Washington, D.C. office to breakfast on Thursday morning to thank them for all of their hard work. (No government funds expended!) They each ordered eggs benedict – my personal favorite. 

Steps taken this week: 55,186 (or 25.43 miles)

Photos of the week: