speeches & Columns
Old Glory, Eternal Glory
June 10, 2022
On June 14th each year, we celebrate the American Flag as an enduring symbol of freedom, equality, justice, and hope. Our flag is more than a symbol of our country’s core values — it also represents the toil and sacrifice of so many who have worked to lift America to the top of the world stage.
Read more . . .
What Happened to America?
June 3, 2022
Before the pandemic struck, America was experiencing a resurgence in global economic and political strength that hadn’t been seen since World War II. We had the lowest unemployment rate in more than 50 years – including record-high employment rates for Black and Hispanic Americans. We became the global leader in energy production. We were the third-largest exporter of cars and the second-largest producer of auto parts. It’s simple – we were putting America first.
Read more . . .
Their Sacrifice is a Call for Us to Serve
May 27, 2022
If you ever visit South Dakota’s State Capitol, I hope you take the time to visit the veterans’ memorial down by Capitol Lake. While this memorial is dedicated to all veterans who have served, there is a portion specifically dedicated to the more than 300 South Dakotans killed in the Korean and Vietnam wars. To one side there is an inscription: May we ever protect the freedoms for which they fought.
Read more . . .
South Dakota is a 2nd Amendment Sanctuary
May 20, 2022
Over the past two years, America has seen some of the most concerning attacks on freedom in our history. Governments seized previously unimagined power over our day-to-day lives. Churches were forced to close, forsaking freedom of religion. Big tech and government alike attempted to police speech, something that is supposed to be free for all.
Read more . . .
South Dakota Strong
May 13, 2022
Nature has a way of humbling us, of stepping into our lives with previously unthought power and reminding us what truly matters. That's how I felt these past two days while surveying storm damage across much of South Dakota.
Read more . . .
South Dakota Loves the Outdoors
May 6, 2022
When you think about South Dakota, you can’t help but picture the great outdoors. The beautiful Black Hills, with their mix of mountain ranges and rolling prairies. The mighty Missouri River — winding across the state and feeding thousands of miles of riverbed and streams. The picturesque Prairie Lakes and the wide-open fields that I call home. From the Badlands to farmlands, we’ve got plenty of reasons to go outside.
Read more . . .
Go Big, Go South Dakota Tourism
April 29, 2022
There has never been a better time to talk about tourism in South Dakota. May 1-7 is National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) across the country. In South Dakota, we celebrate the Great Faces, Great Places that make our state the greatest vacation destination in America.
Read more . . .
Opportunity, Not Difficulty
April 22, 2022
An optimistic mindset can change more than just how we see the world – it can change everything about our lives. Winston Churchill summed up how when he said, “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” Two years ago, when the pandemic made its way to America, states across this country shut their doors out of fear. All but one. South Dakota built opportunity out of that difficulty, and the result is a booming economy — the strongest in the nation.
Read more . . .
The Week to Celebrate Life
April 14, 2022
Everywhere we turn, we see symbols of renewal and rebirth. Spring snows blanket Custer State Park while buffalo calves are being born on the prairie. Elsewhere, the snow has turned to rain showers — a blessing to all, especially our farmers preparing the fields for spring planting.
Read more . . .
The Lessons of History
April 8, 2022
I love learning about history. When I see the granite faces on Mount Rushmore, I always want to learn more about the men enshrined there. When I walk through downtown Rapid City and see the bronze statues of our presidents, I want to learn more about each of their successes and failures. I love the stories — and we can learn powerful lessons from those stories.
Read more . . .
Serving Veterans, Supporting Soldiers
April 1, 2022
April marks Month of the Military Child, an annual celebration where communities across the country lift up the sons and daughters of our military heroes. During this time, we remember that the men and women in uniform are not the only ones who sacrifice for our country – their families sacrifice time together. Sometimes they even sacrifice the life of their loved ones.
Read more . . .
Taking Care of People
March 25, 2022
South Dakota is in the middle of a healthcare boom. While the strain of the pandemic has challenged this industry across the country, our state has remained resilient. A new study from WalletHub ranked South Dakota the No. 1 best state for doctors to work in. Last year, that same firm ranked our state in the Top 10 for work environment for nurses.
Read more . . .
The Hope of Springtime
March 18, 2022
Sunday, March 20 marks the first day of Spring — at 10:33 a.m. CT/9:33 a.m. MT precisely, according to the Farmer’s Almanac. Spring is a crucial season for both of our state’s two largest industries: agriculture and tourism.
Read more . . .
South Dakota: The State for Business
March 11, 2022
During my first State of the State address, I announced I wanted South Dakota to lead the nation, raising the bar in everything we do. We immediately got to work on that, earning big wins like Constitutional Carry and the Second Century Initiative to grow pheasant and wildlife habitat. Now, South Dakota will raise the bar in economic development.
Read more . . .
Two Years Later…
March 4, 2022
They say hindsight is 20-20. Looking back at the year 2020 in hindsight, we now can say that South Dakota consistently made the right decisions during the pandemic. After all, our path has led us to the strongest economy in America, and we took care of people along the way. But with the two-year anniversary of COVID in South Dakota coming up, I want to dive deeper into how I made those pandemic-related decisions at the time I made them – without the benefit of hindsight.
Read more . . .
Mandate Freedom
February 11, 2022
When the federal government oversteps its bounds, it is up to states to protect individual liberties. In South Dakota, we take action to defend the personal choice to get the COVID-19 vaccine—or not. And with good reason.
Read more . . .
Why Putting America First Matters to South Dakota
January 28, 2022
In his first hours in office just over one year ago, President Joe Biden canceled the Keystone XL pipeline and delivered a severe blow to South Dakota families and American energy independence. A few months later, President Biden opened the door for the construction of a Russian pipeline, delivering a costly gift to a dangerous adversary.
Read more . . .
In South Dakota, we protect life
January 21, 2022
It is no mistake that when Thomas Jefferson declared all men are endowed with the "right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," LIFE came first. The Constitution clearly delegates defending the lives and safety of the people to the government as its chief role. That includes defending the rights and the lives of unborn children.
Read more . . .
Fairness in Girls' Sports Matters
January 14, 2022
This week, the 2022 legislative session kicked off, and I presented my State of the State address to the people of South Dakota. I described how South Dakota is stronger than it has ever been in its 133-year history. This did not happen because of what government did. It happened because of what government did NOT do. To preserve what we have and grow even stronger, we need to remember why government exists in the first place – to protect the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Read more . . .
That won't happen here
December 17, 2021
For generations, South Dakotans have held true to the values that make our state a special place to call home. I spend every day working to keep South Dakota a special place to live and strengthen it for the future. By doing so, South Dakota sets an example for the nation.
Read more . . .
Budgeting for the future
December 12, 2021
This week, I outlined my budget recommendations for how we will run our state in the next fiscal year. The past year has brought historic challenges. South Dakota has taken those challenges in stride and has come out stronger.
Read more . . .
Caught in a Self-Inflicted Energy Crisis
December 3, 2021
The United States faces a federal-government-created energy crisis, and South Dakota is caught in the middle of it. Gas prices continue to rise, driving up the cost of shipping and making it more expensive to visit loved ones over the holidays. As we enter the winter season, Americans are outraged by the rising cost to heat their homes.
Read more . . .
Help Wanted? Try These Resources
November 26, 2021
It’s the holiday season 2021 and—just about everywhere you look—businesses are hiring. “Help Wanted” signs dot store windows in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and all points in-between. For the past two months, the South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation has posted between 20,000 and 31,000 active jobs on their (DLR) website. That’s good news for our state as unemployment numbers remain well below the national average.
Read more . . .
Under God, the People Gather and Give Thanks
November 19, 2021
Thanksgiving is a time of unity. It is a time of gathering friends, family, and sometimes newcomers into your home. Somewhere along the way, America began to forget what the true meaning of Thanksgiving is.
Read more . . .
A little goes a long way during this Season of Giving
November 12, 2021
The season of giving is here and there are numerous organizations that South Dakotans support in their communities. Food pantries, shelters for women and children, clothing drives, and toy drives are all causes that fill our hearts while helping those less fortunate, especially during the holiday season.
Read more . . .
South Dakota's Treats this Halloween Season
October 29, 2021
It’s Halloween weekend and there is a seasonal chill in the air. There’s also a chill affecting American confidence in our economy. With an unfocused White House in charge, gas prices climbing, and supply chain issues clogging our ports, many Americans feel like the country has become a House of Horrors with a new crisis lurking around every corner.
Read more . . .
It's National Disability Employment Awareness Month
October 15, 2021
I've spent a lot of time lately talking about South Dakota being ranked one of the hardest working states in the nation. And we continue to be the number one state for economic recovery — Moody's Analytics has our economy operating at 105% on its "Back to Normal Index". Despite all these positive economic indicators, businesses here are still struggling with a common challenge: workforce shortages.
Read more . . .
Pheasant hunting is a tradition worth preserving
October 1, 2021
From the Black Hills to the eastern plains, the familiar sound of shotgun blasts can usually be heard popping in the distance. It's hunting season and we are starting to get into my favorite time of year: pheasant season.
Read more . . .
A responsibility to be smart with taxpayer dollars
September 17, 2021
Do you find yourself wondering where your tax dollars go? In South Dakota, the simple answer is to education, health care, public safety, and other state government operations. But if you really want to talk dollars and cents, I can break it down for you using the change you find in your couch cushions.
Read more . . .
9/11 anniversary and the lesson every generation must learn
September 10, 2021
I heard about it on the radio. The fall morning of Sept. 11, 2001, was a regular day driving in my truck to the family farm. Until it wasn't. The first reports were coming through my pickup truck's speakers: an airplane has flown into the World Trade Center in New York City.
Read more . . .
Conservative Principles Restrain Government, Not Expand Its Powers
August 27, 2021
We are now seeing a battle in the Republican Party between the populist wing and traditional limited government conservatism. So-called conservatives want to regulate businesses to prevent them from requiring a Covid vaccine as a condition of employment, but my beliefs do not allow me to waive the constitution because I disagree with a private business.
Read more . . .
South Dakota is a Rising Star as a Recovery Leader
August 20, 2021
It may not surprise many here at home, but South Dakota is leading the nation in recovery! Moody’s Analytics and CNN track how far along the nation’s economy is at getting “Back to Normal,” and they say that the US is only 92 percent recovered. But South Dakota is the top ranked state in this metric at 113 percent, meaning we’ve more than recovered and are growing substantially! Second-place Idaho is far behind us at just 103 percent.
Read more . . .
They Come to Sturgis (and South Dakota) for Freedom
August 13, 2021
The Sturgis Rally is one of the biggest gatherings for motorcycle enthusiasts in the world. While the rally has always promoted an independent spirit, these past two years have taken on a new meaning of freedom.
Read more . . .
Back-to-School for students, teachers, and parents
August 6, 2021
It's back-to-school season; a busy time filled with excitement for students and teachers, as well as parents eager to snap those "first day of school" photos. The outpouring of positivity for students at every grade level has always been a great way to kickstart the school year.
Read more . . .
Great Places
July 23, 2021
In the past when Americans were planning their vacations, their top destinations were always beaches and big cities. For the first time in decades, that’s changing. Now, the American people want to visit the great outdoors. They want to see beautiful parks and small towns that remind them how life used to be. Well, South Dakota has that in spades.
Read more . . .
Learning from Our Mistakes
July 16, 2021
One of the main reasons why we study history is to learn from both our triumphs and our mistakes. Sometimes those mistakes are painful to admit, but we study them nonetheless so that we can ensure that they are never repeated.
Read more . . .
Where's the Beef?
July 9, 2021
America’s meat supply is a matter of national security. If we don’t control our own food supply, then we don’t control our own destiny. South Dakota feeds the world, and we do it better than anybody else. We have more head of cattle per-person than any other state. But anticompetitive practices in the meatpacking industry are threatening that way of life. We need more competition, more transparency, and more options for our cattle producers to market their livestock.
Read more . . .
Independence
July 2, 2021
On July 4, 1776, our Founding Fathers signed a transformational document full of beautiful principles that would come to define our great nation. "We hold these truths to be self-evident," Thomas Jefferson famously wrote before outlining those principles.
Read more . . .
Biden's Backdoor Death Tax
June 25, 2021
Over the past year, our farmers and ranchers went to work every day to feed this country during a time of great challenge and uncertainty for millions of Americans. How does President Biden plan to thank them? By raising their taxes.
Read more . . .
Happy Father’s Day to Our Founding Fathers
June 18, 2021
Father's Day is a time to celebrate all the great fathers in our lives. My kids have an awesome one in Bryon. My son-in-law Kyle will be a father any day now! And I want to wish every father in the state of South Dakota a very happy Father’s Day. The holiday can also be a tough reminder of loved-ones lost. Father's Day was tough for me for many years after Dad died. But this Father's Day, I want to take some time for a little bit of a different remembrance. I want us to remember our Founding Fathers who gave us one of the greatest gifts ever: the United States of America.
Read more . . .
South Dakota Strong
June 11, 2021
South Dakota has the strongest economy in America. In fact, a recent study by Moody’s Analytics says that South Dakota is one of only 2 states to be in a stronger economic position than we were before the pandemic. That’s no small deal. At a time when other states are still struggling to recover from the devastating shutdowns imposed on them by shortsighted politicians, South Dakota is thriving.
Read more . . .
Arbitrary and Unlawful
June 4, 2021
There is no better place than Mount Rushmore to celebrate America’s birthday. Independence Day is the celebration of our nation and our founding principles of freedom, equality, and opportunity.
Read more . . .
Remembering the Brave
May 28, 2021
As Americans, we are so blessed to live in the greatest country ever, but we are sometimes blind to the extent of those blessings. We may not realize just how different life is in other places.
Read more . . .
Triumphs and Mistakes: Learning from Our History
May 21, 2021
The United States of America has a truly unique and wonderful history. Our nation was the first to be founded on an ideal: that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Read more . . .
Stronger Families Together
May 14, 2021
In South Dakota, we help our neighbors. It’s just part of who we are. My parents instilled that in me at a very young age. We’d check on families in our community who were struggling.
Read more . . .
Strengthening South Dakota’s Workforce
May 7, 2021
South Dakota’s jobs market is booming. Our unemployment rate is the lowest in America. Businesses are moving to our state in large numbers. But we’re always looking for ways to continue to grow the state’s workforce.
Read more . . .
The Power of Travel
April 30, 2021
In South Dakota, we have so much to be proud of. Our beautiful landscapes, thriving business climate, and welcoming residents all combine to make this state truly the land of “Great Faces, Great Places.” But this week, we have a very special reason to celebrate something that combines all the state’s greatest qualities: our travel and tourism industry.
Read more . . .
Joe Biden’s First 100 Days – Disunity and Partisanship
April 23, 2021
When Joe Biden was sworn in as President of the United States on January 20, 2021, he declared that “my whole soul is in this: bringing America together . . . and uniting our nation.” He pledged to be a President for all Americans.
Now almost 100 days into his Presidency, Joe Biden has failed in that pledge. Read more . . .
Now almost 100 days into his Presidency, Joe Biden has failed in that pledge. Read more . . .
A Safer South Dakota
April 16, 2021
One of my main responsibilities as Governor is to keep South Dakota safe. It’s something that I take very seriously. After all, I love this state. I love the people who live here. In a small state like ours, we’re all really neighbors. We get to know one another. And we work together to take care of each other.
Read more . . .
Infringed.
April 9, 2021
The Constitution doesn’t always use plain language, but when it comes to our right to defend ourselves, the Second Amendment is quite straightforward: “The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”
Read more . . .
Taxation Without Infrastructure
April 2, 2021
When I was in Congress, I had the tremendous honor of being on the conference committee that ironed out the final details of President Trump’s tax cuts. We cut rates for every South Dakotan. We doubled the standard deduction. We returned $2,400 to the pockets of the average South Dakota family, and the economy grew for years as a result.
Read more . . .
Fairness in Women's Sports
March 26, 2021
Everyone knows that I am willing to fight for what I believe in. Some have even accused me of fighting too much! And one fight that I’ve taken on for years is fairness in women’s sports. And it’s a very simple fight: only girls should play girls’ sports.
Read more . . .
An Endowment for Our Future
March 19, 2021
I recently had the privilege of hearing from two impressive young South Dakota college students. Hattie Seten is the Students’ Association President at South Dakota State University, and she was recently selected to be a Rhodes Scholar.
Read more . . .
Wrapping up a Great Legislative Session
March 12, 2021
This week, the 2021 legislative session came to a close. In South Dakota, we keep things short; the session lasts a maximum of 40 legislative days. Every bill gets a hearing, its opportunity to be weighed and vetted by the 105 legislators that you elect to serve you in Pierre.
Read more . . .
KEEPING TAXES LOW • LIMITING GOVERNMENT REGULATION
• FIGHTING GOVERNMENT INTRUSION • KEEPING GOVERNMENT OPEN AND HONEST