Tim Johnson

Applauds FCC for announcing plan to expand services

March 16, 2010 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) today applauded the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for announcing its plan to increase the availability of broadband internet connections to more homes and businesses across the country.

The proposal, mandated by the stimulus bill, will be examined by Congress in the coming months and has the potential to significantly expand the availability of broadband services in rural states like South Dakota.    » read more »

March 15, 2010 -- Washington, DC -- U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) released the following statement as Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-CT) released new financial regulatory reform legislation this afternoon:

Although I’m still reviewing the proposal, the legislation put forth today by Chairman Dodd incorporates good ideas from Republicans and Democrats alike. This proposal establishes a systemic risk council to identify and prevent risks like those we saw in our housing market, develops a mechanism to end government bailouts of financial companies and establishes a common-sense system that streamlines regulation of financial institutions.    » read more »

Bill breaks down barriers for consumers to make upgrades

March 10, 2010 -- Washington, DC -- U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) joined a bipartisan group of colleagues today in introducing legislation that would make it more affordable for families in rural areas to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. This legislation, the Rural Energy Improvement Act of 2010, would provide low-interest loans to families to finance energy-efficient improvements, with the cost included in their monthly utility bill.    » read more »

February 24, 2010 -- Washington, DC -- U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) today applauded Senate passage of a jobs bill following a bipartisan vote of 70-28 in the U.S. Senate this morning:

I am pleased that the Senate has passed a bipartisan jobs bill to put America back to work. As our nation's economy recovers, the provisions in this bill will encourage businesses to hire more workers, improve our nation's infrastructure and strengthen the economy overall.    » read more »

January 21, 2010 -- Washington, DC -- U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) today released the following statement in regard to the Senate’s debate of an increase in the national debt limit:

In 2000, we found our federal government operating with a surplus, but over the last decade, tax cuts for the rich, two wars and a weakened economy has put us back in the red and in need of an increase in the debt limit.

Our nation slipped into a deep recession in 2008, and the efforts to change course and keep our economy from collapsing have only added to that debt. I support “pay-go” rules to return the country to a balanced long-term budget.    » read more »

January 20, 2010 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) today announced that he will introduce legislation in the coming weeks to include a portion of the Buffalo Gap National Grassland in the National Wilderness Preservation System. The move, which was recommended in 2002 under the Bush Administration, would ensure the areas are protected for future generations while also allowing ranchers to continue to use the area for grazing purposes.    » read more »

January 19, 2010 -- Washington, DC -- As a plane load of more than 50 Haitian orphans touched down in Pennsylvania today, it marked the homecoming for two children with new ties to South Dakota. U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD), who contacted the State Department last week to urge fast action to help save these children from the aftermath of the earthquake, congratulated Bruce and Jill Lear of Watertown as they welcomed their children to the States.

Johnson pledged to continue to work with federal agencies to help unite other adoptive families with their children in Haiti as soon as possible.    » read more »

December 16, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) has cosponsored legislation that would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish consistent volume levels for television advertisements. The Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act of 2009 (CALM), which is pending in the Senate Commerce Committee, aims to prohibit the broadcast of advertisements that are noticeably louder than regular television programming.    » read more »

December 8, 2009 -- Washington, DC -- U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD), a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, today commented on the announcement by the Obama Administration that it has reached an agreement to resolve the long-standing Cobell v. Salazar lawsuit. Under the settlement, a fund totaling $1.4 billion will be distributed to litigants to compensate for historical accounting claims and resolve any impending claims that prior U.S. officials mismanaged the administration of trust assets.    » read more »

November 20, 2009 -- Washington, DC -- The Senate is poised to begin debate on the newly introduced Senate version of the health care reform package, the Patient Protection and Affordability Act. The Senate will move to a procedural vote on Saturday that will allow full consideration and debate of the health care reform bill. The minority is filibustering in an attempt to kill the bill before it’s given an opportunity to be considered. Senator Tim Johnson released the following statement:    » read more »

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 »