HERSETH SANDLIN ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $3.5M IN FUNDING FOR TRIBAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS

Washington, DC-Today, Rep. Herseth Sandlin announced four tribal transportation projects have received $3.5625 in funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Rep. Herseth Sandlin has made funding requests for two of these projects through annual appropriations bills. The other two are the recipients of grant funding from the DOT. Rep. Herseth Sandlin has requested further funding for these ongoing projects as part of the upcoming Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009, or highway bill.

The projects receiving funding at the request of Herseth Sandlin include:

·       $ 475,000 for Reconstruction of BIA Route 15, Marshall County, Lake Traverse Indian Reservation

·       $ 237,500 for Kenel Road (BIA Route 3) Rehabilitation and Resurfacing, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Corson County

The projects receiving grant funding from the DOT include:

·       $ 1,900,000 for Resurfacing of Cuny Table Road (BIA Route 2), Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

·       $ 950,000 Improvements to SD 73 from US 18 to Jackson County Serving Pine Ridge and Rosebud Reservation

“These projects are critical priorities in Indian Country and the improvements to the roads will improve access, safety, and connectivity for tribal and nontribal members,” Rep. Herseth Sandlin said. “I’m pleased that these projects will receive this critical funding, and I will continue to work closely with each tribe to support continued funding for these and other tribal transportation priorities in the upcoming highway bill reauthorization.”

Reconstruction of Cuny Table Road on Pine Ridge will provide a vastly improved roadway that provides an east to west connection between two major north/south Bureau of Indian Affairs highways (BIA Rt. 41 and BIA Rt. 27). The road serves numerous ranches, a store and café plus a campground. This route is part of the Oglala Sioux Tribe's proposed Scenic Byway system. The current gravel surface on BIA Route 2 is not as conducive to travel as the proposed changes. Negotiating the existing gravel road presents challenges to motorists, including Tribal law enforcement personnel. The benefits would be to provide safer travel with less vehicle maintenance to the traveling public and would probably help the local economy by increasing the users at the café/campground. The improvements will enhance access to lands administered by the Tribe, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the National Park Service. 

Improvements on BIA 15 will benefit all those living along BIA Route 15 including Tribal and non-tribal members. The project will provide improved access to lands administered by the Tribe and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The project will also alleviate excessive maintenance requirements that currently exist. 

SD 73 serves residents of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and Bennett County with major north/south access for goods and services. The present roadway pavement condition has declined and is in need of resurfacing. Children residing in this area are transported to school on this roadway. The highway also functions as a farm to market road, and US mail route that serves the area. Access to lands administered by the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs will be enhanced as a result of project implementation.

Kenel Road improvements will provide a safer roadway for vehicles and reduce high maintenance costs. The existing paved roadway has seen extreme deterioration in recent years at various locations. The roughness of the roadway alone in many areas makes travel hazardous. The paved roadway requires frequent spot patching to keep it somewhat smooth and safe. The new paved surface will greatly reduce the cost necessary to maintain the roadway. A rehabilitated surface with appropriate centerline and edge striping will also make the roadway safer for the traveling public. Access to adjacent lands administered by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the Bureau of Indian Affairs will be greatly improved. 

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HERSETH SANDLIN OPPOSES PAY RAISE FOR CONGRESS

Washington, DC-Rep. Herseth Sandlin announced today that she is a cosponsor of a bipartisan bill to stop a Congressional pay raise in 2011.  The bill, which was introduced by Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-AZ) and Ron Paul (R-TX), is H.R. 4255, the Stop the Automatic Pay Raise for Members of Congress in Fiscal Year 2011 Act.  The Congresswoman also supported legislation last year to block a pay raise for Congress in 2010. This legislation passed and members of Congress will not get a pay raise this year.

"With budgets tight and South Dakotans tightening their belts, I don’t think Congress should get a pay raise," Rep. Herseth Sandlin said. "That's why I worked to successfully block a pay raise for 2010 and am proud to cosponsor legislation that prevents a pay raise for 2011."

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HERSETH SANDLIN BILL PROMOTES USE OF RENEWABLE BIOMASS FROM BLACK HILLS NATIONAL FOREST

Legislation Supports Job Creation; Encourages Renewable Electricity and Cellulosic Biofuels

Washington, DC- Rep. Herseth Sandlin joined with Rep. Wally Herger (R-CA) to introduce the bipartisan Renewable Biomass Fairness Act. By providing energy produced from renewable biomass an equal tax incentive as for wind and solar, this legislation would promote use of renewable biomass, foster job growth in the Black Hills, and help move the nation toward energy independence.

The legislation improves the Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit (PTC) and the Farm Bill’s Cellulosic Biofuel Tax Credit. The bill would extend the PTC for five years for open and closed-loop biomass facilities; increase the credit for renewable biomass electricity from .9 cents/kWh to 1.8 cents/kWh, to provide rate parity with other renewable energy sources such as wind and solar; and eliminate a loophole in the 2008 Farm Bill. That loophole allows paper manufacturers to reap a windfall by claiming a $1.01-per-gallon cellulosic biofuel tax credit based on their use of a byproduct of the paper manufacturing process known as “black liquor” to produce energy.

The PTC provides a tax credit for the production of electricity from renewable sources such as wind, solar, solid waste, hydro, geothermal, marine, landfill gas, and closed and open-loop biomass. The definition of open loop biomass includes forest slash, trimmings, and agricultural waste, while closed loop biomass consists of plant materials grown exclusively for the production of energy. The PTC for renewable biomass is currently set to expire in 2014. This legislation would extend the credit to 2019, and also provide a five year extension of the credit period for open-loop biomass power plants placed in service on or before August 8, 2005, which will expire at the end of this year. The Farm Bill Cellulosic biofuel tax credit was designed to incentivize the production of innovative biofuels. Paper manufacturers than burn black liquor can already claim an alternative fuels tax credit established by the 2005 Highway Bill.

“This legislation recognizes the great potential for woody biomass to contribute to our energy independence and to job creation in rural states. Despite this great potential, electricity produced from renewable biomass does not enjoy the same tax incentives as other sources of renewable energy. The Renewable Biomass Fairness Act remedies this discrepancy, by ensuring that the production of electricity from renewable biomass receives the same tax credit as wind and solar energy,” Rep. Herseth Sandlin said. “The latest figures indicate that unemployment in South Dakota remains steady at 5%, with losses in the logging industry helping to drive those numbers. This legislation will provide improved tax credits for electricity generation from home-grown biomass and support job-creation in the energy and forest resource industry in the Black Hills.”

This bill is part of the Congresswoman’s broader efforts to promote healthy forests, renewable energy, and rural jobs. Last week, Rep. Herseth Sandlin joined with a bipartisan coalition to introduce the Healthy Forests Restoration Amendments Act, common-sense legislation that will strengthen the existing tools available to federal forest managers to bring the most diseased and fire prone forests back to health, and the Incentives to Increase Use of Renewable Biomass Act of 2009, which would establish a program at USDA to provide interest-free loans for converting existing equipment or installing new equipment to use renewable biomass for energy generation, heating, or cooling at an institution of higher education; a public or private elementary or secondary school; a hospital; a local government building; a governmental, community, or health building, and tribal buildings.

"This package of bills seek to reduce wild fire risk, incentivize sound forest management and the use of woody biomass as a source of renewable energy, and create jobs in rural communities in western South Dakota," Rep. Herseth Sandlin said. "These common sense policies will not only result in healthier forests and reduce wild fire risk, but complement efforts in the 2007 Energy Bill and jump start our nation's effort to become truly energy independent."

These three bills follow on the congresswoman's efforts to broaden the definition of cellulosic biofuels in the Renewable Fuels Standard through the Renewable Biomass Facilitation Act (H.R. 1190). Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin added, “Since 2008, I have worked to broaden the definition of cellulosic ethanol under the new Renewable Fuel Standard to include woody biomass gathered from national forests, including the Black Hills National Forest. These three bills build on those efforts.”

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HERSETH SANDLIN ANNOUNCES $20M TELECOMMUNICATIONS GRANT FOR SDN

Washington, DC-Today, Rep. Herseth Sandlin announced that South Dakota Network (SDN), a partnership of 27 independent telecom providers, is the recipient of a grant in the amount of $20,572,240 for Project Connect South Dakota. Provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or stimulus legislation, and administered by the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce, this grant will enable and improve telecommunications for more than 500 public and health care institutions across the state.

"This critical investment in telecommunications infrastructure will not only advance our efforts to improve health care delivery to South Dakotans living in rural communities, but also create education opportunities and improve efficiency in our state and local governments," Rep. Herseth Sandlin said. "I look forward to continuing to work with South Dakota Network to improve telecommunications across our state." 

Specifically, this funding will assist SDN with the implementation of its proposed Project Connect South Dakota, which will add 140 miles of backbone network and 219 miles of middle mile spurts to its fiber-optic network. This improvement in the network proposes to enable the delivery of at least 10 Mbps service to more than 220 existing anchor institution customers in rural and underserved areas of the state.

The network also intends to connect more than 300 new anchor institutions, including public middle and high schools, libraries, universities, hospitals, clinics, public safety agencies, courthouses, government buildings, and National Guard facilities. Patients and hospitals are expected to benefit from the network through the use of telemedicine to update medical records, to conduct remote testing, and to provide diagnostic services. School children in sparsely populated areas are expected to benefit through improved participation in distance-learning programs.

Project Connect South Dakota proposes to:

·       Provide improved services to more than 300 existing anchor institutions and more than 200 new anchor institutions.

·       Work with Avera Health Care Systems and Sanford Lab healthcare providers to support telemedicine in rural areas.

·       Assist the South Dakota Research Education Economic Development Network to connect the state government, state universities, and the Earth Resources Observation and Science Data Center.

·       Provide state-of-the-art equipment and technology for use at the Mitchell Technical Institute in training students for careers in broadband applications and deployment.

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HOUSE PASSES DEFENSE BILL WITH FUNDING FOR B-1, AIR GUARD, RESEARCH

December 16, 2009, Washington, DC-Today, an overwhelming bipartisan majority in the House, including Rep. Herseth Sandlin, voted to approve the Defense Appropriations Act, which funds the Department of Defense and related programs for Fiscal Year 2010. This legislation includes funding requested by Rep. Herseth Sandlin that supports the B-1 Bomber Fleet, South Dakota Air Guard and research at universities in South Dakota, along with other critical priorities.

"South Dakotans make critical sacrifices and contributions for the defense of our country," Rep. Herseth Sandlin said. "The funding approved today recognizes these sacrifices and contributions, ultimately improving the safety of our men and women in uniform, investing in the armaments and equipment that will support them in their missions, and enhancing our national security."

Funding requested Rep. Herseth Sandlin included in the legislation approved today:

B-1 Upgrade

$2 million, B-1 AESA Radar Operational Utility Evaluation

South Dakota Air Guard F-16s

$2 million, LITENING Generation 4 Pod Kit Upgrades for Air National Guard

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

$7.2 million, Multi-Utility Materials (MUM) for Army Future Combat Systems
$2.5 million, Life Extension of Navy Weapon System Structures Through Application of Advanced Materials Processing Technologies
$2.4 million, Accelerated Materials Development and Characterization for Army Cannon Systems
$1 million, Smart Integrated Systems (SIS): Materials, Manufacturing Methods, and Structures (M3S)
$1 million, Energy Efficiency, Recovery and Generation – ENERGY

South Dakota State University:

$3.2 million, Alternative Power Technology for Missile Defense
$2.4 million, Renewable Jet Fuel from Lignocellulosic Feedstocks

University of South Dakota

$288,000, Center for Engineered Biomedical Devices at the University of South Dakota

Rosebud Sioux Tribe:

$3.0 million - Advanced Electronics Rosebud Integration

Aerostar

$2.4 million, HiSentinel

IKOR

$1.2 million, Stabilized Hemoglobin Wound Healing Development Project

Black Hills Nanosystems:

$2.4 million - Exploding Foil Initiators with Nanomaterial-Based Circuits

Dakota Power

$1.6 million, Next Generation Lightweight Drive Systems for Army Weapon Systems

Lloyd’s Systems

$1.2 million, Advanced Robot and Sensor Technology for Surveillance and Energy Efficiency Applications

EMCC

$480,000, Development, Optimization, and Transfer of a Reliable Testing Technology for Materials Designed to Protect War-fighters Against Toxic Chemical Warfare Agents

H.F. Webster

$1.2 million, Aging and Battle Damaged Weapon Systems Repair

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HERSETH SANDLIN SUPPORTS LEGISLATION TARGETING IRANIAN NUCLEAR CAPACITY

December 15, 2009, Washington, DC-Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2194, the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act, by a strong bipartisan margin. This legislation, which was co-sponsored by Rep. Herseth Sandlin, targets Iran’s reliance on foreign refining capacity to impel the country to abandon its uranium enrichment program.

Rep. Herseth Sandlin said. "This legislation diminishes the ability of Iran to acquire the resources necessary to continue developing nuclear weapons, and sends a clear message to the international community that the United States is serious about forcing Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment program.”

While rich in oil, Iran lacks domestic refining capacity and currently imports more than 25 percent of its supply of gasoline and other refined petroleum products. This legislation strengthens existing laws by giving the President the power to impose sanctions against companies that supply Iran with – or support its domestic production of – gasoline and other refined petroleum products. Such companies would be denied access to the U.S. market. Limiting Iran’s ability to acquire gasoline and other refined petroleum products will have a direct effect on Iran’s economy, limiting the country’s ability to acquire or develop nuclear weapons.

The legislation does not require the President to implement these sanctions, but gives him the authority to do so if he feels it is necessary.  

Specifically, the bill amends and reauthorizes the Iran Sanctions Act (PL 109-293).  In amending the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA), this bill mandates that any company be barred from the U.S. market if it:

Sells, leases, or provides Iran any goods, services, technology, information or support that would allow Iran to maintain or expand its domestic production of refined petroleum products; or

 

Provides Iran with refined petroleum products or engages in an activity that could contribute to Iran’s ability to import refined petroleum resources.

Under H.R. 2194, the President could choose to waive sanctions, just as he can under current ISA law. 

This bill also closes existing loopholes in the Iran Sanctions Act regarding investigations of sanctionable activities and subsequent determinations. It requires the President to investigate a company upon receipt of credible information that such company is engaged in sanctionable activity and to make a determination within 180 days of commencing such an investigation as to whether the company is, in fact, engaged in sanctionable activity. Currently, the President is not required to commence or conclude an investigation, or even to make a determination regarding sanctionable activities.  

“Our nation must be realistic when dealing with countries such as Iran, and respond to the growing threat from the spread of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery,” Rep. Herseth Sandlin said. “This includes support for nonproliferation efforts and missile defense programs, diplomatic efforts, and appropriate economic tools such as the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act."

Under current law, the Iran Sanctions Act (PL 109-293) would expire on December 31, 2011. The legislation passed today extends the Iran Sanctions Act through December 31, 2016.

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HERSETH SANDLIN TO TESTIFY BEFORE JUDICIARY SUBCOMMITTEE ON TRIBAL LAW AND ORDER ACT

Washington, DC-Tomorrow, Rep. Herseth Sandlin will testify on her legislation, the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2009, before House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. Reintroduced by Rep. Herseth Sandlin this year, the Tribal Law and Order Act is a bipartisan and bicameral initiative to improve coordination between tribal, state and federal law enforcement agencies and increase accountability standards. President Obama endorsed this legislation at the White House Tribal Nations Summit held last month. 

The hearing will be held at 10 A.M. Eastern Time in room 2237 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Rep. Herseth Sandlin is scheduled to be the first witness to testify. To watch a video webcast of the hearing on the Judiciary Committee website, click here or follow this link: http://www.judiciary.house.gov/hearings/calendar.html.

In addition to Rep. Herseth Sandlin, other witnesses providing testimony include Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli; Marcus Levings, Great Plains area vice president for the Native American Justice Committee, New Town, N.D.; Tova Indritz, chair of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers' Native American Justice Committee, Albuquerque, N.M.; Scott Burns, executive director of the National District Attorneys Association, Alexandria, Va.; and Barbara Creel, associate professor in the Southwest Indian Law Clinic at the University of New Mexico School of Law, Albuquerque, N.M.

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HERSETH SANDLIN HELPS PASS TAX RELIEF FOR SOUTH DAKOTA MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES, BUSINESSES

Fiscally Responsible Bill Extends Sales Tax Deduction; Supports Employment of National Guardsmen and Women and Reservists; Provides Incentives for Renewable Energy Production

Washington, DC-Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved with Rep. Herseth Sandlin's support H.R. 4212, the Tax Extenders Act of 2009. This legislation includes a range of tax cuts to provide relief for South Dakota families and businesses.

"Middle-class families across our state are working harder than ever to make ends meet," Rep. Herseth Sandlin said. "This targeted tax relief will make sure that South Dakotans can keep more of their hard-earned money, help families afford college tuition, benefit military reservists, and help students through a deduction for classroom expenses." 

Specifically, this legislation:

Benefits 12 million families through the State and local sales tax deduction
Helps 4.5 million families better afford college with the tuition deduction
Saves 3.4 million teachers money with a deduction for classroom expenses

In addition, this bill takes steps to make sure that activated military reservists do not suffer a pay cut. This bill does this by providing a tax credit for small businesses that continue to pay their National Guard and Reserve employees when they are called up to serve. More than 550,000 Reserve and National Guard members that have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan since September 2001 and 55 percent of married Guard members and reservists suffer a loss of income when being called to active duty. Rep. Herseth Sandlin added, "The contribution of South Dakota's guardsmen and women and reservist to our country's missions abroad is critical to our success, and it's important that we support them and their families on the home front."

Farmers and ranchers and biodiesel producers will also benefit from provisions included in the tax extenders bill. Specifically, this legislation:

Extends through 2010 the five year depreciation schedule for certain farming equipment and machinery, instead of allowing it to revert back to a seven year schedule.
Extends through 2010 the $1 per gallon credit for producing biodiesel, the $1 per gallon credit for producing diesel from biomass, and the 10% credit for small agri-biodiesel producers.

Importantly, the legislation is fiscally responsible and does not add to the national deficit.  It is fully offset through two provisions. First, it closes unfair tax loopholes that allow investment fund managers to pay a lower tax rate than other Americans. Under the bill, investment fund managers would be taxed at ordinary income rates for the service income they receive as compensation (known as “carried interest”).  Many economists and tax and economic advisers, including those that served in both Bush Administrations as well as under President Reagan, have said that carried interest should be taxed at the same rate as other compensation for such services.

Second, this bill cracks down on Overseas Tax Havens.  The bill provides the U.S. Treasury Department with significant new tools to find and prosecute U.S. individuals that hide assets overseas from the Internal Revenue Service.  Recent events have highlighted the growing use of foreign financial institutions, foreign trusts, and foreign corporations by U.S. individuals to evade U.S. tax.  In order to prevent this tax evasion, the bill would require new reporting by foreign financial institutions to give the IRS more data to detect fraud and tax evasion.

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HERSETH SANDLIN STATEMENT ON FUNDING TO COMBAT PINE BEETLE INFESTATION

Washington, DC- Today, Rep. Herseth Sandlin praised the announcement by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will commit an additional $40 million to address public safety concerns and forest health needs arising from the millions of acres of dead and dying trees from pine beetle infestations in Region 2, the Rocky Mountain Region, which includes the Black Hills National Forest.

"The damage done by pine beetles dramatically increases the risk of catastrophic wildfires, ultimately endangering the safety of rural communities, inhibiting economic growth in these communities and diminishing the role forests play in addressing climate change," Rep. Herseth Sandlin said. "This funding, in combination with the Healthy Forests Restoration Amendments Act I am introducing in the House today, will help to ensure that forest managers have tools available to keep our forests healthy for generations to come."

In South Dakota’s Black Hills, pine beetles have affected over 200,000 acres since the 1990s, killing over 100,000 new trees each year. Nationally, federal land managers estimate that approximately 190 million acres of federal forest lands are at unnaturally high risk of catastrophic wildfire and large-scale insect and disease outbreaks due to unhealthy forest conditions.

The Rocky Mountain Region manages 17 national forests and 7 national grasslands throughout Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and most of South Dakota and Wyoming.

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BILLS PROMOTE HEALTHY FORESTS, RENEWABLE ENERGY, RURAL JOBS IN SOUTH DAKOTA

Herseth Sandlin, Bipartisan Coalition Introduce Legislation to Improve Forest and Energy Policy

Washington, DC- Today, Rep. Herseth Sandlin joined with a bipartisan coalition of her colleagues including Reps. Greg Walden (R-OR), Kurt Schrader (D-OR), Brian Baird (D-WA), and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA.) to announce a bipartisan package of legislation that represents an innovative way forward in forest and energy policy. As part of the package, Rep. Herseth Sandlin introduced the Healthy Forests Restoration Amendments Act, common-sense legislation that will strengthen the existing tools available to federal forest managers to bring the most diseased and fire prone forests back to health.  The other piece of legislation in the package is the Incentives to Increase Use of Renewable Biomass Act of 2009. This bill would establish a program at USDA to provide interest-free loans for converting existing equipment or installing new equipment to use renewable biomass for energy generation, heating, or cooling at an institution of higher education; a public or private elementary or secondary school; a hospital; a local government building; a governmental, community, or health building, and tribal buildings.

"The bills introduced today seek to reduce wild fire risk, incentivize sound forest management and the use of woody biomass as a source of renewable energy, and create jobs in rural communities in western South Dakota," Rep. Herseth Sandlin said. "These common sense policies will not only result in healthier forests and reduce wild fire risk, but complement efforts in the 2007 Energy Bill and jump start our nation's effort to become truly energy independent."

In 2003, Congress passed the bipartisan Healthy Forests Restoration Act, or “HFRA,” to enable managers of public lands to mitigate the risk posed by wildfire to local communities. This law represented a critical first step in updating federal forest management policy, but as the limitations of this law have revealed themselves over the past few years, it has become increasingly clear that HFRA needs to be improved.

By making important clarifications to existing law, the Healthy Forests Restoration Amendments Act will make certain that federal forest managers have the tools they need to proactively address the threat of wildfire, disease, and insect infestation to forests and the local communities that depend on them. This bill ensures land managers can use expedited HFRA procedures to protect infrastructure in rural communities from the threat of wildfire and to address infestation of disease or insects, such as the mountain pine beetle, through fuels reduction projects. It also improves efficiency by allowing land managers to conduct necessary connected actions such as weed management, tree planting, road work, and other important projects, when using the HFRA National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for fuels reduction projects.

The bill also removes the arbitrary 20-million acre limitation included in HFRA, while protecting existing HFRA withdrawn areas and designated wilderness, so these tools can be utilized wherever they are needed. Finally, the bill improves HFRA procedures for fuels reduction in areas where a community wildfire protection plan is in place.

Rep. Herseth Sandlin added, "Written in the same bipartisan spirit as the original HFRA law, the bill I have introduced today takes another important step towards improving the management of federal forests and halting the growing crisis in our forests and forest communities. It is my hope that the House will act quickly to approve this legislation."

Rep. Herseth Sandlin will also introduce a third bill that would improve the Production Tax Credit, including by extending the credit for open and closed loop biomass for five years and providing rate parity with other renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. Rep. Herseth noted her previous work on legislation to broaden the definition of renewable biomass in the 2007 Energy Bill.  She added, “Renewable biomass from our forests has tremendous potential to contribute to our country's efforts to move toward energy independence. Since 2008, I have worked to broaden the definition of cellulosic ethanol under the new Renewable Fuel Standard to include woody biomass gathered from national forests, including the Black Hills National Forest. These three bills build on those efforts.”

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HERSETH SANDLIN LEADS VETERANS EDUCATION ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION OF POST 9/11 GI BILL

Washington, DC-Rep. Herseth Sandlin, Chairwoman of the Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economy Opportunity, recently hosted an education roundtable to discuss the ongoing implementation of the Post 9/11 GI Bill. The goal of the roundtable was to have an open dialogue on technical fixes to the VA’s education programs to help streamline the delivery of benefits.  

In addition to members of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, participants of the roundtable included officials from the VA and the Department of Defense, key stakeholders such as the National Association of Veterans’ Program Administrators as well as Veterans Service Organizations such as the Student Veterans of America and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

"This roundtable allowed members of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity and representatives of key veteran organizations the opportunity to discuss the successes and challenges of implementing the Post 9/11 GI Bill," Rep. Herseth Sandlin said. "Going forward, these conversations will be critical as we seek to streamline the delivery of VA education benefits while providing the Department of Veterans Affairs’ with the resources needed to successfully implement these programs in a timely and successful manner."

In preparation for the roundtable, the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity asked for all participants to provide recommendations to consider that would help to better address the education needs of our nation’s veterans while providing the Department of Veterans Affairs with the resources to succeed in implementing education benefits in a timely manner.  Several proposals were strongly supported by participants, including providing a housing allowance to full-time distance learners and expanding opportunities through the GI Bill to provide for on-the-job-training programs, apprenticeship programs and vocational programs.

Shortly after an October oversight hearing of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity on educational benefits, Rep. Herseth Sandlin and Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR) recognized the need to address the concerns of thousands of student veterans and submitted a formal list of recommendations to Secretary Eric K. Shinseki to begin addressing these concerns.  These proposals included:

·       Improving communication with veterans, including mass media outreach on the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill and other federal programs for students;

·       Prioritizing applications from veterans who intend to use benefits in the current or upcoming term; and

·       Enhancing the VA Web site with interactive features to provide more information.

Rep. Herseth Sandlin added, "The VA has taken firm action and shown a commitment to addressing the ongoing backlogs in the distribution of education benefits.  I share this commitment and applaud them for their actions to address these difficulties. However, we have received feedback from VA officials that approximately 26,000 students have yet to receive their payments, which greatly concerns me. This is troubling as we consider that the fall semester will end in two weeks for most schools and the spring semester is less than a month away. I hope the Secretary gives serious consideration to these proposals which do not require Congressional action."

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INTERIOR-ENVIRONMENT APPROPRIATIONS BILL PASSES HOUSE

Legislation Includes Critical Funding for Preventing and Fighting Wildfires; Robust Funding Increase for IHS, BIA

Washington, DC-Today, Rep. Herseth Sandlin joined a majority of her colleagues in the House of Representatives in voting for the conference report for the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill which funds programs administered by the Department of the Interior the Forest Service, and other agencies for the upcoming fiscal year. This legislation includes $5.39 million requested by Rep. Herseth Sandlin for important priorities in South Dakota that help fight wild fires, conserve natural resources and wildlife habitat, and protect the environment.

"This legislation helps ensure the conservation of South Dakota's vast resources and diverse wildlife, ensuring our state's natural treasures can be enjoyed for generations to come," Rep. Herseth Sandlin said. "I'm happy that projects across South Dakota will receive funding through this legislation and am pleased to lend my support."

Funding requested by Rep. Herseth Sandlin includes:

$1.9 million to relocate the Northern Great Plains Dispatch Center, which will ensure that this facility continues to provide critical fire dispatch services;
$300,000 to install collector and interceptor wastewater sewers in Rapid City to ensure protection of the city’s water supply from contamination caused by failing septic systems;
$1.69 million for the Forest Service to acquire 2,400 acres of the Lady C Ranch from willing sellers to preserve critical range habitat of wild elk, mule deer, white-tail deer, and other wildlife;
$1 million for the Dakota Tallgrass Prairie Easement Program, to purchase conservation easements that will protect some of the best waterfowl production areas in the Dakotas;
$500,000 for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Prairie Management Program, which supports sustainable cattle production on the reservation and protects natural resources and endangered species.

Additionally, this bill includes $3.5 billion for the Forest Service and Department of Interior to prevent and fight wildfires, including $474 million for a reserve fund created by a provision attached to the bill - the Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement Flame Act, or FLAME Act- of which Rep. Herseth Sandlin is a cosponsor. This legislation improves the ability of federal agencies to prevent and fight catastrophic wildland fires, including fires that could occur in South Dakota.

Finally, under the agreement, programs administered by the Indian Health Service (IHS) and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) will receive $6.7 billion, a $705.7 million increase over last year. The bill boosts funding for clinical services, domestic violence and substance abuse prevention initiatives, health facilities construction, tribal education programs, public safety and justice programs, as well as for law enforcement, detention center staffing, and tribal courts –acute needs in Indian Country in South Dakota.

The bill was passed by the House in June and the Senate in September, and differences in the two versions were worked out in a conference committee. Following House passage, it is anticipated that the Senate will agree to the conference report and send it to the President for his signature.

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10/29/09

HERSETH SANDLIN URGES FLEXIBILITY WITH CROP INSURANCE DEADLINES FOR FALL HARVEST

Washington, DC—This week, Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin sent a letter to Risk Management Agency Administrator William Murphy urging him to work with crop insurance companies to ensure flexibility in granting extensions of fall harvest insurance deadlines for corn and soybean producers. Extremely wet weather conditions throughout 2009 have greatly hampered producers’ ability to harvest corn and soybeans in a timely manner.

"I have heard from farmers across South Dakota that this could be one of the longest and most challenging harvests in years," Rep. Herseth Sandlin said. "With so much at stake for our state's farmers and our agricultural economy, it’s critical that producers are allowed adequate time to ensure the maximum possible production from their farms."

Herseth Sandlin’s letter requests Murphy work with insurance companies to ensure that producers are not unfairly penalized for their long harvest due to weather conditions beyond their control and receive ample notification regarding insurance deadlines.

The full text of the letter to Administrator Murphy can be found below.

Mr. William Murphy, Administrator

Risk Management Agency

U.S. Department of Agriculture

1400 Independence Ave. SW

Washington, DC 20250-0801

Dear Mr. Murphy,

I’m writing to urge the Risk Management Agency (RMA) to be as flexible as possible with authorizing additional time to harvest past the end of the insurance period, and to work on an expedited basis with crop insurance companies to ensure flexibility in granting extensions of insurance deadlines for producers.

As you know, extreme wet weather conditions in South Dakota and across much of the Midwest this spring and summer, combined with a cool fall, have greatly hampered producers’ ability to harvest corn and soybeans in a timely manner. The USDA National Agriculture Statistic Survey (NASS) Crop Progress report released last week shows that the national corn and soybean harvest is well behind schedule, with only 17 percent of corn and 30 percent of soybeans harvested. In South Dakota, the situation is worse, with only 6 percent of corn harvested for grain to date. I’ve heard from farmers in South Dakota who believe this could be one of the longest and most challenging harvests in years.

With estimates projecting a record corn and soybean harvest this year, I believe it is important that producers are allowed adequate time to ensure the maximum possible production from their farms. Given that most of the delay in harvest is likely due to insured perils, I strongly urge the RMA to be as flexible as possible with authorizing additional time to harvest past the end of the insurance period.

Further, I encourage you to work closely with the crop insurance companies to ensure fair notification to producers regarding crop insurance deadlines, obligations, and options. This essential communication, along with flexibility regarding the end of insurance period, will be instrumental in making sure producers are not unfairly penalized for a long harvest attributable to natural weather conditions outside their control.

Thank you for your efforts on behalf of producers, and I look forward to hearing from you. If you have any questions, please contact Ashley Martin on my staff at 202-225-2801.

Betsy Hart

Press Secretary

Office of Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin

331 Cannon House Office Building

Washington, DC

10/27/09

HERSETH SANDLIN ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $9M IN RECOVERY ACT FUNDING FOR SMART GRID TECHNOLOGY IN SOUTH DAKOTA

Washington, DC—Today, Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin announced that two utility companies in South Dakota are the recipients of $9,608,970 in smart grid technology development grant funding as part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act’s (ARRA) $3.4 billion investment in Smart Grid technology.

Of this total amount of funding, Black Hills Power Inc. in Rapid City will receive $5,592,602 to install 69,000 smart meters, along with the communications infrastructure, IT software, and equipment necessary to operate a fully functional Smart Grid system in its service area.

Sioux Valley Southwestern Electric Cooperative, Inc. in Colman will receive $4,016,368 to install a smart grid network across the full customer base - 23,000 smart meters - that will allow for automated electricity readings and additional monitoring of the system in case of outages or disruptions.

"Modernizing electrical grid infrastructure will improve energy efficiency, and should lower utility bills for South Dakota consumers," Rep. Herseth Sandlin said. "In addition, Smart Grid technology enhances South Dakota's ability to participate in and benefit from a new energy economy by promoting the integration of renewable sources of electricity, like wind, with the electrical grid."

The $3.4 billion ARRA investment will be matched by industry funding for a total public-private investment worth over $8 billion. This is the largest single Smart Grid modernization investment in U.S. history, funding a broad range of projects that will ease the nation’s transition to a smarter, stronger, and more efficient and reliable electric system.

The Department of Energy’s Smart Grid Investment Grant Program provides grants ranging from $500,000 to $20 million for smart grid technology deployments. It also provides grants of $100,000 to $5 million for the deployment of grid monitoring devices.

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10/22/09