Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) is seeking internship applicants for Spring 2023 in his Washington, D.C., Rapid City, Aberdeen, and Sioux Falls offices. The spring program will run from January through May.

Duties include researching legislation, writing memos, attending briefings and community meetings, assisting the communications team, answering constituent phone calls, sorting mail, and providing support to the staff and the Member of Congress.

Interns are given the opportunity to develop their research, writing, and communications skills while working closely alongside staff. They also gain an in-depth understanding of how the legislative branch of government operates while helping to serve South Dakota constituents.

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY) introduced the Promoting Agriculture Safeguards and Security (PASS) Act. The PASS Act blacklists countries like China and Russia from purchasing U.S. agriculture companies and ensures the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is fully involved in reviewing any foreign acquisition of American companies that may affect our agriculture sector.

“China’s efforts to influence American agriculture threatens U.S. security – this bill is commonsense,” said Johnson. “We have experienced numerous black swan events in the past few years, and we can’t risk allowing our adversaries closer access to our food and supply chains.”

May, 18, 2022

Washington, D.C. – Today, in the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, legislation introduced by U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) passed unanimously out of the committee.

The Butcher Block Act is a bipartisan bill which would establish a loan program at United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development for new and expanding meat processors and finance producer investment to drive competition within the meat packing industry. Additionally, it would allocate grants to entities to increase hiring and processing capacity.

“Ranchers need more shackle space,” said Johnson. “The market is too concentrated and South Dakota cattle producers deserve more options on where to sell their product. I’m grateful USDA has begun implementing my bill already and I look forward to seeing the details of the program codified.”

Johnson along with Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) introduced the Butcher Block Act in June 2021 to expand processing capacity. Following the introduction of his legislation, in July 2021, the USDA announced its intent to provide $500 million in grants to expand meat and poultry processing capacity.