South Dakota

$41.1 billion for the nation's federal highway program, including $231.6 million for the State of South Dakota. The bill also ensures the solvency of the federal Highway Trust Fund through an inter-government transfer of $8 billion to the Highway Trust Fund. Failing to secure the solvency of the Trust Fund could result in a cut of $58 million in South Dakota's share of federal aid highway dollars.

July 2008. $87 million for South Dakota water projects including $30 million for Lewis and Clark. U.S. Senator Tim Johnson joined his colleagues on the Appropriations Committee in passing the 2009 Energy and Water Appropriations bill. The legislation contains the $87 million he secured for South Dakota water projects, including a record $30 million in federal funding for Lewis and Clark. The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration. Johnson fought to secure a total of $87.082 million for South Dakota projects in the bill, including $70.2 million for South Dakota drinking water projects. Specifically, Johnson was able to secure $37 million for Mni Wiconi Rural Water System. Johnson also secured $4 million for Big Sioux River Flood Control Project in Sioux Falls. This funding would help construct the 100-year flood control protection for sections of Sioux Falls adjacent to the Big Sioux River and Skunk Creek. Although it is the City's highest federal funding priority, the Army Corps of Engineers had not included any funding for the project in their budget request for next year. The legislation also includes an amendment that increases the project authorization cost ceiling to a total of $51 million. The amendment was requested by the city and the Corps of Engineers to give the sponsors direction in timely completion of the Big Sioux River Flood Control Project. Although President Bush did not request any funding for the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System this year, Johnson has worked to keep the project well-funded and on schedule. Last year, Johnson used his seat on the Appropriations Committee to significantly raise funding levels for Lewis and Clark to $26.5 million.

July 2008. $60 Million for South Dakota veterans projects. As Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (VA), U.S. Senator Tim Johnson announced more than $60 million in funding for key South Dakota projects. Johnson also used his position to create a new program included in the bill that will give the Secretary of the VA the latitude to address the unique needs of veterans in rural communities, the Rural Health Outreach and Delivery Initiative. Johnson carved out nearly $120 billion nationwide for military construction and the VA as part of the funding bill he will bring before the full Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday. Johnson's Rural Health Outreach and Delivery Initiative is a $250 million plan aimed at reducing the gap in care that often exists for veterans residing in rural areas. The initiative will give the VA Secretary the latitude necessary to explore new ways of serving this population with the ability to fund new programs based on the unique needs of rural veterans, and will include our veterans covered under the Indian Health Service. The program may include new ways of reaching veterans through additional mobile clinics; establishing new outpatient clinics; expanding fee-based care in areas not served by VA facilities; accelerating the deployment of telemedicine; and funding innovative pilot programs.