Innovation is American

July 18, 2025 Weekly Column BIG News Blockchain technology has the potential to transform every single industry in the same way the internet did. Unfortunately, America is falling behind other countries in digital asset development due to a lack of regulation and unclear rules of the road. This week, I voted to pass my bill, the CLARITY Act , to establish a clear regulatory framework for digital assets. Normally, regulations complicate processes, but for digital assets, regulations will protect consumers, provide certainty to developers, and strengthen transparency for market participants. The CLARITY Act will unlock innovation so America can be the global leader in digital asset development. Click here for Johnson’s floor remarks. BIG Idea A project that takes six months to get approved to build in Germany takes six years in the United States. Tedious regulations and an arcane permitting process have failed to ensure domestic projects are on time and on-task, slowing domestic development or losing it to other countries. I introduced the ePermit Act to modernize the process by using digital technology rather than paper documents. Digitizing the system will speed up the process, save federal dollars, and cut down delays. The Trump Administration and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy agree – it’s time to modernize the permitting process and let America build again. Click here or the image above to watch Johnson on One America News. BIG Update Public-private partnerships are a critical part of a strong national defense. The Department of Defense created the Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies program which awards grants to small businesses that support our military readiness. The Pentagon also hosts a Rapid Prototype Display to showcase prototypes that have been developed in coordination with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. South Dakota’s own MMS Products participated in the display with its drone munitions. I had the honor of visiting the Pentagon to visit with MMS Products and see what modern and future warfighting looks like. Issues : Transportation & Infrastructure Economy