Powering America from the Plains

May 15, 2026 Weekly Column BIG News Many South Dakotans would agree – I’d rather have American energy dominance be driven by what’s happening in South Dakota’s corn fields rather than Iranian oil fields. More E15 fuel is an opportunity to rely more on American energy production, grown right here in the heartland. All cars model year 2001 or newer are suitable for E15, which is becoming a more popular option for drivers. On average, drivers save 20-40 cents per gallon when filling up with E15 compared to E10 (traditional gasoline). This week, the House passed a bill to allow the sale of E15 year-round, which I voted for to strengthen our fuel supply chain, give consumers a cheaper option at the pump, and support American agriculture. I’ve been working for years to secure permanent year-round E15 sales. I hope the Senate will act soon and send this bill to President Trump’s desk. Click here for Johnson’s remarks on the House Floor. BIG Idea Volunteer firefighters and EMS workers play an invaluable role in saving lives in rural America. I met with the South Dakota Firefighters Association to discuss how to best support local fire departments with equipment and training. The 2026 Farm Bill, which I helped get passed out of the House, expands the eligibility for volunteer fire departments who fight wildfires, which we are no stranger to in the Black Hills. I’m advocating for more resources for our rural firefighters to purchase equipment and better combat substance abuse in rural South Dakota. BIG Update It’s National Police Week, which is a time to recognize and thank the men and women who step up every day to protect our communities. I’m committed to ensuring law enforcement have the resources and tools they need to do their jobs effectively. Just this week, I voted to keep violent offenders off our streets to keep the public safe and our police officers focused on catching the next bad guy. Our tribal reservations face some of the most difficult challenges when it comes to law enforcement. Some tribes have faced ratios of 33 officers to cover more than three million square miles and response times of thirty minutes. I’m working in Congress to better support tribal officers by leading bills like the Tribal Police Department Parity Act and fighting for more federal funding for tribal officers. While we’ve secured some increases in funding, it’s not enough. I’ll continue to advocate for more dollars for Indian country law enforcement. Issues : Agriculture Energy