WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) applauded a congressional deal that will refill funds for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and expand eligibility for farmers and ranchers to apply for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL). Agricultural businesses with less than 500 employees will be eligible for the EIDL program. On April 9, 2020, Johnson, along with Agriculture Ranking Mem  more

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) applauded a deal that will refill funds for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). In South Dakota, more than 11,324 small businesses received funding through the PPP, amounting to over $1.37 billion in loans. The deal is headed to the president's desk. "The Paycheck Protection Program has helped thousands of South Dakotans," said Johnson. "The proof is in t  more

WASHINGTON, April 25 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following statement after the Small Business Administration announced that all gaming facilities with 500 or fewer employees will be eligible to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program: "Like every other sector of South Dakota's economy right now, our gaming facilities, such as tribally-owned casinos and gaming operations in Deadwood, need relief. "We raised concerns about initial guidance from the SBA that prevented   more

SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota, April 20 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following transcript on Paycheck Protection Program funding in an interview with Fox News' "America's Newsroom": U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) joined Fox News' "America's Newsroom" to discuss the Democrats' blockade of critical Paycheck Protection Program funding for America's small businesses and workers and China's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. On Democrats' blockade of Paycheck Protection Program fund  more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following statement: U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after the Senate unanimously approved critical funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was created by the bipartisan Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. This unprecedented program has been providing relief to American small businesses and workers who have been negatively affected by the coronavirus crisis. PPP, wh  more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) will host a live tele-town hall tomorrow, April 22, to discuss the federal government's COVID-19 response. Thune will provide a brief update before answering questions from South Dakotans, whom he invites to participate in tomorrow's call. Tele-Town Hall Details: WHAT: LIVE tele-town hall to discuss COVID-19 DATE: Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 22, 2020 TIME: 7:10 p.m. EDT,   more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) wrote a letter calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to take additional measures to make certain that at-risk veterans - including those exposed to burns pits and other toxic substances - receive the care they need during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. "Servicemembers who have been exposed to burn pits suffer from higher rat  more