Dusty Johnson, SD
“My office staff was very good. I worked with many people over eight years. I won some awards. I went to weddings and births with my staff. I'm leaving Congress. I won't miss the shutdowns and the political games. I will miss the people I worked with.”
“I am leaving Congress in January. I am grateful for the staff who worked with me over the last eight years to serve the people of South Dakota. I will not miss the politics or the cameras, but I will miss the people.”
“Mr. Speaker, a leader's strength is never his own. It is borrowed from the courage, the talent, and the integrity of those who walk with him. The last 8 years have proven that to me time and time again. I have had many blessings in life, but none quite like the people who I have worked with. I will start with our brilliant casework team: Andrea Rose-Prehn, Reid Rasmussen, Danica Allmer, and Aimee Hoyle. They have each helped hundreds of South Dakotans get the treatment they deserve from our Federal Government. The work is complex. It is frustrating, and nobody does it better than they do. In 2023, they won the top award for outstanding constituent service in Congress. Aimee, Danica, Reid, and Andrea have improved countless lives, and I cannot thank them enough. Our D.C. team is extraordinary, too. In each of the last three Congresses, they were named the number one most effective office in one policy area or another. With 435 offices, being number one isn't that easy. Some offices specialize in social media hot takes or partisan attacks, but Sydney Powers, Mason Ohnstad, Kristen Blakely, Andrew Rasmussen, and Jon Sundet specialized in getting things done. They are brilliant, funny, and driven. They have helped govern in an era where governing is not easy. It is not just our current team who has been excellent. We have remarkably little turnover in our office, but we have some great alums. When I think back to those who gave more than 2 years to us--Jazmine Kemp, Alana Lomis, Hannah Hulehan, John Weber, Nathanael Monroe, and Chance Hunley--I am proud. They did incredible things with our team, and they have done incredible things since. Our experiences will always bind us together, and I am happy for that and how many experiences there have been. I look at our team today, and I am touched. Most of us have been here since day one, 8 years ago. Mr. Speaker, 8 years is an eternity in this crazy time and in this crazy place. We have fought, worked, and laughed together. We have celebrated 8 weddings, 12 births, and 6 high school graduations. What a joy it has been to live life alongside these great people. I will close by talking about our senior team: Andrew Christianson, Elizabeth Walters, Courtney Heitkamp, Chelsea Schull, and Katie Neff. I cannot believe that leaders of their caliber have dedicated 8 years of their lives to our office and to working with me. I am so odd, so particular, and so demanding. How have they done it? I have leaned on these leaders every single day, and they have never let me down--never. I have never had cause to question their heart, work ethic, loyalty, integrity, or patriotism. Andrew, Elizabeth, Courtney, Chelsea, and Katie are the finest humans who I have ever met. Mr. Speaker, there is still much to be done in the 119th Congress, and I promise I will keep working hard for South Dakota until the very end, but when this chapter of my life closes in January, I will not miss the shutdowns, the political posturing, or the TV cameras. I will miss the people, the very best people.”
Mr. Speaker, a leader's strength is never his own. It is borrowed from the courage, the talent, and the integrity of those who walk with him. The last 8 years have proven that to me time and time again. I have had many blessings in life, but none quite like the people who I have worked with. I will start with our brilliant casework team: Andrea Rose-Prehn, Reid Rasmussen, Danica Allmer, and Aimee Hoyle. They have each helped hundreds of South Dakotans get the treatment they deserve from our Federal Government. The work is complex. It is frustrating, and nobody does it better than they do. In 2023, they won the top award for outstanding constituent service in Congress. Aimee, Danica, Reid, and Andrea have improved countless lives, and I cannot thank them enough. Our D.C. team is extraordinary, too. In each of the last three Congresses, they were named the number one most effective office in one policy area or another. With 435 offices, being number one isn't that easy. Some offices specialize in social media hot takes or partisan attacks, but Sydney Powers, Mason Ohnstad, Kristen Blakely, Andrew Rasmussen, and Jon Sundet specialized in getting things done. They are brilliant, funny, and driven. They have helped govern in an era where governing is not easy. It is not just our current team who has been excellent. We have remarkably little turnover in our office, but we have some great alums. When I think back to those who gave more than 2 years to us--Jazmine Kemp, Alana Lomis, Hannah Hulehan, John Weber, Nathanael Monroe, and Chance Hunley--I am proud. They did incredible things with our team, and they have done incredible things since. Our experiences will always bind us together, and I am happy for that and how many experiences there have been. I look at our team today, and I am touched. Most of us have been here since day one, 8 years ago. Mr. Speaker, 8 years is an eternity in this crazy time and in this crazy place. We have fought, worked, and laughed together. We have celebrated 8 weddings, 12 births, and 6 high school graduations. What a joy it has been to live life alongside these great people. I will close by talking about our senior team: Andrew Christianson, Elizabeth Walters, Courtney Heitkamp, Chelsea Schull, and Katie Neff. I cannot believe that leaders of their caliber have dedicated 8 years of their lives to our office and to working with me. I am so odd, so particular, and so demanding. How have they done it? I have leaned on these leaders every single day, and they have never let me down--never. I have never had cause to question their heart, work ethic, loyalty, integrity, or patriotism. Andrew, Elizabeth, Courtney, Chelsea, and Katie are the finest humans who I have ever met. Mr. Speaker, there is still much to be done in the 119th Congress, and I promise I will keep working hard for South Dakota until the very end, but when this chapter of my life closes in January, I will not miss the shutdowns, the political posturing, or the TV cameras. I will miss the people, the very best people.