Dusty Johnson: “In the 1960s, South Dakota's Ben Reifel became the first Lakota Indian to represent our country in Congress. He grew up…”

“In the 1960s, South Dakota's Ben Reifel became the first Lakota Indian to represent our country in Congress. He grew up dirt poor in a log cabin. He dropped out after the eighth grade, later going on to graduate from South Dakota State and from Harvard. Throughout his career, Ben Reifel, at the Bureau of Indian Affairs and for a decade here in Congress, fought to advance economic opportunity for American Indians. He celebrated hard work, education, and self-determination. He was respected in Indian Country, and he was respected in this Chamber. Last week, I filed a bill to put Ben Reifel's name on the Rosebud Post Office. I am hopeful that young Indian boys and girls will look upon that name and realize that great Americans have come and will come again from that sacred place. ____________________”