Johnson in Rapid City discussing Homestake lab and Tech research
2007-10-09
Source: Rapid City Journal
Sen. Tim Johnson discussed research projects Monday and fielded question from reporters in Rapid City.
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rss feedIt was the South Dakota Democrat's first day in Rapid City since he suffered a brain hemorrhage nine months ago in Washington.
"I've been looking forward to getting back here," Johnson said during a half-hour briefing at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology.
Johnson returned to work in the Senate on Sept. 5.
The senator spoke slowly, often pausing between sentences or even words, but he also joked and laughed -- even at his own stumbles.
He also quickly got down to business
"Has that $10 million of ours been put to good use?" Johnson asked Dave Snyder, executive director of the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority.
"Yes," Snyder said. Snyder gave Johnson a brief summary of progress on converting the Homestake gold mine in Lead into an underground laboratory. Johnson had pushed $10 million for the project through the Senate in 2001, and the money finally is being used to reopen the mine for use as a lab.
Then Johnson turned to Charles Ruch, president of the School of Mines. "How about you?" Johnson asked.
Johnson, who is on the Senate Appropriations Committee, helped put $10 million for research at South Dakota Tech into the military spending bill for fiscal 2008.
The money would pay for several research projects at the school. One project would develop lighter, stronger armor for troops in the field. Another would improve surveillance by unmanned aircraft. A third project would look for ways to better protect against "improvised explosive devices."
"That I.E.D. thing is terribly important to me," said Johnson, whose son served in Iraq.
