WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after the Senate overwhelmingly passed the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bill contains numerous priorities that benefit South Dakota and the future B-21 bomber mission at Ellsworth Air Force Base, including authorization for $5.3 billion for continued... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after the U.S. Air Force signed a record of decision officially designating Ellsworth Air Force Base to be Main Operating Base 1 for the B-21 bomber. This designation not only means that Ellsworth will be the first base to host the... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after the Senate passed bipartisan legislation, H.R. 1735, the National Defense Authorization Act: “Passing the NDAA is welcome news for South Dakota’s active-duty military and their families, our wounded warriors, and our veterans. This reform bill provides for our nation’s... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) hosted a press conference on the expansion of the Powder River Training Complex airspace today, Friday, March 27, 2015. Thune is pictured with Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.), Scott Landguth, Executive Director of the South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority, and Lt. Gov. Matt Michels (R-S.D.). Thune... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) introduced an amendment (S.Amdt. 2093) to the National Defense Authorization Act that would reiterate Congress’ commitment to the development of the next generation Long-Range Strike Bomber. “As potential adversaries continue to modernize their anti-aircraft systems, our ability to penetrate those systems must also modernize,” said Thune.... Continue Reading
Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), and Representative Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) today sent a letter to the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, Tom Tidwell, encouraging the agency to consider the use of the Air Force’s soon-to-be retired C-27J aircraft to fight wildland fires in the Rocky Mountain Region,... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) today expressed deep concern about the Air Force’s decision to ground B-1B Lancer bombers at Ellsworth Air Force Base for the remainder of the federal fiscal year due to the deep defense cuts in President Obama’s sequester. In a recent statement, Ellsworth officials cited that the across-the-board... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, D.C.–U.S. Senators Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) and Representative Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) sent a letter today to the Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, Jr., requesting that the Navy name the next Virginia class attack submarine the USS South Dakota. The full text of the letter is... Continue Reading
Washington, D.C.–Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD), Senator John Thune (R-SD) and Representative Kristi Noem (R-SD) announced today that South Dakota young people interested in being nominated to one of the four U.S. Service Academies for the Class of 2016 should apply by October 31, 2011. South Dakota residents between the ages... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today commented on the announcement that the Air Force has released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) on its plans to expand the Powder River Training Complex airspace. The Draft EIS will now be open to public comment and the Air Force will host a series... Continue Reading
Senators Tim Johnson (D-SD) and John Thune (R-SD) and Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD) today sent a letter to Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Norton A. Schwartz promoting South Dakota’s Ellsworth Air Force Base as a potential base for MQ-1 and... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today announced that the Air Force has selected Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City as one of four finalists to bed down two squadrons of Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV) operations. This is part of a broader effort to increase the number of MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9... Continue Reading
