U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) recently introduced legislation to create a Congressional Charter for the National American Indian Veterans (NAIV). Headquartered in South Dakota on the Cheyenne River Reservation, the NAIV is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to advocating for tribal veterans. Originally started in 2004,... Continue Reading
U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) this week applauded the Senate for passing their legislation that would allow tribal grant schools to participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) and Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) programs. This change would free up resources to improve recruiting... Continue Reading
U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, this week introduced the Tribal Transportation Equity and Transparency Improvement Act, legislation to increase tribal transportation funding flexibility and improve the transparency and consistency of the Tribal Transportation Program’s administration and... Continue Reading
U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) today introduced Senate and House companion bills that would allow tribal grant schools to participate in Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) and Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) programs. This change would free up resources... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) today welcomed U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue’s announcement that USDA, at the request of the delegation, will implement a new Section 502 relending pilot program on tribal lands in South... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which has jurisdiction over the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), released the following statement after Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao announced that the DOT has approved a $21 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER)... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) in introducing the Tribal Social Security Fairness Act, legislation that would correct a longstanding inequity in the Social Security Act that currently prevents elected tribal leaders from contributing to and accessing Social Security benefits. The bill would allow... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today reintroduced the Tribal Veterans Health Care Enhancement Act, legislation that would improve tribal veterans’ access to health care. The bill, which was first introduced in the 114th Congress, would allow the Indian Health Service (IHS) to cover copay... Continue Reading
Today the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs approved the Indian Health Service (IHS) Accountability Act of 2016, introduced earlier this year by U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee. Thune’s bill, which is cosponsored by U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), John McCain... Continue Reading
U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) today introduced an amendment to the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) appropriations bill currently being debated on the Senate floor that would set aside $25 million from the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) existing budget to replace outdated detention... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the state of Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities in the Great Plains area and the need to hold the agency accountable. In February, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held a hearing, in which Thune participated, that examined the failures in patient care at... Continue Reading
U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) issued the following statements after the Senate unanimously approved the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience (NATIVE) Act, bipartisan legislation that will enhance and integrate native tourism, empower native communities, and expand unique cultural tourism opportunities in the United States. ... Continue Reading
