U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, submitted the following comments to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) for its public hearing in Fargo, North Dakota this morning focused on the region’s rail service issues that continue to negatively impact agriculture producers,... Continue Reading
Following months of rail service delays and backlogs U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today announced the committee will hold a hearing on U.S. rail service issues on Wednesday, September 10, 2014, entitled “Freight Rail Service – Improving the... Continue Reading
Today Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) wrote U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack requesting that USDA stop requiring the destruction of vegetative cover on certain CRP contracts at a cost to taxpayers. “CRP holds a significant role in the success of South Dakota’s agriculture and rural economies,” said... Continue Reading
U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) has added a survey to his website asking South Dakota farmers and ranchers for their suggestions on changes that could be made to programs that would assist in dealing with this summer’s ongoing drought conditions. The National Climatic Data Center reported today that the U.S.... Continue Reading
U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) today sent the following letter regarding haying and grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres in South Dakota to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack after meeting this past weekend with ranchers in Western South Dakota. Such emergency action has been permitted for CRP acres... Continue Reading
U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and David Vitter (R-La.) today introduced their Respecting States’ Rights and Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which would guarantee the rights of gun owners to carry concealed weapons across state lines in accordance with the laws of individual states. The bill balances the constitutional rights protected... Continue Reading
U.S. Senators Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and John Thune (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee, today sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder asking that the Department of Justice use all tools available to investigate, and potentially prosecute, MF Global executives... Continue Reading
SIOUX FALLS, S.D.–Senator John Thune today attended the Sioux Empire Fair’s Agriculture Appreciation Day in Sioux Falls. Thune joined industry leaders and members of the community in serving complimentary lunch to farmers and ranchers to express gratitude for their contributions to the entire state. “The Sioux Empire Fair’s Agriculture Appreciation... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today pressed officials from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security, and the Department of Commerce on enforcement of current antidumping and countervailing duty laws during their appearance before the Senate Finance Committee Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness. Senator Thune is the Ranking Member... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today joined several of his colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius criticizing the Health and Human Services department for using taxpayer funds to send a brochure to millions of seniors promoting the recently enacted health care reform bill. The... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today released the following statement regarding the United States’ national debt reaching the $13 trillion mark: “The red ink being passed on to future generations of Americans has reached an unprecedented level of irresponsibility. The Obama Administration and Democrats in Congress continue to pile up new federal... Continue Reading
Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Mark Begich (D-AK) today introduced a bill to exempt certain small businesses from a regulation by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that would otherwise require them to undertake costly measures to prevent identity theft. The bipartisan bill would protect small businesses like doctor’s and dentist’s... Continue Reading
