Senator John Thune today praised a proposal by U.S. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne which would allow individuals the right to possess firearms in and around national parks and wildlife refuges subject to applicable state laws. Senator Thune had previously requested that the current restrictions on such weapons in national parks... Continue Reading
Today Senator John Thune was cautiously optimistic that the final Farm Bill framework announced late Friday means an elusive Farm Bill agreement has tentatively been reached. “Fighting for agriculture is never easy in Washington, even in a Farm Bill,” said Thune. “Although we had to pull out all the stops... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune made the following comments regarding today’s Farm Bill developments: “Although all the details have not been made public, it appears a deal on the Farm Bill has been reached. It has been almost seven months since the current Farm Bill originally expired and it is long past... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today met with Mayor Dave Munson of Sioux Falls where the two discussed the importance of the city’s flood control project. The need to complete the project has been elevated as a result of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) plan to revise the city’s 100-year floodplain.... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune late yesterday introduced an amendment to S.1315, the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act. Thune’s amendment would make the annual cost of living adjustment, or COLA, for disabled veterans automatic and permanent. “Too often Congress gets caught up in politics and important priorities fall off the chart. This is... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today praised negotiators from both the United States and South Korea for their agreement to lift the South Korean ban on U.S. beef. South Korea has closed its doors to imports of U.S. beef since 2003. “This is great news for cattle producers across the country,” said... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today called on President Bush to use his upcoming meeting with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak to discuss re-opening South Korean markets to U.S. beef. South Korea closed its market to U.S. beef in 2003, and then briefly reopened it before once again suspending beef trade with... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today announced that excess laptop computers from the United States Geological Survey/Earth Resources Observation and Science (USGS/EROS) office in Sioux Falls will be donated to South Dakota’s tribal leaders. Senator Thune’s office has been working with USGS/EROS to facilitate this donation. “USGS/EROS has a history of working... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today met with Sioux Falls mayor Dave Munson and other officials from South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota to discuss 2009 funding for the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System. Following the meeting, Senator Thune made the below statement: “Everyone connected to the Lewis and Clark project knows... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune sent a letter on Monday to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives Agriculture Committees, and the other 58 Members of the Farm Bill Conference Committee urging them to adopt the Senate’s version of the “sodsaver” provision in the 2008... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today joined with the Department of Interior in announcing the Indian and Tribal Entrepreneurship Incubator South Dakota Demonstration Project. The demonstration project aims to improve financial literacy and improve access to credit on reservations, increase business and finance education in tribal secondary schools and colleges, and strengthen... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today made the following comments regarding Tax Day, and the largest tax increase in history contained in the budget proposed by Congressional Democrats: “South Dakotans and Americans in general approach April 15th with great anxiety, and with good reason. The figurative tax collector knocking on the door... Continue Reading
