Senator John Thune joined 87 of his Senate colleagues this morning in voting for an amendment to the Housing Act, which would extend the renewable energy production tax credit for one year. Senator Thune was a cosponsor of the amendment. “This is a step in the right direction for wind... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today cosponsored the bipartisan Clean Energy Tax Stimulus Act of 2008, which would extend the renewable energy production tax credit for one year. “Wind energy generated in South Dakota has the potential to be a part of our nation’s long-term energy strategy,” said Thune. “South Dakota’s wind... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune this week discussed a forthcoming report on oil reserves with the United States Geological Survey (USGS). In coming weeks, the USGS is planning to release a report on the recoverable oil reserves in the Bakken Formation of the Williston Basin. “I look forward to seeing the report... Continue Reading
U.S. Senator John Thune today sent a letter to U.S. Agriculture Department (USDA) Secretary Edward Schafer asking that USDA’s existing Farm Storage Facility Loan Program (FSFLP) be expanded to make livestock producers eligible. The FSFLP provides low-interest USDA financing to build or upgrade approved farm storage and handling structures. “Livestock... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today introduced a resolution (S. Res. 496) honoring the 60th anniversary of the commencement of the sculpting of the Crazy Horse Memorial near Hill City, South Dakota. “The Crazy Horse Memorial is one of South Dakota’s most instantly recognizable landmarks,” said Thune. “Crazy Horse is remembered by... Continue Reading
The U.S. Senate today passed Senator John Thune’s reservation crime amendment to the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Resolution by unanimous consent. The amendment seeks additional funding for police and prosecutors to address the growing problem of crime on American Indian reservations. “The spike in violent crime on our reservations is... Continue Reading
Last night, as part of the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget debate in the Senate, the bipartisan wind energy amendment (S.Amdt. 4200) offered by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Senator John Thune (R-SD) was added to the Senate budget resolution. The amendment provides the authority within the budget for Congress to... Continue Reading
Yesterday, Senator John Thune offered a bipartisan amendment to the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Resolution that would provide an additional $99 million in budget authority for funding of the COPS Meth Hot Spots program for 2009. The COPS Meth Hot Spots program trains state and local law enforcement to investigate... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today introduced an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Resolution under consideration before the U.S. Senate. The amendment seeks additional funding for police and prosecutors to address the growing problem of crime on American Indian reservations. “Crimes on the reservations continue to increase at an alarming... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune earlier this week co-sponsored S. 2639, a bipartisan bill to require mandatory funding for veterans health care. The bill was introduced by Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) last month and is also cosponsored by Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Byron Dorgan (D-ND), and Jon Tester (D-MT). “Mandatory funding for... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today praised a study released by the State of Minnesota and the Renewable Fuels Association, which demonstrates that increasing the percentage of ethanol in gasoline to 20 percent does not present compatibility problems for current vehicles and provides performance similar to the10 percent ethanol (E10) that is... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune has sent a letter to Dirk Kempthorne, Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, requesting that the Interior Department allocate additional funding for tribal law enforcement in South Dakota. The Interior Department received over $26 million more in Fiscal Year 2008 than Fiscal Year 2007 for... Continue Reading
