President Awards Medal of Honor to Woodrow Keeble

President Bush today posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor to Master Sergeant Woodrow Keeble in recognition of his service during the Korean War. Master Sergeant Keeble was a member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe and is the first Dakota Sioux to receive the Medal of Honor. Senator John Thune was... Continue Reading

President Signs Thune Provision to Restore Brookings Air Service into Law

President Bush today signed a bill (H.R. 5270) to temporarily extend the authorization and funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through June 30th, 2008. The bill includes Senator John Thune’s bipartisan provision to restore commercial air service to Brookings, South Dakota and two other airports through September 30th, 2008.... Continue Reading

Thune Recognized for Work in Economic Development

U.S. Senator John Thune was awarded the 2008 Congressional Partnership Award by the National Association of Development Organizations. The award was presented to Senator Thune today by Dick Edenstrom, Executive Director of the First District Association of Local Governments, and Lynn Keller, Executive Director of the South Eastern Council of... Continue Reading

SD Congressional Delegation, Governor Rounds Discuss Budget Priorities for South Dakota

With Governor Mike Rounds in Washington, DC for the National Governors Association Annual Meeting, Senator Tim Johnson invited the Governor, Senator John Thune, and Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin to his office for a joint meeting on budget priorities for the state. “The future of farming, an adequate water supply and... Continue Reading

Senate Passes Indian Health Care Improvement Act

The U.S. Senate today passed by a vote of 83 to 10 the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (S. 1200). The bill includes Senator Thune’s amendment to improve tribal justice systems and law enforcement as well as provisions to prevent the scheduled reduction of hours at the IHS Wagner Service... Continue Reading

Thune Announces Upcoming FEMA Fire Grant Workshops

U.S. Senator John Thune announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will host grant workshops in South Dakota to assist fire departments in planning and applying for the 2008 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant (AFG) Program, Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, and the... Continue Reading

Thune Amendment to Promote Tribal Justice Accepted

U.S. Senator John Thune announced tonight that his amendment to the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (S. 1200), which would direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to complete an in-depth study of the tribal justice systems in North and South Dakota, has been included in the bill. The goal of... Continue Reading

Woody Keeble to Be Awarded Medal of Honor

Senators from North Dakota and South Dakota today announced that Master Sgt. Woodrow Wilson Keeble has been posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest tribute our nation can bestow on a member of the military. He is the first member of any of the Sioux tribes to earn that... Continue Reading

Thune: Recent Meat Recall Raises Questions Only the Meatpacking Industry and USDA Can Answer

Senator John Thune stated today that he is assessing the facts behind Sunday’s nationwide 143 million pound beef recall, the largest in U.S. history. This recall affects beef products processed and distributed by the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company located in California. “I have no doubt in my own mind that... Continue Reading

Thune: Dozens of Agriculture Groups Reject Recent House Farm Bill Proposal

Today Senator John Thune made the following comments regarding the release of a letter signed by more than 40 leading agriculture organizations criticizing the latest House Farm Bill proposal: “I applaud these groups for speaking up on behalf of the family farmers and ranchers they represent. The latest House Farm... Continue Reading

Senate Passes Thune Provision to Restore Brookings Air Service

Last night the U.S. Senate agreed to a bill (H.R. 5270) to temporarily extend the authorization and funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through June 30th, 2008. The bill includes bipartisan language Senator John Thune has advocated which would restore commercial air service to Brookings, South Dakota and two... Continue Reading

Senator Thune Comments on Basin Electric Decision to Build Power Plant in Walworth County

Senator John Thune today made the following comments regarding the announcement by Basin Electric to build a new power plant in Walworth County: “This is great news for Walworth County and an economic development `home run’ for South Dakota. This facility will create new jobs and generate economic development, and... Continue Reading