As drought conditions in South Dakota worsen, U.S. Senators Tim Johnson (D-SD) and John Thune (R-SD) and Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth (D-SD) urged USDA to release CRP acres for emergency haying and grazing. The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is in the process of receiving a... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today issued the following statement regarding the 10 by 10 Act, legislation that would amend the Clean Air Act to require that all gasoline sold for use in motor vehicles contain 10 percent of renewable fuel by 2010. Senator Thune is a cosponsor of the 10 by... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-SD) today issued the following statement regarding Japan’s decision to resume importation of U.S. beef after a five-month ban: “I am glad to see Japan has resumed the commitment it made last December to lift its two-year ban on U.S. beef. While overdue, Japan’s decision to resume... Continue Reading
U.S. Senators Tim Johnson (D-SD) and John Thune (R-SD) today announced more than $2.5 million in funding to resurface South Dakota Highway 40 from Hermosa, SD to the Shannon County line. This funding was approved by Congress in last year’s Transportation, Treasury, and Housing and Urban Development (TTHUD) Appropriations bill.... Continue Reading
Senators Tim Johnson, John Thune and Representative Stephanie Herseth today discussed South Dakota’s funding priorities with White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Rob Portman. Portman was sworn in as OMB Director in late May. As OMB Director, Portman is responsible for crafting the President’s annual budget requests... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today issued the following statement warning South Dakota Medicare beneficiaries to be on the lookout for fraudulent phone calls associated with the “$299 Ring” scheme, in which callers contact Medicare beneficiaries promising a new prescription drug card for a flat fee of $299, and request bank account... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune toured the Sully and Potter county areas last weekend to assess the current drought conditions in central South Dakota, and Judy Vrchota, Thune’s Northeast Area Director, will be touring Edmunds, McPherson, and Campbell counties today. “Drought conditions continue to devastate farmers and ranchers across South Dakota,” said... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today made the following statement regarding the Conference Report on the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery for Fiscal Year 2006: “I voted for this emergency spending bill because I am committed to providing our troops with the necessary... Continue Reading
Yesterday Senator John Thune introduced three tribal chairmen from South Dakota to speak on behalf of the Tribal Parity Act and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Equitable Compensation Amendments Act of 2005. Chairman Mike Jandreau of Lower Brule Sioux Tribe and Chairman Lester Thompson, Jr. from Crow Creek Sioux Tribe... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today sent a bipartisan letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta requesting assistance concerning BioBased Transportation Research. Section 5201 of the Transportation Reauthorization bill that Congress passed last year provides funding to five land-grant universities for the Sun Grant Initiative, which organizes and coordinates research... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today joined fellow Senators, Maj. Gen. Patrick H. Brady, U.S. Army (Ret.) of South Dakota, and Chicago Cubs great, Rick Monday, who is known for saving the American flag from being burned during a 1976 baseball game, at an event to highlight the Flag Protection Amendment. Senator... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today cosponsored the Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act of 2006, which was introduced by Senator Craig Thomas (R-WY), Chairman of the Senate Rural Health Caucus. This legislation contains Senator Thune’s previously introduced Fostering Independence Through Technology (FITT) Act. The FITT Act would require the Secretary of... Continue Reading
