Senator John Thune (R-SD) yesterday announced a major initiative to bring future missions to Ellsworth Air Force Base (EAFB). The plan calls for significant improvements to Ellsworth’s overall operational capability and its aerial training ranges. This plan would allow air squadrons from all over the country, and the world, to... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today met with General T. Michael Moseley, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, to discuss the future of the Air Force and Ellsworth Air Force Base. The meeting, which had been arranged weeks earlier, took place in Thune’s Washington office and follows previous meetings between... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today issued the statement below following the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) decision to grant final approval to the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad (DM&E) to build or rehabilitate over 1,300 miles of rail. “The STB’s approval today of DM&E’s proposal should come as no surprise, as it’s... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-SD) today issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 79, a measure he introduced expressing the sense of Congress that no U.S. assistance should be provided directly to the Palestinian Authority if a ruling majority party within the Palestinian Parliament... Continue Reading
After recent news that 43 adult cows and two calves on a farm in northern Japan are suspected of having mad cow disease and will be incinerated, Senator John Thune issued the following statement calling on Japanese leaders to recognize the United States’ standard of excellence and resume beef trade... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune announced today that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has made disaster assistance loans available for small, non-farm businesses in 36 South Dakota counties. These loans are intended to help those small businesses impacted by lost revenues to farmers and ranchers who experienced disastrous weather last year.... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today issued the following statement regarding the President’s record-setting request for $21 million in funding for Lewis and Clark: “In December, I hosted a conference call with the South Dakota delegation and White House Budget Director, Josh Bolten, while he and his staff were working to identify... Continue Reading
Senators Tim Johnson and John Thune today announced their support of the decision by the Department of Defense (DoD) to not cut vital funding from the Army National Guard and Air National Guard. Senators Johnson and Thune along with 73 other U.S. Senators sent a letter to Defense Secretary Donald... Continue Reading
Today, Senator John Thune praised the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for their decision to create pilot programs to ensure states are reimbursed for their costs associated with the startup of the new Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit. “I hope South Dakota will be able to take advantage of... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-SD) and Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) today issued the following joint statement after passage of a Concurrent Resolution (S. Con. Res. 79) they introduced expressing the sense of Congress that no U.S. assistance should be provided directly to the Palestinian Authority if a ruling majority party within... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-SD) made the following comments today regarding President Bush’s 2006 State of the Union Address that dealt with increasing ethanol use, production and research: “Last night we heard President Bush devote a great deal of time in his State of the Union Address to increasing ethanol use,... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-SD) today issued the following statement after voting to confirm Judge Samuel Alito’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court: “I was proud to vote today to confirm Judge Alito’s nomination and send this worthy candidate to the Supreme Court. I’m confident he will serve the nation and... Continue Reading
