Senator John Thune last week sent a letter along with seven other Senators to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urging him to commit additional resources to the Rocky Mountain Region of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to fight the widespread bark beetle infestation. The Rocky Mountain Region has 17 national forests... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today released the following statement in anticipation of the 8:00 PM ET cloture vote tonight on the motion to proceed to the health care reform proposal unveiled by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Wednesday: “The American people have asked for health care reform that will lower... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today highlighted important provisions in the Fiscal Year 2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, which the Senate today passed by a vote of 100-0. The bill provides a total of $133.9 billion for military construction and veterans affairs, as well as advance funding for veterans... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today led 30 of his colleagues in sending a letter to all members of the U.S. Senate urging them to oppose any amendments to the health care reform bill that would limit the existing tax deduction for charitable donations. Earlier this year, the Senate passed Senator Thune’s... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune sent a letter today to Tom Tidwell, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), requesting that Forest Service extend the original comment period for the Nebraska National Forest and Grasslands Draft Environmental Impact Statement for designation of a motorized travel access system for an additional 45 days.... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today hailed the signing of Veterans’ Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act as an important step forward for improving the veterans’ health care system. The new law requires Congress to allow advance funding for the Veterans Affairs Department’s medical programs one year in advance of the... Continue Reading
The U.S. Senate tonight voted 93 to 7 to approve the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Appropriations bill. The bill includes nearly $25.5 million in defense funding for South Dakota priorities requested by Senator John Thune. In total, the bill includes over $625 billion for the Department of Defense. “South Dakota’s... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune yesterday met with Bob and Donna Burke and their children Brandi and Darin of Brookings, who traveled to Washington, DC to receive the 2009 “Angels in Adoption” award from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption. Senator Thune nominated the Burkes for the award earlier this year. “Bob and... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today entered a statement in the Congressional Record applauding the $50 million increase in tribal public safety funding, but expressed disappointment that these additional funds were not directed into the Emergency Fund for Indian Safety and Health. The Emergency Fund for Indian Safety and Health, which was... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today led a group of his Senate colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner urging him to allow the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to expire on December 31, 2009. Last year’s Emergency Economic Stabilization Act allows the Treasury Department to extend TARP... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today issued the following statement in remembrance of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks: “The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 were a tragedy perpetrated by an enemy determined to destroy our nation and our way of life. I ask all South Dakotans to join me in... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today announced he would not support the nomination of Cass Sunstein to be head of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs within the White House Office of Management and Budget. “Mr. Sunstein’s past statements about banning hunting and allowing animals to bring lawsuits make it impossible... Continue Reading
