Today the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs approved the Indian Health Service (IHS) Accountability Act of 2016, introduced earlier this year by U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee. Thune’s bill, which is cosponsored by U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), John McCain... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a member of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, today applauded the Finance Committee’s approval of his provision that would make it easier for community banks to become S corporations by allowing S corporation bank shares to be held in individual retirement accounts (IRAs). In 2004,... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) is currently seeking intelligent, hard-working college students to serve as spring interns in his Senate offices located in Aberdeen, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, and Washington, D.C. Interns in Thune’s state offices will participate in constituent service and state outreach activities, while students in the Washington,... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the president’s foreign policy failures — from the growing threat of ISIS to a flawed deal with Iran that resulted in a multi-million dollar ransom payment — and called on the president to take action against growing threats around the world. Thune and... Continue Reading
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience (NATIVE) Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) that will enhance and integrate native tourism, empower native communities, and expand unique cultural tourism opportunities in the United States. The bill,... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today offered an amendment to the Emergency Wildfire and Forest Management Act of 2016 that would address the way prescribed burns are handled by federal agencies. Thune’s amendment, which was adopted by unanimous consent during today’s Senate Agriculture Committee markup, would require the federal government... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) released the following video ahead of the 15th anniversary of the deadly terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Flight 93. Excerpts from Thune’s video: “I remember talking to our youngest daughter, Larissa, and she had two questions on that... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today introduced the No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act, legislation that seeks to address shortcomings in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) that were identified by the VA Inspector General (IG) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the failures of Obamacare, the president’s signature law, including the recently released premium increases in South Dakota, lack of choices for health care plans across the country, and several of the law’s other broken promises. Thune also discussed yesterday’s Zika vote in... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after Senate Democrats today blocked funding for veterans benefits, combating the Zika virus, and the Department of Defense for the third time this year. “Despite the fact the Zika virus currently poses a significant public health threat... Continue Reading
“I introduced the Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act of 2015 to make the STB a more efficient and effective agency … While many of the most important provisions of the law are still in-progress, thus far the Board has met or is on track to meet each deadline in the... Continue Reading
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after the U.S. Board on Geographic Names announced it had renamed South Dakota’s Harney Peak to Black Elk Peak. The South Dakota Department of Tourism, the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks, and the State Board... Continue Reading
