U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) today urged U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to reevaluate the selection process for the general Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) sign-ups. The results of the 49th annual general CRP sign-up, which was conducted... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed how members of Congress can work together to combat the mosquito-borne Zika virus by funding necessary programs and speeding up mosquito eradication efforts before the threat escalates any further. He also discussed his recently introduced legislation to provide immediate regulatory relief to expedite... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today led nine of his colleagues in writing to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) about its status review of the Worthing, South Dakota, delivery point for October live cattle futures. The Worthing delivery point is being singled out for a potential $1.50 per hundredweight (cwt)... Continue Reading
U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) recently joined Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell requesting that the Indian Health Service... Continue Reading
U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) today praised the inclusion of a provision to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2017 that fixes statutory language negatively affecting the Impact Aid program, which provides funds to eligible public schools in all 50 states. “Impact Aid is a... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the stagnant economic growth under the Obama administration and the actions the Republican-led Senate will take to address the out-of-control spending that’s fueling our national debt. Senate Republicans intend to continue putting forth policies that will grow our economy and help lift some... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) this week introduced S. 2899, the Zika Response and Regulatory Relief Act, legislation that would provide immediate regulatory relief to expedite efforts to combat the mosquito-borne Zika virus. The legislation would waive certain permitting and reporting requirements of the Clean Water Act for six... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today introduced legislation that would create an independent ombudsman position within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) that would be tasked with establishing a methodology for resolving certain complaints levied by veterans, their family members or designated caregivers, VA... Continue Reading
U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Pat Roberts (R-Kans.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) today wrote to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt to request feedback on... Continue Reading
U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) issued the following statements after the Senate unanimously approved the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience (NATIVE) Act, bipartisan legislation that will enhance and integrate native tourism, empower native communities, and expand unique cultural tourism opportunities in the United States. ... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the state of Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities in the Great Plains area and the need to hold the agency accountable. In February, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held a hearing, in which Thune participated, that examined the failures in patient care at... Continue Reading
U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today introduced the Veterans’ Disability Compensation Automatic Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Act, bipartisan legislation that would require the federal government to provide disabled veterans with an automatic COLA in years when there is an increase in benefits payable under title II... Continue Reading
