Press Releases

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today met with members of the Delta Air Lines executive team to discuss why a recent Delta Air Lines flight flying from Minneapolis-St. Paul to Rapid City failed to land at its intended destination, Rapid... Continue Reading

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after the Republican-led Senate passed legislation to help prevent heroin and prescription painkiller abuse and expand treatment options for the millions of Americans struggling with opioid addiction. “An epidemic of heroin and prescription painkiller abuse is sweeping our nation, wrecking... Continue Reading

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), members of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, today introduced the S Corporation Modernization Act of 2016 (S. 3181), legislation that would make several pro-growth reforms to help S corporations operate more easily, which would improve their ability to raise capital. S... Continue Reading

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, released the following statement on the Senate’s bipartisan passage of his FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016 by a vote of 89-4. The bill, which will provide important, time-sensitive safety and security improvements... Continue Reading

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) issued the following statements after the Senate passed the United States Appreciation for Olympians and Paralympians (USA Olympians and Paralympians) Act (S. 2650), legislation that would exempt Team USA from being taxed by the Internal Revenue Service on medals or... Continue Reading

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today released a video highlighting the common-sense airport security and safety reforms in the Federal Aviation Administration extension that would help protect South Dakotans and all Americans who travel. The House and Senate are expected... Continue Reading

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined five of his House and Senate colleagues in urging President Obama to work with Congress on a critical anti-Zika package that would provide $1.1 billion in funding to help combat the growing threat posed by the Zika virus. The package would also temporarily... Continue Reading

By now, most Americans have seen in chilling detail what happened late last month in Istanbul, Turkey. A group of terrorists casually walked into one of Ataturk Airport’s public terminals and proceeded to open fire before detonating suicide vests among fleeing travelers. In the wake of this attack, 45 people... Continue Reading

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, issued the following statement after Senate Democrats blocked consideration of the Department of Defense appropriations bill: “The recent attacks in Orlando, Istanbul, Bangladesh, Baghdad, and Saudi Arabia underscore the urgent need to fight ISIS abroad and protect the homeland. This... Continue Reading

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the FBI’s investigation into Hillary Clinton’s email use during her time as secretary of state and the agency’s decision not to recommend charges be filed against her. As a result of the FBI’s investigation, during which FBI Director James Comey concluded Clinton acted... Continue Reading

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, issued the following statement after the committee approved S. 3084, the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act, by voice vote. The bipartisan legislation, of which Thune is a cosponsor, would maximize science research by reducing administrative... Continue Reading