Press Releases

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, applauded the committee’s passage of S. 827, the Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act. The bill, introduced last year by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), would help correct long-standing problems with call completion failures faced... 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

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after Senate Democrats blocked the military construction, veterans affairs, and Zika appropriations conference report, legislation that would have funded numerous programs to support America’s veterans as well as vital military construction projects:  “I’m disappointed that just days before the July 4... Continue Reading

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision that President Obama’s executive amnesty violates the law:  “Today’s ruling makes clear what Senate Republicans have been saying all along,” said Thune. “Congress is a coequal branch of... Continue Reading

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed President Obama’s refusal to recognize the growing threat of ISIS and the president’s failed foreign policy that has contributed to the group’s extensive global reach. Thune called on Obama to commit to working with Republicans to take the necessary steps to defeat ISIS. ... Continue Reading

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), co-chair of the Senate Task Force on Responsible Fatherhood, and his dad Harold Thune have a special message about Father’s Day and the importance of being a good dad.   “I want to wish all dads across the state of South Dakota and across this... Continue Reading

RAPID CITY, S.D. — Today the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, at the request of U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), convened an oversight and legislative hearing in Rapid City to receive testimony from stakeholders impacted by the years-long crisis at Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities across the Great Plains area and... Continue Reading

Tomorrow, Friday, June 17, at the request of U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will hold a field hearing in Rapid City, South Dakota, on the IHS Accountability Act of 2016, introduced last month by Thune and Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), chairman of the Indian... Continue Reading

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after the Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), legislation that would provide our troops with the resources they need to keep Americans safe.  “This bill sends the right message to the men and women in uniform who fight for... Continue Reading

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, applauded the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs for passing their Tribal Veterans Health Care Enhancement Act (S. 2417), legislation that would improve tribal veterans’ access to health care. The committee approved the bill,... Continue Reading