Senator John Thune today announced that the Senate has approved legislation to fund the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security for the entirety of Fiscal Year 2009, which begins on October 1st. In addition, the measure ensures that all other government agencies are funded through a six month... Continue Reading
The U.S. Senate today passed H.R. 6049, a bill to extend several tax provisions relating to energy production, including the production tax credit for wind energy through 2009. The measure passed by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 93 to 2. “The investors who are going to make large-scale wind energy... Continue Reading
Yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed S. 3023, the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2008, which includes a provision authored by Senator John Thune that would make the annual cost of living adjustment, or COLA, for disabled veterans automatic and permanent. Under current law, Congress must vote to approve an annual... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today announced that the Senate approved the National Defense Authorization bill for Fiscal Year 2009. The bill authorizes funding for the Department of Defense and the national security programs of the Department of Energy, including several South Dakota defense related projects and a Thune sponsored energy initiative.... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today commented on the U.S. Senate’s passage of an $8 billion infusion of funding to the Highway Trust Fund. Last week, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation notified Congress that the Highway Trust Fund was expected to experience a funding shortfall that would reduce transportation dollars that are... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune issued the following statement regarding Senator John McCain’s pick of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his Vice Presidential running mate: “Governor Palin is a great addition to the ticket. This decision proves John McCain is serious about changing Washington. Her experience as a reform-minded governor and a... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today toured the Heartland Consumers Power District’s Wessington Springs Wind Project. The facility outside Wessington Springs will be one of the largest wind farms in South Dakota when completed. “America needs to diversify the energy sources that fuel over everyday lives. I believe South Dakota wind power... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today joined U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer at Dakotafest in Mitchell, where the two participated in a forum and took questions from the audience. The two discussed renewable energy and second-generation biofuels.
U.S. Senator John Thune, as Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Energy, Science and Technology Subcommittee, conducted a public hearing today on transforming forest waste into biofuels. Despite the fact that ethanol can be produced from a host of different feedstocks, the definition of “Renewable Biomass” in the final version... Continue Reading
Yesterday, U.S. Senator John Thune toured the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. NREL is the nation’s primary laboratory devoted to researching renewable energy. “During my visit, I was again impressed with how much home-grown energy potential is available in the United States. NREL demonstrates on a daily... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune, as Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Energy Subcommittee, will conduct a public hearing on Monday, August 18th, on the subject of transforming forest waste into biofuels. The hearing will also address the current prohibition on ethanol produced from forest waste counting towards the Renewable Fuels Standard.... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today announced that he is an original cosponsor of S. 3406, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Amendments Act. This bipartisan legislation would clarify the intent of the original ADA and would better protect the rights of all Americans with disabilities. “The original Americans with Disabilities Act... Continue Reading
