Press Releases - Senator John Thune

Thune: The Time to Repeal Obamacare Is Now

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the need to repeal Obamacare and help lift the heavy burden it has placed on the American people. Remarks (as prepared for delivery): “Mr. President, five years ago, days after President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law, the senior Democrat... Continue Reading

Public Comment Period Extended on VA’s Proposed Reconfiguration of Black Hills Health Care System

Members of the South Dakota, Wyoming and Nebraska congressional delegations today made the following statement in support of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) decision to extend the public comment period on the environmental impact statement regarding proposals for reconfiguration of the Black Hills Health Care System (BHHCS) until February... Continue Reading

Thune, Heitkamp Ensure Beneficiary Access to Durable Medical Equipment

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) today introduced the DME Access and Stabilization Act, legislation that would provide bridge relief to rural DME providers in non-competitively bid areas through the end of 2018. This legislation will ensure that DME providers are able to meet the needs of... Continue Reading

Thune Welcomes Sioux Falls Pastor Named U.S. Senate “Chaplain for a Day”

Pastor Jeff Wheeler of Sioux Falls Central Baptist Church today served as U.S. Senate “Chaplain for a Day.” U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) nominated Pastor Wheeler for the honor. “It’s a great honor for me to welcome to the United States Senate today our pastor from Sioux Falls, South Dakota,... Continue Reading

Thune: ISIS Must Be Stopped

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D) today offered his condolences to the victims of the heinous terrorist attacks in Paris, France, and discussed how America’s top priority must be to act diligently to eliminate this threat and protect the American people from future attacks. Remarks (as prepared for delivery): “Thank you,... Continue Reading

Thune Named to Highway Bill Conference Committee, Participates in First Public Meeting

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) was recently named to the conference committee tasked with resolving the differences between the House and Senate transportation reauthorization bills and today participated in the committee’s first public meeting. In July, the Senate passed its version of the transportation bill, the Developing a Reliable and... Continue Reading

Commerce Committee Approves Thune Bill That Would Improve Access to and Availability of Rural Health Care

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today applauded the Commerce Committee’s passage of the Rural Health Care Connectivity Act of 2015 (S. 1916). The bipartisan bill, which was introduced earlier this year by Thune, would amend the Communications Act to permit... Continue Reading

Senate Urges President to Rein in Overreaching EPA

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today welcomed passage of legislation expressing the Senate’s disapproval of a federal rule detailing President Obama’s carbon mandates, which would increase the price of electricity and reduce grid reliability. “President Obama has once again attempted to circumvent Congress with his far-reaching and excessive carbon... Continue Reading

Thune Urges Prospective ESEA Conference Leaders to Include Tribal Youth Suicide Amendments in Final Bill

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today urged the prospective House and Senate leaders of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) conference committee to include his amendments that were adopted earlier this year as part of the Senate’s consideration of the Every Child Achieves Act (ECAA) in the final bill... Continue Reading

Thune Statement on Obama Administration’s Rejection of Keystone XL Pipeline

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after the Obama administration announced it has denied TransCanada’s permit application to build the long-stalled Keystone XL pipeline: “I would say that I’m surprised, but with President Obama’s commitment to appeasing the far-left environmental wing of his political base,... Continue Reading

Democrats Block Critical Funding for Our Men and Women in Uniform

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after Senate Democrats blocked the Department of Defense (DoD) appropriations bill, which includes important funding for our military personnel, their families, weapons, readiness, and infrastructure projects that contribute to our national security: “It’s incredible that Senate Democrats would repeatedly block a... Continue Reading

Noem, Thune Raise Questions about IHS’s Approach to Suicide Crisis

U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) and U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today raised questions about Indian Health Service’s (IHS) approach to the suicide crisis plaguing South Dakota’s tribal communities. In a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell, Noem and Thune outlined specific concerns about a... Continue Reading