WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after Senate Democrats obstructed consideration of H.R. 1314, the TPA legislation: “The sooner Congress renews the bipartisan trade promotion authority legislation, the sooner South Dakota consumers, workers, and job creators can experience the benefits of a healthier economy. Unfortunately,... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today at a hearing before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) sharply criticized the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) misguided decision to address the decline of the northern long-eared bat population by listing the bat as “threatened” under the Endangered Species... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, today announced several staff changes on his Washington-based press team: Chandler Smith has been named communications director for Thune’s leadership office, the Senate Republican Conference, starting May 11. Smith currently serves as vice president of government affairs communications at... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement on the Senate’s passage of the first joint 10-year balanced budget resolution in more than a decade: “The American people have a right to expect that the federal government will balance its budget – just like hard-working Americans do at home. While... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today re-introduced legislation that would require federal agencies to rely on the private sector when providing goods and services that are readily available. Thune’s legislation, the Freedom from Government Competition Act, would ensure private enterprises performing activities duplicated by the government have the opportunity to... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today introduced an amendment to the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (S. 615) to require the secretary of state to verify whether the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which would be in charge of inspections in Iran under this agreement, would have access to inspect... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) last night introduced a bill that would require collaboration between federal and local officials before initiating a prescribed burn on federal lands when fire danger is high. Thune’s bill follows two prescribed burns in South Dakota in the past two years that have burned out-of-control,... Continue Reading
U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) today sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Thomas Vilsack, requesting assistance to contain the deadly H5N2 bird flu virus affecting poultry farms in South Dakota. “While not harmful to humans, the bird flu virus has the potential... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), member of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax and trade legislation, praised the committee’s bipartisan passage of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). The legislation would help finalize trade deals that remove barriers facing U.S. exports, allowing American goods to compete on a level... Continue Reading
Today, U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) led a bipartisan group of 10 senators in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack strongly encouraging him to take whatever steps necessary, including conducting a general signup in fiscal year 2015, to keep Conservation... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement on the Senate’s bipartisan passage of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act: “I’m glad that Senate Democrats finally dropped their weeks-long filibuster of this bipartisan, common-sense bill that targets the scourge of human trafficking and helps give a voice to... Continue Reading
U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) today praised Ellsworth Air Force Base’s announcement that the 28th Bomb Wing will be moving under the control of Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC). The official transition will take place on October 1. The command structure... Continue Reading
