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
In a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Department of Interior Sally Jewell, U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today called on the National Park Service (NPS) to change its prescribed burn policies. Thune also called on the NPS to accept full liability for damages and expenses to individuals and local and... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), member of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over trade-related matters, issued the following statement on today’s announcement of bipartisan trade promotion authority (TPA) legislation introduced by U.S. Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.): “Today’s announcement is much-needed... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) marked Tax Day, April 15, by delivering the following remarks (as prepared for delivery) on the Senate floor: “Mr. President, it’s been said that April is the cruelest month. “I think that pretty much captures how Americans feel as Tax Day approaches each year. “This... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today applauded the Senate’s bipartisan passage of the Medicare Access and Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, H.R. 2, which repeals Medicare’s Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula and modernizes Medicare payments to incentivize high-quality, low-cost care for seniors across the country. This bill also includes... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement on the administration’s announcement that a framework for a nuclear agreement with Iran has been reached: “This framework for a final agreement that allows Iran to continue key parts of its nuclear program raises significant concerns. Leaving an Iranian nuclear... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Representative Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) expressed continued concern over the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) misguided approach to addressing the decline of the northern long-eared bat population by listing it as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). A fungal... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) praised the Senate’s bipartisan approval of his amendment to the Senate’s Fiscal Year 2016 budget resolution putting the Senate on record opposing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) proposal to list the northern long-eared bat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). “This amendment puts... Continue Reading
