Press Releases - Senator John Thune

ICYMI: What They’re Saying About the CASE Act

Earlier this week, U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) introduced their bipartisan bill to block the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from implementing costly regulations that would increase energy prices, curb job growth, and hinder economic opportunities by setting the ground-level ozone standard at an unprecedented low level.... Continue Reading

Thune and Nelson Introduce Bipartisan Freight Rail Reform Bill

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), who respectively serve as the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today introduced S. 808, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) Reauthorization Act of 2015. The STB is the federal regulatory body responsible... Continue Reading

Thune Calls on Senate Democrats to Support TPA

Today, U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), member of the Senate Finance Committee, took to the Senate floor to call on Senate Democrats to support trade promotion authority (TPA) to put American goods on an even playing field internationally. Thune noted the tremendous impact of trade on South Dakota’s agriculture industry,... Continue Reading

Thune to FCC: Can’t Apply Old Rules of Telecom to New World of Internet

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today at a hearing entitled, “Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission” questioned the five members of the FCC about its controversial Open Internet Order. Video of the questions for the commissioners is here and remarks... Continue Reading

Thune, Manchin Introduce Bill to Block Expensive EPA Regulation that Hinders Economic Opportunities

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) today introduced a bill to block the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from implementing costly regulations that would increase energy prices, curb job growth, and hinder economic opportunities by setting the ground-level ozone standard at an unprecedented low level. Thune and Manchin’s... Continue Reading

Democrats Choose Obstruction Over Progress on Human Trafficking Bill

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement on Senate Democrats’ continued filibuster of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act: “If ever there were an issue that should be above and beyond politics, protecting children from human trafficking is it. The fact that Senate Democrats are choosing to... Continue Reading

Thune Offers Amendment to Help Native American Child Trafficking Victims

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today offered an amendment to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act that would make federally recognized Indian tribes eligible for a block grant authorized by this bill to help prevent trafficking of Native American children or provide support services to Native American child trafficking... Continue Reading

Thune: Democrat Opposition to Human Trafficking Bill Unconscionable

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed Senate Democrats’ attempt to politicize a bipartisan bill to help eradicate human trafficking and provide support to its victims. Click here to watch Thune’s full statement. Excerpts below: “You got a unanimous vote coming out of the committee – all Democrats voting... Continue Reading

Thune Leads Call for USDA, HHS to Include Lean Red Meat in 2015 Dietary Guidelines

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today led 29 of his colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell calling on the secretaries to stay within statutory guidelines, consider the most relevant... Continue Reading

Thune, Klobuchar Introduce Bill to Provide Licensure Clarity for Sports Medicine Professionals

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) today introduced a bill clarifying that sports medicine professionals who travel outside their primary licensed state to provide care for the athletes will be covered by their medical malpractice insurance. Thune and Klobuchar’s bill, the Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act, stipulates... Continue Reading

Thune: ATF Overreach Could Limit Law-abiding Citizens’ Right to Bear Arms

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today criticized the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) proposal that would severely limit access to rifle ammunition used primarily for sporting purposes. Thune, a long-time champion of gun-rights, made the following statement on the ATF’s guidelines for determining whether certain ammunition meets... Continue Reading

Thune: Trafficking a Brutal Violation of the Innocent

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today voiced his concern for the victims of human trafficking and his support of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015, which is currently being debated in the Senate. “[T]he truth is, human trafficking occurs in every country, including right here in the... Continue Reading