U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) joined a number of his GOP colleagues in cosponsoring Senator John Barrasso’s (R-Wyoming) legislation to block a proposed rule from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expanding its authority to regulate small wetlands, creeks, stock ponds, and ditches under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The... Continue Reading
The Co-Chairs of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Internet Caucus are urging House and Senate Leadership to pass bipartisan legislation before the August recess to permanently eliminate new state and local taxes on Internet access. In a letter from Reps. Anna G. Eshoo (D-California) and Bob Goodlatte (R-Virginia), as well as... Continue Reading
Today Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) offered two amendments to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Agriculture Appropriations bill, including one that would reprogram $2 million in the FY2015 Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) budget to address the backlog of undetermined wetlands in all states. “Conservation compliance is an eligibility... Continue Reading
Today Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) wrote U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack requesting that USDA stop requiring the destruction of vegetative cover on certain CRP contracts at a cost to taxpayers. “CRP holds a significant role in the success of South Dakota’s agriculture and rural economies,” said... Continue Reading
U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) today introduced legislation (S. 2462) to help America’s students by exempting schools, colleges, and universities from the ObamaCare employer mandate, which is already cutting education jobs and driving up tuition costs across the country. “ObamaCare’s employer mandate is not only destroying jobs in the... Continue Reading
U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner (D-Virginia) and John Thune (R-South Dakota) today introduced the bipartisan Employer Participation in Refinancing Act to help individuals pay down their student loans. The Warner-Thune legislation would provide a new tool to help employers recruit and retain quality employees by allowing them to help qualified... Continue Reading
U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) took to the Senate floor today to honor the 70th anniversary of the heroic landings of D-Day at Normandy. Thune made the following remarks on the Senate Floor, “…The incredible bravery exhibited on June 6th, 1944…is one of the defining moments of modern... Continue Reading
U.S. Senators John Thune (R-South Dakota) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-North Dakota) today led a bipartisan effort to support farmers who are prevented from planting crops due to adverse weather by sending a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack requesting that approved prevented planting acres are included... Continue Reading
U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, released the following statement today on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) announcement regarding additional enforcement actions designed to combat call completion issues in rural areas: “I applaud the FCC for taking action to... Continue Reading
Following ongoing reports of waiting lists, delayed care, and gross mismanagement at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care facilities, U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) joined Senators John McCain (R-Arizona), Richard Burr (R-North Carolina), Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma), and Jeff Flake (R-Arizona) in cosponsoring their legislation to improve veterans’ health... Continue Reading
Following the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement it would be imposing costly new regulations on existing power plants, U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) today joined a number of his GOP colleagues in cosponsoring legislation introduced by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) to block the EPA’s proposal unless it... Continue Reading
U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) today sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack calling on the Forest Service (FS) to accept responsibility for the April 3, 2013, Pautre Fire, and to approve damage claims from individuals who lost buildings, trees, bales of forage, and fences... Continue Reading
