WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after the Senate passed S. 524, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. This bipartisan legislation expands drug prevention efforts, supports law enforcement, combats overdose, and expands access to treatment. “It’s no secret that addictive substances like misused prescription painkillers... Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement on the state of Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities in the Great Plains area and the lack of accountability that currently exists with IHS leaders. Earlier today, Thune, at the request of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, participated in a... Continue Reading
Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) and Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), along with Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) and Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT), today announced the introduction of legislation to protect Native American tribes from the Affordable Care Act’s costly employer mandate. The Tribal Employment and Jobs Protection Act, which was introduced today... Continue Reading
U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) praised the Senate’s bipartisan passage of a bill to exclude tribal benefits, such as healthcare, education, and housing, from any individual’s gross taxable income. The Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act (H.R. 3043) would amend the Internal Revenue Code to ensure the Internal Revenue Service... Continue Reading
Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), and Representative Kristi Noem (R-S.D.), today announced that Native American code talkers from eight of South Dakota’s tribes will be recognized for their dedicated and valorous service during World War I and World War II at a gold medal ceremony to be... Continue Reading
U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) today sent the following letter to U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Eric Shinseki and Director of Indian Health Services (IHS) Dr. Yvette Roubideaux. The letter outlines Senator Thune’s concerns with a recent service agreement reached by the VA and IHS. The reauthorization of the... Continue Reading
A bipartisan group of senators is urging Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and other top administration officials to act quickly to improve health care delivery to American Indians and Alaska Natives. In a letter to Secretary Sebelius and Indian Health Service Director Dr. Yvette Roubideaux, the senators pointed... Continue Reading
U.S. Senator John Thune praised the Tribal Law and Order Act (TLOA) that was signed into law today. Thune was an original cosponsor of the TLOA, which passed the Senate by Unanimous Consent on June 26, 2010. “After working on the Tribal Law and Order Act for over three years,... Continue Reading
Efforts to correct a flaw in current law that excludes some disabled Native American veterans from housing assistance programs took a huge step forward today as legislation to amend eligibility requirements has been approved by the Indian Affairs committee. The Indian Veterans Housing Opportunity Act of 2010, introduced by U.S.... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today applauded the U.S. Senate’s passage of the Tribal Law and Order Act (S. 797) yesterday by unanimous consent. The Tribal Law and Order Act provides for the appointment of special U.S. Attorneys who can ensure that violent crimes on reservations are prosecuted, improves the training programs... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today addressed the National Congress of American Indians’ (NCAI) mid-year conference hosted in Rapid City. President Theresa Two Bulls, of the Oglala Sioux Tribe located in Pine Ridge, serves as NCAI’s Secretary. “I’m pleased to welcome the National Congress of American Indians’ mid-year meeting to our great... Continue Reading
Continuing efforts to make sure all of America’s veterans are taken care of when they return from combat U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and John Thune (R- SD) introduced legislation that will correct a flaw in current law that excludes some disabled Native American Veterans from housing assistance programs. The... Continue Reading
