Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) today made the following statement regarding the Senate passage of the Agriculture Reform, Jobs and Food Act (S. 954): “The Senate missed an important opportunity today to improve federal agriculture policy by passing a Farm Bill with a problematic commodity title and which fails to rein... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) today introduced legislation to improve the federal Impact Aid program’s efficiency by permanently simplifying payment calculation, resulting in the ability for school districts to receive payments in a timelier manner. The Local Taxpayer Relief Act (S. 1108) would also improve the Impact Aid program to ensure... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) this week again called on the Obama administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to answer for leaking approximately 80,000 farmers and ranchers’ personal data to left-wing environmental groups. Thune joined a bipartisan group of senators in a letter to the EPA requesting answers on the leaked data.... Continue Reading
U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference and member of the Senate Finance Committee, today sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew questioning whether Sarah Hall Ingram, the former commissioner of the office responsible for tax-exempt organizations between... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement regarding the National Park Service (NPS) decision to reverse its plans to close Wind Cave’s Elk Mountain Campground following the implementation of sequestration, and instead reopen the campground for the summer season. “Reopening the Elk Mountain Campground is the right decision... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, released the following statement after meeting with Secretary of Commerce nominee Penny Pritzker and Secretary of Transportation nominee Anthony Foxx today in his office: “I would like to thank both nominees for... Continue Reading
U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) today announced that the Black Hills Cemetery Act (S. 447) was passed by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. This bill would transfer the ownership of nine historic cemeteries in the Black Hills from the U.S. Forest Service to local communities. Johnson introduced this... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) today called for the resignation of Acting Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Steven Miller following the release of a report last night from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) on the shameful targeting of conservative groups. “After reviewing the official IRS IG report released... Continue Reading
Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) today introduced legislation to remove barriers currently preventing health care professionals from volunteering their services at cost-effective, high quality, primary and preventative health care facilities known as Community Health Centers (CHCs). The Family Health Care Accessibility Act (S. 955) would amend the... Continue Reading
The States’ Water Rights Act, an amendment sponsored by Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and John Hoeven (R-N.D.), and cosponsored by Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) and Max Baucus (D-Mont.), today passed in the U.S. Senate. The measure blocks the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from charging residents and... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) today issued a statement following the Senate Agriculture Committee’s markup of the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013: “Today’s markup is just the beginning of drafting the 2013 Farm Bill,” said Thune. “The current climate of budgetary and fiscal restraint requires that we subject... Continue Reading
Following press reports indicating Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius solicited funds from health care executives to assist with the implementation of the President’s health law, Senate Finance Committee Republicans are demanding answers. In a letter spearheaded by Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), the Senators asked for a top... Continue Reading
