WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Ranking Member John Thune (R-SD) questioned Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta during yesterday’s “Aviation Safety: FAA’s Progress on Key Safety Initiatives” hearing. Over the last few months, Thune, along with House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bill Shuster... Continue Reading
Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), and Representative Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) today sent a letter to the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, Tom Tidwell, encouraging the agency to consider the use of the Air Force’s soon-to-be retired C-27J aircraft to fight wildland fires in the Rocky Mountain Region,... Continue Reading
Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), and Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) today released a white paper, “REBOOT: Re-examining the Strategies Needed to Successfully Adopt Health IT,” outlining concerns with current federal health information technology (health IT) policy, including increased health care... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, delivered the following prepared remarks at today’s “Aviation Safety: FAA’s Progress on Key Safety Initiatives” hearing: Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding this important hearing. Aviation safety has to be the FAA’s... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) and Congressman Steve Scalise (R-La.) today re-introduced the Buffett Rule Act, which would make it easier for individuals who believe they are under-taxed to voluntarily send extra money to the U.S. Treasury for the purposes of paying down the national debt. Currently, individuals can donate extra... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) today expressed deep concern about the Air Force’s decision to ground B-1B Lancer bombers at Ellsworth Air Force Base for the remainder of the federal fiscal year due to the deep defense cuts in President Obama’s sequester. In a recent statement, Ellsworth officials cited that the across-the-board... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) today sent a letter to recently confirmed U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary, Sally Jewell, about working together to improve conditions in tribal communities. Thune’s letter highlights the many challenges to Indian Country including both a lack of basic public safety and inadequate economic development, which... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) today sent a letter to the National Park Service (NPS) Regional Director, Michael Reynolds, urging the NPS to enter into a cooperative management agreement with the State of South Dakota or a concession contract with a private campground operator to manage Wind Cave National Park’s Elk... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, today issued a statement following the release of President Obama’s long-delayed budget proposal: “Last week we learned that nearly 500,000 Americans stopped looking for work, driving down the labor force participation rate to 63.3 percent, the lowest level since Jimmy... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, submitted for the record the following prepared remarks at today’s “State of Rural Communications” Communications, Technology, and the Internet Subcommittee hearing: Chairman Pryor, thank you and Ranking Member Wicker for working together... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) today sent a letter to the Acting Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Bob Perciasepe, to express his concerns about the EPA release of personal information of approximately 80,000 agriculture producers to environmental groups, including more than 500 farms and ranches in South Dakota. This... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) today sent a letter to the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, Tom Tidwell, calling for the agency to take immediate action to reimburse landowners for the recent grassland fire in Perkins County. On April 3, 2013, the U.S. Forest Service lost control of a controlled... Continue Reading
