Press Releases - Senator John Thune

Senate Ag Committee Holds First 2012 Farm Bill Hearing

Earlier today, Senator John Thune participated in the first 2012 Farm Bill hearing held by the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee. Thune serves as ranking member of the Jobs, Rural Economic Growth, and Energy Innovation Subcommittee of the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee. During the hearing, Thune had the... Continue Reading

Thune-Casey Bill to Promote Volunteerism at Community Health Centers

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 would amend the Public Health... Continue Reading

Thune Presses U.S. Trade Agencies to Stand Up for South Dakota Producers

Senator John Thune today pressed officials from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security, and the Department of Commerce on enforcement of current antidumping and countervailing duty laws during their appearance before the Senate Finance Committee Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness. Senator Thune is the Ranking Member... Continue Reading

Thune Statement on the Death of Osama bin Laden

Senator John Thune issued the following statement tonight regarding the death of Osama bin Laden: “I commend our intelligence community and military personnel for pursuing this mass murderer and delivering justice.”

Thune, Noem Slam Obama Administration's Decision to Sue South Dakota

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator John Thune and Representative Kristi Noem today issued sharp criticism over the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) announcement to move forward with a lawsuit against the state of South Dakota to invalidate a constitutional measure to allow workers to hold secret ballot elections before a company... Continue Reading

Senators Call on Sebelius to Provide Key CLASS Act Documents

Senator John Thune today sent a letter to Secretary Kathleen Sebelius calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide key documents regarding the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act that were drafted prior to the passage of the new health care law. Secretary... Continue Reading

Bill to Reduce Largest Environmental Paperwork Burden Passes Committee, Moves to Senate Floor

A bill to modernize the way the federal government and states track the shipment of hazardous waste, the Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest Establishment Act (S.710), introduced by Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) and cosponsored by Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), and Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), today passed... Continue Reading

Thune Reminds South Dakota Producers of CRP Signup Deadline

Senator John Thune today reminded South Dakota producers that the general Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signup will end Friday, April 15th. Participation in the general CRP signup, which began March 15th, will determine how many acres remain enrolled in CRP at the end of the year. Land owners and operators... Continue Reading

Thune Reintroduces Bill to Prevent Unfair Government Competition with Private Sector

Senator John Thune today reintroduced the Freedom from Government Competition Act (S.785), which would require federal agencies to rely on the private sector when providing goods and services that are readily available. “With our nation’s debt well over $14 trillion and our national unemployment hovering near nine percent, it is... Continue Reading

Thune Reintroduces Legislation to Encourage Biofuel Production from National Forests

Senator John Thune has reintroduced legislation (S.781) to fix the flawed definition of “Renewable Biomass” included in the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007, which currently excludes any material removed from national forests and most private forestlands. Under the EISA definition, cellulosic ethanol derived from this feedstock does... Continue Reading

Thune Named Ranking Member of Agriculture Subcommittee

Senator John Thune has been selected to continue serving as ranking member of one of five Subcommittees of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. Senator Thune will serve as the ranking Republican on the Subcommittee on Jobs, Rural Economic Growth, and Energy Innovation for the 112th session of... Continue Reading

Thune Calls for Department of Labor Investigation into SD Mine Inspections

Senator John Thune today sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Inspector General to request an investigation of the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s (MSHA) inconsistent and aggressive inspections of South Dakota’s surface mines. “Businesses and their employees have the right to operate under fair and consistent federal... Continue Reading