Senator John Thune was awarded the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President’s Award today during the NCGA’s Corn Congress events in Washington, D.C. The award was presented by NCGA President Darrin Ihnen. “I am honored to receive this award from the National Corn Growers Association,” said Thune. “I appreciate the... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune made the following statement today regarding the White House recess appointment of Donald Berwick to be Director of the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): “President Obama’s decision to put a leading advocate of rationed health care in charge of Medicare without even a public hearing... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune, along with Senator Johnson and Representative Herseth Sandlin, today sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack requesting that South Dakota livestock producers who are unable to generate adequate forage for their livestock this year-due to excessive rainfall and subsequent flooding-be allowed to... 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. Supreme Court’s decision to prevent state and local governments from imposing unreasonable restrictions on an individual’s constitutional right to keep and bear arms. “Today’s ruling is a victory for the Second Amendment rights of people across our great state and throughout the country.... 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
Senators Chuck Grassley, John Thune, Mike Johanns and Kit Bond today pressed President Barack Obama on his administration’s decision to further delay the entry of E15 blends of gasoline into the market. The Senators asked the President for prompt action on the waiver petition and immediate consideration of an interim... 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
Senator John Thune today announced that the Air Force has selected Ellsworth Air Force Base as one of two new squadron bed-down locations for personnel operating Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). This new addition is part of a broader effort to increase the number of MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper intelligence,... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today issued the following statement in response to industry reports that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) again delaying the decision on approval of higher blends of ethanol for use in conventional vehicles: “It has been six months since the EPA was statutorily required to announce a decision... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today criticized the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) renewed effort to regulate the Internet under Title II of the Communications Act. FCC commissioners voted 3-2 along party lines to launch the regulation effort. “Yesterday’s decision by Chairman Genachowski and the other Democratic commissioners to pursue new government control... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today made the following remarks after the Senate vote of 41 to 57 on his alternative amendment to the Democrats’ Tax Extenders Bill currently before the Senate: “The alternative amendment I proposed was a common sense step toward restoring fiscal sanity to our nation’s runaway spending and... Continue Reading
