Senator John Thune today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has begun making payments to facilities converting nonedible plant material into biofuels and bioenergy through the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP). Senator Thune authored BCAP, which was included in the 2008 Farm Bill. “Biofuels and other forms of renewable... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune tonight issued the following statement after President Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress: “I stand ready to work with the President and Congressional Democrats on a bipartisan common sense health care solution that would lower costs and improve care rather than force a massive new... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today discussed national energy policy relating to biofuels with Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) as well as industry experts, researchers, and agricultural producers at a United States Senate Agriculture Committee Field Hearing in Sioux City, IA. The hearing focused on the artificial barriers erected by... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today announced his nomination of Donna and Bob Burke of Brookings for the 2009 Angels in Adoption Award, which is presented by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption. Since 1984, the Burkes have cared for over 30 children as foster parents in addition to raising two biological and... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today made the following statement on the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy: “Senator Kennedy was a very effective advocate for the things he believed in and earned the respect of Senators on both sides of the aisle. Although we didn’t always agree, I admired his service to... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has released $188,100 to the Community Health Care Association of the Dakotas. The funds, which were requested by Senator Thune in the Fiscal Year 2009 Labor, Health and Human Services appropriations bill, will be used to... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune has added two additional town hall meetings to his Senate recess schedule. On Friday, August 28th at 8:30 AM MT he will hold a town hall in Rapid City at the Surbeck Center Ballroom on the campus of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune will hold a town hall meeting in Aberdeen on Thursday, August 20th in the Centennial Rooms at the Student Center on the campus of Northern State University at 11:30 AM CT and in Watertown on Monday, August 24th at the County Fair Banquet Hall at 5:00 PM... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today toured a test plot and a chemistry lab at South Dakota State University (SDSU) where researchers are studying the use of lignocellulosic feedstocks for renewable fuel production. Lignocellulosic biomass is any non-seed portion of a plant that can be used for bioenergy or biochemical production. The... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today conducted a Senate Commerce Surface Transportation Subcommittee hearing at Sioux Falls City Hall regarding ways to address surface transportation needs in rural America. At the hearing, Senator Thune heard testimony from state and business leaders about how to improve highways, rail service, and trucking in states... Continue Reading
Earlier today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the names of participants and the findings of the peer review process related to the EPA’s controversial indirect land use models within the new Renewable Fuels Standard regulations. “I am deeply discouraged by what seems to be yet another slant against ethanol... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar asking for rapid implementation of a potential new law that would raise the maximum hiring age for federal law enforcement officials from 37 years of age to 47. Under the current law, the Bureau of Indian Affairs... Continue Reading
