Senator John Thune today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has selected Western Biomass Energy, LLC to participate in the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP). Western Biomass Energy converts wood chips from the Black Hills into renewable fuels. Senator Thune authored BCAP, which was included in the 2008 Farm... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today led 30 of his colleagues in sending a letter to all members of the U.S. Senate urging them to oppose any amendments to the health care reform bill that would limit the existing tax deduction for charitable donations. Earlier this year, the Senate passed Senator Thune’s... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today announced that the U.S. Forest Service will extend the comment period for the Nebraska National Forest and Grasslands Draft Environmental Impact Statement for designation of a motorized travel access system for an additional 45 days. Senator Thune sent a letter to the agency earlier this week... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune sent a letter today to Tom Tidwell, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), requesting that Forest Service extend the original comment period for the Nebraska National Forest and Grasslands Draft Environmental Impact Statement for designation of a motorized travel access system for an additional 45 days.... Continue Reading
Senators John Rockefeller (D-WV), John Thune (R-SD), and Jim Webb (D-VA) today introduced S. 2097, the bipartisan Frank Buckles World War I Memorial Act, a bill that would rededicate the existing District of Columbia War Memorial as the National and District of Columbia World War I Memorial on the National... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today hailed the signing of Veterans’ Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act as an important step forward for improving the veterans’ health care system. The new law requires Congress to allow advance funding for the Veterans Affairs Department’s medical programs one year in advance of the... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune has cosponsored a Senate resolution (S. Res. 307) that would change the U.S. Senate Rules by requiring a bill and its cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to be posted online for at least 72 hours before it is considered by any committee or on... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today highlighted important South Dakota priorities included in the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Authorization Conference Report. The conference report authorizes $680 billion in funding for the Department of Defense and the national security programs of the Department of Energy, including several South Dakota defense related projects. The... Continue Reading
The U.S. Senate tonight voted 93 to 7 to approve the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Appropriations bill. The bill includes nearly $25.5 million in defense funding for South Dakota priorities requested by Senator John Thune. In total, the bill includes over $625 billion for the Department of Defense. “South Dakota’s... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune yesterday met with Bob and Donna Burke and their children Brandi and Darin of Brookings, who traveled to Washington, DC to receive the 2009 “Angels in Adoption” award from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption. Senator Thune nominated the Burkes for the award earlier this year. “Bob and... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune yesterday introduced an amendment to the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill currently before the Senate that would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from moving forward with regulations taxing carbon emitted by stationary sources, such as power plants, refineries, and factories, if those regulations are projected to... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today entered a statement in the Congressional Record applauding the $50 million increase in tribal public safety funding, but expressed disappointment that these additional funds were not directed into the Emergency Fund for Indian Safety and Health. The Emergency Fund for Indian Safety and Health, which was... Continue Reading
