The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to pass today S. 2731, a $50 billion foreign assistance bill, which includes Senator John Thune’s amendment directing $2 billion to address tribal issues. The Thune amendment authorizes $1 billion in authorization for law enforcement and improved health care in Indian Country and... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today applauded the South Dakota National Guard’s Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 147th Field Artillery for their efforts in training Iraqi Army leaders in managing maintenance operations. The South Dakota Guard unit was selected for this honor because it outscored all other maintenance sections at Contingency Operating Base... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today commented on his meeting with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Stephen Johnson regarding the request by the Governor of Texas to waive the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). Senator Thune joined a bipartisan group of Senators in requesting a meeting after press reports indicated that Administrator Johnson... Continue Reading
U.S. Senator John Thune today announced the introduction of the bipartisan Tribal Law and Order Act of 2008, of which he is an original cosponsor. “Everyone in America wants to live in a community where their family and loved ones are safe and secure, where law enforcement is reliable and... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today commented on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Stephen Johnson’s decision to delay a determination regarding the request by the Governor of Texas to waive the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). The EPA has indicated that a decision to grant the waiver would not be reached by the... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune participated in today’s Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to receive the testimony of Michael B. Donley, the President’s nominee to be Secretary of the Air Force, as well as Air Force Chief of Staff nominee General Norton Schwartz and United States Transportation Command nominee General Duncan McNabb.... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today introduced the Open Fuel Standard Act with Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS), Ken Salazar (D-CO), and Joseph Lieberman (I-CT). The Open Fuel Standard Act requires that 50 percent of new automobiles be flex fuel by 2012 and that 80 percent of new automobiles be flex fuel by... Continue Reading
Last night the U.S. Senate passed the Health Care Safety Net Act (S. 901), which reauthorizes the Community Health Centers Program, by unanimous consent. Senator John Thune is a cosponsor of the legislation and has supported annual increases in funding for the community health centers program. “We face many challenges... Continue Reading
U.S. Senators Tim Johnson (D-SD) and John Thune (R-SD) and Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD) announced today that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service has granted Father Cathal Gallagher a green card so that he may remain in the country permanently. The green card has been approved and is being... Continue Reading
U.S. Senator John Thune and three other members of the Senate Agriculture Committee met July 17 in an executive session with U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab to discuss her negotiating positions on agriculture during World Trade Organization (WTO) talks, which resume in Geneva, Switzerland, on July 21, 2008. “It’s no... Continue Reading
A coalition of U.S. Senators has pressed U.S. EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson for a meeting soon, prior to a decision on the Renewable Fuels Standard. Recent press reports indicated that Texas Governor Rick Perry met behind closed doors with Administrator Johnson on July 9 to discuss Governor Perry’s request for... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune hosted a meeting in his office today with Mr. Michael Donley, Acting Secretary of the Air Force, General Norton Schwartz, the President’s nominee to be Air Force Chief of Staff, and General Duncan McNabb, the President’s nominee to be Commander, U.S. Transportation Command. “As a member of... Continue Reading
