Senator John Thune yesterday sent a letter to U.S. Forest Service Chief Gail Kimball urging the completion of a comprehensive prairie dog management plan for South Dakota’s Conata Basin. “The Forest Service announced that a prairie dog management plan was in the works nearly two years ago,” said Thune. “The... Continue Reading
Senator Thune today released the below statement after the Senate voted to override President Bush’s Farm Bill veto by a count of 82 to 13. Prior to the override vote in the Senate, the House of Representatives voted 306 to 110 to override the President’s veto. Under the Constitution, a... Continue Reading
The U.S. Senate today adopted Senator John Thune’s resolution (S. Res. 496) honoring the 60th anniversary of the commencement of the sculpting of the Crazy Horse Memorial near Hill City, South Dakota. “No visit to the Black Hills is complete without a stop at the Crazy Horse Memorial,” said Thune.... Continue Reading
Late last week, Senator John Thune introduced the Flex-Fuel for All Americans Act of 2008, which would create a temporary consumer tax credit for the purchase of a flexible fuel vehicle (FFV). FFVs are capable of running on either E-85 (85 percent ethanol), a blend of 85 percent methanol, or... Continue Reading
After months of gridlock and multiple temporary extensions, the United States Senate passed the 2008 Farm Bill Conference Report (H.R. 2419) by a veto-proof margin of 81 – 15. Senator John Thune, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, was instrumental in shaping many titles of the bill, which outlines... Continue Reading
After months of gridlock and multiple temporary extensions, the United States Senate is set to pass the 2008 Farm Bill Conference Report (H.R. 2419). Senator John Thune, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, was instrumental in shaping many titles of the bill which outlines our nation’s agriculture policy through... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today announced that the 2008 Farm Bill Conference Report (H.R. 2419) Energy Title includes his Biofuels Innovation Program, which would jumpstart the production of cellulosic ethanol produced from switchgrass, other native grasses and biomass feedstocks such as wood chips and crop residue. “Our nation is facing significant... Continue Reading
Senators John Thune and Tim Johnson today commented on the Senate passage of the Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act, which included their amendment to reduce the potential impact of FEMA’s revised flood map for Sioux Falls residents. The amendment would allow the city to be reimbursed for advance funding... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today joined a bipartisan group of his Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Stephen Johnson, urging him to resist calls to partially or completely waive the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). The RFS has been erroneously cited as the leading factor in... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune, a Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today announced an important step toward bringing the 2008 Farm Bill across the finish line. Farm Bill conferees agreed to the farm bill conference report language last night, according to Thune. “It has been a long time coming, but I’m... Continue Reading
Senator Thune testified today before the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and requested that the committee approve S.161, the Veterans’ Disability Compensation Automatic COLA Act. Thune’s bill would make the annual cost of living adjustments automatic, for those who have been disabled in military service to our country and survivors of... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today praised Mike Jaspers of Sioux Falls, who is stepping down as South Dakota State Director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Office of Rural Development. Jaspers was appointed by the President and recommended for the position by Senator Thune. “Thanks to his strong agricultural background... Continue Reading
