U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) today introduced several amendments to the bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act (S. 2363) on the Senate floor. Thune’s amendments would improve the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to save farmers and taxpayers money, redirect Forest Service funds to fight pine beetles and wildfires, and encourage elk hunting... Continue Reading
U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) joined a number of his GOP colleagues in cosponsoring Senator John Barrasso’s (R-Wyoming) legislation to block a proposed rule from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expanding its authority to regulate small wetlands, creeks, stock ponds, and ditches under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The... Continue Reading
U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) today sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack calling on the Forest Service (FS) to accept responsibility for the April 3, 2013, Pautre Fire, and to approve damage claims from individuals who lost buildings, trees, bales of forage, and fences... Continue Reading
U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) today applauded the inclusion of a provision in the Water Resources and Reform Development Act (WRRDA) conference report prohibiting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, for a period of 10 years, from moving forward with its highly controversial proposal to restrict access to Missouri... Continue Reading
U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined several of his Republican House and Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy regarding his opposition to the EPA’s efforts to expand its regulatory authority under the Clean Water Act (CWA). On March 25, 2014, the... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry and Natural Resources, today questioned the witness panel about pine beetle infestation management at a hearing today titled, “Shortchanging Our Forests: How Tight Budgets and Management Decisions Can Increase the Risk of Wildfire.” Key witnesses at today’s... Continue Reading
U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) today announced that the Black Hills Cemetery Act (S. 447) was passed by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. This bill would transfer the ownership of nine historic cemeteries in the Black Hills from the U.S. Forest Service to local communities. Johnson introduced this... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement regarding the National Park Service (NPS) decision to reverse its plans to close Wind Cave’s Elk Mountain Campground following the implementation of sequestration, and instead reopen the campground for the summer season. “Reopening the Elk Mountain Campground is the right decision... Continue Reading
The States’ Water Rights Act, an amendment sponsored by Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and John Hoeven (R-N.D.), and cosponsored by Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) and Max Baucus (D-Mont.), today passed in the U.S. Senate. The measure blocks the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from charging residents and... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.) in introducing an amendment (S.Amdt. 862) to the Water Resources Development Act (S. 601) to prevent the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from implementing their proposal to restrict access to Missouri River water and charge users for water taken from... Continue Reading
Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), and Representative Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) today sent a letter to the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, Tom Tidwell, encouraging the agency to consider the use of the Air Force’s soon-to-be retired C-27J aircraft to fight wildland fires in the Rocky Mountain Region,... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) today sent a letter to the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, Tom Tidwell, calling for the agency to take immediate action to reimburse landowners for the recent grassland fire in Perkins County. On April 3, 2013, the U.S. Forest Service lost control of a controlled... Continue Reading
