Senator John Thune Delivers Weekly Republican Address

U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD) released the following weekly Republican address. Full transcript of Senator Thune’s address: “Hello, I’m Senator John Thune of South Dakota. With summer in full swing, children across the country are enjoying vacations and time off from school. Too many of their parents, however, don’t get... Continue Reading

Senate Passes Bill with Thune-Requested South Dakota Energy and Water Priorities

Senator John Thune tonight made the following statement after the Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2010 Senate Energy and Water Appropriations bill by a vote of 85 to 9. The bill appropriates money for several South Dakota projects requested by Senator Thune. “Water systems deliver clean, reliable water service to... Continue Reading

Thune Urges EPA to Certify Higher Ethanol Blends

Senator John Thune led a bipartisan group of his colleagues on Friday in sending a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson regarding the EPA’s pending decision on approving E15 (15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline) for use in non-flex fuel vehicles. “Homegrown biofuels can do even... Continue Reading

Thune Asks USDA to Address Issues in Cap and Trade Analysis

Senator John Thune today joined his Republican colleagues on the Senate Agriculture Committee in sending a letter to the chief economist at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The letter asks USDA to address concerns arising from the methodology of a study released concerning potential impact on our nation’s... Continue Reading

Anti-Gun Senators Defeat Common Sense Thune Concealed Carry Amendment

Senator John Thune today issued the following statement after his bipartisan amendment that would allow individuals to lawfully carry concealed firearms across state lines so long as the laws of the host state are obeyed was defeated by a vote of 58 to 39: “Today, overheated rhetoric and fearmongering overcame... Continue Reading

Thune to Vote Against Confirmation of Judge Sotomayor

Senator John Thune today announced he would vote against Supreme Court Nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor and released the following statement: “Judge Sotomayor has a compelling personal story and I appreciate her meeting with me. I carefully followed last week’s Judiciary Committee hearings as members questioned Judge Sotomayor on her judicial... Continue Reading

Thune Encourages Public Comment on Increased Ethanol Usage Before Deadline

Senator John Thune today reminded South Dakotans that they have until July 20, 2009 to comment on a proposal that would allow a higher percentage of ethanol to be blended with gasoline for use in non-flex fuel engines. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reviewing a fuel waiver application that... Continue Reading

Thune Announces Livestock Indemnity Payments Available

Senator John Thune today announced that the Farm Service Agency (FSA) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for payments through the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) for losses that occurred on or after January 1, 2008. LIP, a permanent disaster assistance program established by the 2008 Farm... Continue Reading

Thune Receives “Friend of Farm Bureau” Award

Scott VanderWal, president of the South Dakota Farm Bureau, yesterday presented Senator John Thune with the “Friend of Farm Bureau” Award, which recognizes Senator Thune’s record on agricultural and energy issues, including his work in helping to write the 2008 Farm Bill. Senator Thune, a member of the Senate Agriculture... Continue Reading

Funding for Thune-Requested South Dakota Priorities Moves Forward

Senator John Thune today announced that several of his South Dakota funding priorities were included in the Fiscal Year 2010 Senate Energy and Water Appropriations bill, which was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee earlier today. “South Dakota communities rely on water systems to deliver a clean and reliable drinking... Continue Reading

Thune-Requested Agriculture Projects Move Forward

Senator John Thune today announced that several of his funding requests for South Dakota were included in the Fiscal Year 2010 Senate Agriculture Appropriations bill, which was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today. “Agriculture is a vital component of our state’s economy, and the continued strength of our farmers... Continue Reading

Thune Calls for Inspector General Investigation of Apparent Suppression of Scientific Dissent at EPA

Senator John Thune today sent a letter to Bill Roderick, Acting Inspector General at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), asking him to investigate the apparent suppression of scientific views dissenting from the EPA’s April 17, 2009 Endangerment Finding for carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses, including methane. Recently discovered emails... Continue Reading