Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) introduced an amendment (S.Amdt. 2093) to the National Defense Authorization Act that would reiterate Congress’ commitment to the development of the next generation Long-Range Strike Bomber. “As potential adversaries continue to modernize their anti-aircraft systems, our ability to penetrate those systems must also modernize,” said Thune.... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) today expressed deep concern about the Air Force’s decision to ground B-1B Lancer bombers at Ellsworth Air Force Base for the remainder of the federal fiscal year due to the deep defense cuts in President Obama’s sequester. In a recent statement, Ellsworth officials cited that the across-the-board... Continue Reading
U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee’s Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness, today praised the bipartisan House passage of legislation that would establish permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with Russia. The bill (H.R. 6156) would encourage job creation at home by taking... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, D.C.–U.S. Senators Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) and Representative Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) sent a letter today to the Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, Jr., requesting that the Navy name the next Virginia class attack submarine the USS South Dakota. The full text of the letter is... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Senator John Thune today joined Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), David Vitter (R-La.), and a total of 44 senators to announce that they will introduce legislation to approve the Keystone XL pipeline project under Congress’ authority enumerated in the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution, Article 1,... Continue Reading
Washington, D.C.–Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD), Senator John Thune (R-SD) and Representative Kristi Noem (R-SD) announced today that South Dakota young people interested in being nominated to one of the four U.S. Service Academies for the Class of 2016 should apply by October 31, 2011. South Dakota residents between the ages... Continue Reading
Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Jim Webb (D-Va.) introduced legislation last week to authorize the minting and sale of a commemorative $10 gold coin honoring the history of Marine Corps Aviation since 1912, when First Lieutenant Alfred A. Cunningham, the father of Marine Corps Aviation, reported for flight training in... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today commented on the announcement that the Air Force has released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) on its plans to expand the Powder River Training Complex airspace. The Draft EIS will now be open to public comment and the Air Force will host a series... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today highlighted important provisions in the Fiscal Year 2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, which the Senate today passed by a vote of 100-0. The bill provides a total of $133.9 billion for military construction and veterans affairs, as well as advance funding for veterans... 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 joined a bipartisan group of his colleagues in sending a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius requesting an update on the status of an emergency plan to allocate the $2 billion... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today questioned Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Admiral Michael Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, about the Obama administration’s plan to terminate the Next Generation Bomber program at a full Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. Secretary Gates had previously expressed support for the Next... Continue Reading
