Press Releases - Senator John Thune

Thune, Warner Introduce Bill to Expand Seniors’ Options for Care

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) today introduced the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act, bipartisan legislation that would ensure seniors can continue to access certain clinical services from their pharmacist. The bill would allow Medicare to reimburse for certain pharmacist-administered tests, treatments, and vaccinations... Continue Reading

Thune, Klobuchar Urge USDA to Assist Farmers and Ranchers Affected by Drought

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), members of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today sent a letter urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to support farmers and ranchers affected by this year’s drought by quickly authorizing emergency haying and... Continue Reading

Thune-Smith Bill Would Provide Flexibility for Emergency CRP Haying

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.), members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today reintroduced the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Flexibility Act. This bipartisan legislation would improve the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) ability to allow for expedited emergency haying of CRP acres... Continue Reading

Thune Introduces Bill to Increase Transparency of the Prescription Drug Supply Chain

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today introduced the Strengthening Pharmacy Access for Seniors Act, bipartisan legislation that would increase transparency measures on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and provide seniors with additional options to fill their prescriptions. The bill would specifically require PBMs to reveal the criteria used to classify... Continue Reading

Thune Discusses Defense Bill Priorities for Ellsworth Air Force Base’s Current and Future Missions, Including the B-21 Bomber

Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke on the Senate floor about the National Defense Authorization Act’s (NDAA’s) importance to the men and women at Ellsworth Air Force Base and to the advancement of the future B-21 bomber mission. Thune’s remarks below (as prepared... Continue Reading

Thune, Rounds Applaud Senate Passage of Their Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after the Senate unanimously passed their Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act, bipartisan legislation that would accelerate the review and processing of mortgages on trust land by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). “Affordable housing opportunities... Continue Reading

Thune: Republicans will Oppose Democrats’ Latest Attempt to Undermine the Supreme Court

Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at the Senate Republican leadership press conference in opposition to Democrats’ latest attempt to undermine the legitimacy of the Supreme Court. Thune also spoke about the need for a robust amendment process as the Senate considers... Continue Reading

Thune Co-Leads Finance Subcommittee Hearing to Examine the Importance of the Child Tax Credit

Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Finance Subcommittee on Taxation and Internal Revenue Service Oversight, today held a hearing assessing the effect of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) over the course of its 25-year history. As a result of... Continue Reading

Thune: Farm Bill Must Prioritize South Dakota Agriculture

Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a longtime member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today spoke on the Senate floor about his goals and priorities for the 2023 farm bill. Thune noted that it is critical for both houses of Congress to... Continue Reading

Thune: Regular Order Increases Transparency, Accountability, and Trust in Legislative Process

Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the importance of regular order in the Senate, which allows for a more deliberative process that promotes bipartisanship and increases productivity. Thune noted that regular order also results in a more transparent legislative process and ensures that senators... Continue Reading

Thune Condemns Democrats’ Dangerous Attacks on the Legitimacy of the Supreme Court

Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke on the Senate floor and condemned Democrats’ threatening rhetoric about the Supreme Court. Thune noted that in response to some of the court’s recent decisions, Democrats’ responses have gone from simply disagreeing with judicial outcomes to proactively attacking... Continue Reading

Thune’s Office Accepting Fall Internship Applications

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) is currently seeking college students to serve as fall interns in his office in Washington, D.C., as well as in his offices in Aberdeen, Rapid City, and Sioux Falls. Interns in Thune’s state offices will participate in constituent service and state... Continue Reading