Thune Criticizes Misleading Taxpayer-Funded Medicare Brochure

Senator John Thune today joined several of his colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius criticizing the Health and Human Services department for using taxpayer funds to send a brochure to millions of seniors promoting the recently enacted health care reform bill. The... Continue Reading

National Debt and Washington Irresponsibility Reach New Heights

Senator John Thune today released the following statement regarding the United States’ national debt reaching the $13 trillion mark: “The red ink being passed on to future generations of Americans has reached an unprecedented level of irresponsibility. The Obama Administration and Democrats in Congress continue to pile up new federal... Continue Reading

Thune, Begich Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Shield Small Businesses From Unnecessary Regulation

Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Mark Begich (D-AK) today introduced a bill to exempt certain small businesses from a regulation by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that would otherwise require them to undertake costly measures to prevent identity theft. The bipartisan bill would protect small businesses like doctor’s and dentist’s... Continue Reading

Thune Comments on New EPA Energy Tax

Senator John Thune today commented on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final rule for regulating carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses emitted from stationary sources, such as power plants and ethanol plants, under the Clean Air Act. “As expected, the Obama administration’s EPA has laid out a policy that will... Continue Reading

Thune Receives “Teaming with Wildlife” Award

Senator John Thune today received the Teaming with Wildlife Award from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. The award recognizes Senator Thune’s support for the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program, which assists states in managing and protecting non-game species. “Protecting wildlife species in a way that keeps them... Continue Reading

South Dakota Delegation Encourages Air Force Officials to Select Ellsworth for New Mission

Senators Tim Johnson (D-SD) and John Thune (R-SD) and Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD) today sent a letter to Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Norton A. Schwartz promoting South Dakota’s Ellsworth Air Force Base as a potential base for MQ-1 and... Continue Reading

Ellsworth Named Finalist for New Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Mission

Senator John Thune today announced that the Air Force has selected Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City as one of four finalists to bed down two squadrons of Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV) operations. This is part of a broader effort to increase the number of MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9... Continue Reading

Thune and Wyden Bill Helps Native American Vets with Disabilities Receive Housing Assistance

Continuing efforts to make sure all of America’s veterans are taken care of when they return from combat U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and John Thune (R- SD) introduced legislation that will correct a flaw in current law that excludes some disabled Native American Veterans from housing assistance programs. The... Continue Reading

Thune Amendment to Fight Childhood Obesity in Tribal Communities Added to Child Nutrition Bill

The Senate Agriculture Committee today accepted Senator John Thune’s amendment to the Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. Senator Thune’s amendment would set aside funding for research into hunger, obesity, and type 2 diabetes on Native American reservations and other tribal communities. The Agriculture Committee proceeded to pass the bill, clearing... Continue Reading

Thune Comments on House Passage of Health Bill

Senator John Thune today made the following comments after the U. S. House of Representatives voted on the Democrats’ health care legislation: “After more than a year of watching unemployment skyrocket and deficits explode, President Obama and Congressional Democrats finally made good today on their threat to pass a health... Continue Reading

Thune Cautions House and Senate Colleagues on Consequences of Using Reconciliation Process to Pass Health Care Reform

Senator John Thune today joined Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH), the ranking member on the Senate Budget Committee, and Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) in speaking on the Senate floor regarding the Democrat Majority’s plan to pass a health care reform bill through the budget reconciliation process. Senator Thune and his colleagues... Continue Reading

Thune Urges EPA to Abandon Backdoor Energy Tax

Senator John Thune today sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson urging the agency to not move forward with proposed regulations on the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses that would amount to a national energy tax. The tax would increase energy rates paid... Continue Reading