Senator John Thune on Thursday introduced legislation designed to block a recent environmental proposal which could regulate many South Dakota farms and ranches. Thune’s legislation would exempt farms and ranches from the onerous regulatory requirements of the Clean Air Act. Specifically, the legislation calls for an exemption for any emission... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today commented on the Wind-Hydro Integration study released by the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA). The study analyzes the potential integration of wind power in central South Dakota and the use of hydroelectric power generated by the Missouri River. “South Dakota has tremendous energy resources in the... Continue Reading
United States Senator John Thune (R-SD) today announced that the Department of the Interior finalized updated regulations regarding the possession of firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges. The ruling allows an individual to carry a concealed weapon in a national park or wildlife refuge if that person is permitted... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune, along with other Senate colleagues, yesterday sent a letter to President Bush requesting that as federal agencies prepare their budgets for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010, they should include funding authorized for tribal justice, health care, and water projects under Senator Thune’s amendment to the foreign aid bill... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today issued the following statement in response to an interim report from the U.S. Department of Energy concerning on-going tests of higher blends of ethanol. “E10, the mixture of 90 percent gasoline and 10 percent ethanol is currently saving consumers money and reducing our dependence on imported... Continue Reading
The U.S. Senate last night passed S. 3109, Senator John Thune’s bipartisan bill to modernize the way the federal government and states track the shipment of hazardous waste. For over 25 years, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has required carbon copy paper manifests to accompany waste materials from their origin... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today announced that the Senate has approved legislation to fund the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security for the entirety of Fiscal Year 2009, which begins on October 1st. In addition, the measure ensures that all other government agencies are funded through a six month... Continue Reading
The U.S. Senate today passed H.R. 6049, a bill to extend several tax provisions relating to energy production, including the production tax credit for wind energy through 2009. The measure passed by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 93 to 2. “The investors who are going to make large-scale wind energy... Continue Reading
Yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed S. 3023, the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2008, which includes a provision authored by Senator John Thune that would make the annual cost of living adjustment, or COLA, for disabled veterans automatic and permanent. Under current law, Congress must vote to approve an annual... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today announced that the Senate approved the National Defense Authorization bill for Fiscal Year 2009. The bill authorizes funding for the Department of Defense and the national security programs of the Department of Energy, including several South Dakota defense related projects and a Thune sponsored energy initiative.... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today commented on the U.S. Senate’s passage of an $8 billion infusion of funding to the Highway Trust Fund. Last week, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation notified Congress that the Highway Trust Fund was expected to experience a funding shortfall that would reduce transportation dollars that are... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune issued the following statement regarding Senator John McCain’s pick of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his Vice Presidential running mate: “Governor Palin is a great addition to the ticket. This decision proves John McCain is serious about changing Washington. Her experience as a reform-minded governor and a... Continue Reading
