Senator John Thune applauded the World War II-era Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) who today received the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of their service at a ceremony in the U.S. Capitol Building. Ten women with significant ties to South Dakota served as WASPs during World War II, with two... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today released the following statement regarding legislation introduced by Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) to delay the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating stationary sources of greenhouse gases for two years: “The Obama administration and its allies in Congress have failed to advance cap-and-trade legislation, so the EPA... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has allocated an additional 33,500 acres to South Dakota for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). This announcement is part of a 300,000 acre nationwide general CRP sign up. CRP, which was reauthorized in the 2008 Farm Bill, provides... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune last night introduced an amendment to a tax extenders bill currently before the Senate that would create and expand small business tax incentives. The incentives are targeted at helping small businesses invest in new capital and hire workers. Senator Thune has proposed redirecting unspent portions of last... Continue Reading
Today U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Thune (R-SD) announced legislation with that will help make internet users more aware of privacy and security risks associated with peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing programs. The bill, known as the P2P Cyber Protection and Informed User Act, would require software developers to clearly... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today applauded the announcement that the U.S. Department of Agriculture expects to commit $2 million to the Black Hills National Forest to fight the effects of the pine beetle infestation. Last year, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced he would be reallocating $40 million to fight the... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune commended Republicans in the House of Representatives for offering a motion that would have given House Members an opportunity to end the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and allow unspent funds that are paid back to lower the national debt. Democrats successfully blocked the measure to proceed... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today reacted to President Obama’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 budget proposal, which was delivered to Congress this morning. The President’s budget more than doubles the debt, drives spending to a new record of $3.8 trillion in FY 2011, increases the deficit to a new record of $1.6... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune released the following statement after the Senate today voted to raise the debt ceiling by $1.9 trillion to $14.294 trillion. The $1.9 trillion increase is the largest ever—roughly double the previous record increase to the debt limit. This is the second such increase in two months and... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today highlighted a letter sent by agricultural groups in South Dakota and across the nation expressing support for a Senate resolution of disapproval under the terms of the Congressional Review Act to be offered by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). The resolution formally states the Senate’s disapproval of... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune issued the following statement after today’s vote of 53 to 45 on his amendment to end the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). The amendment would prohibit further commitments of TARP funds and would mandate that all returned funds be used to lower our national debt. The amendment... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today introduced an amendment to the House-passed debt ceiling increase currently before the Senate that would end the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). Senator Thune’s amendment would prohibit the Treasury Department from making any further commitments of TARP funds and would mandate that all returned funds be... Continue Reading
