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
Senator John Thune today toured the Heartland Consumers Power District’s Wessington Springs Wind Project. The facility outside Wessington Springs will be one of the largest wind farms in South Dakota when completed. “America needs to diversify the energy sources that fuel over everyday lives. I believe South Dakota wind power... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today joined U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer at Dakotafest in Mitchell, where the two participated in a forum and took questions from the audience. The two discussed renewable energy and second-generation biofuels.
Yesterday, U.S. Senator John Thune toured the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. NREL is the nation’s primary laboratory devoted to researching renewable energy. “During my visit, I was again impressed with how much home-grown energy potential is available in the United States. NREL demonstrates on a daily... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today announced that he is an original cosponsor of S. 3406, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Amendments Act. This bipartisan legislation would clarify the intent of the original ADA and would better protect the rights of all Americans with disabilities. “The original Americans with Disabilities Act... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today participated in a Senate Indian Affairs Committee Field Hearing, which dealt with the progress being made by Operation Dakota Peacekeeper, a joint effort by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to combat crime on the Standing Rock Reservation. The hearing... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune today issued the following statement regarding U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Edward Schafer’s announcement that USDA will not allow early termination of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts without penalty. “South Dakota agriculture and our state’s economy depend on CRP and other conservation easement programs for protection... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune made a statement after today’s “Gang of Ten” meeting. The “Gang of Ten,” of which Senator Thune is an original member, is a bipartisan group of Senators committed to addressing high gas prices by expanding domestic oil production and reducing consumption. “The energy crisis we face in... Continue Reading
