Press Releases

U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and U.S. Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today urged U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Vilsack to utilize his administrative authority to release Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres for emergency haying and grazing prior to August 1. The most recent U.S. Drought Monitor... Continue Reading

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Tina Smith (D-MN), John Thune (R-SD), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) introduced the bipartisan Telemental Health Care Access Act of 2021 to remove barriers to telemental health services for Medicare beneficiaries. “Over the pandemic, we’ve seen an increased need for telehealth services whether it’s for substance use... Continue Reading

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the negative effects of the massive partisan spending bill Democrats pushed through Congress earlier this year. Inflation reached its highest level in nearly 13 years, with consumer prices up 5 percent from a year ago. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, soared to... Continue Reading

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed yesterday’s announcement from the U.S. Air Force that Ellsworth Air Force Base in western South Dakota has been officially named Main Operating Base 1 for the future B-21 bomber. This designation not only means that Ellsworth will be the first base to host... Continue Reading

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which has jurisdiction over the internet and consumer protection, and Mark Warner (D-Va.) today reintroduced the Filter Bubble Transparency Act. The bill would require large-scale internet platforms... Continue Reading

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed President Biden’s budget, which would raise taxes by $3.6 trillion over 10 years. The budget would raise taxes on middle-class families by allowing the tax relief Republicans passed in 2017 to expire. It also proposes at least 30 separate tax increases, including a hike... Continue Reading

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) recently joined Republican members of the Senate Finance Committee to argue for an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy to address America’s growing energy needs and promote bipartisan efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Thune opposed the $259 billion “Clean Energy for America Act” being considered by... Continue Reading

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, today led U.S. Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) in introducing the bipartisan Rural Connectivity Advancement Program (RCAP) Act of 2021, legislation that would dedicate a portion of proceeds from congressionally mandated... Continue Reading

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed his work to develop a bipartisan legislative framework to govern the testing and deployment of automated vehicles (AVs) and his amendment to the Endless Frontier Act, which would’ve helped keep the United States ahead of China in the AV revolution. Thune expressed... Continue Reading

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today called on the Senate Judiciary Committee to hold a hearing on the possible improper and anti-competitive activity in the cattle market. Thune also spoke on the Senate floor about his ongoing effort to press the Department of Justice to investigate this potentially uncompetitive behavior.... Continue Reading