Press Releases - Senator John Thune

Thune: Democrats’ New Death Tax Would Crush Family Farms, Businesses

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the Democrats’ reckless tax-and-spending spree and the cost that would ultimately fall on the backs of hardworking middle-income families. Thune noted that the Democrats’ new death tax would force Americans to pay more money in taxes on assets passed on from generation to... Continue Reading

Thune, Farm-State Colleagues to Biden: Biofuels Noticeably Absent From Your Agenda

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today led several of his colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden requesting a meeting with him and representatives of his cabinet to discuss the Renewable Fuel Standard and promote biofuels as a key solution for America’s energy and climate agenda. The Biden administration’s energy and climate... Continue Reading

Thune Slams Divisive Propaganda, Pushes for Genuine History and Civics Education

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke on the Senate floor about the dangers of critical race theory and its misrepresentation of American history. Thune also paid tribute to his former colleague, Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), who passed away last night as a result of injuries he suffered in a... Continue Reading

Thune, Smith, Johnson, Craig Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Provide Needed Flexibility for Emergency CRP Haying

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.), members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and U.S. Reps. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Angie Craig (D-Minn.), members of the House Agriculture Committee, today introduced companion bills that would improve the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) ability to allow for the timely... Continue Reading

At Thune’s Request, Senate Judiciary Committee to Hold Hearing to Examine Beef Market Manipulation Tomorrow

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today applauded the Senate Judiciary Committee for holding a hearing to examine possible improper and anti-competitive activity in the highly concentrated meatpacking industry. In May, Thune sent a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durban (D-Ill.) requesting this hearing. Tomorrow’s hearing will feature testimony from representatives from two of the... Continue Reading

Thune: Democrats’ Reckless Tax-and-Spending Spree Will Increase Cost of Living for South Dakotans

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke about the rising costs of inflation in America and warned that Democrats’ reckless tax-and-spending spree will further increase the cost of living for the middle class through lower wages and higher taxes. Thune noted that Democrats do not have a mandate for pushing... Continue Reading

Thune, Schatz, Tester, Moran Applaud Senate for Passing Bill to Make Annual Veteran Cost-of-Living Adjustment

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), chairman of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), ranking member of the committee, this week applauded the Senate for unanimously passing the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2021, bipartisan legislation that would increase the rates of compensation... Continue Reading

Thune, Brown Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Biogas Production, Promote Investment in Rural Amerca

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) introduced bipartisan legislation to encourage investment in biodigester and nutrient recovery systems, while establishing a market for farmers who already have a surplus of waste materials that can be used for biogas production. Thune and Brown’s bill, the Agricultural Environmental Stewardship Act, will... Continue Reading

Thune Introduces Bill to Expedite Urgently Needed Forest Management on Federal Lands

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a longtime member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today introduced the Expediting Forest Restoration and Recovery Act, legislation to require the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to expedite treatment of more than 70 million acres of National Forest System lands, in consultation... Continue Reading

Thune, Daines, McConnell, Crapo Lead Entire Senate Republican Caucus in Urging Biden Administration to Drop Step-Up In Basis Tax-Hike Proposal

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), members of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) today led the entire Senate Republican caucus in urging President Biden to abandon his effort to impose a capital gains tax increase on family-owned businesses, farms, and ranches. Repealing this part... Continue Reading

Thune: Biden’s Anti-Gun ATF Nominee Threatens Second Amendment, Law-Abiding Gun Owners

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed David Chipman’s nomination to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Thune announced that he would vote against the nomination because of Chipman’s extreme views on gun control and restricting the Second Amendment, including his support for banning a popular rifle in... Continue Reading

Thune: Democrats’ Manufactured Crisis is an Attempt at a Partisan Federal Election Takeover

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the political theater Democrats are engaging in, including hyperbolic statements from the president, false narratives from the White House, and the ongoing antics from Texas state legislators, as they double down on their commitment to pass a partisan federal takeover of state election laws. Thune also stressed the dangers of the government getting... Continue Reading