Press Releases - Senator John Thune

Thune: Infrastructure Bill Needs Robust Amendment Process, Democrats Can’t Rush

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the importance of allowing a robust and thorough process to give senators ample time to discuss, digest, and offer amendments to the infrastructure package currently being considered in the Senate. Thune’s remarks below (as prepared for delivery): “Mr. President, it is good to... Continue Reading

Thune Urges U.S. Forest Service to Improve the Black Hills National Forest Timber Sale Program

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a longtime member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today urged newly appointed U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Chief Randy Moore to improve the Black Hills National Forest (BHNF) timber sale program. Earlier this year, Thune led his colleagues from the South Dakota and Wyoming congressional... Continue Reading

Thune, Cardin, Smith, and Kuster Reintroduce Legislation to Increase Telehealth Services in Nursing Facilities

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), members of the Senate Finance Committee, and U.S. Reps. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) and Ann Kuster (D-N.H.) today reintroduced companion versions of the Reducing Unnecessary Senior Hospitalizations (RUSH) Act of 2021, bipartisan, bicameral legislation to facilitate greater use of telehealth in skilled nursing facilities. ... Continue Reading

Thune: Democrats Ignore Humanitarian Nightmare and Security Crisis at the Border

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke on the Senate floor about the ongoing humanitarian crisis and national security threat at the southern border due to President Biden’s misguided policies. Thune noted that Democrats are refusing to meaningfully address border security but want to include amnesty for illegal immigrants in their proposed... Continue Reading

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