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Washington, DC —  Senator John Thune today released the following statement after receiving his committee assignments for the 112th session of Congress. Thune was selected to serve on the following committees: Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; Budget; Commerce, Science and Transportation; and Finance. Thune will continue to serve in Republican leadership as Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee.

"Serving South Dakota for the past six years in the U.S. Senate has truly been an honor and a privilege," said Thune. "I believe these committees will provide me with a continued opportunity to be a strong voice for South Dakotans. We have some difficult challenges ahead as a state and a nation, and I look forward to using these committee assignments to address those challenges."

Thune Committee Assignments for 112th Congress:

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry

The Senate Agriculture Committee has oversight over matters relating to: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) activities including farm payments, crop insurance, conservation programs, and livestock marketing rules; the Rural Utilities Service and Rural Development, which carryout important programs relating to rural energy development, rural business financing, and rural health care services; Nutrition programs including the National School Lunch Program, the Women, Infants and Children program, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formally known as food stamps); and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which oversees all futures markets. As a member of the Senate Ag Committee, Thune played a critical role in the passage of the 2008 Farm Bill.

Committee on the Budget

The Senate Committee on the Budget is responsible for drafting Congress' annual budget plan and monitoring action on the budget for the Federal Government. In addition, the Budget Committee has jurisdiction over the operation of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), and plays a major role regarding bills considered by Congress. Last Congress, Thune introduced the Deficit Reduction and Budget Reform Act that would require a binding joint budget resolution and move to a biennial budgeting timeline. The Budget Committee has jurisdiction over Thune's budget reform bill and will play a leading role in addressing federal spending.

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has jurisdiction with matters relating to: Coast Guard; Communications; Highway safety; Inland waterways; Interstate commerce; Marine and ocean navigation safety and transportation; Marine fisheries; Merchant marine and navigation; Nonmilitary aeronautical and space sciences; Oceans weather and atmospheric activities; Regulation of consumer products and services; Regulation of interstate common carriers, including railroads, busses, trucks, vessels, pipelines, and civil aviation; Science, engineering, and technology research and development and policy; Sports, and Transportation.

Committee on Finance

The Senate Committee on Finance has jurisdiction with matters relating to: Taxation and other revenue measures generally; Bonded debt of the United States; Customs, Collection districts and ports of entry and delivery; Reciprocal trade agreements; Tariff and import quotas; The transportation of dutiable goods; Deposit of public moneys; General revenue sharing; Health programs under the Social Security Act, including Medicare, Medicaid, and other health and human services programs financed by a specific tax or trust fund; and Social security.