Thune Discusses South Dakota’s Role in Delivering High-Speed Broadband Services, Including 5G Technology

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, was a featured speaker today at an Axios-hosted event about innovation in America’s cities. Thune discussed South Dakota’s role in helping America win the race to 5G mobile broadband technology and his... Continue Reading

Thune, Schatz Reintroduce Bill to Make Annual Veteran Cost of Living Adjustment Automatic

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today reintroduced the Veterans’ Disability Compensation Automatic Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Act, bipartisan legislation that would require the federal government to provide disabled veterans with an automatic COLA in years when there is an increase in benefits payable... Continue Reading

Thune to Support Bill Barr’s Nomination to Serve as Attorney General

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today met with former Attorney General Bill Barr, who President Trump has nominated to serve in that same role in his administration. Barr was first nominated by President George H.W. Bush in 1991 and was at the time unanimously approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee.... Continue Reading

Thune Discusses State of 5G Technology in Commerce Hearing

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, today discussed the state of 5G technology with a panel of experts at a full Commerce Committee hearing entitled, “Winning the Race to 5G and the Next Era of Technology Innovation in... Continue Reading

Thune: ‘Horrified’ by Democrats’ Objection to Protecting Babies Born Alive

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed Senate Democrats’ objection to a bill that would protect infants who are born alive during abortions. The bill was brought to the floor following comments from Gov. Ralph Northam (D-Va.) who endorsed late-term abortions and left the door open to infanticide. Thune also... Continue Reading

Thune Statement on President’s State of the Union Address

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress.   “I share the president’s vision for pursuing an agenda that inspires cooperation, commonsense, and compromise – an agenda that works to end the partisan... Continue Reading

Thune: Our Economy Continues to Grow and Thrive

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D) today released the following statement regarding the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ announcement that the economy added 304,000 jobs in January. “Our economy continues to grow and thrive. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provided job creators with an economic environment to grow their businesses and provide... Continue Reading

Thune to Chair Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D), a member of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, was today selected by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, to lead the committee’s Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight. Thune served as a top negotiator during consideration of the Tax Cuts and... Continue Reading

Thune Honors Commissioning of USS South Dakota

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today honored the commissioning of the Navy’s newest submarine, the USS South Dakota. The commissioning will take place Saturday, February 2, 2019, in Groton, Connecticut. In 2012, Thune led South Dakota’s congressional delegation in requesting the Navy name its next attack submarine the USS South... Continue Reading

Delegation Introduces Legislation to Allow Tribal Grant Schools to Devote Additional Resources to Improving Education

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today introduced Senate and House companion bills that would allow tribal grant schools to participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) and Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) programs. This change would free up resources... Continue Reading

Thune: Proud of Republicans’ Commitment to Strengthening the Economy

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the economy’s strong progress over the last year and how its success has positively affected middle-income Americans across the nation, including in South Dakota.  Thune’s speech below (as prepared for delivery): “Mr. President, Republicans started out the last Congress with one goal: make... Continue Reading

Thune Leads Colleagues in Reintroducing Legislation to Permanently Repeal the Death Tax

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a member of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, joined Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and dozens of his Senate colleagues in reintroducing legislation to permanently repeal the federal estate tax, more commonly known as... Continue Reading