Press Releases - Senator John Thune

Thune, Crapo Introduce Legislation to Recover Fraudulent COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance Benefits

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Finance, today introduced the Recovering Fraudulent Claims Act. This legislation would establish the COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force to investigate alleged instances of fraud in the temporary... Continue Reading

Thune: Biden’s Disastrous Afghanistan Withdrawal Emboldens Terrorists, Abandons Americans and Allies

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today called for Congress to conduct a thorough investigation into the Biden administration’s disastrous and chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. With the nation having recently marked the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Thune reiterated that the service and sacrifice of those American troops who... Continue Reading

Thune Reflects on 20th Anniversary of September 11 Terrorist Attacks

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today released the following statement reflecting on the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001: “Twenty years ago, the worst of the world was met by the best of America. Nearly 3,000 men and women lost their lives in the... Continue Reading

Bipartisan American Beef Labeling Act Would Reinstate Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), a longtime member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), today announced the American Beef Labeling Act, legislation that would reinstate mandatory country of origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef. This legislation, which will be formally introduced next week, would... Continue Reading

Selection Process for United States Senate Youth Program is Underway

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today announced the annual statewide selection process for the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) has begun. Two South Dakota high school juniors or seniors will join student delegates from around the country to participate in the USSYP’s 60th annual Washington Week, which will take place March... Continue Reading

Thune: Democrats Take First Steps to Raise Taxes and Permanently Expand Government

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today vowed that Republicans will do everything in their power to defeat the Democrats’ reckless tax-and-spending spree as he spoke on the Senate floor against the Democrats’ budget resolution. Thune warned that the Democrats’ push to raise taxes and permanently expand the federal government will... Continue Reading

As Drought Continues, Thune, Klobuchar Call on USDA to Provide Additional Haying Options for Livestock Producers

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), both members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requesting swift action from the department to ensure livestock producers have additional emergency Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) haying options as the drought continues. The... Continue Reading

Thune Statement on Senate Infrastructure Bill

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today released the following statement after voting against H.R. 3684, the infrastructure proposal considered by the Senate: “For months, senators from both sides of the aisle engaged in good-faith negotiations to produce an infrastructure bill for the Senate to consider, and I applaud them for... Continue Reading

Thune: Democrats Try to Have it Both Ways on the Double Death Tax

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a member of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Agriculture Committee, today released the following statement after Senate Democrats supported his amendment opposing the Biden administration’s proposed double death tax on family farmers, ranchers, and businesses, but then immediately watered down their support... Continue Reading

Thune: Effective and Efficient Broadband Investments are Critical for Rural America

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, today addressed the importance of prioritizing funding for broadband services to unserved rural communities like those in South Dakota. Thune discussed his concerns with the broadband-related provisions in the infrastructure package, and he highlighted the importance... Continue Reading

Thune, Wicker Question NTIA’s Ability to Effectively Administer Broadband Programs

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today urged National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) Acting Assistant Secretary Evelyn Remaley to reconsider her decision to allow volunteers to... Continue Reading

Thune Honors Outgoing Whip Office Chief of Staff Nick Rossi

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today honored Nick Rossi, a longtime member of his staff and current chief of staff in his whip office, who will soon be leaving Capitol Hill after 26 years of government service. Thune’s remarks below (as prepared for delivery): “Mr. President, it’s members of... Continue Reading