{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"Senate\", state = \"SD\" and year = 2022 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=3FB17931-E9AB-424E-B3BD-B588C30CF4A9", "Thune Statement on Biden Administration\u2019s Over-Reaching WOTUS Rule", "2022-12-30", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cI strongly oppose this thinly veiled land grab, I urge the administration to abandon this retread of a misguided rule, and if it does not, I will push for the Senate to overturn this over-reaching regulation.\u201d\n\nSIOUX FALLS, S.D. \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its new Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule:\n\n\u201cLike President Obama before him, President Biden is trying to greatly expand the reach of the federal government into the lives of farmers and ranchers,\u201d said Thune. \u201cOpening up nearly every body of water to federal jurisdiction would be a nightmare for property owners and producers in South Dakota and across the country. I strongly oppose this thinly veiled land grab, I urge the administration to abandon this retread of a misguided rule, and if it does not, I will push for the Senate to overturn this over-reaching regulation.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nIn September 2022, Thune helped introduce the Simplify Timelines and Assure Regulatory Transparency Act, comprehensive federal regulatory permitting and project review reform legislation that would codify sensible regulations like the Navigable Waters Protection Rule instead of the Biden administration\u2019s over-reaching WOTUS proposal.\n\nIn April 2022, Thune joined an amicus brief in support of the petitioners in the pending case Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which is directly related to how much authority the federal government has over states and private citizens to regulate \u201cwaters of the United States\u201d under the Clean Water Act (CWA).\n\nIn February 2022, Thune led the entire Senate Republican Conference in urging the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to suspend the pending rulemaking to redefine the scope of waters protected under the CWA, specifically WOTUS, until the U.S. Supreme Court completes its consideration of Sackett v. EPA, as the case is expected to have major implications on CWA scope and enforcement. Oral arguments for the case were heard on October 3, and an opinion is not expected until 2023.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-respect-act-signed-into-law", "Rounds\u2019 RESPECT Act Signed into Law", "2022-12-27", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Rounds\u2019 (R-S.D.) bipartisan legislation to repeal discriminatory federal laws targeting Native Americans was signed into law by the president today.\n\nThe Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes (RESPECT) Act will repeal 11 outdated federal laws, including laws that stripped Native American children from their families for the purpose of placing them in \u201cIndian reform schools,\u201d such as the now-infamous Carlisle Indian Industrial School. Rounds first introduced the RESPECT Act in 2016, and has led this legislation in each Congress since.\n\nA full list of laws the RESPECT Act will repeal is available HERE.\n\nThe RESPECT Act is supported by the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen\u2019s Association (GPTCA) and the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).\n\n\u201cI have worked on this common sense, bipartisan legislation since coming to the United States Senate, so I am pleased that it has been signed into law,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cIt\u2019s long overdue to remove these immoral, discriminatory federal laws from our books. Throughout history, Native Americans have been subjected to unfair treatment from our federal government, including the forced removal of their children from their homes. Clearly, there is no place in our legal code for such measures, and it is appalling these laws are still in our federal code. While we cannot rewrite the past, we need to acknowledge it and continue to strive for a more perfect Union.\u201d\n\n\u201cFirst, I\u2019d like to commend and thank Senator Rounds for his sincere intent in sponsoring this legislation,\u201d said J. Garret Renville, Chairman-elect of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate. \u201cThe RESPECT Act is a first step in an attempt to better consult and coordinate with Tribal Nations. Historically and symbolically; it is my hope, that it represents a path to improving the long standing inequities in the relationship and dealings between sovereign people, their nations and the United States Government.\u201d\n\n\u201cI want to thank Senator Rounds for spearheading this legislation,\u201d said Lower Brule Sioux Tribe Councilman Christian Skunk. \u201cThe RESPECT Act will ensure going forward the relationship between tribes and the federal government is mended. We know it\u2019s impossible to change the past, but we can choose how we proceed and the RESPECT Act is a step in the right direction.\u201d\n\n\"The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) applauds the passage and signing into law of the Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes Act,\u201d said NCAI President Fawn Sharp. \u201cWhile our history books often ignore the facts, it is no secret that for far too long the U.S. Congress has passed destructive and oppressive laws that by design diminished tribal sovereignty and our political standing of equity and parity with the federal government. This legislation is but one more step in a very long journey ahead toward achieving our vision for a real, just and meaningful government-to-government relationship between sovereign Tribal Nations and the United States.\"\n\n\u201cSenator Rounds\u2019 efforts to repeal these old laws, such as the law still on the books regarding Indian boarding schools that caused tremendous harm to indigenous communities, is a great step towards reconciliation with tribal nations,\u201d said Tamara St. John, archivist for the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, who testified on behalf of this bill. \u201cI\u2019m excited to see the RESPECT Act signed into law causing the repeal of these eleven outdated and racist laws. Great work!\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Coalition of Large Tribes (COLT) applauds the passage of the Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes Act and thanks Senator Mike Rounds for his stalwart leadership of this bill,\u201d said COLT Chairman Marvin Weatherwax (Blackfeet National Tribal Business Council). \u201cThe RESPECT Act modernizes federal law to remove inconsistent federal agency consultation policies with tribal nations and their citizens. This act is an important step to restore basic dignities of Native people and honoring the United States\u2019 solemn Trust and Treaty obligations and government-to-government relationship with tribal nations.\u201d\n\nSenators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) are cosponsors of this legislation.\n\nCompanion legislation was introduced in the House on May 12, 2021, by Representatives Tom O\u2019Halleran (D-Ariz.) and cosponsored by Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Tom Cole (R-Okla.).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=C29ED2A9-8105-4CFB-87E1-054232A79931", "Thune: Effective Use of Federal Broadband Funds Will Help Bridge the Digital Divide", "2022-12-21", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed his nationwide broadband oversight effort that will hold agencies accountable and ensure that previously authorized broadband funding is being used in the most efficient way possible to protect taxpayer dollars. Thune noted that in the last two years, Congress has allocated nearly $80 billion in funding for broadband-related services, which is split among 133 programs at 15 different agencies.\n\nAs part of Thune\u2019s effort, he recently sent a letter to U.S. Department of Commerce Inspector General Peggy Gustafson for her failure to fulfill congressionally mandated oversight of previously authorized broadband funding. Thune also sent a letter to a diverse group of stakeholders, including broadband associations, public interest groups, and free-market think tanks to seek their input on the current broadband regulatory structure.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, as a resident of a rural state, expanding rural broadband access has long been a priority of mine.\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019m not the only one.\n\n\u201cOver the years Congress has dedicated significant resources to closing the digital divide.\n\n\u201cAnd that has been especially true over the past three years.\n\n\u201cCongress has appropriated a lot of money for broadband lately.\n\n\u201cA whopping $79 billion to be precise dedicated solely to broadband-related projects.\n\n\u201c$79 billion, on top of the billions of dollars the Federal Communications Commission disburses annually under its Universal Service Fund.\n\n\u201cThat is an unprecedented amount of money.\n\n\u201cIn fact, with that much money we ought to be able to deliver gold- and diamond-laced broadband to every household in the United States.\n\n\u201cBut, Mr. President, appropriating money is not enough.\n\n\u201cWe could throw trillions of dollars at the rural broadband problem and still not close the digital divide.\n\n\u201cBecause all the money in the world is useless if it\u2019s not being spent the right way.\n\n\u201cAs I said, we have enough money now that we ought to be deploying gold- and diamond-laced broadband across the country.\n\n\u201cBut I have serious questions about whether this money is actually going to meaningfully move us toward closing the digital divide.\n\n\u201cThe money that we currently have, as much as it is, is spread out over 15 separate agencies and 133 programs.\n\n\u201c133 programs.\n\n\u201cTo say that that is not conducive to a coherent rural broadband strategy is an understatement.\n\n\u201cNow, the lion\u2019s share of the funding does go through one agency \u2013 the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, or NTIA.\n\n\u201cBut it is an agency with a very poor record of efficiently disbursing broadband funding.\n\n\u201cThe last time Congress provided NTIA with a big infusion of broadband funding \u2013 a fraction of the funding it is now responsible for \u2013 the agency struggled with implementation and ended up overbuilding existing broadband networks, resulting in billions of taxpayer dollars being spent with little to show.\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019ve seen very little to convince me that NTIA is likely to do much better this time around.\n\n\u201cIn July of last year, NTIA called for volunteers to help determine how to allocate $1.5 billion Congress had provided to NTIA to improve broadband access.\n\n\u201cVolunteers.\n\n\u201cAnd yet Congress has now put the agency in charge of distributing the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program.\n\n\u201cI am deeply concerned that without serious oversight, NTIA will make \u2013 and is already making \u2013 similar mistakes when managing its current broadband programs.\n\n\u201cThat is why earlier this month I began an oversight effort to review the numerous federal broadband programs.\n\n\u201cOversight of how federal broadband dollars are being spent is necessary to ensure that agencies aren\u2019t misusing billions of taxpayer dollars and, most importantly, to make sure the funding is going to areas that are actually unserved.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve already requested input from a diverse group of stakeholders to identify ways we can improve broadband programs \u2013 and broadband policy more generally \u2013 as we head into the 118th Congress.\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019ve requested that federal agencies provide information on their efforts to improve broadband infrastructure siting, a key component of deploying broadband networks.\n\n\u201cIn the new year, I will work on compiling these responses and presenting stakeholder concerns to NTIA, the Federal Communications Commission, the Department of Agriculture, and the Treasury Department.\n\n\u201cAnd if changes need to be made to the programs Congress has established, I will do everything I can to hold Congress and federal agencies accountable for making those changes so that all of these programs work as effectively as possible and as Congress intended.\n\n\u201cMr. President, to expand rural broadband access and actually close the digital divide, it\u2019s not enough to just appropriate money.\n\n\u201cWe also need to make sure that money is being spent in the right way.\n\n\u201cAnd I am committed to doing everything I can to ensure that the money that has been appropriated for rural broadband actually goes to expanding access to those who are currently unserved.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=2EA7BE8D-32FA-4AAB-BBAF-B8EB26BC3382", "Thune: South Dakotans Deserve Permanent Tax Relief", "2022-12-20", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the upcoming five-year anniversary of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act being signed into law, which helped create an economic environment that encouraged growth and set the American people up for new opportunities, higher wages, and a more secure future. Thune noted that allowing key elements in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to expire would raise taxes in the midst of record-high inflation, and he encouraged his Democratic colleagues to work with Republicans to permanently extend various expiring provisions.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, I want to begin by congratulating the South Dakota State football team on an incredible win on Saturday in Brookings.\n\n\u201cThanks to their great performance in Saturday\u2019s game \u2013 which included five scores in their first five possessions \u2013 the Jacks are headed to the FCS National Championship for the second time in three seasons.\n\n\u201cSaturday\u2019s win is the latest in a banner season for the Jacks, who have gone 13 and 1 and led the conference to become the number-one seed in the FCS tournament.\n\n\u201cOf course, Saturday\u2019s game would not have been possible without the men and women who worked to clear the roads around Brookings and the volunteers and staff who cleared the field and the seats after a major snowstorm last week.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m grateful for their hard work, which allowed thousands of Jacks fans like me to be there to cheer on our team.\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019m looking forward to rooting for the Jacks next month when they take on North Dakota State in the championship in Frisco, Texas \u2013 where, hopefully, it will be a little warmer than nine degrees.\n\n\u201cMr. President, December 22 will mark the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s been five years since Republicans reformed the tax code to allow Americans to keep more of their hard-earned money.\n\n\u201cFive years since we modernized the tax code to encourage businesses to invest in America and create good-paying jobs here.\n\n\u201cAnd five years since our economy started to rebound after years of stagnant wages and slow growth.\n\n\u201cMr. President, Republicans know that government doesn\u2019t create jobs and that Washington can\u2019t legislate prosperity.\n\n\u201cBut government can certainly get in the way of prosperity.\n\n\u201cAnd before tax reform, too often our tax code was getting in the way.\n\n\u201cIt was taking too much money from Americans\u2019 paychecks.\n\n\u201cIt was making it difficult for businesses large and small to create jobs, increase wages, and grow.\n\n\u201cAnd it contained perverse incentives for companies to park profits abroad and avoid manufacturing things here in the United States.\n\n\u201cRepublicans knew things needed to change.\n\n\u201cAnd so we set to work to reform our tax code to put more money in American families\u2019 pockets and help grow our economy.\n\n\u201cWe lowered tax rates across the board and simplified the tax code so that hardworking Americans would pay less in taxes \u2013 and spend less time filing them every April.\n\n\u201cWe lowered tax rates for owners of small and medium-sized businesses, farms, and ranches and made it easier for them to recover the cost of investing in their businesses \u2013 which in turn freed up cash for them to invest in their operations and their workers.\n\n\u201cWe lowered our nation\u2019s sky-high corporate tax rate, which prior to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was the highest corporate tax rate in the developed world, to make American businesses more competitive in the global economy and empower them to invest in wages and benefits for their workers.\n\n\u201cAnd we modernized our international tax system so that American businesses would no longer be operating at a disadvantage next to their foreign counterparts.\n\n\u201cAnd, Mr. President, it worked.\n\n\u201cIn the wake of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, wages and incomes for American workers grew.\n\n\u201cUnemployment fell to a fifty-year low.\n\n\u201cThe poverty rate fell to the lowest level ever recorded.\n\n\u201cAfrican Americans and Hispanic Americans saw record-low rates of poverty and unemployment.\n\n\u201cThe income gap narrowed.\n\n\u201cBusiness investment increased.\n\n\u201cCompanies created new jobs.\n\n\u201cThey invested in their employees.\n\n\u201cAnd they opened new opportunities for American workers by moving production and capital into the United States.\n\n\u201cTax reform also spelled an end to the wave of companies moving their headquarters out of the United States.\n\n\u201cPrior to tax reform, there was a growing trend of corporate inversions \u2013 tax-speak for companies picking up and moving their legal headquarters offshore \u2013 due to our dysfunctional tax code.\n\n\u201cSince tax reform, there hasn\u2019t been a single U.S. corporate inversion \u2013 which means more jobs and opportunities for workers here at home.\n\n\u201cAnd, Mr. President, contrary to claims that tax reform mostly benefited the wealthy, it was actually lower- and middle-income Americans who saw the greatest benefits.\n\n\u201cIn fact, the top 1 percent of taxpayers are paying a greater share of taxes today than they were before tax reform.\n\n\u201cAnd I haven\u2019t even mentioned the fact that tax reform has helped result in record-high revenues for the federal government.\n\n\u201cMr. President, unfortunately, we were not able to make all of the tax reform in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent, and some provisions have already begun to expire.\n\n\u201cOne important pro-growth provision on its way to phase-out is bonus depreciation.\n\n\u201cManufacturers, farmers and ranchers, and several other industries have relied on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act\u2019s bonus depreciation provision, which allows them to immediately deduct the full cost of investment in short-term assets, such as machinery and equipment.\n\n\u201cBut bonus depreciation will soon begin to phase down, making new investment in productive equipment a more expensive proposition for businesses of all sizes.\n\n\u201cExtending the bonus depreciation provision \u2013 or better yet, making it permanent \u2013 would not only provide certainty to American businesses, it would create tens of thousands of new jobs, increase wages, and grow our economy by making it easier for businesses to invest and expand.\n\n\u201cAnd it would have even more of an impact in today\u2019s high-inflation environment, where investment dollars are going a lot less far than they used to.\n\n\u201cIn addition, under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, this year businesses lost the ability to fully expense research and development costs in the year they incur them.\n\n\u201cFull R&D expensing is beneficial to many businesses, but it\u2019s especially important for manufacturers and for high-tech industries, where cutting-edge research and development is critical for innovation and continued leadership in these fields.\n\n\u201cAnd for the sake of American workers and American industry, we should restore full R&D expensing.\n\n\u201cMr. President, at the end of 2025, many of the lower tax rates for working families and small businesses will expire.\n\n\u201cMiddle-income families \u2013 who received a tax cut the year following tax reform \u2013 will see a tax hike in 2026 if middle-income tax cuts are not extended or made permanent.\n\n\u201cAlso at the end of 2025 the increased death tax exemption level is set to expire, leaving more family farms and small businesses subject to this punitive tax.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve seen the consequences of the death tax when a family has to sell their farm, ranch, or small business because they don\u2019t have enough cash to pay this massive tax on their loved one\u2019s life\u2019s work.\n\n\u201cAnd I hope that we will not only extend the increased death tax exemption level but will permanently eliminate this unfair tax.\n\n\u201cMr. President, tax reform worked.\n\n\u201cIt worked for American families.\n\n\u201cIt worked for farmers and ranchers.\n\n\u201cAnd it worked for American businesses.\n\n\u201cAllowing key elements of tax reform to expire would reduce opportunity and raise taxes for hardworking Americans at a time when their pocketbooks are already strained thanks to the historic inflation crisis Democrats helped create.\n\n\u201cAnd I hope that my colleagues across the aisle will recognize this and work with Republicans to permanently extend the expiring provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act \u2013 and continue efforts to make the tax code simpler, fairer, and more competitive.\n\n\u201cThe president likes to talk about giving families \u2018a little breathing room.\u2019\n\n\u201cWell, there\u2019s no better way to give families breathing room than by allowing them to keep more of their hard-earned money.\n\n\u201cAnd I hope the president will take an honest look at the success of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and come out in support of making these pro-growth policies permanent.\n\n\u201cI am disappointed that my Democrat colleagues recently chose to forgo the chance to extend full R&D expensing and 100 percent bonus depreciation in the year-end funding bill.\n\n\u201cExtending these should be a no-brainer \u2013 and Democrats should not be holding these essential business credits hostage to a partisan agenda.\n\n\u201cMr. President, tax reform helped create an economic environment that encouraged growth and set the American people up for new opportunities, higher wages, and a more secure future.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s time to build on these successes and extend the benefits of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act for the long term.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=8089F697-12CB-42D5-8F59-96834023F2F1", "Thune: NDAA is Crucial for Ellsworth Air Force Base, B-21 Bomber Mission", "2022-12-20", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke about the importance of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for supporting the men and women at Ellsworth Air Force Base and the future B-21 bomber mission. Thune also recognized the recent mobilization of the 109th Support Group of the South Dakota National Guard and thanked the guardsmen and their families for their service and sacrifice.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below:\n\n\u201cThe 109th Support Group of the South Dakota National Guard just mobilized a few days ago to head to Iraq and Kuwait as part of the counter-ISIS mission. And unfortunately, we weren't able to have the activation deployment ceremony because the weather wouldn't permit it in South Dakota this last weekend, but we just want to wish the members of the South Dakota National Guard in this unit the very best and thank them for their service and their sacrifice and for that of their families.\n\n\u201cAnd also, to just say, I've always said that if you don't get national security right, the rest is conversation, which is why it was so important for us to get the National Defense Authorization bill across the finish line last week. There are so many provisions in there that are impactful when you live in a dangerous world. And if anything, the events of the last year have taught us we live in a very dangerous world.\n\n\u201cThe B-21 bomber was just unveiled. That is a new bomber, a sixth-generation bomber, that puts us, as a country, in the lead when it comes to long-range strike capability. There are only three countries in the world who have strategic bombers, and those are China, Russia, and the United States.\n\n\u201cEllsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota is going to be the first home to the B-21 bomber. We're obviously very excited about that for the members, the airmen out there, for the community, for the base. No one could be more deserving of this very important mission.\n\n\u201cAnd of course, the defense authorization bill provided a lot of the funding, not only for the continued development and buildout of that aircraft, but also for all the infrastructure associated with it when it comes to Ellsworth Air Force Base. And so again, the defense authorization bill is so critically important to making sure that American men and women in uniform who are tasked with defending, protecting, ensuring the safety and security of people here in the United States and helping defend America's interests both here at home and around the world are funded. And the defense authorization will make sure that they have everything they need to do that job.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-secures-victories-for-south-dakota-in-annual-defense-bill", "Rounds Secures Victories for South Dakota in Annual Defense Bill", "2022-12-16", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement after the Senate voted to advance the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023:\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s NDAA secures major wins for South Dakota. It authorizes construction funding for Ellsworth Air Force Base and supports economic and research opportunities for multiple organizations across South Dakota.\n\n\u201cOur members on the Armed Services committee have worked hard all year to craft this piece of legislation. This crucial bill is a prime example of Congress putting politics aside to provide for our strategic national security interests and to achieve results for our service members and their families. I am pleased this bipartisan legislation is heading to the president\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\u201d\n\nRounds authored 47 unique pieces of legislation that were included in the NDAA. As the ranking member of the Cybersecurity Subcommittee, Rounds championed many provisions to enhance our offensive and defensive cyber capabilities. Additionally, Rounds supported an authorization for over $335 million in military construction funding for projects at Ellsworth Air Force Base.\n\nSupporting Quotes:\n\n\u201cSenator Rounds understands the importance of being proactive in regard to cybersecurity,\u201d said Jos\u00e9-Marie Griffiths, President of Dakota State University. \u201cBecause of Senator Rounds\u2019 ardent support of our programs, students, and forward-thinking endeavors, our distinctive graduates are poised to help protect the nation through a strong cyber presence. I commend and thank Senator Rounds for his ongoing commitment to getting priorities in the NDAA that will benefit DSU, South Dakota, and our country for years to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cJust as when he was Governor and he led the efforts to create the South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority, Senator Rounds continues to support Ellsworth Air Force Base with his role on the Senate Armed Services Committee,\u201d said Scott Landguth, Executive Director of the South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority. \u201cSenator Rounds\u2019 continued support of the B-21 expansion at Ellsworth Air Force Base is a crucial piece to the success of the B-21 arriving in South Dakota. The Senator\u2019s role on the Armed Service Committee is extremely valuable to these efforts. The South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority looks forward to continue to partner and work with the Senator to guarantee that the B-21 program and bed down at Ellsworth remains on schedule.\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator Rounds\u2019 support of NDAA, which includes monies for DOD impact aid, is critical for the Douglas School District,\u201d said Kevin Case, Superintendent of the Douglas School District. \u201cDOD Impact Aid is the only federal education funding that comes with no strings attached and can be used for a wide array of educational needs. This is a win for our students. We are fortunate to have the backing of Senator Rounds on this issue, and we are thankful for his support for the future education of our children.\u201d\n\nMajor South Dakota Victories Supported by Rounds in NDAA:\n\nAuthorizes $335.9 million in funding for military construction projects at Ellsworth Air Force Base, including a Low-Observable Restoration Hangar, Radio Frequency Hangar and Weapons Generation Facility to prepare for the B-21 Raider stealth bomber.\n\nExtends $12 million in funds for the Aircraft Maintenance Shops project at Joe Foss Field for the South Dakota Air National Guard.\n\nRequires the Department of Defense (DOD) to provide details about how it will identify the school to serve as the University Cybersecurity Consortium Support Center, potentially benefiting Dakota State University.\n\nAuthorizes $15 million to assist school systems that are projected to have a substantial increase in students because of DOD basing decisions, which will benefit Ellsworth Air Force Base and school systems in the Black Hills.\n\nExtends prohibition on reducing B-1 maintenance personnel or further reduction in aircraft unless replaced with B-21s.\n\nAuthorizes $23 million for B-1 bomber squadrons, including $10 million for hypersonic integration validation testing.\n\nIncludes a multi-year procurement authority for Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles and Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles used by the B-1.\n\nAuthorizes $3.14 billion for B-21 bomber development and $1.78 billion for low-rate initial production of the aircraft.\n\nRounds-Supported National Security Wins:\n\nIncreases authorized defense funding by $45 billion above President Biden\u2019s inadequate budget request.\n\nRescinds DOD\u2019s COVID-19 vaccine mandate amid the massive recruiting crisis.\n\nAuthorizes funding to support a 4.6 percent pay raise for both military service members and the DOD civilian workforce.\n\nRequires a public version of the National Defense Strategy after the Biden administration failed to release one.\n\nExcludes a provision that would have forced America\u2019s daughters and granddaughters to register for the Selective Service.\n\nIncreases maximum special and incentive payments and bonuses by 30 percent.\n\nAuthorizes a Survivor Benefit Plan open season for the first time since 2005.\n\nMakes certain improvements relating to behavioral health care in the military health system.\n\nRounds\u2019 Cybersecurity Wins in NDAA:\n\nEstablishment of the DOD Cyber and Digital Service Academy scholarship-for-service program.\n\nRequires efforts to align the DOD\u2019s international cybersecurity enterprise with the National Defense Strategy, the DOD Cyber Strategy and the DOD International Cyberspace Security Cooperation Guidance.\n\nRequires the DOD to engage Jordan\u2019s Ministry of Defense for the purpose of expanded military cybersecurity cooperation.\n\nAuthorizes sharing of cyber tools with allies and partners.\n\nEstablishment of the position of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cybersecurity who will advise the Secretary of Defense on all cybersecurity matters.\n\nCreates the new position of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=3DA9B776-5981-4389-80AC-2E6EC30EBE46", "Thune Honors Retiring Senators Shelby and Toomey", "2022-12-15", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today honored retiring U.S. Sens. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) on the Senate floor.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, yesterday afternoon Richard Shelby delivered his farewell here in the United States Senate.\n\n\u201cIf it is difficult to think of the Senate without some of our retiring members, it\u2019s nearly impossible to think of it without Richard Shelby.\n\n\u201cLike Jim Inhofe, he\u2019s a Senate institution.\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s proudly served the state of Alabama for six terms in the Senate.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s 36 years of tireless work to make life better for the people of Alabama and for the American people as a whole.\n\n\u201cHe is currently the longest-serving senator in Alabama\u2019s history, as well as the longest-serving member in history of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.\n\n\u201cMr. President, throughout his Senate career, Richard has always kept his eye on getting things done for the people of Alabama, whether that\u2019s supporting Alabama military installations or the work NASA does in his state.\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s a longtime NASA advocate, and, as chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Defense at the Senate Appropriations Committee, he has worked to ensure robust funding for our national security priorities.\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s also been a champion of funding to support Ukraine in its fight for freedom.\n\n\u201cAnd he\u2019s been a supporter of scientific research at various government agencies, as well as in partnership with research universities.\n\n\u201cMr. President, Richard is also notable for being one of the tallest U.S. senators.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s significant to me because as a tall guy myself, I don\u2019t often run into people I can look up to.\n\n\u201cBut I look up to Richard.\n\n\u201cLiterally \u2013 and figuratively.\n\n\u201cRichard\u2019s record of service and his dedication to the people of his state are an inspiration to me and to many others as we carry out our work in the Senate.\n\n\u201cAnd I will miss his presence and his example \u2013 as well as his sense of humor, which has lightened the mood on many challenging days.\n\n\u201cBut if anyone has earned his retirement, it is Richard Shelby.\n\n\u201cAnd I wish him and Annette \u2013 his wife of 62 years \u2013 some very well-deserved relaxation and the very best of everything in the years ahead.\n\n\u201cMr. President, later today Senator Pat Toomey \u2013 my longtime colleague on the Senate Finance Committee \u2013 will deliver his farewell remarks.\n\n\u201cPat is known for, among other things, his steadfast commitment to pro-market policies \u2013 fiscal responsibility, pro-growth tax policy, free trade, limited but efficient regulation \u2013 and above all for his command of these issues.\n\n\u201cHe has a tremendous grasp of finance, banking, and the economy, and an equally tremendous understanding of what the ins and outs of the tax code mean for business, saving and investment, and entrepreneurship.\n\n\u201cAnd he\u2019s able to break down these oftentimes byzantine subjects and explain them in plain language.\n\n\u201cThese attributes made Pat the indispensable man during tax reform five years ago.\n\n\u201cHis expertise and commitment were key to passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act \u2013 the wide-ranging reform of our tax code that put more money in American families\u2019 pockets and made American businesses more competitive.\n\n\u201cBeyond tax policy, Pat has consistently fought protectionism in its many forms.\n\n\u201cHe has pushed back on financial market regulations that restrict fair competition.\n\n\u201cAnd he has fiercely advocated for market-opening initiatives that benefit Pennsylvania families, workers, and businesses.\n\n\u201cHe is going to be missed in the Senate \u2013 and on the Senate Finance Committee in particular \u2013 for his knowledge and his experience, and for his practical approach to getting things done for the American people.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I admire Pat for his economic expertise.\n\n\u201cBut I especially admire him for his thoughtfulness, his decency, and the fact that he is very principled.\n\n\u201cHe has stayed committed to the causes he believes in, from improving economic opportunity for American families, to reducing government waste, to protecting taxpayer dollars.\n\n\u201cAnd while I don\u2019t know what he will do next, I am confident that whatever he does will continue his commitment to building an economy that works for the American people.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I want to wish Pat and his wife Kris the very best on his retirement.\n\n\u201cI hope they are able to enjoy some well-deserved rest in the coming months.\n\n\u201cAnd I look forward to seeing all that Pat will do in the future.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=5CDDBABA-7EFE-4502-8203-A107701960D1", "Thune Secures Key South Dakota Priorities in Water Resources Bill", "2022-12-15", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after the Senate passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022, which included key Thune-led provisions that will bolster South Dakota\u2019s water rights and combat invasive species.\n\n\u201cThis legislation provides greater certainty to South Dakota and its neighboring states when it comes to water rights, and it also provides additional resources for mitigation of invasive species like zebra mussels,\u201d said Thune. \u201cThis is an important bill for the Great Plains, and I\u2019m glad I could play a part in advocating for South Dakota\u2019s interests.\u201d\n\nKey provisions included:\n\nImproves State Oversight with Respect to Water Rights: The bill establishes a new Western Water Cooperative Committee with two slots for South Dakota membership, which will advise the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and Congress on policies to maintain the primacy of state water rights.\n\nExtends the Prohibition on Surplus Water Fees: This bill permanently extends the prohibition, which means the Corps will be prohibited from charging fees indefinitely.\n\nExtends Invasive Species Management Pilot Program Authority: WRDA 2020 included a pilot program to assist states in the Upper Missouri River Basin with the development and implementation of plans to mitigate aquatic invasive species, namely zebra mussels. The bill extends the pilot program authority through 2028 to provide states more time to utilize funding.\n\nBackground on efforts to protect state water rights:\n\nSince 2010, the Corps has restricted access to the Missouri River reservoirs and has proposed charging an unprecedented fee for so-called \u201csurplus water\u201d taken from major reservoirs in the upper basin. When the Corps built the dams along the river after Congress passed the 1944 Flood Control Act, prime state and tribal lands were flooded. As part of the agreement, state residents were guaranteed access to water from the Missouri River for various purposes. Although some of those intended purposes, such as irrigation, never fully materialized, the states never ceded the right to use Missouri River water for municipal and industrial water supplies.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=9D6CE2D8-C74B-4F3B-BE8D-D218C13EE2A6", "Thune Supports Annual Defense Bill, Ellsworth Air Force Base Priorities", "2022-12-15", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today applauded the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2023. The bill contains numerous priorities that benefit South Dakota and the future B-21 bomber mission at Ellsworth Air Force Base, including nearly $336 million for new facility construction and the revival of a program to help school districts accommodate significant increases in students as a result of additional military families moving to the area to prepare for mission growth.\n\n\u201cProviding for our nation\u2019s defense is one of the most serious and consequential responsibilities for members of Congress,\u201d said Thune. \u201cI am committed to ensuring that Ellsworth Air Force Base and its surrounding communities have everything they need for the B-21 bomber mission so Ellsworth can continue to serve as one of our nation\u2019s essential military assets for decades to come.\u201d\n\nThe NDAA includes a modified version of Thune\u2019s Dynamic Airspace Pilot Program Act of 2022, legislation that requires the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Defense (DoD) to establish a pilot program to support the development of \u201cdynamic airspace\u201d to improve how airspace boundaries are managed to accommodate modern military training requirements like longer engagement distances.\n\nNDAA priorities for South Dakota include:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/respect-act-passes-house-heading-to-presidents-desk-", "Rounds\u2019 RESPECT Act Passes House; Heading to President\u2019s Desk", "2022-12-14", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Rounds\u2019 (R-S.D.) legislation to repeal discriminatory federal laws targeting Native Americans passed the House of Representatives today. It now heads to the president\u2019s desk for signature.\n\nThe Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes (RESPECT) Act would repeal 11 outdated federal laws, including laws that stripped Native American children from their families for the purpose of placing them in \u201cIndian reform schools,\u201d such as the now-infamous Carlisle Indian Industrial School.\n\nA full list of laws the RESPECT Act will repeal is available HERE.\n\n\u201cWhile we cannot rewrite the past, we need to acknowledge it and continue to strive for a more perfect Union,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cIt\u2019s long overdue to remove these immoral, discriminatory federal laws from our books. Throughout history, Native Americans have been subjected to unfair treatment from our federal government, including the forced removal of their children from their homes. Clearly, there is no place in our legal code for such measures, and it is appalling these laws are still in our federal code. I am pleased this bipartisan, commonsense legislation is heading to the president\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\u201d\n\nSenators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) are cosponsors of this legislation.\n\nCompanion legislation was introduced in the House on May 12, 2021, by Representatives Tom O\u2019Halleran (D-Ariz.), Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Tom Cole (R-Okla.).\n\nThe RESPECT Act is supported by the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen\u2019s Association (GPTCA) and the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=562DB4EA-93CC-4A00-9335-26937443F649", "Thune Letter Fights to Protect Independent Contractors", "2022-12-14", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) recently led his colleagues in sending a bicameral letter to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) urging it to rescind its proposed rule that would change the criteria used to determine whether an individual is classified as an employee or an independent contractor. The proposed rule\u2019s new criteria would create uncertainty for employers and workers and reduce circumstances where an individual could be classified as an independent contractor, which would pose serious consequences for the economy and America\u2019s workforce.\n\n\u201cThe independent contractor proposed rule would have immediate and long-term disruptive effects on millions of workers and thousands of businesses at a time when the economy is facing high inflation rates,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cA study by Upwork estimates that 59 million Americans performed freelance work in 2021 and contributed $1.3 trillion to the U.S. economy. Small and large businesses in hospitality, healthcare, education, agriculture, transportation, construction, finance, law, housing, entertainment, and more utilize independent contractors to meet their needs. This allows businesses to have a dynamic workforce while giving workers the autonomy and flexibility they prefer. It is clear the proposed rule\u2019s attempt to restrict this flexibility for businesses and workers will be disruptive.\n\n\u201cWe urge DOL not to move forward with its proposed rule for determining independent contractor classification due to this negative impact on workers and businesses, the test\u2019s lack of clarity, and the devastating consequences for the U.S. economy,\u201d the senators continued. \u201cThe proposed rule will jeopardize millions of individuals\u2019 independent contractor status under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Instead, DOL should maintain the 2021 rule, which was designed for the modern economy and brought clarity to workers and businesses.\u201d\n\nLast year, Thune led a similar letter to DOL Secretary Martin Walsh urging him to protect individuals\u2019 ability to work as independent contractors in the gig economy.\n\nIn addition to Thune, the bicameral letter was also led by U.S. Sens. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.). The letter was also signed by U.S. Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.).\n\nFull letter below:\n\nThe Honorable Martin J. Walsh\n\nSecretary\n\nDepartment of Labor\n\n200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.\n\nWashington, D.C. 20210\n\nDear Secretary Walsh:\n\nOn October 13, 2022, the Department of Labor\u2019s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division published its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking entitled \u201cEmployee or Independent Contractor Classification Under the Fair Labor Standards Act\u201d (\u201cproposed rule\u201d), which would rescind and replace the independent contractor rule adopted in 2021 by the Trump Administration. In its place, DOL proposes a six-factor economic reality test to determine whether a worker is \u201ceconomically dependent\u201d on a company under a totality of the circumstances. We oppose this proposed rule as it is unclear, overly restrictive, and unsuitable for workers who are seeking flexibility as they pursue opportunities as independent contractors.\n\nThe Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, and recordkeeping standards for covered employers and employees. A worker who performs services for an entity as an independent contractor is not an employee and therefore is not covered by the FLSA. However, the FLSA does not define \u201cindependent contractor.\u201d For more than 80 years, businesses and workers relied on decisions by the courts and opinion letters from DOL for guidance on the definition of independent contractor. For example, under the Obama Administration, DOL released an Administrator\u2019s Interpretation providing guidance regarding the application of the economic realities factors to determine whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. This guidance outlined six economic reality factors, all of which must be considered to determine whether the worker is economically dependent on the business; no one factor is considered determinative. DOL inappropriately used the guidance to broadly-and incorrectly-assert \u201cmost workers are employees under FLSA\u2019s broad definitions.\u201d The AI letter was later withdrawn by Secretary Acosta for failing to provide even the most basic procedural due process for stakeholders in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.\n\nIn 2021, the Trump Administration made history by adopting a rule that clarified and simplified independent contractor classification under the FLSA. Rulemaking, as opposed to opinion letters, allowed the public to comment on the proposed rule. The 2021 rule highlighted how the \u201ceconomic realities test and its component factors have not always been sufficiently explained or consistently articulated by courts or the Department, resulting in uncertainty among the regulated community.\u201d Instead, the rule emphasizes two \u201ccore factors\u201d: a worker\u2019s control over his or her work and his or her opportunity for profit or loss. If these factors are not clear, the rule includes three \u201cguidepost\u201d factors. By adopting a clearer and more transparent test, the rule encouraged innovation and flexibility in the economy. This rule brought welcome clarity to businesses and workers, but the Biden Administration almost immediately delayed its effective date and later withdrew it until a court ruled in March 2022 that DOL violated the Administrative Procedure Act which finally allowed the rule to go into effect. Now DOL is proposing to rescind and replace the 2021 rule without demonstrating good reasons for abandoning this clear test and before application of it in any court decisions.\n\nIn fact, DOL\u2019s new proposal is far less clear than the 2021 rule and is largely a return to the Obama-era multifactor test that was restrictive, overly complex, and inconsistently applied. The six economic factors the proposed rule delineates as determining the employment status of an individual are: (1) Opportunity for profit or loss depending on managerial skill; (2) Investments by the worker and the company; (3) Degree of permanence of the work relationship; (4) Nature and degree of control; (5) Extent to which the work performed is an integral part of the company\u2019s business; and (6) Skill and initiative. The proposed rule explains that no one factor is \u201cdispositive, and the weight to give each factor may depend on the facts and circumstances of the particular case.\u201d Finally, additional unnamed factors may be considered, yet the proposed rule fails to afford stakeholders clarity as to what those factors may be. The proposed rule\u2019s economic reality test would result in uncertainty among workers and businesses and would greatly reduce the circumstances under which a worker will be classified as an independent contractor.\n\nWhile DOL laments that it cannot adopt an \u201cABC\u201d test due to legal constraints, the proposed rule goes nearly as far with restrictive definitions and examples. The rule argues that theoretical control is enough to give DOL the ability to make employment determinations. According to the Institute for the American Worker, \u201csuch a broad interpretation would have a chilling effect on self-employment, putting conceivably all independent contracting work in jeopardy.\u201d The proposed rule also states that an individual using his or her own car and having the ability to work for multiple entities are not indicative of his or her status as an independent contractor. Additionally, according to the rule, a company\u2019s ability to set prices for goods or services provided by the worker can be indicative of employee status. These provisions clearly target on-demand companies and workers who have thrived in the twenty-first century \u201cgig economy.\u201d\n\nThe independent contractor proposed rule would have immediate and long-term disruptive effects on millions of workers and thousands of businesses at a time when the economy is facing high inflation rates. A study by Upwork estimates that 59 million Americans performed freelance work in 2021 and contributed $1.3 trillion to the U.S. economy. Small and large businesses in hospitality, healthcare, education, agriculture, transportation, construction, finance, law, housing, entertainment, and more utilize independent contractors to meet their needs. This allows businesses to have a dynamic workforce while giving workers the autonomy and flexibility they prefer. It is clear the proposed rule\u2019s attempt to restrict this flexibility for businesses and workers will be disruptive.\n\nThe proposed rule is also overwhelmingly unpopular. Our offices have heard from various individuals and groups worried that this proposed rule will destroy the flexibility and entrepreneurial opportunity that comes with being an independent contractor. Studies and surveys show that independent contractors prefer to remain independent by huge margins. The 2018 Bureau of Labor Statistics Contingent Worker Survey found that less than one out of every 10 independent contractors would prefer traditional employment status. A Morning Consult poll found that 77 percent of app-based workers prefer to remain independent contractors and that 80 percent work using app-based platforms for 20 or less hours per week. An MBO Partners survey found a vast majority of independent workers say they are happier and healthier as independent contractors. One study found that 68 percent of new freelancers say that \u201cCareer Ownership\u201d is a top draw, and 78 percent cited \u201cschedule flexibility\u201d as a key reason for freelancing. In fact, independent contracting work is so attractive that fifty-six percent of non-freelancers say they are likely to freelance in the future.\n\nIndividuals such as ride-share and delivery drivers, financial advisors, direct sellers, truckers, and franchisees view their independent contractor status as enabling the pursuit of the American Dream. Innovations and on-demand companies have opened doors for these individuals to make their own hours and pursue other economic opportunities. The proposed rule would damage this model and hurt their livelihood.\n\nWe urge DOL not to move forward with its proposed rule for determining independent contractor classification due to this negative impact on workers and businesses, the test\u2019s lack of clarity, and the devastating consequences for the U.S. economy. The proposed rule will jeopardize millions of individuals\u2019 independent contractor status under the FLSA. Instead, DOL should maintain the 2021 rule, which was designed for the modern economy and brought clarity to workers and businesses.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=8E01FC1B-AE4F-4163-B660-8B9AE7EF509F", "Thune Honors Retiring Senator Richard Burr", "2022-12-14", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today honored retiring U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) on the Senate floor.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, it\u2019s hard to believe that my friend Richard Burr is leaving Congress.\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s someone I\u2019ve known since my days in the House of Representatives, and we\u2019ve been friends from the beginning.\n\n\u201cAnd it\u2019s difficult to imagine serving in the Senate here without him.\n\n\u201cOur wives are very close friends as well, and we\u2019ve had many wonderful times with the Burrs.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve enjoyed hosting Richard in South Dakota on a number of occasions.\n\n\u201cRichard is an outdoors guy like I am, and he fits right in in South Dakota \u2013 well, except for the fact that he\u2019s the only guy not wearing socks.\n\n\u201cOne of our favorite pastimes in South Dakota is pheasant hunting, and I\u2019ve had Richard out to South Dakota during pheasant season on more than one occasion.\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s a great shot.\n\n\u201cAnd \u2013 as I discovered when Kimberley and I visited Richard and Brooke in North Carolina \u2013 he\u2019s also a great handyman.\n\n\u201cApparently he thinks his guests should be as well, since he put me right to work on a new door he was installing.\n\n\u201cBut I was well-paid for my trouble with the meal Richard cooked for us.\n\n\u201cOne of the privileges of visiting Richard is getting to enjoy his cooking.\n\n\u201cHe is an outstanding cook \u2013 he can really make anything.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m not saying he should open a restaurant in his retirement, but if he did, I would certainly be the first in line at the opening.\n\n\u201cRichard has certainly left his mark on Washington.\n\n\u201cHis car \u2013 a 1974 Volkswagen \u2018Thing,\u2019 often parked outside the Russell building with the top down, no matter the season, and adorned with his colleagues\u2019 campaign stickers \u2013 was a fixture of Capitol Hill.\n\n\u201cAnd Richard \u2013 who as well as being a handyman is a capable mechanic \u2013 could often be found working under the Thing\u2019s hood to keep it running.\n\n\u201cA true labor of love.\n\n\u201cBut, Mr. President, in this chamber, of course, what Richard is really known for is being an outstanding legislator.\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s always been someone who knows how to get things done, how to build a coalition and get legislation across the finish line.\n\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s evident in his record of accomplishment here in the Senate.\n\n\u201cPromoting medical research and innovation.\n\n\u201cSupporting veterans.\n\n\u201cChanging the way student loan interest rates are set to save families money.\n\n\u201cWorking to ensure that child-care settings are safe and high-quality.\n\n\u201cEstablishing ABLE accounts for individuals with disabilities to help better their lives.\n\n\u201cAnd the list goes on.\n\n\u201cLong before COVID, Richard was working to prepare our nation to respond to the threat of a disaster or a pandemic, and since COVID, he has worked to ensure that our nation\u2019s future pandemic response reflects the lessons we have learned.\n\n\u201cRichard has been a strong advocate for his state, in particular for North Carolina veterans.\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s worked to bring new VA facilities to North Carolina and to ensure that veterans and their families who were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune receive VA medical care.\n\n\u201cI think all of us get into this life in the hope that we can one day leave Congress knowing that we have done something to make life better for our fellow Americans.\n\n\u201cRichard can leave Congress with that assurance.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I will miss Richard.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a privilege and a blessing when you are able to serve with a friend for so long.\n\n\u201cAnd I will miss our daily interactions.\n\n\u201cBut I know that in Congress or not, our friendship will endure.\n\n\u201cI look forward to seeing all that Richard will do in his next chapter, and to many more happy hours spent with the Burrs.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=37082283-23A9-4BE1-A401-36ED97AE5CAD", "Thune Discusses His Broadband Oversight Effort, Presses Agencies to Cut Bureaucratic Red Tape for Broadband Infrastructure", "2022-12-13", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, today helped lead a subcommittee hearing entitled, \u201cEnsuring Solutions to Meet America\u2019s Broadband Needs.\u201d During the hearing, Thune discussed his nationwide broadband oversight effort that will hold agencies accountable and ensure that previously authorized broadband funding is being used in the most efficient way possible to protect taxpayer dollars. Thune also highlighted his bipartisan Rural Internet Improvement Act, legislation that would streamline and bolster U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development broadband programs and ensure that their funding is being targeted to rural areas that need it the most.\n\nAs part of Thune\u2019s broadband oversight effort, today he sent letters to the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of the Interior (DOI), Department of Transportation (DOT), and USDA regarding each of the agencies\u2019 implementation of Thune\u2019s MOBILE NOW Act that was signed into law in 2018, which, among other things, helped cut through the bureaucratic red tape associated with building broadband networks.\n\nFull letter to DOD here.\n\nFull letter to DOI here.\n\nFull letter to DOT here.\n\nFull letter to USDA here.\n\nThune recently sent a letter to U.S. Department of Commerce Inspector General Peggy Gustafson for her failure to fulfill congressionally mandated oversight of previously authorized broadband funding. Thune also sent a letter to a diverse group of stakeholders, including broadband associations, public interest groups, and free-market think tanks to seek their input on the current broadband regulatory structure.\n\nThune\u2019s opening remarks (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cThank you, Chairman Lujan for holding today\u2019s hearing.\n\n\u201cI\u2019d like to begin by saying it\u2019s a been a pleasure to lead this subcommittee with you these past couple of years, and I look forward to continue working with you on a number of important issues before this subcommittee next Congress.\n\n\u201cOne of those issues is ensuring Americans have access to reliable broadband services.\n\n\u201cThe expansion of these services to more rural areas has long been a priority of mine here in the Senate.\n\n\u201cAnd since March of 2020, Congress has allocated billions of dollars for broadband-related services through COVID-19 pandemic relief packages, and most recently through passage of the infrastructure bill which provided broadband funding at a price tag of over $64 billion.\n\n\u201cThe nearly $80 billion for broadband specific projects, on top of the billions of dollars the FCC disburses annually under its Universal Service Fund, is an unprecedented amount of money.\n\n\u201cThe good news is that for those areas where certain connectivity challenges remain unresolved, this funding, in addition to the sustained investments made by telecommunications providers across the country, should help close the digital divide.\n\n\u201cThe bad news is that this funding is spread out over 15 separate agencies and 133 programs with the lion\u2019s share of the funding going through NTIA.\n\n\u201cThis is deeply concerning.\n\n\u201cAs I argued when Congress was debating the infrastructure bill, NTIA has previously fumbled attempts to bring broadband access to more communities.\n\n\u201cBack in 2009, the stimulus bill allocated $4.7 billion to NTIA to expand broadband access in rural and unserved areas.\n\n\u201cIt didn\u2019t go very well.\n\n\u201cThe agency struggled with implementation and there were serious issues with a number of the projects the agency approved.\n\n\u201cOther projects resulted in a significant amount of overbuilding \u2013 meaning that they resulted in the construction of additional broadband infrastructure in areas that already had access to reliable broadband at the taxpayer\u2019s expense.\n\n\u201cMore recently, last year NTIA called for volunteers to help determine how to allocate the $1.5 billion Congress provided NTIA for certain broadband programs.\n\n\u201cThat is unacceptable.\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019m afraid without stringent oversight, NTIA will make, and has already made, the same mistakes when managing the $42.5 billion Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment program and Tribal Broadband Connectivity program.\n\n\u201cThat is why last week, I began an oversight effort to review the numerous federal broadband programs.\n\n\u201cOversight of how these dollars are being spent is necessary to avoid agencies misusing billions of taxpayer dollars and more importantly, to ensure the funding is actually going to areas that are truly unserved.\n\n\u201cIf there are changes that need to be made to the various programs Congress has established, we need to get to work to make sure they are as effective as possible and work as Congress intended.\n\n\u201cOne such program we\u2019ve begun work to make necessary improvements to is USDA\u2019s ReConnect Program.\n\n\u201cI was pleased to partner with Chair Lujan and Senators Klobuchar and Fischer in introducing the Rural Internet Improvement Act\u2014legislation that will streamline USDA\u2019s broadband authorities and target funding to areas most in need.\n\n\u201cWe must also recognize the federal government will not solve the digital divide on its own.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s important we maintain a regulatory framework that promotes investment and allows telecommunications companies to make the kind of choices that have resulted in strong networks.\n\n\u201cUnlike other countries, broadband providers in the United States were able to keep Americans connected when demands for fixed and mobile networks soared during the pandemic.\n\n\u201cThis is largely because of the United States\u2019 light-tough regulatory approach to broadband policy, which has incentivized the private sector to make network reliability, affordability, and resiliency a priority.\n\n\u201cFinally, we must tackle permitting hurdles that delay the buildout of broadband infrastructure.\n\n\u201cMy MOBILE NOW Act, which was signed into law in 2018, has been an effective tool in moving the federal government in the right direction, but I continue to hear concerns about unnecessary delays and costs associated with broadband permitting.\n\n\u201cThe agencies processing permitting requests need to be held accountable if they are not meeting deadlines.\n\n\u201cWhich is why today I\u2019m sending requests to several federal agencies on the steps they have taken to implement MOBILE NOW\u2019s broadband siting mandates.\n\n\u201cFor too long we\u2019ve talked about bridging the digital divide.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s time to actually do it.\n\n\u201cAnd the only way that happens is if this Committee actually utilizes its important oversight responsibilities to ensure the agencies under its jurisdiction make smart, targeted investments that use taxpayer dollars responsibly.\n\n\u201cAnything short of that will result in government waste leaving Americans still unconnected.\n\n\u201cI want to thank each of the witnesses for being here today, and I look forward to the discussion.\n\n\u201cThank you, Mr. Chairman.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=9861D29B-0C37-4C70-AC53-289995D5EC49", "Thune: Ending the Security and Humanitarian Crisis at the Southern Border Must Be a Bipartisan Priority", "2022-12-13", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke on the Senate floor about the unprecedented humanitarian and security crisis at the southern border. Thune noted that the Biden administration has escalated this crisis by failing to implement meaningful policies to deter illegal immigration. Thune also discussed November\u2019s Consumer Price Index report, which shows inflation has increased 13.8 percent since President Biden took office.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, last Tuesday President Biden was asked why he wasn\u2019t taking the opportunity to visit the border while traveling to Arizona.\n\n\u201cHis reply?\n\n\u201c\u2018Because there\u2019s a more important thing going on.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018\u2026 a more important thing going on.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. President, no offense to new investment, but if President Biden thinks that visiting a plant to celebrate new investment is MORE important than the security and humanitarian crisis raging on our southern border, then his priorities are seriously out of order.\n\n\u201cBut, of course, we already knew that.\n\n\u201cThis is hardly the first time the president has made it clear that he thinks of the crisis at our southern border as just an annoying distraction from what he\u2019d rather be doing as president.\n\n\u201cIn fact, he\u2019s shown a remarkable ability throughout his presidency to ignore or minimize crises that he isn\u2019t interested in dealing with.\n\n\u201c\u2018\u2026 there\u2019s a more important thing going on.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. President, I venture to suggest that for overwhelmed border communities struggling with an apparently never-ending influx of illegal immigration, there isn\u2019t anything more important going on.\n\n\u201cAnd the president\u2019s trivializing of our border crisis is a serious betrayal of the responsibility he owes to these Americans \u2013 and to all Americans.\n\n\u201cThe situation at our southern border is out of control \u2013 and has been that way for most of the president\u2019s administration.\n\n\u201cOver this past weekend alone, Customs and Border Protection encountered more than 16,000 individuals attempting to cross our southern border illegally.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s an average of 8,000 per day \u2013 higher than the daily average in May, which posted the highest number of attempted illegal crossings ever recorded.\n\n\u201cOctober saw a staggering 230,678 attempted illegal crossings along our southern border.\n\n\u201cAll told, U.S. Customs and Border Protection encountered nearly 2.4 million individuals attempting to cross our southern border illegally during fiscal year 2022.\n\n\u201cThat is the highest number ever recorded, exceeding the previous record set the year before by roughly 640,000.\n\n\u201cAnd of course these numbers just refer to individuals the Border Patrol actually apprehended.\n\n\u201cThere have been almost 1 million known \u201cgotaways\u201d over the past two fiscal years.\n\n\u201cAnd an untold number of unknown gotaways.\n\n\u201cMr. President, President Biden\u2019s comment doesn\u2019t just trivialize the scope of this crisis; it also trivializes the human misery that has resulted.\n\n\u201cAt least 853 migrants died crossing the southern border in fiscal year 2022, the highest number ever recorded.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s hard to imagine that that number wouldn\u2019t have been smaller if President Biden had gotten serious about addressing this border crisis instead of inviting illegal immigration with his lax border policies.\n\n\u201cI mentioned overwhelmed border communities.\n\n\u201cI should also mention the incredible strain the past two years have placed on the Border Patrol, which has been forced to divert agents from border enforcement to the overwhelmed humanitarian mission.\n\n\u201cAnd then of course there\u2019s the very real danger represented by unchecked illegal immigration, including the risk of dangerous individuals entering our country undetected and the potential for increased drug trafficking.\n\n\u201cIllegal drugs are flowing across our southern border \u2013 and contributing to violent crime not just in border communities but in communities around the nation.\n\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s not to even mention our nation\u2019s fentanyl crisis, which is being fed by drugs trafficked across \u2013 where else? \u2013 our southern border.\n\n\u201cAnd our current border crisis is an open invitation to increased illegal drug activity.\n\n\u201cBut the president has more important places to be than the southern border.\n\n\u201cEven though, I should point out, he\u2019s never actually visited the southern border.\n\n\u201cNot once.\n\n\u201cThe closest he got was literally driving by the border on the way to a campaign rally in 2008.\n\n\u201cMr. President, for border communities and strained Border Patrol agents, I venture to say that there is nothing more important than getting our nation\u2019s border crisis under control.\n\n\u201cBut I guess they\u2019ll just have to keep waiting.\n\n\u201cAfter all, the president has more important things to do.\n\n\u201cMr. President, in other tone-deaf comments from the Biden administration last week, White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain said, and I quote, \u2018Fiscal responsibility is very important to us in the Biden administration. We\u2019re very well aware that we have to stay within our means economically. I think \u2026 you see that in everything we\u2019ve tried to do these past two years.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. President, when I read that I wasn\u2019t sure whether to laugh or cry \u2013 or just be angry on behalf of the millions of Americans who are currently suffering as a result of Democrats\u2019 lack of fiscal responsibility over the past two years.\n\n\u201cMr. President, we are currently in the midst of the worst inflation crisis in 40 years.\n\n\u201cMy daughters, who are married with their own children now, weren\u2019t even alive the last time inflation was this bad.\n\n\u201cNovember inflation numbers came out this morning, and they just confirmed what we already know \u2013 that we are still very much in the midst of this crisis.\n\n\u201cCurrently, inflation is up 13.8 percent since January 2021, when President Biden took office.\n\n\u201cEven if our inflation crisis ended tomorrow, the inflation we\u2019ve already experienced will cost the average household more than $9,000 over the next 12 months.\n\n\u201c$9,000.\n\n\u201cFor a lot of families, that\u2019s the difference between prosperity and just getting by.\n\n\u201cFor many others, it\u2019s the difference between just getting by and not being able to get by at all.\n\n\u201cAnd how did we get here, Mr. President?\n\n\u201cWell, in substantial part thanks to the president\u2019s and Democrats\u2019 fiscal irresponsibility.\n\n\u201cWhen Democrats took office in January 2021, Congress had just passed a fifth bipartisan COVID bill that met essentially all current pressing COVID needs.\n\n\u201cBut Democrats just wanted to keep spending.\n\n\u201cAnd so despite being warned that the size of the package they were contemplating risked overheating our economy, under the guise of COVID relief Democrats passed a massive, partisan, $1.9 trillion spending bill filled with unnecessary spending and payoffs to Democrat interest groups.\n\n\u201cAnd the economy overheated as a result.\n\n\u201cInflation began climbing. And climbing. And climbing again.\n\n\u201cBut what\u2019s almost worse, Mr. President \u2013 and what makes the White House\u2019s claim that they care about fiscal responsibility so incredibly ludicrous \u2013 is what Democrats and the president did next.\n\n\u201cEven as it became clear that their massive spending spree had helped set off a serious inflation problem, Democrats and the president kept pushing for more spending.\n\n\u201cIn fact, their goal \u2013 which they were fortunately prevented from achieving \u2013 was passing another massive spending spree in the neighborhood of $5 trillion.\n\n\u201cAnd even after that plan was foiled, Democrats and the president kept right on pursuing more fiscally irresponsible legislation.\n\n\u201cIn August Democrats passed legislation \u2013 their so-called Inflation Reduction Act \u2013 filled with hundreds of billions of dollars in Green New Deal spending partially financed by tax hikes that will raise energy prices and slow job creation.\n\n\u201cDemocrats tried to clothe the bill in an aura of fiscal responsibility by claiming \u2013 dubiously, I might add \u2013 that it would reduce the deficit by $300 billion.\n\n\u201cDo you want to know how long that purported deficit reduction lasted once the bill was signed?\n\n\u201cEight days.\n\n\u201cEight days.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s how long it took for President Biden to completely wipe out any deficit reduction in the bill by implementing his massive student loan giveaway.\n\n\u201cA giveaway that not only wipes out any possible deficit reduction but will also, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, \u2018meaningfully boost inflation.\u2019\n\n\u201cAnd yet we\u2019re supposed to believe that the Biden administration values fiscal responsibility.\n\n\u201cMr. President, when it comes to fiscal responsibility, the Biden administration has demonstrated that it could not care less.\n\n\u201cThe Biden administration is interested in implementing the big-government priorities of the far left \u2013 no matter how much they cost.\n\n\u201cAnd unfortunately, the American people are paying the price.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=D1D03FDA-7AC9-4DB9-AE3E-4F77C3057D85", "Thune, Klobuchar, Hoeven, Baldwin Urge Federal Maritime Commission to Carefully Implement Key Ocean Shipping Reform Act Rule", "2022-12-09", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) today urged Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Chairman Daniel Maffei to provide additional clarity on the definition of \u201cunreasonable\u201d as it relates to refusal by ocean carriers to provide vessel space accommodations.\n\n\u201cIn order to ensure the law is faithfully implemented in a manner consistent with congressional intent, the definition of \u2018unreasonable\u2019 must adequately take into account both transportation and commercial-related factors when evaluating the behavior of an ocean carrier,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cWe agree with the Commission\u2019s view that \u2018commercial convenience alone is not a reasonable basis\u2019 for refusal by an ocean carrier to deal or negotiate. However, we have questions about the breadth of the \u2018transportation factors\u2019 under the proposed rule. In particular, an ocean carrier might point to the \u2018existence\u2019 of \u2018scheduling considerations\u2019 as a basis for refusing to negotiate with a would-be exporter. We urge you to consider whether additional clarifying language about the magnitude of the \u2018transportation factors\u2019 might provide useful guidance to industry and align with the goal of promoting an efficient, competitive, accessible, and affordable global shipping market, consistent with congressional intent.\u201d\n\nIn June, Thune\u2019s Ocean Shipping Reform Act was signed into law. The bill strengthens the authority of the FMC by providing it with new tools to help level the playing field for American exporters and counteract anticompetitive behavior. The bill would also help FMC more efficiently resolve disputes between ocean carriers and shippers, while also taking actions at the U.S. Department of Transportation to alleviate strain across the supply chain.\n\nFull letter below:\n\nThe Honorable Daniel B. Maffei\n\nChairman\n\nFederal Maritime Commission\n\n800 North Capitol Street, NW\n\nWashington, DC 20573\n\nDear Chairman Maffei:\n\nWe write regarding the Federal Maritime Commission\u2019s recent notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) establishing a definition of unreasonable refusal by an ocean common carrier to deal or negotiate with respect to vessel space accommodations, consistent with the requirement established in section 7 of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022. The Commission\u2019s implementation of this requirement is crucial to ensuring American exporters and importers alike have fair and competitive access to the global shipping market.\n\nCongress passed this landmark legislation, signed into law in June, to make it easier for American farmers and manufacturers to ship ready-to-export goods left waiting at our ports and to limit foreign ocean carriers\u2019 ability to impose added fees on container handling. Section 7 of the Act sought to clarify that an \u201cunreasonable\u201d refusal by an ocean carrier to provide vessel space accommodations should constitute a prohibited practice under the Shipping Act of 1984. The need to require such a clarification arose specifically from reports of ocean carriers refusing certain export cargo \u2013 particularly agricultural cargo \u2013 even when vessel space was readily available, often opting to carry empty containers instead.\n\nIn order to ensure the law is faithfully implemented in a manner consistent with congressional intent, the definition of \u201cunreasonable\u201d must adequately take into account both transportation and commercial-related factors when evaluating the behavior of an ocean carrier. We agree with the Commission\u2019s view that \u201ccommercial convenience alone is not a reasonable basis\u201d for refusal by an ocean carrier to deal or negotiate. However, we have questions about the breadth of the \u201ctransportation factors\u201d under the proposed rule. In particular, an ocean carrier might point to the \u201cexistence\u201d of \u201cscheduling considerations\u201d as a basis for refusing to negotiate with a would-be exporter. We urge you to consider whether additional clarifying language about the magnitude of the \u201ctransportation factors\u201d might provide useful guidance to industry and align with the goal of promoting an efficient, competitive, accessible, and affordable global shipping market, consistent with congressional intent.\n\nThoroughly defining what constitutes the \u2018unreasonable\u2019 refusal to deal with or negotiate as it relates to vessel space accommodations is a crucial component of our landmark shipping reform law. We greatly appreciate your attention to this issue and applaud your continued work to speedily implement the provisions of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our staff.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=2E401B1B-7E87-4A3F-A95A-0A8B91DDA7CB", "Thune, Wicker Call Out U.S. Commerce Department IG for Neglecting Mandated Broadband Oversight Duties", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 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 Commerce Committee, today sent a letter calling out U.S. Department of Commerce Inspector General (IG) Peggy Gustafson for failing to fulfill mandated congressional oversight of previously authorized broadband funding. As a result of IG Gustafson\u2019s dereliction of duty, taxpayer dollars intended for broadband services are subject to waste, fraud, and abuse.\n\n\u201cContrary to the requirements of the law, you have failed to fulfill your duties required by Congress,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cThis is deeply concerning for two reasons: [First,] [the National Telecommunications and Information Administration] has a long and well-documented history of misusing federal dollars when attempting to expand broadband access; and [second] your office has had a significant and ongoing problematic history. Further, Congress has recently heard testimony of funds being used to overbuild existing broadband networks which makes it even more alarming your office would disregard its oversight responsibilities.\u201d\n\nEarlier this week, Thune launched a nationwide broadband oversight effort that will review numerous broadband programs spanning several federal agencies. The primary goal of Thune\u2019s effort is to hold these agencies accountable and ensure that previously authorized broadband funding is being used in the most efficient way possible to protect taxpayer dollars. Thune recently sent a letter to a diverse group of stakeholders, including broadband associations, public interest groups, and free market think tanks to seek their input on the current broadband regulatory structure.\n\nFull letter below:\n\nThe Honorable Peggy E. Gustafson\n\nInspector General\n\nU.S. Department of Commerce\n\n1401 Constitution Avenue NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20230\n\nDear Inspector General Gustafson:\n\nAs you know, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), housed under the Department of Commerce, is a major driver in fulfilling the Department\u2019s mission to provide reliable broadband services to all Americans.\n\nOne of the numerous programs aimed at closing the digital divide is NTIA\u2019s Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP). Established under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L.116-260), the TBCP has received nearly $3 billion in funding to support broadband deployment, telehealth, distance learning, broadband affordability, and digital inclusion in Tribal areas. NTIA awarded its first grant under the program on November 16, 2021, and to date, the agency has provided roughly $1.5 billion to over 100 projects.\n\nTo ensure taxpayer dollars are used in the most efficient manner possible, Congress required the Commerce Department's Inspector General (IG) to review TBCP grants awarded by NTIA and make recommendations to address any waste, fraud or abuse with respect to these grants. Specifically, the IG is required to provide its recommendations and report no later than six months after the first TBCP grant was awarded and every six months thereafter. Thus, based on the timing of TBCP grants awarded by NTIA, the first IG report was due on May 16, 2022, and a second report was due on November 16, 2022.\n\nContrary to the requirements of the law, you have failed to fulfill your duties required by Congress. This is deeply concerning for two reasons: 1) NTIA has a long and well-documented history of misusing federal dollars when attempting to expand broadband access; and 2) your office has had a significant and ongoing problematic history. Further, Congress has recently heard testimony of funds being used to overbuild existing broadband networks which makes it even more alarming your office would disregard its oversight responsibilities.\n\nPlease provide a specific timeline by Friday, December 16, 2022, as to when Congress will receive your recommendations as mandated by Congress. We urge you to carry out the duties Congress has entrusted to your office.\n\nThank you for your attention to this important matter.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=4825FDA0-5E26-4D3E-BBA3-40A5673E8F23", "Thune Honors Retiring Senator Rob Portman", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today honored retiring U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) on the Senate floor.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, in just a few weeks my friend Rob Portman will be leaving the Senate.\n\n\u201cRob is someone I\u2019ve gotten to break bread with a lot of times during our years together in the Senate, and we have become really good friends.\n\n\u201cAnd I will miss having him here.\n\n\u201cRob has spent a lot of years in public service.\n\n\u201cTwelve years in the House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cU.S. trade representative.\n\n\u201cDirector of the Office of Management and Budget.\n\n\u201cAnd, finally, twelve years in the Senate.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve served with him on the Senate Finance Committee for nearly 10 years, and his going is a huge loss.\n\n\u201cHe played an indispensable role in the historic tax reform legislation we passed in 2017, particularly with the transition to a modernized international tax system.\n\n\u201cOur outdated international tax rules had left America\u2019s global businesses at a competitive disadvantage in the global economy.\n\n\u201cAnd one of our priorities when it came time to pass tax reform was ensuring that American businesses could compete on a level playing field with their foreign counterparts.\n\n\u201cBetween his time in Congress and as director of OMB and U.S. trade representative, Rob has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to American economic competitiveness and the international tax system.\n\n\u201cAnd he quickly became the lead on that aspect of tax reform.\n\n\u201cOur final legislation brought the U.S. international tax system into the 21st century by replacing our outdated \u201cworldwide\u201d system with a modernized territorial tax system, so that American businesses are not operating at a disadvantage next to their foreign competitors.\n\n\u201cAnd we saw an almost immediate positive effect for American businesses \u2013 which, of course, means that we saw positive results for American workers.\n\n\u201cAnd that is really in large part thanks to Rob.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s an important legacy \u2013 and it joins Rob\u2019s long list of achievements in public service, from restraining unfunded mandates on states, to securing resources for addiction prevention and treatment, to advancing a pro-growth trade agenda good for American workers and businesses alike.\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s also been a strong voice for American leadership and values on the global stage, especially as a co-founder of the Senate Ukraine Caucus.\n\n\u201cMr. President, it is sad to see Rob leaving the Senate.\n\n\u201cBut he\u2019s spent a lifetime helping to build up our country, and I know his contributions won\u2019t end here.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m also happy that he will have more time to spend with his family and with his wife Jane.\n\n\u201cJane is terrific \u2013 like me, Rob married up \u2013 and I know Rob is looking forward to having more time to relax together.\n\n\u201cI also know Rob is planning to get more involved in the family business \u2013 the Golden Lamb inn and restaurant in Lebanon, Ohio, which has played host to at least a dozen U.S. presidents over the years.\n\n\u201cAnd, as I said, while Rob\u2019s time in the Senate may be coming to a close, I know that he fully intends to continue doing what he\u2019s been doing throughout his career \u2013 working to make our country a better, more prosperous place.\n\n\u201cRob, congratulations on your years in the Senate.\n\n\u201cI hope you get some well-deserved rest in the coming months.\n\n\u201cAnd I look forward to seeing your next chapter.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=D99F4F91-82A5-42EE-8FD4-852158E5CDBF", "Thune: Biden Administration\u2019s Radical ESG Policies Have Real-World Impacts", "2022-12-07", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today expressed his concerns regarding President Biden\u2019s far-reaching environmental, social, and governance (ESG) agenda. Thune noted that the administration has failed to examine the impact ESG policies will have on the price of food and energy, and he warns that these overreaching regulations could result in serious consequences for essential industries within our economy.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, when it comes to the actions of a party or a presidential administration, legislation sometimes grabs the lion\u2019s share of the attention.\n\n\u201cBut it\u2019s equally important to pay attention to what a presidential administration does with its regulatory power.\n\n\u201cAnd the Biden administration has been characterized by a lot of deeply troubling regulations.\n\n\u201cThe so-called Inflation Reduction Act may be Democrats\u2019 most prominent Green New Deal effort, but the Biden administration\u2019s radical environmental agenda doesn\u2019t stop there.\n\n\u201cThe president has also been using regulations to push through Democrats\u2019 Green New Deal fantasies.\n\n\u201cAnd these ill-considered, overreaching regulations could have very serious consequences.\n\n\u201cLater today, I will send a letter to the president about his attempts to use financial and securities regulators like the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Reserve to push through environmental, social, and governance \u2013 or ESG \u2013 regulations that seek to choke off investment to essential industries like oil and natural gas and American farms and ranches.\n\n\u201cNotable among these is the Securities and Exchange Commission\u2019s proposed climate-disclosure rule, which would require publicly traded companies to disclose information not only about their own greenhouse gas emissions but also about those of their suppliers and even their customers.\n\n\u201cIt would also require companies to determine the effects of climate-related risks on each line item of their consolidated financial statements.\n\n\u201cTo start with, this rule is obviously unworkable.\n\n\u201cCompanies have zero control over the emissions of their suppliers and customers, and little to no ability to accurately gauge those emissions.\n\n\u201cBut the most serious aspect of this proposed rule is the fact that it represents a clear effort to coerce companies to sever ties with certain industries \u2013 notably, of course, the conventional energy industry, but also with other industries like agriculture.\n\n\u201cAnd it\u2019s hardly the only regulatory action of its kind proposed by the Biden administration.\n\n\u201cThe Department of Labor just finalized a rule that would, in practice, require pension fiduciaries to consider climate change and ESG factors when making investment decisions, irrespective of their pecuniary relevance.\n\n\u201cThe Federal Reserve \u2013 which I believe has zero business inserting itself into debates over climate policy \u2013 recently established a pilot program to analyze climate-related financial risks for the nation\u2019s largest banks \u2013 something that clearly exceeds the Fed\u2019s statutory authority.\n\n\u201cSimilarly, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Fed have issued draft principles for large banks on \u2018climate-related financial risk management.\u2019\n\n\u201cAnd the list goes on.\n\n\u201cMr. President, private companies, of course, have the right to consider whatever factors they want when determining what companies they will do business with and what they will invest in.\n\n\u201cBut the federal government should not be making those decisions for them.\n\n\u201cThe president and his cronies in the far-left environmental movement may like the idea of choking off investment to the fossil fuel industry and other industries to hasten the arrival of their fantasy Green New Deal future.\n\n\u201cBut reducing or eliminating investment in conventional energy and other essential industries is likely to create a nightmare for American families and American businesses.\n\n\u201cI am \u2013 and have long been \u2013 a strong supporter of alternative energy.\n\n\u201cBut the fact of the matter is, we are still a long way away from being able to rely exclusively on alternative energy.\n\n\u201cThe technology that would enable us to rely solely on green energy simply doesn\u2019t exist yet.\n\n\u201cAnd pretending that we can rely exclusively on alternative energy isn\u2019t going to change the reality, which is that we still need oil and natural gas \u2013 and will continue to need them for the foreseeable future.\n\n\u201cChoking off investment to the conventional energy industry isn\u2019t going to magically bring about the Green New Deal future.\n\n\u201cBut it is going to reduce essential energy supplies.\n\n\u201cAnd that in turn is going to increase energy prices.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s going to increase energy prices for American families.\n\n\u201cAnd it\u2019s going to increase energy prices for American businesses.\n\n\u201cIf Democrats succeed in reducing investment in oil and natural gas, we could be looking at a very serious reduction in our supply of conventional energy \u2013 and correspondingly serious price hikes.\n\n\u201cAnd there\u2019s reason to be concerned that Democrats aren\u2019t just interested in choking off investment in oil and natural gas, but in agriculture as well because of natural livestock emissions and farming inputs like fertilizer.\n\n\u201cThe National Credit Union Administration published a since-rescinded strategic plan that seemed to recommend that credit unions reduce their membership and loan offerings in farming communities.\n\n\u201cAnd South Dakota banks and credit unions have repeatedly expressed their concerns to my office that the president\u2019s far-reaching ESG agenda could ultimately damage their ability to extend capital to their farm and ranch clients.\n\n\u201cShould investment in agriculture also drop off, we could be looking not only at higher energy prices but at higher food prices as well \u2013 and, possibly, actual food supply issues.\n\n\u201cAnd between higher energy prices and higher food prices, the kind of financial hardship Americans have been experiencing during our current inflation crisis could become a fixture for the long term.\n\n\u201cMr. President, Democrats still like to think of themselves as the party of the little guy.\n\n\u201cBut the truth is, they\u2019ve become the party of extreme special interests.\n\n\u201cAnd the little guy often ends up getting sacrificed as a result.\n\n\u201cSince President Biden and Democrats took office two years ago, ordinary Americans have faced almost nonstop financial challenges thanks to the inflation crisis Democrats helped create with their massive American Rescue Plan spending bill.\n\n\u201cAnd if the president\u2019s ESG agenda continues unchecked, that diminished prosperity could last indefinitely.\n\n\u201cIn the letter I will send to the president later today, I urge his administration to consider the real-world effects of rules and regulations on ordinary families and American businesses \u2013 and to refrain from regulatory actions that would drive up prices even further.\n\n\u201cI hope the president will listen.\n\n\u201cBut if past is prologue, then I am worried that we are looking at two more years of extreme Democrat policies \u2013 and two more years of economic suffering for the American people.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=F051DE95-12EC-4E43-A7B5-EDB44E6D7720", "Thune Urges President Biden to Be Honest About Real-World Costs of Climate Agenda", "2022-12-07", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today led his colleagues in calling out President Biden and his administration for forcing their radical environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies onto the American economy in pursuit of their unrealistic environmental agenda. The letter highlights various actions by financial regulators that threaten to choke off certain industries\u2019 access to capital, which could increase the price of food and energy for businesses and families in the midst of record-high inflation.\n\n\u201cAll of these actions have real-world impacts that your administration would be well served to evaluate,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cFor instance, establishing rules, strategic plans, and principles to coerce financial institutions and other firms to limit their lending and exposure to certain businesses drives up prices on consumers. Choking off access to capital for companies in the energy sector in an attempt to decimate the fossil fuels industry drives up the cost of fuel and electricity at a time of record costs, further stoking inflation. Discouraging lending to farming and ranching communities in an attempt to reduce natural livestock emissions strains supply chains and increases the cost of food. Therefore, it would be prudent for your administration to actually take the time to evaluate the costs its actions are directly and indirectly imposing on American businesses and families, as well as conduct the necessary analysis as required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act. As our nation continues to grapple with record-high inflation, administrative actions that increase prices should be the last thing on your agenda.\u201d\n\nThe letter was also signed by U.S. Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).\n\nIn July, Thune led his colleagues in introducing the Food and Energy Security Act, legislation that would prohibit the Biden administration from forcing its ESG agenda onto the American economy. It would also require federal financial regulators to analyze the impact of their rules on businesses that are involved in the agriculture or energy supply chains and how those rules could affect food and energy prices for consumers. Thune recently called on the White House to examine the impact that its radical ESG policies will have on the price of food and energy before imposing these new rules and costs on American families.\n\nFox News recently highlighted Thune\u2019s effort to hold the Biden administration accountable for pursing ESG policies.\n\nFull letter below:\n\nThe Honorable Joseph Biden\n\nPresident of the United States\n\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest\n\nWashington, D.C. 20502\n\nDear President Biden:\n\nAs we turn to a new Congress in a few weeks, we write to draw your attention to our ongoing concerns with your administration\u2019s unrealistic environmental agenda and focus on government-imposed environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives. While businesses may elect to pursue their own ESG agendas as part of a free-market society, the heavy-handed imposition from the federal government will have (and in some cases, already has had) negative real-world impacts on our economy and American families, especially by deepening the ongoing energy and inflation crises.\n\nIn the nearly two years since you were sworn into office, your administration has made countless efforts to push through its sweeping environmental agenda through the financial regulators. These efforts, though sold by administration officials as steps necessary to mitigate climate risks, are solely an attempt to strong-arm financial institutions and other firms into choking off capital to industries that are foundational to our nation\u2019s economy, yet are continually villainized by the far left.\n\nOne example of your administration\u2019s overreach is the Securities and Exchange Commission\u2019s (SEC\u2019s) proposed climate-disclosure rule that would not only require registrants to disclose information about their greenhouse gas emissions, but, in many cases, indirect emissions from upstream and downstream activities (i.e., their suppliers and customers) in their value chain \u2013 known as scope 3 emissions. Scope 3 emissions are not produced or even controlled by the regulated organization, making this rule entirely unworkable for any public company to comply with. The rule would also require registrants to comply with new financial impact metric disclosure requirements and determine the effects of certain climate-related events on each line item of their consolidated financial statements. The rule would almost certainly reduce or potentially even eliminate businesses\u2019 access to the resources they need to operate, as it would discourage firms from investing in or extending capital to them. The SEC rule would be destructive for businesses in the energy and agriculture sectors, but to businesses, in particular small businesses, across all sectors of our economy as well.\n\nEqually alarming is the recently proposed Federal Supplier Climate Risks and Resilience Rule that would similarly require certain federal contractors to publicly disclose not only their greenhouse gas emissions, but scope 3 emissions, compounding the burden imposed by the SEC. Ultimately, private companies would be disincentivized to apply for these federal contracts altogether, which would increase project costs for the federal government and harm taxpayers.\n\nUnfortunately, your administration\u2019s efforts to use financial regulators to force through an unrealistic environmental agenda do not end there. After joining the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System, an organization with the stated agenda of \u201cmobilizing mainstream finance to support the transition toward a sustainable economy,\u201d the Federal Reserve announced a pilot program to analyze the climate-related financial risks for the nation\u2019s largest banks. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and, most recently, the Federal Reserve have all published draft principles for climate-related financial risk management for large banks. The Department of Labor just finalized a rule that would, in practice, require pension fiduciaries to consider climate change and ESG factors in making investment decisions, irrespective of their pecuniary relevance. And last, but certainly not least, the National Credit Union Administration published a since-rescinded strategic plan that seemed to recommend credit unions need to alter their field of membership and loan offerings in farming communities.\n\nAll of these actions have real-world impacts that your administration would be well served to evaluate. For instance, establishing rules, strategic plans, and principles to coerce financial institutions and other firms to limit their lending and exposure to certain businesses drives up prices on consumers. Choking off access to capital for companies in the energy sector in an attempt to decimate the fossil fuels industry drives up the cost of fuel and electricity at a time of record costs, further stoking inflation. Discouraging lending to farming and ranching communities in an attempt to reduce natural livestock emissions strains supply chains and increases the cost of food. Therefore, it would be prudent for your administration to actually take the time to evaluate the costs its actions are directly and indirectly imposing on American businesses and families, as well as conduct the necessary analysis as required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act. As our nation continues to grapple with record-high inflation, administrative actions that increase prices should be the last thing on your agenda.\n\nOf course, financial institutions and other firms need to be mindful of their exposure to and concentration in certain industries to ensure safety and soundness. However, your administration must recognize that, though these ESG-type regulatory actions are generally targeted at the nation\u2019s largest financial institutions and Wall Street firms, they have a trickledown effect on our nation\u2019s community banks and credit unions that are feeling the pressure from Washington. These entities, which are essential for economic opportunity and stability across the country, are concerned about how your administration\u2019s myopic environmental agenda could impede their ability to lend to their clients and foster the growth necessary to steer our economy away from a recession. And in rural communities, community banks and credit unions are acutely wary of how your administration\u2019s overreach could harm their ability to lend to their agriculture clients.\n\nAs you head into the second half of your current term, it is vitally important that your administration, prior to taking action and pumping out rules, actually look beyond the beltway and take into account the real-world impacts that financial regulators\u2019 environmental actions have on businesses, families, and community banks and credit unions across the nation. This common sense is long overdue.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-fischer-and-colleagues-introduce-bill-giving-tribal-colleges-and-universities-a-stronger-voice-in-education-funding", "Rounds, Fischer and Colleagues Introduce Bill Giving Tribal Colleges and Universities a Stronger Voice in Education Funding", "2022-12-06", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) introduced the National Advisory Council on Indian Education Improvement Act. This legislation would give Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) greater input over federal funding discussions that impact them.\n\n\u201cLeaders of Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) know the needs of their organizations, faculty and students better than anyone else,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cThis commonsense bill will enable TCUs to have a voice for how to meet those needs, and it will improve the effectiveness of federal resources. The inclusion of TCU partners will help support the work of the National Advisory Council on Indian Education. I will continue working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass this bipartisan legislation, which will have a positive impact on the growth of TCUs for years to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cTribal Colleges and Universities deserve a seat at the table,\u201d said Fischer. \u201cThis legislation will ensure the Depts. of Education and Interior hear directly from TCU leaders about their specific needs and how federal resources can address them. I appreciate the strong, bipartisan support our bill has already received, and I\u2019ll continue to work with my Senate colleagues to get this done.\u201d\n\nUnder the Department of Education, the National Advisory Council on Indian Education (NACIE) advises the Secretaries of Education and Interior on programs serving tribes and their members. NACIE releases an annual report; however, the Department of Education does not have a process for considering NACIE\u2019s report when developing its budget request. Furthermore, Department of Education tribal consultation sessions often do not allow the opportunity for TCU leaders to provide direct input.\n\nThe National Advisory Council on Indian Education Improvement Act would address these challenges by requiring at least one of NACIE\u2019s members to be the president of a TCU. Additionally, it would require the Secretaries of Education and Interior to consider NACIE\u2019s annual report when preparing their budgets each year.\n\nRounds and Fischer were joined by Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.).\n\nClick HERE for full bill text.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=CA3397AE-E1B2-42EB-9999-DAB0D463BDE3", "Thune: ESG Policies are Contributing to Higher Food, Energy Prices", "2022-12-06", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today called on the White House to examine the impact that its radical ESG policies will have on the price of food and energy before imposing these new rules and costs on American families.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below:\n\n\u201cIn South Dakota, the Public Utilities Commission is basically telling people that \u2018expect heating costs to go up this year.\u2019 And nationally, the National Energy Information Administration is saying that heating your home this year is going to increase 28 percent, and that's on top of double-digit increases last year.\n\n\u201cAnd I think you can attribute all of this to the lack of a coherent energy policy by the Biden administration. And so the question is, what can we do to bring energy costs down?\n\n\u201cAnd I think one is adopt an all-of-the-above energy strategy, that is American energy independence. When I say all the above, I'm talking about oil, and gas, and biofuels, and nuclear, and wind, and solar, and all of the above. Unleash American energy production in this country, and quit turning outside the United States for our energy needs.\n\n\u201cSecondly, is to end the hostility that this administration has toward oil and gas production in this country. They have adopted this agenda called the ESG agenda, environmental, social and governance agenda, which is designed to limit or prevent production or investment in production in certain areas of our economy. Namely, oil and gas, and we would also argue in farm country, agriculture, farms, and ranches.\n\n\u201cAnd what I'm going to do later this week is I'm going to be asking the administration, before they implement any of these policies, to look at the impact that these ESG policies are going to have on the cost of food and energy in this country. I think the American people deserve to know how much these policies coming out of this administration are impacting the cost of everything that they buy on a daily basis.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=D7B4C37C-5084-4E00-B430-7CE7533056D1", "Thune Launches Nationwide Broadband Oversight Effort", "2022-12-06", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, today announced that he will be launching a nationwide oversight effort that will review numerous broadband programs spanning several federal agencies. The primary goal of Thune\u2019s effort is to hold these agencies accountable and ensure that previously authorized broadband funding is being used in the most efficient way possible to protect taxpayer dollars. In a letter sent today, Thune seeks input on the current broadband regulatory structure from a diverse group of stakeholders, including broadband associations, public interest groups, and free market think tanks.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m committed to expanding access to broadband services and strengthening connectivity in rural areas in South Dakota and around the nation,\u201d said Thune. \u201cIn order to ensure rural communities have access to these services, it is critical for federal agencies to efficiently spend funds on the areas that need it the most. Every federal dollar that has been spent should go toward the stated purpose of expanding connectivity to truly unserved areas. Congressional oversight has been noticeably absent in these areas, and there is serious concern that the federal government would repeat previous mistakes where agencies\u2019 gross mismanagement of broadband funds fell on the backs of taxpayers across the country. It is time for Congress to exercise its oversight responsibilities and hold the government accountable to hardworking taxpayers.\u201d\n\nSince the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress has allocated nearly $80 billion in federal broadband investments. Additionally, the so-called American Rescue Plan allocated $350 billion for state, local, territorial, and tribal governments that can be used for broadband infrastructure. Due to this unprecedented amount of funding for broadband-related services, Thune believes stringent oversight of how these dollars are being spent is necessary to avoid agencies misusing billions of taxpayer dollars.\n\nFull letter below:\n\nDear stakeholder:\n\nFixed and mobile broadband services are vital to America\u2019s communities. The expansion of these services has played a critical role in ushering advancements in health care, education, economic development, and much more. As you know, Congress has allocated billions of dollars with the intent to expand these services to unserved areas.\n\nMore than a year has passed since the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) was signed into law. As part of the IIJA, Congress provided a $65 billion investment in broadband services, the majority of it going to the Broadband, Equity, Affordability, and Deployment (BEAD) program administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).\n\nIn addition to NTIA, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury), play a role in advancing broadband services across the United States. Additionally, multiple other agencies and states have adopted programs to help support the expansion of broadband services. In fact, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently found that broadband funding is spread out over 15 separate agencies and more than 130 separate programs.\n\nThe fragmented approach the federal government has taken to address the digital divide raises a number of concerns. As GAO noted, \u201cU.S. broadband efforts are not guided by a national strategy with clear roles, goals, objectives, and performance measures.\u201d This creates a serious risk of misallocating the broadband funding Congress has appropriated which may result in billions of taxpayer dollars being spent with little to show.\n\nAs a longtime member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which has jurisdiction over telecommunications services, I believe it is imperative Congress exercises its oversight responsibilities and seeks feedback on how to best expand broadband services in the most effective, efficient, and fiscally responsible manner so that we can close the digital divide once and for all. Absent such oversight, there is a significant risk the federal government will repeat the mistakes of the past where agencies misused billions of dollars and overbuilt networks.\n\nIn light of the importance of ensuring federal dollars for broadband services are implemented properly and broadband deployment more generally, I ask you to provide your organization\u2019s comments on the current broadband regulatory structure and your organization\u2019s priorities, as well as provide responses to the following specific questions no later than Friday, January 6, 2023:\n\nInfrastructure Investment and Jobs Act-specific Issues:\n\nAs part of the IIJA, Congress established a technology-neutral approach for the BEAD program. Do you believe NTIA followed Congress\u2019 intent in establishing a technology-neutral approach? If not, should Congress consider amending the IIJA statute to make it more explicit that all technologies are allowed to participate? If so, how?\n\nIn the BEAD Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), there are detailed reporting requirements on subgrantees who do not use a unionized workforce or a project labor agreement. As a practical matter, do you think this favors certain providers over others? Does Congress or NTIA need to take further action to remove this requirement?\n\nThe BEAD NOFO promotes government-owned networks. Do you believe government-owned networks are an effective entity to deploy broadband networks? If yes, please explain.\n\nOne of the provisions of the IIJA requires products and materials used for broadband projects to be produced in the United States. Given the current supply chain issues, should Congress consider modifying this obligation or otherwise clarify this provision?\n\nThe Broadband Buildout Accountability Act, S. 3671, would remove the Freedom of Information Act exemption in the BEAD program. Should Congress enact this legislative proposal? If not, why?\n\nAre there other technical issues in the BEAD program that Congress should address before NTIA announces funding allocations by June 30, 2023?\n\nGeneral Broadband Issues:\n\nAs noted above, there are over 130 programs supporting broadband access across 15 agencies.\n\na. To date, which of these programs do you believe has had the most success in delivering broadband services to truly unserved areas?\n\nb. Should Congress consider eliminating any of these programs? If so, which ones?\n\nc. Should Congress merge and combine any of these programs? If so, which programs would be best suited to be merged?\n\nWhat specific reforms and constraints should Congress consider to ensure federal funds are not being awarded where providers are receiving other federal or state broadband funding support?\n\nShould Congress take additional action in response to concerns that broadband funding may be used to overbuild existing service? If so, what reforms and constraints should be implemented?\n\nShould Congress take additional action in response to concerns that broadband funding may be conditioned upon recipients imposing some form of rate regulation of broadband services, whether or not such requirements are explicitly denominated \"rate regulation?\u201d If so, what reforms and constraints should be implemented?\n\nShould Congress take additional action in response to concerns that broadband funding may be conditioned upon recipients imposing some form of \"net neutrality\" mandates upon broadband services, whether or not such mandates are explicitly denominated \"net neutrality?\u201d If so, what reforms and constraints should be implemented?\n\nHow effective have the Memoranda of Understanding between the (1) the FCC, USDA, and NTIA, and (2) the FCC, USDA, NTIA, and Treasury been with respect to broadband coordination efforts? Are there additional reforms federal agencies should implement to better coordinate on broadband deployment efforts?\n\nShould Congress take steps to increase the transparency of agencies when allocating and disbursing broadband funds? If so, what steps should Congress take?\n\nWhat, if any, permitting regulations at the federal level are impeding broadband deployment?\n\nDoes the FCC presently possess sufficient authority to preempt state and local requirements that may unreasonably impede the deployment of broadband networks? If not, what steps should Congress consider to address the unreasonable impediments?\n\nWhat specific steps can Congress take to reduce costs to broadband providers when deploying new networks?\n\nWould updating pole attachment regulations spur more rural broadband deployment? If so, what actions should be taken?\n\nHow are federal broadband programs addressing cybersecurity challenges? Should Congress consider reforms to improve cybersecurity?", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=E92CA048-8D1B-49B5-AC0F-E347ED5E264B", "Thune Honors Retiring Senators Blunt and Inhofe", "2022-12-06", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today honored retiring U.S. Sens. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) on the Senate floor.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, we\u2019ll be losing several members to retirement at the end of this year, including my friend Roy Blunt.\n\n\u201cRoy and I have served together for the majority of my time in the Senate.\n\n\u201cAnd I also served with him for several years in the House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cWe started in the House at the same time, and we became friends right away.\n\n\u201cOur wives have become friends as well, and it has been a joy over the years to host Roy and Abby in South Dakota, along with their son Charlie, and to visit them in Missouri.\n\n\u201cOn a personal level, I\u2019m going to miss Roy a lot.\n\n\u201cAnd the Senate as an institution is going to miss Roy as well.\n\n\u201cRoy is someone who aspires to be involved in doing the hard things, and throughout his congressional career, he\u2019s put himself forward for positions where he can make a difference.\n\n\u201cHe became chief deputy whip just two years after becoming a member of the House, and he was elected majority whip just four years later \u2013 winning the position earlier in his career than any member of Congress in eight decades.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s been a similar story in the Senate, where Roy was elected vice chairman of the Republican Conference in his first year.\n\n\u201cIn 2019, he became chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, which plays an important role in providing members and staff with the resources they need on the issues.\n\n\u201cAnd he\u2019s done that while also serving as the top Republican on the Senate Rules Committee.\n\n\u201cMr. President, Roy has always been committed to doing the big things.\n\n\u201cBut he\u2019s also very solutions-oriented, and very clear-eyed and practical about what\u2019s achievable in a place where it\u2019s hard to get things done.\n\n\u201cHe has a saying \u2013 \u201cNever announce publicly what you won\u2019t vote for.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd what he means by that is that you shouldn\u2019t back yourself into a position where you can\u2019t support a good compromise \u2013 that while it\u2019s not always possible to get everything you want, you shouldn\u2019t let that stop you from doing as much good as you can.\n\n\u201cMr. President, Roy has done a lot of good work during his time in Congress.\n\n\u201cAnd one of his lasting legacies will be his bipartisan achievements in the health care space, including his efforts to help create and expand the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics program to improve access to mental health care and championing medical research.\n\n\u201cThe facility housing the NIH\u2019s Center for Alzheimer\u2019s and Related Dementias is actually named after Roy in honor of his longtime work to support dementia research.\n\n\u201cAnd of course no mention of Roy\u2019s legacy would be complete without mentioning his stalwart advocacy for the people of Missouri.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I will miss Roy.\n\n\u201cAnd the Senate will miss Roy.\n\n\u201cBut I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve together, and I am happy that he will have more time to spend with Abby and with his children and grandchildren.\n\n\u201cRoy has made a lasting impact here in Washington.\n\n\u201cAnd I look forward to seeing his next chapter.\n\n\u201cMr. President, shortly before Thanksgiving, one of the great icons of the Senate, Senator Jim Inhofe, gave his farewell speech.\n\n\u201cAnd I wanted to take the time today to honor his service.\n\n\u201cAs I said, Jim is one of the icons of the Senate, and it is difficult to imagine things here without him.\n\n\u201cOver his 28-year career, he has built an incredible legacy, particularly when it comes to building up our military and developing our relationships in Africa.\n\n\u201cOne of the first trips I took when I got to the Senate was a trip with Jim to Iraq and Germany to meet with some of our troops and talk to military leadership.\n\n\u201cI like to think I\u2019m a pretty energetic guy, but I was left in awe by Jim Inhofe.\n\n\u201cHe was like the Energizer bunny.\n\n\u201cHe left people half his age in the dust.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t know anybody who works harder than Jim.\n\n\u201cHe leads by example.\n\n\u201cAnd his legislative achievements are a tribute to his tireless service.\n\n\u201cMr. President, everyone knows that Jim Inhofe is an accomplished legislator.\n\n\u201cBut not everyone knows that Jim is also an accomplished pilot.\n\n\u201cHe has over 11,000 flight hours \u2013 I mentioned he\u2019s like the Energizer bunny \u2013 and he has flown an airplane around the world.\n\n\u201cI was lucky enough to have the opportunity to be his passenger once as we flew around Oklahoma, and it remains one of the best flights I have ever taken.\n\n\u201cMr. President, while I deeply admire Jim\u2019s work ethic and his legislative achievements \u2013 and his piloting prowess \u2013 the thing I appreciate the most about Jim is that he is a man of deep and profound faith.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve been blessed to gather with him and other senators for Bible study for a number of years now, and I don\u2019t think he\u2019s ever missed a session.\n\n\u201cWhen I think about Jim, I think about the verse in 1 Peter that says, \u201csanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you.\u201d\n\n\u201cJim Inhofe is always ready to give that defense.\n\n\u201cJim isn\u2019t a man who pays lip service to his faith.\n\n\u201cHe models it and lives it.\n\n\u201cIn word and deed, he is a great ambassador for his Savior.\n\n\u201cAnd I will miss his presence and his witness.\n\n\u201cMr. President, while I will miss Jim being in the Senate, I am glad that he and his beloved wife Kay will now have more time to spend together and with their children and grandchildren.\n\n\u201cAnd I wish him the very best of retirements.\n\n\u201cHe has more than earned some time off.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I yield the floor.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-announces-nominations-to-us-service-academies-for-2023-2024-school-year", "Rounds Announces Nominations to U.S. Service Academies for 2023-2024 School Year", "2022-12-05", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that he has nominated students for appointments to the nation\u2019s service academies.\n\nRounds nominated Kasey Broers of Pierre as his top nominee to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Ethan Fergel of Aberdeen as his top nominee to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and Dustin Hermansen of Aberdeen as his top nominee to the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s an honor to nominate our nation\u2019s future military leaders to U.S. service academies,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cThe U.S. service academies are among the most elite educational institutions in the world. After receiving a top-notch education, these South Dakotans will courageously serve our country as active-duty military members. We\u2019re proud of Kasey, Ethan and Dustin for their desire to answer the call of duty to serve our nation.\u201d\n\n\"I am extremely fortunate and thankful to be selected for Senator Rounds\u2019 USNA principal nomination,\u201d said Kasey Broers. \u201cIt is an honor and a dream come true. I would like to thank Senator Rounds and his committee for my selection as well as my family and friends for their continual support. I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to serve my country as an officer in our great military.\"\n\n\u201cI have always wanted to devote myself to self improvement,\u201d said Ethan Fergel. \u201cWest Point will help me to foster that within me to reach new heights as a leader while serving my country in the Army. I am elated to have the opportunity to serve the United States at West Point.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am beyond thankful to receive a principal nomination from Senator Rounds to the United States Air Force Academy,\u201d said Dustin Hermansen. \u201cThis is a great honor for not only me and my family, but also the entire Aberdeen community. Ever since I served as a Senate Page in Washington D.C. this past summer, attending a service academy has been my primary goal. I am thankful for the teachers and coaches of the Aberdeen Public School District who have helped me get to this stage in my life, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds.\u201d\n\nKasey Broers of Pierre \u2013 Principal Nominee, U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis)\n\nKasey Broers is the son of John and Michelle Broers of Pierre, South Dakota. A senior at T.F. Riggs High School, Kasey is a member of the varsity soccer team and the Post 8 American Legion baseball team. He is involved in Gov 2 Gov, where he mentors underclassmen, and volunteers at Feeding South Dakota. Kasey also serves as treasurer of the National Honor Society and holds a 4.0 GPA.\n\nEthan Fergel of Aberdeen \u2013 Principal Nominee, U.S. Military Academy (West Point)\n\nEthan Fergel is the son of Brenda Steiger of Aberdeen, South Dakota. A senior at Aberdeen Central High School, Ethan participates in track, hockey and golf. He is a member of the National Honor Society and Future Business Leaders of America. Additionally, Ethan is a volunteer math tutor and Eagle Scout who holds a 3.98 GPA.\n\nDustin Hermansen of Aberdeen \u2013 Principal Nominee, U.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs)\n\nDustin Hermansen is the son of Charles and Jill Hermansen of Aberdeen, South Dakota. A senior at Aberdeen Central High School, Dustin is captain of the varsity football team and president of the National Honor Society. He is involved in Boys Nation, Speech and Debate, Future Business Leaders of America and Boy Scouts, earning his Eagle Scout Award in 2020. Dustin is also a Sunday school teacher and holds a 3.99 GPA.\n\nIn addition to the top candidate, Rounds may send up to nine competitive candidates per academy for consideration by that academy. Rounds has selected the students listed below to receive a competitive nomination. Each service academy admission board gives full and fair consideration to these nominees and will determine final appointments.\n\nU.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis)\n\nKasey Broers of Pierre, SD \u2013 Principal\n\nWilson Miller of Rapid City, SD \u2013 Competitive\n\nLake Kistner of North Sioux City, SD \u2013 Competitive\n\nJason Lenning of Harrisburg, SD \u2013 Competitive\n\nKeegan Thomas of Sioux Falls, SD \u2013 Competitive\n\nDaniel Laufman of Mitchell, SD \u2013 Competitive\n\nGage Klatt of Sioux Falls, SD \u2013 Competitive\n\nU.S. Military Academy (West Point)\n\nEthan Fergel of Aberdeen, SD \u2013 Principal\n\nLevi Scepaniak of Aberdeen, SD \u2013 Competitive\n\nGage Klatt of Sioux Falls, SD \u2013 Competitive\n\nKasey Broers of Pierre, SD \u2013 Competitive w/LOA\n\nJason Lenning of Harrisburg, SD \u2013 Competitive\n\nLake Kistner of North Sioux City, SD \u2013 Competitive\n\nU.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs)\n\nDustin Hermansen of Aberdeen, SD \u2013 Principal\n\nAnders Enga of Mitchell, SD \u2013 Competitive\n\nMaya Lee of Dell Rapids, SD \u2013 Competitive\n\nJayda McNabb of Rapid City, SD \u2013 Competitive\n\nTrason Oehme of Brandon, SD \u2013 Competitive\n\nLake Kistner of North Sioux City, SD \u2013 Competitive\n\nDaniel Laufman of Mitchell, SD \u2013 Competitive\n\nGage Klatt of Sioux Falls, SD \u2013 Competitive\n\nEthan Fergel of Aberdeen, SD \u2013 Competitive\n\nJason Lenning of Harrisburg, SD \u2013 Competitive\n\nStudents interested in attending a service academy go through a rigorous application process. Because the academies are highly competitive, students must meet eligibility requirements in leadership, physical fitness, character and scholarship. The young people joining the military directly from the academies are among the highest caliber our country has to offer, which is a result of the challenging training and education they received at U.S. service academies. Students applying for service academies are required to receive a Congressional nomination as part of the application process. Those appointed receive a scholarship and military appointment and are required to serve in the military for at least five years upon graduation.\n\nIndividuals interested in applying for a service academy nomination for academic year 2024-2025 (Class of 2028) should apply by October 1, 2023. Questions about the academy nomination application process can be directed to Rounds\u2019 Sioux Falls office by calling (605) 336-0486 or by emailing Academy_Nominations@rounds.senate.gov. An informational packet and the application packet can be found on Senator Rounds\u2019 website at https://www.rounds.senate.gov/constituents/academy-nominations.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-issues-statement-on-former-presidents-call-to-terminate-the-united-states-constitution-", "Rounds Issues Statement on Former President\u2019s Call to Terminate the United States Constitution", "2022-12-05", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after the former president called for the termination of the United States Constitution:\n\n\u201cAmericans have a deep appreciation for the Constitution and our Founding Fathers who risked their lives to establish it.\n\n\u201cAs elected officials, we take an oath to support and defend the Constitution. We should never dishonor that oath. No one is above the Constitution.\n\n\u201cAs I\u2019ve said before, there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud that would alter the results of the 2020 election.\n\n\u201cAnyone who desires to lead our country must commit to protecting the Constitution. They should not threaten to terminate it.\n\n\u201cIn South Dakota, Mount Rushmore serves as an enduring reminder of that commitment and the stability our Constitution has provided for over 200 years.\n\n\u201cDespite their imperfections, our Founding Fathers crafted a Constitution that has stood the test of time and sets America apart from the rest of the world. We continue to strive for a more perfect union.\n\n\u201cI believe Americans want leaders, like those on Mount Rushmore, who will defend the Constitution and unite us in our belief that America is truly a shining city upon a hill.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=F62010AC-E3AF-4457-8F34-0A9BA12935BE", "Thune Statement on Proposed RFS Blending Targets", "2022-12-02", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA\u2019s) proposed \u201cset\u201d rule under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The \u201cset\u201d rule establishes future-year blending requirements for low-carbon biofuels, with EPA proposing modest growth over the next three years.\n\n\u201cThe EPA dropped the ball on its opportunity to set the RFS on a new trajectory that would leverage American biofuels amid record-high energy costs,\u201d said Thune. \u201cThe limited increases in proposed volumes inadequately respond to the fact that the biofuels industry is poised to add significant production capacity and new fuel technology in the coming years. The administration had clear justification to set robust blending volumes to ensure this growth is truly additive to the RFS. I am concerned that the proposed volumes may either scare off new investment or displace conventional biofuels that have helped reduce prices and emissions in our fuel supply while also providing a key market for farmers. I look forward to a robust discussion about this proposal to ensure that the final volumes correspond with the ongoing growth in the biofuels sector. It\u2019s also long past time for the EPA to update its greenhouse gas modeling to accurately reflect the environmental contributions of biofuels, which EPA should include in its final rule.\u201d\n\nOn December 1, 2022, the EPA released a proposed rule to establish required blending volumes for 2023, 2024, and 2025 under the RFS. The RFS provided statutory blending requirements through 2022, making this the first time EPA had the authority to set future volume targets. In its proposed rule, EPA acknowledged that it is overdue to update its modeling to determine the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of biofuels.\n\nIn October, Thune led his colleagues in pressing the EPA to establish robust renewable volumes and provide regulatory certainty in the \u201cset\u201d rule for the RFS. An ardent supporter of higher ethanol blends like E15 fuel, Thune led the successful effort to restore summertime E15 sales for 2022 after repeatedly calling on the president to take action. Earlier this Congress, Thune introduced the Adopt Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation Act, bipartisan legislation that would fully recognize the greenhouse gas reductions achieved by modern biofuels. Thune also introduced a separate bill to approve advanced renewable fuel technologies and lower biofuel emissions, policies he has also urged President Biden to adopt.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=7A36D265-7FF0-42B9-87F0-3F9DD0D9FC4A", "Thune: The Future is Bright for Ellsworth Air Force Base and the B-21 Bomber", "2022-12-01", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke about the importance of Ellsworth Air Force Base, its airmen, and the surrounding community ahead of the U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman\u2019s unveiling of the new B-21 bomber, a sixth-generation aircraft that will revolutionize the Air Force\u2019s long-range strike capabilities.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, tomorrow Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force will unveil the new B-21 bomber \u2013 a sixth-generation aircraft that will revolutionize the Air Force\u2019s long-range strike capabilities.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve had the special opportunity to see the first tails under development at Palmdale, and I am excited that this incredible feat of U.S. engineering will finally be unveiled to the American public \u2013 and to our adversaries.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s an exciting day for the Air Force.\n\n\u201cAnd it\u2019s an especially exciting day for Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, which was chosen to be the first home \u2013 Main Operating Base 1 \u2013 of the B-21 Raider.\n\n\u201cMr. President, we\u2019ve come a long way at Ellsworth since I first came to the Senate.\n\n\u201cShortly after I took office, Ellsworth was recommended for closure by the Department of Defense\u2019s Base Realignment and Closure Commission.\n\n\u201cAnd so one of my first priorities as a U.S. senator became getting Ellsworth taken off the closure list.\n\n\u201cStatistically speaking, our odds of pulling through were not high.\n\n\u201cBut thanks to an all-hands effort by the congressional delegation and state and community leaders, we won the day.\n\n\u201cWe were removed from the BRAC list that August.\n\n\u201cAnd then we got right to work on building up the base so that we would never again find ourselves in the same position.\n\n\u201cIn 2007 the Air Force Financial Services Center opened at Ellsworth.\n\n\u201c2011 saw the arrival of the 89th Attack Squadron, and its command and control stations for MQ-9 Reapers.\n\n\u201cAnd in 2015 a nearly decade-long effort paid off with the quadrupling of the training air space for the base.\n\n\u201cThe Powder River Training Complex is now the largest training air space in the continental United States and can be used for large-force exercises that draw combat aircraft from across the country.\n\n\u201cAnd it\u2019s well-suited for B-21 training.\n\n\u201cThis is just one of the efforts we undertook to put Ellsworth in the best possible position to secure the B-21 mission.\n\n\u201cAnd I am proud that it paid off with last June\u2019s announcement that Ellsworth would become the \u201cHome of the Raider.\u201d\n\n\u201cMr. President, the B-21 represents a significant step forward in our long-range strike capabilities.\n\n\u201cAnd it will come not a moment too soon.\n\n\u201cBetween chronic underfunding and a high operational tempo during the war on terror, our military preparedness became seriously strained.\n\n\u201cA 2018 National Defense Strategy Commission report warned that our nation\u2019s readiness had eroded to the point where we might struggle to win a war against a major power like Russia or China.\n\n\u201cThis was not just because of the wear and tear on our own forces, but also because of the significant investments being made by China and Russia in their militaries with the intent of neutralizing our military strengths.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve made progress since then, but there is still a lot of work to be done.\n\n\u201cAnd the importance of continued investment in our nation\u2019s military and our technological edge cannot be overstated.\n\n\u201cThe events of the past year should remind us that there will always be bad actors who represent a threat to peace and freedom.\n\n\u201cAnd being prepared to meet those threats is the best way of preserving peace and keeping our nation secure.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s disappointing that the National Defense Authorization Act \u2013 yearly legislation to authorize funding for our military and our national defense \u2013 has been so low on Democrats\u2019 priority list this year.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re two months into fiscal year 2023, and yet the Senate still hasn\u2019t taken up the 2023 bill.\n\n\u201cDemocrats were more focused on spending hundreds of billions on their Green New Deal priorities than they were on passing essential legislation for our nation\u2019s defense.\n\n\u201cAs efforts continue to negotiate a way to bring the NDAA to the floor, I hope we are able to pass a comprehensive bill that rejects the president\u2019s inadequate funding request and addresses all of our key defense requirements.\n\n\u201cAs always, one of my top priorities is ensuring that each year\u2019s NDAA addresses the needs of our airmen at Ellsworth Air Force Base.\n\n\u201cRight now, I am working to ensure the base continues to receive full funding for the many equipment and support facilities that will be needed for the B-21 Raider mission.\n\n\u201cIn late October I had the opportunity of reviewing the progress at Ellsworth firsthand with Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall, and suffice it to say things are going to be very busy over the coming years.\n\n\u201cThe B-21 training and operational missions will require significant investments in new infrastructure, including a low-observable coating restoration facility and a radio frequency facility to support the Raider\u2019s stealth properties, as well as a weapons generation facility to support its nuclear capability.\n\n\u201cThis NDAA will continue this essential military construction and ensure it remains on pace in preparation for the arrival of the B-21.\n\n\u201cWe also need to ensure Ellsworth remains a premier training space for our bombers, which is why I am pursuing a provision to require the Federal Aviation Administration to establish a pilot program to support the development of \u201cdynamic airspace.\u201d\n\n\u201cDynamic airspace, sometimes called adaptive airspace, refers to efficiently scheduling and managing airspace and adjusting airspace boundaries as military exercises or other flights proceed through them.\n\n\u201cThis concept will better enable the Pentagon to meet training requirements for aircraft like the B-21, which need larger volumes of training airspace to accommodate longer engagement distances.\n\n\u201cAnd as always, while we prepare for the B-21 mission, I continue to work to ensure that our B-1s at Ellsworth receive all the resources they need to remain a responsive and lethal component of Global Strike Command, as they demonstrated in the just-completed Bomber Task Force deployment to Guam.\n\n\u201cMr. President, while updated planes and equipment are essential, as always our greatest resource is the men and women who wear the uniform.\n\n\u201cAnd I will continue to work to improve quality of life for our Ellsworth airmen and their families.\n\n\u201cMore military families will be moving into the communities surrounding Ellsworth with the arrival of the B-21 mission, and another one of my priorities is making sure that the infrastructure is in place to provide ample support for these new families.\n\n\u201cI worked to include a provision in this year\u2019s NDAA that would allow the secretary of defense to continue to adjust basic allowance for housing rates if an installation is experiencing a sudden increase in the number of service members assigned there.\n\n\u201cThis will help ensure that families at Ellsworth and elsewhere will have the resources they need to secure appropriate accommodations.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m also working to ensure that the Douglas School District is able to integrate and support Air Force members\u2019 children and provide sufficient classroom space.\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019m grateful to the other members of South Dakota\u2019s congressional delegation for working with me to ensure that this year\u2019s NDAA will authorize up to $15 million in Impact Aid funding for schools experiencing force structure changes like the anticipated growth at Ellsworth.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I\u2019m looking forward to tomorrow\u2019s unveiling of the B-21 Raider \u2013 and to that day in the near future when the first Raider lands at Ellsworth.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s an honor to be part of building up the base and to represent the men and women of Ellsworth in the United States Senate.\n\n\u201cAnd I will continue to do everything I can to ensure that our Ellsworth airmen \u2013 and all our men and women in uniform, in every branch of the military \u2013 have everything they need to carry out their missions.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:41:06Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=2A109D53-8399-4068-B64B-7CEA26E4E69C", "Thune Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Allow Year-Round E15 Sales", "2022-11-30", "2022", "2022-11", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a longtime member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, joined a bipartisan group of his colleagues in introducing the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2022. The legislation would allow for the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends higher than 10 percent, like E15.\n\n\u201cThe year-round sale of E15 is a common-sense way to leverage American agriculture and provide drivers with a clean and affordable fuel option,\u201d said Thune. \u201cI have long supported measures like this one that would give fuel retailers the certainty they need to offer E15 without seasonal interruption, which also benefits the biofuel industry \u2013 an essential market for South Dakota farmers.\u201d\n\nThe bill was led by U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and was also co-sponsored by U.S. Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:38:01Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=AFA2CFC5-C73A-4DE4-89C8-C350FCC54EBF", "Thune: We Must Hold the IRS Accountable and Protect Taxpayer Dollars", "2022-11-30", "2022", "2022-11", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Taxation and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Oversight, today discussed how the Democrats\u2019 attempt to supersize the IRS without holding the agency accountable to American taxpayers is dangerous and irresponsible. Thune also spoke about a series of bills he has introduced that would protect taxpayers and improve the IRS through increased transparency, oversight, and accountability.\n\nThune previously introduced a bill that would protect taxpayers who are earning less than $400,000 from increased audits, as well as a separate bill, the Increase Reliable Services Now Act, that would prevent the IRS from hiring new enforcement employees until customer service has reached a more acceptable standard. Most recently, Thune introduced the IRS Funding Accountability Act, legislation that would give Congress a direct say in how the unprecedented $80 billion in new funding for the IRS could be spent.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, ask any group of Americans how they feel about the IRS, and you\u2019re unlikely to come up with a lot of positive reviews.\n\n\u201cAnd with good reason.\n\n\u201cRepeated mishandling of taxpayer data \u2013 not to mention almost nonexistent customer service \u2013 is unlikely to gain any agency many fans.\n\n\u201cAnd at this point, the IRS has a disturbing record of mishandling taxpayer information.\n\n\u201cIn the past two years alone, the IRS has inadvertently posted confidential information from 120,000 taxpayers on its website, destroyed 30 million unprocessed tax documents, and had troves of private taxpayer information end up in the hands of the left-leaning news site ProPublica.\n\n\u201cAnd the agency\u2019s customer service record might be even worse.\n\n\u201cDuring fiscal year 2021, the agency answered just 11 percent of the 282 million calls it received.\n\n\u201c11 percent.\n\n\u201cThat means that 250 million taxpayer calls went unanswered.\n\n\u201c250 million.\n\n\u201cAnd 2022 was no better.\n\n\u201cDuring the 2022 filing season, 90 percent of taxpayers\u2019 calls \u2013 90 percent \u2013 went unanswered.\n\n\u201cAny business with a customer service record like that would soon be out of business.\n\n\u201cMr. President, given the agency\u2019s record, I think most Americans would say that the IRS is ripe for reform.\n\n\u201cDemocrats, however, apparently thought the IRS was ripe for more funding.\n\n\u201cA lot more funding.\n\n\u201cIn August Democrats passed their so-called Inflation Reduction Act.\n\n\u201cThis legislation takes no meaningful steps to reduce inflation, but it does flood the IRS with a staggering $80 billion over the next 10 years, a sum equal to six times the agency\u2019s 2022 budget.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s enough money to double the size of the IRS.\n\n\u201cThe bill provides for the hiring of as many as 87,000 new IRS employees \u2013 an estimate that came from President Biden\u2019s Treasury Department.\n\n\u201cThat would make the IRS larger than Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard combined.\n\n\u201cMr. President, suddenly and dramatically increasing the size of any government agency is cause for concern.\n\n\u201cAre there plans in place to make sure the money is used efficiently?\n\n\u201cCan the agency in question handle such a swift expansion \u2013 and the increased responsibility that comes with it?\n\n\u201cThese are serious questions no matter what agency we\u2019re talking about.\n\n\u201cBut these questions are particularly relevant when the agency in question is already doing a poor job of handling its basic responsibilities.\n\n\u201cAnd yet despite the IRS\u2019 record \u2013 despite the repeated breaches of taxpayer confidentiality and the nearly nonexistent customer service \u2013 Democrats passed legislation to double the size of the agency without including any meaningful accountability measures to ensure that the new funding is used responsibly.\n\n\u201cI guess it\u2019s not terribly surprising given that Democrats made it clear that their main interest in supersizing the IRS was increasing government revenue.\n\n\u201cBut it is deeply troubling.\n\n\u201cWe should not be doubling the size of an agency that is already notable for its failure to adequately carry out its mission.\n\n\u201cBut since Democrats are flooding the IRS with a lot of additional money, Americans deserve to know that that money is being spent wisely and efficiently \u2013 and that it isn\u2019t going to make taxpayers\u2019 experiences with the IRS even worse.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s why I \u2013 and my fellow Republicans \u2013 have been focused on doing everything we can to provide rigorous oversight and accountability for this new money.\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019ve introduced multiple bills to help protect taxpayers.\n\n\u201cMy Increase Reliable Services Now Act, which I introduced with Senator Collins, would prevent the IRS from hiring new enforcement agents until customer service at the IRS has reached a more acceptable standard.\n\n\u201cI also worked with Senator Mike Crapo on a bill to protect taxpayers earning less than $400,000 per year from increased audits.\n\n\u201cDemocrats\u2019 main reason for boosting IRS funding was to increase tax collection measures, including audits, to squeeze out revenue for their Green New Deal agenda.\n\n\u201cAnd there is substantial reason to be concerned that despite Democrats\u2019 protests to the contrary, some of that audit funding will be used to increase audits of middle-income taxpayers.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s hard to explain why else every Democrat opposed an amendment to prevent the IRS from using its new funding to increase audits of these Americans.\n\n\u201cThe bill I introduced with Senator Crapo and my Republican colleagues on the Senate Finance Committee would protect middle-income Americans from seeing increased audits as a result of this new money.\n\n\u201cMost recently \u2013 just a few days before Thanksgiving \u2013 Senator Chuck Grassley and I led our fellow Finance Committee Republicans in introducing the IRS Funding Accountability Act.\n\n\u201cOur legislation would require the IRS to provide Congress with an annual plan for how the agency intends to use its new funding \u2013 a plan that could be rejected by Congress with a joint resolution of disapproval.\n\n\u201cAnd the IRS would be required to provide Congress with quarterly updates on implementation of its spending plans.\n\n\u201cThis would enable consistent and transparent oversight, provide accountability for any misuse of funds, and guard against violations of taxpayer rights.\n\n\u201cAnd there would be real consequences for failing to submit plans or reports on time \u2013 including the rescission of funds until the IRS complies with reporting requirements.\n\n\u201cMr. President, the mission statement of the IRS is to \u2018provide America\u2019s taxpayers top-quality service by helping them understand and meet their tax responsibilities and enforce the law with integrity and fairness to all.\u2019\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, in recent years the IRS has fallen far short of this standard.\n\n\u201cAnd flooding the agency with $80 billion over and above its current budget \u2013 the majority of it for increased enforcement, with no accountability or oversight measures \u2013 is unlikely to do much to ensure taxpayers receive \u2018top-quality service.\u2019\n\n\u201cI hope at least some of my Democrat colleagues will decide to join Republicans to enact measures that will provide real accountability at the IRS, which is needed now more than ever.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:38:01Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=6BF51757-8FC2-4345-8C9F-7051904538F4", "Thune, Luj\u00e1n, Klobuchar, Fischer Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Increase Access to Rural Broadband", "2022-11-29", "2022", "2022-11", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), ranking member and chairman, respectively, of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), all members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today introduced the Rural Internet Improvement Act. This bipartisan legislation would streamline and bolster U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development broadband programs and ensure that their funding is being targeted to rural areas that need it the most.\n\n\u201cExpanding access to broadband services and connectivity in rural areas across South Dakota has long been a priority for me,\u201d said Thune. \u201cAccess to these broadband services is typically determined by where you live, which often leaves rural communities in the dust. Our bipartisan legislation would help bridge the digital divide by improving USDA\u2019s ReConnect Program to ensure its funding goes to truly unserved areas.\u201d\n\n\u201cHigh-speed, reliable broadband is critical for New Mexico families and businesses, but the digital divide leaves far too many rural and Tribal communities behind. I\u2019m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to make USDA programs more efficient and ensure that unserved communities receive the investments they need,\u201d said Luj\u00e1n. \u201cI will continue working to improve broadband access for all New Mexicans \u2013 especially in rural and Tribal communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe ReConnect program is critical for rural communities across the country, helping families connect to critical opportunities online while enabling farms and businesses to access new technologies,\u201d said Klobuchar. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation will make key improvements to this popular program, allowing for a more convenient application process and more efficient deployment. As co-chair of the Senate Broadband Caucus, I\u2019ll keep fighting to ensure all Americans can access the high-speed internet they need.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve long supported efforts to expand broadband access to unserved communities,\u201d said Fischer. \u201cI\u2019m proud to join my colleagues on this bill to help USDA\u2019s ReConnect program properly prioritize the connectivity needs of rural America.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe applaud the work of Senators John Thune, Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n, Amy Klobuchar, and Deb Fischer to introduce legislation focused on helping broadband reach more Americans,\u201d said NCTA \u2013 The Internet and Television Association. \u201cThe Rural Internet Improvement Act of 2022 would replace existing programs with a revised ReConnect program that would enhance participation and results so more communities can be connected to broadband even faster. Most significantly, this bill would direct funding for network expansion to areas where at least 90 percent of households lack access to broadband, and it would encourage reliance on applicants with demonstrated experience constructing and operating broadband networks in order to promote network construction that is on budget and on time. These are solid improvements to the current program that should be adopted as part of next year\u2019s farm bill. Deploying robust, affordable high-speed broadband to all Americans is a key priority for cable providers, so we look forward to working with members on passage of this legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator Thune has long been a leader in promoting and sustaining better access to broadband in rural areas, and NTCA appreciates his continued interest and leadership in examining ways to improve the workings of USDA\u2019s ReConnect Loan and Grant Program,\u201d said Shirley Bloomfield, CEO of NTCA \u2013 the Rural Broadband Association. \u201cWe look forward to conversations with Senator Thune and his colleagues in Congress about how best to build upon the early successes of this program and how best to coordinate this program with other essential broadband-related initiatives and private sector efforts.\u201d\n\n\u201cBroadband is no longer a luxury: it is a necessity,\u201d said Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. \u201cThe American Farm Bureau has long prioritized expanding broadband access in rural America, and we applaud Senators Thune, Luj\u00e1n, Klobuchar, and Fischer for working to streamline current broadband programming to ensure investments go to those areas that still are not served. Ensuring limited resources are targeted to those most in need will help all rural Americans access the services and opportunities they need to thrive in today\u2019s economy.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) applauds Senators Thune, Luj\u00e1n, Klobuchar, and Fischer for their leadership in addressing the critical issue of rural broadband access in America,\u201d said Andy LaVigne, president and CEO of the American Seed Trade Association. \u201cThe Rural Internet Improvement Act would take necessary steps to address the digital divide in rural communities. Seed companies and their customers rely on connectivity, and ASTA appreciates the Senators\u2019 efforts in establishing accountability for existing programs and innovative ways to streamline processes to support rural America. We appreciate Congress\u2019 commitment to this critical issue, and we look forward to working together as they consider this key legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe National Cattlemen\u2019s Beef Association is grateful to Senators Thune, Luj\u00e1n, Klobuchar, and Fischer for prioritizing agriculture innovation and progress through the Rural Internet Improvement Act,\u201d said Ethan L. Lane, vice president of government affairs at the National Cattlemen\u2019s Beef Association. \u201cIn rural America, internet access opens doors to increased efficiency, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. On-farm efficiency increases when producers are able to communicate from remote areas of their operation, compete in a fast-paced, competitive global marketplace, and use precision agriculture technologies that facilitate improvement of the land and natural resources. This legislation will ensure rural connectivity is afforded to a greater number of producers whose businesses simply cannot maintain viability for the future without it.\u201d\n\nThe Rural Internet Improvement Act would:\n\nStreamline USDA\u2019s broadband authorities by merging and codifying the popular Rural e-Connectivity Pilot Program (ReConnect) with USDA\u2019s traditional broadband loan and grant program;\n\nEnsure ReConnect funding is going to areas most in need of reliable broadband service by limiting funding to areas where at least 90 percent of households lack access to broadband service;\n\nEnhance the participation of all types of broadband providers in the ReConnect Program by removing unnecessary barriers;\n\nIncrease transparency by improving the challenge process in the ReConnect Program;\n\nImprove the coordination between USDA and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on broadband programs; and\n\nRequire USDA to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the FCC and National Telecommunications and Information Administration to facilitate outreach to rural residents and businesses of available federal programs that promote broadband access, broadband affordability, and broadband inclusion.\n\nThune recently participated in the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry\u2019s first 2023 farm bill hearing, which focused on rural development and energy programs that are administered by USDA. Thune welcomed South Dakotan Denny Law, CEO of Golden West Telecommunications in Wall, South Dakota, to talk about the importance of targeting federal broadband funds to rural areas that are in need of reliable broadband services.\n\nEarlier this year, Thune introduced the Connect Unserved Americans Act, bipartisan legislation that would ensure broadband funding goes to unserved areas, including rural communities in South Dakota. The bill would also increase coordination between federal agencies that are disbursing broadband funding to prevent the overbuilding of existing broadband networks at the taxpayer\u2019s expense.\n\nThune, who has helped write four farm bills throughout his time in Congress, will continue introducing farm bill proposals ahead of the current bill\u2019s expiration, which is set for September 2023.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:38:01Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-national-american-indian-veterans-charter-bill-unanimously-passes-out-of-senate", "Rounds\u2019 National American Indian Veterans Charter Bill Unanimously Passes Out of Senate", "2022-11-21", "2022", "2022-11", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Rounds\u2019 (R-S.D.) legislation to create a Congressional Charter for the National American Indian Veterans (NAIV) unanimously passed the Senate. Rounds took to the Senate floor to force this action. Rounds was joined by Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) in introducing this bipartisan legislation.\n\nHeadquartered in South Dakota on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Reservation, the NAIV is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to advocating for tribal veterans. Originally started in 2004, today the NAIV serves the needs of Native American veterans in all 50 states. The NAIV formed as a result of a request by former Senators Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.) during a Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee hearing in 2004.\n\n\u201cWe are one step closer to giving our Native American veterans the recognition they truly deserve and have earned,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cThere are many congressionally chartered veterans service organizations, but none that solely represent the interests and needs of Native American veterans. Our bill would change that by recognizing the mission and authority of the NAIV with a congressional charter. NAIV works closely with Tribal Veterans Services Officers to make certain Native American veterans receive proper benefits and resources. Congress regularly looks to NAIV for input when addressing issues facing Native American veterans. This charter will help give NAIV a larger platform to continue advocating for and serving the more than 140,000 Native American veterans living in the United States.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn New Mexico and across the country, Native Americans have made a profound impact on our country by proudly serving in our Armed Forces,\u201d said Luj\u00e1n. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m proud the Senate passed our bipartisan legislation that will create a Congressional Charter for the National American Indian Veterans organization. This organization is an important resource that supports Native veterans and ensures they have access to the benefits that they have earned. This approval by the Senate reaffirms our nation\u2019s commitment to Native veterans, who have proudly served throughout America's history to present day.\u201d\n\n\"As an American Indian, Korean War Veteran, and former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, as well as member of the Veteran's Affairs Committee, I am very grateful to my friend and fellow Native Veteran, Don Loudner for his dogged determination to see that the National American Indian Veterans organization received its Charter,\u201d said Ben Nighthorse Campbell, former U.S. Senator, enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe and Korean War veteran. \u201cSpecial thanks to Senator Mike Rounds for his hard work to garner passage of this bill in the Senate. I encourage my friends in the House of Representatives to follow Senator Rounds and his colleagues lead and pass this legislation on behalf of this wonderful organization and the good work they do for American Indian Vets.\"\n\n\u201cI am very thankful to Senator Rounds for never giving up on this bill,\u201d said Don Loudner, a combat veteran of the Korean War, enrolled member of the Hunkpati Sioux Tribe (Crow Creek Sioux Tribe) and National Commander of the National American Indian Veterans, Inc. \u201cThanks to his efforts, and those of the bipartisan team he assembled, we are closer than at any time, in the last 20 years, to having Congress recognize the sacrifices of generations of American Indians who have answered the nation\u2019s call and fought in every war since the American Revolution.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis charter is long overdue,\u201d said Robert Dunsmore, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Veterans Service Officer. \u201cWe as American Indian veterans want to thank the U.S. Senate for moving this forward. We as veterans have been asking for this charter since 2004. We as American Indian veterans hopefully will have voice on matters that pertain to American Indian veterans. As a tribal veteran service officer, I fully endorse this bill.\n\n\u201cThis a giant step for our Native Brothers and Sisters who are Veterans and fought beside us,\u201d said Ken Teunissen, Purple Heart recipient and Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter No. 5355. \u201cWe need to give them the respect that is afforded to all Veterans. Hopefully now they will have a voice of their own.\u201d\n\nCongressional charters are granted by Congress to recognize patriotic and national organizations that operate solely for charitable, literary, educational, scientific or civil improvement purposes. The NAIV serves the needs and interests of Native American veterans in collaboration with its national leadership and 14 regional offices. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, there are more than 140,000 Native American veterans in the United States. While congressional charters have been granted to Italian-American, Polish-American and Catholic-American veterans groups, as of today, no Native American veterans\u2019 organization has received a congressional charter.\n\nJoining Rounds and Luj\u00e1n in cosponsoring this legislation are Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.)\n\nClick HERE for full bill text.\n\nA full transcript of Rounds\u2019 floor speech can be found below.\n\n+++\n\nAs prepared for delivery:\n\nMr. President, I rise to discuss bipartisan legislation that I introduced with Senator Luj\u00e1n which would grant a federal charter to the National American Indian Veterans Incorporated, known as NAIV.\n\nThe NAIV was chartered in 2004, with its headquarters located on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Reservation in South Dakota.\n\nThe NAIV was originally established as a result of a request by former Senators Akaka, Inouye and Nighthorse Campbell during a Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee hearing in 2004.\n\nAt that time, no Native American veterans organization had ever received a congressional charter.\n\nSadly, that remains the case today, nearly 20 years later, but that omission would be fixed by this legislation.\n\nThe NAIV is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that operates solely for charitable, literary, educational, scientific, patriotic and civil improvement purposes.\n\nIt provides a voice to Native American veterans whose unique needs are not always represented adequately by other organizations.\n\nMr. President, Native Americans are the highest serving race per capita in the\n\nU.S. Armed Forces, often serving at a rate FIVE times over the national average and have served with distinction in every U.S. conflict over the last 200 years.\n\nThey also have some of the highest concentration of women service members.\n\nAccording to 2020 VA statistics, there are over 140,000 Native American veterans across the nation.\n\nDiscussions with tribal leaders indicate that this number is most likely an undercount \u2013 and the true number likely approaches 200,000.\n\nThe NAIV serves the interests and needs of Native veterans in all 50 states.\n\nIt conducts activities in collaboration with its national leadership and its 14 regional offices.\n\nTribes rotate to host regional and state NAIV meetings.\n\nThis is all done in a decentralized manner, respecting the independence and sovereignty of all tribal nations.\n\nNAIV often has been the only national Native American veterans organization invited to testify before Congress on issues facing Native veterans nationwide.\n\nNAIV works to make sure that our Native American veterans receive the benefits, compensation and resources that they have earned.\n\nAmong its activities, NAIV provided critical support for construction of an American Indian Veterans Memorial at the Riverside National Cemetery in California.\n\nIn addition, COVID-19 had a significant impact on tribal reservations, and the NAIV secured over 5 million masks, thousands of gallons of hand sanitizer and personal protective equipment to respond to the pandemic.\n\nIt distributed these critical resources to over 375 tribes in 30 states at no cost to our veterans or their tribes.\n\nNAIV also serves on the Disaster Response and Recovery Working Group of the FCC Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee and has been a tireless advocate of providing broadband access to tribal communities throughout the nation.\n\nMr. President, last week we celebrated Veterans Day, an opportunity to honor our veterans for their service.\n\nAlso last week, we finally saw the dedication of the National Native American Veterans Memorial on the National Mall here in DC.\n\nWhile the Native American Veterans Memorial actually opened in 2020, due to COVID the dedication did not occur until this year.\n\nI believe we have the opportunity today to address another overdue recognition of our Native American veterans, by finally approving the federal charter for the National American Indian Veterans Incorporated, to recognize all the work the organization does on behalf of our Native American veterans.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=A3CF32F3-51E4-4BB0-9150-7CD00D29114D", "Thune: A Debt We Can Never Fully Repay", "2022-11-17", "2022", "2022-11", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here or on the picture above to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the tremendous sacrifices that veterans and military families make, and he noted that our country owes them, and the generations that came before them, its eternal gratitude. Thune also expressed his profound gratitude to the citizen-soldiers of the South Dakota National Guard, the airmen at Ellsworth Air Force Base, and South Dakota veterans.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, on Sunday I had the privilege of attending a welcome home ceremony for the 235th Military Police Company of the South Dakota National Guard after their 10-month deployment to Guantanamo Bay.\n\n\u201cIt was a fitting activity for Veterans Day weekend.\n\n\u201cThese ceremonies are always joyful occasions, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cSeeing couples and families reunited and celebrating together after a long absence.\n\n\u201cWelcoming soldiers back to the familiarity of home.\n\n\u201cBut in the midst of the joy and celebration, these ceremonies are also a powerful reminder of all that our service members and their families give up to serve our country.\n\n\u201cThe joy of reunification points to the months of loneliness in which spouses and loved ones have had to live without their husband or wife, mom or dad, son or daughter.\n\n\u201cIt highlights the long months in which moms and dads have had to shoulder all the burdens of child-rearing alone.\n\n\u201cThe soccer games and football games, the doctor visits, the emergency car repair, the visit from the plumber \u2013 all the daily challenges and responsibilities that couples usually share fall solely on the shoulders of the spouse holding down the fort at home.\n\n\u201cAnd on top of the responsibility is the anxiety \u2013 the constant worry about the loved one halfway around the world, and maybe in danger.\n\n\u201cThese moments of joyful reunion also point to all that our military men and women sacrifice while stationed far from their families and loved ones.\n\n\u201cThe months of separation from spouses and children, with Zooms, phone calls, and emails a poor substitute for bedtime stories read together on the couch and holding hands on an after-dinner walk.\n\n\u201cThe loneliness, the worry about a pregnant wife or an ailing parent or a child having a tough year in school \u2013 all while far from the comforts of home that the rest of us take for granted.\n\n\u201cAnd of course while reunions are joyful, the challenges don\u2019t end after deployment.\n\n\u201cIt takes time for the stress of a tough posting to dissipate.\n\n\u201cFor soldiers to get re-acclimated to the civilian world or to their stateside base.\n\n\u201cFor families to readjust to living together and not apart \u2013 only to have to do it all over again when the next deployment comes around.\n\n\u201cSome service members bear the invisible wounds of war for the long term.\n\n\u201cNot to mention those who are wounded in combat, sometimes requiring loved ones to become caretakers.\n\n\u201cAnd yet despite all the hardships and the challenges, men and women still rise up and answer the call.\n\n\u201cService members and their families spend years and decades serving our country.\n\n\u201cThey willingly shoulder the burdens and challenges of this life.\n\n\u201cAnimated by love of country and of their fellow man, they choose a life that asks them to forget their own needs and focus only on what they can do for others.\n\n\u201cThat asks them to forgo comfort for sacrifice \u2013 up to and including the sacrifice of their own lives.\n\n\u201cTheir sacrifice, their willingness to serve, is what enables us to go about our lives in peace and freedom.\n\n\u201cWe owe our men and women in uniform \u2013 and the families who support them \u2013 a debt we can never repay.\n\n\u201cBut we can at the very least remember.\n\n\u201cAs we go about our daily business, as we travel to our jobs in security and come home again at night the same way, we can remember that we live in peace and safety because of the sacrifice of the men and women of the United States military who stand on watch for us.\n\n\u201cI am profoundly grateful for the honor of representing some of the men and women of the United States military here in the Senate as well as our many South Dakota veterans.\n\n\u201cAnd I will continue to do everything I can to ensure that our military and our veterans have the resources they need and the resources they are owed.\n\n\u201cI have successfully fought for over a decade to prevent closures or service reductions at VA facilities in South Dakota to ensure veterans can continue receiving the health care they need close to home.\n\n\u201cAnd I will continue to work to make sure our state\u2019s VA facilities remain open and available to our veterans, and that community care is equally accessible, if they so choose.\n\n\u201cI will also continue to work to ensure that our military members have everything they need to deter threats and protect America.\n\n\u201cAnd, as always, Ellsworth Air Force Base is at the top of my priority list.\n\n\u201cI am currently working to ensure that we continue to make the needed investments in the facilities and other infrastructure that Ellsworth will need to host the future B-21 mission, as well as to ensure the influx of military families that will move to the area have adequate school capacity and housing access.\n\n\u201cMr. President, as we celebrate Veterans and Military Families Month, I want to express my gratitude to the citizen-soldiers of the South Dakota National Guard, the airmen at Ellsworth Air Force Base, and our South Dakota veterans \u2013 and to their families.\n\n\u201cMay God bless you all, and all of your brothers and sisters in arms.\n\n\u201cAnd may God continue to bless America.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:38:01Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=16BEA4B0-AC0E-4C9F-B144-3B321C2E3A85", "Thune, Grassley Lead Republican Colleagues in Introducing Legislation to Hold the IRS More Accountable", "2022-11-16", "2022", "2022-11", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Taxation and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Oversight, and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and a current member of the Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight, today led their Republican colleagues on the Senate Finance Committee in introducing the IRS Funding Accountability Act. The legislation responds to the Democrats\u2019 use of the so-called \u201cInflation Reduction Act\u201d (IRA) that will infuse the IRS with $80 billion of new funding without any oversight measures to prevent waste, protect taxpayer rights, or measure improvements of service. The IRS Funding Accountability Act would give Congress a direct say in how this new funding could be spent, hold the IRS more accountable, and provide more transparency for the American people.\n\n\u201cThe Democrats\u2019 attempt to supersize the IRS without holding the agency accountable to Congress and American taxpayers is dangerous and irresponsible,\u201d said Thune. \u201cThis legislation would provide much-needed oversight of the unprecedented $80 billion in new funding to the agency, more than half of which Democrats have directed toward enforcement-related measures, including audits. If our bill becomes law, the Biden administration\u2019s IRS would have to answer to the American people, not Washington bureaucrats.\u201d\n\n\u201cGovernment, especially when it comes to the treatment of taxpayers, needs to be accountable and transparent to the American people,\u201d said Grassley. \u201cWhen Democrats\u2019 partisan spending bill gave the IRS an extra 80 billion dollars, their legislation included no oversight mechanisms whatsoever. Our bill will ensure that the IRS is answerable to the American people in how it uses this money, and will force it to forfeit funds every day it\u2019s not in compliance.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe $80 billion in IRS funding included in the so-called Inflation Reduction Act came with almost no guardrails for an agency that has fallen chronically short on core elements of their mission in recent years,\u201d said Pete Sepp, president of the National Taxpayers Union. \u201cNational Taxpayers Union (NTU) is proud to support the IRS Funding Accountability Act, which would require the IRS to provide Congress with a genuine and realistic plan for spending the most significant influx of funds the agency has ever received. The bill would also require the IRS to regularly update Congress on their spending, ensuring ongoing accountability of the agency over the next 10 years. On behalf of the nation\u2019s taxpayers, NTU gratefully applauds Senators Thune and Grassley for their leadership on IRS oversight.\u201d\n\n\"Joe Biden promised taxpayers that no one earning less than $400,000 would see a penny more in taxes. Biden lied his way into office,\u201d said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. \u201cDemocrats raised taxes on American families and unleashed 87,000 new IRS agents to shakedown small business owners and ramp up audits on taxpayers. Congressional oversight of Biden's IRS is essential. This legislation will help rein in Biden's IRS and address the agency's broken culture of unaccountability.\"\n\n\u201cThe Inflation Reduction Act directed 80 billion taxpayer dollars to the IRS, with the majority earmarked to increase the agency\u2019s enforcement activities,\u201d said Brent Gardner, chief government affairs officer for Americans For Prosperity. \u201cWith little to no information about how the agency plans to use those taxpayer dollars or hold itself accountable, the IRS Funding Accountability Act would implement commonsense measures to increase oversight and transparency on behalf of the American taxpayer. Americans for Prosperity thanks Senators Thune and Grassley for introducing this legislation.\u201d\n\nThe senators\u2019 legislation would, among other things, require the IRS to provide Congress with an annual plan for how the agency intends to use the new IRA funds, which would be subject to a new joint resolution of disapproval. The bill would also require quarterly updates from the IRS and U.S. Department of the Treasury to enable consistent and transparent evaluation of the plans, provide accountability for any misuse of funds, and guard against violations of taxpayer rights. Failure to submit timely and thorough plans or reports would result in financial penalties, including IRA funds being rescinded on a daily basis until the IRS complies with the reporting requirements.\n\nThe legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:38:01Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=18D645CB-C76A-4A3B-A733-DA6785C92A8A", "Thune Statement on Reelection as Republican Whip", "2022-11-16", "2022", "2022-11", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today released the following statement after he was unanimously reelected by the Senate Republican Conference to serve a third term as whip for the 118th Congress:\n\n\u201cI am humbled and honored that my colleagues in the Senate Republican Conference have once again elected me to serve as whip,\u201d said Thune. \u201cI congratulate the newest members of our leadership team, Senators Capito and Daines, and I look forward to working with our entire conference as we unite in our fight to advance Republican principles and deliver commonsense solutions for families, farmers, and businesses across the country, especially those throughout South Dakota. Let\u2019s get to work.\u201d\n\nIn addition to serving as the Republican whip, a position he\u2019s held since 2019, Thune has previously served as chairman of the Senate Republican Conference (SRC), SRC vice chairman, and chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee. Thune currently serves on the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee; the Committee on Finance; and the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:38:01Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=3268BB2B-F406-40C5-974F-A479B8BA4751", "Thune: Let\u2019s Get to Work", "2022-11-15", "2022", "2022-11", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here or above to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today expressed his profound gratitude to the people of South Dakota for once again trusting him to represent them in Washington. Thune discussed how growing up in rural South Dakota helped shape his political philosophy, work ethic, and values. His top priority remains doing everything he can to help better the lives of families across the state and country.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, I want to begin my remarks today by expressing my profound gratitude to the people of South Dakota for once again trusting me to serve as their senator.\n\n\u201cI am deeply grateful to live in South Dakota and to represent the Mount Rushmore State.\n\n\u201cThere are a lot of things that make our state special, like its incredible natural beauty, a legacy of military service, or the fact that our state is a great place to raise a family.\n\n\u201cBut what really makes our state tick, what really makes it special, is our people.\n\n\u201cAnd it is the honor of my life to represent South Dakotans in the U.S. Senate.\n\n\u201cGrowing up in Murdo, South Dakota \u2013 population: 456 \u2013 I learned the character of South Dakotans.\n\n\u201cThe work ethic.\n\n\u201cThe love of country and commitment to freedom \u2013 coupled with a belief in personal responsibility.\n\n\u201cAnd the sense of responsibility to the broader community.\n\n\u201cLife in rural South Dakota can be tough, but growing up we knew that we were not on our own.\n\n\u201cIn Murdo, we knew that if a roof collapsed under the weight of snow, or a windstorm came through and wiped out a barn, or we lost a friend or family member, the whole community would rally around to help.\n\n\u201cThe values I learned growing up in South Dakota helped shape my political philosophy and are values I strive to reflect every day here in the Senate.\n\n\u201cAnd as I continue my work here in Washington, my top priority will always be doing everything I can to make life better for South Dakota families.\n\n\u201cMr. President, our country is facing some big challenges.\n\n\u201cA security crisis at our southern border.\n\n\u201cA growing energy problem.\n\n\u201cA serious crime problem.\n\n\u201cAnd the worst inflation crisis in decades.\n\n\u201cI talked to a lot of South Dakotans as I traveled around the state this fall, and over and over I heard about the toll inflation is taking on family budgets \u2013 and on the livelihood of farmers and ranchers in our state.\n\n\u201cSince President Biden took office, the price of groceries has increased 18 percent.\n\n\u201cElectricity bills have increased by 22 percent.\n\n\u201cUtility gas bills have increased by 46 percent.\n\n\u201cRent prices are up.\n\n\u201cCar prices are up.\n\n\u201cThe price of car maintenance is up.\n\n\u201cFarmers and ranchers are facing higher feed costs.\n\n\u201cHigher fertilizer costs.\n\n\u201cHigher fuel costs.\n\n\u201cGas prices have increased by $1.37 per gallon since President Biden took office.\n\n\u201cAnd the price increase for diesel \u2013 which powers so much farm and ranch equipment\u2013 has been even worse.\n\n\u201cAll told, inflation is currently costing the average household a staggering $753 a month.\n\n\u201c$753.\n\n\u201cEach month.\n\n\u201cAmericans can\u2019t afford that.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s no wonder that inflation topped the list of issues Americans were concerned about when they went to the polls.\n\n\u201cOr that 76 percent of voters rated the economy negatively.\n\n\u201cRegardless of who\u2019s in charge over the next two years, Congress needs to spend its time focused on real solutions to our inflation crisis and the other challenges facing our country.\n\n\u201cI want to congratulate our new Republican senators.\n\n\u201cAnd I look forward to the ideas they will bring to the table and working with them to implement solutions to make life better for American workers and American families.\n\n\u201cMr. President, it\u2019s been a challenging few years for the American people.\n\n\u201cAnd there are some very serious issues facing our nation.\n\n\u201cBut I have faith in the future.\n\n\u201cEvery Congress represents a new start, a chance to chart a fresh vision for our country.\n\n\u201cAnd I believe that with the right policies, we can get America thriving again.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m ready to get to work.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:38:01Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=559E668F-7FC0-43A9-B28B-75643EB82EC4", "Thune, Grassley Will Introduce Legislation to Hold the IRS More Accountable", "2022-11-01", "2022", "2022-11", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Taxation and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Oversight, and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and a current member of the Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight, today announced that they intend to introduce legislation that responds to the Democrats\u2019 use of the so-called \u201cInflation Reduction Act\u201d (IRA) to infuse $80 billion of new funding into the IRS\u2019s budget. The legislation, which is still being finalized, will be introduced when the Senate returns to session later this month. It would give Congress a direct say in how this new funding could be spent, hold the IRS more accountable, and provide more transparency for the American people.\n\n\u201cThe Democrats\u2019 attempt to supersize the IRS without holding the agency accountable to Congress and American taxpayers is dangerous and irresponsible,\u201d said Thune. \u201cThis legislation would provide much-needed oversight of the unprecedented $80 billion in new funding to the agency, more than half of which Democrats have directed toward enforcement-related measures, including audits. If our bill becomes law, the Biden administration\u2019s IRS would have to answer to the American people, not Washington bureaucrats.\u201d\n\n\u201cGovernment, especially when it comes to the treatment of taxpayers, needs to accountable and transparent to the American people,\u201d said Grassley. \u201cWhen Democrats\u2019 partisan spending bill gave the IRS an extra 80 billion dollars, their legislation included no oversight mechanisms whatsoever. Our bill will ensure that the IRS is answerable to the American people in how it uses this money, and will force it to forfeit funds every day it\u2019s not in compliance.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:38:01Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-seeking-spring-2023-internship-applications", "Rounds Seeking Spring 2023 Internship Applications", "2022-10-28", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) is currently accepting applications from college students to serve as interns during the spring 2023 semester. Positions are available in his Washington, D.C. office and his state offices in Aberdeen, Rapid City, Pierre and Sioux Falls. Spring internships typically run from January to May, but dates can be tailored to specific schedules. Interns will receive a stipend, and the office works closely with all the universities to meet the criteria necessary for interns to receive college credit.\n\n\u201cOur internship program is an incredible opportunity for students to experience a deeper understanding of the political process,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cInterns are crucial to our office operations both in South Dakota and in D.C. The program is open to students from all areas of discipline, not just political science. I encourage interested college students to apply for the upcoming spring internship.\u201d\n\nIntern duties include researching bills, tracking legislation, attending committee hearings and briefings, handling constituent phone calls and other correspondence and providing support in all areas of the office to Senator Rounds and his staff. Internships can also be tailored to an intern\u2019s specific interest areas when possible.\n\nInterested students can apply at https://www.rounds.senate.gov/internships. For more information, please call Rebecca Herman at (605) 336-0486.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=842208BD-D5E6-4E66-A9CF-38F4A53F831D", "Thune, Durbin Lead Bipartisan Request for Historic RFS \u201cSet\u201d Rulemaking", "2022-10-19", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today led a bipartisan group of their colleagues in urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish renewable volume obligations that are additive for all fuel types in the upcoming \u201cset\u201d rule under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The senators also highlighted additional actions EPA should take in order to maximize the use and benefit of biofuels, including updating lifecycle analysis for biofuel emissions and approving additional fuel registrations and pathways under the RFS.\n\n\u201cThrough this rulemaking, EPA has a historic opportunity to not only reinforce its efforts to restore integrity to the RFS, but chart a new course for biofuels that will help meet America\u2019s diverse energy demands while further decarbonizing numerous sectors of our economy,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cIn order to guard against sidelining decades of investment and the diverse workforce that supports biofuels, we request that EPA set the conventional target above 15 billion gallons, set advanced biofuel volumes that account for increased production capacity of fuels like sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel, and ensure that renewable identification numbers (RINs) for emerging technologies and e-RINs are additive to existing volumes.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith the forthcoming \u2018set\u2019 rule, EPA has a golden opportunity to stimulate further growth in low-carbon fuel use and build on the successes of the Renewable Fuel Standard,\u201d said Geoff Cooper, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association. \u201cWe appreciate the efforts of Senator Thune, Senator Durbin, and other stalwart renewable fuel supporters to ensure EPA issues a \u2018set\u2019 rule that furthers the environmental and economic objectives of the original RFS program.\u201d\n\n\u201cA stronger RFS means more savings at the pump for working families, lower carbon emissions, and greater U.S. energy security,\u201d said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy. \u201cWe\u2019re grateful to Senators Durbin, Thune, and other clean energy champions working to deliver the regulatory certainty we need to fast-track growth in the U.S. bioeconomy and shield motorists from volatile global oil prices. This is a vital opportunity to drive transformative progress in low-carbon transportation, and we look forward to working with EPA Administrator Regan, the White House, and leaders on Capitol Hill to tap the full potential of the RFS as a climate and energy solution.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs we near EPA\u2019s announcement on the proposed Set rule, ACE applauds Senators Thune and Durbin for their leadership on a timely, bipartisan letter urging the Agency to utilize this historic opportunity to increase biofuel blending targets and take other important steps to leverage the role low carbon biofuels can and should play to address our nation\u2019s energy demands and meet the Administration\u2019s decarbonization goals,\u201d said Brian Jennings, CEO of American Coalition for Ethanol. \u201cNew incentives enacted by Congress will boost investments in clean fuel technologies that support action by EPA to expand the use of clean fuels like ethanol through future RFS targets.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe thank Senators Thune, Durbin, and others for highlighting the bipartisan support for continued growth in the Renewable Fuel Standard volumes,\u201d said Kurt Kovarik, vice president of Federal Affairs for Clean Fuels Alliance America. \u201cWe appreciate the Senators\u2019 request that EPA build on the foundation of advanced biofuels and provide additional space for emerging volumes of renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel, and other potential new biomass-based fuels.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe applaud Senator Thune and Senator Durbin for leading a bipartisan coalition working to maximize the clean energy benefits of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS),\u201d said Brooke Coleman, executive director of the Advanced Biofuels Business Council (ABBC). \u201cWe keep hearing about the importance of strong policy to ensure that new technologies are developed, clean energy targets are hit, and U.S. global competitiveness is enhanced as we seek to reduce emissions and grow the economy. There is no better example than the RFS. We appreciate the recognition that an ambitious, multiyear RFS rule could be a game-changer for advanced biofuels, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), climate smart feedstock production, and transportation sector decarbonization.\u201d\n\n\u201cCorn growers appreciate the Senators\u2019 leadership and advocacy for renewable fuels with EPA,\u201d said Tom Hagg, president of the National Corn Growers Association. \u201cWe also urge EPA to maximize the environmental and economic benefits of the RFS in the pending rulemaking, building on the success of biofuels to do more to cut emissions and lower fuel prices.\u201d\n\nThis letter was also signed by U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.).\n\nFull letter below:\n\nThe Honorable Michael S. Regan\n\nAdministrator\n\nEnvironmental Protection Agency\n\n1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.\n\nWashington, D.C. 20460\n\nDear Administrator Regan:\n\nWe write to request that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establish robust and expanded renewable volume obligations (RVOs) in its forthcoming \u201cSet\u201d rule under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Through this rulemaking, EPA will determine blending volumes according to a set of environmental and economic factors in the statute. Strong RVOs will be bolstered by numerous incentives and investments that are poised to increase biofuel blending and further reduce the carbon intensity of these fuels. Additionally, we request that EPA take supportive actions to provide regulatory certainty and afford new opportunities for these homegrown fuels to deepen their contribution to America\u2019s evolving energy landscape. Through this rulemaking, EPA has a historic opportunity to not only reinforce its efforts to restore integrity to the RFS, but chart a new course for biofuels that will help meet America\u2019s diverse energy demands while further decarbonizing numerous sectors of our economy.\n\nPrevious RVOs, backed by statutory volumes, established blending requirements for biofuels and sent an important signal to all levels of the renewable fuel value chain. Unfortunately, many of these RVOs were undercut by small refinery exemptions (SREs), and we appreciate EPA affirming the Tenth Circuit\u2019s decision and finding that RFS compliance does not cause disproportionate economic hardship and that the RFS has a negligible influence on fuel prices. With this matter settled, we hope we can look to the impending Set rule with confidence that future-year RVOs will not be eroded by SREs, but left to stand and maximize EPA\u2019s ability to drive higher utilization of these cleaner fuels.\n\nIn setting RVOs for 2023 and beyond, EPA can justify ambitious blending targets by leveraging recently extended and expanded incentive structures, including the second generation biofuel and biodiesel tax credits. As you know, these credits will parallel a new sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) credit before they merge into an emissions-based clean fuel credit. Fuel credits will be complemented by expanded credits to capture and sequester carbon dioxide, including from biofuel production facilities, and additional support for ongoing agriculture production practice improvements, driving more value toward America\u2019s biofuel and farm economies. Together, these credits will incentivize continued low-carbon renewable fuel blending, providing significant value to consumers while maintaining a critical market for our farmers and generating a key source of high-quality animal feed and other value-added co-products.\n\nHowever, it bears clarifying that new fuels like SAF, as well as other new pathways for RFS compliance, such as electricity generated from biogas that may be proposed for so-called electric renewable identification numbers (e-RINs), must be accommodated in a fashion that is additive to existing fuel technologies and previous blending targets. They must also be subject to the same rigorous transparency, integrity, and lifecycle analysis standards as other renewable transportation fuels. Failure to do so will displace biofuels that have been foundational to decarbonizing the transportation sector, leave additional environmental gains on the table, and hinder industry growth. In order to guard against sidelining decades of investment and the diverse workforce that supports biofuels, we request that EPA set the conventional target above 15 billion gallons, set advanced biofuel volumes that account for increased production capacity of fuels like SAF and renewable diesel, and ensure that RINs for emerging technologies and e-RINs are additive to existing volumes.\n\nEPA can also justify ascending RVOs by recognizing the technological advances made by the biofuels sector and approving long-pending RFS fuel registration applications and pathway petitions. By rendering timely decisions for prospective advanced fuels, including those derived from corn kernel fiber that have already proven their efficacy and safety in states like California, EPA would add value to the bottom line of many biofuel operations and enable them to generate more fuel per bushel of feedstock while further reducing the carbon intensity of each gallon. Similarly, EPA can help scale-up SAF production by addressing in the Set regulatory barriers that deny certain biointermediates entry to SAF. Such actions would permit these biofuel producers to use at scale the investments they have made, access low-carbon markets, and pave the way for the next generation of renewable fuel innovation.\n\nWhen setting forward-year RVOs, EPA must also consider how record investments in biofuel blending infrastructure will facilitate meeting progressively higher blending targets by making higher blends more readily accessible to consumers. As you know, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced in August $100 million in cost-sharing grants for blending infrastructure such as fuel pumps, dispensers, and storage tanks for blends above E10 and B5 through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP). This round of funding follows $5.6 million in funding in April 2022 for blending infrastructure in California, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and South Dakota, which EPA projected would \u201cincrease the availability of biofuels by 59.5 million gallons per year\u201d across recipient states, as well as over $60 million delivered through other HBIIP awards made since 2020. Increased consumer access to higher blends will also be supported by $500 million for biofuel infrastructure and agriculture product market expansion.\n\nOf course, the most efficient way to promote higher blends is to provide the marketplace the certainty that fuels like E15 may be sold year-round, removing the costly deterrent of fuel switching. The president was correct to ensure uninterrupted sales of E15 during 2022 to provide consumers driving approximately 96 percent of light-duty vehicles a lower-cost fuel option while displacing Russian oil. Even during this time of sustained energy challenges, E15 was sold for as much a 96 cents cheaper per gallon than E10 under the emergency waiver. We encourage EPA to utilize any authority at its disposal to extend year-round E15 into the future. When paired with $2.8 billion in recently announced USDA funding, it would help ensure biofuels are able to maximally contribute to America\u2019s energy and climate needs from field to tailpipe.\n\nIn addition to setting robust blending targets, we request that EPA use the Set rulemaking as a timely opportunity to insert greater certainty and efficiency in the regulatory landscape of the RFS. As previously addressed, accurate and standardized lifecycle emissions modeling will not only assign appropriate tax credit values and motivate continued decarbonization of biofuels, but updated lifecycle emissions values also justify growth in RFS volumes to accelerate transportation decarbonization. Contemporary carbon intensity scoring will help settle recurring questions regarding the net environmental benefit of biofuels, permitting stakeholders to readily compare the carbon footprint of biofuels against other technologies. Finally securing reliable, EPA-endorsed lifecycle analysis will encourage increased use of biofuels in domestic low-carbon fuel markets and expand export opportunities to the growing number of countries turning to biofuels to meet their energy needs and climate action goals, such as Canada, India, and Japan. Accordingly, we urge you to culminate the stakeholder engagement conducted via EPA\u2019s public workshop on biofuel greenhouse gas emissions by formally adopting the Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory\u2019s GREET model for lifecycle analysis in the Set rule.\n\nWe agree with you that biofuels are ready to meet the moment and serve as a key element of American energy security, economic opportunity, and climate response. We greatly appreciate the actions and commitments the president provided last spring, which provided an emergency waiver for the sale of higher ethanol blends like E15. Steps like these not only allow for more homegrown ethanol to be sold across the United States in order to increase fuel supply, but they also provide consumers options for more affordable gasoline options at the pump. As such, we urge you to build upon these prior commitments and use the historic opportunity of the Set rule to establish robust forward-year RVOs and take the necessary accompanying regulatory steps to further realize the environmental and economic benefits of our biofuels sector. We look forward to working with you.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:28Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=051AB0D2-F078-4BD0-80F8-205A7A776278", "Thune\u2019s Office Accepting Spring Internship Applications", "2022-10-07", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) is currently seeking college students to serve as spring interns in his office in Washington, D.C., as well as in his offices in Aberdeen, Rapid City, and Sioux Falls.\n\nInterns in Thune\u2019s state offices will participate in constituent service and state outreach activities, while interns in the Washington, D.C., office will have the opportunity to witness the legislative process and attend Senate votes and hearings. Both in-state and Washington, D.C., internships will allow students to work closely with constituents, hone their research and writing skills, and learn a multitude of valuable office skills.\n\n\u201cInterns who are selected will receive a firsthand look at the legislative process and the day-to-day life in a congressional office,\u201d said Thune. \u201cIn Washington, interns will have the opportunity to attend Senate votes and hearings and participate in other activities that are unique to Capitol Hill. Students who are interested in interning in Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, or Rapid City will find an equally rewarding experience with assisting staff on important constituent service requests and state outreach activities, which are critical to my work for the people of South Dakota. I encourage all college students who are interested in these opportunities to apply today.\u201d\n\nThune serves as the Senate Republican Whip, the number two position in Senate leadership, and is a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; and a member of the Senate Committee on Finance.\n\nCollege students who are interested in interning in Thune\u2019s Washington, D.C., Aberdeen, Rapid City, or Sioux Falls offices should fill out an online application with their resume and cover letter by November 4, 2022, at https://sen.gov/43JL or they can locate the application at www.thune.senate.gov under the services tab.\n\nFor more information, please call 202-224-2321.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:28Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=FE286C45-2D76-433C-A735-9F65C0B6CEF4", "Thune on Fox and Friends: Biden Administration\u2019s Lack of Coherent Energy Strategy Jeopardizes our Energy Security and National Security", "2022-10-06", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the interview.\n\nSIOUX FALLS, S.D. \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Fox and Friends to discuss the Biden administration\u2019s lack of a coherent energy strategy and how the president has been willing to sacrifice our national security, economic security, and energy security for political gain.\n\nOn the Biden administration\u2019s hostility to American-made energy:\n\n\u201cWe were at a point where we were literally energy independent; we were actually exporting energy. We\u2019ve now, again, become dependent upon OPEC and other countries because of this administration\u2019s resistance and outright assault on American energy production.\n\n\u201cThis is the price that America pays when we aren\u2019t willing to make the investment and have policies that support the encouragement of American energy production.\u201d\n\nOn our country\u2019s national security being weakened by a lack of a coherent energy strategy:\n\n\u201cI think [Democrats], Brian, they will sacrifice our economic security, our energy security, our national security to get a political win in November. I think they\u2019re that desperate, and that\u2019s what I think you\u2019re seeing in full display right now.\n\n\u201cIn fact, pulling down the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to the lowest point since 1984, a reserve that\u2019s there for emergencies, and using it for a political purpose is outrageous.\u201d\n\n\u2026\n\n\u201cBy not having an energy policy, not committing to an all-the-above American energy plan, we have now a dependence upon foreign sources, including dictators like Venezuela and in places in the Middle East.\n\n\u201cThis is insanity, and I hope the American people rise up and say enough, already. Because [Democrats are] putting not only our energy security at risk, [but] our national security at risk.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:28Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=0A65FBF2-1CE5-489F-B3B5-01283320E0C8", "Thune, Luj\u00e1n Introduce Bill to Improve Livestock Disaster Assistance", "2022-10-05", "2022", "2022-10", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, recently introduced the Livestock Disaster Assistance Improvement Act, bipartisan legislation that would improve the effectiveness and timeliness of multiple U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs that assist farmers and ranchers in the aftermath of adverse weather events. The legislation would also provide USDA with direction to help improve the accuracy of the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM), which triggers certain disaster programs.\n\n\u201cSouth Dakota farmers and ranchers are all too familiar with working through extreme weather conditions, especially drought,\u201d said Thune. \u201cThese common-sense updates to disaster programs would help provide greater and expedited assistance to farmers and ranchers when they need it the most. Our proposal would also make the Drought Monitor a more effective tool and help ensure USDA programs are using accurate and consistent data in administering programs that are designed to help the agriculture community.\u201d\n\n\u201cDrought, wildfires, and extreme weather in New Mexico have impacted farmers and ranchers for generations \u2013 hurting their ability to raise livestock, grow crops, and make ends meet. I\u2019m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to better meet the needs of our farmers and ranchers who power our communities,\u201d said Luj\u00e1n. \u201cThis legislation will make USDA programs more responsive for New Mexico producers in need of disaster relief.\u201d\n\nThune plans to continue introducing agriculture-related proposals like this one in advance of the current farm bill\u2019s expiration in September 2023. Thune, who has helped write four farm bills during his time in Congress, believes these common-sense changes would greatly improve the effectiveness of the farm bill safety net for livestock producers.\n\nThe legislation would make the following reforms:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:28Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-introduces-bill-to-protect-businesses-from-sec-overreach", "Rounds Introduces Bill to Protect Businesses from SEC Overreach", "2022-09-30", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced legislation to safeguard public companies from bureaucratic overreach. The Mandatory Materiality Requirement Act would only allow the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to impose future disclosure requirements if the information is important for investors making decisions.\n\n\u201cAmerican businesses should not be used as a gateway to advance climate change policy,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cThe heavy-hand of government is hampering the growth of our businesses and economy. This legislation would seek to prevent the SEC from requiring reporting of unnecessary information and instead focus on protecting investors, maintaining fair and efficient markets and facilitating capital formation.\u201d\n\nIn March of 2022, the SEC issued a rule that would require any public company to disclose both its direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions, including reporting by downstream suppliers like farmers and ranchers, even if that information isn\u2019t relevant to investors. This rule would potentially limit access to capital, discourage new companies from going public and result in onerous reporting requirements that will be borne by farmers and small businesses. The Mandatory Materiality Requirement Act would amend both the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by inserting statutory language directly into both acts to require the SEC to determine that \u201cthere is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor of the issuer would consider the information\u2026to be important with respect to an investment decision regarding the issuer,\u201d when imposing a new disclosure obligation.\n\nRounds was joined in introducing this legislation by Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska).\n\nClick HERE for full bill text.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-tester-introduce-bill-to-reduce-unnecessary-regulatory-costs-for-nonbank-financial-institutions-", "Rounds, Tester Introduce Bill to Reduce Unnecessary Regulatory Costs for Nonbank Financial Institutions", "2022-09-29", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) introduced legislation to lower costs for investors. The Alleviating Stress Test Burdens to Help Investors Act would eliminate ineffective costs for nonbank financial institutions that have not been designated as systemically important by removing Dodd Frank's bank-centric, mandatory stress test requirement.\n\n\"Asset managers have a completely different business model than a traditional bank,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cTherefore, applying bank-centric stress tests is misguided, and the high compliance costs that accompany them will ultimately be borne by investors. I\u2019m pleased to introduce this bipartisan legislation to reduce unnecessary regulatory costs in our capital markets.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, this legislation amends the stress test requirements under section 165(i) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (P.L. 111-203) to provide relief for nonbanks from bank-centric stress tests. To the extent stress tests may be useful in certain contexts, this legislation allows the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, their primary regulators, to conduct periodic stress tests for nonbank financial companies.\n\nClick HERE for full bill text.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=93CB647E-33B9-44C1-847C-A89D93558B4B", "Thune: Democrats\u2019 Far-Left Fantasies are the Wrong Prescription for America\u2019s Economic Pain", "2022-09-29", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed how the Democrats\u2019 devotion to their big-government, big-spending agenda has harmed America\u2019s economic security, energy security, and national security. Thune noted that over the past two years, President Biden and Democrats in Congress have prioritized far-left fantasies instead of addressing the economic reality that is crippling families and businesses across the country.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, yesterday I came down to the floor to talk about where we are after nearly two years of Democrat control of Congress and the White House.\n\n\u201cWe are, as I noted, in the midst of an inflation crisis with no end in sight.\n\n\u201cOur economy is weakening.\n\n\u201cOur energy security has diminished.\n\n\u201cViolent crime has increased.\n\n\u201cAnd we\u2019re dealing with record waves of illegal immigration and a serious security situation at our southern border.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s where we are, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cBut how did we end up here?\n\n\u201cThe answer lies with Democrats\u2019 priorities.\n\n\u201cMr. President, the Democrat Party has moved sharply leftwards over the past few years.\n\n\u201cDemocrats, of course, have always been on the left side of the political spectrum.\n\n\u201cBut over the past few years, what was once far-left ideology has become the Democrat mainstream.\n\n\u201cAnd Democrats swept into office determined to enact a far-left, big-government agenda.\n\n\u201cIt didn\u2019t matter to them that their majorities in the House and Senate were extremely narrow \u2013 or that President Biden had been elected largely because he was considered to be a moderate.\n\n\u201cDemocrats had a grip on power, however tenuous, and they were determined to use it to enact their most cherished far-left fantasies.\n\n\u201cThey started off with their $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act, filled with unnecessary spending and payoffs to Democrat interest groups.\n\n\u201cThey were warned that their legislation ran the risk of overheating the economy and setting off inflation.\n\n\u201cBut they ignored the warnings and dumped a lot of unnecessary government money into the economy.\n\n\u201cAnd the economy overheated as a result.\n\n\u201cInflation quickly began climbing. And then climbing some more.\n\n\u201cNow, at this point, it might have seemed prudent to pull back on the spending plans.\n\n\u201cAfter all, if one massive spending bill had kicked off inflation, how much worse would another, even-more-massive spending bill make the situation?\n\n\u201cBut Democrats were just getting started.\n\n\u201cThe ink was barely dry on the so-called American Rescue Plan Act before Democrats were outlining plans for a new spending spree \u2013 one that would dwarf their initial spending spree and install some of Democrats\u2019 most-cherished big-government priorities.\n\n\u201cAnd even as inflation climbed and climbed again, Democrats kept pushing ahead.\n\n\u201cEven as Democrat economists warned that the American Rescue Plan had kickstarted inflation, Democrats kept pushing forward with plans for a $5 trillion spending spree \u2013 their so-called Build Back Better plan.\n\n\u201c$5 trillion.\n\n\u201cTo put that number in perspective, the entire federal budget in 2019 was $4.4 trillion.\n\n\u2018The ENTIRE federal budget.\n\n\u201cAnd yet Democrats were pushing forward with a $5 trillion spending plan ON TOP OF a $1.9 trillion spending bill earlier in the year.\n\n\u201cFortunately for the American people, Democrats\u2019 $5 trillion spending plan was foiled last December.\n\n\u201cBut that didn\u2019t stop them for long.\n\n\u201cEven as inflation reached 40-year highs, Democrats kept pushing for more spending.\n\n\u201cAnd they managed to jam through another partisan tax-and-spending spree in August.\n\n\u201cMr. President, we have now spent six straight months \u2013 six straight months \u2013 with inflation above 8 percent.\n\n\u201cThe last time inflation was this bad I wasn\u2019t even married yet.\n\n\u201cNow I have grandchildren.\n\n\u201cBut Democrats just don\u2019t seem to care.\n\n\u201cThey are committed to their tax-and-spending agenda, regardless of the consequences for the American economy.\n\n\u201cTheir August tax-and-spending spree will hurt both wages and economic growth \u2013 at a time when economic growth is weakening and Americans are experiencing a de facto pay cut thanks to inflation.\n\n\u201cAnd just days after signing this tax-and-spending legislation into law, President Biden announced a massive student loan giveaway, which could cost more than $1 trillion and will, to quote the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, \u2018meaningfully boost inflation.\u2019\n\n\u201cYet again, Democrats\u2019 big-government, big-spending agenda trumps the economic reality facing the American people.\n\n\u201cNo matter how bad the economy gets, Democrats are determined to enact their big-government vision.\n\n\u201cAnd I suspect the reason that Democrats and the president have spent nearly two years ignoring the raging crisis at our southern border is similar.\n\n\u201cAfter all, if Democrats and the president acknowledge there\u2019s a crisis, people might think that they should actually start solving the crisis.\n\n\u201cThey might, in fact, think that a raging security crisis deserves to be a priority \u2013 more of a priority than, say, Democrats\u2019 plans for electric postal vehicles or monitoring gaps in tree canopy coverage.\n\n\u201cIn addition, of course, acknowledging that there\u2019s a border crisis might offend some Democrat interest groups \u2013 and that might imperil Democrats\u2019 fierce determination to stay in power and enact their big-government agenda.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I mention Democrats\u2019 fierce determination to stay in power \u2013 and it is fierce.\n\n\u201cSo fierce that Democrats manufactured a voting crisis \u2013 and almost succeeded in gutting the Senate\u2019s rules \u2013 in an attempt to force through federal legislation that would give their party an advantage in future elections.\n\n\u201cAnd it clearly doesn\u2019t matter to them that their claims of voter suppression were pretty clearly refuted by excellent election turnout mere months later.\n\n\u201cDemocrats are still talking about forcing through a federal takeover of elections to address a nonexistent crisis \u2013 and give their party a leg-up in future elections.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I guess it\u2019s not necessarily surprising that Democrats\u2019 growing commitment to the biggest kind of big government has been matched by a growing determination to secure their party\u2019s grip on power \u2013 with government action if necessary.\n\n\u201cAs government power grows, I suppose the governing party starts to think its power should grow with it.\n\n\u201cIt would explain Democrats\u2019 commitment to abolishing protections for the rights of the minority party in the Senate \u2013 and the Americans it represents.\n\n\u201cAnd the commitment expressed by a number of Democrats to packing the Supreme Court \u2013 expanding it with Democrat justices until Democrats can be sure they will get the outcomes they want.\n\n\u201cLeading Democrats have been openly crowing about their plans to abolish the filibuster if they manage to gain a sufficient majority in the Senate \u2013 and then force through a variety of far-left, big-government legislation, from a government takeover of child care, to that voting bill they think will give them a leg-up in elections, to some of the most extreme abortion legislation in the world.\n\n\u201cClearly a raging border crisis, an inflation crisis, a weakening economy, and growing energy insecurity mean little to Democrats.\n\n\u201cTheir focus if they keep their majority is not on solving these very real problems facing Americans \u2013 it\u2019s on growing government and implementing their far-left, big-government, big-spending visions.\n\n\u201cMr. President, Democrats\u2019 big-government vision is clearly not a vision I share.\n\n\u201cAnd despite Democrats\u2019 clear belief that their narrow majorities gave them a mandate for a far-left remake of our government, I suspect the American people are not looking for that.\n\n\u201cDemocrats may think months and months and months of high inflation are a small price to pay for implementing their big-government visions.\n\n\u201cI suspect the American people disagree.\n\n\u201cI also think the American people would like to see the party in power focused on solving problems like violent crime and the crisis at our southern border \u2013 not spending their time considering how to consolidate their hold on power or force through extreme and partisan policies.\n\n\u201cAnd despite Democrats\u2019 clear belief that Washington should be making decisions about most aspects of Americans\u2019 lives, I suspect that most Americans are not interested in having Washington dictate their choices \u2013 whether that\u2019s the choices they make about their child care or about their children\u2019s education.\n\n\u201cDemocrats\u2019 devotion to their big-government, big-spending agenda has left the American people worse off economically and left our country in a more dangerous position, from violent crime in our communities to the security crisis at our southern border.\n\n\u201cI think the American people know with painful certainty that we can\u2019t afford another two years like the last two.\n\n\u201cAnd for the sake of our country, I hope we won\u2019t have to see what two more years of Democrat power would bring.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:29:59Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=9C736066-9FB3-44D5-B74F-53D730CF917D", "Thune, Johnson Call on Biden to Rescind Unworkable Government Mandate That Would Harm South Dakota Businesses", "2022-09-29", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today led their colleagues in demanding that the Biden administration rescind a proposed rule that would mandate project labor agreements (PLAs) on federal construction projects of $35 million or greater. The rule would not only harm local businesses and ultimately undermine taxpayer investment in public work projects, but it would also be unworkable due to the limited number of union-connected workers.\n\n\u201cThe stated goal of [the executive order] is to 'promote economy and efficiency in federal procurement, but it would undoubtedly have the opposite effect,\u201d the members wrote. \u201cA recent Associated General Contractors survey found 73 percent of federal contractors would not bid on a federal construction contract that includes a government-mandated PLA. Eighty-eight percent of respondents stated E.O. 14063 would raise costs, while 0 percent of respondents stated it would lower costs. The proposed rule would make it more difficult to find the local workers and local businesses needed to keep projects on schedule, especially during this historic shortage of skilled construction workers.\u201d\n\nThe letter was also signed by U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Reps. Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.), Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa), and Mariannette Miller Meeks (R-Iowa).\n\nIn March, Thune joined his colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden opposing the executive order.\n\nFull letter below:\n\nThe Honorable Joseph R. Biden Jr.\n\nPresident of the United States\n\nThe White House\n\n1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW\n\nWashington, DC 20500\n\nDear President Biden:\n\nWe write to express our concern with the recent proposed rule entitled \u201cFederal Acquisition Regulation: Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects.\u201d\n\nOn February 4, 2022, you published E.O. 14063 on Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects, which mandates project labor agreements (PLAs) on federal construction contracts of $35 million or greater. Since that announcement we have expressed strong opposition to this effort, which would undermine taxpayer investment in public works projects.\n\nThe stated goal of E.O. 14063 is to \"promote economy and efficiency\" in federal procurement, but it would undoubtedly have the opposite effect. A recent Associated General Contractors survey found 73 percent of federal contractors would not bid on a federal construction contract that includes a government-mandated PLA. Eighty-eight percent of respondents stated E.O. 14063 would raise costs, while 0 percent of respondents stated it would lower costs.\n\nIn response to E.O. 14063, a Federal Acquisition Regulation Council proposed rule (FAR Case 2022-003) was published on August 19, 2022. While the proposed rule would have negative impacts nationwide, it would cause significant delays in the Midwest. There are simply not enough union-connected workers in our states to support the current robust demand for federal contractors. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4 percent of employees in South Dakota were members of a union in 2021 while 6.5 percent were members in Iowa, 6.8 percent in Nebraska, and 5.4 percent in North Dakota.\n\nThe proposed rule would make it more difficult to find the local workers and local businesses needed to keep projects on schedule, especially during this historic shortage of skilled construction workers. Additionally, while the construction industry faces significant supply chain disruptions and unprecedented increases of input costs, which are up more than 40 percent since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, this proposed rule would only exacerbate ongoing inflation and costs for taxpayers. Many of our states have independently passed laws to prohibit government-mandated PLAs on state and state-assisted taxpayer-funded construction projects for this very reason.\n\nFederal agencies themselves recognize that mandatory PLAs are unworkable. As you know, in the second month of the Obama administration, President Obama issued E.O. 13502 that allowed, and continues to allow, federal agencies to require PLAs for projects of $25 million or greater on a case-by-case basis. But since then, in validation that PLA mandates are inefficient and, in most every instance, not plausible, federal agencies have only required PLAs on 12 out of approximately 2,000 eligible, large-scale construction projects from the issuance of this executive order in February 2009 through 2021. While the administration uses this to justify its new rule, it shows how truly impractical this requirement would be for federal agencies to implement.\n\nWe oppose any efforts to continue with a final rulemaking process and request the proposed rule be rescinded. We appreciate your thoughtful consideration of our request to protect our economy and workforce and business owners throughout our states.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:29:59Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-introduces-bill-to-reform-nrcs-and-protect-property-owners-from-government-overreach", "Rounds Introduces Bill to Reform NRCS and Protect Property Owners from Government Overreach", "2022-09-28", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced legislation that would reform the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The NRCS Wetland Compliance and Appeals Reform Act would safeguard farmers, ranchers and landowners from bureaucratic overreach by the NRCS and empower them to continue to protect their land as they see fit.\n\n\u201cSouth Dakota\u2019s farmers, ranchers and landowners know their land better than anyone else,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cThey are conservationists by nature and want their land to be productive for future generations. They don\u2019t need the heavy-hand of government interfering with their ability to manage the land they live and work on.\n\n\u201cFor years, we have worked with South Dakotans who are facing arbitrary, punitive penalties by the NRCS. In South Dakota, we know that the NRCS has made unfounded wetland determinations and levied large and unfair monetary fines where the landowner has little or no recourse. The reforms I have introduced modify some of the NRCS\u2019 compliance rules in a manner that works for landowners, gives farmers and ranchers more control over their land and removes unnecessary, often unfair, barriers and penalties.\n\n\u201cThe NRCS was created to work with farmers and ranchers to help them improve, protect and conserve their land and natural resources. Over time, it has veered far from that core mission, morphing into an overreaching, overbearing agency that makes heavy-handed decisions about South Dakota producers\u2019 land using questionable methods and rationale. Landowners in South Dakota, and across the country, increasingly battle the NRCS on wetland determinations. Farmers and ranchers already have to battle the wind, rain, snow and sun; they shouldn\u2019t have to battle their government, too.\u201d\n\nOnce considered wasteland, wetlands were often drained so farmers could plant crops. Growing concern over the loss and appreciation of the value of wetlands in the ecological system led Congress to take action to protect wetlands in the 1985 Farm Bill. However, today, because penalties from violating NRCS compliance rules can lead to the loss of USDA services and assistance for farmers, it is vitally important that the NRCS compliance rules are fair, reasonable and within congressional intent.\n\nThe NRCS Wetland Compliance and Appeals Reform Act has been endorsed by the South Dakota Farm Bureau, the American Farm Bureau Federation and the South Dakota Farmers Union.\n\n\u201cI thank Senator Rounds for introducing NRCS compliance reform legislation, which will ensure farmers and landowners have a fair and equitable process when it comes to making wetland determinations,\u201d said South Dakota Farm Bureau President Scott VanderWal. \u201cAn overhaul of the NRCS appeals and determination process is long overdue and our farmers have been requesting attention to these concerns for years.\"\n\n\u201cFarmers and ranchers are committed to caring for the land they\u2019ve been entrusted with,\u201d said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. \u201cWe understand the importance of following environmental rules, but those rules should be enforced fairly. AFBF has been outspoken in calling for changes to conservation compliance programs, and the NRCS Wetland Compliance and Appeals Reform Act is a step in the right direction. We applaud Sen. Rounds for his continued efforts to pass this legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cPermanent easement agreements mean decisions made by previous generations could impact future generations,\u201d said South Dakota Farmers Union President Doug Sombke. \u201cEach generation needs to be able to make decisions that make sense for their farm or ranch. I don\u2019t expect my sons to manage the land exactly how I did or the same way my dad or grandpa did. This Act supports landowners\u2019 rights.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, Rounds\u2019 legislation would:\n\n\u2022 Prohibit NRCS from entering into permanent easement agreements, only allowing termed easements.\n\n\u2022 Make certain compliance penalties for newly determined wetlands can only be prospective.\n\n\u2022 Place the burden of proof on NRCS to prove a violation (i.e. not on the farmer/landowner to prove innocence).\n\n\u2022 Prohibit NRCS from changing rationales for wetland determinations.\n\n\u2022 Require NRCS to go through notice and comment rulemaking for conservation compliance, essentially banning the use of interim rulemaking.\n\n\u2022 Update NRCS\u2019 appeals process:\n\no Retrain National Appeals Division (NAD) judges and agency directors in how to provide a fair and balanced hearing;\n\no Require USDA to provide the entire record and/or decisional documentation to the farmer/landowner at the time of alleged compliance violation;\n\no Allow the farmer/landowner (and their counsel) to call NRCS technical staff as witnesses in the appeal;\n\no Accept evidence provided by the farmer/landowner as true absent substantial evidence to the contrary;\n\no Compensate the farmer/landowner for legal fees if they are successful in the appeal.\n\n\u2022 Require USDA to establish State Oversight Committees (for each state) that will oversee the appeals of wetland determinations within their state.\n\n\u2022 Require USDA to develop an appeal process for redetermination requests NOT accepted by state NRCS offices.\n\n\u2022 Prevent NRCS from using one-time observations to satisfy the hydraulic criteria for determinations.\n\n\u2022 Remove all references to \u201cwoody vegetation\u201d from 7 CFR 12.2 and 12.32.\n\n\u2022 Create a Customer Satisfaction Survey carried out by an independent survey provider.\n\nThis legislation has been cosponsored by Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.).\n\n\u201cNorth Dakota farmers and ranchers take care of their land better than anyone else,\u201d said Hoeven. \u201cThis legislation is about ensuring USDA NRCS policies are farmer-friendly and respect property rights. As we get to work on the next farm bill, we will continue to prioritize efforts to reduce bureaucratic overreach and red tape for landowners.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn North and South Dakota, we are all too familiar with the punitive enforcement of conservation compliance and farmers and private property rights rarely come out on top,\u201d said Cramer. \u201cOur bill provides much-needed reforms for the Natural Resources Conservation Service wetland determinations. It creates a more thorough appeals process, prohibits bureaucrats from being retroactively punitive, and rightly places the burden of proof on the government as opposed to the landowner. I thank Senator Rounds for his leadership and look forward to working with him on these reforms.\u201d\n\nClick HERE for full bill text.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-tester-lead-bipartisan-push-to-protect-and-expand-national-and-tribal-veterans-cemeteries", "Rounds, Tester Lead Bipartisan Push to Protect and Expand National and Tribal Veterans\u2019 Cemeteries", "2022-09-28", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.) introduced bipartisan legislation to support the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration (NCA) in honoring veterans nationwide.\n\n\u201cIt is crucial our veterans are honored with a dignified resting place,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cThis legislation would provide the tools necessary to operate and maintain national and tribal veterans\u2019 cemeteries. It is a small way for us to show gratitude to our veterans and their families, and it will make certain that generations to come will have a peaceful place to visit their loved ones.\u201d\n\n\u201cEnsuring all veterans have a final resting place that honors their service and sacrifice is an important part of preserving their legacy,\u201d said Tester. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill that will deliver national and tribal cemeteries the tools they need, for years to come.\u201d\n\nAmong its many provisions, the National Cemeteries Preservation and Protection Act of 2022 would:\n\nRequire VA to pay plot allowances for Native American veterans buried at tribal veterans\u2019 cemeteries prior to March 15, 2022;\n\nAllow the VA Secretary to designate sections of the national veterans\u2019 cemeteries as green burial sections;\n\nAllow the Department of the Interior to transfer land to VA to expand or establish new national veterans\u2019 cemeteries; and\n\nBan the burial of additional criminals in national veterans\u2019 cemeteries.\n\nClick HERE for full bill text.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=0CD7AA85-5966-4A81-BD00-485BFD2546FD", "Thune: Democrat Policies Make Our Country Less Secure", "2022-09-28", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed how the Democrats\u2019 government-knows-best, out-of-touch policies have helped create 40-year high inflation and numerous other crises that are hurting the American people. Thune noted that our country\u2019s national security, economic security, and energy security have significantly declined under Democrat governance.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, we\u2019re coming up on two years of Democrat governance here in Washington \u2013 two years in which Democrats have controlled Congress and the White House.\n\n\u201cAnd the result of their two years in power is not encouraging.\n\n\u201cEconomic insecurity is rampant.\n\n\u201cOur energy security situation has worsened.\n\n\u201cAnd on the national security front, we\u2019re facing a raging crisis at our southern border \u2013 plus a disturbing increase in violent crime around the country.\n\n\u201cMr. President, if there has been one defining feature of Democrat governance over the past 20 months, it\u2019s inflation.\n\n\u201cWhen President Biden took office, inflation was at 1.4 percent \u2013 well within the target inflation rate of 2 percent.\n\n\u201cBut then Democrats decided to pass a massive, $1.9 trillion spending spree \u2013 the so-called American Rescue Plan Act.\n\n\u201cThe legislation flooded the economy with unnecessary government money.\n\n\u201cAnd the economy overheated as a result.\n\n\u201cInflation quickly began climbing.\n\n\u201cAnd then climbing some more.\n\n\u201cAnd then some more after that.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve now spent six straight months with inflation above 8 percent.\n\n\u201cSix straight months.\n\n\u201cThe last time inflation was this bad, E.T. was about to hit theaters, and we still had more than a year to wait for Return of the Jedi.\n\n\u201c(For those that weren\u2019t around then, that was 40 years ago, in 1982.)\n\n\u201cMr. President, inflation, of course, has meant tremendous economic pain for the American people.\n\n\u201cHuge grocery store bills.\n\n\u201cBig utility bills.\n\n\u201cHigh prices at the pump.\n\n\u201cAmericans are dipping into their savings to make ends meet.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019re cutting back on essentials, or putting basic living expenses on their credit cards.\n\n\u201cIn the month of August alone, inflation cost the average American household a staggering $715.\n\n\u201c$715.\n\n\u201cEven if prices stopped increasing tomorrow, the inflation that we\u2019ve already experienced will cost the average American household more than $8,500 over the next year.\n\n\u201c$8,500.\n\n\u201cMr. President, that is a lot of money.\n\n\u201cA lot.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s a kid\u2019s braces.\n\n\u201cEssential car repairs.\n\n\u201cEssential home repairs.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s the difference between putting something away for the kids\u2019 college, or leaving the education savings account empty.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s the difference between putting money away for retirement or spending every penny on necessities.\n\n\u201cAnd for too many families, that\u2019s the difference between breaking even, or finding themselves in debt or worse.\n\n\u201cAmericans\u2019 economic security has taken a serious hit under Democrat control in Washington.\n\n\u201cAnd there\u2019s little evidence to suggest that things are going to get better any time soon.\n\n\u201cOur economy is weakening.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve posted negative economic growth for each of the past two quarters, and estimates for third-quarter growth are not promising.\n\n\u201cMajor companies have announced job cuts.\n\n\u201cAnd the nonpartisan Conference Board is projecting a recession in the coming months.\n\n\u201cAnd unfortunately the bad news is not confined to inflation or slowdowns in economic growth \u2013 neither of which, I should note, will be helped by Democrats\u2019 misleadingly named Inflation Reduction Act, or by President Biden\u2019s massive student loan giveaway, which the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget notes will, quote, \u2018meaningfully boost inflation.\u2019\n\n\u201cOne major driver of inflation is high energy prices, and we\u2019re facing a concerning situation on the energy front.\n\n\u201cAs every American who has paid an electricity bill or filled up his or her car is well aware, energy has gotten much more expensive in Joe Biden\u2019s America.\n\n\u201cGas prices are up 57 percent since President Biden took office.\n\n\u201cAnd after a temporary decline, they\u2019re on the rise again.\n\n\u201cElectricity prices were up 15.8 percent in August \u2013 the biggest year-over-year increase since August of 1981.\n\n\u201cUtility gas service is up 33 percent.\n\n\u201cAnd Americans are facing high prices to heat their homes this winter.\n\n\u201cAnd while there are multiple reasons for high oil and gas prices, Democrats\u2019 hostility to conventional energy production is contributing to this energy price crisis.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m a big supporter of alternative energy, and have been working for years here in Congress to advance renewable energy technology.\n\n\u201cBut the fact of the matter is, we are still a long way from being able to rely exclusively on alternative energy technologies.\n\n\u201cBut that isn\u2019t something Democrats seem able to accept.\n\n\u201cThey want their Green New Deal future, and they want it now.\n\n\u201cAnd so despite our continued need for oil and gas resources, President Biden has adopted an energy agenda that is hostile to conventional energy production:\n\n\u201cCanceling the Keystone XL pipeline \u2013 an environmentally responsible pipeline project that would have reinforced our energy infrastructure.\n\n\u201cDiscouraging investment in conventional energy.\n\n\u201cLimiting oil and gas leasing.\n\n\u201cThe list goes on.\n\n\u201cAnd I haven\u2019t even mentioned Democrats\u2019 latest measure \u2013 a round of tax hikes on oil and gas companies that will drive up Americans\u2019 energy bills and continue to discourage conventional energy production here at home.\n\n\u201cThe result of all this, Mr. President \u2013 the result of Democrats\u2019 attempt to force an alternative energy future before that future is fully ready \u2013 will be reducing our energy security and prolonging the high energy prices hitting families and businesses.\n\n\u201cMr. President, our nation\u2019s energy security has declined under the Biden administration.\n\n\u201cSo has our national security.\n\n\u201cI came to the floor last week to talk yet again about the raging crisis at our southern border \u2013 a crisis the president and Democrats are apparently content to continue to ignore.\n\n\u201cThe flow of illegal immigration across our southern border has reached record levels, the Border Patrol and border facilities are overwhelmed, and border communities are struggling \u2013 and the president and Democrats could not care less.\n\n\u201cMr. President, border security is an essential part of national security.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s not just individuals hoping for a better life who are attempting to make their way illegally across our southern border.\n\n\u201cAll sorts of dangerous individuals are attempting to make their way across, from gang members to human smugglers to possible terrorists.\n\n\u201cSo far this fiscal year, the Border Patrol has encountered 78 individuals on the terror watch list attempting to cross our southern border illegally.\n\n\u201c78.\n\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s the number of individuals the Border Patrol has managed to apprehend.\n\n\u201cGiven the incredible strain Customs and Border Protection is under, it\u2019s entirely possible that other individuals on the watch list have entered the country without our knowledge.\n\n\u201cOne thing we do know is that illegal drugs are flowing across our southern border \u2013 and contributing to violent crime.\n\n\u201cMy state is almost as far from the southern border as it is possible to get, but the flow of illegal drugs across the southern border has a direct impact on crime in our communities.\n\n\u201cThe sheriff of my home county in South Dakota recently stated that there is a, quote, \u2018direct connection between a high percentage of our violent crimes [in Minnehaha County] to the use and distribution of illegal drugs, in particular the drugs that are poisoning our community.\u2019\n\n\u201cA substantial part of those drugs, he noted, are coming from Mexican cartels across the southern border.\n\n\u201cMr. President, there\u2019s a lot more to say about the way our nation\u2019s security has declined over the past two years.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s the increase in violent crime \u2013 an increase undoubtedly driven in part by \u201cwoke\u201d Democrat prosecutors\u2019 lax attitude toward serious crime and Democrats\u2019 willingness to accommodate the defund the police movement.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s our botched withdrawal from Afghanistan \u2013 a national security debacle that weakened our standing internationally and emboldened terrorists and the Taliban.\n\n\u201cAnd there are the president\u2019s ill-conceived plans for a nuclear deal with Iran.\n\n\u201cBut I\u2019ll stop here.\n\n\u201cSuffice it to say that it\u2019s been a rough couple of years under Democrat governance \u2013 on both the economic and security fronts.\n\n\u201cAnd if Democrats get a chance to continue with their policies, I expect the situation will continue to get worse.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:29:59Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=19BFBFFD-D2EA-4B44-8337-244D02605345", "Thune, Cardin Introduce Bill to Prohibit Name, Image, and Likeness Tax Write-Offs for College Sports", "2022-09-28", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Taxation and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Oversight, and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a member of the Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight, today introduced the Athlete Opportunity and Taxpayer Integrity Act. This bipartisan legislation would prohibit individuals and organizations from using the charitable tax deduction for specific contributions that compensate college or incoming college athletes for the use of their name, image, and likeness (NIL).\n\n\u201cCollege athletes have the ability to benefit from opportunities related to their own name, image, and likeness, but outside organizations and collectives should not be able to write contributions off their taxes that are used to compensate athletes,\u201d said Thune. \u201cThis common-sense legislation would prohibit these entities from inappropriately using NIL agreements to reduce their own tax obligations. These basic taxpayer guardrails would protect athletes, strengthen NIL, and uphold the responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn this new NIL era, we want to ensure that the opportunities available for student athletes to benefit from their own name, image and likeness are protected,\u201d said Cardin. \u201cWe also have an obligation to protect taxpayer funds, which means that charitable deductions should be reserved for charitable activities. Purposefully blurring the line between private expenses and charitable contributions dilutes both these efforts.\u201d\n\nSince the recent adoption of the National Collegiate Athletic Association\u2019s NIL rules, certain organizations have established models that facilitate payment to current and incoming college athletes while claiming 501(c)(3) charitable status, which make those specific contributions tax deductible. Such activity is inconsistent with the intended purpose of the charitable tax deduction, and it forces taxpayers to subsidize the potential recruitment of \u2013 or payment to \u2013 college athletes based on their NIL status.\n\nThe Athlete Opportunity and Taxpayer Integrity Act would apply to individuals, organizations, and \u201ccollectives\u201d (organizations that pool financial resources and direct funds to athletes to profit from their NIL). Educational institutions would be exempt from the legislation.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:29:59Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=E013D04E-CB11-4D29-9651-DA1DC2CA78B1", "Thune Introduces Bill to Stop Automakers From Double-Dipping in Electric Vehicle Subsidies", "2022-09-23", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) recently introduced the Ending Duplicative Subsidies for Electric Vehicles Act, legislation that would prohibit the automobile industry from double-dipping on federal subsidies, specifically electric vehicle (EV) tax credits, grants, and loans for EV manufacturing. The bill would require stakeholders to choose between receiving manufacturing loans or grants to lower the cost of EV production or having the vehicles they manufacture remain eligible for the new EV credits under the so-called \u201cInflation Reduction Act\u201d (IRA).\n\n\u201cAmerican automakers have been on the receiving end of historic amounts of taxpayer money, yet we see them raising vehicle prices right when they\u2019re preparing to receive even more government support,\u201d said Thune. \u201cMy common-sense bill would make automakers choose between grants and loans that subsidize their manufacturing operations or having the vehicles they make remain eligible for the expanded electric vehicle tax credit. Automakers shouldn\u2019t be able to double-dip at taxpayers\u2019 expense.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s proven that government subsidies drive up inflation and do more harm than good to the industries they are supposed to benefit,\u201d said Brent Gardner, chief government affairs officer at Americans for Prosperity. \u201cThe 'Inflation Reduction Act' doubles down on the subsidy boondoggle that has been plaguing Congress for years with handouts to EV companies at the expense of American taxpayers. There\u2019s no reason someone making $50,000 a year should be subsidizing their neighbor\u2019s $50,000 car. At the very least Congress should correct this absurd double-dipping provision, but an even better idea would be to end these subsidies altogether and quit playing favorites for political gain.\"\n\nThe bill was co-sponsored by U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.).\n\nThe IRA extends the consumer tax credit of up to $7,500 for new electric vehicles, and it also provides $40 billion in loan authority for the Department of Energy Loan Programs Office, which can make loan guarantees for the manufacture of fuel-efficient vehicles or parts of those vehicles, including EVs and advanced diesel vehicles. The IRA also directly subsidizes auto manufacturing through grants and loans.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:29:59Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=58C4C5B7-3282-495B-97CE-1038692BDAF4", "Thune: Democrats\u2019 Hostility to All-of-the-Above Energy Strategy Fuels High Prices", "2022-09-22", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed how the so-called \u201cInflation Reduction Act\u201d will further erode America\u2019s energy security and do nothing to help alleviate the economic pain from which many Americans are already suffering as a result of high energy prices.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, high energy prices \u2013 like high grocery prices \u2013 have become a distinguishing feature of the Biden economy.\n\n\u201cElectricity prices increased 15.8 percent in August \u2013 the largest year-over-year increase since 1981.\n\n\u201c1981.\n\n\u201cI wasn\u2019t even married the last time we saw an electricity increase like this.\n\n\u201cNow I have grandchildren.\n\n\u201cUtility gas service was up 33 percent from a year ago in August.\n\n\u201c33 percent.\n\n\u201cAnd the price of home heating oil \u2013 which many households in places like New Hampshire rely on to keep their homes warm in the winter \u2013 has soared.\n\n\u201cAll told, the National Energy Assistance Directors\u2019 Association estimates that home heating costs for the winter heating season will average $1,202 \u2013 a 17.2 percent increase from last season.\n\n\u201cAnd I haven\u2019t even mentioned gas prices.\n\n\u201cGas prices may have decreased from their $5.00 high this summer \u2013 partly as a result of President Biden\u2019s problematic decision to draw down our nation\u2019s emergency petroleum reserves to their lowest point since 1985 with no plan to refill them \u2013 but customers are still paying $1.30 more per gallon than they were when President Biden took office.\n\n\u201cAnd the average price for a gallon of gas has increased this week, ending a streak of diminishing \u2013 although still high \u2013 gas prices.\n\n\u201cMr. President, if there\u2019s one thing we should be doing about high energy prices, it\u2019s increasing our domestic energy supply \u2013 including our supply of conventional energy, namely oil and natural gas.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m a longtime supporter of alternative energy, and I come from a state that derives a substantial portion of its electricity generation from wind.\n\n\u201cIn fact, in 2021, over 50 percent of our state\u2019s power generation came from wind, and 30 percent came from hydroelectric on the Missouri River.\n\n\u201cBut if it weren\u2019t for traditional fossil fuels backing up that generation, especially on days when the wind is still, we\u2019d be left in the dark.\n\n\u201cThe fact of the matter is, no matter how much Democrats might wish it were otherwise, alternative energy technology has simply not advanced to the point where our country can rely exclusively on alternative energy.\n\n\u201cAnd attempting to pretend we\u2019ve advanced further than we have, or have solved all the requisite supply chain hurdles, will lead to nothing but economic pain for American families.\n\n\u201cJust look at California, whose overreliance on alternative energy technology has resulted in an electricity grid that cannot sustain the demands being placed on it.\n\n\u201cCalifornians were recently asked to ration their energy usage and refrain from charging electric cars during certain hours to reduce strain on the grid.\n\n\u201cAnd yet the state has issued a final regulation that will require all new cars sold in the state to be electric or otherwise zero-emission by 2035.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t see this ending well for Californians.\n\n\u201cAnd this is the kind of unrealistic thinking that has permeated pretty much the entire Democrat Party.\n\n\u201cI am all for advancing clean energy technologies.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve done a lot of work here in Congress to advance clean energy, from renewable fuels to wind energy.\n\n\u201cBut until clean energy technology has advanced to the point where it can truly, reliably, and affordably supply Americans\u2019 energy needs, we need to continue to invest in responsible conventional energy production as part of the all-of-the-above energy strategy we need.\n\n\u201cOtherwise the high energy prices Americans are struggling with right now could get even worse \u2026 and persist long into the future.\n\n\u201cPresident Biden, of course, has been discouraging conventional energy production since day one \u2013 which is one reason why high energy prices have become a defining feature of the Biden administration.\n\n\u201cFrom canceling the Keystone XL pipeline to discouraging investment in conventional energy with a targeted ESG agenda to making it more difficult for oil and gas companies to develop leases, President Biden has shown a distinct hostility to conventional energy.\n\n\u201cLast month, the president signed into law the so-called Inflation Reduction Act \u2013 the partisan tax-and-spending spree Democrats jammed through Congress in August.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve mentioned the high energy prices Americans have been experiencing.\n\n\u201cWell, apparently Democrats think that the best solution to that is to pass a bunch of new fees and tax hikes \u2026 that will drive up energy prices.\n\n\u201cTheir so-called Inflation Reduction Act includes a slate of taxes on conventional energy production at the worst possible time.\n\n\u201cThe methane fee in their bill alone has the potential to drive up Americans\u2019 natural gas bills by 17 percent.\n\n\u201c17 percent.\n\n\u201cJust what Americans need while they\u2019re paying 15.8 percent more for electricity and 33 percent more for utility gas service and $1.30 more for every gallon of gas \u2026\n\n\u201cBut at least Americans can feel good about the fact that their tax dollars will be going to fund Democrats\u2019 Green New Deal fantasies \u2013 like tax credits for wealthy Americans to purchase electric vehicles.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s right.\n\n\u201cThe so-called Inflation Reduction Act \u2013 which, by the way, even the Democrat chairman of the Senate Budget Committee admits will do nothing to fix inflation \u2013 pours hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars into Green New Deal priorities.\n\n\u201cIn addition to tax credits for wealthy Americans, the Inflation Reduction Act also includes funding for things like expensive electric vehicles for the U.S. Postal Service, mitigating urban heat island hot spots and monitoring gaps in tree canopy coverage, and climate-related political activity.\n\n\u201cYes.\n\n\u201cClimate-related political activity.\n\n\u201cMr. President, Democrats succeeded in pushing through the Inflation Reduction Act \u2013 and its tax hikes on conventional energy \u2013 by promising one of their members a vote on permitting reform legislation.\n\n\u201cNow, real permitting reform is something I heartily endorse.\n\n\u201cToo many energy permits spend years mired in bureaucracy, leading to completely needless delays in energy development.\n\n\u201cCleaning up the permitting process would help advance both conventional and renewable energy production.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, it\u2019s not clear that the permitting reform deal that was released last night will do anything to meaningfully address permitting delays\u2014and in some cases, could make things worse.\n\n\u201cFor one, it would expand FERC\u2019s authority to override state jurisdiction for projects the president designates as \u2018national interest facilities,\u2019 which is why the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission is opposed to it.\n\n\u201cAnd it would give states wide latitude to kill the very infrastructure projects the bill purports to expedite by expanding state Clean Water Act jurisdiction.\n\n\u201cIn other sections where this proposal seeks to shorten deadlines for various stages of permitting, which is a goal I support, the consequences for not meeting a deadline are merely notifying the Office of Management and Budget and the lead department secretary.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s hard to see this actually moving the chains, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cAnd on top of that, it\u2019s starting to seem extremely doubtful that Democrats actually have the votes in their conference to pass permitting reform legislation.\n\n\u201cRepublicans, thanks to the efforts of Senator Capito, have a meaningful, substantive permitting reform bill ready to go.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s supported by every member of our conference.\n\n\u201cAnd it would need the support of just 10 Democrat senators to pass.\n\n\u201cIt would be nice to think that there are 10 moderate Democrat senators \u2013 if the words Democrat and moderate can still go together in this time of the Democrat Party\u2019s rapid rush to the extreme left \u2013 who would be willing to join Republicans to pass our legislation and finally take a real step to ease the burden of high energy prices on American families.\n\n\u201cBut given the president\u2019s \u2013 and the Democrat Party\u2019s \u2013 hostility to any measure that would genuinely start addressing high energy prices, I\u2019m not holding my breath.\n\n\u201cMr. President, high prices \u2013 for energy and just about everything else \u2013 have become the distinguishing feature of the Biden economy.\n\n\u201cAnd if Democrats continue to take steps to discourage conventional energy production, high energy prices will be a Democrat legacy that lasts long into the future.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:29:59Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=A0ABC484-5C44-44E5-AB3D-CBEAD2468909", "Thune, Rounds, Johnson Introduce Bill to Reform Indian Health Service, Increase Accountability and Transparency", "2022-09-22", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) introduced the Restoring Accountability in the Indian Health Service Act of 2022. A lack of oversight, financial integrity, unmet staffing needs, and employee accountability at the Indian Health Service (IHS) has led to the delivery of substandard health care for patients, families, and communities. This bicameral legislation would increase transparency and accountability at the IHS to ensure Native Americans have access to reliable, quality health care.\n\n\u201cOur bill would make several critical improvements to the delivery of care at IHS facilities in South Dakota and around the country, and it would hold IHS accountable to Congress and, more importantly, the tribal members they serve,\u201d said Thune. \u201cI look forward to continuing to work with members of the South Dakota tribes and my colleagues in Congress to do everything we can to fix the severely broken IHS system once and for all.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor far too long, the Indian Health Service has failed to provide adequate and reliable health care to tribal members,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cThis legislation would work to reform IHS to increase accountability and transparency at the agency. Real change needs to happen so IHS can deliver the care the federal government has a trust and treaty obligation to provide to tribal members.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur tribal communities deserve access to efficient, safe, and high-quality care through the IHS,\u201d said Johnson. \u201cThe Restoring Accountability in the Indian Health Service Act modernizes the IHS credentialing system and allows IHS to more quickly remove employees who have a history of misconduct. I am proud to advocate and support South Dakota\u2019s tribes along with my Senate colleagues to ensure that shortcomings of the IHS are addressed and remedied.\u201d\n\nThe bill was led by U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and was co-sponsored by U.S. Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), and John Hoeven (R-N.D.).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:29:59Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-b-21-raider-bomber-to-be-publicly-unveiled-in-december", "Rounds: B-21 Raider Bomber to be Publicly Unveiled in December", "2022-09-21", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Published: 09.21.2022\n\nRounds: B-21 Raider Bomber to be Publicly Unveiled in December\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today issued a statement on the timeline of the B-21 Raider bomber.\n\n\u201cThe B-21 Raider bomber will play a crucial role in the defense of our nation and have a major impact on the Rapid City area for the next 50 years,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cI was pleased to see the progress on the B-21 when I visited the production facility in July. Soon the public will see this stealth bomber. I am looking forward to the public unveiling during the first week of December in Palmdale, California.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nAs governor, Rounds successfully advocated for the removal of Ellsworth Air Force Base (AFB) from the Department of Defense\u2019s proposed closure list during a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round in 2005. Following that effort, he led a legislative effort to establish the South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority (SDEDA). Now a permanent fixture, the SDEDA\u2019s mission is to protect, strengthen and promote the base.\n\nIn March 2019, the Air Force announced Ellsworth AFB was the preferred location for the first home of the B-21 Raider bomber.\n\nIn December 2019, Rounds, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, secured full funding for the B-21 bomber program with the signing of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020.\n\nIn January 2021, Rounds\u2019 provision to address the Air Force\u2019s bomber shortfall, which directly supports B-21 bomber program and Ellsworth AFB, became law as part of the NDAA for FY 2021.\n\nIn June 2021, Rounds announced that Ellsworth AFB would officially be the Air Force\u2019s first base to receive the new B-21.\n\nIn December 2021, Rounds secured key B-21 funding in the NDAA for FY 2022. In anticipation of the B-21 arrival, funding included construction at Ellsworth Air Force Base (AFB) and continued B-21 development.\n\nIn July 2022, Rounds visited the B-21 production facility in Palmdale, California and reported the project was on time and on budget.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-nominates-the-hughes-family-of-sioux-falls-for-angels-in-adoption-award-", "Rounds Nominates the Hughes Family of Sioux Falls for Angels in Adoption Award", "2022-09-21", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) announced that he has nominated John and Beth Hughes for the 2022 Angels in Adoption Award, presented by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption (CCAI).\n\nJohn and Beth Hughes have a passion for helping women who choose adoption. Their adoption practice, Heart2Heart Adoptions, which is a part of Hughes Law Office in Sioux Falls, began more than thirty years ago when John was asked by friends to help with the interstate adoption of twin girls. John said that he had never done an adoption before and was promptly told, \u201cWell, then you better learn.\u201d While John provides the legal expertise and counsel, Beth has a remarkable ability to ask the tough questions of expectant mothers and hopeful adopting parents in the most loving of ways.\n\nTheir greatest reward is having a birth mother they helped in the past come back and tell them that adoption was one of the hardest, but best, decisions in her life. They cherish watching the children grow through the years and love receiving Christmas photos and graduation announcements. In their 31 years of adoption practice, they have assisted with over 500 adoptions in 45 states. John has been admitted to practice in the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Court for more than 20 years, and he has had successful adoption experiences with all nine Sioux tribes.\n\nJohn and Beth are blessed with highly-skilled and caring staff who support their adoption work at every step: Jeryl, Mary, Angi and Mel. John and Beth have three grown sons, two daughters-in-law and three grandchildren.\n\n\u201cI am honored to nominate John and Beth for this year\u2019s Angels in Adoption Award,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cJohn and Beth have brought numerous families together and have touched the lives of so many. Over 500 adoptions in 45 states is a remarkable accomplishment, and their dedication continues to have a positive impact on our state.\u201d\n\nRounds is a member of the CCAI. Each year, members of Congress are invited to nominate an outstanding family or organization from their state to receive an Angels in Adoption award. CCAI is a 501(c)3 nonpartisan organization dedicated to raising awareness about the tens of thousands of orphans and foster children in the United States and the millions of orphans around the world in need of permanent, safe and loving homes through adoption. For more information, visit CCAI\u2019s website.\n\nRounds is currently accepting applications for the 2023 Angels in Adoption Award. For more information, please visit rounds.senate.gov/adoption.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=4150AEA2-6656-46CC-95B2-318F80BB6BAC", "Thune: South Dakotans Shouldn\u2019t Foot the Bill for Democrats\u2019 Radical Agenda", "2022-09-21", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed how the so-called \u201cInflation Reduction Act\u201d imposes new taxes on businesses in order to pay for Democrats\u2019 radical climate agenda. Thune noted that this new tax burden will largely fall on workers and consumers in the form of fewer jobs and opportunities, lower wages, and higher prices.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, on Sunday the president appeared on \u201860 Minutes,\u2019 where he was asked what he was going to do to help alleviate inflation in light of August\u2019s continued grim inflation news and the resulting stock market nosedive.\n\n\u201cThe president\u2019s response?\n\n\u201c\u2018Well, first of all, let\u2019s put this in perspective. Inflation rate month to month was just \u2013 just an inch, hardly at all.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Let\u2019s put this in perspective.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. President, that might be something to say if the inflation rate had ticked up from, say, 2 percent \u2013 the target inflation rate \u2013 to 2.1 percent.\n\n\u201cBut I\u2019m pretty sure that\u2019s not the appropriate thing to say when you\u2019re talking about the sixth straight month of inflation above 8 percent.\n\n\u201cAnd the ninth straight month of inflation at or above 7 percent.\n\n\u201cAnd the 11th straight month of inflation above 6 percent.\n\n\u201cAnd even more concerning than August\u2019s consumer price index rising 8.3 percent from the same month a year ago was the increase in core inflation \u2013 a measure of inflation minus the volatile categories of food and energy.\n\n\u201cThis measure increased to 6.3 percent in August, up from 5.9 percent in both June and July, suggesting that inflation is sinking its roots even deeper into various sectors of our economy.\n\n\u201cOr in the words of a CNBC headline from last week, \u2018Inflation isn\u2019t just about fuel costs anymore, as price increases broaden across the economy.\u2019\n\n\u201cBut of course you don\u2019t have to take my word for it about the mess we\u2019re in.\n\n\u201cHere\u2019s what one of President Obama\u2019s top economic advisers had to say last week after August\u2019s inflation numbers came out:\n\n\u201c\u2018Today\u2019s CPI report confirms that the US has a serious inflation problem. Core inflation is higher this month than for the quarter, higher this quarter than last quarter, higher this half of the year than the previous one, and higher last year than the previous one.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Let\u2019s put this in perspective.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. President, here is the American people\u2019s perspective:\n\n\u201cFifty-seven percent of Americans disapprove of President Biden\u2019s handling of the economy.\n\n\u201cAnd 37 percent of voters say that President Biden\u2019s policies have hurt them personally, versus just 15 percent of voters who say his policies have helped them.\n\n\u201cThese numbers are no surprise, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cThe president may somehow still believe that he\u2019s creating an economy that will \u201cwork for working families,\u201d but the reality is that in the Biden economy working Americans are suffering.\n\n\u201cAmericans\u2019 utility bills are soaring.\n\n\u201cTheir grocery bills have ballooned.\n\n\u201cAnd they\u2019re paying $1.30 more per gallon every time they fill up their car than they were when President Biden was elected.\n\n\u201cReal wages have dropped every single month since Democrats passed their $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan spending spree \u2013 the bill that helped plunge our economy into our current inflation crisis.\n\n\u201cAnd 40 percent of Americans report having difficulty paying for their normal household expenses.\n\n\u201cAmericans are dipping into their savings or working side jobs to make ends meet.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019re charging more day-to-day expenses on their credit cards.\n\n\u201cAnd in too many cases they\u2019re having to visit food banks, which are seeing huge lines again thanks to continued high inflation.\n\n\u201cAnd what are Democrats and the president doing about this?\n\n\u201cNothing.\n\n\u201cOf course, last month Democrats did pass a bill called the Inflation Reduction Act.\n\n\u201cThe problem?\n\n\u201cThe bill will do nothing to reduce inflation.\n\n\u201cNothing.\n\n\u201cAnd again, you don\u2019t have to take my word for it.\n\n\u201cThe nonpartisan Penn Wharton Budget Model said this about the bill\u2019s impact on inflation: \u2018The impact on inflation is statistically indistinguishable from zero.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Statistically indistinguishable from zero.\u2019\n\n\u201cOr you could take the word of the Democrat chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, who admitted right here on the Senate floor that the so-called Inflation Reduction Act would not reduce inflation.\n\n\u201cBut it\u2019s not just that Democrats have done nothing to help solve our inflation crisis.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019re also on track to make Americans\u2019 economic situation significantly worse.\n\n\u201cIn August, President Biden announced a massive student loan giveaway that could cost anywhere from an estimated $500 billion to more than $1 trillion, and that the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget notes would, quote, \u2018meaningfully boost inflation.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Meaningfully boost inflation.\u2019\n\n\u201cOr as the president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget recently put it:\n\n\u201c\u2018Amid 40-year-high inflation and despite the administration constantly touting its \u2018fiscal responsibility,\u2019 these changes will recklessly add to the debt and make the Federal Reserve\u2019s job in fighting inflation even harder, which will amplify our risk of entering a recession.\u2019\n\n\u201cInflation has spent eight straight months at 40-year highs, and the president has decided that now is a good time to implement a policy that will, quote, \u201cmeaningfully boost inflation.\u201d\n\n\u201cMr. President, the economy continues to show signs of weakening, driven in large part by the inflation crisis Democrats helped create.\n\n\u201cMajor companies have recently announced job cuts.\n\n\u201cSixty-three percent of small businesses are putting a hold on hiring, and 10 percent of those are cutting jobs.\n\n\u201cAnd we\u2019ve had negative economic growth for the past two quarters.\n\n\u201cAnd so naturally Democrats decided this was a good time to raise taxes on businesses.\n\n\u201cYes.\n\n\u201cDemocrats\u2019 so-called Inflation Reduction Act imposes new taxes on businesses to help pay for Democrats\u2019 Green New Deal spending.\n\n\u201cI say taxes on businesses.\n\n\u201cBut of course, taxes on businesses largely fall on workers and consumers in the form of fewer jobs and opportunities, lower wages, and higher prices.\n\n\u201cIn other words, pretty much the exact opposite of what we need right now, with prices soaring and wages failing to keep pace with inflation.\n\n\u201cThe Inflation Reduction Act also imposes new taxes on energy that will drive up energy prices for both American families and American businesses \u2013 imposing further pain on family budgets and likely prolonging our inflation crisis even further.\n\n\u201cMr. President, the president may have wanted to build an economy \u201cfrom the bottom up and the middle out.\u201d\n\n\u201cInstead, he and his fellow Democrats have helped create an economy in which working families are struggling to make it from one paycheck to the next.\n\n\u201cAnd thanks to the additional tax-and-spending policies Democrats have recently implemented, working families are likely to be struggling for some time to come.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:29:59Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=AF529859-1F98-40D6-84FA-546C4C37431F", "Thune: Biden\u2019s Open-Border Policies Fuel Record-Breaking Surge of Illegal Crossings", "2022-09-20", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here or on the picture above to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed how the Biden administration\u2019s disastrous open-border policies have enabled out-of-control illegal immigration and created an unprecedented humanitarian and security crisis at the southern border. Thune noted that there were more than 2 million individuals apprehended attempting to illegally cross the southern border in the last fiscal year alone, the highest number ever recorded.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, last Friday, President Biden said the following during a speech: \u2018And we have a process in place to manage migrants at the border. We\u2019re working to make sure it\u2019s safe and orderly and humane.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Safe and orderly and humane.\u2019\n\n\u201cI have to ask, has the president visited the border lately?\n\n\u201cOh, that\u2019s right, he hasn\u2019t.\n\n\u201cIn fact, other than a drive-by of the border when he was a candidate for vice-president \u2013 and by drive-by, I mean his motorcade literally drove by \u2013 the president has never visited the border.\n\n\u201cNever.\n\n\u201cAlthough I have to say, even reading the news should be enough to make it clear to the president that the situation at the border is neither safe, nor orderly, nor humane.\n\n\u201cMr. President, in case the president isn\u2019t clear about what\u2019s happening at the border, let me just read from one news story from last week \u2013 this one from NBC News.\n\n\u201c\u2018A new surge of migrants \u2026 is overwhelming the Border Patrol and shelters in El Paso, Texas, where nearly 1,000 have been released near bus stations over the past week in hope that they will find their own way to their next destinations in the U.S.\u2019\n\n\u201cHere\u2019s the title of another, grim news article from last week: \u2018Texas border town requests refrigerators to store migrant bodies after drownings overwhelm mortuaries.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Texas border town requests refrigerators to store migrant bodies after drownings overwhelm mortuaries.\u2019\n\n\u201cAnd yet another news outlet reported: \u2018El Paso County Sheriff sounds alarm over Border Patrol overwhelmed due to migrants.\u2019\n\n\u201cThat article goes on to say, and I quote: \u2018Sheriff Richard Wiles stated Thursday, \u2018This incident raises a law enforcement concern because Border Patrol is so overwhelmed, undocumented immigrants may be released into communities with minimal or no screening.\u2019\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. President, does any of this make the situation at the border sound safe, or orderly, or humane?\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t think so.\n\n\u201cMr. President, the Biden administration has been characterized by record-breaking waves of illegal immigration across our southern border.\n\n\u201cAnd I mean \u2018record-breaking\u2019 quite literally.\n\n\u201cIn fiscal year 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection apprehended more than 1.7 million individuals attempting to cross our southern border illegally \u2013 the highest number of apprehensions ever recorded.\n\n\u201cAnd as for fiscal year 2022 \u2013 well, we exceeded last year\u2019s record-breaking number of apprehensions in June.\n\n\u201cThe final count of apprehensions for fiscal year 2022 will be well over 2 million.\n\n\u201cAnd, Mr. President, those numbers only count migrants who were actually apprehended.\n\n\u201cCBS News reports that there were, quote, \u2018an estimated 660,000 successful unlawful border entries that did not end in an arrest in fiscal year 2021, according to unpublished DHS figures.\u2019\n\n\u201c660,000.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I don\u2019t have to tell anyone \u2013 except maybe congressional Democrats and the White House \u2013 that these kinds of numbers have resulted in scenes of near chaos at the southern border.\n\n\u201cShelters have been overwhelmed, border facilities have been overwhelmed, the Border Patrol has been overwhelmed \u2026\n\n\u201cWho can forget the scene of 10,000 migrants camped under a bridge in Del Rio, Texas, last September?\n\n\u201cAnd just in case anyone is thinking things at the border have substantially calmed down, here\u2019s yet another headline from this month, this one from the Dallas Morning News, and I quote:\n\n\u201c\u2018Overcrowded processing center has Border Patrol releasing more migrants on El Paso streets: Migrants are being released from a facility filled at 3 times its capacity.\u2019\n\n\u201cThree times its capacity.\n\n\u201cMr. President, over the past few months, the governors of Texas and Arizona have been sending some illegal migrants to places like New York City and Washington, D.C.\n\n\u201cThere has been a predictable outcry.\n\n\u201cBut what is so striking about this situation is how upset these places seem to have become when dealing with just a tiny fraction of the situation that border communities and border states have to deal with on a daily basis.\n\n\u201cWashington, D.C., declared a state of emergency.\n\n\u201cThe New York City mayor was outraged.\n\n\u201cMr. President, while I\u2019m in no way dismissing the challenges of dealing with thousands of illegal immigrants, let me just put this situation in perspective for a minute.\n\n\u201cWashington, D.C., a city of around 700,000, has received somewhere around 9,400 migrants over a span of five months.\n\n\u201cNew York City \u2013 a city of around 8.4 million \u2013 hasn\u2019t even received as many as D.C.\n\n\u201cCompare that with the situation in Eagle Pass, Texas \u2013 a town with a population of just 29,000 \u2013 which sees 10,000 migrants a week.\n\n\u201cA week.\n\n\u201cMr. President, for a party that likes to pride itself on compassion, the lack of compassion Democrats and the White House display on this issue is really astounding.\n\n\u201cEven after catching a tiny glimpse of what it\u2019s like to deal with an influx of illegal immigration, Democrats have apparently zero compassion for the border communities and states that have to somehow manage the arrival of thousands of illegal immigrants on a daily basis \u2013 along with all the logistical and security challenges that involves.\n\n\u201cAnd there are real security challenges.\n\n\u201cCertainly many of the migrants crossing our southern border illegally are simply looking for a better life \u2013 even if they\u2019re trying to circumvent legal pathways to enter \u2013 but there are also a lot of potentially dangerous individuals coming across our border and passing through border communities.\n\n\u201cGang members. Drug traffickers. Human smugglers. And other criminals.\n\n\u201cIn one recent week, Border Patrol agents in the Rio Grande Valley Sector along the southern border arrested 21 gang members, two sex offenders, and three migrants with prior convictions for various crimes.\n\n\u201cAnd the White House and Democrats don\u2019t just display a lack of compassion for border communities.\n\n\u201cThey also display a real lack of compassion for the individuals attempting to enter our country illegally.\n\n\u201cThere is nothing compassionate about an immigration policy that encourages individuals to come here illegally \u2013 with all the risks that entails.\n\n\u201cMr. President, earlier I mentioned a border town that was seeking increased morgue facilities because it was dealing with the bodies of so many individuals who had drowned while attempting to enter this country.\n\n\u201cDeaths at the southern border have surged under the Biden administration \u2013 undoubtedly because the administration\u2019s lax immigration policies and obvious lack of concern about securing the border have encouraged individuals to attempt to come here illegally.\n\n\u201cAccording to Department of Homeland Security numbers that have been reported, 748 migrants have died at our southern border so far this fiscal year.\n\n\u201cThat is a lot of lives lost, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cA lot of lives.\n\n\u201cMr. President, one illegal immigrant speaking to a news outlet this month said of the border, and I quote, \u2018It\u2019s open, not closed. The border is open. \u2026 Everybody believes that the border is open. It\u2019s open because we enter, we come in, free. No problem.\u2019\n\n\u201cThat is the message that President Biden\u2019s immigration policies have conveyed.\n\n\u201cAnd the longer he continues with his de facto open-border policies, the more individuals are going to be encouraged to attempt the dangerous journey across our southern border.\n\n\u201cMr. President, the massive spending package \u2013 the so-called Inflation Reduction Act \u2013 that Democrats shoved through the Senate last month contained hundreds of billions for Democrats\u2019 Green New Deal priorities \u2013 like tax credits for wealthy Americans to buy electric cars and more than $60 billion for \u201cenvironmental justice priorities.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere was also, of course, an $80 billion funding infusion for the IRS \u2013 a majority of it allocated for more IRS audits and increased enforcement, including the hiring of additional IRS agents.\n\n\u201cNowhere were there any resources for addressing the crisis that has been raging for more than a year now at our southern border.\n\n\u201cDuring debate on the bill, Republicans gave Democrats five opportunities to vote for amendments aimed at providing resources to secure the border.\n\n\u201cDemocrats rejected all of them.\n\n\u201cApparently Democrats are willing to spend a lot of time and effort \u2013 and government money \u2013 on their Green New Deal and finding new ways to collect taxpayer dollars to help fund their big-government spending plans.\n\n\u201cBut when it comes to protecting Americans and ensuring a humane situation at our southern border, Democrats just can\u2019t be bothered.\n\n\u201cMr. President, the situation at our southern border is appalling.\n\n\u201cAnd if the president really had any interest in making the process at the border \u201csafe, orderly, and humane,\u201d he\u2019d be making securing our southern border a priority.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, given his record so far, I think it\u2019s more likely that we\u2019ll see the scenes of chaos \u2013 and human suffering \u2013 continue.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:29:59Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-encourages-high-school-seniors-to-submit-applications-for-nomination-to-us-service-academies-", "Rounds Encourages High School Seniors to Submit Applications for Nomination to U.S. Service Academies", "2022-09-16", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) is currently accepting applications from high school seniors who are looking to attend a U.S. service academy after graduation.\n\n\u201cEach year, I am honored to nominate our nation\u2019s future military leaders to U.S. service academies,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cBy attending an academy, not only will students have the opportunity to serve our nation and help lead the best military in the world, but they will receive an excellent education at a top-notch institution. I encourage young South Dakotans looking to answer the call of duty to consider applying to one of our service academies.\u201d\n\nApplications for the 2023-2024 freshman class (Class of 2027) are due by October 1, 2022. Nominations are available for the following institutions: the United States Air Force Academy, United States Military Academy at West Point, United States Naval Academy at Annapolis and United States Merchant Marine Academy. Those interested in learning about the academy application process can reach out to Senator Rounds\u2019 Sioux Falls office at (605) 336-0486 or Academy_Nominations@rounds.senate.gov.\n\nAn informational packet and the application packet can be found on Senator Rounds\u2019 website at https://www.rounds.senate.gov/constituents/academy-nominations.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-introduces-bill-to-remove-burdensome-regulations-on-american-trucking-industry-", "Rounds Introduces Bill to Remove Burdensome Regulations on American Trucking Industry", "2022-09-15", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today introduced legislation that would remove burdensome government regulations, which are impacting the agricultural industry, school districts and trucking companies in South Dakota.\n\nIn 2012, then-President Obama signed into law legislation that set in motion a new rule that created a requirement for Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT). The final rulemaking went into effect earlier this year. All new drivers who wish to obtain their Commercial Driver\u2019s License (CDL) must now complete ELDT, adding a burdensome requirement at a time when the American Trucking Association estimates a nationwide trucker shortage of 80,000 drivers. Additionally, this requirement is costly and time consuming. ELDT training classes range from $450 to $8,500, depending on the trainer, and can take anywhere from three days to 20 days to complete.\n\nRounds\u2019 legislation, the Trucking Regulations Unduly Constricting Known Service-providers (TRUCKS) Act, would allow states to issue a new \u201cSmall Business Restricted CDL\u201d so ELDT requirements would not affect small businesses with nine CDLs or less. This would make certain any driver obtaining a CDL without completing the ELDT process could not switch to a larger company and bring a \u201cSmall Business Restricted CDL\u201d with them. Further, it would protect small businesses from these constricting regulations so they can fill their positions in a timely manner and remain competitive in the industry. Additionally, the TRUCKS Act would allow states to exempt employees of agriculture-related industries, school districts and local units of governments (including county, municipal and tribal), from ELDT requirements to obtain their CDL.\n\n\u201cAt a time when our nation is in a recession and faced with worker shortages and supply chain issues, American businesses should not have to battle the heavy hand of government,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cWe should be working on policies to help our producers and consumers, not hurt them. This legislation eases the burden on small trucking companies, agricultural producers, school districts and local units of government. It also gives power back to the states so they can decide their own rules of the road.\u201d\n\nThis legislation is supported by the Associated School Boards of South Dakota and has been endorsed by the U.S. Custom Harvesters.\n\n\u201cWhile we understand the need for CDL standards, the new rules have a significant effect on local school districts trying to hire bus drivers,\u201d said Wade Pogany, Executive Director of Associated School Boards of South Dakota. \u201cIn rural areas school bus drivers are hard to find. We are grateful to Senator Rounds who understands the needs of rural states. The exemptions he has proposed will be beneficial for schools.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re appreciative of Senator Rounds for recognizing the burden of duplicative regulation on our industry,\u201d said JC Schemper, USCHI board president and co-owner of Schemper Harvesting, a multi-generation family owned and operated custom harvesting business. \u201cThe additional time and financial investment required by ELDT creates obstacles for harvesters to meet the demand of farmers. We support safety measures, however, when each state has existing strict safety measures and regulations in place that our members comply with, ELDT is unnecessary bureaucratic red tape.\u201d\n\nThis bill has been cosponsored by Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.).\n\n\u201cAt a time when we already have a shortage of drivers and continued supply chain constraints, the FMCSA\u2019s new training requirements impose higher costs and discourage new drivers from entering the workforce,\u201d said Hoeven. \u201cOur legislation provides important regulatory relief and flexibility by allowing exemptions for agriculture, small businesses and state and local governments. This will help ensure farmers, ranchers and other small businesses, as well as school districts and other government entities have access to the reliable and affordable transportation services they need while ensuring safety on our roads.\u201d\n\n\u201cCustom harvesters across Kansas are overregulated by federal rulemakers who have never worked on a harvest crew,\u201d said Marshall. \u201cThe ELDT requirements for new drivers are burdensome to small trucking companies, and this legislation is a common sense reform to eliminate barriers for small businesses, farmers, and custom harvesters crews who are already hard pressed to find an adequate amount of drivers.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith the current supply chain issues and shortage of truck drivers nationwide at a time of tremendous demand, the last thing the transportation industry needs is more overbearing, bureaucratic red tape placed on them by the Biden Administration,\u201d said Cramer. \u201cThe TRUCKS Act allows states to exempt certain drivers from new ELDT requirements and provide regulatory relief to small trucking businesses ensuring we have drivers on the road to keep interstate commerce moving.\u201d\n\nClick HERE for full bill text.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nIn 2012, then-President Obama signed into law the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) Act. The law includes a provision, which added an additional section to the federal law dealing with CDLs. The provision directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations establishing minimum entry-level driver training (ELDT) requirements for an individual operating a commercial motor vehicle. A 2020 interim final rule was finalized in June 2021 with a compliance deadline of February 7, 2022. The regulation (ELDT) applies to individuals seeking to obtain a Class A or B CDL for the first time, a Passenger (P), HAZMAT (H), or School Bus (S) endorsement for the first time or if trying to upgrade from a Class B CDL to a Class A CDL or a Class C CDL to a Class B CDL. The Class A CDL allows truckers to drive vehicles that are heavier than what is allowed with only a Class B CDL. ELDT does not apply to those obtaining a Class C CDL.\n\nPrior to the implementation of ELDT, in order to get a CDL, applicants had to do the following:\n\nObtain a medical certificate (if required for your operation there are some exemptions)\n\nComplete the CDL application and pay state fee\n\nProvide proof of identity\n\nPass knowledge test\n\nUse a Commercial Learner\u2019s Permit (CLP) in a commercial vehicle with another CDL holder for a certain amount of time as determined by the state (minimum waiting time varies by state)\n\nReturn to State Licensing Bureau for road test \u2013 pass the road test\n\nUnder this new rule, CDL applicants have to complete the following additional ELDT requirements:\n\nDrivers will be required to attend theory and behind-the wheel classes PRIOR to taking the CDL knowledge test for a CLP\n\nTraining must be provided by an entity or individual listed on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration\u2019s Training Provider Registry (trainers self-certify)\n\nThe State Driver Licensing Agency will be required to verify training has been completed before allowing the driver to go to the DMV to get a CDL (this is done via electronic records uploaded by the trainer)\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-tuberville-and-colleagues-call-on-leader-schumer-to-safeguard-national-security-by-voting-on-ndaa", "Rounds, Tuberville and Colleagues Call on Leader Schumer to Safeguard National Security by Voting on NDAA", "2022-09-15", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and 22 of their Senate colleagues sent a letter to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) demanding the Senate vote on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) before the end of September.\n\nThe U.S. House of Representatives approved its version of the legislation in July with broad bipartisan support. The letter calls on Leader Schumer to schedule a vote on the NDAA in time for an open Senate amendment process to take place. Among other priorities, the legislation funds military technology, strengthens capabilities and delivers a 4.6 percent pay raise to America\u2019s service members.\n\n\u201cAt the founding of our nation, then-General George Washington penned, \u201cWhen the civil and military powers cooperate, and afford mutual aid to each other there can be little doubt of things going well. Two centuries later, that still rings true. Yet should this body fail in its top Constitutional responsibility of providing for a common defense, our armed services will be left directionless, lack stable funding, and be devoid of civilian Congressional oversight,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\n\u201cMembers of the House passed their NDAA on July 14th, by a vote of 329 \u2013 101,\u201d the senators continued. \u201cFor the bill to go to conference and make it to President Biden\u2019s desk, our colleagues must have the opportunity to debate the Senate version with an open amendment process. As such, we the undersigned respectfully request that you call the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 to the Senate floor before the conclusion of the September work period.\u201d\n\nThe letter was signed by Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Todd Young (R-Ind.) and John Hoeven (R-N.D.).\n\nRead the full text of the letter HERE or below.\n\n+++\n\nSeptember 13, 2022\n\nLeader Schumer,\n\nAt the founding of our nation, then-General George Washington penned, \u201cWhen the civil and military powers cooperate, and afford mutual aid to each other there can be little doubt of things going well.\u201d Two centuries later, that still rings true. Yet should this body fail in its top Constitutional responsibility of providing for a common defense, our armed services will be left directionless, lack stable funding, and be devoid of civilian Congressional oversight.\n\nChairman Reed and Ranking Member Inhofe saw to it that the FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act remained bipartisan and the result safeguards the United States. Additionally, the bill invests in technology advancements and procurement through a $45 billion budget topline increase, provides service members with a 4.6 percent pay raise, and strengthens our forces in cybersecurity, space, the Indo-Pacific, personnel management, and many other areas.\n\nMembers of the House passed their NDAA on July 14th, by a vote of 329 \u2013 101. For the bill to go to conference and make it to President Biden\u2019s desk, our colleagues must have the opportunity to debate the Senate version with an open amendment process. As such, we the undersigned respectfully request that you call the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 to the Senate floor before the conclusion of the September work period.\n\nRespectfully,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=32B46162-114F-4635-9535-EF73B864A095", "Thune: The Last Thing Hardworking Families Want is the IRS Knocking on Their Door", "2022-09-15", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed how Democrats intend to pay for their so-called \u201cInflation Reduction Act\u201d by increasing Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audits and placing new burdens on taxpayers. Thune noted that the Democrats\u2019 bill would provide for the hiring of as many as 87,000 new IRS employees, which would more than double the current size of the agency and make it larger than the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard combined.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, August inflation numbers came out this week, and they weren\u2019t good.\n\n\u201cInflation was even higher than expected.\n\n\u201cAnd it was very clear that soaring prices are likely to continue for quite a while.\n\n\u201cBut as usual, that doesn\u2019t seem to concern Democrats one bit.\n\n\u201cThe president was asked Tuesday if he was concerned about August\u2019s even-worse-than-expected inflation report.\n\n\u201cHis answer?\n\n\u201c\u2018No, I\u2019m not.\u2019\n\n\u201cIt was just one more tone-deaf moment for the president and Democrats.\n\n\u201cOn Tuesday the president and Democrats gathered at the White House to congratulate themselves for having passed their so-called Inflation Reduction Act \u2013 a bill that will do nothing to reduce inflation.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s not just my opinion, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cThat was the conclusion of the nonpartisan Penn Wharton Budget Model.\n\n\u201cAnd of the Democrat chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, who referred to the bill as the \u201cso-called Inflation Reduction Act\u201d on the Senate floor while admitting it would do nothing to solve our inflation crisis.\n\n\u201cBut that didn\u2019t stop Democrats from celebrating yesterday.\n\n\u201cFor most of us, of course, it\u2019s difficult to understand what there was to celebrate.\n\n\u201cLeaving aside the issue of 40-year high inflation, we already know that the bill will also fall short in another respect \u2013 on deficit reduction.\n\n\u201cDemocrats\u2019 claims that the bill would provide meaningful deficit reduction were always somewhat dubious, but even granting Democrats\u2019 rosiest assumptions, President Biden wiped out any deficit reduction when he announced his massive student loan giveaway eight days after the Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law.\n\n\u201cSo no inflation reduction, no deficit reduction \u2026 oh, and the Inflation Reduction Act will drive up energy bills for Americans.\n\n\u201cSo what was there to celebrate?\n\n\u201cWell, for Democrats, the Inflation Reduction Act marked a chance to finally push through some of their far-left, Green New Deal fantasies.\n\n\u201cThings like electric vehicle tax credits to help wealthy Americans buy electric cars.\n\n\u201cMore than $60 billion for \u201cenvironmental justice priorities\u201d \u2013 including $1.9 billion for things like identifying gaps in tree canopy coverage.\n\n\u201cAnd the list goes on.\n\n\u201cSo I think Democrats are pretty satisfied with themselves over finally jamming through elements of their Green New Deal agenda.\n\n\u201cThen of course they succeeded in extending increased Obamacare subsidies that will push Americans off of private health care plans and into government-run care.\n\n\u201cAnd then there are the tax hikes.\n\n\u201cMr. President, the current Democrat leader once said, \u2018You don\u2019t want to take money out of the economy when the economy is shrinking\u2019 \u2013 like it has the previous two quarters.\n\n\u201cBut those days are long gone.\n\n\u201cFor Democrats, raising taxes has become an article of faith.\n\n\u201cAnd it goes far beyond raising money to help pay for their big-government spending.\n\n\u201cDemocrats believe raising taxes on corporations and well-off Americans is a good in and of itself \u2013 even if those tax hikes have a negative effect on less well-off Americans, and the economy.\n\n\u201cAnd the tax hikes Democrats have included in their so-called Inflation Reduction Act will indeed have a negative effect on our economy and on the hardworking Americans who help support it.\n\n\u201cDemocrats\u2019 tax hikes on businesses will result in slower growth, lower wages, and thousands fewer jobs.\n\n\u201cAnd Democrats\u2019 tax hikes on conventional energy will result in higher energy bills for working families.\n\n\u201cMr. President, in addition to raising taxes, the other main way the Inflation Reduction Act raises revenue is by increasing IRS audits and placing new burdens on taxpayers.\n\n\u201cDemocrats\u2019 bill contains a whopping $80 billion for the IRS.\n\n\u201cMore than half of those funds, or $46 billion, are earmarked for increased IRS enforcement.\n\n\u201cJust 4 percent is for improving customer service \u2013 which should tell you all you need to know about where Democrats\u2019 real priorities lie.\n\n\u201cThe bill would provide for the hiring of as many as 87,000 new IRS employees \u2013 which would more than double the current size of the agency and make the IRS larger than Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard put together.\n\n\u201cMr. President, in the lead-up to passage of Democrats\u2019 bill, the Biden administration put out a statement declaring that the money for IRS enforcement would not go to increased audits of households making less than $400,000.\n\n\u201cBecause we had reason to doubt that would be the case, Republicans put forward an amendment to the bill to prevent the IRS from using its new money to audit those Americans.\n\n\u201cEvery Democrat \u2013 every Democrat \u2013 voted against the amendment.\n\n\u201cI guess Democrats are happy to oppose more IRS audits of middle-class Americans in theory, but they don\u2019t want to cut off the possibility of those audits in practice if they end up needing them to help fund their Green New Deal spending.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I don\u2019t need to tell anyone that the IRS is notorious for mishandling sensitive taxpayer data.\n\n\u201cAs recently as this month, we learned that the IRS had inadvertently posted confidential taxpayer data for around 120,000 individuals on its website \u2013 private taxpayer information that was available to the general public.\n\n\u201cThen of course there was last year\u2019s leak or hack of confidential taxpayer information that was shared with the left-leaning ProPublica and used to advance a partisan agenda \u2013 for which, I might add, neither the IRS nor the Biden administration has provided any accountability.\n\n\u201cThen there was the infamous targeting of conservative groups for extra scrutiny under the Obama IRS.\n\n\u201cAnd the list goes on.\n\n\u201cAnd I haven\u2019t even discussed the IRS\u2019 record of grossly underperforming \u2013 some would say nonexistent \u2013 customer service.\n\n\u201cDuring the 2022 tax season, just 10 percent of taxpayer calls \u2013 10 percent \u2013 were answered by an IRS employee.\n\n\u201cWhat we need to be doing is holding the IRS accountable, not setting tens of thousands of new IRS agents loose on taxpayer accounts.\n\n\u201cEarlier this week I joined my Republican colleagues on the Senate Finance Committee to introduce legislation to prevent the IRS from using its new funding to audit American workers or small business owners earning less than $400,000 per year.\n\n\u201cI also introduced a bill this week \u2013 along with Senator Collins \u2013 to improve taxpayer service at the IRS.\n\n\u201cOur legislation \u2013 the Increase Reliable Services Now Act \u2013 would prevent the IRS from hiring new employees for enforcement until customer service at the IRS has reached a more acceptable level.\n\n\u201cIt is unacceptable that taxpayers have a 1 in 10 chance of receiving assistance when calling the IRS.\n\n\u201cAnd the agency should not be allowed to increase enforcement hires until it has achieved a basic level of customer service.\n\n\u201cI will continue to work to increase IRS accountability and prevent hardworking Americans from being squeezed to fund Democrats\u2019 Green New Deal spending.\n\n\u201cMr. President, like the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan spending spree before it \u2013 which helped plunge our country into our current inflation crisis \u2013 the Inflation Reduction Act is a bad deal for the American people.\n\n\u201cAnd all the self-congratulatory White House parties in the world won\u2019t change that fact.\n\n\u201cAmericans are experiencing serious economic hardship \u2026 and Democrats are doing nothing to help.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:29:59Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-ossoff-introduce-bill-to-reform-veteran-records-backlog", "Rounds, Ossoff Introduce Bill to Reform Veteran Records Backlog", "2022-09-14", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) introduced the Access for Veterans to Records Act. This legislation would work to eliminate the backlog of veteran records requests at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) within the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).\n\n\u201cOur men and women in uniform have sacrificed so much to protect our freedom,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cThe current backlog is unacceptable and impedes veterans\u2019 ability to access the services they have earned. This bill would work to reform the National Personnel Records Center so our veterans can acquire their records in a timely manner. I am pleased my colleagues on both sides of the aisle are coming together to introduce this commonsense legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cToo many Georgia veterans are having to wait too long to access their service records. It can impact their access to health care and veterans\u2019 benefits,\u201d said Ossoff. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m leading this bipartisan bill to address the backlog.\u201d\n\nAs of July 2022, NPRC still had a backlog of 499,000 records requests from veterans. The Access for Veterans to Records Act would direct NARA to submit a plan to Congress for eliminating the current backlog. Within the plan, NARA would be required to include timeframes for reducing the backlog, as well as steps to improve customer service and upgrade technology infrastructure to prevent future backlogs.\n\nRounds and Ossoff were joined by Senators Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.).\n\nCongresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives, which passed in July by a vote of 406-21.\n\nClick HERE for full bill text.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=95680F58-A4E3-4212-903D-A92553AC08FA", "Thune, Ernst Introduce Bill to Prohibit Government Monitoring of Livestock Emissions, Block Radical Climate Policies", "2022-09-14", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today introduced a bill that would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from monitoring methane emissions from livestock. Specifically, this legislation would prohibit the EPA from using any of the new methane monitoring funding provided in the Democrats\u2019 reckless tax-and-spending spree to surveil livestock methane emissions in South Dakota, Iowa, or anywhere else in the country.\n\n\u201cFarmers and ranchers \u2013 the people who work tirelessly to help feed America and the world \u2013 should not be subject to government surveillance as part of a broader effort to implement radical climate policies that would threaten their ability to operate,\u201d said Thune. \u201cThis common-sense legislation would protect South Dakota livestock producers and their operations from government snooping.\u201d\n\n\u201cDemocrats are seeking to weaponize the EPA against our farmers by spying on their operations. I\u2019m not going to let that happen on my watch!\u201d said Ernst. \u201cWith this effort, I\u2019m fighting to protect Iowa\u2019s livestock producers from the Left\u2019s radical climate agenda and costly government overreach that will only fuel higher food costs and more reckless spending in Washington.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:29:59Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=CC4645BC-8DDE-41E9-B0A6-9C6720123817", "Thune: Soaring Inflation, Record-High Costs Hurting South Dakota Farmers and Ranchers", "2022-09-14", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here or on the picture above to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the ongoing inflation crisis that the American people continue to face and noted the tone-deaf messaging coming from the White House and congressional Democrats. Thune also highlighted the toll inflation is taking on the agriculture industry in South Dakota, and he noted that under the Biden administration, farm production expenses are projected to reach record highs.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, yesterday afternoon, Democrats and the president gathered at the White House to celebrate their so-called Inflation Reduction Act \u2026 a bill that will do exactly nothing to reduce inflation.\n\n\u201cAnd you don\u2019t have to take my word for that.\n\n\u201cThe nonpartisan Penn Wharton Budget Model said this about the bill\u2019s impact on inflation: \u2018The impact on inflation is statistically indistinguishable from zero.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Statistically indistinguishable from zero.\u2019\n\n\u201cOr you could take the word of the Democrat chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, who admitted on the Senate floor that the so-called Inflation Reduction Act would not reduce inflation.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s right.\n\n\u201cMr. President, to describe yesterday\u2019s celebration at the White House as tone-deaf is putting it mildly.\n\n\u201cDemocrats had a big party to celebrate a bill that may fulfill some of their big-government fantasies but will do nothing to fix the inflation crisis facing our country.\n\n\u201cMeanwhile, Americans were dealing with the release of August\u2019s inflation numbers \u2013 which were even higher than expected and made it very clear that soaring prices will continue for the foreseeable future.\n\n\u201cOne of President Obama\u2019s top economic advisers noted yesterday, and I quote, \u2018Today\u2019s CPI report confirms that the US has a serious inflation problem. Core inflation is higher this month than for the quarter, higher this quarter than last quarter, higher this half of the year than the previous one, and higher last year than the previous one.\u2019\n\n\u201cYet Democrats and the president thought yesterday was a good day to celebrate fulfilling some of their big-government fantasies.\n\n\u201cI guess Americans struggling to afford their soaring grocery bills can be comforted by the fact that thanks to Democrats\u2019 legislation, their tax dollars will now be going to fund electric vehicle tax credits for wealthy Americans \u2013 not to mention road equity and identifying gaps in tree canopy coverage.\n\n\u201cMr. President, the pain of inflation is permeating every aspect of our economy.\n\n\u201cDuring the month of August, I spent a lot of time traveling around South Dakota, and, naturally, I spent a lot of time talking to farmers and ranchers.\n\n\u201cAnd one thing I heard over and over is the toll inflation is taking on agriculture.\n\n\u201cIn addition to the normal challenges every American is facing from inflation \u2013 like high utility bills and high grocery prices \u2013 farmers and ranchers are facing massive increases in the price of essential inputs like fertilizer and fuel.\n\n\u201cUnder the Biden administration, farm production expenses will reach a record high this year.\n\n\u201cFertilizer prices are on track to increase by 84 percent.\n\n\u201c84 percent.\n\n\u201cThat is a staggering increase.\n\n\u201cFuel prices are on track to increase 65 percent.\n\n\u201cAnd there\u2019s no end in sight.\n\n\u201cAnd farmers are facing a huge increase in interest costs thanks to a combination of higher interest rates and record-high farm debt.\n\n\u201cGross farm income is actually supposed to reach a record level this year, but those gains are expected to be entirely wiped out by inflation \u2013 and then some.\n\n\u201cThanks to inflation, net farm income is expected to decrease.\n\n\u201cMeanwhile, Democrats were at the White House celebrating a bill that will not only do nothing to address our inflation crisis but will drive up energy bills for American farmers and American families.\n\n\u201cMr. President, agriculture is the lifeblood of my state of South Dakota.\n\n\u201cAnd addressing the needs of farmers and ranchers is always one of my top priorities here in the Senate.\n\n\u201cAnd while it\u2019s unfortunately going to be difficult to stop Democrats from prolonging our inflation crisis as long as they\u2019re in charge in Washington, in the meantime I am doing everything I can to make life easier for farmers and ranchers.\n\n\u201cOne of my top priorities right now is preparing for the 2023 farm bill, to make it as effective as possible in addressing the challenges facing farmers and ranchers.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve been holding roundtables in South Dakota to hear directly from producers about their priorities for the farm bill.\n\n\u201cSo far, I\u2019ve held roundtables covering row crops, conservation, and livestock.\n\n\u201cI also participated in a farm bill panel at Dakotafest and an Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce farm bill discussion at the Brown County Fair.\n\n\u201cAnd I look forward to continuing to receive input from producers as the time to draft the farm bill approaches.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve also begun introducing legislation \u2013 based on my conversations with farmers and ranchers \u2013 that I will work to get included in the farm bill.\n\n\u201cIn March I introduced the Conservation Reserve Program Improvement Act, which would make CRP grazing a more attractive option for farmers and ranchers by providing cost-share payments for all CRP practices for the establishment of grazing infrastructure, including fencing and water distribution.\n\n\u201cIt would also increase the annual payment limit for CRP, which has not changed since 1985, to help account for inflation and the increase in land value.\n\n\u201cIn May I joined Senator Klobuchar to introduce the Agriculture Innovation Act.\n\n\u201cCurrently the U.S. Department of Agriculture collects reams of data on conservation practices.\n\n\u201cThe problem is that a lot of this data is often not analyzed and presented in a way that would be useful for farmers and ranchers.\n\n\u201cThe legislation Senator Klobuchar and I introduced would provide for better processing and development of the data USDA collects, so that farmers and ranchers can evaluate the impact of conservation and other production practices on things like soil health, crop yields, and profitability.\n\n\u201cOur bill would make it easier for farmers and ranchers to decide what conservation practices to adopt by, among other things, helping producers identify the ways adopting conservation practices can improve their bottom line.\n\n\u201cIn the next couple of weeks I will be introducing another piece of legislation for the 2023 farm bill to improve the effectiveness of livestock disaster assistance for producers.\n\n\u201cToo often, producers find that accessing disaster relief programs at the Department of Agriculture is an arduous and lengthy process.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m working on legislation that would make it easier for farmers and ranchers to access the Livestock Forage Disaster Program and the Emergency Conservation Program so that producers can receive timely assistance in the wake of natural disasters like drought and flooding.\n\n\u201cThe U.S. Drought Monitor plays a critical role in triggering USDA disaster assistance, and I\u2019m working to build on my previous efforts to improve weather monitoring and the accuracy of the Drought Monitor.\n\n\u201cMr. President, this isn\u2019t a farm bill issue per se, but I\u2019m also introducing legislation today to prevent Democrats from using funding in the recently passed \u2013 and misnamed \u2013 Inflation Reduction Act to monitor livestock methane emissions.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s very clear that elements of the radical environmental left would like to see U.S. livestock producers out of business entirely.\n\n\u201cMy legislation is designed to forestall future attempts to curtail beef production by preventing the Biden Environmental Protection Agency from using funds in Democrats\u2019 bill to monitor livestock emissions.\n\n\u201cMr. President, agriculture is a challenging way of life.\n\n\u201cIn addition to backbreaking work in all weathers, our nation\u2019s farmers and ranchers have to contend with the uncontrollable whims of the weather, which can wipe out a herd or a crop in a day.\n\n\u201cAnd as if the usual challenges of the job weren\u2019t enough, over the course of the Biden administration our nation\u2019s farmers and ranchers have had to deal with soaring inflation.\n\n\u201cI am incredibly grateful for all the South Dakota farmers and ranchers \u2013 and all of our nation\u2019s farmers and ranchers \u2013 who continue to persevere during these difficult circumstances.\n\n\u201cAnd I will continue to do everything I can in Washington to make your jobs easier and support you as you do the essential work of feeding our nation \u2013 and the world.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:29:59Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=04EEF343-3843-4829-B490-266D3AA0EF7F", "Thune Introduces Bill to Protect Middle-Income Taxpayers, Small Businesses from Supersized IRS", "2022-09-13", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight, this week joined all of his Senate Finance Committee Republican colleagues in introducing a bill led by Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) that would prevent the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from using any of the $80 billion of new funding to the agency for audits on American workers or small business owners who earn less than $400,000 per year.\n\n\u201cWhile the Democrats\u2019 reckless tax-and-spending spree gave the IRS an unprecedented amount of taxpayer dollars to increase audits on working Americans, it did nothing to assure middle-income workers and small business owners that the agency won\u2019t be targeting them,\u201d said Thune. \u201cIf Democrats are serious about protecting middle-income Americans from a supersized IRS, then it\u2019s time to pass this critical legislation that would provide real protections to those workers who support the backbone of our economy.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:29:59Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=09363B21-962B-4CED-9FC1-6CB8BA4F99CA", "Thune, Collins Introduce Bill to Hold the IRS Accountable, Protect Taxpayers", "2022-09-13", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight, and Susan Collins (R-Maine) today introduced the Increase Reliable Services Now Act, legislation that would prohibit the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from hiring new enforcement employees until basic taxpayer service targets \u2013 including improved phone services and more efficient tax return processing \u2013 are reached. The bill would also prohibit the IRS from using enforcement appropriations in the so-called Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to audit taxpayers with annual incomes of less than $400,000 at a greater rate than at the date of the IRA\u2019s enactment.\n\n\u201cThe IRS continually fails to deliver basic customer service to taxpayers. Rather than improving those services, Democrats have prioritized doubling the size of the agency in order to raise revenue to help pay for their reckless and partisan tax-and-spending spree,\u201d said Thune. \u201cMore tax collectors will not bring relief to Americans who are waiting on their tax refunds, nor will it help them more easily get ahold of an IRS representative. Our bill proposes actionable steps to prioritize and improve basic customer service at the IRS, from which all taxpayers can immediately benefit.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmericans deserve a government that is responsive, yet the IRS has consistently failed to provide taxpayers with the service they should expect. Incredibly, four out of five phone calls from taxpayers seeking assistance go unanswered, and tax refunds have been unacceptably delayed,\u201d said Collins. \u201cOur legislation would fix the IRS\u2019 misplaced priorities by requiring the agency to focus on improving customer service and reducing backlogs.\u201d\n\nThis week, Thune also introduced a bill that would prevent the IRS from using any of the $80 billion of new funding to the agency for audits on American workers and small business owners who earn less than $400,000 per year.\n\nThe Increase Reliable Services Now Act would prohibit the IRS from hiring new \u201cexaminations and collections\u201d (enforcement) employees until basic taxpayer service targets are reached. Specifically, the bill would prohibit the hiring of new IRS enforcement employees until the agency maintains adequate taxpayer phone service (at least 70 percent of phone calls being answered for six consecutive months and an average speed of answering phone calls in five minutes or less). It would also require at least 90 percent of IRS employees to work in person at their job sites.\n\nIn addition, the bill would prohibit any hiring, other than return processing and call center personnel, until the backlog of processing taxpayer correspondence, tax forms, and payments is not in excess of 1 million cases and eligible tax return refunds are issued by the IRS within six weeks or less, on average, of receipt.\n\nThe Increase Reliable Services Now Act is supported by the National Taxpayers Union and Americans for Tax Reform.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:29:59Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=7F7E4EE4-3740-4B78-B241-10CB5D4FA35E", "Thune: Biden Economy Does Not Work for Working Families", "2022-09-13", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed how the Democrats\u2019 reckless tax-and-spending spree has created an economy that is making life harder for working families. Thune noted that our country continues to be in a period of historically high inflation \u2013 largely because of Democrats\u2019 big-government, big-spending agenda \u2013 in which families are continuing to struggle with high grocery bills, high energy bills, and high rent prices.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, this morning the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the August inflation numbers.\n\n\u201cAnd as every American who has been to a grocery store lately knows, August was yet another month of high inflation.\n\n\u201cConsumer prices rose 8.3 percent last month from a year earlier, holding near a four-decade high.\n\n\u201cAnd Americans are feeling the strain.\n\n\u201cMr. President, even one unexpectedly expensive month can be challenging for many families.\n\n\u201cBut at least it\u2019s usually possible to recover from a single tough month.\n\n\u201cHow are American families going to recover from the months upon months upon months of high inflation that have marked the Biden economy?\n\n\u201cMr. President, as I said, American families are suffering.\n\n\u201cGrocery bills are out of control.\n\n\u201cBetween August 2021 and August 2022, grocery bills rose at their highest rate since 1979.\n\n\u201c1979.\n\n\u201cEven back-to-school supplies like pencils and glue are more expensive.\n\n\u201cThe National Retail Federation reported in July that households were on track to spend an average of $864 on back-to-school shopping \u2013 a 24 percent increase from 2019.\n\n\u201cUtility bills have soared.\n\n\u201cThings have gotten so bad that approximately one out of every six households \u2013 one out of every six households \u2013 is behind on its utility bills.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, considering the increases in the price of natural gas and electricity since President Biden took office, it\u2019s not surprising.\n\n\u201cForty percent of households \u2013 40 percent \u2013 report having difficulty paying for their normal household expenses.\n\n\u201cAnd Gallup reports that 56 percent of Americans \u2013 well over half of the U.S. population \u2013 are experiencing financial hardship as a result of inflation.\n\n\u201cThe personal savings rate has plunged to its lowest level since 2009, and many Americans are dipping into their savings to make ends meet.\n\n\u201cOthers have taken up a side job, or are pulling out the credit card.\n\n\u201cStill others have been forced to rely on food banks.\n\n\u201cMr. President, as recently as Friday, President Biden was touting his work to, quote, \u2018finally deliver an economy that works for working families.\u2019\n\n\u201cI have to say, I don\u2019t know what ivory tower the president is living in, but the Biden economy is the very opposite of an economy that works for working families.\n\n\u201cWorking families in the Biden economy are struggling.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019re wondering how they can make ends meet.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019re cutting back on groceries like meat or milk.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019re cutting back on family trips or putting off making necessary home repairs.\n\n\u201cThey are, as I said, dipping into their savings, or charging necessities on their credit cards, or visiting food banks.\n\n\u201cA recent CBS News article discussing a new Gallup poll noted, and I quote, \u2018The findings indicate that the hottest inflation in 40 years is eating into the bedrock of the American economy \u2014 the middle-class \u2014 and even eroding the financial stability of more well-heeled households.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018The findings indicate that the hottest inflation in 40 years is eating into the bedrock of the American economy \u2014 the middle-class \u2026\u2019\n\n\u201cThis is not an economy that\u2019s, to paraphrase the president, being built from the bottom up and the middle out.\n\n\u201cThis is not an economy that \u2018works for working families.\u2019\n\n\u201cThis is an economy where living standards for working families are declining.\n\n\u201cMr. President, the president has actually had the audacity to repeatedly bring up the lines of cars waiting at food banks that occurred during the height of the COVID pandemic \u2013 with the implication that things are different now in the Biden economy.\n\n\u201cPerhaps no one in the White House has read the news recently.\n\n\u201cHere\u2019s a sampling of headlines from the past few weeks:\n\n\u201c\u2018Las Vegas food banks experiencing heightened demand amid inflation spikes\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Food banks feeling pinch of high inflation as centers juggle increased demand for help\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018New Hampshire food pantries struggle with rising costs, growing demand: Organizations say more people than ever need help\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018St. Mary\u2019s Food Bank in Phoenix sees record number of families in need amid inflation\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Mountain West food banks are strained by high customer demand and low supply\u2019\n\n\u201cAnd unfortunately I could go on.\n\n\u201cMr. President, at this point, everyone knows how we got here.\n\n\u201cDemocrats took office and decided to pass a massive, $1.9 trillion spending bill, the so-called American Rescue Plan Act, that flooded the economy with unnecessary government money.\n\n\u201cAnd the economy overheated as a result.\n\n\u201cDemocrats were warned \u2013 including by at least one noted economist from their own party \u2013 that their legislation ran the risk of overheating the economy.\n\n\u201cBut they were committed to taking advantage of their new majority to push through their big-government, big-spending vision.\n\n\u201cAnd so they ignored the warnings.\n\n\u201cAnd their bill helped trigger the worst inflation crisis in 40 years.\n\n\u201cBut perhaps the worst part is that even after Democrats saw the damage that resulted from their American Rescue Plan spending spree, they continued to try to double down on the spending strategy that helped get us into this mess in the first place.\n\n\u201cDemocrats spent half of last year attempting to force through another partisan spending spree originally planned to cost up to $5 trillion.\n\n\u201cFortunately for Americans, those particular far-left fantasies were foiled.\n\n\u201cBut that hasn\u2019t stopped Democrats from continuing to accumulate wasteful government spending.\n\n\u201cIn August Democrats forced through a partisan tax-and-spending bill that will raise Americans\u2019 energy bills, reduce jobs and opportunities for American workers, and waste taxpayer dollars on a host of Green New Deal priorities like electric vehicle tax credits for wealthy Americans and road equity and identifying gaps in tree canopy coverage.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019ve called this tax-and-spending spree the Inflation Reduction Act \u2013 even though, as even the DEMOCRAT chairman of the Senate Budget Committee admitted, the bill will not reduce inflation.\n\n\u201cApparently the title\u2019s only function is to make the bill sound more acceptable to Americans who are sick and tired of dealing with soaring prices and economic pain.\n\n\u201cThen a mere eight days after signing the so-called Inflation Reduction Act, the president once again added to Democrats\u2019 record of economic malfeasance with a massive student loan giveaway that could cost more than $1 trillion \u2013 and that the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget notes will, quote, \u201cmeaningfully boost inflation.\u201d\n\n\u201c\u2018\u2026 meaningfully boost inflation.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. President, I\u2019m not sure whether Democrats are incapable of learning their lesson, or whether they consider soaring prices to be a trivial issue next to implementing their Green New Deal agenda, or whether they think inflation is an acceptable price to pay for big government.\n\n\u201cBut whatever it is, Democrats are apparently going to continue to ignore the economic pain Americans are experiencing in favor of implementing their far-left, big-government, big-spending agenda.\n\n\u201cAnd it appears that the American people are going to have to continue to suffer as a result.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:29:59Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=E5B52B03-C315-4EC4-A7E7-7808506992A7", "Thune, Burr: Biden Administration\u2019s Overreaching Child Mask Mandate Must End", "2022-09-13", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, today sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra requesting that the department rescind its one-size-fits-all federal mask mandate on Head Start programs. Children six months to five years of age are currently eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19, but a HHS interim final rule (IFR) still requires all staff and volunteers in Head Start educational facilities to be vaccinated and requires all staff, volunteers, and children two years of age and older to wear masks \u2013 even when they are outside on the playground.\n\n\u201cThis IFR continues to be an overly rigid, inflexible rule that complicates individual Head Start programs\u2019 ability to operate and attract staff and volunteers \u2013 though there is a preliminary injunction against the IFR in multiple states \u2013 and we request that you immediately rescind it,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cThe nation must continue to transition toward treating COVID-19 as an endemic condition and return to a sense of normalcy, and it is past time for Washington bureaucrats to allow Head Start programs to do the same.\u201d\n\nIn May, the Senate passed Thune\u2019s bipartisan resolution to repeal the Biden administration\u2019s mask mandate for toddlers in the Head Start program. In February, Thune introduced a resolution to nullify HHS\u2019s IFR, and in December 2021, he introduced separate legislation to do the same. In January, he led his colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary Becerra requesting that the administration rescind the IFR.\n\nThe Head Start program is a federal program that provides qualifying, low-income children with early education services. Program facilities are located throughout the nation and, up until the issuance of this IFR, individual locations had been able to set and enforce their own COVID-19 protocols. Although this rule has been halted by federal courts in several states, including South Dakota, the only way to ensure it never sees the light of day is to permanently rescind it nationwide.\n\nThe letter was also signed by U.S. Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho). Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), and Thom Tillis (N.C.).\n\nFull letter below:\n\nThe Honorable Xavier Becerra\n\nSecretary\n\nU.S. Department of Health & Human Services\n\n200 Independence Avenue, Southwest\n\nWashington, D.C. 20201\n\nDear Secretary Becerra:\n\nSince November 2021, vaccine and mask mandates on Head Start and Early Head Start programs have been in effect as a result of a U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) interim final rule (IFR). We write to highlight how unnecessary these mandates continue to be and request that this IFR be rescinded immediately.\n\nAs you know, as of January 31, 2022, this IFR requires Head Start staff and volunteers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. It also requires Head Start staff and volunteers to wear masks. But beyond these mandates, the IFR also requires students two years of age and older to wear masks despite the World Health Organization advising against mask mandates for children five years of age and younger.\n\nUp until the publication of this IFR in late 2021 \u2013 more than 18 months after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic \u2013 individual Head Start programs across the nation had the flexibility to implement their own precautions that effectively protected staff, volunteers, and students in these facilities. This flexibility afforded each individual program the opportunity to establish health and safety protocols and other mitigation strategies that were consistent with state and local laws and recommendations that worked best for their staff, volunteers, and students. In fact, according to a December 2020 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this flexibility was effective, as the CDC found that individual programs successfully implemented recommendations that limited the transmission of COVID-19 in their facilities.\n\nThe application of inflexible federal rules on individual Head Start programs through this IFR and the forcing of toddlers enrolled in these programs to wear masks even caught the attention of Congress. On May 3, 2022, the U.S. Senate passed a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of this IFR by a bipartisan vote of 55 to 41, with seven Democrats supporting the resolution and opposing the IFR.\n\nPrior to Senate consideration of the resolution, President Biden unfortunately committed to vetoing it. A primary reason for his opposition was because, at the time of Senate consideration, the CDC had not yet approved children five years of age and younger to be vaccinated against COVID-19. However, on June 18, 2022, the CDC approved certain COVID-19 vaccines for children six months through five years of age. Head Start-aged children are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if their families so choose.\n\nThis IFR continues to be an overly rigid, inflexible rule that complicates individual Head Start programs\u2019 ability to operate and attract staff and volunteers \u2013 though there is a preliminary injunction against the IFR in multiple states \u2013 and we request that you immediately rescind it. The nation must continue to transition toward treating COVID-19 as an endemic condition and return to a sense of normalcy, and it is past time for Washington bureaucrats to allow Head Start programs to do the same.\n\nThank you for your prompt attention to this request.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:29:59Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=F221554F-C249-4770-AF0E-788F3EF63CFC", "Thune Supports Comprehensive Permitting Reform Legislation", "2022-09-12", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined 34 of his colleagues in introducing the Simplify Timelines and Assure Regulatory Transparency Act, comprehensive federal regulatory permitting and project review reform legislation.\n\n\u201cMeaningful and enduring permitting reforms that cut bureaucratic and legal delays would help America restore our energy and economic security,\u201d said Thune. \u201cCodifying sensible regulations like the Navigable Waters Protection Rule instead of the Biden administration\u2019s over-reaching WOTUS proposal, while eliminating regulatory hurdles and limiting opportunities for frivolous lawsuits, would get government out of the way. It would also ensure that we can meet our energy needs and grow our economy while preserving our environment for future generations. A serious attempt at permitting reform should meet this standard.\u201d\n\nThe bill was led by U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, and was co-sponsored by U.S. Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:29:59Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=7614F239-7BBC-441C-8316-D7CEDBFDC393", "Thune Statement on the 21st Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks", "2022-09-09", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today released the following statement ahead of the 21st anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks:\n\n\u201cThat bright September morning 21 years ago will be forever seared into our national memory,\u201d said Thune. \u201cThe terrorists who attacked the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Flight 93 tried to destroy our American way of life, but their cowardly actions were met by the patriotism, courage, and resolve of the American people. The United States will never forget the nearly 3,000 men and women who were tragically killed and the heroic first responders and service members who stepped up in service to our country. We mourn their loss, pray for their families, and remain grateful for the men and women who continue to stand watch against such evil.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:29:59Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=9614C1A0-E2E3-42A6-B6A9-71C70DC9B1BC", "Thune: Democrats\u2019 Big-Government, Big-Spending Agenda Does Nothing to Ease Economic Pain", "2022-09-08", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here or on the picture above to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed how the Democrats\u2019 so-called \u201cInflation Reduction Act\u201d will do nothing to reduce inflation and how it will instead double down on wasteful government spending and increase the tax burden on American businesses and middle-income families. Thune noted that Democrats should start focusing on pro-growth economic policies that would actually help working families who have experienced a de facto pay cut due to record-high inflation and President Biden\u2019s failed policies.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, a month ago yesterday, Senate Democrats shoved another partisan spending bill through the Senate \u2013 this one the inaccurately named Inflation Reduction Act.\n\n\u201cI say inaccurately named because the so-called Inflation Reduction Act \u2026 will do nothing to reduce inflation.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s right.\n\n\u201cThe so-called Inflation Reduction Act \u2026 will not actually reduce inflation.\n\n\u201cAnd you don\u2019t have to take my word for it.\n\n\u201cThe nonpartisan Penn Wharton Budget Model said this about the bill\u2019s impact on inflation: \u2018The impact on inflation is statistically indistinguishable from zero.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Statistically indistinguishable from zero.\u2019\n\n\u201cDemocrats also claim that the bill will lead to deficit reduction.\n\n\u201cBut that\u2019s not really true either.\n\n\u201cIn the first place, Democrats arrive at their deficit reduction assumptions using some extremely fuzzy math.\n\n\u201cA substantial part of their deficit reduction claims depends on not extending a program that they\u2019ve already called for extending \u2026 and on supposedly eliminating a rule that at this point was never going to be implemented anyway.\n\n\u201cBut even using their rosiest assumptions, the deficit reduction they would have achieved with the Inflation Reduction Act was wiped out completely eight days after the bill was signed by the president\u2019s costly, reckless student loan giveaway.\n\n\u201cMr. President, Democrats have clearly been seeing the polling on Americans\u2019 opinion of the economy \u2013 and their lack of faith in President Biden and Democrats to deal with the economic challenges we\u2019re facing.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s unquestionably why Democrats named their bill the Inflation Reduction Act and touted their commitment to deficit reduction in an attempt to suggest fiscal responsibility.\n\n\u201cThe problem, of course, is that their commitment to deficit reduction, inflation reduction, and fiscal responsibility was, and continues to be, nothing more than window dressing.\n\n\u201cAt its core, the Inflation Reduction Act, like the so-called American Rescue Plan before it, is just another big-government, big-spending piece of legislation.\n\n\u201cIt will do nothing to address the real economic challenges facing our nation.\n\n\u201cInstead, it will waste taxpayer dollars on Democrats\u2019 big-government fantasies.\n\n\u201cIt will drive up energy costs in the service of Democrats\u2019 Green New Deal agenda.\n\n\u201cIt will push people off private insurance and into government-run care \u2013 driving up the cost to taxpayers.\n\n\u201cThe legislation imposes socialist-style price controls that will discourage medical innovation and reduce the number of new treatments and cures.\n\n\u201cIt imposes new taxes on businesses that will slow economic growth and result in lower wages and fewer jobs.\n\n\u201cAnd the list goes on.\n\n\u201cAnd, Mr. President, in case there was any doubt about their intentions with this bill, Democrats made their priorities very, very clear when the Senate considered amendments.\n\n\u201cDemocrats\u2019 so-called Inflation Reduction Act hikes taxes on domestic oil and gas production, something that will unquestionably result in higher energy prices for American families \u2013 who are already facing high energy bills in the Biden economy.\n\n\u201cAnd during the amendment vote-a-rama on this legislation, Democrats made it very clear that they are indeed just fine with restricting American energy production and seeing Americans\u2019 energy bills soar.\n\n\u201cDemocrats rejected attempts to ease their tax hikes on domestic oil and gas.\n\n\u201cThey rejected amendments to make it easier for companies to develop American oil and natural gas.\n\n\u201cThey also rejected a comprehensive amendment to reform the burdensome permitting process, which is one of the biggest obstacles to new energy investment.\n\n\u201cThey even rejected an amendment to prevent Democrats\u2019 new electric vehicle tax credit from going to wealthy Americans.\n\n\u201cApparently it\u2019s just fine to support measures that would drive up Americans\u2019 energy bills, but electric vehicle tax breaks for wealthy Americans have to be preserved.\n\n\u201cNot to mention the irony of U.S. automakers recently hiking prices on certain electric vehicles by $6,500 to $8,000, which roughly matches the $7,500 tax credit in the Democrats\u2019 \u2018inflation reduction\u2019 bill.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I have long been a supporter of clean energy.\n\n\u201cBut the fact of the matter is, clean energy technology has not advanced to the point where we can solely rely on alternative energy.\n\n\u201cWe need oil and natural gas, and we will continue to need them for a while yet.\n\n\u201cAnd efforts to discourage domestic production of conventional energy will simply drive up energy costs for hardworking Americans and force our country to rely on unstable foreign sources of oil and gas.\n\n\u201cThat may very well be Democrats\u2019 plan, in hopes of hastening the arrival of their Green New Deal future.\n\n\u201cMr. President, Democrats like to bill themselves as the party of the little guy.\n\n\u201cBut their track record gives the lie to that.\n\n\u201cDemocrats couldn\u2019t bring themselves to support measures to lower Americans\u2019 energy bills by increasing domestic oil and gas production because it conflicts with their Green New Deal ideology.\n\n\u201cBut they did all unite to protect a tax deduction that mainly goes to wealthy Americans in high-tax states.\n\n\u201cAnd to make sure, as I mentioned, that wealthy Americans are able to access tax credits for electric vehicles.\n\n\u201cAnd of course they opposed a measure to prevent more audits of Americans making less than $400,000 a year.\n\n\u201cYes.\n\n\u201cDemocrats\u2019 legislation includes tens of billions of dollars for new IRS agents and increased audits.\n\n\u201cDemocrats\u2019 hope is that more audits of Americans will help pay for some of their spending measures, like increased government health care subsidies and their Green New Deal priorities.\n\n\u201cThe Biden administration put out a statement claiming that this wouldn\u2019t mean increased audits of Americans making less than $400,000.\n\n\u201cBut when Democrats had the opportunity to confirm that by supporting an amendment that would have prevented the new enforcement funds from being used to audit Americans making less than $400,000, they unanimously voted against it.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I could go on.\n\n\u201cI haven\u2019t even talked about the border security amendments Democrats opposed.\n\n\u201cRepublicans thought that perhaps, while Democrats were throwing money at \u201cenvironmental justice\u201d and climate slush funds and identifying gaps in tree canopy coverage, perhaps they could spare some money for the crisis at our southern border \u2013 a crisis that Democrats have largely chosen to pretend doesn\u2019t exist.\n\n\u201cBut Democrats quashed any attempt to divert money to address the border crisis.\n\n\u201cApparently identifying gaps in tree canopy coverage is more important than securing our southern border.\n\n\u201cDemocrats went so far as to oppose \u2013 oppose \u2013 an amendment that would have prohibited hiring additional IRS agents until additional Customs and Border Protection agents are hired to help secure the border.\n\n\u201cYes, you heard that right.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I\u2019m pretty sure Americans are more worried about our border crisis than what Democrats apparently think is an IRS enforcement crisis.\n\n\u201cBut clearly Democrats don\u2019t want to let border security get in the way of funding for their Green New Deal priorities or supersizing the IRS.\n\n\u201cMr. President, it may have an appealing name, but as the substance of the bill demonstrates, the so-called Inflation Reduction Act is nothing more than the latest installment of Democrats\u2019 big-government, big-spending agenda.\n\n\u201cIt will do nothing to address the real economic challenges facing Americans.\n\n\u201cAnd it will do nothing to address Americans\u2019 priorities.\n\n\u201cWhat it will do is spend hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars on Democrats\u2019 socialist, big-government fantasies \u2013 and raise taxes to help pay for it.\n\n\u201cMeanwhile, our inflation crisis \u2013 and our border crisis, and rising crime \u2013 will continue.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:29:59Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=807AD73F-EF97-4E0C-B693-7D607436A5EA", "Thune, South Dakota Farm Bureau President Testify in Favor of Thune-Led Livestock Regulatory Protection Act", "2022-09-07", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a longtime member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today spoke at the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works\u2019 hearing on his Livestock Regulatory Protection Act, which the committee is considering. Thune also welcomed Scott VanderWal, president of the South Dakota Farm Bureau Federation and vice president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, who testified about the importance of Thune\u2019s bill.\n\nIn April 2021, Thune introduced the bipartisan Livestock Regulatory Protection Act, legislation that would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from issuing permits related to livestock emissions. Specifically, the bill would amend the Clean Air Act to prohibit the EPA from issuing permits for any carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, water vapor, or methane emissions resulting from biological processes associated with livestock production.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cThank you Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Capito for holding today\u2019s legislative hearing to consider the Livestock Regulatory Protection Act.\n\n\u201cI also want to thank South Dakota Farm Bureau Federation President and American Farm Bureau Federation Vice President Scott VanderWal for being here and for his testimony on this important legislation.\n\n\u201cI have long been concerned with efforts to impose onerous regulations and costly permit fees on animal emissions and the negative effect this would have on U.S. agricultural producers\u2019 ability to continue providing a safe and abundant food supply for our nation and the world.\n\n\u201cRegulating animal emissions could ultimately lead to higher food costs for consumers who are already facing increased food prices.\n\n\u201cContrary to the story being pushed by opponents of the beef industry, beef production is directly responsible for only a tiny fraction of U.S. emissions.\n\n\u201cCattle actually play an important role in managing pasturelands that sequester vast amounts of carbon.\n\n\u201cAnd on top of that, it\u2019s become clear that with certain feed additives, as well as then capturing and utilizing the energy potential of their waste using biodigesters, it\u2019s possible to significantly reduce cattle emissions \u2013 making the demonization of beef even more wrongheaded.\n\n\u201cThis issue isn\u2019t limited to cattle production.\n\n\u201cRegulating animal emissions would negatively affect the entire livestock sector, including poultry producers in Delaware and dairy producers in West Virginia.\n\n\u201cTo address this, I introduced the Livestock Regulatory Protection Act with Senator Sinema.\n\n\u201cThe Livestock Regulatory Protection Act, which is also cosponsored by Senators Boozman and Kelly, would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from imposing emissions regulations relating to the biological processes of livestock.\n\n\u201cI actually introduced this bill years ago with the Democrat leader.\n\n\u201cThis legislation was included in annual funding bills on a bipartisan basis for a number of years after the Democrat leader and I first introduced it.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, Democrats have omitted this important protection in their recent spending proposals, and it has had to be secured in final spending bills.\n\n\u201cPassing this legislation would provide livestock producers long-term certainty that their livelihoods will not be compromised by regulatory overreach.\n\n\u201cThanks again for holding today\u2019s hearing, and I urge this committee to swiftly advance this important legislation.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:29:59Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=FB954D30-7A6F-4FAE-898E-6B7AEDCA1824", "Thune: South Dakota Taxpayers are Footing the Bill for Biden\u2019s Unprecedented Student Loan Bailout", "2022-09-07", "2022", "2022-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here or on the picture above to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed President Biden\u2019s unprecedented decision to transfer the cost of student loan debt from those who chose to incur the debt to those taxpayers who didn\u2019t. He noted that it\u2019s inherently unfair, encourages students to take on even more debt, and does nothing to address the skyrocketing cost of college education. Thune also noted that instead of focusing on policies that would help lower inflation for American families, Democrats instead chose to pursue their reckless tax-and-spending spree in order to appease their far-left base.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, eight days.\n\n\u201cEight days.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s how long it took President Biden to completely erase any of the supposed deficit reduction included in Democrats\u2019 so-called Inflation Reduction Act.\n\n\u201cOn August 24, eight days after signing the Inflation Reduction Act into law, President Biden announced that with a stroke of his pen, he would be forgiving $10,000 in student loan debt ($20,000 for Pell Grant recipients) and taking other costly measures on student loans.\n\n\u201cThe Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget \u2013 where Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen served before joining the Biden administration \u2013 estimates that, altogether, the president\u2019s student loan changes will cost anywhere from $440 billion to $600 billion over the next decade.\n\n\u201cThe Penn Wharton Budget Model suggests that it could be even worse than that, with the total cost over 10 years exceeding $1 trillion.\n\n\u201cMr. President, even using the most optimistic assumptions, the Inflation Reduction Act would only ever have reduced the deficit by around $300 billion.\n\n\u201cPresident Biden\u2019s student loan plan will wipe out every dime of that reduction, and then add hundreds of billions to the debt on top of that.\n\n\u201cSo much for Democrats\u2019 commitment to reducing the deficit.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I\u2019ve already noted that the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates that the president\u2019s student loan measures will cost a staggering half a trillion dollars over the next decade.\n\n\u201cHere\u2019s what else the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget had to say:\n\n\u201c\u2018The student debt cancellation and relief measures announced \u2026 by the Biden Administration \u2026 would meaningfully boost inflation.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Would meaningfully boost inflation.\u2019\n\n\u201cYes.\n\n\u201cAmericans have spent the majority of the Biden administration struggling with huge increases in the price of everything from gas to groceries, and the president just imposed a new policy that is likely to, quote, \u2018meaningfully boost inflation.\u2019\n\n\u201cI guess it isn\u2019t surprising, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cAfter all, it\u2019s thanks in large part to Democrats and the president that we ended up in this inflation crisis in the first place.\n\n\u201cTheir reckless American Rescue Plan spending spree flooded the economy with unnecessary government money, and the economy overheated as a result.\n\n\u201cBut the president\u2019s latest reckless action underscores just how committed Democrats are to their big-spending, big-government agenda.\n\n\u201cMr. President, Democrats tried to suggest that they\u2019d gotten serious about the economy with their so-called Inflation Reduction Act \u2013 even though the bill was only serious about spending taxpayer dollars on ill-considered priorities like their Green New Deal agenda.\n\n\u201cBut the fact that it took the president exactly eight days to wipe out any deficit reduction from Democrats\u2019 bill tells you all you need to know about exactly how serious Democrats are about handling taxpayer dollars responsibly.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I\u2019ve talked for a while here about why the president\u2019s student loan plans are such bad economic policy.\n\n\u201cBut you don\u2019t have to take my word for it.\n\n\u201cHere\u2019s what former Obama economic adviser Jason Furman had to say about President Biden\u2019s student loan plans: \u201cPouring roughly half [a] trillion dollars of gasoline on the inflationary fire that is already burning is reckless. Doing it while going well beyond one campaign promise ($10K of student loan relief) and breaking another (all proposals paid for) is even worse.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnother former Obama economic adviser noted, and I quote, \u2018Student loan debt relief is spending that raises demand and increases inflation. \u2026 It will also tend to be inflationary by raising tuitions.\u2019\n\n\u201cEven some current Democrat members of Congress have expressed their concerns about the president\u2019s reckless student loan decision.\n\n\u201cAnd the president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget \u2013 where President Biden\u2019s own treasury secretary once served on the board \u2013 issued a scathing statement in which she said, and I quote:\n\n\u201c\u2018This announcement is gallingly reckless \u2013 with the national debt approaching record levels and inflation surging, it will make both worse. \u2026 It would do nothing to actually make education more affordable, and if anything, this policy will drive up tuition costs while raising prices on a variety of other goods and services for ordinary Americans.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018\u2026 while raising prices on a variety of other goods and services for ordinary Americans.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. President, as the Washington Post\u2019s editorial board noted, American taxpayers will be footing the bill for the president\u2019s student loan decision.\n\n\u201cOrdinary Americans will pay in the form of higher prices.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019ll pay in the form of higher rates on loans and mortgages.\n\n\u201cAnd they\u2019ll pay in the form of higher tuition costs.\n\n\u201cThe majority of Americans do not have student loan debt \u2013 either because they\u2019ve paid off their loans, never went to college, got a scholarship or worked their way through college, or were able to go thanks to their or their parents\u2019 savings.\n\n\u201cNow these Americans will be footing the bill for the 13 percent of Americans who do have student loan debt.\n\n\u201cEveryone is going to have to suffer economically to provide loan forgiveness for the few.\n\n\u201cThis is deeply unfair, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s unfair to expect Americans who either never went to college, paid off their loans, or paid their way through to shoulder the cost of other Americans\u2019 loans.\n\n\u201cThe president\u2019s decision is unfair to parents who scrimped and saved to send their children to college.\n\n\u201cTo students who chose a lower-cost college or worked to put themselves through.\n\n\u201cTo the men and women in the military who fought for this country to earn money for their college education.\n\n\u201cAnd to the families struggling with high grocery bills and high energy bills and high rent prices who are likely to end up facing even more price increases thanks to the president\u2019s student loan decisions.\n\n\u201cAnd let\u2019s remember that taxpayers are going to be facing economic hardship to pay off student loans for Americans who, if they graduated from college, enjoy greater long-term earning potential than many of the Americans who will be helping to shoulder the burden for their debts.\n\n\u201cThe president\u2019s plan isn\u2019t even targeted to the most needy, with families making $250,000 \u2013 nearly ten times the poverty line for a family of four \u2013 now eligible to have their loans forgiven.\n\n\u201cMr. President, there\u2019s no doubt that the cost of a college education has risen outrageously.\n\n\u201cAnd that in some cases students have been encouraged to take on unrealistic levels of debt to pay for it.\n\n\u201cBut the president\u2019s student loan plan does absolutely NOTHING to fix these problems.\n\n\u201cThe president\u2019s plan will not only do nothing to control the cost of college education, it will almost undoubtedly make our current situation worse.\n\n\u201cWhat college is going to spend time worrying about lowering student fees if it can expect the federal government to pick up part of the bill for its students\u2019 education?\n\n\u201cThe president\u2019s plan will also do nothing to discourage students from taking on unrealistic levels of debt.\n\n\u201cIn fact, it\u2019s likely to encourage students to incur even more debt, since the president has now set up an expectation that the government will step in to help pay down students\u2019 loan burden.\n\n\u201cGiven the fact that student loan debt is expected to be back to its current level in six years, I imagine we will be hearing more Democrat calls for student loan forgiveness in the very near future.\n\n\u201cIn fact, some members of the Democrat Party already think the president didn\u2019t go far enough.\n\n\u201cMore than one Democrat wanted the president to forgive $50,000 in debt.\n\n\u201cApparently these Democrats won\u2019t be satisfied until our economy drowns entirely under the weight of reckless government spending.\n\n\u201cMr. President, the defining \u2018achievement\u2019 of the Biden administration so far has been an economy that has left millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet.\n\n\u201cApparently the president wants that to be his legacy.\n\n\u201cBecause for the sake of a few possible additional votes in November, he has decided to pursue yet another economic policy that will almost undoubtedly result in further economic pain for the American people.\n\n\u201cNow he\u2019ll just have to hope that his strategy doesn\u2019t backfire.\n\n\u201cBecause while his reckless student loan plan may buy him a vote or two, a lot of other Americans may decide that they\u2019ve had their fill of inflationary spending and far-left appeasement.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:29:59Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-introduces-legislation-to-strengthen-school-security", "Rounds Introduces Legislation to Strengthen School Security", "2022-08-25", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced the Security to Avoid Violence in Educational Settings (SAVES) Act. This legislation would redirect federal funds to establish a grant program to enhance school safety at the state and local levels.\n\n\u201cThe first responsibility of any school is to provide for the safety of all students,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cWhen it comes to our kids, it should not be a one-size-fits-all approach. South Dakota has schools of many sizes and needs. Decisions about education are best made at the state and local levels. This bill would allow states and local schools to determine how to improve school safety in a manner that best fits their needs.\u201d\n\nThe SAVES Act would create a new Department of Justice grant program to improve school security. This program would reallocate $500 million in funding over five years to states to create grants for local K-12 schools and school systems. Unlike other federal programs for school security, this grant program will allow states and local schools, rather than federal agencies, to determine how to utilize this money to strengthen school safety.\n\nThe grant program would not cost any additional taxpayer money. It would instead transfer funding appropriated in last year\u2019s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements at public school facilities. The redirecting of funds would allow schools to access metal detectors and school security officers rather than providing solar panels at schools.\n\nYou can read the full bill text HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=0A4A98A1-EEC0-4E16-A267-1186E3023A5B", "Thune Statement on President Biden\u2019s Costly Student Loan Decision", "2022-08-24", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "SIOUX FALLS, S.D. \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today released the following statement regarding President Biden\u2019s expected executive action to extend the suspension of repayments on qualifying federal student loans and forgive between $10,000 to $20,000 per borrower.\n\n\u201cThe president\u2019s plan to forgive student loans is incredibly unfair to those taxpayers who never incurred student debt because they didn\u2019t attend college in the first place or because they either worked their way through school or their family pinched pennies and planned for higher education, and it will do nothing to address the problems that actually created this debt crisis,\u201d said Thune. \u201cRegrettably, Democrats have made clear that they do not have a serious plan to lower the cost of higher education and instead support putting taxpayers and working families on the hook for billions of dollars of student loans in a blatant political payoff.\u201d\n\nSome estimates suggest that forgiving $10,000 in student loans for certain borrowers would cost taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars. In addition, the current student loan repayment freeze has already cost American taxpayers more than $100 billion. In April, Thune introduced the Stop Reckless Student Loan Actions Act, which would end President Biden\u2019s untargeted, budget-busting suspension of repayments on qualifying federal student loans. The bill would still allow the president to temporarily suspend repayment for low- and middle-income borrowers in future national emergencies and would prohibit the president from cancelling outstanding federal student loan obligations due to a national emergency.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:26:22Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=8A228319-90C3-4B5E-8FB5-A495481BFE9E", "Thune on Fox News: Biden Transfers Student Debt From Graduates to Taxpayers", "2022-08-24", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "SIOUX FALLS, S.D. \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Neil Cavuto on Fox News to discuss President Biden\u2019s executive action to extend the suspension of repayments on qualifying federal student loans and forgive up to $20,000 per borrower. Earlier today, Thune called out Democrats for not having a serious plan to lower the cost of higher education and for putting taxpayers and working families on the hook for billions of dollars of student loans in a blatant political payoff.\n\nOn President Biden\u2019s costly student loan decision:\n\n\u201c[President Biden] keeps coming up with new ways to increase inflation in our economy. [Student loan forgiveness] will certainly do that. It\u2019ll increase the cost of college education because tuition costs are going to go up. And I think it will add to inflation because it\u2019s pumping more money out into the economy at a time when we have record 40-year-high inflation.\n\n\u201cHere\u2019s the problem with this, you\u2019ve got 87 percent of the people in this country [who] don\u2019t have student debt, so [the Biden administration is] going to subsidize the 13 percent who do, and the 87 percent who don\u2019t have student loan debt are going to pay for it in the form of maybe higher taxes down the road [\u2026] and higher inflation.\u201d\n\n\u2026\n\n\u201cDemocrats are trying to change the subject. They're trying not to talk about inflation and the broken border and energy costs and crime in our streets. They're trying to shift it to something that they think is more favorable ground for them. And the way they do that, in most cases, is they buy it. Democrats spend money, they raise taxes, they grow and expand government. That is what they do. And in this case, at least $300 billion dollars \u2013 I mean, think about that \u2013 just like that the Democrats dropped $300 billion in hopes again that it has some positive political benefit.\n\n\u201cIn the long run this hurts the economy, contributes to inflation, and more importantly, as has already been pointed out by your reporters, this sends a really wrong message to people in this country. This is a country that was built upon a principle of personal individual responsibility. And what you're saying here, to a whole lot of people in the country, is go ahead, take out loans, don't worry about it, we'll just write it off when the time comes.\n\n\u201cAnd again, that may make a few people happy in the near term, but this is going to have long term consequences that are very, I would say, devastating to the whole principle and ethic that sort of undergirds the American experiment. But in the near term, it's going to have a negative, I think, economic consequence as well because it's going to add to the cost of tuition to go to college in this country.\u201d\n\nSome estimates suggest that forgiving $10,000 in student loans for certain borrowers would cost taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars. In addition, the current student loan repayment freeze has already cost American taxpayers more than $100 billion. In April, Thune introduced the Stop Reckless Student Loan Actions Act, which would end President Biden\u2019s untargeted, budget-busting suspension of repayments on qualifying federal student loans. The bill would still allow the president to temporarily suspend repayment for low- and middle-income borrowers in future national emergencies and would prohibit the president from cancelling outstanding federal student loan obligations due to a national emergency.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:26:22Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-introduces-legislation-to-blacklist-china-from-buying-american-farm-land-and-agriculture-businesses", "Rounds Introduces Legislation to Blacklist China from Buying American Farm Land and Agriculture Businesses", "2022-08-17", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced legislation that would blacklist China, Russia, Iran and North Korea from investing in, purchasing or otherwise acquiring land or businesses involved in agriculture.\n\n\u201cProtecting American farmland is critical to maintaining our national security,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I was alarmed when a Chinese company recently purchased farmland near an Air Force base in North Dakota. This acquisition could threaten our national security by allowing the Chinese Communist Party to closely monitor the operations and communications at a very important military facility.\n\n\u201cIn my travels around South Dakota, I\u2019ve heard from many farmers and ranchers who are concerned about foreign adversaries owning American farmland. It\u2019s time to put a stop to this and take action. This legislation makes certain American interests are protected by blacklisting foreign adversaries from purchasing land or businesses involved in agriculture.\u201d\n\nOn July 1, 2022, Representative Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) introduced the House version of the PASS Act. Rounds\u2019 legislation retains key provisions of the House version and adds additional language related to foreign investments, agricultural land acquisition and reporting by the Secretary of Agriculture. The new provisions are outlined below:\n\nBlacklists China, Russia, Iran and North Korea from purchasing or investing in agriculture land and companies.\n\nRequires reporting from the Secretary of Agriculture on the risk to the American agriculture sector of foreign takeovers and/or investments in agriculture companies or land used for agricultural purposes.\n\nAllows the President, after reporting to Congress on why doing so is vital to the national security interests of the United States, to waive the requirement prohibiting a transaction on a case-by-case basis.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=5BF6D8F8-DE24-4943-8752-B4C0C222E9D8", "Thune on Fox News: The IRS is Coming to a Neighborhood Near You", "2022-08-09", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Clickhere to watch the interview.\n\nU.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) last night joined Mike Emanuel on Fox News to discuss the successful passage of his amendment to the Democrats\u2019 reckless tax-and-spending spree, which eliminated a new $35 billion tax hike on small- and medium-sized businesses, and how the bill, among other things, will be used to hire 87,000 new IRS agents to target middle-income Americans.\n\nOn the Democrats\u2019 plan to hire 87,000 new IRS agents:\n\n\u201cMike, I think the takeaway from the passage of this bill is there is an IRS agent coming to a neighborhood near you. 87,000 new employees at the IRS, only 4 percent of them are going to be, you know, committed to helping improve taxpayer service. Most of them are going to be harassing middle-income taxpayers.\n\n\u201cThere was a study done by the Joint Tax Committee, which showed that up to 90 percent, up to 90 percent of any revenue the Democrats think they're going to raise from the so-called addition of these IRS tax agents is going to come from people making less than $400,000 a year.\n\n\u201cSo there's going to be a lot of people, middle-income taxpayers in this country, who are going to have to get used to having the IRS looking over their shoulder at every turn. That's what the essence of this is, that's what they signed up for with this bill: 87,000 new IRS agents and $80 billion in new spending, six times the annual IRS budget. That's what this bill is all about.\u201d\n\nOn passage of Sen. Thune\u2019s amendment to the Democrats\u2019 reckless tax-and-spending spree:\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a short-term win. We were able to take a $35 billion tax hike on small- and medium-sized businesses out of the bill. And it was nice to get seven Democrats voting for it.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:26:22Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=0B13E185-F3D4-4C9A-A97C-13017C6B716A", "Senate Passes Thune Amendment to Protect Small- and Medium-Sized Businesses", "2022-08-07", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed his amendment to the Democrats\u2019 reckless tax-and-spending spree that would protect small- and medium-sized businesses from a brand-new $35 billion tax increase.\n\n\u201cAt the last minute, Senate Democrats attempted to sneak yet another tax hike on American job creators into their reckless tax-and-spending spree, but fortunately, common sense prevailed,\u201d said Thune. \u201cThe adoption of my amendment will protect small- and medium-sized businesses, many of which are trying to recover from the pandemic and survive a rocky economy, from this onerous tax hike.\u201d\n\nThe Democrats\u2019 latest reckless tax-and-spending spree, introduced and made public for the first time Saturday, includes a change that would require separate businesses of any size held by funds or partnerships to combine their otherwise unrelated income to determine if they meet an aggregate $1 billion income threshold \u2013 subjecting each respective company to the new tax even if its own income is far too low. Without successful passage of Thune\u2019s amendment, more than 18,000 small- and medium-sized businesses in the United States that employ 11.7 million workers would risk being subjected to $35 billion in tax hikes. This amendment is offset by extending the cap for one year on the state and local tax deduction.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:26:22Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=766A7295-F857-431F-A2F6-89F417ED8861", "Thune Proposal Would Improve Ranchers\u2019 Grazing Rights on National Grasslands", "2022-08-06", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) recently introduced legislation to improve grazing rights for U.S. Forest Service national grasslands permit holders. Under current Federal Land Policy and Management Act rules, ranchers with permits on national grasslands do not have the same rights as those who have grazing permits on Bureau of Land Management and national forest land. This legislation would fix this disparity and ensure that ranchers who have grazing agreements on national grasslands are treated the same as permittees on other federal lands.\n\n\u201cSouth Dakota is home to three national grasslands, and ranchers who choose to graze livestock on them deserve the same rights as permit holders on other federal lands,\u201d said Thune. \u201cThis common-sense legislation would streamline permittee rights at Buffalo Gap, Fort Pierre, and Grand River, along with other national grasslands and federal lands across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, national grasslands permittees do not have the same due process rights that Bureau of Land Management and national forest permittees currently enjoy,\u201d said Ross Nielson, president of the Association of National Grasslands. \u201cThe Association of National Grasslands appreciates Senator Thune\u2019s efforts in sponsoring legislation to address this long-standing inequity for national grasslands permit holders.\u201d\n\nThis legislation would allow national grassland permittees:\n\nThe right to 10-year permits;\n\nFirst priority for receipt of a new permit;\n\nEntitlement to written notice of any permit violations and an opportunity to achieve compliance before cancellation or suspension proceedings related to the permit; and\n\nExcept in cases of emergency, no permit cancellation without a two-year notification.\n\nThis bill is supported by the Association of National Grasslands, South Dakota Stockgrowers Association, and South Dakota Sheep Growers Association.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:26:22Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=DBD8DF2C-6793-4984-BC13-D2D939247040", "Thune: Democrats\u2019 Heavy-Handed, Government-Knows-Best Strategy Has Failed South Dakotans", "2022-08-06", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Clickhere to watch the video.\n\nU.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed how the Democrats\u2019 so-called \u201cInflation Reduction Act\u201d would do nothing to reduce inflation and how it would double down on wasteful government spending and impose hundreds of billions of dollars in tax hikes on American businesses. Thune noted that these tax hikes would result in higher prices for consumers in nearly every income bracket.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, we\u2019re somehow continuing to consider Democrats\u2019 grab bag of bad ideas \u2013 otherwise known (misleadingly) as the Inflation Reduction Act.\n\n\u201cLet\u2019s start with the bill\u2019s title.\n\n\u201cIt gets you feeling hopeful, doesn\u2019t it?\n\n\u201cThe Inflation Reduction Act.\n\n\u201cIt sounds like a bill that\u2019s going to address perhaps the number-one problem facing our nation: inflation.\n\n\u201cAnd then you actually look at the bill\u2019s contents \u2026 and discover that the bill will do nothing to reduce inflation.\n\n\u201cNothing.\n\n\u201cAnd you don\u2019t have to take my word for it.\n\n\u201cHere\u2019s what the nonpartisan Penn Wharton Budget Model had to say about the bill\u2019s impact on inflation: \u2018The impact on inflation is statistically indistinguishable from zero.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018Statistically indistinguishable from zero.\n\n\u201cThe nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office also found that the bill would do nothing to address our current inflation crisis.\n\n\u201cSo did the Tax Foundation.\n\n\u201cSo much for inflation reduction.\n\n\u201cSo what about the deficit reduction Democrats are touting?\n\n\u201cWell, unfortunately there\u2019s a good chance there won\u2019t be much of that either.\n\n\u201cDemocrats rely on some very shady accounting to reach their supposed deficit reduction number \u2013 most notably counting $120 billion in savings from the repeal of a rule that has never been implemented \u2013 and at this point was not expected to be.\n\n\u201cMr. President, no matter what this rule was predicted to cost, if it was never going to be implemented its cost was effectively $0 \u2013 and so repealing this rule leaves you with exactly zero extra dollars to spend \u2013 not $120 billion.\n\n\u201cThen there\u2019s the question of the bill\u2019s expanded Obamacare subsidies.\n\n\u201cDemocrats\u2019 bill extends the expanded Obamacare subsidies by three years.\n\n\u201cBut it\u2019s common knowledge that Democrats want to extend them permanently \u2013 as the president explicitly said in his State of the Union address.\n\n\u201cAnd when you figure in the cost of extending them permanently, most of the purported cost savings in the bill \u2013 which Democrats claim will go toward deficit reduction \u2013 dwindle away.\n\n\u201cSo no inflation reduction. An extremely doubtful amount of deficit reduction.\n\n\u201cWhat else?\n\n\u201cWell, there are the hundreds of billions of dollars in tax hikes.\n\n\u201cYes, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cHundreds of billions of dollars in tax hikes.\n\n\u201cOur economy has posted two consecutive quarters of negative growth \u2013 in fact by any common definition we are now in a recession \u2013 and Democrats think now is a good time to hike taxes.\n\n\u201cOn businesses.\n\n\u201cBusinesses that are already struggling with 40-year-high inflation.\n\n\u201cDemocrats\u2019 book minimum tax, as proposed last week, would be a $313 billion tax hike, with roughly half of the increase falling on American manufacturers.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I don\u2019t think I need to tell anyone what happens when you raise taxes on businesses \u2013 particularly when the economy is shrinking.\n\n\u201cYou get less growth, lower wages, and fewer jobs.\n\n\u201cAccording to an analysis from the National Association of Manufacturers, in 2023 alone the version of the bill Democrats introduced last week would reduce real gross domestic product by more than $68 billion and result in more than 218,000 fewer workers in the overall economy.\n\n\u201cThe Tax Foundation also found that the bill would \u2013 unsurprisingly \u2013 reduce economic growth, reduce wages, and reduce jobs.\n\n\u201cIn short, a big part of the burden of Democrats\u2019 tax hike on businesses would fall on American families and American workers.\n\n\u201cAnd, Mr. President, the book minimum tax on American businesses isn\u2019t the only tax hike Democrats are proposing in this bill.\n\n\u201cThey also just reportedly replaced a $14 billion tax hike on investment with a new, $74 billion stock buyback tax designed to punish investors who choose to keep their own money invested in a business \u2013 a tax hike that will likely discourage new investment and have a negative impact on Americans\u2019 retirement savings.\n\n\u201cAnd, of course, they\u2019ve included a number of taxes and fees on oil and gas production.\n\n\u201cI guess Democrats would like our current sky-high energy prices to continue long term.\n\n\u201cBecause I\u2019m at a loss for any other reason why Democrats would choose to hike taxes on oil and gas production at a time when Americans are already struggling with high gas prices and high utility bills.\n\n\u201cMr. President, Democrats didn\u2019t always think raising taxes during a recession was a good idea.\n\n\u201cIn fact, President Obama once said, \u201c[T]he last thing you want to do is to raise taxes in the middle of a recession.\u201d\n\n\u201cOr as the current Democrat leader once put it, \u201cYou don\u2019t want to take money out of the economy when the economy is shrinking.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, now that their Green New Deal fantasies are on the line, Democrats have changed their tune.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s right, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cDemocrats are hiking taxes during a recession not to address our border crisis, or inflation, or rising crime, but so that they can implement their Green New Deal agenda.\n\n\u201cTheir so-called Inflation Reduction Act is chock-full of Green New Deal spending.\n\n\u201cThings like $1.5 billion \u2013 billion \u2013 for a grant program to plant trees.\n\n\u201c$1 billion for electric heavy-duty vehicles like garbage trucks.\n\n\u201c$3 billion for the U.S. Postal Service to purchase zero-emission delivery vehicles.\n\n\u201cAnd $1.9 billion for things like road equity and identifying gaps in tree canopy coverage.\n\n\u201cYes, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cDemocrats are apparently willing to send us into a longer-term recession \u2013 or stagflation \u2013 in order to provide billions of dollars for things like road equity and identifying gaps in tree canopy coverage.\n\n\u201cAll told, Democrats provide more than $60 billion in this bill for \u2018environmental justice.\u2019\n\n\u201c$60 billion.\n\n\u201cTo put that number in perspective, that\u2019s more than the federal government spent on highways in 2019.\n\n\u201cThe bill also contains at least $30 billion in climate slush funds \u2013 part of which is allocated for, among other things, climate-related political activity.\n\n\u201cYes, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cClimate-related political activity.\n\n\u201cSomehow I don\u2019t think families struggling with ballooning grocery bills and the high price of gas are eager to see their tax dollars going to Green New Deal activism.\n\n\u201cBut apparently Democrats disagree.\n\n\u201cAnd I haven\u2019t even talked about the tax credits and rebates Democrats\u2019 bill would provide for wealthy Americans to purchase new electric vehicles \u2013 or remodel their kitchens with Democrat-approved green appliances.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I could go on for a while here.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s difficult to squeeze all of the bad ideas in Democrats\u2019 bill into just one floor speech.\n\n\u201cI haven\u2019t mentioned the socialist-style price controls Democrats\u2019 bill would impose on prescription drugs \u2013 price controls that would result in fewer new drugs and treatments.\n\n\u201cOr the additional $80 billion \u2013 yes, Mr. President, $80 billion \u2013 that Democrats\u2019 bill would give to the IRS \u2013 the majority of it to boost IRS audits.\n\n\u201cMore than $45 billion of that money would go to IRS enforcement.\n\n\u201c$45 billion. Or 57 percent.\n\n\u201cWant to know how much of that $80 billion would go to taxpayer services?\n\n\u201cFour percent.\n\n\u201cMr. President, this is an agency that only succeeded in answering about one out of every 50 taxpayer phone calls during the 2021 tax season.\n\n\u201cAnd yet Democrats are focused not on improving taxpayer services, but on boosting the number of IRS audits.\n\n\u201cAnd, Mr. President, no one should be deceived into thinking these increased audits will fall solely on millionaires and billionaires.\n\n\u201cNo matter what Democrats \u2013 and some officials at the IRS \u2013 conveniently claim, the fact of the matter is that it\u2019s exceedingly unlikely that Democrats will be able to collect the revenue they want to collect from increased IRS enforcement without auditing small businesses and ordinary taxpayers.\n\n\u201cIn fact, based on data from the Joint Committee on Taxation, 78 to 90 percent of the revenue projected to be raised from under-reported income would likely come from those making under $200,000.\n\n\u201cMr. President, almost 18 months ago now, Democrats passed a massive, partisan, $1.9 trillion spending spree.\n\n\u201cAmericans are still struggling with the resulting inflation crisis.\n\n\u201cThis new tax-and-spending spree is yet another terrible economic idea from Democrats.\n\n\u201cAnd like the so-called American Rescue Plan before it, it will leave our economy \u2013 and the American people \u2013 worse off.\n\n\u201cFor their sake, I hope Democrats will think better of this bill before it\u2019s too late.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:26:22Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=E840A7DB-B5F2-420D-8A70-2B10A2E9EAED", "Thune, Inhofe Lead Resolution Supporting Increased Coordination with Finland, Sweden Ahead of Full NATO Membership", "2022-08-05", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced a resolution expressing support for the United States\u2019 actions that will strengthen the military interoperability and resiliency of Finland\u2019s and Sweden\u2019s militaries, prior to their anticipated accession to the Northern Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance.\n\n\u201cFinland and Sweden will bring their own unique capabilities and industries to NATO that will strengthen the alliance, expand its geostrategic position, and bolster its deterrence posture,\u201d said Thune. \u201cPurposeful engagement at this time would not only deepen our interoperability, but demonstrate reassurance before Finland and Sweden formally join the treaty. It would also help signal to other NATO members to quickly complete their respective membership approvals.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe United States Senate rightly voted by an overwhelming majority to welcome Finland and Sweden into NATO,\u201d said Inhofe. \u201cWhile we wait for other members of NATO to do the same, the United States and fellow allies should intensify coordination with these partners to underscore our commitment from the get-go and make it clear to Russia that we will not be deterred by their meddlesome threats in the meantime. Our resolution calls on the President to strengthen the defense cooperation that is at the root of these nations\u2019 historic decision to join NATO.\u201d\n\nThe resolution was cosponsored by U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).\n\nThune and Inhofe\u2019s resolution specifically addresses the interim period before all NATO members have completed their respective ratification protocols, while Finland and Sweden will not yet have the full collective security protections of the alliance. It also supports a spectrum of actions to enhance bi-, tri-, and multilateral interoperability of Finland and Sweden to ensure both nations can fully contribute as NATO members on day one of their membership. Such actions, including exercises and training, bomber task forces, and freedom of navigation operations in the Baltic Sea, would also serve as de facto near-term security assurances from Russian aggression while highlighting the capabilities Finland and Sweden will bring to NATO.\n\nMany of the actions enumerated in the resolution already take place. However, the resolution seeks greater emphasis and intent from the administration to set U.S. posture for the next phase of the broader accession effort, as well as maintain U.S. leadership in support of these historic additions to the alliance. It also would assist in countering disinformation that targets a number of NATO member nations that could potentially delay their timely consideration of Finland\u2019s and Sweden\u2019s bids for NATO membership.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:26:22Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/greatest-generation-commemorative-coin-act-signed-into-law", "Greatest Generation Commemorative Coin Act Signed Into Law", "2022-08-04", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and U.S. Representatives Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) announced their bipartisan legislation has been signed into law. The Greatest Generation Commemorative Coin Act authorizes the U.S. Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Proceeds from coin sales will go toward much-needed repairs and maintenance to the memorial at no cost to taxpayers.\n\n\u201cThe World War II Memorial recognizes the tremendous sacrifices made by our Greatest Generation,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cThey put their ordinary lives on hold to step into numerous roles defending our country. Whether at home or abroad, their selfless efforts made an unmatched impact on our generation and generations to follow. I am pleased this bill was signed into law so future generations will remember and honor the courageous heroes that came before them.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur bipartisan bill signifies the commitment of lawmakers and leaders to honor the heroic veterans who fought in WWII and to ensure they will not be forgotten,\u201d said Shaheen. \u201cThe National World War II Memorial is a testament to the tremendous sacrifices made by our Greatest Generation, and stands as a crucial reminder of what the sons and daughters of America did to rid our world of tyranny. I\u2019m proud to have led the bipartisan push with Senator Rounds to restore this memorial so Americans can continue to have a public place to honor and remember the brave individuals who served, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith the signing into law of the Greatest Generation Commemorative Coin Act, we continue our bipartisan work to honor the National World War II Memorial and preserve it for years to come,\u201d said Kaptur. \u201cThe Greatest Generation commemorative coin will stand the test of time \u2013 representing America\u2019s enduring gratitude for the millions of brave servicemembers who answered the call to defend Liberty when our nation and the world needed them most.\u201d\n\nThe Greatest Generation Commemorative Coin Act unanimously passed both the Senate and the House in July. Beginning in 2024, the coins will be sold to the public. Proceeds from the sale of the coins will be used by the Friends of the National World War II Memorial, in partnership with the National Park Service, to perform necessary maintenance and repair work at the memorial and provide enhanced educational and commemorative programming for the millions of people who visit annually.\n\nRead the bill text that was signed into law HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=DE75A615-80D7-4BD1-80AC-988842236273", "Thune: Democrats Prioritize Radical Climate Agenda Over Addressing Skyrocketing Energy Prices", "2022-08-04", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video\n\nU.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed how Democrats\u2019 proposed energy tax hikes would hurt Americans who are already suffering from high energy prices. Thune noted that the Democrats\u2019 bill is wasteful and irresponsible and would do nothing to ease the economic pain that their policies have helped create.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, last week Democrats unveiled their so-called Inflation Reduction Act \u2013 a bill that will do nothing to reduce inflation, but will double down on Democrats\u2019 wasteful government spending, along with imposing hundreds of billions in tax hikes.\n\n\u201cYes.\n\n\u201cHundreds of billions of dollars in tax hikes.\n\n\u201cOur economy has posted negative economic growth for the past two quarters, and Democrats think it\u2019s a good idea to raise taxes on American businesses.\n\n\u201cPerhaps Democrats think that current prices aren\u2019t high enough.\n\n\u201cOr that businesses aren\u2019t struggling enough with the inflation Democrats helped create.\n\n\u201cThe worst part, of course, is that a substantial part of the burden of these tax hikes will fall on ordinary Americans.\n\n\u201cAmericans who are already struggling with historically high inflation.\n\n\u201cAmericans who are seeing their grocery bills balloon and their rent skyrocket.\n\n\u201cAmericans who are paying more than $4.00 per gallon every time they fill up their car.\n\n\u201cNow Democrats are going to pass tax hikes that will hit these Americans hard.\n\n\u201cA tax hike on businesses that will almost undoubtedly result in lower growth, lower wages, and fewer jobs.\n\n\u201cA tax hike on investment \u2013 investment we need to grow our economy and create opportunities for American workers.\n\n\u201cAnd tax hikes on energy production.\n\n\u201cYes.\n\n\u201cTax hikes on energy production \u2013 to the tune of $60 billion.\n\n\u201cMr. President, as I mentioned, Americans are still, on average, paying more than $4.00 a gallon every time they go to fill up their cars \u2013 as they have been for months.\n\n\u201cTheir electricity bills are up.\n\n\u201cThe price for utility gas service is up \u2013 by almost 40 percent.\n\n\u201cAnd Democrats think now is a good time to raise taxes on oil and gas production.\n\n\u201cI guess maybe they\u2019re hoping that they can force Americans off conventional energy by continuing to keep gas and energy prices high.\n\n\u201cAnd in case anyone was thinking that Democrats would be content with shutting down domestic production \u2013 with a methane tax, higher royalties, excise taxes, and costly permitting delays \u2013 and would rather Americans receive conventional energy from abroad \u2013 well, Democrats have a tax hike for that too.\n\n\u201cThe Democrats\u2019 bill would impose a new tax hike on U.S. refiners importing crude oil and petroleum products intended to make conventional energy prohibitively expensive.\n\n\u201cBut of course Americans still need conventional energy \u2013 and that will continue to be true for a while yet no matter how much wishful thinking Democrats engage in.\n\n\u201cAnd Democrats\u2019 energy tax hikes are setting ordinary Americans up to continue to suffer under high energy prices for the foreseeable future.\n\n\u201cSo what are all these tax hikes for, Mr. President?\n\n\u201cWhat government spending is worth imposing tax hikes that run the risk of pushing our economy into a longer recession \u2013 or stagflation?\n\n\u201cWell, let me just review some of the \u201cpriorities\u201d Democrats will be spending that tax hike money on.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s $1.5 billion \u2013 billion \u2013 for a grant program to plant trees.\n\n\u201cAnd $1.9 billion for things like identifying gaps in tree canopy coverage.\n\n\u201cYes.\n\n\u201cIdentifying gaps in tree canopy coverage.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s $1 billion for electric heavy-duty vehicles like garbage trucks.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m not really sure why the federal government is going to be spending money on electric garbage trucks \u2026 or how that\u2019s going to reduce inflation.\n\n\u201cThere is $3 billion for the U.S. Postal Service to purchase zero-emission delivery vehicles.\n\n\u201cQuite a lot of money for an agency that is supposedly self-funded.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s funding for road equity.\n\n\u201cAll told, there is more than $60 billion in funding for \u2018environmental justice.\u2019\n\n\u201c$60 billion.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s more than the federal government spent on highways in 2019.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s also at least $30 billion in climate slush funds \u2013 part of which is allocated for, among other things, climate-related political activity.\n\n\u201cYes.\n\n\u201cPolitical activity.\n\n\u201cSo in other words, Democrats are raising taxes on Americans so that they can provide federal funding for Green New Deal activism.\n\n\u201cAnd I haven\u2019t even talked about all the tax credits for adopting Democrats\u2019 preferred green energy technologies.\n\n\u201cThere are tax credits for purchasing electric vehicles and for refitting windows and skylights and doors to meet Democrats\u2019 required level of energy efficiency.\n\n\u201cYes.\n\n\u201cDemocrats are raising the tax burden on working Americans to pay for tax credits for wealthy Americans to purchase a brand-new electric vehicle \u2013 or do some home remodeling.\n\n\u201cOf course, these tax credits aren\u2019t officially limited to wealthy Americans.\n\n\u201cBut I\u2019m hard-pressed to think of many working families who can afford to spend $60,000 on a new electric vehicle while inflation is at a 40-year high.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I am a longtime supporter of clean energy.\n\n\u201cI come from a state that is leading the way toward cleaner and more efficient energy technologies.\n\n\u201cAnd I have worked with colleagues from both parties to advance clean energy, including through the responsible use of energy tax credits to bring clean-energy technologies to the point where they can compete on their own.\n\n\u201cBut this bill has nothing in common with the bipartisan work I and many others have done to responsibly advance clean energy.\n\n\u201cThis bill is wasteful and irresponsible and will do essentially nothing to reduce warming globally as other nations continue to skate by.\n\n\u201cIt will, however, waste a lot of taxpayer dollars and create a lot of economic pain for hardworking Americans.\n\n\u201cOne think-tank analyzed a plan similar to the one Democrats are pushing and found that it would result in staggering job losses, higher energy bills, and a tremendous reduction in economic growth.\n\n\u201cMr. President, one sensible move to advance clean energy \u2013 and necessary investment in conventional energy \u2013 would be to address the arduous permitting process, which can hold up both renewable and conventional energy projects for years.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s something we should be focused on \u2013 to promote investment in the conventional energy we still need and in the renewable energy technologies of the future.\n\n\u201cInstead, we\u2019re being asked to support a bill that will squander billions and billions of taxpayer dollars on Green New Deal activism and road equity and monitoring tree canopies.\n\n\u201cAnd we\u2019re supposed to vote for it based on the vague promise that the Senate will consider \u2013 consider, mind you, not pass \u2013 permitting legislation.\n\n\u201cPermitting legislation that may or may not meaningfully address the broken and burdensome permitting process or negate spurious lawsuits from far-left environmentalists.\n\n\u201cAnd even if it did provide meaningful reform, my hopes are not high that the Biden administration would actually act on the legislation.\n\n\u201cCanceling the Keystone XL pipeline \u2013 a project that endured a decade of permitting, was already underway, and was to be paired with $1.7 billion in private investment for renewables \u2013 does not instill confidence that even approved projects are safe from the president and Democrats\u2019 Green New Deal ideology.\n\n\u201cMr. President, Democrats\u2019 reckless, $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan spending spree helped plunge our economy into an inflation crisis that has left Americans struggling to make ends meet.\n\n\u201cAnd if this new partisan tax-and-spending spree passes, Americans can look forward to a lot more economic pain in the future.\n\n\u201cBut at least they\u2019ll be able to console themselves with the knowledge that their tax dollars are going to fund tree canopies.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:26:22Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=E1869931-1856-40A2-8752-6724C47EC370", "\u201cDemocrats are raising taxes on Americans so that they can provide federal funding for Green New Deal activism.\u201d", "2022-08-04", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the interview\n\nU.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Gillian Turner on Fox News to discuss how the Democrats\u2019 reckless tax-and-spending spree will increase costs on American families on top of the 40-year-high inflation that is already hurting their pocketbooks.\n\nOn the Democrats\u2019 bill failing to meaningfully address historically high inflation:\n\n\u201cAs you pointed out, the Congressional Budget Office, which is the official scorekeeper for Congress, said [the bill] will have a negligible effect on getting, you know, battling inflation, contrary to what you just played the president saying.\n\n\u201cAnd there are lots of other budgetary models out there by nonpartisan entities that have come to the same conclusion that, in fact, it will increase inflation in the near term and do nothing to reduce it in the long term.\n\n\u201cSo, if you're worried about inflation, if you're worried about gas prices, if you're worried about the economy generally, I think this is just a really bad bill. And I'm hoping that more Democrats are going to come to that realization, because they won't get a single Republican vote for it here in the Senate.\u201d\n\nOn the higher costs families will face if this legislation passes:\n\n\u201cWell, it certainly increases rates on businesses, all of which gets passed on to consumers in this country. And the Joint Committee on Taxation, again, which is the official scorekeeper when it comes to tax and revenue issues here in Washington, has done a study and they have suggested that the burden of these tax increases will be felt the most by people making under $200,000 a year, that in fact, in 2023, this next year, people under $200,000 a year would end up paying $17 billion more [in] higher costs.\n\n\u201cIt raises taxes on businesses, it raises taxes on oil and gas production, and even raises taxes on imported oil into this country, all of which are paid for at the pump by American consumers. So, it's loaded with tax increases.\u201d\n\n\u2026", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:26:22Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-issues-statement-supporting-nato-accession-of-finland-and-sweden-", "Rounds Issues Statement Supporting NATO Accession of Finland and Sweden", "2022-08-03", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, today issued the following statement after the Senate voted to expand the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which would bring Finland and Sweden into the alliance.\n\n\u201cFinland and Sweden have consistently demonstrated the advantages and capabilities they would bring to NATO. Both countries are longtime partners of the alliance and have gone through the necessary procedures to join. The requests to become formal members of NATO come as the Russian military initiated an unjustified and despicable invasion against the sovereign country of Ukraine. Finland and Sweden are well positioned to provide support to NATO allies if needed and are strategic additions to the alliance. As a member of the Senate\u2019s NATO Observer Group, I am pleased the Senate efficiently provided \u2018advice and consent\u2019 and voted with wide bipartisan support for Finland and Sweden to join NATO. The accession of both countries will send a message of unity and strengthen the alliance against Russia\u2019s growing threat.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=40E728A3-EC3F-46DF-A619-CB23B31C49AE", "Thune: South Dakota Taxpayers Cannot Afford the Democrats\u2019 Reckless Spending", "2022-08-03", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nU.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed how the Democrats\u2019 reckless tax-and-spending spree would hurt South Dakota taxpayers. Thune noted that according to data from the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation, Americans in nearly every income bracket would bear a significant burden of this bill\u2019s tax hikes, with more than half of the increased burden falling on Americans making $400,000 or less.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, \u2018You don\u2019t want to take money out of the economy when the economy is shrinking.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018You don\u2019t want to take money out of the economy when the economy is shrinking.\u2019\n\n\u201cThose aren\u2019t my words.\n\n\u201cThose were the words of the current Democrat leader in 2008.\n\n\u201c\u2018You don\u2019t want to take money out of the economy when the economy is shrinking.\u2019\n\n\u201cApparently it\u2019s a philosophy the Democrat leader no longer subscribes to.\n\n\u201cBecause last week, he introduced legislation \u2026 to take money out of the economy when the economy is shrinking.\n\n\u201cDemocrats\u2019 so-called Inflation Reduction Act \u2013 a misnomer if there ever was one, since the bill will do nothing to help alleviate our current inflation crisis \u2013 would take hundreds of billions of dollars out of the economy in the form of tax hikes and comes just as our economy posted a second quarter of negative growth.\n\n\u201cNotably, the bill imposes a $313 billion tax hike on American businesses \u2013 with roughly half of that increase falling on American manufacturers.\n\n\u201cI guess the president\u2019s commitment to boosting American manufacturing takes a back seat to raising revenue to fund Democrats\u2019 Green New Deal priorities.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I don\u2019t think I need to tell anyone what happens when you raise taxes on businesses \u2013 particularly when the economy is shrinking.\n\n\u201cYou get less growth, lower wages, and fewer jobs.\n\n\u201cAccording to an analysis from the National Association of Manufacturers, in 2023 alone Democrats\u2019 bill would reduce real gross domestic product by more than $68 billion and result in 218,108 fewer workers in the overall economy.\n\n\u201cAnd ordinary Americans would bear a substantial part of the burden of this tax increase.\n\n\u201cAccording to data from the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation, Democrats\u2019 bill would increase the tax burden on Americans across every income bracket, with more than half of the increased tax burden falling on Americans making $400,000 or less.\n\n\u201cNext year alone, Democrats\u2019 bill would increase the tax burden on Americans earning less than $200,000 by $16.7 billion.\n\n\u201cMr. President, Democrats are brazenly attempting to sell this new tax as somehow closing a loophole, instead of hiking taxes on American businesses.\n\n\u201cBut that isn\u2019t even close to being the truth.\n\n\u201cWhen companies pay less than the current corporate tax rate, they\u2019re often simply taking advantage of tax credits that Republicans and Democrats put in place to encourage investment in things like research and development or the production of new technologies.\n\n\u201cDemocrats aren\u2019t closing a loophole in the tax code.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019re raising taxes on American businesses \u2013 at a time when our economy has posted two consecutive quarters of negative growth.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019re raising taxes on businesses that are already struggling with historically high inflation.\n\n\u201cMr. President, Democrats claim they will make large companies pay at least a 15 percent minimum tax.\n\n\u201cBut that isn\u2019t true either.\n\n\u201cBecause Democrats have created carveouts to their own minimum tax.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s right.\n\n\u201cNot all companies will have to pay the new book minimum tax.\n\n\u201cFor instance, green energy companies \u2013 and companies that take green energy tax credits \u2013 will be allowed to pay less than Democrats\u2019 alternative minimum corporate tax rate.\n\n\u201cIn other words, if you are a member of, or invest in, Democrats\u2019 preferred industries, you get special tax treatment under Democrats\u2019 legislation.\n\n\u201cSo much for ensuring that all companies \u201cpay their fair share.\u201d\n\n\u201cMr. President, in addition to their $313 billion tax hike on American businesses, Democrats\u2019 legislation also raises taxes on investment \u2013 another bad idea at a time when our economy is already shrinking.\n\n\u201cPerhaps Democrats\u2019 real plan is to reduce inflation by slowing our economy and ensuring that we enter a recession \u2013 or stagflation.\n\n\u201cDemocrats\u2019 legislation also raises taxes on oil and gas production \u2013 even as Americans continue to struggle with high energy prices, including a 75 percent increase in gas prices since President Biden took office.\n\n\u201cAnd taxes aren\u2019t the only way Democrats raise revenue in this bill to pay for their Green New Deal measures.\n\n\u201cDemocrats\u2019 bill also attempts to raise revenue by increasing IRS audits and enforcement.\n\n\u201cDemocrats\u2019 legislation gives the IRS an additional $80 billion in funding over 10 years.\n\n\u201cThis would allow the IRS to hire an additional 87,000 employees \u2013 meaning that the IRS would have nearly three times as many personnel as U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the agency charged with overseeing security at our nation\u2019s borders.\n\n\u201cThe IRS\u2019 budget would also substantially exceed Customs and Border Protection\u2019s budget if this legislation is enacted.\n\n\u201cYou might think that given the raging crisis at our southern border, the Biden administration would be focused on beefing up funding and personnel for Customs and Border Protection instead of the IRS.\n\n\u201cBut you\u2019d be wrong.\n\n\u201cApparently the need to find money for Democrats\u2019 Green New Deal trumps the need for a secure border.\n\n\u201cMr. President, of the additional $80 billion that Democrats\u2019 bill would hand to the IRS, 57 percent \u2013 or more than $45 billion \u2013 would go to enforcement, and 4 percent would go to taxpayer services.\n\n\u201cFour percent.\n\n\u201cAs I said on the floor yesterday, we\u2019re talking about an agency that only succeeded in answering about one out of every 50 taxpayer phone calls during the 2021 tax season \u2013 and has repeatedly mishandled sensitive taxpayer data.\n\n\u201cTo name just one instance, confidential taxpayer information was either leaked or hacked from the IRS last year and shared with the left-leaning ProPublica in order to advance a partisan agenda.\n\n\u201cAnd more than a year later, the IRS still hasn\u2019t provided meaningful follow-up to Congress or accountability to taxpayers.\n\n\u201cAnd yet Democrats\u2019 focus is not on improving the IRS\u2019 responsiveness and accountability, but on boosting the number of audits.\n\n\u201cAnd speaking of those audits.\n\n\u201cNo one should think that the IRS would just be auditing major corporations and billionaires.\n\n\u201cNo, this bill would result in a lot of audits of small businesses and ordinary Americans.\n\n\u201cIn fact, it\u2019s extremely unlikely that Democrats will be able to gather the revenue they\u2019re claiming they can get from increased IRS enforcement unless they audit Americans making less than $200,000.\n\n\u201cBased on data from the Joint Committee on Taxation, 78 to 90 percent of the revenue projected to be raised from under-reported income would likely come from those making under $200,000.\n\n\u201cOnly 4 to 9 percent would come from those making more than $500,000.\n\n\u201cMr. President, after more than a year of high inflation \u2013 spurred by Democrats\u2019 reckless American Rescue Plan spending spree \u2013 and with an economy that has shrunk for the past two quarters, it\u2019s hard to believe that Democrats are trying to pass hundreds of billions in tax hikes.\n\n\u201cBut once again, economic common sense is taking a back seat to Democrats\u2019 big-spending, big-government ideology.\n\n\u201cDemocrats have already inflicted a lot of economic pain on the American people.\n\n\u201cAnd if this legislation passes, there is more to come.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:26:22Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=60624D08-3BD0-4B37-B4D6-445E48202312", "Thune Statement on the Death of al Qaeda Terrorist Ayman al-Zawahiri", "2022-08-02", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today released the following statement on the death of al Qaeda terrorist Ayman al-Zawahiri:\n\n\u201cAl-Zawahiri was one of the key plotters of the terrorist attacks on 9/11, and he succeeded Osama bin Laden as the leader of al Qaeda for the past 11 years. He shares responsibility for the deaths of thousands of American citizens and has been a top target for the United States for decades,\u201d said Thune. \u201cThis successful drone strike is a testament to the vigilance of the men and women who worked to identify and track this priority terrorist target and help deliver swift justice. It should also be a reminder of the global reach of the U.S. Intelligence Community and our entire national security apparatus.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:26:22Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=8F00A89C-AA89-43A1-AA0E-B12D9D86A584", "Thune on Fox News: Democrats\u2019 Tax Hikes and Reckless Spending Will Do Nothing to Address Inflation", "2022-08-02", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the interview.\n\nU.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Charles Payne on Fox News to discuss Speaker Pelosi\u2019s trip to Taiwan and the Democrats\u2019 latest version of their reckless tax-and-spending spree.\n\nOn Speaker Pelosi\u2019s trip to Taiwan:\n\n\u201cI think it's important, and I think it was wrong for the administration not to support this trip. The Chinese government should not be telling American officials, elected officials or otherwise, where they can and cannot go.\n\n\u201cAnd the administration was wrong in the first place, I think, to come out and oppose this trip. And it's important that we send a message to China that they're not gonna interfere in the travel plans of American elected officials.\u201d\n\nOn Democrats\u2019 latest reckless tax-and-spending spree:\n\n\u201cWell, I think that unfortunately Joe Manchin got baited into a bad deal by his leadership, and I think it's something that in the end he's gonna come to regret, and I think the people of West Virginia are gonna come to regret it, too.\n\n\u201cBut the point is, the Joint Committee on Taxation was asked a question about how was this tax increase, how was it going to distribute among different income, you know, classes around the country. And what they concluded [was] that the tax hike would place a disproportionate burden on those Americans, working Americans, making under $200,000 a year.\n\n\u2026\n\n\u201cBut the broader point here, Charles, is prices are gonna go up, costs are gonna go up, for American citizens. We are at a time of record inflation. We have an economy that's wobbly. We've got two consecutive quarters now of negative GDP growth, and the Democrats\u2019 prescription for that is raising taxes and increasing spending, the very thing, spending at least you could argue, that got us into this in the first place.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:26:22Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=F82CEB98-AF2F-46B2-A8B4-701A8C9C700F", "Thune: Democrats\u2019 Disastrous Spending Bill is Chock-Full of Tax Hikes, Radical Energy Policies", "2022-08-02", "2022", "2022-08", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video\n\nU.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed how the Democrats\u2019 disastrous spending bill would increase inflation, raise taxes, and fund radical Green New Deal projects. Thune noted that rather than increasing accountability and improving taxpayer services, the Democrats\u2019 bill would double the size of the Internal Revenue Service in order to increase tax audits to fund their reckless tax-and-spending spree.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, Democrats dropped the latest version of their tax and spending spree last week.\n\n\u201cAnd like every previous version, this bill is a bad deal for the American people.\n\n\u201cWhere should I start, Mr. President?\n\n\u201cMaybe with the bill\u2019s title.\n\n\u201cIn true Orwellian style, Democrats are calling the bill the Inflation Reduction Act \u2026 even though the bill would do nothing to reduce inflation.\n\n\u201cAnd you don\u2019t have to take my word for it.\n\n\u201cThe nonpartisan Penn Wharton Budget Model analyzed the bill and found that the bill would not reduce inflation.\n\n\u201cIn fact, the analysis found that Democrats\u2019 bill would contribute to inflation through 2024 and have no material impact on inflation in the long term.\n\n\u201cMr. President, inflation has hit working Americans very hard.\n\n\u201cTheir grocery bills have ballooned.\n\n\u201cRents have skyrocketed.\n\n\u201cFilling up their cars costs 75 percent more per gallon than it did when President Biden took office.\n\n\u201cTheir utility bills have increased.\n\n\u201cThe list goes on.\n\n\u201cFamilies are having to cut back on purchases and dig into their savings or pull out their credit cards \u2013 or in some cases, visit a food bank \u2013 to make ends meet.\n\n\u201cAnd what does Democrats\u2019 tax-and-spending spree do to help?\n\n\u201cNothing.\n\n\u201cAmericans are dealing with the worst inflation in more than 40 years, and Democrats\u2019 bill does nothing to help end our current crisis.\n\n\u201cNothing.\n\n\u201cSo what does the bill do, Mr. President?\n\n\u201cWell, for one thing, it raises taxes.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s right, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cOur economy has shrunk for each of the past two quarters \u2013 in fact by any common definition we are now in a recession \u2013 and Democrats\u2019 bill raises taxes \u2026 by hundreds of billions of dollars.\n\n\u201cHere\u2019s what the Democrat leader previously had to say about raising taxes in a recession: \u2018If we\u2019re in a recession and we\u2019re in a difficult economic time, I don\u2019t think Sen. Obama or anyone else is going to raise any taxes. You don\u2019t want to take money out of the economy when the economy is shrinking.\u2019\n\n\u201cPresident Obama expressed a similar sentiment: \u2018[T]he last thing you want to do is to raise taxes in the middle of a recession.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018The last thing.\u2019\n\n\u201cWell, Mr. President, apparently that doesn\u2019t apply when Democrats have Green New Deal projects they want to pay for.\n\n\u201cDemocrats\u2019 bill attempts to offset the cost of their Green New Deal spending spree by raising taxes on American businesses, particularly manufacturers.\n\n\u201cThe proposed book minimum tax would be a $313 billion tax hike, with roughly half of the increase falling on American manufacturers.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I don\u2019t think I need to tell anyone the likely outcome of raising taxes on businesses \u2013 particularly when the economy is contracting.\n\n\u201cThe likely outcome is less growth, lower wages, and fewer jobs.\n\n\u201cAccording to an analysis from the National Association of Manufacturers, in 2023 alone the bill would reduce real gross domestic product by more than $68 billion and result in 218,108 fewer workers in the overall economy.\n\n\u201cDemocrats\u2019 bill also raises taxes on the energy sector \u2013 specifically on domestic oil and gas production.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s another facepalm move from Democrats.\n\n\u201cCurrently, gas prices are 75 percent higher than they were when President Biden took office.\n\n\u201cElectricity prices are up.\n\n\u201cThe cost of utility gas service is way up.\n\n\u201cAnd yet Democrats think it\u2019s a good idea to raise taxes on domestic oil and gas production.\n\n\u201cApparently Democrats want our current high energy prices to stick around for the long term.\n\n\u201cSo what are Democrats going to use all that tax-hike money for?\n\n\u201cWell, for one thing, they\u2019re going to use it to fund Green New Deal projects.\n\n\u201cCritical \u2018priorities\u2019 like monitoring gaps in tree canopy coverage and road equity and funding the Post Office\u2019s purchase of electric delivery vehicles.\n\n\u201cThen there are the multiple slush funds for Green New Deal projects.\n\n\u201cAnd the tax credit for the purchase of a new electric car or truck.\n\n\u201cOf course, you\u2019ll only be able to use the credit if you can afford to spend somewhere in the neighborhood of $60,000 \u2013 the average price for a new electric vehicle \u2013 while we\u2019re in a recession.\n\n\u201cSo it would almost undoubtedly be mostly Americans with higher salaries \u2013 up to $300,000 per household \u2013 who would be able to make use of this credit.\n\n\u201cBut I guess Democrats think electric vehicle tax credits for wealthier Americans are a good use of taxpayer dollars.\n\n\u201cWhat else, Mr. President?\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve mentioned the bill\u2019s tax hikes.\n\n\u201cBut Democrats\u2019 bill also attempts to raise revenue by increasing IRS audits and enforcement.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s right.\n\n\u201cDemocrats\u2019 bill would more than double the current number of IRS employees, making the agency nearly three times larger than U.S. Customs and Border Protection \u2013 the agency charged with security at all of our nation\u2019s borders \u2013 and more than 50 percent larger than the entire U.S. Department of Agriculture.\n\n\u201cDemocrats give the IRS a whopping $80 billion in additional funding over 10 years.\n\n\u201cOf that $80 billion, 57 percent goes to enforcement and 4 percent goes to taxpayer services.\n\n\u201cFour percent.\n\n\u201cMr. President, this is an agency that only succeeded in answering about one out of every 50 taxpayer phone calls during the 2021 tax season.\n\n\u201cAnd yet Democrats are focused not on improving the IRS\u2019 responsiveness to taxpayers, but on boosting the number of IRS audits.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I still haven\u2019t mentioned the bill\u2019s socialist-style price controls for prescription drugs \u2013 price controls that would result in fewer new drugs and treatments.\n\n\u201cA study from last November found that Democrats\u2019 price-control plans would result in 135 fewer new drugs through 2039.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s a lot of potentially life-changing \u2013 and lifesaving \u2013 treatments to lose.\n\n\u201cThen of course there\u2019s Democrats\u2019 plan to expand Obamacare subsidies to higher-earning Americans \u2013 a move which would drive up the cost of health insurance.\n\n\u201cI could go on.\n\n\u201cMr. President, most Americans remember the lead-up to Democrats\u2019 American Rescue Plan spending spree last March.\n\n\u201cWe were promised that passing that bill would have big benefits for our economy and American families.\n\n\u201cWell, we know what actually happened.\n\n\u201cDemocrats\u2019 reckless spending spree helped trigger the worst inflation in four decades.\n\n\u201cAnd American families have suffered as a result.\n\n\u201cNow we\u2019re being asked to swallow a similar story about Democrats\u2019 latest spending legislation.\n\n\u201cThis bill will help our economy, we\u2019re told \u2013 even though we know it would make life harder for American businesses and workers at a time when our economy is already contracting.\n\n\u201cIt will help inflation, Democrats claim \u2026 even though a nonpartisan analysis says it would do nothing to help alleviate our current crisis.\n\n\u201cIt will reduce our deficit, Democrats say \u2013 relying on some very shady accounting measures to reach their supposed deficit reduction number.\n\n\u201cIt will help lower energy prices, the president claims \u2026 even though new energy taxes would further inflate near-term energy bills during a season of historic prices.\n\n\u201cMr. President, you would think Democrats might have been chastened by their disastrous American Rescue Plan spending spree.\n\n\u201cBut you\u2019d be wrong.\n\n\u201cApparently Democrats are determined to get in another disastrous spending bill.\n\n\u201cAnd once again the American people will be left to suffer the consequences.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:26:22Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/greatest-generation-commemorative-coin-act-unanimously-passes-senate-heading-to-presidents-desk", "Greatest Generation Commemorative Coin Act Unanimously Passes Senate; Heading to President\u2019s Desk", "2022-07-28", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and U.S. Representatives Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) today announced their legislation, the Greatest Generation Commemorative Coin Act, is heading to the president\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cThe National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., recognizes the tremendous sacrifices made by our Greatest Generation,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cTheir selfless efforts had an unmatched impact on our country. With the president\u2019s signature, this bill will help preserve the memorial so future generations can continue to honor the courageous heroes that came before them. I am proud that the last of this storied generation, many of whom continue to visit our nation\u2019s capital through honor flights, will set their eyes on a fully-restored memorial.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m thrilled that our legislation to invest in the World War II memorial and ensure its structural integrity is secure for generations of Americans is now on its way to the President\u2019s desk,\u201d said Shaheen. \u201cThis is about preserving our history and honoring the brave souls who gave their lives for a cause greater than any one person or one nation. It\u2019s important to protect public spaces and memorials like this so that we can provide a place for loved ones and fellow Americans to reflect, appreciate and remember the heroism of those brave individuals. I look forward to the President signing this bill into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt the heart of our nation\u2019s capital, the National World War II Memorial stands as an enduring testament to the patriots of America\u2019s Greatest Generation whose selfless courage secured the victory of Liberty in the 20th century,\u201d said Kaptur. \u201cThe Greatest Generation commemorative coin will serve as a sturdy token that honors those who fought and sacrificed while fortifying the sacred national shrine that salutes their legacies.\u201d\n\nProceeds from the sale of the coins will be used by the Friends of the National World War II Memorial, in partnership with the National Park Service, to perform necessary maintenance and repair work at the memorial and provide enhanced educational and commemorative programming to the millions of people who visit annually. The bill authorizes Treasury to mint up to 50,000 $5 coins, 400,000 $1 coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins for use as legal tender. Beginning in 2024, the coins will be sold to the public at face value plus a $35, $10, and $5 surcharge, respectively, to fund the work and programming led by the Friends of the National World War II Memorial.\n\n\u201cThe commemorative coin will serve as an important representation of the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of the brave Americans who fought to defend the nation and advance peace and freedom throughout the world,\u201d said Friends of the National World War II Memorial Executive Director Holly Rotondi. \u201cWe are grateful to Congresswoman Kaptur and Congressman Adam Kinzinger, along with Senators Mike Rounds and Jeanne Shaheen for their strong leadership in recognizing the importance of the memorial as the singular place in the U.S. to commemorate World War II and its veterans and moving this significant legislation through Congress.\u201d\n\n\"The National World War II Memorial stands as an important symbol of America\u2019s national unity, a timeless reminder of the moral strength and power that flows when free people are united and bonded together in a common and just cause for liberty,\u201d said Friends of the National World War II Memorial Chairman Jane Droppa. \u201cIn 2024, the Memorial will turn 20 years old, and without the efforts of Congresswoman Kaptur and Congressman Adam Kinzinger and Senators Mike Rounds and Jeanne Shaheen the legislation passed today it would not be possible to provide much needed attention to this sacred space.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=142BF374-43C7-49E9-9300-891E90DD3AAA", "Thune: It is Reckless to Raise Taxes in a Recession", "2022-07-28", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nU.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed this morning\u2019s report that the United States has experienced two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth, which is the traditional definition of a recession. Thune stressed that Democrats\u2019 latest reckless tax-and-spending spree would waste taxpayer dollars, slow economic growth, and do nothing to help families who are facing steep costs due to historically high inflation.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (excerpts):\n\n\u201cYesterday afternoon, Democrats, Senator Manchin, Joe Manchin from West Virginia, and their leadership announced the latest version of their Build Back Better tax-and-spending spree, which they are bizarrely calling the Inflation Reduction Act.\u201d\n\n\u2026\n\n\u201cSo let me just tell you a few of the things that the bill does. It imposes a new tax on job creators. It provides funding to the IRS to harass small businesses and nonprofits. It provides tens of billions of dollars in tax credits for Green New Deal projects and the purchase of costly electric vehicles. And it extends increased government subsidies for people on Obamacare.\n\n\u201cWell, Mr. President, I think the question you have to ask is, what exactly is any of that going to do to address inflation? How are more IRS audits going to help Americans wondering how they can continue to afford to pay more than $4 a gallon for gas? How's the new tax on businesses going to drive down the price of chicken or milk or fruits or vegetables?\n\n\u201cAnd as for electric vehicle tax credits, they might make purchasing an electric vehicle slightly less painful. But that is if you can afford to purchase one in the first place, especially in the midst of an inflation crisis.\u201d\n\n\u2026\n\n\u201cThis bill isn\u2019t going to do anything about inflation. It's not going to do anything for economic growth. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if this bill's new tax on businesses actually slows down parts of our economy. And it begs the question, Mr. President, about why you would need new taxes when the taxes that are coming into the treasury already are, frankly, at record levels.\u201d\n\n\u2026\n\n\u201cSo the Joint Economic Committee did an analysis recently, which found out that the increase in cost for an average American family year over year, as a result of this level of inflation, is about $9,000. So, that's $9,000 more for the same basket of goods, the same basic necessities, that Americans bought last year.\u201d\n\n\u2026\n\n\u201cAnd so you already have this huge tax on American families because of inflation. Now, you couple that with the fact that the economy is slowing down, it's getting a little wobbly, and you would think, you would think just intuitively, that when you have an economy like that, the last thing you would want to do \u2013 the very worst prescription for high inflation and slow growth \u2013 would be more taxes and more spending.\u201d\n\n\u2026\n\n\u201cSo instead of lowering energy costs by increasing supply, opening up federal lands, approving permits to drill, approving infrastructure projects, encouraging investment in energy production in this country, instead of discouraging it and pressuring companies not to invest in energy production. This has the opposite effect. It's going to tax energy. It's going to put a tax on energy. So you're going to have higher electricity costs, higher fuel costs. I don't get it. I honestly don't get it.\u201d\n\n\u2026\n\n\u201cBut the fact of the matter is that Democrats like to grow and expand government. They like more government. They like more government control. And this [bill] achieves that in a lot of ways. Obviously, it makes people more dependent upon government.\u201d\n\n\u2026", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:20:25Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=E887411C-57E1-48E3-98DC-36ED709099B8", "Key Thune Priorities For South Dakota Included in Water Infrastructure Bill", "2022-07-28", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after the Senate passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022, legislation that includes key Thune-led provisions to bolster South Dakota\u2019s water rights and combat invasive species.\n\n\u201cThis legislation provides greater certainty to South Dakota and neighboring states when it comes to water rights, and it provides additional resources for mitigation of invasive species like zebra mussels,\u201d said Thune. \u201cThis is an important bill for the Great Plains, and I\u2019m glad I could play a part in it to advocate for South Dakota\u2019s interests.\u201d\n\nKey provisions included:\n\nImproves State Oversight with Respect to Water Rights: The bill establishes a new Western States Cooperative Committee with two slots for South Dakota membership, which will advise the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and Congress on policies to maintain the primacy of state water rights.\n\nExtends the Prohibition on Surplus Water Fees: This bill permanently extends the prohibition, meaning the Corps would be prohibited from charging fees indefinitely.\n\nExtend Invasive Species Management Pilot Program Authority: WRDA 2020 included a pilot program to assist states in the Upper Missouri River Basin with the development and implementation of plans to mitigate aquatic invasive species, namely zebra mussels. The bill extends the pilot program authority through 2026 to provide states more time to utilize funding.\n\nBackground on efforts to protect state water rights:\n\nSince 2010, the Corps has restricted access to the Missouri River reservoirs and has proposed charging an unprecedented fee for so-called surplus water taken from the major reservoirs in the upper basin. When the Corps built the dams along the river after Congress passed the 1944 Flood Control Act, it flooded prime state and tribal land with the agreement that by doing so, residents would have access to water from the Missouri River for various purposes. Although some of those intended purposes such as irrigation never fully materialized, the states never ceded the right to use Missouri River water for municipal and industrial water supplies.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:20:25Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=1EA6A03F-2B08-49BA-AF66-2ECA188A2DB1", "Thune: Ongoing Southern Border Crisis Empowers Cartels, Fuels Fentanyl Overdoses", "2022-07-27", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nU.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed how the Biden administration\u2019s deliberate refusal to secure the southern border is affecting community safety all across the country, including in South Dakota. Thune noted that the high volume of fentanyl being trafficked across the southern border continues to fuel our nation\u2019s opioid crisis, and fentanyl overdoses are currently the leading cause of death for U.S. adults between the ages of 18 and 45.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, the Biden border crisis continues to rage.\n\n\u201cLast month, U.S. Customs and Border Protection encountered 207,416 individuals attempting to cross our southern border illegally \u2013 the highest June number ever recorded.\n\n\u201cAnd April and May successively set records for the highest numbers for any month, ever.\n\n\u201cDuring the 2021 fiscal year, Customs and Border Protection encountered a record number of individuals attempting to cross our southern border illegally.\n\n\u201c1,734,686, to be precise.\n\n\u201cWell, Mr. President, we still have three months to go for this fiscal year, but we\u2019ve already exceeded last year\u2019s number \u2026 by more than 11,000.\n\n\u201cYes.\n\n\u201cIn just nine months, we have already exceeded last year\u2019s record number of apprehensions.\n\n\u201cThe situation at our southern border is out of control.\n\n\u201cAlthough you\u2019d never know it to hear the president and his administration.\n\n\u201c\u2018The border is secure,\u2019 the president\u2019s homeland security secretary said just a few days ago.\n\n\u201c\u2018The border is secure.\u2019\n\n\u201cMy only question, Mr. President, is how he said that with a straight face.\n\n\u201cOur southern border is the opposite of secure.\n\n\u201cIt is in crisis.\n\n\u201cThe flood of illegal immigration is so great that huge numbers of Customs and Border Protection officers have been pulled off the border to process migrants.\n\n\u201cA May article from the Economist reported that, quote, \u2018Around 60% of CBP agents have been assigned to process migrants, taking them away from field work.\u2019\n\n\u201cThat, of course, leaves our borders wide open to illegal activity, including the drug trafficking that is flooding our country with fentanyl.\n\n\u201cIt also means that even with all the apprehensions the Border Patrol has made, many more individuals are getting through unstopped.\n\n\u201cOne source reports that so far this fiscal year, there have been more than half a million \u2018gotaways\u2019 \u2013 individuals the Border Patrol saw but was unable to apprehend.\n\n\u201cThe Economist article I mentioned also noted, and I quote, \u2018One border expert estimates that less than 20% of people trying to cross the border undetected are stopped.\u2019\n\n\u201cLess than 20 percent, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cThat is a security nightmare.\n\n\u201cOur Customs and Border Protection agents are giving this job their all, but there\u2019s no way for them to keep up with the flood of illegal immigration \u2013 especially when they\u2019re being pulled off the border to process migrants.\n\n\u201cMr. President, it is President Biden\u2019s job to help stop this border crisis.\n\n\u201cBut when he\u2019s not pretending this crisis doesn\u2019t exist, he\u2019s taking actions that are contributing to this disaster.\n\n\u201cOn his very first day in office, President Biden rescinded the declaration of a national emergency at our southern border.\n\n\u201cHe halted construction of the border wall.\n\n\u201cHe revoked a Trump administration order that called for the government to faithfully execute our immigration laws.\n\n\u201cAnd his Department of Homeland Security issued guidelines pausing deportations except under certain conditions.\n\n\u201cAll on his first day in office.\n\n\u201cNeedless to say, the effect of all this was to declare to the world that the United States\u2019 borders were effectively open.\n\n\u201cAnd even as huge numbers of illegal immigrants pour across our southern border, he has continued to build on those actions.\n\n\u201cThe president has sought to significantly limit the ability of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce immigration laws.\n\n\u201cDeportations dropped precipitously during fiscal year 2021, as did arrests in the interior of the country.\n\n\u201cIn March of this year, the administration rescinded a 2019 rule expanding expedited removal for individuals here illegally.\n\n\u201cAnd, of course, the administration is still attempting to remove Title 42 COVID-19 restrictions with no viable plan to control the resulting surge in illegal immigration.\n\n\u201cMr. President, illegal immigration \u2013 especially the kind of out-of-control illegal immigration we\u2019re currently experiencing \u2013 has serious consequences.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve already mentioned some of the security risks it presents.\n\n\u201cWith Customs and Border Protection overstretched, it is easier for bad actors to cross the border into our country.\n\n\u201cGang members, drug traffickers, human smugglers \u2026 the list goes on.\n\n\u201cOur country is currently in the midst of a fentanyl crisis.\n\n\u201cIn fact, right now fentanyl overdose is the leading cause of death for U.S. adults between the ages of 18 and 45.\n\n\u201cAnd where is all this fentanyl coming from?\n\n\u201cMost of it is being trafficked across our southern border.\n\n\u201cAnd the current border situation is undoubtedly facilitating that trafficking.\n\n\u201cIllegal immigration is financially costly as well.\n\n\u201cImmigration and Customs Enforcement is currently running out of money for the year, thanks in part to the out-of-control situation at our southern border.\n\n\u201cMr. President, President Biden has talked about wanting to build a \u2018fair, orderly, and humane\u2019 immigration system.\n\n\u201cWell, Mr. President, there is nothing humane about our current situation.\n\n\u201cEncouraging illegal immigration, as the president\u2019s policies have done, has contributed to a humanitarian crisis that saw at least 557 migrants die attempting to cross the southern border during fiscal year 2021.\n\n\u201cJust last month, 53 migrants died in an un-air-conditioned tractor-trailer after being smuggled across the border.\n\n\u201cIt was a sobering reminder of the human cost of policies that enable illegal immigration.\n\n\u201cThe president may think his border policies are compassionate.\n\n\u201cHe is wrong.\n\n\u201cPolicies that encourage illegal immigration \u2013 that encourage individuals to undertake the often-dangerous journey across our southern border, often at the mercy of human smugglers \u2013 are the very opposite of compassionate.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I\u2019d like to think that the president would wake up to the dangerous situation we\u2019re in and take action to help stem the flood of illegal immigration at our southern border.\n\n\u201cBut after a year and a half of his administration\u2019s neglecting this crisis, I\u2019m not getting my hopes up.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m afraid that like inflation, out-of-control illegal immigration has become a fact of life in the Biden presidency.\n\n\u201cAnd as with inflation, Americans \u2013 and vulnerable individuals attempting to enter our country \u2013 will be left to suffer the consequences.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:20:25Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=3940D463-C83D-474F-8762-E511151ED73E", "Thune: It\u2019s Never a Good Time to Raise Taxes", "2022-07-26", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nU.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed how Democrats want to impose a trillion dollars in tax hikes while record-high inflation is hurting small businesses and families in South Dakota. Thune warned that the Democrats\u2019 reckless tax-and-spending spree would guarantee persistent and widespread inflation.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):\n\n\u201cMr. President, \u2018Our experts believe and the data shows that most of the price increases we\u2019ve seen \u2026 [are] expected to be temporary.\u2019\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s what President Biden said one year ago this month \u2013 something his administration repeatedly echoed.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, Mr. President, it long ago became clear that that was wishful thinking on the president\u2019s part.\n\n\u201cFar from being temporary, inflation has become a fact of life in the Biden economy.\n\n\u201cLast month, inflation hit its highest level yet under President Biden, climbing to 9.1 percent \u2013 the worst inflation in more than 40 years.\n\n\u201cAnd the impact of inflation is being felt in every corner of our economy.\n\n\u201cBusinesses of every size are dealing with the effects of inflation.\n\n\u201cAnd small businesses, of course, are being hit particularly hard.\n\n\u201cSeventy-five percent of small business owners report that inflation has had a negative effect on the financial health of their business over the past six months.\n\n\u201cAnd 75 percent report that inflation pressures are getting worse.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s not surprising.\n\n\u201cEverything from inputs to transportation to electricity has become more expensive in the Biden economy.\n\n\u201cAnd that has a huge impact on businesses\u2019 ability to pay their expenses and run their operations.\n\n\u201cAs one South Dakota business owner who wrote to me noted, \u2018It makes it hard for me to grow my USA-made business when I don\u2019t have the funds to pay my employees more, add more benefits, purchase more machinery, and buy more material in bulk as inflation continues to rise.\u2019\n\n\u201cFarmers and ranchers in my state are also struggling.\n\n\u201cAs of March, the price of fertilizer had risen an astounding 162 percent since January 2021.\n\n\u201cThe prices of two common herbicides have risen more than 50 percent since last year.\n\n\u201cAnd the price of diesel, which powers a lot of farming and ranching equipment, has doubled since President Biden took office.\n\n\u201cFarming and ranching are tough jobs already, often with tight margins and a lot of weather-related risks, and inflation is making things exponentially harder.\n\n\u201cAnd, Mr. President, the list of inflation\u2019s impacts goes on.\n\n\u201cFor example, last week I talked about how inflation is affecting our military, which is able to do less with the funds appropriated for it thanks to soaring prices across the economy.\n\n\u201cThat in turn can affect troop readiness and the military\u2019s ability to keep up with needed programs and purchases, from weapons to vehicles to aircraft and ships.\n\n\u201cAnd of course I haven\u2019t even yet mentioned the most basic impact of inflation \u2013 the misery faced by hardworking Americans who confront sky-high prices at the grocery store and the gas pump and wonder how they\u2019re going to feed their family this month or whether they\u2019ll be able to afford to get to work.\n\n\u201cBloomberg reported last week that nearly six in 10 American workers are concerned that their paychecks won\u2019t stretch far enough to support themselves and their families.\n\n\u201cAnd another recent poll reported that 70 percent of Americans have had to cut back on other spending to afford necessities.\n\n\u201cLife in the Biden economy is grim.\n\n\u201cMr. President, at this point how we got here is well-established.\n\n\u201cOne of the main reasons we\u2019re in the midst of this inflation crisis is Democrats\u2019 decision to pass a massive, partisan, $1.9 trillion spending bill last March under the guise of COVID relief \u2013 despite the fact that Congress had just passed a fifth bipartisan COVID bill that met essentially all current pressing COVID needs.\n\n\u201cDemocrats were warned that their bill could cause inflation.\n\n\u201cThey proceeded anyway.\n\n\u201cTheir so-called American Rescue Plan flooded the economy with unnecessary government money.\n\n\u201cAnd the economy overheated as a result.\n\n\u201cAnd so here we are, with Americans struggling under the weight of the worst inflation in 40 years, and Democrats \u2026 want to double down on the spending strategy that helped get us into this mess in the first place.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s right.\n\n\u201cDespite the fact that even Democrat economists have stated that the American Rescue Plan helped create our current inflation crisis, Democrats want to pass another massive government spending bill filled with excessive spending and tax hikes.\n\n\u201cA trillion dollars in tax hikes, in recent discussions.\n\n\u201cApparently Democrats are not content with spending us into an inflation crisis; they\u2019d also like to tax us into a recession.\n\n\u201cMr. President, there\u2019s already reason to worry about the negative economic impacts of new climate measures the president is contemplating imposing.\n\n\u201cBut on top of that, Democrats want to spend even more government money and impose a trillion dollars in tax hikes \u2026 a substantial part of which would fall on small businesses.\n\n\u201cAt this rate, Mr. President, there\u2019s no telling when our inflation crisis will end.\n\n\u201cAnd, Mr. President, Democrats are so committed to big spending that even if their legislation fails this time around, they\u2019re already planning to run on their big spending agenda in November.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m not sure I would want to try to convince voters to elect me by touting the same spending strategy that helped land our country in this inflation crisis.\n\n\u201cBut Democrats\u2019 belief in big spending is so deeply ingrained that it apparently can\u2019t be swayed even when they see the negative consequences.\n\n\u201cMr. President, it is incomprehensible that Democrats are contemplating doubling down on the spending strategy that helped get us into this mess in the first place.\n\n\u201cTheir first spending spree was a disaster for our country.\n\n\u201cI can only imagine how much Americans would suffer from their next one.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:20:25Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=85E9A9DB-E4AB-455D-9D42-327BD6193823", "Thune Introduces Legislation to Fight Democrats\u2019 Radical Environmental Agenda, Protect South Dakota Producers", "2022-07-26", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today led several of his Senate Republican colleagues in introducing the Food and Energy Security Act, legislation that would prohibit the Biden administration from forcing its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) agenda onto the American economy. Specifically, the bill would require federal financial and securities regulators to estimate the impact of their rules on affected businesses involved in the agriculture or energy supply chains. If any rules are estimated to drive up food, energy, or gas prices, the regulators would then be prohibited from implementing the rules during times of high inflation.\n\n\u201cHard-working families across South Dakota are paying more for everything right now due to record-high inflation,\u201d said Thune. \u201cInstead of focusing on ways to bring down the cost of gas, food, and electricity, or developing an all-of-the above energy policy, the Biden administration continues to pursue a radical environmental agenda that threatens farmers\u2019 and ranchers\u2019 access to capital, increases production costs, and drives up prices at the pump. This legislation would not only prevent the administration from implementing rules that increase costs, but it would also require the administration to recognize that its actions \u2013 and the broader ESG movement \u2013 have real-world impacts that compromises our nation\u2019s food and energy security.\u201d\n\n\u201cSmall businesses across America continue to be concerned about how rulemaking relating to the so-called \u2018ESG movement\u2019 could disqualify them from doing business with publicly traded companies,\u201d said Kevin Kuhlman, vice president of federal government relations, National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). \u201cSuch rulemaking could have a devastating effect on small businesses in numerous industries, but also the small business economy generally with increased prices for things like fuel and food products. The Food and Energy Security Act is commonsense legislation that requires an analysis of these concerns by federal regulators and prohibits certain rulemaking while inflation remains high. NFIB supports Senator Thune in this important effort.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerican families are suffering from rapid inflation across the country \u2013 increases in prices for food, electricity, gasoline and essential goods are at 40-year highs,\u201d said Rich Nolan, president and CEO or the National Mining Association (NMA). \u201cThe Food and Energy Security Act works to ensure excessive regulations are not further contributing to this very real problem. The NMA appreciates the work of the Senate sponsors to provide relief for all Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cEarlier this year, the Biden administration proposed a massive climate disclosure rule that will create new reporting burdens for every farm, ranch, and small business in the country. This plan will harm producers and consumers alike,\u201d said Mary-Thomas Hart, environmental counsel at the National Cattlemen\u2019s Beef Association (NCBA). \u201cNCBA is proud to support the Food and Energy Security Act because rules like the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission\u2019s emissions disclosure mandate add a costly burden to cattle producers, rural communities, and consumers across the country.\u201d\n\nThe legislation was co-sponsored by U.S. Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:20:25Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-thune-and-johnson-urge-biden-to-grant-disaster-declaration-following-june-storms", "Rounds, Thune and Johnson Urge Biden to Grant Disaster Declaration Following June Storms", "2022-07-25", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D) and John Thune (R-S.D.) and U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) sent a letter to President Biden in support of Governor Kristi Noem\u2019s (R-S.D.) request for a major disaster declaration in western and central South Dakota following a series of severe storms that began on June 11, 2022. The delegation has strongly supported previous disaster declaration requests, including the one that was granted on June 29, 2022, which came as a result of severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding that devastated communities across eastern South Dakota on May 12, 2022.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, South Dakota was in the midst of recovering from multiple natural disasters when these storms occurred, and, since then, has been battered by more devastating storms,\u201d the delegation wrote. \u201cThe resilience and resourcefulness of South Dakotans in recent months has been extraordinary, however, as losses mount, the people of our great state hope the federal government will join in their restoration efforts.\u201d\n\nFull letter HERE or below:\n\n+++\n\nThe Honorable Joseph Biden\n\nPresident of the United States\n\nThe White House\n\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW\n\nWashington, DC 20500\n\nDear President Biden,\n\nWe write to you in support of Governor Kristi Noem\u2019s request for a major disaster declaration covering the South Dakota counties of Butte, Haakon, Jackson, Jones, McPherson, and Spink. This declaration would greatly assist in recovery efforts from significant weather events occurring June 11, 2022, through June 14, 2022.\n\nMuch of the western and central South Dakota plains experienced extreme weather during the specified timeframe that involved severe thunderstorms with golf ball to grapefruit size hail and wind gusts of 80 to 95 miles per hour. The last of these storms produced winds over 120 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service. These winds caused extensive damage to homes and businesses, agriculture, and public infrastructure, such as rural electrical cooperative power lines and telephone poles. More than 6,000 residents experienced power outages, many of whom were left without power for several days.\n\nUnfortunately, South Dakota was in the midst of recovering from multiple natural disasters when these storms occurred, and, since then, has been battered by more devastating storms. The resilience and resourcefulness of South Dakotans in recent months has been extraordinary, however, as losses mount, the people of our great state hope the federal government will join in their restoration efforts.\n\nIn light of these considerations, we urge you to approve Governor Noem\u2019s request as soon as possible so that the necessary federal resources are available to assist relevant areas of our state. Please do not hesitate to contact any of our offices with any questions. We thank you for the support you have already offered, and respectfully ask for your continued attention and assistance in providing the resources necessary to ensure the safety of South Dakotans.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=F86F189C-5CF5-47FE-AD95-66FA9AE3554F", "Thune, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Address Pilot Shortage", "2022-07-25", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined his colleagues in introducing the Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act, legislation that would raise the mandatory commercial pilot retirement age from 65 to 67.\n\n\u201cAirline staffing challenges continue to result in cancellations and delays across the aviation system,\u201d said Thune. \u201cProviding an opportunity for highly qualified, experienced pilots to continue flying past age 65 is a sensible way to alleviate these challenges while training programs recover from the effects of the pandemic.\u201d\n\nThe legislation was led by U.S. Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) and was also co-sponsored by U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.).\n\nThe legislation:\n\nRaises the mandatory commercial pilot retirement age from 65 to 67.\n\nRequires that pilots over the age of 65 maintain a first-class medical certification, which must be renewed every six months.\n\nRequires air carriers to continue using pilot training and qualification programs approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.\n\nDoes not change or alter any other qualification \u2013 beyond age \u2013 for commercial airline pilots.\n\nBaby boomers make up half of the current airline pilot population, with roughly 5,000 fully qualified pilots expected to be forced to retire within the next two years, worsening the ongoing staffing shortage that\u2019s already led to mass flight cancellations.\n\nIn 2007, the retirement age for pilots in the United States was raised from 60 to 65 after medical reports concluded age had an \u2018insignificant impact\u2019 on performance in the cockpit and there were safety precautions already in place to prevent accidents in case of incapacitation. Nothing in this legislation changes current safety and proficiency procedures for commercial pilots. Pilots will continue to be held to an incredibly high standard to ensure passenger safety.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:20:25Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=48C060FD-7838-4EFE-A3B6-64D18803EE9E", "Thune, Rounds, Johnson Urge Biden to Grant Disaster Declaration Following June Storms", "2022-07-22", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today sent a letter to President Biden in support of Gov. Kristi Noem\u2019s (R-S.D.) request for a major disaster declaration in western and central South Dakota following a series of severe storms that began on June 11, 2022. The delegation has strongly supported previous disaster declaration requests, including the one that was granted on June 29, 2022, which came as a result of severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding that devastated communities across eastern South Dakota on May 12, 2022.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, South Dakota was in the midst of recovering from multiple natural disasters when these storms occurred, and, since then, has been battered by more devastating storms,\u201d the delegation wrote. \u201cThe resilience and resourcefulness of South Dakotans in recent months has been extraordinary, however, as losses mount, the people of our great state hope the federal government will join in their restoration efforts.\u201d\n\nFull letter below:\n\nThe Honorable Joseph Biden\n\nPresident of the United States\n\nThe White House\n\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW\n\nWashington, DC 20500\n\nDear President Biden,\n\nWe write to you in support of Governor Kristi Noem\u2019s request for a major disaster declaration covering the South Dakota counties of Butte, Haakon, Jackson, Jones, McPherson, and Spink. This declaration would greatly assist in recovery efforts from significant weather events occurring June 11, 2022, through June 14, 2022.\n\nMuch of the western and central South Dakota plains experienced extreme weather during the specified timeframe that involved severe thunderstorms with golf ball to grapefruit size hail and wind gusts of 80 to 95 miles per hour. The last of these storms produced winds over 120 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service. These winds caused extensive damage to homes and businesses, agriculture, and public infrastructure, such as rural electrical cooperative power lines and telephone poles. More than 6,000 residents experienced power outages, many of whom were left without power for several days.\n\nUnfortunately, South Dakota was in the midst of recovering from multiple natural disasters when these storms occurred, and, since then, has been battered by more devastating storms. The resilience and resourcefulness of South Dakotans in recent months has been extraordinary, however, as losses mount, the people of our great state hope the federal government will join in their restoration efforts.\n\nIn light of these considerations, we urge you to approve Governor Noem\u2019s request as soon as possible so that the necessary federal resources are available to assist relevant areas of our state. Please do not hesitate to contact any of our offices with any questions. We thank you for the support you have already offered, and respectfully ask for your continued attention and assistance in providing the resources necessary to ensure the safety of South Dakotans.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:20:25Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=B2631AC3-28F1-4407-88C5-8E274740A856", "Thune on Fox News: Our Country has an Energy Emergency", "2022-07-21", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Clickhere to watch the interview.\n\nU.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined the Faulkner Focus on Fox News to discuss the rise of crime around the country, President Biden weighing whether to declare a \u201cclimate emergency,\u201d and the administration\u2019s complete lack of a coherent energy policy.\n\nOn President Biden testing positive for COVID-19:\n\n\u201cLet me just, as you all noted earlier, wish the president well. And I think we all hope for a quick and full recovery for him.\u201d\n\nOn the rise of crime around the country:\n\n\u201cThe fact of the matter is that the way that we restore, I think, a respect for law enforcement in this country is by having our elected leaders not talking about defunding them, not bad-mouthing them, not denigrating the work that they do.\n\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s clearly something that\u2019s got to change, because if you continue to see the attacks that are made on law enforcement officials in this country, it\u2019s going to encourage more of that. It\u2019s going to discourage law enforcement officials from staying in their jobs.\n\n\u201cAnd, obviously, when you are allowing sort of crime to run wild and essentially preventing law enforcement officers from doing the job that we want them to do, these are the kinds of results you\u2019re gonna get.\u201d\n\nOn President Biden weighing whether to declare a \u201cclimate emergency\u201d:\n\n\u201cWell first off, what he should be declaring is an energy emergency, because that\u2019s what we have in the country.\n\n\u201cThe president, his policies, have crushed energy development in this country. We need to get our energy producers off the sidelines, back into the game producing American energy, making America energy independent.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:20:25Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-ernst-and-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-designate-june-as-month-of-life", "Rounds, Ernst and Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Designate June as \u201cMonth of Life\u201d", "2022-07-20", "2022", "2022-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 In celebration of the U.S. Supreme Court\u2019s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and eight of their Senate colleagues introduced a bill to designate June as the \u201cMonth of Life.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery life is a precious gift from God,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cThe sanctity of human life is something we should all work to protect. This legislation celebrates the historic victory for life with the Supreme Court ruling, Dobbs v. Jackson Women\u2019s Health Organization.\u201d\n\n\u201cProtecting life and the most vulnerable among us is the most important charge of any society, and the recent landmark decision by the Supreme Court upholds that responsibility,\u201d said Ernst. \u201cMy effort to mark June as the \u2018Month of Life\u2019 celebrates this major victory for the pro-life movement, one that will pave a path for countless innocent lives to be saved.\u201d\n\nRounds and Ernst were joined by Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.).\n\nCongresswoman Carol Miller (R-W.Va.) introduced similar legislation in the House of Representatives. 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