{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Republican\", state = \"SD\" and year = 2026 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-republicans-rural-health-transformation-program-delivers-historic-investments-in-all-50-states/", "Thune: Republicans\u2019 Rural Health Transformation Program Delivers Historic Investments in All 50 States", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, we\u2019re coming to the end of the first year of the Rural Health Transformation Program.\n\n\u201cThis multi-year initiative, created in Republicans\u2019 Working Families Tax Cuts legislation, will invest $50 billion in all 50 states to put rural health care providers on a more sustainable footing for the future.\n\n\u201cAnd beyond helping to ensure that Americans in rural areas can access health care, it will also ensure that providers are able to leverage technology and innovation to address the challenges unique to rural states.\n\n\u201cMr. President, one year in, this program is off to a promising start.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s certainly the case in my home state of South Dakota.\n\n\u201cJust last week, CMS announced a $13 million investment in behavioral and mental health care in South Dakota.\n\n\u201cThis funding will help expand crisis services and build out our state\u2019s workforce in behavioral health care.\n\n\u201cAnd it comes after another announcement in August of funding to modernize technology and strengthen cybersecurity at rural health care providers in South Dakota \u2013 an initiative that will not only modernize care in my state but also support future innovation to address the unique needs of rural South Dakota.\n\n\u201cMr. President, when Republicans created the Rural Health Transformation Program last summer, we didn\u2019t take a top-down, Washington-centered approach.\n\n\u201cInstead, we designed it to give states the resources and freedom to find solutions to their particular challenges.\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019m proud to see South Dakota taking the same approach when it comes to distributing the funding that it will receive.\n\n\u201cIn the words of South Dakota Secretary of Health Melissa Magstadt, and I quote, \u2018The initiatives that we\u2019ve developed came strictly from the assessments we had, the expert input we garnered, and what citizens themselves said they needed in the community.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. President, that\u2019s exactly how the Rural Health Transformation Program is supposed to work.\n\n\u201cAnd it\u2019s not just working in South Dakota.\n\n\u201cAs I mentioned, all 50 states are taking advantage of this transformative program.\n\n\u201cOhio is putting $3 million toward expanding offerings at pharmacies in rural communities.\n\n\u201cA nearly $5 million award will help a hospital in central Maine upgrade its electronic medical record system to integrate it with the wider health system it\u2019s part of.\n\n\u201cProviders in Kansas will benefit from nearly $17 million this year to support new technologies and improve transportation options for specialty health care.\n\n\u201cAnd Missouri will use $35 million to support 20 rural hospital projects, and another $4 million to train its rural EMS workforce.\n\n\u201cA hospital in South Carolina will use funding to add an additional operating room and upgrade its technology.\n\n\u201cAnd a nonprofit in Alaska received $16 million to improve primary care offerings and bring in more providers and staff.\n\n\u201cAnd this is just some of the funding states are receiving for the first year of this program.\n\n\u201cMr. President, as this list suggests, the Rural Health Transformation Program will make an impact in every corner of this country.\n\n\u201cAll 50 states are receiving funding from this program \u2013 red states and blue states alike.\n\n\u201cWhich makes Senate Democrats\u2019 opposition to this program particularly baffling.\n\n\u201cOur Democrat colleagues \u2026 have made their opposition to the Rural Health Transformation Program very clear \u2013 with the Democrat leader going so far as to say this last year, and I quote: \u2018This little fund to help reimburse rural hospitals is just a fraud.\u2019\n\n\u201cLet me repeat that, Mr. President.\n\n\u201c\u2018This little fund to help reimburse rural hospitals is just a fraud.\u2019\n\n\u201cThat, from the Democrat leader.\n\n\u201cPerhaps the Democrat leader should check-in with his state\u2019s governor, who said of a recent $76 million investment from this program, and I quote, \u2018These investments will bring rural hospitals, health centers and community providers together to strengthen regional health care networks and make it easier for New Yorkers to get the care they need closer to home.\u2019\n\n\u201cThat, from New York\u2019s governor.\n\n\u201cLet me repeat that, Mr. President.\n\n\u201c\u2018 \u2026 and make it easier for New Yorkers to get the care they need closer to home.\u2019\n\n\u201cWell, that doesn\u2019t sound like a fraud to me.\n\n\u201cBut Mr. President, whether this would help the people in rural parts of their states didn\u2019t seem to matter to Washington Democrats.\n\n\u201cIn fact, Senate Democrats voted more than half a dozen times last year to repeal \u2013 repeal \u2013 the Rural Health Transformation Program.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s right.\n\n\u201cAround this time last year \u2013 during Democrats\u2019 record-long government shutdown \u2013 Senate Democrats were working to end this program.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m curious if the Democrat leader would like to claw back \u2026 the $212 million that rural health care providers in New York will receive from the program this year?\n\n\u201cShould already-strapped rural hospitals not spend this money because Democrats are going to take it back next time they have the power to do so?\n\n\u201cMr. President, let\u2019s hope it never comes to that.\n\n\u201cThe Rural Health Transformation Program is helping Americans in rural areas across this country.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s helping South Dakota.\n\n\u201cOhio.\n\n\u201cIdaho.\n\n\u201cKansas.\n\n\u201cRhode Island.\n\n\u201cAlaska.\n\n\u201cAnd everywhere in between.\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019m proud that Republicans are delivering for rural Americans.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-will-democrats-finally-take-yes-for-an-answer-2/", "Thune: Will Democrats Finally Take Yes for an Answer?", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cI said a couple of weeks ago that we had a big, but limited, opportunity to get some really consequential things done.\n\n\u201cAnd unfortunately, it\u2019s been very shameful that the Democrats have decided to play politics rather than to work with us to do what I believe is really consequential legislation.\n\n\u201cAnd the two most recent examples of that are blocking getting on the Clarity Act \u2013 which was incredibly necessary for our financial services markets for digital assets, and they blocked it, even getting on it on the floor of the Senate.\n\n\u201cAnd then now we\u2019ve got them also not taking yes [for an answer] on permitting reform.\n\n\u201cWe have been litigating that for a long time, a tremendous amount of work gone into it by Chair Capito and Chair Lee and their Democrat counterparts on the committees of jurisdiction.\n\n\u201cAnd we had a bill which I thought was an incredibly strong bill.\n\n\u201cThe Democrats are not prepared to let us vote on that just yet.\n\n\u201cSo right now, I think this is, a lot of it\u2019s about election year politics, but it\u2019s not the first time this has happened.\n\n\u201cIf you think about the other things that they blocked just recently, the National Defense Authorization Act, the farm bill, FISA reauthorization \u2013 these are all bills that are critically important either to our national security or our economic security in this country.\n\n\u201cAnd in every circumstance, the Democrats have blocked us from consideration, even getting on those bills.\n\n\u201cSo that\u2019s where things are right now.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a political season, we all understand that.\n\n\u201cBut you would think that, on issues where you have broad bipartisan consensus and things that are really important to the future of this country, you would get some Democrats to work with you and cooperate.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, that hasn\u2019t been the case.\n\n\u201cBut there\u2019s still an opportunity.\n\n\u201cSo this week, we\u2019re going to allow the Democrats to have an opportunity to vote on legislation that has come over from the House.\n\n\u201cThe first of which is a photo ID law coupled with a ban on insider trading, something that\u2019s broadly supported by the American people, both issues, and also something that had big support coming out of the House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cAnd then secondly, on the Ratepayer Protection Act, which would prevent rate hikes on electricity costs for consumers around this country.\n\n\u201cBoth pieces of legislation strike at the very heart of issues that the American people care deeply about, passionately about \u2013 and we\u2019ll see if the Democrats are willing to take yes for an answer.\n\n\u201cBecause in the House of Representatives, the Ratepayer Protection Act passed 417-3 \u2013 417-3.\n\n\u201cHuge bipartisan support coming out of the House, and it ought to be something that should be a no-brainer here on the floor of the Senate.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re going to give the Democrats a chance tomorrow to vote on that, and let\u2019s hope they do the right thing, but we\u2019re going to see what they want to do.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-republicans-help-americas-small-businesses-grow-put-more-money-in-americans-pockets/", "Thune: Republicans Help America\u2019s Small Businesses Grow, Put More Money in Americans\u2019 Pockets", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMadam President, so far this year, 4.3 million Americans have filed to start their own business.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s a 13 percent increase over the same time last year.\n\n\u201cAnd as these entrepreneurs get underway, their businesses will be able to take advantage of the pro-growth tax reform that Republicans enacted last year in the Working Families Tax Cuts.\n\n\u201cAnd because we delivered permanent tax reform, an entire generation of American small business owners, entrepreneurs, and innovators will have a better environment in which to pursue their American Dream.\n\n\u201cMadam President, small businesses are already benefiting from this landmark law.\n\n\u201cThis year, 12 million small business owners saw a lower tax bill \u2013 a $7,000 average tax cut.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s the result of lower tax rates across the board.\n\n\u201cThe permanent 199A small business deduction.\n\n\u201cImmediate expensing for new equipment and for factory construction.\n\n\u201cAnd the permanent research and development tax credit.\n\n\u201cMadam President, these tax policies are helping small businesses across an array of industries as well as family farms and ranches across America.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s certainly true in my home state of South Dakota.\n\n\u201cAn agricultural co-op in my state says the 199A small business deduction \u2013 which Republicans first implemented with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act back in 2017 \u2013 has allowed them to pass $140 million in tax savings back to South Dakota farmers over the last decade.\n\n\u201cA car dealership in Sioux Falls was able to put an addition on and hire 10 new employees thanks to the bonus depreciation provision.\n\n\u201cJust to the west, a rancher in Montana said that thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts\u2019 expensing provisions, his ranch, and I quote, \u2018will be able to upgrade equipment, increasing [its] efficiency without being hit by a huge tax burden.\u2019\n\n\u201cU.S. Metal Powders \u2013 a manufacturer in Palmerton, Pennsylvania \u2013 has broken ground on a new production line that will allow the business to double the size of its workforce.\n\n\u201cA convenience store operator in Denver has said the Working Families Tax Cuts will help him double the size of one of his stores and reopen two others \u2013 allowing him to grow job opportunities at his company by 50 percent.\n\n\u201cAnd they\u2019re not the only ones.\n\n\u201cBusinesses across the country have been able to make investments in new equipment, raise their employees\u2019 pay, and create jobs because of the tax policy in Republicans\u2019 landmark bill.\n\n\u201cMadam President, one thing that business owners invariably bring up when they talk about the Working Families Tax Cuts is what it does for their employees.\n\n\u201cThey talk about how they\u2019ve been able to increase pay \u2013 not to mention the fact that more of that pay stays in their employees\u2019 pockets.\n\n\u201cThe Working Families Tax Cuts was responsible for no tax on tips and overtime, which allows hardworking people to keep more of their hard-earned money.\n\n\u201cAnd then there are the benefits \u2026 employers \u2026 have been able to offer because of this legislation.\n\n\u201cA business owner in Chicago has made long-term investments in paid maternity leave and a 401(k) matching program.\n\n\u201cAnother company in Missouri is giving its employees a profit-sharing bonus.\n\n\u201cA number of employers are pledging to invest in the Trump Accounts that their employees have been able to set up for their children.\n\n\u201cAnd provisions in this legislation support employer efforts to offer child care and help repay their employees\u2019 student loans.\n\n\u201cMadam President, I said that the Working Families Tax Cuts provides tax relief that will help small businesses and family farms and ranches for years to come.\n\n\u201cAnd on that point, perhaps no policy is as significant as the death tax relief we provided in this bill.\n\n\u201cMadam President, for a lot of family businesses, especially ag families, the death tax has cast a dark shadow over their dream.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a cause for anxiety especially among farmers and ranchers \u2013 businesses that might look well-off on paper, but are actually cash poor.\n\n\u201cTheir wealth is tied up in land, tractors and combines, and livestock.\n\n\u201cBut because that doesn\u2019t matter when it comes to the death tax, many families have had to sell off all or part of their operation just to pay the tax bill when a family member dies.\n\n\u201cMadam President, eliminating this fundamentally unfair tax has long been a priority of mine.\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019m proud that the Working Families Tax Cuts permanently raised the exemption threshold on the death tax, which means that a lot more families will be protected from losing their livelihood when they lose a loved one.\n\n\u201cThis was an important priority for Republicans last year, and it\u2019s encouraging to see farmers and ranchers breathing a sigh of relief with the burden of this tax off of their shoulders.\n\n\u201cOne farmer in Iowa said, and I quote, \u2018One of my goals when I started farming was to be able to pass this farm onto the next generation, and I\u2019m doing that. I feel very good about that.\u2019\n\n\u201cA rancher in Montana said this, and again I quote, \u2018Without the estate tax reforms \u2026 ranches like ours would have likely had to decide whether to sell off cattle or land just to cover the tax bill when it was time to pass it [down]. Now we have a fair shot at keeping the whole ranch together for the next generation.\u2019\n\n\u201cThanks to this bill, Madam President, family farms and ranches and family businesses have a fair shot at staying in the family for generations to come.\n\n\u201cMadam President, these are just some of the results of the Working Families Tax Cuts.\n\n\u201cAnd I can\u2019t overstate how significant this bill is.\n\n\u201cThe owners of a small business in Arizona wrote in their local paper last year that if Congress had not passed the Working Families Tax Cuts, they \u2018would,\u2019 and I quote, \u2018have had to raise prices and cut costs, and over time, the pressure would have only increased.\u2019\n\n\u201cMadam President, they\u2019re not alone.\n\n\u201cThis Republican majority has worked hard to put more money in American families\u2019 pockets, in many cases by getting government out of the way.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve delivered permanent \u2013 permanent \u2013 tax relief.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve rescinded a number of Biden-era regulations that would have reduced choice and raised prices for Americans.\n\n\u201cWe passed a housing bill that eliminated a lot of red tape that has driven up the cost of homeownership, and implemented new measures to drive down prices at the pharmacy counter.\n\n\u201cMadam President, Republicans are working to put more money in hardworking Americans\u2019 pockets and to help \u2026 America\u2019s small businesses grow.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re setting the conditions for a brighter future and keeping the American Dream alive and strong for future generations.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-issues-statement-following-release-of-usps-oig-report-on-south-dakota-mail-service", "Rounds Issues Statement Following Release of USPS OIG Report on South Dakota Mail Service", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "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 issued a statement following the release of the United States Postal Service (USPS) Office of the Inspector General\u2019s (OIG) report on the status of mail service in South Dakota. This investigation was requested by Rounds in December 2025. The report comes following USPS\u2019s announcement that the Sioux Falls processing facility will be upgraded to a regional facility at Rounds\u2019 request, keeping more intrastate mail in South Dakota.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s encouraging and unsurprising that the Inspector General\u2019s report studying the mail service in South Dakota shows evidence to back up what we\u2019ve been hearing and seeing for years: the United States Postal Service is not adequately serving South Dakotans,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cWe\u2019ve heard from thousands of South Dakotans who have real concerns about their mail service. Veterans aren\u2019t getting prescriptions on time, bills are arriving after they\u2019re due and newspapers are old news by the time they make it to your doorstep. At the same time, Postal Service executives are receiving bonuses and airport lounge memberships while telling South Dakotans there are no problems. Today\u2019s report states otherwise.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m grateful to Inspector General Tammy Hull and her team for their thorough review process in South Dakota and their thoughtful recommendations for improvements,\u201d continued Rounds. \u201cI\u2019m also grateful for all of the South Dakotans who have sent feedback and contributed to this report. We\u2019ll be watching the USPS\u2019s team closely to see if and how these recommendations are implemented, and whether they actually make meaningful improvements in delivery time. Until then, we\u2019ll keep the pressure on and continue to fight for a return to service standards that not only meet but exceed expectations.\u201d\n\nRead the report HERE.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nRounds has been a leader on USPS issues in South Dakota, leading the push to keep local processing facilities in South Dakota. In April 2024, Rounds sent a letter to USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy urging USPS to avoid downsizing or significantly reorganizing mail processing operations in South Dakota. As a result, in February 2025, USPS committed to keeping the Dakota Central processing facility in Huron open, as well as investing $3 million in improvements to the facility. Rounds also secured a commitment from former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to keep mail that originates within South Dakota from leaving the state for processing.\n\nIn September 2025, Rounds sent a letter to Postmaster General David Steiner urging him to restore reliable mail service and requesting a meeting. Rounds and Steiner met in October. Steiner followed up on the meeting with a letter dismissing the issues raised by Rounds, claiming that the mail delays were caused by issues at processing facilities in Chicago, St. Louis and Kansas City despite none of these facilities handling South Dakota\u2019s intrastate mail. USPS leadership continues to deny any issues with South Dakota\u2019s mail service despite the first-hand accounts from South Dakotans that say otherwise.\n\nIn December 2025, Rounds requested an investigation into persistent issues with USPS delivery in South Dakota. In April 2026, Rounds was notified that the Office of the Inspector General was on the ground in South Dakota to investigate mail service. In June 2026, Rounds sent a letter to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs announcing his intention to place a hold on all USPS nominees until South Dakota\u2019s issues are resolved. As a result, two Postal Service Board of Governors nominees were removed from the legislative calendar in August 2026.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-democrats-are-the-party-of-no/", "Thune: Democrats Are the Party of No", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, if there\u2019s one thing that quickly became clear at the start of the 119th Congress, it was that anything we were going to accomplish for hardworking Americans we were going to have to accomplish alone.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s always some partisanship in Congress, Mr. President \u2013 and healthy disagreement \u2013 but it became clear very quickly that Democrats were going to be taking partisanship to a new and rarefied level in the 119th Congress.\n\n\u201cThat started with presidential nominations.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s long been standard practice in the Senate to expedite uncontroversial nominations to allow a president to get his team in place.\n\n\u201cBut from the very beginning of the 119th Congress, Democrats made clear that this history of bipartisan cooperation was over.\n\n\u201cDemocrats chose to slow down every single nomination \u2013 no matter how uncontroversial \u2013 for the majority of the 119th Congress.\n\n\u201cBut slow-walking nominations, Mr. President, was just the beginning.\n\n\u201cAt the top of our priority list for this Congress was preventing the massive tax hike that was set to hit hardworking Americans.\n\n\u201cAnd for a party that claims to be the party of working men and women, you would think that Democrats would have been eager to work with us.\n\n\u201cThey weren\u2019t.\n\n\u201cAnd not only were they not interested in working with us, but every single Democrat \u2013 in both houses of Congress \u2013 voted against tax relief for the American people.\n\n\u201cThey voted against preventing a massive tax hike.\n\n\u201cAnd they voted against all the new tax relief Republicans implemented \u2013 from no tax on overtime, to a new bonus deduction for seniors.\n\n\u201cAnd just in case you thought Democrat opposition was a matter of high-minded principle \u2026 Since Republicans passed the Working Families Tax Cuts, a number of Democrats have tried to associate themselves with some of the tax relief in the bill, despite universally opposing the legislation in Congress.\n\n\u201cAnd the partisanship continues.\n\n\u201cLast week, Mr. President, the Senate attempted to take up legislation on the issue of great importance to working families \u2013 namely, energy prices.\n\n\u201cThe legislation we tried to take up \u2013 the Ratepayer Protection Act \u2013 would have protected hardworking Americans from the increased energy costs associated with data centers.\n\n\u201cThe bill was so obviously commonsense that it passed the House overwhelmingly \u2013 with almost every Democrat as well as Republican supporting it.\n\n\u201cBut in the Senate, Mr. President?\n\n\u201cSenate Democrats objected to passing the bill, and so it failed.\n\n\u201cPresumably Democrats wanted to deny Republicans the legislative success in the leadup to the elections \u2013 even though hardworking Americans are the ones that are going to pay the price.\n\n\u201cThe same thing happened yesterday.\n\n\u201cRepublicans and the White House have been negotiating for the better part of a year with Democrats over permitting reform legislation \u2013 a long-overdue priority that would help lower energy bills for American families by streamlining federal regulations for energy projects.\n\n\u201cAnd we closed a deal with them that we could bring to the floor that incorporated essentially all of the Democrats\u2019 demands.\n\n\u201cBut when it began to look like we could consider the bill this work period, Democrats changed their tune.\n\n\u201cBecause while they may acknowledge the need for permitting reform, what they really care about is denying Republicans another legislative win.\n\n\u201cMr. President, this is an example of, again, just blatant partisanship.\n\n\u201cRepublicans and Democrats have been working for months \u2013 on a bipartisan basis, with two committees of jurisdiction: the Environment and Public Works Committee and the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the two committees that have jurisdiction over all of the elements related to permitting reform.\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019ve had Democrats come up to me on the floor countless times and say, \u2018We really want to get this done. We\u2019re working together. If the White House would work with us on this or that \u2026\u2019\n\n\u201cAnd so, we communicated with the White House; the White House has been engaged in these conversations and discussions for the past several weeks.\n\n\u201cAnd essentially gave the Democrats the things they were asking for.\n\n\u201cDemocrats can\u2019t take yes for an answer!\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s like they caught the car, Mr. President, and they don\u2019t know what to do.\n\n\u201cThey said, \u2018we want to work on this,\u2019 because permitting reform affects not just energy projects, but projects in every sector of the economy.\n\n\u201cEnergy projects, of course, obviously \u2013 both conventional energy and renewable energy projects \u2013 are being affected by the delays and the bureaucracy and the red tape and the excessive litigation that comes with trying to do anything in this country of major consequence.\n\n\u201cAnd so both sides had agreed that this was a worthwhile objective \u2013 \u2018Let\u2019s work together, let\u2019s see if we can sit down and hammer out a compromise that incorporates the concerns, the issues that both sides bring to the table.\u2019\n\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s been going on for months!\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve been watching it. Getting regular readouts. Talking to members on both sides, Democrats and Republicans, on both committees of jurisdiction \u2013 and others who are interested in this issue.\n\n\u201cAnd we get to a point, Mr. President, where Democrats flat can\u2019t take yes for an answer.\n\n\u201cSo, why is that?\n\n\u201cWell, if you agree on the substance, if you come to an agreement on the policy \u2013 which they had \u2026\n\n\u201cI mean, everybody in these negotiations and these discussions had basically said, \u2018Okay, this is the deal, here\u2019s the counteroffer.\u2019 Counteroffer back, counteroffer back.\n\n\u201cThe last counteroffer from the Democrats was agreed to by the White House, by our Senate Republicans \u2013 [Democrats] couldn\u2019t take yes for an answer.\n\n\u201cSo the only conclusion one can draw, Mr. President, is that the Democrats have concluded that it\u2019s good politics for them not to allow the Republicans to \u2018get a victory\u2019 or the president to \u2018get a victory\u2019 in the middle of a political season.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s really the only conclusion you can draw.\n\n\u201cAfter literally months and months and months of bipartisan negotiations in which the very last offer put on the table was one made by Democrats and accepted by the White House and Senate Republicans.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s where we are. That\u2019s what it is. Let\u2019s call it what it is: blatant politics.\n\n\u201cSo Mr. President, my Democrat colleagues may talk a good game about working families, but the truth is that hardworking Americans take a distant back seat to Democrats\u2019 political priorities.\n\n\u201cMr. President, perhaps the most spectacular example of the Party of No came last fall, when Democrats shut down the government for 43 days \u2013 the longest full government shutdown in history \u2013 over a clean, temporary, and nonpartisan spending bill.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s right.\n\n\u201cIt was clear that Congress would need more time to get the fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills finished.\n\n\u201cSo Republicans proposed a clean, short-term funding measure free from poison pills or partisan policies \u2013 let\u2019s just fund the government so we can continue the conversation about how we\u2019re going to fund it for the full year.\n\n\u201cAnd Democrats?\n\n\u201cWell, they just said no.\n\n\u201cNot gonna do it.\n\n\u201cIt didn\u2019t matter to them that the bill was nonpartisan.\n\n\u201cIt didn\u2019t matter to them that it would only be in effect, actually, for a few weeks.\n\n\u201cAnd it certainly didn\u2019t matter to them that they were putting thousands of Americans out of work.\n\n\u201cThey blocked it \u2013 a clean, nonpartisan spending bill \u2013 and they shut down the government.\n\n\u201cFor six weeks.\n\n\u201cOf course, the fall 2025 government shutdown wasn\u2019t the only time this Congress that Democrats just said no to government funding.\n\n\u201cIn the spring, Senate Democrats initiated the longest partial government shutdown in history due to their unwillingness to fund immigration law enforcement or border security.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s right, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cThe Democrats kept the Department of Homeland Security \u2013 the Department of Homeland Security \u2013 shut down for an unprecedented 76 days.\n\n\u201cAnd while they eventually agreed to reopen most of the department, they still refused to fund immigration enforcement or Border Patrol.\n\n\u201cClearly Democrat Socialism \u2013 and its philosophy of zero immigration enforcement and open borders \u2013 has gained a lot more than a foothold in the Democrat Party.\n\n\u201cMr. President, whether the subject is protecting opportunities for women and girls in sports or tax relief for hardworking Americans, Democrats have spent the past 21 months throwing up every roadblock that they can.\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019m proud that despite the incredible amount of Democrat opposition, we\u2019ve still managed to accomplish a lot for the American people \u2013 from regulatory relief and border security to the Working Families Tax Cuts.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s more work to be done, and I hope we\u2019ll get the chance to continue our work not only in this Congress, but also in the next.\n\n\u201cGiven the Democrats\u2019 obsession with opposing President Trump and their demonstrated opposition to bipartisan cooperation, I think it\u2019s safe to say that hardworking Americans would undoubtedly take a back seat in a Democrat-led Congress.\n\n\u201cAnd the American people, Mr. President?\n\n\u201cThey deserve better than the Party of No.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-on-permitting-reform-democrats-need-to-take-yes-for-an-answer/", "Thune on Permitting Reform: Democrats Need to Take Yes for an Answer", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cAs you all know, Republicans in this Congress have focused on several things.\n\n\u201cOne is safer streets, secondly is more money in the American people\u2019s pockets, and finally, it\u2019s new opportunities for people to get ahead.\n\n\u201cAnd on all those fronts, we have delivered.\n\n\u201cThe border is more secure today than it has ever been.\n\n\u201cCrime is at historically low levels.\n\n\u201cAnd thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts legislation, people have more money in their pockets \u2013 not only now, but permanently, because that tax relief has been made permanent.\n\n\u201cAnd then you couple that with things like the newborn Trump Accounts, the new and created Opportunity Zones that are happening out there as a result of that legislation, and things like the expanded child tax credit, expanded \u2026 child care credits \u2026\n\n\u201cThose are all things that were included in that legislation that, as time rolls forward, people are going to have an opportunity to benefit from, and it is going to result in more money in their pockets.\n\n\u201cI will say, the one thing that we would like to be able to get done before we leave is permitting reform.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s something that has economic consequences.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s very hard in this country to get energy projects permitted and ready to roll, and so we would like to see action on that.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s something that we\u2019re going to find out here, I think, pretty soon whether the Democrats are willing to take yes for an answer on that.\n\n\u201cBut it has consequences for all the things that we\u2019re talking about today \u2013 probably most importantly, energy prices.\n\n\u201cSo if you can build more, create more energy in this country, build more refineries, it makes that much energy more available and more affordable for the American people.\n\n\u201cSo we\u2019ll know soon enough on that, but I think as you all know, that would be a very consequential development if we could get the Democrats to be willing to take yes for an answer, and I think we\u2019re going to know that here soon enough.\n\n\u201cSo those are the things that we\u2019re going to be working on yet this week, and we\u2019ll keep you posted as we know more on permitting reform, and Senator Capito will, I assume, have something to report on that pretty soon.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-todays-democrat-party-is-the-proud-home-of-socialism/", "Thune: Today\u2019s Democrat Party Is the Proud Home of Socialism", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, there\u2019s no doubt that the Democrat Party has moved sharply left in recent years.\n\n\u201cBut this election cycle has seen the Democrat Party take a big step further \u2013 toward full-blown socialism.\n\n\u201cNew York City\u2019s new Democrat mayor \u2013 a self-proclaimed democrat socialist \u2013 might be the most notable example.\n\n\u201cBut he\u2019s far from alone.\n\n\u201cAround the country, socialists have been winning Democrat primaries.\n\n\u201cAnd it\u2019s no exaggeration to say that socialism is rapidly gaining a prominent new role in the Democrat Party.\n\n\u201cSo let\u2019s talk a little about socialism, Mr. President, and the platform of the Democratic Socialists of America.\n\n\u201cAnd when you take a look at the platform, right away you see some predictable things \u2013 namely, government control of almost everything.\n\n\u201cHealth care.\n\n\u201cBusiness.\n\n\u201cHousing.\n\n\u201cEducation.\n\n\u201cEnergy.\n\n\u201cAll of these sectors would come under government control in a Democrat Socialist state.\n\n\u201cAnd when I say government control, I don\u2019t just mean they would be hit with a lot of regulations.\n\n\u201cI mean government control.\n\n\u201cGovernment would become the ultimate decision-maker for American families in most aspects of their life.\n\n\u201cTake health care, for example.\n\n\u201cWe often talk about the doctor-patient relationship in medicine.\n\n\u201cWell, under Democrat Socialism, that would be a lot more like the government-patient relationship.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s the government that would decide what health care Americans are eligible for.\n\n\u201cWhat medications they can take.\n\n\u201cAnd when and where they\u2019re able to access care.\n\n\u201cAmericans, Mr. President, place a high value on choice and freedom.\n\n\u201cBut freedom and choice do not last very long when government takes over.\n\n\u201cAnd under Democrat Socialism, Mr. President, government would be truly taking over.\n\n\u201cI could dedicate a whole speech to what happens when government takes control of the economy and the means of production.\n\n\u201cAnd of health care and education and energy \u2026\n\n\u201cBut there\u2019s more to the Democratic Socialist platform that I want to talk about.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I guess I have to hand it to Democrat Socialists, despite their plan for government takeover of most aspects of American life, they do have a couple of cuts on the table.\n\n\u201cBut the nature of those cuts is a big problem.\n\n\u201cDemocrat Socialists would like to defund the Pentagon.\n\n\u201cThey would like to abolish immigration enforcement.\n\n\u201cAnd they would like to eliminate the police.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s right, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cThe official platform \u2013 the official platform \u2013 of the Democratic Socialists states that their goal is to, and I quote, \u2018demilitarize police departments, disempower police unions, and redirect funding to public services as steps towards fully abolishing the police and prison system \u2026\u2019\n\n\u201cThink about that.\n\n\u201c\u2018\u2026 as steps towards fully abolishing the police and prison system \u2026\u2019\n\n\u201cThe official platform, Mr. President, of the Democrat Socialists of America.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I don\u2019t think I need to explain to anyone just how unhinged that is.\n\n\u201cIf anyone thinks we can keep our communities safe while fully abolishing the police and prison system, I have some oceanfront property in South Dakota to sell them.\n\n\u201cBut the problem, Mr. President, is that Democrat Socialists do believe this.\n\n\u201cSwept up in their utopian fantasies, they believe that by implementing the right system \u2013 socialism \u2013 they can somehow do away with human evil and remove the need for police or prisons. Or armies for that matter.\n\n\u201cBut of course, no system is going to be able to fully eliminate evil.\n\n\u201cNo matter how many social programs you put in place or how much education the government provides, there are always going to be men and women who choose to harm others for their own ends.\n\n\u201cAnd the idea that we would eliminate the men and women who protect society from these people \u2026 well, Mr. President, again, I don\u2019t think I need to explain to anyone just how quickly the peace and safety that we take for granted would evaporate \u2013 on both a local and a national scale.\n\n\u201cAnd the Democratic Socialist platform doesn\u2019t end there, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cEverything I\u2019ve discussed so far would remake our country on a massive scale, to the point of its being unrecognizable as the free, secure, and prosperous nation that we\u2019ve known over the past 250 years.\n\n\u201cBut Democrat Socialists would take it even further.\n\n\u201cTheir platform calls for officially changing our system of government \u2013 for eliminating the Senate and replacing, and I quote, \u2018the President and Supreme Court with an executive and judiciary chosen by and subordinate to Congress.\u2019\n\n\u201cThose aren\u2019t tweaks around the margin, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cThat is a full abolishment of the American system.\n\n\u201cThat is the elimination of the checks and balances that define our government and help prevent any one branch from exceeding its lawful authority.\n\n\u201cAnd it is the elimination \u2013 the elimination \u2013 of real protection for minority rights.\n\n\u201cI quote again: \u2018\u2026 we know complete victory will require building a new society from the ground up,\u2019 the authors of the platform of the Democratic Socialists of America write.\n\n\u201cAnd that is exactly what they propose to do \u2013 eliminate the American system, and build another in its place.\n\n\u201cAnd this, Mr. President, is the political organization that is currently finding a home in the Democrat Party.\n\n\u201cDemocrats are giving a home to an organization not merely dedicated to the radical expansion of government, but to the actual elimination of our system of government.\n\n\u201cWhy?\n\n\u201cWell, Mr. President, at its worst, socialism moves into a full-blown communism \u2013 the economic system that characterized the Soviet Union and oversaw not merely the exploitation of workers and ordinary people but the complete loss of freedom for millions and the death of millions more.\n\n\u201cAnd just in case you think that has nothing to do with the Democrat Socialists of America, think again.\n\n\u201cThe Wall Street Journal reports that several members of the Democratic Socialists\u2019 National Political Committee are, and I quote, \u2018dedicated Marxists and communists.\u2019\n\n\u201cOne of the organization\u2019s national co-chairs, in fact, is a member of the Democratic Socialists\u2019 Red Star Caucus, whose goal is not merely socialism, but communism.\n\n\u201cCommunism, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cThe hallmark of some of the world\u2019s most repressive regimes.\n\n\u201cAnd so I ask again, Mr. President \u2013 why are Democratic Socialists finding a home in the Democrat Party?\u201d", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-democrats-california-dreaming-is-a-nightmare-for-americans/", "Thune: Democrats\u2019 California Dreaming Is a Nightmare for Americans", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, last week I came to the floor to discuss some of the things that this Republican majority has delivered over the last two years.\n\n\u201cPermanently lower taxes for families.\n\n\u201cA secure border.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve worked to bring down the cost of prescription drugs and make homeownership more affordable.\n\n\u201cAnd we\u2019ve delivered regulatory relief, and tax policies to help our nation\u2019s small businesses as well as family farms and ranches.\n\n\u201cMr. President, Republicans have spent the last two years delivering on our agenda.\n\n\u201cAnd it should be pretty clear what we stand for.\n\n\u201cMore money in your pocket. Safer streets. And new and more opportunities to get ahead.\n\n\u201cOur Democrat colleagues, however, have spent much of the last two years opposing this agenda.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019ve cast a lot of no votes and criticized Republicans\u2019 agenda at seemingly every turn.\n\n\u201cSo one has to wonder, what do Democrats stand for?\n\n\u201cWhat is their vision for this country?\n\n\u201cWell, Mr. President, I think their last stint in power is pretty instructive:\n\n\u201cDemocrats\u2019 vision for the country looks a lot like the big-government vision Democrats have implemented in California.\n\n\u201cAnd you don\u2019t have to take my word for it.\n\n\u201cA Los Angeles Times headline a few days before President Biden took office read, and I quote, \u2018Make America California Again? That\u2019s Biden\u2019s plan.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018California,\u2019 the article went on to say, and I quote again, \u2018is emerging as the de facto policy think tank of the Biden-Harris administration and of a Congress soon to be under Democratic control.\u2019\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s right, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cIn the words of the LA Times, Democrats leaned on California for inspiration in setting a progressive policy agenda for the Biden administration.\n\n\u201cDemocrats\u2019 push to raise taxes mirrored California\u2019s high tax rates \u2013 the highest individual rates in the country.\n\n\u201cThe Biden administration\u2019s disastrous approach to illegal immigration embraced the sanctuary policies and soft-on-crime laws for which California is the posterchild.\n\n\u201cAnd on regulation, Mr. President, Democrats were determined to follow the lead of the most regulated state in the union, especially on energy.\n\n\u201cNever mind the fact that over the years Californians have faced rolling blackouts, been asked to limit their electricity usage, and paid some of the highest energy prices in the country \u2013 Democrats still tried to take the California plan national.\n\n\u201cAnd on more than one occasion, the Biden administration basically gave the pen to California regulators to write rules that would affect all Americans.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s what happened with electric vehicles.\n\n\u201cThe Biden administration not only implemented its own California-style electric vehicle mandate; it also allowed California to impose a de facto EV mandate on the rest of the country.\n\n\u201cFortunately, Republicans \u2026 rescinded that mandate just last year.\n\n\u201cAnd our work continues to block other mandates of the same sort.\n\n\u201cWe have a number of resolutions in the pipeline to address painful California regulations that have created de facto mandates for the entire country.\n\n\u201cSenators Ricketts and Husted have resolutions related to California\u2019s strict emissions standards targeting gas-powered vehicles.\n\n\u201cSenator Schmitt has another on California\u2019s unrealistic emissions standards for cars.\n\n\u201cSenators Sullivan and Moreno have introduced resolutions related to commercial shipping vessels.\n\n\u201cAnd Senator Lummis\u2019 resolution would block a California rule restricting small motors for things like lawnmowers and leaf blowers.\n\n\u201cYes, Mr. President, as this list suggests, California will regulate just about anything that moves, ignoring the fact that these types of rules restrict consumer choice and lead to higher prices for working families.\n\n\u201cAs I mentioned, California\u2019s rush to electrification strained its power grid to the point that it faced rolling blackouts and high energy prices, and regulators had to ask residents not to charge their electric vehicles at certain hours.\n\n\u201cIt confounds me as to why we would try to do the same thing nationwide.\n\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s exactly, Mr. President, what Democrats tried to do during the Biden administration.\n\n\u201cMr. President, over the summer, U.S. News and World Report released its ranking of states on a number of criteria.\n\n\u201cHere\u2019s how California ranked:\n\n\u201c46th in energy,\n\n\u201c41st in pre-K-12 education,\n\n\u201c48th in employment,\n\n\u201cAnd 50th \u2013 50th \u2013 in affordability.\n\n\u201cLast place.\n\n\u201cAnd I struggle to think of a Democrat who has critiqued the way California is run.\n\n\u201cInstead, as I\u2019ve said, Democrats continue to seek to impose a California-style regulatory regime on the whole country.\n\n\u201cAnd when it comes to illegal immigration, the national Democrat Party is now to the left \u2013 if you can imagine that \u2013 to the left of California.\n\n\u201cEarlier this year, national Democrats tried to completely defund Border Patrol and immigration enforcement, a move that would have effectively made America a sanctuary country.\n\n\u201cAnd I fully expect that a Democrat government here in Washington would be spending taxpayer dollars on benefits like health care for illegal immigrants, as California has done.\n\n\u201cMr. President, President Reagan \u2013 the governor of California in another era \u2013 once said, and I quote, \u2018If a State is badly managed, the people will either do one of two things: They will either use their power at the polls to redress that, or they\u2019ll go someplace else.\u2019\n\n\u201cWell, Mr. President, Americans are leaving California in droves.\n\n\u201cIn each of the past six years, the Golden State has had the largest net loss of population on the U-Haul Index.\n\n\u201cBusinesses and employers are leaving, taking jobs and opportunities to other states.\n\n\u201cThat should be instructive \u2013 that should be instructive \u2013 to us here.\n\n\u201cBut Democrats don\u2019t \u2013 or perhaps won\u2019t \u2013 take the hint.\n\n\u201cCalifornia ranks last \u2013 dead last \u2013 in affordability \u2026 but it is the first place Democrats look to for ideas on how to govern.\n\n\u201cMr. President, we can do better.\n\n\u201cRepublicans are doing better.\n\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s why so many Californians are moving to red states and leaving Democrats\u2019 failed policies behind.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-theres-no-place-like-south-dakota/", "Thune: There\u2019s No Place Like South Dakota", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, late summer in South Dakota is one of my favorite times of the year.\n\n\u201cAnd as usual, I spent a lot of it crisscrossing the state, talking to South Dakotans and seeing some of the great things that are happening \u2013 from Sisseton to Spearfish to Sioux Falls.\n\n\u201cLate summer, of course, is fair season, and I made the rounds of multiple fairs.\n\n\u201cBrown County. Turner County. Butte/Lawrence County. The State Fair. Dakotafest.\n\n\u201cI love the chance to meet so many South Dakota families and to hear what\u2019s on their minds.\n\n\u201cAnd, of course, if I can eat a little fair food while I\u2019m at it, it\u2019s even better.\n\n\u201cI particularly value the opportunity I have at these fairs to hear from the men and women of South Dakota\u2019s leading industry, which is agriculture.\n\n\u201cThe Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a terrific agribusiness meeting at the Brown County Fair, and the Dakotafest congressional forum always provides me with a lot of valuable feedback from South Dakota farmers and ranchers.\n\n\u201cOutside the fair circuit, I also had the chance to talk to South Dakota ag producers at a number of other stops, including the CHS Southwest Grain elevator in Lemmon and the Midwest Agricultural Export Summit.\n\n\u201cFarmers and ranchers, Mr. President, are facing a lot of headwinds right now, and I\u2019m committed to doing everything I can in Washington to help producers.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud that the Republicans\u2019 Working Families Tax Cuts legislation strengthened a number of programs that producers depend on, such as crop insurance and commodity and livestock programs.\n\n\u201cAnd while I\u2019m disappointed that my Democrat colleagues have chosen to put politics ahead of producers and unanimously oppose the farm bill, which was voted on yesterday at the Senate Ag Committee, I haven\u2019t given up.\n\n\u201cMr. President, another big perk of the past few weeks has been the opportunity to visit South Dakota small businesses.\n\n\u201cI got to tour Gameday Social\u2019s new headquarters in Sioux Falls.\n\n\u201cSit down with ranchers and other community leaders at the Lazy Spurr in Bison.\n\n\u201cTour Woodland Cabinetry in Sisseton.\n\n\u201cAnd more.\n\n\u201cI love hearing from small business owners about how the Working Families Tax Cuts is helping their businesses.\n\n\u201cAnd I value the opportunity to hear what else we can do in Washington to help small businesses grow and thrive and create jobs.\n\n\u201cMr. President, it\u2019s always an honor to get to talk to the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect their fellow Americans.\n\n\u201cOver the past few weeks, I had the chance to visit with South Dakota sheriffs at a roundtable in Flandreau.\n\n\u201cChat with members of the Lemmon Volunteer Fire Department.\n\n\u201cAnd show the under secretary of the Army around Ellsworth Air Force Base.\n\n\u201cAnticipation is building for the arrival of the B-21 bomber, which is the future of long-range strike.\n\n\u201cAnd we had some great discussions about the preparations that are underway.\n\n\u201cWe also had the opportunity to meet with leaders of the South Dakota industrial base and academia about their contributions to the joint force, like the work that VRC Metal Systems in Box Elder is doing on cold-spray maintenance technology.\n\n\u201cMr. President, there were so many other great moments from my travels.\n\n\u201cGetting to tour Spearfish High School\u2019s Career and Technical Education Center.\n\n\u201cVisiting Dakota State\u2019s Applied Research Corporation to discuss how South Dakota can be a leader in cybersecurity and national intelligence.\n\n\u201cInteracting with students at Black Hills State University.\n\n\u201cParticipating in the groundbreaking of the James Abdnor Center for Advanced Manufacturing at Southeast Technical College \u2013 which was a deeply meaningful moment for me, as a former Jim Abdnor staffer.\n\n\u201cMr. President, late summer in South Dakota can\u2019t be beat.\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019m very proud to be from our great state.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-discusses-the-importance-of-protecting-college-sports-and-athletes/", "Thune Discusses the Importance of Protecting College Sports and Athletes", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, it\u2019s no coincidence that the largest stadium in the United States is a college football stadium.\n\n\u201cCollege athletics has a unique place in America.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s deeply rooted in our communities and families.\n\n\u201cFor student athletes, their sport is an important part of their education.\n\n\u201cWhat they learn from their coaches, teammates, and on the playing field, they carry with them throughout their lives.\n\n\u201cAnd there\u2019s nothing like the opportunity to compete in front of your friends, classmates, parents, and professors.\n\n\u201cWe could say the same about fans in the stands: there\u2019s nothing quite like a college sporting event.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s something very unifying about it.\n\n\u201cGame day brings together people from every walk of life:\n\n\u201cFans who attended that university and often many who didn\u2019t attend, but nevertheless are a part of that school\u2019s community \u2013 all of them united by their love for the school.\n\n\u201cMr. President, anyone who knows me knows I\u2019m a sports fan.\n\n\u201cI spend a lot of time at games when I\u2019m back home in South Dakota.\n\n\u201cAnd whether I\u2019m in a high school gym on a Friday night, at a tailgate on a Saturday morning, at the DakotaDome or the Premier Center \u2013 in a conversation with sports fans, the current state of college athletics is bound to come up.\n\n\u201cMr. President, anyone who follows college sports knows that the last few years have been complex and, at times, chaotic.\n\n\u201cHigher numbers of student athletes are entering the transfer portal, and rosters are being overhauled each season.\n\n\u201cEligibility rules have been stretched \u2013 most notably with former professional players being recruited back to a college campus.\n\n\u201cAnd amid the arms race in revenue-generating sports and among larger institutions, smaller schools and non-revenue sports are increasingly anxious about the future.\n\n\u201cSmaller institutions risk losing stand-out players to schools with bigger budgets.\n\n\u201cAnd last year, it was reported that 41 Olympic sports programs were cut across NCAA Division I athletics programs, affecting over 1,000 student athletes.\n\n\u201cMr. President, this status quo cannot continue.\n\n\u201cAnd to restore stability to the college sports ecosystem, Mr. President, we need national standards \u2013 not a patchwork of state laws.\n\n\u201cThanks to the leadership of Chairman Cruz and Ranking Member Cantwell \u2013 and a number of our colleagues on the Commerce Committee \u2013 we have a bill to do that.\n\n\u201cAnd yesterday, we moved forward to begin debate on that bill: the Protect College Sports Act, which preserves the opportunities that have been available to student athletes for generations and ensures those opportunities can coexist with the new opportunities available to the current generation of college athletes.\n\n\u201cMr. President, the Protect College Sports Act addresses some of the largest issues in college athletics today, and in doing so, it restores stability to the college sports ecosystem.\n\n\u201cAnd that starts with uniform eligibility rules:\n\n\u201cOne transfer without loss of eligibility.\n\n\u201cA maximum five years of playing time starting at college enrollment or on the athlete\u2019s 19th birthday.\n\n\u201cAnd no professional athletes.\n\n\u201cThis bill also bans coaches from switching schools mid-season, ensuring that athletes have the same coach at the end of the season as they did at the start.\n\n\u201cAnd it brings transparency to [athlete] compensation, protects student athletes from bad actors, and safeguards opportunities for women\u2019s and Olympic sports.\n\n\u201cMr. President, this bill has been a work in progress for a number of years.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m grateful for all the hard work that went into getting it right.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve sat down with college athletes in my state to get their perspective.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve talked to coaches and athletic directors.\n\n\u201cAnd I know I\u2019m not the only senator to have done so.\n\n\u201cGetting this type of input is the only way that you get a bill like this.\n\n\u201cA bill that has broad bipartisan support.\n\n\u201cThat has support from more than 30 college athletic conferences.\n\n\u201cHundreds of universities in all 50 states and in Washington, D.C.\n\n\u201cAnd from hundreds of thousands of student athletes \u2013 which is the most important support of all.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I mentioned that I\u2019m a sports fan.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m also part of a sports family.\n\n\u201cMy dad was a Big 10 basketball player in the early 1940s.\n\n\u201cHe got the chance to play point guard for the University of Minnesota, where he was the team MVP.\n\n\u201cHe was the high point man at a game in Madison Square Garden \u2013 quite a journey for a small town kid from South Dakota.\n\n\u201cMy daughter ran cross country and track for Belmont University and was inducted into that school\u2019s Hall of Fame.\n\n\u201cMr. President, the question before us is whether the same opportunities that were available for my dad and for my daughter will be available for the next generation of student athletes.\n\n\u201cWe have a responsibility to them to protect college sports so they can focus on their sport, their education, and their future.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-republicans-advance-senate-farm-bill-while-democrats-continue-to-put-politics-ahead-of-producers/", "Thune: Republicans Advance Senate Farm Bill While Democrats Continue to Put Politics Ahead of Producers", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/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 issued the following statement after Republicans successfully voted to advance the Senate farm bill out of the Agriculture Committee. Multiple Thune priorities for South Dakota, including the year-round sale of E15 fuel, are incorporated in the bill, which Democrats blocked from advancing to the full Senate on August 6.\n\n\u201cA lot of hard work has gone into the Senate farm bill, and reporting the bill out of committee is an important step that pushes us closer to getting this critical legislation to the president\u2019s desk,\u201d said Thune. \u201cWhile I\u2019m frustrated by Democrats\u2019 lack of support, I\u2019m proud that Republicans united to advance the farm bill so we can build on the historic investments we enacted in the Working Families Tax Cuts and deliver long-overdue policy updates for South Dakota\u2019s farmers and ranchers.\n\n\u201cSenate Republicans worked in good faith with Democrats to negotiate a farm bill that includes year-round E15 and more than 100 bipartisan bills to support rural America, and Democrats\u2019 decision to put partisan politics ahead of producers and vote against the farm bill yet again is simply inexcusable,\u201d Thune continued. \u201cIt\u2019s critical that Congress passes this legislation to give farmers and ranchers the certainty they need, and I hope Democrats will come to their senses and put politics aside so we can get the farm bill across the finish line for America\u2019s producers.\u201d\n\nThune-authored proposals included in the Senate farm bill:\n\nThune\u2019s Livestock Disaster Assistance Improvement Act (introduced on March 6, 2025), which would expand the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program\u2019s (ELAP) authority to cover transportation costs for hauling feed and water and add adverse weather and drought as qualifying disasters;\n\nThune\u2019s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Improvement and Flexibility Act (introduced on July 31, 2025), which would bolster CRP by improving access to grazing, maximizing enrollment options for producers, and expediting emergency haying in response to drought and other weather-related disaster events;\n\nThune\u2019s Safeguarding American Food and Export Trade Yields (SAFETY) Act (introduced on April 1, 2025), which would protect American food products from unfair trade practices by foreign countries;\n\nThune\u2019s Rural Internet Improvement Act, which would streamline 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\nThune\u2019s Strengthening Local Processing Act (introduced on April 29, 2025), which would provide support to America\u2019s small meat and poultry processors to help strengthen and upgrade their operations;\n\nThune\u2019s Promoting Precision Agriculture Act (introduced on February 11, 2025), which would facilitate the further adoption of precision agriculture technologies for farmers and ranchers;\n\nThune\u2019s Fertilizer Transparency Act (introduced on March 19, 2026), which would provide American producers with more accurate information on prices for fertilizer and fertilizer products in response to longstanding concerns over rising input costs;\n\nThune\u2019s proposed one-time increase to the voluntary base acre update cap passed in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act to ensure all eligible acres can be enrolled in commodity programs; and\n\nThune\u2019s American Beef Labeling Act (introduced on February 5, 2025), which would reinstate mandatory country of origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef.\n\nThune has served on the Agriculture Committee in both the House and Senate. Thune has written four farm bills during his time in Congress, and the 2026 farm bill is his fifth. Agriculture is South Dakota\u2019s top industry, with more than 42 million acres of agricultural land throughout the state.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-congress-has-opportunities-to-deliver-more-if-democrats-are-willing-to-work/", "Thune: Congress Has Opportunities to Deliver More if Democrats Are Willing to Work", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cGood afternoon, everyone.\n\n\u201cWe have a big, I would say, but limited opportunity to get some things done here over the course of the next several weeks and, I would say, starting with the Clarity Act, which we\u2019re going to vote on this afternoon.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019ll be a procedural vote, and we\u2019ll find out if Democrats actually want to pass this legislation and whether or not they\u2019re willing to take yes for an answer.\n\n\u201cBecause our members who\u2019ve been negotiating this \u2013 Chairman Scott, Chairman Boozman, Senator Lummis, others \u2013 have been very involved now, literally for months, in trying to come up with legislation that would address the Democrat concerns.\n\n\u201cAnd they have made myriad, I would say, concessions to the Democrats \u2013 I think 126 different changes to this legislation since it was first introduced \u2013 trying to accommodate some of the Democrat concerns.\n\n\u201cSo this is, it\u2019s time to vote.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s time to put up or shut up.\n\n\u201cAnd so this afternoon we\u2019re going to have that vote.\n\n\u201cAnd then, I would say, on the Protect College Sports Act, that will follow after, depending how the Clarity vote goes, but that\u2019s also legislation that has had a lot of work put into it over the past several months, and I think most people acknowledge that the current landscape in college sports is a mess. It needs to be addressed.\n\n\u201cChairman Cruz and others have worked diligently, Senator Schmitt, coming up with a product that I think is a vast improvement, and of course worked with Democrats as well on trying to get that in a form that we could move it across the floor.\n\n\u201cSo we will see if there are 60 votes on a procedural vote on that issue as well.\n\n\u201cAnd I would also add to that list, permitting reform.\n\n\u201cSenator Capito and her team have been working with the Democrats, and we\u2019ll find out soon whether or not we can.\n\n\u201cThat is also something that has, I think, broad bipartisan support, and she\u2019s done a great job of negotiating those issues.\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019m hopeful, frankly, that we could get that up on the floor and voted on, because I think that is an important and consequential piece of legislation that\u2019s really important to our country\u2019s economy.\n\n\u201cAnd then finally, I would say something that\u2019s really important in farm country is the farm bill, and there\u2019s going to be hopefully committee action on that this week as well.\n\n\u201cAnd so those are all issues that are sort of hovering out there right now, in addition to some of the nominations that we\u2019ll deal with, both on the judicial and the executive calendars as well.\n\n\u201cBut my hope would be that this can be a productive few weeks here \u2013 and it\u2019s going to depend largely, I think, on whether or not the Democrats want to play ball, whether they want to get some things done, or whether they want to play politics.\n\n\u201cAnd we\u2019ll find that out soon enough.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-on-the-clarity-act-regulatory-certainty-is-key-to-american-leadership-in-digital-assets/", "Thune on the Clarity Act: Regulatory Certainty Is Key to American Leadership in Digital Assets", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cLast year Congress passed the GENIUS Act \u2013 which is the first bill regulating digital assets ever to become law.\n\n\u201cAnd the GENIUS Act was a landmark bill for more reasons than just being the first.\n\n\u201cIt applied a light-touch approach to digital asset regulation that provides clear rules of the road for stablecoins while allowing space for continued innovation \u2013 and encouraging that innovation to happen right here in the United States.\n\n\u201cMr. President, we\u2019ve already seen the positive effects of that approach.\n\n\u201cStablecoin market capitalization increased by 49 percent in 2025, due in part to the regulatory clarity provided by the GENIUS Act.\n\n\u201cVisa and Mastercard have been investing in stablecoin-linked credit cards amid heightened demand for such cards.\n\n\u201cVisa alone tripled its offering of stablecoin-linked credit cards last year.\n\n\u201cAnd one Visa executive called the GENIUS Act a huge turning point for the industry.\n\n\u201cMr. President, thanks to clear regulatory guidelines for stablecoins, the digital asset industry is moving in the right direction in the United States.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s a stark contrast to how things were under the Biden administration.\n\n\u201cNot long ago, digital assets operated in a legal gray zone in this country.\n\n\u201cThe Biden administration was regulating crypto companies with arbitrary enforcement measures \u2013 subjecting crypto firms to numerous lawsuits.\n\n\u201cAnd these hostile actions led a number of U.S.-based companies to consider moving out of the United States altogether.\n\n\u201cMr. President, we can all agree that the United States should be the world\u2019s leader in financial innovation.\n\n\u201cAnd as the GENIUS Act proves, innovation surges with certainty.\n\n\u201cWhen we passed the GENIUS Act over a year ago, I said market structure legislation would be the next logical step.\n\n\u201cToday, thanks to the leadership of Senator Lummis and Chairmen Scott and Boozman and a lot of hard work from a number of our colleagues on both sides of the aisle, the Senate has the opportunity to take that step with the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act.\n\n\u201cMr. President, the Clarity Act would apply the same approach that we took on stablecoins in the GENIUS Act to the entire digital asset ecosystem.\n\n\u201cIt would provide clear rules of the road while encouraging innovation to happen right here in America.\n\n\u201cTo begin with, the Clarity Act distinguishes the jurisdictions of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission, while ensuring that the CFTC and the SEC still work together to harmonize their rules.\n\n\u201cThe Clarity Act also ensures that companies can\u2019t skirt securities laws that apply to other financial assets.\n\n\u201cAnd it protects the growing number of Americans investing in and utilizing \u2026 digital assets.\n\n\u201cIt provides everyday Americans with the information they need to make investment decisions, prevents value manipulation schemes, and ensures that law enforcement has the tools that it needs to go after bad actors and fraud.\n\n\u201cMr. President, anyone concerned about another failure like the FTX collapse a few years ago should want to see the Clarity Act pass quickly.\n\n\u201cThis bill would prevent another FTX.\n\n\u201cIt would require exchanges to be subject to examination, and provide transparency so that regulators can intervene before harm becomes widespread.\n\n\u201cIt would prevent companies from using customers\u2019 funds as their own, as FTX did.\n\n\u201cAnd it would ensure that exchanges and their affiliates can\u2019t trade on their own platforms.\n\n\u201cMr. President, this bill has support from large financial institutions and law enforcement organizations, and it\u2019s had bipartisan support from the beginning.\n\n\u201cAs I said, this bill has been a bipartisan work in progress for over a year \u2013 with roots that go back even before that.\n\n\u201cIn the last year, 126 substantive changes have been made to the bill at the request of our Democrat colleagues.\n\n\u201cThe Clarity Act was reported out of the Banking Committee on a bipartisan vote.\n\n\u201cAnd over the weekend, Senators Lummis, Boozman, and Scott released a final draft that incorporated even more of Democrats\u2019 demands in the interest of moving forward with this bill.\n\n\u201cThe question now is whether Democrats will take yes for an answer.\n\n\u201cMr. President, digital assets are firmly rooted in the United States.\n\n\u201cOne in five American adults has invested in or used cryptocurrency.\n\n\u201cThe overwhelming majority of crypto owners want clear rules of the road and protections like those provided in the GENIUS Act and the Clarity Act.\n\n\u201cMr. President, this is a shared priority for Republicans, Democrats, and President Trump.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve been working at it now for over a year.\n\n\u201cThe only reason for this progress to end now would be if Democrats choose politics over good policy.\n\n\u201cAnd now is not the time for political games.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve seen what regulatory certainty did to promote innovation and growth in stablecoins.\n\n\u201cWe have an opportunity to do that across the entire digital asset industry by passing the Clarity Act.\n\n\u201cWe should take the opportunity, Mr. President, before us to ensure this innovation happens right here in America and that the United States remains the leader in financial technology well into the future.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-reflects-on-25th-anniversary-of-9-11/", "Thune Reflects on 25th Anniversary of 9/11", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMadam President, on Friday our nation paused to observe the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.\n\n\u201cThe passage of time has only emphasized the need for remembrance.\n\n\u201cFor many of us the events of that day are fresh and clear as [if] they were yesterday.\n\n\u201cBut there are so many young Americans \u2013 young adults even, now \u2013 who were not alive then.\n\n\u201cAnd who do not remember the grief of that day. The evil we saw. And the patriotism and resolve that rose from the ashes.\n\n\u201cThere are young men and women who have never heard the stories of the heroes \u2013 the firefighters, the first responders, the men and women of Flight 93, the ordinary Americans who placed the lives of others above their own.\n\n\u201cIn the darkness of that day, the very best of America stood up.\n\n\u201cAnd I pray that we will never forget their example.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-15T09:50:21Z", "2026-09-15T09:52:05Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-republicans-are-keeping-our-promises-and-delivering-for-working-families/", "Thune: Republicans Are Keeping Our Promises and Delivering for Working Families", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMadam President, it\u2019s hard to believe that we\u2019re in the last few months of the 119th Congress.\n\n\u201cTwo years ago at this time, Democrats were still in charge, and the country was dealing with the two defining legacies of the Biden administration: a historic inflation crisis, and a historic immigration crisis.\n\n\u201cAnd I don\u2019t use the word historic lightly.\n\n\u201cBut those two crises were truly historic.\n\n\u201cDemocrats presided over the worst inflation crisis in 40 years \u2013 with inflation reaching 7, 8, and 9 percent.\n\n\u201cAnd they presided over four straight years \u2013 four straight years \u2013 of record-breaking \u2013 record-breaking \u2013 illegal immigration.\n\n\u201cRepublicans\u2019 priority when we came into office was dealing with the effects of these crises.\n\n\u201cAnd that started with preventing a massive tax hike on hardworking Americans.\n\n\u201cAs everyone knows, during the first Trump administration Republicans passed a historic reform of our tax code.\n\n\u201cWe cut tax rates across the board, doubled the child tax credit, and nearly doubled the standard deduction.\n\n\u201cBut that tax relief was scheduled to expire at the end of 2025.\n\n\u201cThe standard deduction \u2013 which is claimed by 90 percent of Americans on their taxes \u2013 would have shrunk, increasing the amount of Americans\u2019 income the government could tax.\n\n\u201cTax rates would have increased.\n\n\u201cThe child tax credit would have been reduced by 50 percent.\n\n\u201cFor a typical family in my state, that would have meant sending an additional $2,500 a year to Washington.\n\n\u201cWell, Republicans were not going to let that happen.\n\n\u201cAnd so in 2025, we passed the Working Families Tax Cuts \u2013 sometimes known as the One Big Beautiful Bill \u2013 to prevent this massive tax hike on hardworking Americans.\n\n\u201cWe made the increased standard deduction permanent.\n\n\u201cWe made the lower tax rates permanent.\n\n\u201cAnd we made the increased child tax credit permanent.\n\n\u201cIn other words, more money in American families\u2019 pockets, permanently.\n\n\u201cBut we didn\u2019t stop there.\n\n\u201cWe were well aware that Americans had had a very rough time financially under the Biden administration.\n\n\u201cAnd so we took action to put additional money in hardworking Americans\u2019 pockets.\n\n\u201cIn 2017, we had doubled the child tax credit.\n\n\u201cIn 2025, we not only made that increase permanent, we boosted the child tax credit even further, and indexed it to inflation so its value will never go down.\n\n\u201cWe also implemented no tax on tips and no tax on overtime \u2013 substantially lowering the tax bills of millions of hardworking Americans, from Uber and Lyft drivers to hairdressers to police officers.\n\n\u201cAnd we added a new bonus deduction for seniors, making retirement more affordable for millions of older Americans.\n\n\u201cAnd our efforts to help Americans keep more of their hard-earned money didn\u2019t stop with the Working Families Tax Cuts.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve also spent this Congress cutting burdensome regulations that would have driven up prices for hardworking Americans \u2013 from the California electric vehicle mandate, which would have forced Americans into costly electric cars, to regulations that would have driven up the cost of appliances.\n\n\u201cWe passed landmark housing legislation in June to help keep hardworking Americans from being priced out of the housing market.\n\n\u201cAnd we took action to drive down costs at the pharmacy counter as well.\n\n\u201cWe passed a law to ensure that patients get the savings from any discounts or rebates from their purchases at the pharmacy counter in their health care plans.\n\n\u201cWe removed incentives for pharmacy benefit managers to promote higher-priced medications at the expense of seniors.\n\n\u201cAnd we improved access to more affordable generic drugs.\n\n\u201cMadam President, as I said, in addition to reducing taxes and working to lower costs, Republicans were also committed to dealing with the Biden border crisis.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump took action immediately to get the situation at our southern border under control.\n\n\u201cAnd the reduction in illegal immigration has been staggering.\n\n\u201cDuring the last full year of the Biden border crisis \u2013 which was fiscal year 2024 \u2013 there were well over 2 million illegal immigrant encounters at our southern border.\n\n\u201cWell, we\u2019re almost done with fiscal year 2026, and you want to know how many encounters there have been at the southern border?\n\n\u201cFewer than 120,000.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re looking at somewhere on the order of a 90 percent decrease.\n\n\u201cAnd you want to know how many of those illegal immigrants have been released into the United States?\n\n\u201cZero.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s right.\n\n\u201cNot a single illegal immigrant has been released into the United States during the entire 2026 fiscal year.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s been the case for 15 straight months, in fact, under President Trump.\n\n\u201cAnd I don\u2019t need to tell anyone what a massive turnaround that is from the Biden administration, which presided over the release of millions of illegal immigrants into our country\u2019s interior.\n\n\u201cMadam President, the dangers of the unchecked illegal immigration that we saw under the Biden administration are manifold.\n\n\u201cAnd to help prevent anything like that from happening again, the Working Families Tax Cuts included substantial resources to help guarantee the security of our nation\u2019s border, from additional Border Patrol agents to security technology.\n\n\u201cWe also boosted funding for our national defense and for law enforcement.\n\n\u201cSafer communities and a safer country \u2013 that has been and will continue to be a Republican priority.\n\n\u201cMadam President, our work isn\u2019t done.\n\n\u201cBut I\u2019m proud of what we\u2019ve been able to do this Congress to put more money in Americans\u2019 pockets and to help make our country more secure.\n\n\u201cAnd hardworking Americans will continue to be at the top of Republicans\u2019 agenda.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-15T09:50:21Z", "2026-09-15T09:52:05Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-joins-martha-maccallum-on-fox-news-the-brian-kilmeade-radio-show-and-the-hugh-hewitt-radio-show/", "Thune Joins Martha MacCallum on Fox News, The Brian Kilmeade Radio Show, and The Hugh Hewitt Radio Show", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch Fox News, here to listen to Brian Kilmeade, and here to listen to Hugh Hewitt.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Martha MacCallum on Fox News, The Brian Kilmeade Show on Fox Radio, and The Hugh Hewitt Radio Show.\n\nOn Democrats embracing socialism:\n\n\u201cThe Democrats in this country, in many cases, have gone so far left \u2026 They\u2019ve embraced the socialist wing of their party, and that\u2019s going to put them completely out of the mainstream with the American people.\u201d\n\nOn the SAVE America Act:\n\n\u201cI\u2019m a cosponsor of the SAVE America Act. I was a cosponsor of that in the last session of Congress before it became popular \u2026 We\u2019ve had it voted on now six different times, Martha. Every single time, every single Democrat has voted against it.\n\n\u201cWe don\u2019t have the votes in the Senate to get rid of the legislative filibuster, which is the only way we can pass it at 51. Otherwise, it takes 60, meaning we have to have Democrats, and that\u2019s why we need to elect more Republicans to office, because the Democrats now, on six different occasions, have bloc-voted against photo ID, citizenship to vote \u2026 banning mail-in ballots, making sure that we don\u2019t have boys competing in girls\u2019 sports, and trans surgeries for minors.\n\n\u201cThat is the SAVE America Act in its totality. We voted on that. We voted on the individual pieces of it, now six times, and every single time the Democrats oppose it. So if you want to get it done, then make this an issue in the campaign. Go out and draw contrast with your Democrat opponent and elect more Republicans, and we can get the SAVE Act passed.\u201d\n\nOn Iran:\n\n\u201cI think all tools need to be on the table in terms of holding Iran and its proxies and its international supporters accountable for their actions.\n\n\u201cI applaud the administration for finding unconventional ways to achieve what is the underlying goal \u2026 I think the military objectives have been very clear there. I think we\u2019ve achieved those. Now the question is, we\u2019ve got to ensure that \u2026 the shipping lanes remain open, and that Iran isn\u2019t able to start stopping, blocking, and tolling people in an international waterway. And I think right now that\u2019s the administration\u2019s focus.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-15T09:50:21Z", "2026-09-15T09:52:05Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-introduces-ranch-act-to-help-rebuild-americas-cattle-herd", "Rounds Introduces RANCH Act to Help Rebuild America\u2019s Cattle Herd", "2026-08-19", "2026", "2026-08", "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 Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today introduced the Rebuilding America\u2019s National Cow Herd (RANCH) Act. This legislation would create a new voluntary grazing land restoration program that would open up to 20 million new acres for grazing. At full enrollment of 20 million acres, the program established by the RANCH Act would provide sufficient grazing land to support an estimated two to four million additional beef cows.\n\n\u201cAnyone who has spent time around cattle understands one simple truth: no grass means no cattle,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cWith ranchers facing drought, high input costs and a shortage of grazing land, America\u2019s beef cow herd is at its smallest size in over 70 years. The RANCH Act would create a voluntary Ranchland Program that helps producers restore eligible marginal cropland into grasslands for grazing. Producers can use their land in a way that makes the most sense for each individual operation, giving those who know their land best the tools needed to succeed.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith the U.S. cattle herd at its smallest size in over 70 years, many farmers and ranchers need new opportunities to stay afloat,\u201d said Klobuchar. \u201cThe bipartisan RANCH Act will help farmers looking to start a cow-calf herd or expand their existing herd while also providing wildlife habitat on the land. In the long-term, this plan can rebuild the domestic cattle herd and help drive down beef costs.\u201d\n\nThe RANCH Act:\n\nStrengthens American food security by expanding the domestic beef supply and reducing reliance on imported beef.\n\nPuts American ranchers first, expanding the grazing land base needed to rebuild the national cowherd and meet growing consumer demand.\n\nExpands domestic demand for American-grown grain and forage, giving U.S. farmers a stronger, more reliable market as the cattle herd grows.\n\nSupports commodity prices for row crop producers by modestly tightening grain supply through a reduction in planted acres.\n\nMakes U.S. farmers and ranchers more competitive in the global marketplace while building a stronger domestic agricultural base.\n\nEnhances water quality, soil health and wildlife habitat through established perennial cover and managed grazing.\n\nReinvigorates rural communities through the economic benefits of increased livestock production, grain demand and wildlife populations.\n\nLowers the barrier to entry for beginning ranchers through targeted cost-share and signing incentive payments, bringing the next generation onto the land.\n\nThe RANCH Act is supported by the South Dakota Cattlemen\u2019s Association, Society for Range Management, Pheasants Forever, the World Wildlife Fund, the National Audubon Society, Delta Waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited, the National Wildlife Federation and the Minnesota State Cattlemen\u2019s Association.\n\n\u201cSouth Dakota cattle producers understand that well-managed grazing is not only compatible with conservation, it's one of our most effective conservation tools,\u201d said Craig Bieber, President of the South Dakota Cattlemen\u2019s Association and owner and operator of Bieber Red Angus Ranch near Leola. \u201cExpanding access to grass, keeping working lands in production, and creating opportunities to responsibly grow the nation\u2019s cattle herd can strengthen ranch families, rural communities, and the health of our natural resources. The South Dakota Cattlemen\u2019s Association appreciates Senator Rounds' efforts to recognize cattle as an essential part of healthy, productive landscapes.\u201d\n\n\u201cI'm encouraged to see Congress listening to the voices of farmers and ranchers who work in grasslands every day. Strong grass-based agriculture depends on healthy, productive grasslands, and investments in voluntary grazing and conservation practices help keep ranching businesses profitable for the long term,\u201d says Dan Rasmussen, who, with his wife, Dawn, stewards 33 Ranch near Belvidere, South Dakota. \u201cThrough our work with Audubon and other partners, we've seen firsthand that when we manage grasslands well, our cattle benefit, wildlife thrives, and water quality improves. That's a win for ranchers, rural communities, and everyone who depends on these working lands.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe RANCH Act is a smart investment in America\u2019s working lands at a critical time for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities,\u201d said Andrew Schmidt, Director of Government Affairs for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. \u201cGiving producers the tools to convert marginal cropland to grazing land can help ranchers grow their operations, bring more grass back to the landscape, and increase the habitat that pheasants, quail, and other wildlife depend on. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever thank Senators Rounds and Klobuchar for their leadership on this important legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe RANCH Act meets a critical need for America's ranchers and grasslands, particularly in the Great Plains,\u201d said Alexis Bonogofsky, Vice President of the Great Plains Program at the World Wildlife Fund. \u201cIt would create a dedicated program to restore grasslands for grazing and enable effective grazing management plans, which are essential to the productivity of both ranchers and grassland ecosystems. While the scale of marginal lands that need to be restored far exceeds the 20 million acres this program would support, this is a significant and welcome step forward.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe RANCH ACT is the sort of legislation and idea that we have long worked on and hoped for to find new ways to incentivize creation of working forage to support ranchers, cow calf operations and cover for nesting ducks and other species,\u201d said John L. Devney, Chief Policy Officer at Delta Waterfowl. \u201cWe sincerely appreciate Senator Rounds and Senator Klobuchar for advancing this important idea.\u201d\n\n\u201cHealthy grazing lands are essential to a healthy landscape,\u201d said Ryan Taylor, Director of Public Policy at Ducks Unlimited. \u201cThe RANCH Act recognizes the conservation value of these working lands while helping address the need for additional livestock grazing. This legislation helps ranchers restore marginal cropland to perennial cover and managed grazing. Ducks Unlimited supports voluntary, rancher-driven solutions that improve habitat, soil health, and water quality while keeping ranchers on the land for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Minnesota State Cattlemen\u2019s Association is grateful for Senator Amy Klobuchar\u2019s and Senator Mike Rounds\u2019 support of the RANCH Act, which would establish a new voluntary grazing land restoration program to support and enhance grazing lands across the country,\u201d said Jake Thompson, President of the Minnesota State Cattlemen\u2019s Association. \u201cGrazing is an incredible tool for land management, and it is great to see a program that offers cost-share and signing incentive payments to offset financial costs for the producers.\u201d\n\nClick HERE for a summary of the bill. Click HERE for full bill text.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-20T05:28:41Z", "2026-08-20T05:29:58Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-preserve-records-for-at-risk-afghan-allies", "Rounds Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Preserve Records for At-Risk Afghan Allies", "2026-08-10", "2026", "2026-08", "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.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) today introduced the Afghan Ally Records and Credential Heritage (ARCH) Act, legislation to establish a Department of War process to identify, verify and preserve the service records of certain Afghan allies who served alongside our forces during the war in Afghanistan.\n\nUnder the ARCH Act, the Department of War would establish a secure online application system through which eligible Afghan allies or their representatives could submit service information and supporting documentation. After reviewing available military, contractor and biometric records, the Department would preserve verified records for future use. The bill also provides applicants with notice of adverse decisions, an opportunity to appeal and the ability to request reconsideration when new evidence becomes available.\n\n\u201cThousands of brave Afghans stood shoulder-to-shoulder with American service members in some of the most dangerous missions of the war,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cMany of these individuals risked everything to support the United States, yet the records documenting their service remain vulnerable to loss or destruction. The ARCH Act creates a secure process to preserve this documentation, making certain that accurate records are maintained.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe must keep our covenant with the Afghans who served beside us, risking everything \u2014 often at great personal expense to themselves and their families \u2014 to further America\u2019s mission,\u201d said Klobuchar. \u201cOur bipartisan legislation will ensure Afghan allies can be confident their service records will be preserved to help them establish facts about their service in future applications to the U.S. government.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe owe it to our Afghan allies to provide a fair and efficient process to preserve the service records documenting the sacrifices they made while serving alongside U.S. forces,\u201d said Tillis. \u201cI\u2019m proud to cosponsor this effort to ensure those records are available for those who stood with our servicemembers in Afghanistan.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe owe an enormous debt to the Afghans who supported U.S. forces during their 20-year mission in Afghanistan,\u201d said Coons. \u201cIn exchange for that huge risk to themselves and their families, we promised them protection. This is a first step to fulfilling that promise by ensuring those who put their lives on the line for our country don\u2019t fall through the cracks.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the ARCH Act would:\n\nEstablish a Department of War Afghan Allies Records Preservation Program.\n\nCreate a secure online application portal for eligible Afghan allies outside the United States.\n\nVerify applicants' service using available military, contractor and biometric records.\n\nPreserve validated service records and supporting documentation for future use.\n\nProvide applicants with written notice of denials, an appeals process and an opportunity to reopen applications with new evidence.\n\nProhibit application fees and authorize personnel necessary to administer the program.\n\nMaintain the application process for at least ten years, unless the Secretary of Defense later determines that termination is in the national interest.\n\nThe legislation recognizes the service of former members of Afghanistan's special operations forces, Afghan Air Force, Special Mission Wing, intelligence personnel, justice-sector officials, female members of the former Afghan security forces and other individuals who supported the United States mission in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2021.\n\nThe ARCH Act is supported by AfghanEvac, No One Left Behind, With Honor, REACT DC, the Lamia Afghan Foundation, Center for Law and Social Policy, the Afghan Scout Relief Fund and Keeping Our Promise Inc.\n\n\u201cFor the men and women who served as commandos, pilots, intelligence officers, and judges alongside American forces, and for all the women who served in the ranks of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, the record of that service is the difference between being recognized and being erased,\u201d said Shawn VanDiver, President of AfghanEvac and a U.S. Navy veteran. \u201cWhen Kabul fell, so did easy access to the documents and biometrics that prove who stood with us, and every day those records sit unprotected is a day we risk losing them for good. The ARCH Act makes sure that proof survives, so our allies can still be identified, verified, and protected when it counts. We're grateful to Senators Rounds, Klobuchar, Coons, and Tillis for their bipartisan leadership, and we urge the Senate to move this bill without delay.\u201d\n\n\u201cRetaining Afghan allies\u2019 service records is a national security necessity, and is vital to supporting our wartime allies,\u201d said Andrew Sullivan, Executive Director of No One Left Behind. \u201cNo One Left Behind proudly endorses the Afghan Allies Records and Credential Heritage Act, a bipartisan recognition that would document the service and contributions Afghan allies made alongside American service members. Evacuating allies left behind remains a moral obligation, and this legislation is an important step in accomplishing that mission.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe United States and coalition forces relied on brave Afghan allies for years. In the wake of war and withdrawal, many records of their service were lost,\u201d said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor. \u201cWith Honor Action is proud to endorse the ARCH Act, which provides a formal process for Afghan allies to document their service alongside U.S. military forces. We are encouraged to see the inclusion of this language in the Senate\u2019s draft of the FY27 National Defense Authorization Act, and urge Congress to preserve this provision as they work to conference this bill. With Honor Action thanks Senators Mike Rounds, Amy Klobuchar, and Thom Tillis for making sure that Afghans who served alongside Americans are never denied recognition simply because of missing paperwork.\u201d\n\nClick HERE for full bill text.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-11T05:54:29Z", "2026-08-11T05:56:25Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-senate-republicans-deliver-for-the-american-people/", "Thune: Senate Republicans Deliver for the American People", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, when this Congress began last year, we had a long to-do list.\n\n\u201cThe American people had made their priorities clear.\n\n\u201cAs I said from the start, this Republican majority was ready to deliver.\n\n\u201cRepublicans were committed to strengthening our economic future.\n\n\u201cEnding the \u2026 Biden border crisis.\n\n\u201cAnd making America safer and stronger in the years ahead.\n\n\u201cMr. President, that\u2019s exactly what we\u2019ve been working on these last 19 months.\n\n\u201cAnd the American people are seeing the results of our efforts.\n\n\u201cThe clearest example came this April when [97] percent of Americans saw a tax cut, which meant more of their hard-earned money stayed in their pockets instead of going to the IRS.\n\n\u201cAnd that was thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts.\n\n\u201cMr. President, that was Republicans\u2019 top priority last year.\n\n\u201cThe American people had suffered for years through an inflation crisis caused by Democrats\u2019 reckless spending.\n\n\u201cAnd they were facing a massive tax hike \u2013 $2,500 for a typical family in my state \u2013 if Congress had failed to act.\n\n\u201cBut the Working Families Tax Cuts made sure that tax hike never came.\n\n\u201cRepublicans delivered permanent, permanent, tax relief that benefited 97 percent of taxpayers this past year.\n\n\u201cWe implemented new tax cuts like no tax on tips or overtime.\n\n\u201cRaised the child tax credit.\n\n\u201cGave seniors an additional $6,000 deduction.\n\n\u201cAnd provided America\u2019s small businesses and family farms and ranches with significant and permanent tax relief too.\n\n\u201cAnd, Mr. President, Republicans haven\u2019t just put more money in hardworking Americans\u2019 pockets.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve been working to bring down costs.\n\n\u201cOne of the ways we\u2019re doing that is by lifting unnecessary and burdensome regulations that drive up the cost of things that Americans need.\n\n\u201cWe passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which cuts red tape that has contributed to homeownership becoming [unaffordable] for too many Americans.\n\n\u201cWe did away with Biden-era regulations that would have driven up the cost of household appliances and energy.\n\n\u201cWe got rid of electrical vehicle mandates that were going to force Americans into pricey electric cars that they didn\u2019t want.\n\n\u201cAnd we\u2019ve taken concrete action to drive down costs at the pharmacy counter, as well.\n\n\u201cWe passed a law to ensure that patients get the savings from any discounts or rebates from their purchases at the pharmacy counter in their health care plans.\n\n\u201cWe removed incentives for pharmacy benefit managers to promote higher-priced medications at the expense of seniors.\n\n\u201cAnd we improved access to more affordable generic drugs.\n\n\u201cMr. President, these are policies that change the math of families\u2019 budgets.\n\n\u201cMore money in their pockets.\n\n\u201cLower costs for the things that they need.\n\n\u201cAnd beyond that, we\u2019ve also taken actions to strengthen our economy for the long term.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve seen positive news about a boost in manufacturing in our country thanks in part to the Working Families Tax Cuts.\n\n\u201cOther provisions in that law make education pathways more affordable, strengthen our skilled workforce, and create opportunity for the future.\n\n\u201cThe law also bolstered programs that America\u2019s farmers and ranchers depend on.\n\n\u201cAnd the Working Families Tax Cuts made a generational investment in rural health care providers in all 50 states, putting those providers on a more secure path forward so that Americans in rural areas continue to have access to quality, affordable health care close to home.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I mentioned that ending the border crisis was another priority for this Senate majority.\n\n\u201cAnd we didn\u2019t waste any time getting to work on that either.\n\n\u201cThe first bill we passed was the Laken Riley Act, requiring that illegal immigrants who are arrested for certain crimes aren\u2019t put back on the streets.\n\n\u201cWe also passed the HALT Fentanyl Act to ensure that law enforcement has the tools it needs to go after fentanyl and fentanyl analogues that have taken too many, too many Americans\u2019 lives.\n\n\u201cAnd then there\u2019s the border itself.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump took swift action to secure the border early last year.\n\n\u201cAnd in the Working Families Tax Cuts, we provided the resources necessary to hire more agents, finish the border wall, and keep the border secure permanently.\n\n\u201cMr. President, today illegal border crossings have slowed to a trickle.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s been like that for just about the entire Trump administration \u2013 an incredible feat considering how bad things were under President Biden.\n\n\u201cAnd thanks to our efforts, the resources are in place to ensure the border stays secure for the long term.\n\n\u201cMr. President, beyond the border, we\u2019ve also been focused on strengthening our military.\n\n\u201cThe Working Families Tax Cuts made a generational investment in our military readiness.\n\n\u201cWe complemented those efforts in last year\u2019s annual defense bill, which, among other things, made significant reforms to the way the Pentagon does business, to ensure that \u2026 tax dollars are being spent to maximum efficiency and effectiveness for our men and women in uniform.\n\n\u201cAnd this year\u2019s National Defense Authorization Act builds on those efforts as well.\n\n\u201cMr. President, we\u2019ve been busy.\n\n\u201cThe Senate has taken close to 900 votes since last January.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve been in Washington a lot more than in previous years.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve also done a lot of things that haven\u2019t been done in a number of years.\n\n\u201cAs I said, we made generational investments in border security, military readiness, and in rural health care.\n\n\u201cWe approved the most significant tax relief bill in decades.\n\n\u201cWe confirmed 21 Cabinet nominees faster than the last three incoming administrations.\n\n\u201cAnd we passed the first crypto bill ever.\n\n\u201cWe approved a rescissions package that cut billions in federal spending for the first time in literally three decades.\n\n\u201cMr. President, our work continues.\n\n\u201cEarlier this afternoon, we passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, giving the president critical tools to bring peace to Ukraine.\n\n\u201cWe also approved another slate of 74 Trump administration nominees, bringing our total to 590.\n\n\u201cAnd I expect to move forward on additional items very soon.\n\n\u201cMr. President, we\u2019ve been working our way through our to-do list and delivering real wins for the American people.\n\n\u201cAnd the work goes on.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-08T05:41:38Z", "2026-08-08T05:43:24Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-introduces-legislation-to-boost-american-manufacturing-of-robotics-stay-ahead-of-china", "Rounds Introduces Legislation to Boost American Manufacturing of Robotics, Stay Ahead of China", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "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 John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) today introduced the Robotics Supply Chain Improvement Act, legislation aimed at boosting American manufacturing of robotics systems. This legislation, which directs the Department of Commerce to collect more data and develop standards for new robotics, would help keep America ahead of China in the robotics industry and keep American manufacturing competitive globally.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s important that the United States continues to stay ahead of China when it comes to development and manufacturing of new technologies,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cThe Robotics Supply Chain Improvement Act would improve data collection and coordination of the use of robotics in the United States.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe robotics revolution is here. To compete with China and keep workers from being left behind, we need better data and coordination to set smart standards,\u201d said Hickenlooper. \u201cThis bill positions Colorado\u2019s growing robotics industry and workforce to lead in this new economy.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the Robotics Supply Chain Improvement Act would:\n\nDirects the Department of Commerce to support American industry by improving data sharing to support the development of the models that power advanced robotics.\n\nDirects the Office of Advanced Manufacturing, a NIST department which works with Manufacturing USA institutes across the country, to promote the use of robotics.\n\nDirects the Department of Commerce to coordinate with the robotics industry for the development of voluntary standards for new and emerging robotics use cases and develop training and apprenticeship programs to upskill American workers.\n\nDirects the Department of Commerce to collaborate with the robotics industry to create solutions in the energy, food and healthcare spaces to drive down costs for American consumers.\n\nDirects the Department of Commerce to coordinate with the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Labor on the development of material to support workforce development and job creation in the robotics industry.\n\nRequires the Department of Commerce to collect data annually (with a 5 year sunset) on the adoption of robotics systems across industry so that we can accurately benchmark US competitiveness relative to China and other leaders in the adoption of robotics.\n\nPushes NASA, which has developed incredible innovations related to robotics (ex. the Mars Rover) to work with industry to commercialize the research and patents developed by the agency, facilitating private sector entrepreneurship and job creation from federal research.\n\nSupporters of the Robotics Supply Chain Improvement Act include:\n\n\u201cProsperous Robotics strongly supports the Robotics Supply Chain Improvement Act and its vision to strengthen America\u2019s leadership in robotics, AI, and advanced manufacturing,\u201d said Michael Bankowski, Co-Founder and CEO of Sioux Falls-based Prosperous Robotics. \u201cWe are especially encouraged to see home and elder care recognized as a national priority, where robotics can improve independence, dignity, and quality of life for millions of families.\u201d\n\n\u201cBoston Dynamics commends Senators Rounds and Hickenlooper on the introduction of the Robotics Supply Chain Improvement Act,\u201d said Brendan Schulman, VP of Policy & Government Relations at Boston Dynamics \u201cThis legislation would direct NIST to gather key information and metrics on the building blocks of the advanced robotics industry, including workforce training programs, standards for physical AI, emerging use cases, and regular reports on national robot adoption rates. These are important elements for building the national robotics strategy that industry has been calling for.\u201d\n\n\u201cFrom the assembly line to artificial intelligence, American manufacturing has constantly embraced new technologies,\u201d said Sam Dorn, VP of Policy and Government Affairs, New American Industrial Alliance. \u201cThe Robotics Supply Chain Improvement Act continues that legacy by creating an all-of-government approach to robotics, from setting key standards and implementation benchmarks to pushing cutting-edge government technology to partner with private sector leaders. We thank Senator Rounds for his leadership on this important piece of legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cOn behalf of Robots For America, I'm proud to endorse the Robotics Supply Chain Improvement Act, introduced by Senators Rounds and Hickenlooper,\u201d said Saman Farid, Founder, Robots For America. \u201cRobots don't replace American workers \u2014 they multiply what American workers can do, keeping factories competitive, production onshore, and good jobs in American communities. This bipartisan bill takes practical steps to strengthen our domestic robotics industrial base, from promoting adoption on factory floors to commercializing NASA innovations here at home. We urge Congress to pass it swiftly.\u201d\n\nClick HERE for full bill text.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-thune-johnson-encourage-trump-administration-to-approve-highmore-disaster-declaration", "Rounds, Thune, Johnson Encourage Trump Administration to Approve Highmore Disaster Declaration", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "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 John Thune (R-S.D.) and Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging his support for South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden\u2019s request for a major disaster declaration following storms in central South Dakota, including Highmore. The severe weather, caused by a series of storms between June 28 and July 3, impacted 21,786 households in eight counties and two tribal communities across roughly 8,500 square miles.\n\n\u201cWe support the state\u2019s request and urge you to approve a major disaster declaration, as soon as possible so that the necessary federal resources are available to assist the relevant areas of our state,\u201d wrote the delegation. \u201cWe also strongly urge you to approve the state\u2019s request for hazard mitigation funding. This will allow the state to mitigate future damages to vulnerable electric infrastructure. Without this funding, preventable damage to utilities from future disasters will only compound existing repair challenges.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter HERE or below.\n\n+++\n\nDear President Trump,\n\nWe write in strong support of the state of South Dakota\u2019s major disaster declaration request submitted by Governor Larry Rhoden on July 27, 2026. This disaster declaration request would assist in recovery efforts from severe weather that occurred June 28 to July 3, 2026.\n\nFrom June 28 to July 3, 2026, a single severe weather system brought a series of devastating storms across central South Dakota. This multiday storm system included: a mini-derecho, windstorms, hail, straight line winds, tornadoes and flooding. The system also included peak wind gusts of 131 MPH, making it the strongest recorded thunderstorm wind gust since 1983 and among the strongest recorded in the United States.\n\nThis combination of severe weather impacted 21,786 households in eight counties and two tribal communities across nearly an 8,500 square mile area.\n\nIn the city of Highmore alone, 80-90% of all structures in the city sustained damage. It also caused significant damage to public infrastructure and led to widespread power outages. In some cases, residents were left without power for over a week while experiencing extremely hot summer temperatures.\n\nThe damage to public utility infrastructure is also severe and far reaching. Across South Dakota, electric infrastructure has been repeatedly weakened by year-round extreme weather events including severe storms, ice accumulation, wildfire, high winds, and flooding.\n\nWe support the state\u2019s request and urge you to approve a major disaster declaration, as soon as possible so that the necessary federal resources are available to assist the relevant areas of our state. We also strongly urge you to approve the state\u2019s request for hazard mitigation funding. This will allow the state to mitigate future damages to vulnerable electric infrastructure. Without this funding, preventable damage to utilities from future disasters will only compound existing repair challenges.\n\nThank you for your prompt attention to this request, and please do not hesitate to contact us if we can provide any additional information.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-democrats-put-politics-ahead-of-producers-and-rural-america-at-senate-farm-bill-markup/", "Thune: Democrats Put Politics Ahead of Producers and Rural America at Senate Farm Bill Markup", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/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, today issued the following statement after Democrats blocked the Senate farm bill from being reported out of the Agriculture Committee. Multiple Thune priorities for South Dakota, including the year-round sale of E15 fuel, are included in the legislation.\n\n\u201cDemocrats\u2019 refusal to support the farm bill and year-round E15 is deeply disappointing and only creates more uncertainty for South Dakota\u2019s farmers and ranchers,\u201d said Thune. \u201cThis bill includes over 100 bipartisan bills, yet Democrats chose to put partisan politics above producers and rural America. I know Republicans on the Senate Agriculture Committee stand ready to enact these sensible agriculture policies.\u201d\n\nThune-authored proposals included in the Senate farm bill:\n\nThune\u2019s Livestock Disaster Assistance Improvement Act (introduced on March 6, 2025), which would expand the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program\u2019s (ELAP) authority to cover transportation costs for hauling feed and water and add adverse weather and drought as qualifying disasters;\n\nThune\u2019s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Improvement and Flexibility Act (introduced on July 31, 2025), which would bolster CRP by improving access to grazing, maximizing enrollment options for producers, and expediting emergency haying in response to drought and other weather-related disaster events;\n\nThune\u2019s Safeguarding American Food and Export Trade Yields (SAFETY) Act (introduced on April 1, 2025), which would protect American food products from unfair trade practices by foreign countries;\n\nThune\u2019s Rural Internet Improvement Act, which would streamline 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\nThune\u2019s Strengthening Local Processing Act (introduced on April 29, 2025), which would provide support to America\u2019s small meat and poultry processors to help strengthen and upgrade their operations;\n\nThune\u2019s Promoting Precision Agriculture Act (introduced on February 11, 2025), which would facilitate the further adoption of precision agriculture technologies for farmers and ranchers;\n\nThune\u2019s Fertilizer Price Transparency Act (introduced on March 19, 2026), which would provide American producers with more accurate information on prices for fertilizer and fertilizer products in response to longstanding concerns over rising input costs;\n\nThune\u2019s proposed one-time increase to the voluntary base acre update cap passed in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act to ensure all eligible acres can be enrolled in commodity programs; and\n\nThune\u2019s American Beef Labeling Act (introduced on February 5, 2025), which would reinstate mandatory country of origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef.\n\nThune has served on the Agriculture Committee in both the House and Senate. Thune has written four farm bills during his time in Congress, and the 2026 farm bill is his fifth. Agriculture is South Dakota\u2019s top industry, with more than 42 million acres of agricultural land throughout the state.", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-joins-americas-newsroom-on-fox-news/", "Thune Joins America\u2019s Newsroom on Fox News", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined America\u2019s Newsroom on Fox News:\n\nOn Democrats embracing socialism:\n\n\u201cThe progressive wing of [the Democrat] party, the liberal far-left wing, is ascendant in the in politics right now \u2026 But when you got the DSA and people out there advocating openly for those types of policies, I think the American people are going to say a big fat no to that come November, Bill \u2026 This is a clear contrast \u2026 elections are about differences, and the choices couldn\u2019t be more clear.\u201d\n\nOn Republicans\u2019 agenda:\n\n\u201cIf you look at the policies when it comes to taxes and regulations and energy and all the things that Republicans are delivering on for the American people, our goal and objective is to have more money in people\u2019s pockets, and they will as a result of the policies we put in place.\u201d\n\nOn the SAVE America Act:\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve had five votes on it already \u2026 We\u2019ll figure out a way to get yet another vote on the SAVE America Act, but I don\u2019t expect the Democrats to change their view. The issue here is all 47 Democrats, all five times we\u2019ve voted on the SAVE America Act on the floor of the United States Senate, have voted no.\n\n\u201cThis is an issue about going after Democrats, making this an issue in the fall campaigns, and holding them accountable for being on the wrong side of an 80-20 issue with the American people. But we will try and set up a way to get more votes on that to put them on the record again \u2026 The fact of the matter is, you have block opposition from Democrats in the United States Senate when it comes to this issue, and that\u2019s why it\u2019s so important that we elect more Republicans to the Senate in November.\u201d\n\nOn Todd Blanche\u2019s nomination:\n\n\u201cWe intend to vote on him before we leave, and I am hopeful and optimistic that we will get him confirmed.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/delegation-encourages-administration-to-quickly-approve-disaster-declaration-for-central-south-dakota/", "Delegation Encourages Administration to Quickly Approve Disaster Declaration for Central South Dakota", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/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.) recently sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging his support for South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden\u2019s request for a major disaster declaration following storms in central South Dakota, including Highmore, between June 28 and July 3.\n\n\u201cWe support the state\u2019s request and urge you to approve a major disaster declaration, as soon as possible so that the necessary federal resources are available to assist the relevant areas of our state,\u201d wrote the delegation. \u201cWe also strongly urge you to approve the state\u2019s request for hazard mitigation funding. This will allow the state to mitigate future damages to vulnerable electric infrastructure. Without this funding, preventable damage to utilities from future disasters will only compound existing repair challenges.\u201d\n\nFull letter below:\n\nThe Honorable Donald J. Trump\n\nPresident of the United States\n\nThe White House\n\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20500\n\nDear President Trump,\n\nWe write in strong support of the state of South Dakota\u2019s major disaster declaration request submitted by Governor Larry Rhoden on July 27, 2026. This disaster declaration request would assist in recovery efforts from severe weather that occurred June 28 to July 3, 2026.\n\nFrom June 28 to July 3, 2026, a single severe weather system brought a series of devastating storms across central South Dakota. This multiday storm system included: a mini-derecho, windstorms, hail, straight line winds, tornadoes and flooding. The system also included peak wind gusts of 131 MPH, making it the strongest recorded thunderstorm wind gust since 1983 and among the strongest recorded in the United States.\n\nThis combination of severe weather impacted 21,786 households in eight counties and two tribal communities across nearly an 8,500 square mile area.\n\nIn the city of Highmore alone, 80-90% of all structures in the city sustained damage. It also caused significant damage to public infrastructure and led to widespread power outages. In some cases, residents were left without power for over a week while experiencing extremely hot summer temperatures.\n\nThe damage to public utility infrastructure is also severe and far reaching. Across South Dakota, electric infrastructure has been repeatedly weakened by year-round extreme weather events including severe storms, ice accumulation, wildfire, high winds, and flooding.\n\nWe support the state\u2019s request and urge you to approve a major disaster declaration, as soon as possible so that the necessary federal resources are available to assist the relevant areas of our state. We also strongly urge you to approve the state\u2019s request for hazard mitigation funding. This will allow the state to mitigate future damages to vulnerable electric infrastructure. Without this funding, preventable damage to utilities from future disasters will only compound existing repair challenges.\n\nThank you for your prompt attention to this request, and please do not hesitate to contact us if we can provide any additional information.", 1, "2026-08-08T05:41:38Z", "2026-08-08T05:43:24Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-farm-bill-to-provide-real-support-and-certainty-for-south-dakota-farmers-and-ranchers/", "Thune: Farm Bill to Provide Real Support and Certainty for South Dakota Farmers and Ranchers", "2026-08-05", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, America\u2019s farmers and ranchers got some good news at the end of last week.\n\n\u201cAfter a lot of hard work from members of the Agriculture Committee, Chairman Boozman released the text of a five-year farm bill, which is slated for a markup tomorrow and will, I hope, be headed soon to the floor.\n\n\u201cMr. President, as someone who hails from an ag state and who\u2019s been part of the drafting of now five farm bills, I know how important the farm bill is, and how much work goes in to getting it right.\n\n\u201cAs I made clear at the start of this Congress, America\u2019s farmers and ranchers are a priority for this Senate majority.\n\n\u201cThat started last year with the Working Families Tax Cuts, which strengthened the farm safety net, bolstered critical farm programs, and delivered tax relief to America\u2019s agriculture producers \u2013 including relief from the unfair death tax and making the 199A deduction permanent.\n\n\u201cAnd it continues this year with this farm bill, which builds on the important measures in the Working Families Tax Cuts to give farmers and ranchers certainty into the future.\n\n\u201cAfter the Working Families Tax Cuts raised reference prices last year, this farm bill makes further improvements to commodity programs as well as crop insurance \u2013 cornerstones of the farm safety net.\n\n\u201cIt modernizes farm loan programs to get America\u2019s next generation of farmers and ranchers off to a strong start.\n\n\u201cAnd it strengthens other programs that producers depend on.\n\n\u201cIt improves the Emergency Assistance for Livestock Program so that it covers the cost of hauling feed or water and opens the program to producers dealing with drought or other adverse weather conditions.\n\n\u201cAnd it includes my CRP Flexibility and Improvement Act, which will make the Conservation Reserve Program a more working-lands-oriented option for producers.\n\n\u201cMr. President, CRP plays a very significant role in South Dakota\u2019s economy by helping to provide habitat for pheasants.\n\n\u201cBut producers in my state have been frustrated for years with how the program is managed \u2013 in particular by the fact that its restrictions on land use can be excessive.\n\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s why I introduced the CRP Flexibility and Improvement Act.\n\n\u201cMy bill allows grazing options \u2013 including fencing and water distribution \u2013 on all CRP acres.\n\n\u201cAnd on top of that, it increases the annual CRP payment limit for the first time in the program\u2019s 40-year history.\n\n\u201cThis bill will make CRP an attractive option for more producers and open up access for livestock forage in drought conditions.\n\n\u201cMr. President, the farm bill also includes a number of bills I\u2019ve worked on that make it easier for producers to do business and get their products to market.\n\n\u201cIt includes a bill I worked on with Senators Grassley, Klobuchar, and Baldwin that establishes reporting requirements on fertilizer prices, which will bring more transparency to the fertilizer marketplace by helping producers make more informed and cost-effective choices for their operations.\n\n\u201cAnother bill of mine \u2013 the Promoting Precision Agriculture Act \u2013 will facilitate the creation of industry-led, voluntary standards for precision ag technology that will help more farmers adopt this promising tool.\n\n\u201cAnd my Strengthening Local Processing Act gives smaller processors access to critical information and allows more meat products approved by a state inspector to be sold across state lines.\n\n\u201cMr. President, the farm bill is about more than just what happens on a farm or a ranch.\n\n\u201cIt also supports America\u2019s rural communities.\n\n\u201cThat includes water infrastructure, rural development, and health care \u2013 among other critical services.\n\n\u201cIt also includes our continued efforts to provide broadband in unserved communities.\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019m pleased that this bill will help ensure that broadband dollars are going to communities that need it \u2013 places where 90 percent or more of the residents lack access to basic internet services.\n\n\u201cMr. President, there\u2019s a lot more I could talk about with this bill.\n\n\u201cA lot more.\n\n\u201cThis is a bill that will provide real support and certainty for America\u2019s farmers and ranchers.\n\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s good news for all Americans, who depend on our hardworking producers for food, fuel, and fiber.\n\n\u201cAnd fuel, Mr. President, is the final thing I want to discuss this morning.\n\n\u201cMr. President, for decades, the seasonal sale of E15 has been a win-win for America\u2019s farmers and for the American people.\n\n\u201cIt has strengthened the agriculture economy while providing the American people with an affordable source of homegrown energy.\n\n\u201cAnd for many years, Mr. President, it\u2019s been a priority for me \u2013 and for many of my colleagues here \u2013 to allow E15 to be sold all year.\n\n\u201cMr. President, it\u2019s taken a lot of work to get here, but I\u2019m very proud that this farm bill delivers permanent \u2013 permanent \u2013 year-round E15.\n\n\u201cThis is something that is going to further help producers and help bring down fuel costs for all Americans.\n\n\u201cAnd I want to thank Chairman Boozman as well as Senators Daines, Capito, and Fischer, for all of their hard work on this issue.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to getting it across the finish line.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I spend a lot of time with farmers and ranchers back home in South Dakota.\n\n\u201cThey talk to me about the uncertainty and the headwinds they face.\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019ve listened to their priorities and made them my own.\n\n\u201cAs I said, America\u2019s farmers and ranchers are a priority for this Senate majority.\n\n\u201cAnd with the Working Families Tax Cuts and now this farm bill, we\u2019re making real progress on the challenges facing our producers.\n\n\u201cBut of course our work is never finished.\n\n\u201cThere will be more to do in the future to support and strengthen American agriculture.\n\n\u201cAnd America\u2019s producers can be confident that their needs will always be at the top of my list.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-06T07:37:31Z", "2026-08-06T07:38:34Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thunes-big-tech-algorithm-transparency-bill-unanimously-approved-by-committee/", "Thune\u2019s Big Tech Algorithm Transparency Bill Unanimously Approved by Committee", "2026-08-05", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today applauded the Commerce Committee\u2019s unanimous passage of his bipartisan Filter Bubble Transparency Act, which was included in a larger bill to address kids\u2019 safety on the internet. Thune\u2019s bill would make it easier for internet platform users to understand the potential manipulation that exists with secret algorithms and require large-scale platforms to allow those users to consume information outside of that potential manipulation zone or \u201cfilter bubble.\u201d\n\n\u201cConsumers deserve more transparency when it comes to how social media and other internet platforms use algorithms to amplify or suppress content on their services,\u201d said Thune. \u201cThis bill would help consumers better understand how algorithms are used to select content in their feed and give users more control over what information they are digesting. I\u2019m pleased that the committee has passed my bill as part of the Kids Online Safety Act, and I thank Senator Blackburn for her leadership on this important issue.\u201d\n\nThe Filter Bubble Transparency Act would require large-scale internet platforms to disclose algorithm use to consumers and allow users to view content that has not been curated as a result of a secret algorithm. The bill would also make it unlawful for any person to operate a covered internet platform that uses a secret algorithm unless the platform complies with the two above requirements. The Federal Trade Commission would enforce the legislation\u2019s requirements, and it would be authorized to seek civil penalties for knowing violations.", 1, "2026-08-06T07:37:31Z", "2026-08-06T07:38:34Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-introduces-legislation-to-strengthen-cyber-operations-in-indo-pacific-region", "Rounds Introduces Legislation to Strengthen Cyber Operations in Indo-Pacific Region", "2026-08-04", "2026", "2026-08", "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 Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) today introduced legislation to close strategy and resource gaps in the Department of War\u2019s cyber cooperation activities in the Indo-Pacific region. The Indo-Pacific Cyber Cooperation Strategy would require the Office of the Secretary of War and the Joint Chiefs of Staff to institutionalize cyber cooperation between DOW and the United States\u2019 allies in the region.\n\n\u201cModern warfare is now fought in five domains: air, land, sea, space and cyberspace,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cAs our cyber capabilities continue to advance, so do those of our adversaries. As China grows increasingly capable in the cyber domain, the United States must leverage the capacity of our partners and allies, who are crucial for securing a free and open Indo-Pacific. Our legislation would require the Department of War to close any existing cyber operations gaps that exist between our nation and our allies in the Indo-Pacific Region.\u201d\n\n\u201cCybersecurity is key to a free and open Indo-Pacific, strengthening our national security and keeping us all safe,\u201d said Duckworth. \u201cAs a Pacific nation, we must ensure we\u2019re strategically engaging with our regional partners across all fronts to make sure they can protect critical infrastructure and effectively operate in cyberspace. Our bipartisan bill would enhance American cyber cooperation with Indo-Pacific allies and partners to better protect our economy and security from shared adversaries and hostile actors.\u201d\n\nClick HERE for full bill text.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-congress-has-important-work-ahead-starting-with-government-funding/", "Thune: Congress Has Important Work Ahead, Starting With Government Funding", "2026-08-04", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cBusy week in the Senate, a lot going on, \u2026 we\u2019re juggling a lot of balls right now.\n\n\u201cBut there are some things that we intend to get done this week, and the first is to ensure that we get about 75 of the president\u2019s nominations through en bloc.\n\n\u201cAnd so there are a number of very qualified nominees that the president has put forward, and if we can get those across the finish line this week \u2013 and we intend to \u2013 that would put us on pace to have 95 percent of the president\u2019s nominees done.\n\n\u201cAnd that is a rate that puts us ahead of every [incoming administration] going back for the last 25 years \u2026\n\n\u201cAnd I think there were somewhere on the order, in the last Trump administration at this point, of about 155 nominees that hadn\u2019t been acted on or confirmed, and this would have \u2026 that number at about six.\n\n\u201cSo we\u2019re going to be way ahead of pace of the historical average, and I think that\u2019s really important to ensure the president has his people in place so that he can do the job the American people elected him to do.\n\n\u201cThe other thing, of course, that we need to do is to fund the government.\n\n\u201cAnd credit to Chair Collins and her team, working with Democrats and Republicans to come up with a plan that will fund the government beyond the election into December.\n\n\u201cWe were able to get on that bill last night with a very big bipartisan vote, and I hope we can continue down that path and ensure that we have funded the government, taken a government shutdown off the table.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve had two of those, as you know, in the last year.\n\n\u201cThey are incredibly painful for the American people, and it\u2019s important, in my view, that we demonstrate to the American people that we can do job one \u2013 and job one is ensuring that their federal government is working and funded.\n\n\u201cSo that will also be something that between now and the end of this week, or however long we\u2019re here, we intend to accomplish.\n\n\u201cAnd so we will keep you posted on other things. There are other issues out there.\n\n\u201cWe had a discussion about some of them at lunch, and we\u2019ll continue to have those conversations and figure out, as we attempt, at least, to get these things stacked up and get as many things done as possible that we stay on pace to do that.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-republicans-working-families-tax-cuts-law-is-delivering-for-hardworking-americans/", "Thune: Republicans\u2019 Working Families Tax Cuts Law Is Delivering for Hardworking Americans", "2026-08-04", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, a week or two ago I came down to the floor and talked about growing up in a small town in South Dakota.\n\n\u201cAnd as I said in those remarks, I carry those South Dakotans with me in a special way in my work here in Washington.\n\n\u201cWhen I consider bills or look at regulations, I think about what kind of impact they will have on those Americans \u2013 on hardworking people without a lot of extra money in the budget.\n\n\u201cOn people living paycheck-to-paycheck \u2013 or, as was the case with some of the farmers I grew up with, harvest-to-harvest.\n\n\u201cI think about how to ensure that government isn\u2019t standing in their way \u2013 or taking up all the extra money in their budget.\n\n\u201cAnd it was hardworking Americans like the South Dakotans I grew up with who were at the top of my mind when Republicans drafted our landmark tax relief legislation back in 2017.\n\n\u201cThe Tax Cuts and Jobs Act cut tax rates across the board, doubled the child tax credit, and nearly doubled the standard deduction.\n\n\u201cIt put more money in hardworking Americans\u2019 pockets: money that they were able to use for their particular needs \u2013 from child care to home repairs to medical bills to a family vacation.\n\n\u201cAnd those same hardworking Americans were our focus last year when we passed the Working Families Tax Cuts.\n\n\u201cOur first aim with the Working Families Tax Cut was making the 2017 tax relief permanent.\n\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s exactly what we did.\n\n\u201cWe made the lower tax rates permanent.\n\n\u201cWe made the increased child tax credit permanent.\n\n\u201cAnd we made the increased standard deduction permanent.\n\n\u201cBut that was just the beginning.\n\n\u201cWe weren\u2019t content with a permanent extension of the 2017 tax relief.\n\n\u201cWe wanted to do more for working families.\n\n\u201cAnd so that\u2019s what we did.\n\n\u201cAs I said, our 2017 tax relief bill doubled the child tax credit.\n\n\u201cWell, the Working Families Tax Cuts not only made that permanent, it increased the child tax credit even further \u2013 and then indexed it to inflation, so its value will never go down.\n\n\u201cI said the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act nearly doubled the standard deduction.\n\n\u201cWell, the Working Families Tax Cuts boosted the standard deduction even further.\n\n\u201cAnd we didn\u2019t stop there.\n\n\u201cWe instituted two big new tax relief measures \u2013 no tax on tips and no tax on overtime.\n\n\u201cThat meant major new tax relief for a whole host of working Americans.\n\n\u201cWaiters.\n\n\u201cDelivery people.\n\n\u201cBartenders.\n\n\u201cUber and Lyft drivers.\n\n\u201cNurses.\n\n\u201cFactory workers.\n\n\u201cParamedics.\n\n\u201cPolice officers.\n\n\u201cAnd many others.\n\n\u201cAnd that still isn\u2019t all.\n\n\u201cWe instituted a new, $6,000 bonus deduction for seniors.\n\n\u201cAnd we created new, tax-advantaged investment accounts to help parents save for their children\u2019s futures \u2013 starting with an initial $1,000 investment from the federal government for babies born between 2025 and 2028.\n\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s far from the only thing we did to help the next generation get a head start on their American Dream.\n\n\u201cThe Working Families Tax Cuts also made some significant improvements to the traditional 529 education savings plan, allowing those savings to be used for a greater variety of education-related expenses \u2013 like tutoring or homeschool materials, and vocational and continuing education.\n\n\u201cOn the higher education side, we implemented accountability and reforms that put downward pressure on the cost of college degrees.\n\n\u201cWe also made permanent a policy I authored that allows \u2026 employers to pay off a portion of their employees\u2019 student loans without the employee having to pay taxes on the repayment amount.\n\n\u201cAnd on top of all that, we created the Workforce Pell program, which will provide financial assistance to Americans in shorter-term skills and career-training programs \u2013 whether they\u2019re just starting out, or looking to switch careers or develop new skills in their current field.\n\n\u201cMr. President, this tax season, more than 35 million seniors claimed the new bonus deduction for older Americans.\n\n\u201cMore than 29 million American workers were able to deduct overtime pay from their taxes, resulting in substantial tax savings.\n\n\u201cAnd more than 7.5 million workers deducted their tips on their taxes, ensuring that they were able to keep more of their hard-earned money.\n\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s not to even mention the countless hardworking Americans who were able to take advantage of the increased standard deduction and the enhanced child tax credit.\n\n\u201cTax refunds were up this tax season, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cAnd it\u2019s no surprise.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s the Working Families Tax Cuts at work.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I may live in Sioux Falls now, which is one of South Dakota\u2019s bigger cities, but I still spend a lot of time in small-town South Dakota.\n\n\u201cAnd whenever I\u2019m there, I\u2019m proud to be able to share the details of the Working Families Tax Cuts and report that Republicans are delivering for working families.\n\n\u201cAnd we are going to continue to build on the Working Families Tax Cuts to expand opportunity and make life more affordable for hardworking Americans.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-on-the-senates-historic-confirmation-pace/", "Thune on the Senate\u2019s Historic Confirmation Pace", "2026-08-03", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, I am pleased to say that the text of the continuing resolution has been released.\n\n\u201cIt is a strong, bipartisan piece of legislation, and I hope it will receive overwhelming support from both parties in the Senate.\n\n\u201cI am deeply grateful to Appropriations Chair Collins for her work to produce this legislation in consultation with members of both parties.\n\n\u201cAnd I also want to thank Senator Murray, vice-chair of the Appropriations Committee, for her efforts to get this done.\n\n\u201cI look forward to passing this bill in the next few days.\n\n\u201cMr. President, this week we\u2019ll move our fifth bloc of civilian nominees, which includes 74 well-qualified individuals.\n\n\u201cBy the end of the week, we will have cleared 95 percent of the civilian nominees who are eligible for floor consideration.\n\n\u201cNinety-five percent.\n\n\u201cAt this same point in President Trump\u2019s first term, there were 155 unconfirmed nominees on the calendar.\n\n\u201cThis year that number is on track to be about 10.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s the best confirmation track record in a quarter-century.\n\n\u201cAs I said, we will have confirmed 95 percent of the civilian nominees available for confirmation \u2013 meaning that we\u2019re doing better at this point than we were during President Obama\u2019s first term, President Trump\u2019s first term, or President Biden\u2019s.\n\n\u201cIt didn\u2019t always look like we\u2019d be able to achieve this, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cFrom the very beginning of his second term, Democrats met President Trump\u2019s nominees with a historic level of obstruction.\n\n\u201cAnd when I say historic, I do mean historic.\n\n\u201cUp until extremely recently, President Trump was the only president on record \u2013 the only, the only, president on record \u2013 not to have had any civilian nominees approved by unanimous consent or voice vote.\n\n\u201cMr. President, that used to be the standard way of approving these nominations.\n\n\u201cDuring President George H.W. Bush\u2019s four years in office and President Clinton\u2019s first four years, both presidents had 98 percent of their civilian nominees \u2013 98 percent \u2013 confirmed through unanimous consent or voice vote.\n\n\u201cPresident George W. Bush and President Obama both had 90 percent.\n\n\u201cAnd then we get to President Trump\u2019s first administration.\n\n\u201cDemocrats introduced an unprecedented new level of partisanship into the historically bipartisan confirmation process, forcing time-consuming votes on civilian nominees who would once have gone by unanimous consent or by voice vote.\n\n\u201cBut despite this, Mr. President, despite this new level of partisanship, both President Trump in his first term and President Biden had more than half of their nominees confirmed by unanimous consent or voice vote.\n\n\u201cAnd then we get to President Trump\u2019s current administration.\n\n\u201cAs I said, until recently, he had not had one single nominee confirmed by unanimous consent or voice vote.\n\n\u201cZero.\n\n\u201cSo the fact that we\u2019re standing here today, Mr. President, with the civilian nominations calendar about to be essentially cleared, is pretty impressive.\n\n\u201cBut we\u2019ve been on a mission, Mr. President, to ensure that the president has his nominees in place so that he can do the job the American people elected him to do.\n\n\u201cThat included taking action to restore the Senate tradition of en bloc confirmation of largely noncontroversial nominees.\n\n\u201cAnd most of all, Mr. President, it included putting in the work.\n\n\u201cLots of work in committees.\n\n\u201cLots of work on the floor.\n\n\u201cAnd lots of votes.\n\n\u201cLots and lots of votes.\n\n\u201cAnd it\u2019s paid off.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve confirmed 52 Article III judges.\n\n\u201cNinety-one percent of the U.S. attorneys that have made it out of committee this Congress.\n\n\u201cTwenty-three Cabinet members.\n\n\u201cAnd the list goes on.\n\n\u201cAnd we\u2019re going to continue to ensure that nominees are confirmed in a timely fashion, and that the president is able to have his team in place.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-04T07:35:49Z", "2026-08-04T07:37:27Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-joins-the-hugh-hewitt-show-7/", "Thune Joins The Hugh Hewitt Show", "2026-07-30", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to listen.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined The Hugh Hewitt Show.\n\nOn the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act:\n\n\u201c[T]here\u2019s a huge \u2026 desire to do this for Lindsey and as a tribute to him, but also because it\u2019s the right thing to do for the country \u2026 we\u2019ve really got a chance to do something that helps shift the playing field in \u2026 Ukraine \u2026\n\n\u201c[T]hese sanctions target Russian officials, oligarchs, family members, foreign persons, Russian banks, and financial institutions, as well as this Russian \u2018shadow fleet,\u2019 which continues to allow Russian oil and gas to fund Putin\u2019s war. So it\u2019s important we get this done, and there was a big bipartisan vote for it yesterday, and we\u2019ve got to finish it now. We\u2019ve got to get it across the finish line.\u201d\n\nOn confirming President Trump\u2019s nominees:\n\n\u201c[N]othing shapes the future of the country more than these lifetime appointments to the court[s] \u2026 we are actually about 10 ahead of where we were in the first Trump administration in terms of getting people on the bench \u2026 we\u2019re going to continue to focus on that and on the executive branch noms as well.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re going to move a package next week of 74 of those, which will keep us well ahead of where the first Trump administration was in terms of getting people confirmed to the departments and agencies that run the government as well.\n\n[\u2026]\n\n\u201c[W]e are working to \u2026 virtually clear the executive calendar, which is both judicial and executive branch noms, and we\u2019re going to stay focused on that \u2026 it\u2019s part of the Article I responsibility that we have, and I think that getting these on the floor for a vote and ensuring that we\u2019re fulfilling that responsibility and setting the country up for success by ensuring that we have constitutionalist judges on the court to me is a really high priority.\u201d\n\nOn Senate Democrats blocking the NDAA:\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s crazy, Hugh \u2026 they\u2019re making it all about Iran, but the fact of the matter is, funding the military is job number one. I mean, if you don\u2019t get that right, the rest is conversation.\n\n\u201c[W]e\u2019re going to do everything we can to get that voted on again.\n\n[\u2026]\n\n\u201c[I]t is incredibly irresponsible on their part. It is frankly \u2026 inexcusable, if you think about what\u2019s at stake for our country, for them to hold up the thing that authorizes taking care of our troops, their pay, taking care of the military families, ensuring that we\u2019ve got the right weaponry and technology to keep our country safe and to deter and defeat any threat that\u2019s out there to America\u2019s national security interests. So, it\u2019s critically important.\u201d\n\nOn the SAVE America Act:\n\n\u201cI strongly support it. I cosponsored the original version last Congress, and I\u2019ll do whatever I can to pass it if there\u2019s a clear path to doing it. But we did put it on the floor for debate, and we had it on the floor for over a couple of weeks. We forced Democrats to take a position on all of those commonsense policies. We\u2019ve had five votes now on the entire SAVE America Act, or pieces of it, including photo ID, including citizenship to register. During the debate, no one spoke more consistently in support of the bill than I did \u2026\n\n\u201c[T]hey\u2019re commonsense policies, widely supported by Republican and Democrat voters. They ought to get an automatic yes from literally every member of this body, but it\u2019s the Democrats who consistently block it.\n\n\u201cThere hasn\u2019t been a single Democrat in the five votes that we\u2019ve had that has voted for it, and so that\u2019s what we ought to be doing, is turning our fire on the Democrats \u2026 [G]iven their staunch, unwavering opposition to the bill, I think it should be a message we should carry to voters across the country and further highlight the contrast between Democrats and Republicans on the issue \u2013 and get away \u2026 from attacking each other.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-31T07:49:23Z", "2026-07-31T07:50:48Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-urges-colleagues-to-support-clean-bipartisan-bill-to-fund-the-government/", "Thune Urges Colleagues to Support Clean, Bipartisan Bill to Fund the Government", "2026-07-30", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, next week, our top priority will be funding the government until [after] the November election.\n\n\u201cThe American people have faced two \u2013 two \u2013 record-breaking government shutdowns in the past 10 months.\n\n\u201cWe need to ensure that they do not face a third.\n\n\u201cWe owe the American people some certainty here.\n\n\u201cThey should not have to be hoping and praying that, on September 30th, that the government will get funded and that government services will continue.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t think I need to tell anyone in this body that government shutdowns serve no one \u2013 not members of either party, and most of all not the American people.\n\n\u201cShutdowns strain our national security agencies.\n\n\u201cThey threaten military, law enforcement, and civilian pay.\n\n\u201cThey endanger nutrition benefits.\n\n\u201cFarm programs.\n\n\u201cAnd a whole lot of other stuff.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019re bad for our economy.\n\n\u201cThey snarl air travel.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I could go on.\n\n\u201cShutdowns hit our country \u2013 they hit the American people \u2013 hard.\n\n\u201cAnd we owe it to the American people to ensure that they do not face another shutdown this fall.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s why Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Collins has been hard at work drafting a clean, bipartisan continuing resolution to fund the government through the November elections.\n\n\u201cI appreciate everything that she has done to make this happen \u2013 engaging with members of both parties, and working through the necessary anomalies from the Office of Management and Budget.\n\n\u201cAnd I intend to bring the CR to the floor for a vote next week.\n\n\u201cAgain, I would emphasize that the appropriators are working in good faith to produce a clean, bipartisan product, free of poison pills.\n\n\u201cAnd I hope that that will ensure a robust bipartisan vote next week, so that the American people don\u2019t have to spend the next two months wondering if the Senate is going to do its job.\n\n\u201cBecause that\u2019s what this is, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cOur job.\n\n\u201cFunding the government is our most basic responsibility as members of Congress.\n\n\u201cAnd we owe it to the American people to get that job done \u2013 and done now.\n\n\u201cI urge all of my colleagues to support the clean, bipartisan continuing resolution and to get our government funded.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-31T07:49:23Z", "2026-07-31T07:50:48Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-discusses-the-importance-of-russia-sanctions-legislation/", "Thune Discusses the Importance of Russia Sanctions Legislation", "2026-07-29", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cWith the tragic and sudden passing of Senator Graham, the Democrats and Republicans in the Senate have joined together to cosponsor the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s legislation that I hope we can move across the floor.\n\n\u201cIt was probably, I would say, in Lindsey\u2019s last days, the thing he cared most passionately about.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s something he\u2019s worked on for the past year, and I think we all, both Democrats and Republicans, realize not only would this be a great tribute to him and his work and his legacy on national security matters, but it would also be something that would really give the president a tool at his disposal to try and end the war in Ukraine.\n\n\u201cUkraine is now the largest conflict, literally, since World War II in Europe.\n\n\u201cAnd the Ukrainian people have been resilient, worked really, really hard to try and bring this war to an end.\n\n\u201cBut as long as Putin has Russian oil and gas money, he\u2019s able to continue this war.\n\n\u201cAnd what this sanctions bill would do would basically cut that off.\n\n\u201cAnd Lindsey also cared passionately, as you know, about the Middle East, and so the sanctions on Iran, I think, complement what\u2019s in the underlying bill.\n\n\u201cBut the fact is, there are 62 cosponsors on the bill.\n\n\u201cWe had a motion to proceed vote on it yesterday that got 86 votes in the Senate.\n\n\u201cIt is a bipartisan bill.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s an important bill for this country and for our national security interests, and it\u2019s something that I hope we can proceed with and ultimately pass, get across the finish line here in the next few days.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-30T07:32:48Z", "2026-07-30T07:34:08Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-introduces-legislation-to-bolster-national-security-and-innovation-through-quantum-technologies", "Rounds Introduces Legislation to Bolster National Security and Innovation through Quantum Technologies", "2026-07-28", "2026", "2026-07", "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 Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today introduced the National Quantum Readiness Act, legislation that directs the Department of War to support the development of quantum technologies and spur private-sector innovation.\n\n\u201cQuantum technologies are critical to the future of warfighting at home and abroad,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cBy codifying pieces of the Trump administration\u2019s executive order, we\u2019re kickstarting research and development of quantum technologies that can strengthen our defense systems. I\u2019m pleased to be leading this legislation and look forward to working with my colleagues to get it signed into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs an emerging national leader in quantum innovation, Connecticut deserves support in this bill to promote new technology and prepare localized training,\u201d said Blumenthal. \u201cBy prioritizing quantum technology ecosystems and developments, this bill advances both Connecticut\u2019s technological advancements and defense workforce. It aides our military to be at the forefront of navigation and intelligence collection and our state as a bulwark of national defense.\u201d\n\nOn June 22, 2026, the Trump Administration released the executive order (EO) Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation, which directs a \u201cwhole-of-government approach\u201d to secure American leadership in quantum information science and technology (QIST). The National Quantum Readiness Act codifies two sections of the EO related to deploying Quantum-Enabled Sensors and Networks and Bolstering the Domestic Ecosystem for Quantum Supply Chains.\n\nSpecifically, the National Quantum Readiness Act would:\n\nDirect the Secretary of Defense to identify at least three next-generation quantum sensor projects within 60 days of enactment.\n\nTask DoD, Commerce, Energy, and NSF to develop a plan to partner with the private sector, potentially through the use of prize challenges or advance market commitments.\n\nDirect the Secretary of Defense to increase domestic access to quantum information science.\n\nClick HERE for full bill text.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-29T07:41:48Z", "2026-07-29T07:42:57Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-eulogizes-senator-lindsey-graham-at-capitol-memorial-service/", "Thune Eulogizes Senator Lindsey Graham at Capitol Memorial Service", "2026-07-28", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered a eulogy at Sen. Lindsey Graham\u2019s (R-S.C.) memorial service at the U.S. Capitol.\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. Vice President, Darline \u2013 Senator Graham \u2013 Larry, members of the Graham family, ladies and gentlemen, good morning.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s difficult to believe that we\u2019re here today to say a final farewell to Lindsey as he leaves the Capitol for the last time.\n\n\u201cMy heart is heavy.\n\n\u201cI feel his absence every day \u2013 and I know so many of my colleagues do as well.\n\n\u201cSenators on both sides of the aisle counted him as a friend.\n\n\u201cAnd Republicans and Democrats alike \u2013 including the Democrat leader \u2013 are here to say farewell.\n\n\u201cLindsey was a towering figure here in the Senate \u2013 and on the international stage.\n\n\u201cHis leadership on national security and on our national defense is well-known.\n\n\u201cI traveled with Lindsey all over the world as part of congressional delegations, and I saw firsthand just how much he was respected by our allies \u2013 and just how well he was able to connect with foreign leaders around the globe.\n\n\u201cStriking too was the instant connection he had with the military men and women that we met.\n\n\u201cThey recognized him immediately as one of their own.\n\n\u201cLindsey\u2019s work on these issues would be enough to cement his place as a leader in the Senate.\n\n\u201cBut he was a leader on many other issues too.\n\n\u201cAs chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee in the 116th Congress, he fought tirelessly to advance well-qualified judges.\n\n\u201cHe was serving as chair of the Budget Committee at the time of his death and was responsible for getting important tax relief legislation to the floor.\n\n\u201cAnd no tribute to Lindsey\u2019s work is complete without mentioning that he was a powerful voice for the pro-life movement.\n\n\u201c\u2018Until my last breath, I will be fighting for this cause,\u2019 he said.\n\n\u201cAnd he was.\n\n\u201cHe was a fierce defender of Ukraine.\n\n\u201cHe was a fierce defender of the unborn.\n\n\u201cAnd on the surface, these might seem like two completely separate issues.\n\n\u201cBut it strikes me that in another way they are both of a piece.\n\n\u201cIn both cases, Lindsey Graham saw injustice. And he spoke up.\n\n\u201cAnd, as was typical of Lindsey, he spoke up fearlessly.\n\n\u201c\u2018I don\u2019t apologize for being pro-life,\u2019 he said in an interview in 2022 \u2013 and probably on a number of other occasions.\n\n\u201cIt didn\u2019t matter to Lindsey whether an issue was popular or unpopular \u2013 whether he had the full support of his colleagues or whether he was standing alone.\n\n\u201cIf he believed he was in the right, he spoke up.\n\n\u201cHe told things the way he saw them.\n\n\u201cAnd he didn\u2019t mince words.\n\n\u201cBut lest anyone think it was all work and no levity with Lindsey \u2026\n\n\u201cLet me just say that there was no one \u2013 no one \u2013 who took his job more seriously than Lindsey Graham.\n\n\u201cBut also no one was more capable of cracking up a room.\n\n\u201cDuring the workweek here in Washington, a lot of us are away from our families, so we often get together in groups for dinner.\n\n\u201cAnd let me tell you, Lindsey was always the first call.\n\n\u201cThe conversation and the laughs always flowed at any meal where Lindsey Graham was present.\n\n\u201cHe was entertaining, always.\n\n\u201cAnd pretentious, never.\n\n\u201c\u2018There are a lot of so-called \u201cself made\u201d people in this world,\u2019 he once said. \u2018I am not one of them. My family, friends, neighbors and my faith picked me up when I was down, believed in me when I had doubts. You made me the man I am today,\u2019 he said.\n\n\u201cLadies and gentlemen, Lindsey will be remembered as a senator and as a statesman.\n\n\u201cBut for me, most of all, I will remember him as my friend.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s hard to think that there will be no more Senate dinners with Lindsey.\n\n\u201cThat he won\u2019t be dropping by my office to discuss some piece of legislation, or make me laugh with his witty commentary.\n\n\u201cBut I cling to the same faith that Lindsey had.\n\n\u201cTo the sure and certain hope of the Resurrection, and the knowledge that death is not the end.\n\n\u201c\u2018I am the resurrection and the life,\u2019 says the Lord. \u2018The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.\u2019\n\n\u201cTo Darline and the Graham family, to Lindsey\u2019s beloved staff members, be assured of the prayers of my wife, Kimberley, and I \u2013 and the prayers of so many in this room.\n\n\u201cAnd to Lindsey, rest in peace, my friend.\n\n\u201cI look forward to the days when you make us all laugh again.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-29T07:41:48Z", "2026-07-29T07:42:57Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-joins-sean-hannity-on-fox-news-7/", "Thune Joins Sean Hannity on Fox News", "2026-07-28", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the interview.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) joined Sean Hannity on Fox News.\n\nOn radical far-left policies:\n\n\u201cThis is a Democrat Party that has really lost its identity. They have moved so far left \u2026 You\u2019ve got \u2026 people who are openly out there espousing and endorsing socialism, which is why you have the Democrat Socialists of America now.\u201d\n\nOn the SAVE America Act:\n\n\u201c[The SAVE America Act] was the pending business in the Senate for over two weeks, late February, early March. We had five votes on it. We voted on photo ID. We voted on photo ID and citizenship to register. We voted on the entire SAVE Act \u2026 two different times. And we also voted on no boys in girls\u2019 sports. So we\u2019ve had five votes, portions of or all of the SAVE America Act.\n\n\u201cThe problem we have is we have no Democrats. The Democrats block voted against it, in spite of the fact that there are at least a dozen Democrats \u2013 and I have the quotes \u2013 who have come out publicly and said they\u2019re for photo ID, but when they actually got a chance to put up or shut up on the floor of the Senate, they all voted no.\u201d\n\nOn Senate Republicans\u2019 agenda:\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re going to do Russia sanctions, and that\u2019s a tribute to Lindsey Graham, who we all are going to \u2026 commemorate \u2026 I think we\u2019ll get that done. I think we\u2019ve got to fund the government, and I think we\u2019re on a path to do that.\u201d\n\n[\u2026]\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s a package of nominations, it\u2019s about 74 noms that the president\u2019s put forward that we\u2019ve now, we\u2019re moving in a block \u2026 We will probably have a vote on the Clarity Act, which is the digital assets bill, legislation that\u2019s in front of the Senate. We\u2019ll see if the Democrats give us the votes to get on that. There\u2019s also a possibility on NIL legislation. I had a couple of conversations over the weekend with people like Ted Cruz, Eric Schmitt [who] have been working on that issue, and that\u2019s the college sports issue. A lot of people are interested in that.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-29T07:41:48Z", "2026-07-29T07:42:57Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-rounds-discusses-funding-for-iran-conflict-with-dod-officials-at-appropriations-committee-hearing", "ICYMI: Rounds Discusses Funding for Iran Conflict with DoD Officials at Appropriations Committee Hearing", "2026-07-27", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) discussed the President\u2019s supplemental funding request of $87.6 billion for national defense with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine at a hearing of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.\n\n\u201cI had the opportunity to serve as governor of South Dakota for eight years. During that time, we deployed over 5,000 young men and women into harm's way, National Guard members from South Dakota,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cI attended their departure ceremonies, I attended their welcome home ceremonies, and I attended 31 funerals. One of the main reasons that I decided to come to Washington was because I never wanted to see young men and women going into harm's way again if they didn't have the best leadership, the best training and the best equipment possible.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou've offered a supplemental request, and I recognize that it's part of a $1.5 trillion overall. But is this enough money to get the job done, or is this going to just get us far enough until we've got to come back in here?\u201d asked Rounds.\n\n\u201cI can't answer the question on what it will cost because the enemy has a vote. What I'll commit to you, as this plays out, we'll make sure that the Congress is informed,\u201d answered Caine.\n\nClick HERE to watch Rounds\u2019 full questioning. Read a transcript of the exchange below.\n\n+++\n\nRounds: Thank you, Madam Chair. I had the opportunity to serve as governor of South Dakota for eight years. During that time, we deployed over 5,000 young men and women into harm's way, National Guard members from South Dakota.\n\nI attended their departure ceremonies, I attended their welcome home ceremonies, and I attended 31 funerals. One of the main reasons that I decided to come to Washington was because I never wanted to see young men and women going into harm's way again if they didn't have the best leadership, the best training and the best equipment possible.\n\nNow, this body, the Senate, with regard to the Iranian war, to date this body has chosen not to impose war power limitations on the president, nor have we pushed for the withdrawal of forces from the theater. I think the decision to take out Iran's nuclear program and their missile production capacity was the right one, and it should have been done a long time ago. But when the president did that, we also assumed that there would be risk involved. And when you put young men and women in harm's way, you want to do everything you can to make sure that you get in, you get the job done and you get out. I think that's what we talk about.\n\nNow today, it has been since February that we now have the Iranians that are shooting back. We haven't finished the job. I think the question that the American people have is when the difficult decision comes, because I don't think diplomacy is necessarily working, and I think most people would say we've got more issues in front of us before this is complete. For General Caine, when the time comes, and the president is asking for the decisions about the options available to him to appropriately end this war favorable to the United States and to take care of this problem permanently, are you prepared to provide him with the appropriate options that he is going to have to make a decision to choose from?\n\nCaine: Sir, I always provide the president with appropriate options and risks that he can choose from.\n\nRounds: And those options that he will have to choose from will cost money, and that's our role here. Because if we don't do it right, young men and women die. The question to you, sir, is this. You've offered a supplemental request, and I recognize that it's part of a $1.5 trillion overall. But is this enough money to get the job done, or is this going to just get us far enough until we've got to come back in here? And in the meantime, we may very well not have these young men and women out of harm's way yet. That's my question.\n\nCaine: Sir, I want to first start with recognizing your 31 fallen from home and mourn their losses. We carefully consider the use of military force every single day. And the most important thing that I do is make sure that the president and the other leaders understand the risks and carefully consider the Dover test, a place you've been many times. And that is, are we willing to go to Dover, as we will tomorrow, to bring back the fallen? I can't answer the question on what it will cost because the enemy has a vote. What I'll commit to you, as this plays out, we'll make sure that the Congress is informed. But because I'm not quite sure how this is going to play out yet, it would be unwise for me to comment on what a future cost may or may not be, depending on what they choose.\n\nRounds: In general, you will provide a plan to Congress at whatever the appropriate classification level is on what resources are required to execute what the president's intent will be to successfully end this conflict.\n\nCaine: Sir, I will always make sure that, as we have, that we're moving data as appropriate to Congress. Yes, sir.\n\nRounds: Let me come back in just in terms of follow up on this a little bit. Some have criticized Operation Epic Fury for expending many of our munitions stockpiles. Were our munitions, the inventories of those munitions, and the capacity of our munitions industrial base sufficient for great power competition with near peer adversaries like China prior to Operation Epic Fury? Secretary Hegseth?\n\nHegseth: Senator, as I laid out, because the previous administration short funding shortfalls, munitions transferred to Ukraine and not replaced, and then ignoring threats, it built a lot of risk that requires this kind of investment. So you'd look at the $67 billion alongside the remainder for $1.5 billion. That's the kind of generational investment that not just matches peer adversaries, but far surpasses them, which I think is your expectation, having been to those ceremonies, which is mine, having been to them and going to them, is that we give everything possible to the warfighter that they deserve.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-28T07:37:32Z", "2026-07-28T07:38:50Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-on-jay-claytons-nomination/", "Thune on Jay Clayton\u2019s Nomination", "2026-07-27", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, this afternoon we\u2019re going to move on the nomination of Jay Clayton to be director of national intelligence.\n\n\u201cAmid a heightened threat environment, having a proven leader in this role is especially important.\n\n\u201cAnd Jay Clayton fits the mold.\n\n\u201cMr. President, during the first Trump administration, Jay Clayton served as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission for almost four years.\n\n\u201cAnd under his leadership, the SEC went after financial crimes and fraud and aimed to protect Main Street investors.\n\n\u201cHe also worked with the intelligence community on national security issues that intersected with our financial system.\n\n\u201cThat included efforts to address Chinese influence and exploitation of our markets.\n\n\u201cAnd, of course, he worked to maintain economic stability after the onset of the pandemic as well.\n\n\u201cSo, Mr. President, with that record, it\u2019s no wonder that President Trump wanted Jay Clayton to serve in his second administration, this time as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York: an important law enforcement post.\n\n\u201cAnd for the past year and a half in that role, Mr. Clayton has been busy.\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s supervised the prosecution of terrorists and the drafting of the indictment against Nicolas Maduro on drug-trafficking and terrorism charges.\n\n\u201cAnd now President Trump has nominated him for a Cabinet post leading our nation\u2019s intelligence community.\n\n\u201cMr. President, Jay Clayton\u2019s record inspires confidence in the type of DNI that he will be.\n\n\u201cAnd Democrats have previously recognized his abilities.\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s earned bipartisan support in the past.\n\n\u201cThe Democrat vice chair of the Intelligence Committee even said after Mr. Clayton was nominated for this position, and I quote, \u2018I have known and respected Jay Clayton for many years and believe he is a capable public servant.\u2019\n\n\u201cThat, again, Mr. President, from the Democrat vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee.\n\n\u201cSo one might think that we\u2019d be seeing some bipartisanship from Democrats on this nominee.\n\n\u201cBut Democrats are playing the same partisan games with this qualified nominee as they have for so many of President Trump\u2019s picks.\n\n\u201cAnd, Mr. President, it\u2019s a funny thing, because Democrats have made no secret of their disdain for [the] current acting director of \u2026 national intelligence.\n\n\u201cIn fact, Democrats were so worked up over the president\u2019s temporary choice for this position, they allowed our nation\u2019s most important counterterrorism tool to go dark for the first time ever.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s right.\n\n\u201cNow Democrats have the opportunity to replace that acting official.\n\n\u201cBut they\u2019re in no apparent rush to confirm a permanent director of national intelligence.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019ve opposed his nomination in committee.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019ve delayed things here on the floor.\n\n\u201cAnd I don\u2019t expect we\u2019ll see a lot of Democrat support for him in the final roll call.\n\n\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter how qualified the nominee, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cOr even that Democrats supposedly want to see the current acting director replaced.\n\n\u201cFor our colleagues across the aisle, everything \u2013 everything \u2013 takes a back seat to their political games.\n\n\u201cWell, I\u2019ve run out of words, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s shameful.\n\n\u201cMr. President, we\u2019re going to move forward with the Clayton nomination this week.\n\n\u201cWe will have a permanent director of national intelligence in place shortly.\n\n\u201cAnd I hope this will encourage my colleagues to stop blocking reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-28T07:37:32Z", "2026-07-28T07:38:50Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-selected-to-serve-on-us-air-force-academy-board-of-visitors", "Rounds Selected to Serve on U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors", "2026-07-24", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that he has been selected to serve on the U.S. Air Force Academy\u2019s Board of Visitors:\n\n\u201cI am grateful for the opportunity to serve on the United States Air Force Academy\u2019s Board of Visitors,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cOne of the most rewarding parts of my work in the Senate is nominating young South Dakotans to attend our military service academies. The students selected to attend the Air Force Academy are some of our nation\u2019s best and brightest, and we must continue to provide them with a quality educational experience that prepares them to defend our country. I look forward to working with my Congressional colleagues, the Department of the Air Force and the cadets to make certain the U.S. Air Force Academy is fully resourced and positioned to prepare future generations to serve our country.\u201d\n\nEstablished by law in 1956, the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors provides independent advice and recommendations on matters relating to the Academy, including morale, discipline, social climate, curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods and any other matters relating to the Academy that the Board decides to consider. For more information on the Board of Visitors, click HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-25T07:13:44Z", "2026-07-25T07:15:09Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-reflects-on-his-south-dakota-roots-and-values-that-shaped-him/", "Thune Reflects on His South Dakota Roots and Values that Shaped Him", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, over the weekend I headed back to Jones County, South Dakota, for my high school reunion.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s been a few years since high school, Mr. President \u2013 just a few.\n\n\u201cBut it\u2019s amazing how the years roll away when you head back and see some of the people who shaped your high school years.\n\n\u201cSome of them are missing now, of course.\n\n\u201cTeachers.\n\n\u201cCoaches.\n\n\u201cParents.\n\n\u201cMy dad, who was a teacher at my high school, a coach at my high school, and the bus driver at my high school.\n\n\u201cAnd my mom, who served as the school librarian.\n\n\u201cNeedless to say, we Thune kids didn\u2019t get away with much in our high school years.\n\n\u201cMy high school reunion this year happened to coincide with the 120th anniversary of the town of Murdo where I grew up \u2013 current population: roughly 500.\n\n\u201cAnd being back in Jones County and in Murdo really got me to reminiscing about growing up in small-town South Dakota \u2013 about how blessed I was to grow up in a small town in South Dakota.\n\n\u201cPeople discuss the loss of community today that can result from the circumstances of modern life.\n\n\u201cThat was never something we had to worry about in Murdo.\n\n\u201cIn Murdo, you knew you were part of a community.\n\n\u201cRural South Dakotans are sturdy and independent people, but they also know from experience that you can\u2019t get by in a small town on the prairie without the support of your neighbors.\n\n\u201cAnd when someone was in need in Murdo, the whole town rallied around to help \u2013 whether it was an unexpected death in the family or the collapse of a barn roof.\n\n\u201cWe celebrated with each other too \u2013 whether it was a harvest, Fourth of July, pheasant season.\n\n\u201cAnd the whole town swelled with pride at one of its kids\u2019 achievements.\n\n\u201cI carry the sense of community and belonging I had growing up in Murdo with me to this day.\n\n\u201cAnd I carry those small-town South Dakotans with me in a special way in my work here in Washington.\n\n\u201cWhen we look at a government regulation, I think about what impact it will have on small-town South Dakota \u2013 on the people in our state like the ones that I grew up with.\n\n\u201cIs it going to lighten their burden?\n\n\u201cOr is it going to add new challenges on top of those they already face?\n\n\u201cAgriculture is the lifeblood of our state; it was the lifeblood of Murdo as well.\n\n\u201cFarmers and ranchers have a tough job: backbreaking work in all weathers \u2013 work that can be destroyed in an instant by a storm or a flood.\n\n\u201cI want to ensure that Washington isn\u2019t making their life even tougher than it is already.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019ve fought for things like the elimination of the death tax \u2013 so that farmers and ranchers can hand down the family enterprise to their kids, and don\u2019t have to spend time and money on costly estate planning.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s also why I\u2019ve fought to ensure that federal farm programs are actually serving farmers \u2013 that they take into account the realities of farm life and keep pace with changes.\n\n\u201cYou can bet that I had small-town South Dakota in mind when I fought to pass the tax relief [for] hardworking Americans in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act \u2013 and then when we made that new tax relief permanent in the Working Families Tax Cuts just last year.\n\n\u201cI think a lot of my political beliefs have their roots in growing up in Murdo: from a belief that government should be limited \u2013 and that if a matter can be handled at the state or local level, it should be \u2013 to my understanding of the importance of freedom, and the individual responsibility that comes with the freedoms that we enjoy.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m grateful every day, Mr. President, for the blessings of growing up in a small town, and in small-town South Dakota.\n\n\u201cAnd I am proud to be a son of Murdo.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"], ["https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/johnson-priorities-included-annual-defense-bill", "Johnson Priorities Included in Annual Defense Bill", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Dusty Johnson", "J000301", "dustyjohnson.house.gov", "dustyjohnson", "https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, the House passed the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with several of U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson\u2019s (R-S.D.) priorities, including funding for the Ellsworth Air Force Base B-21 Raiders, securing America\u2019s supply chain, improving border security, and countering China.\n\n\u201cA strong and secure America requires a military that is prepared to meet the modern challenges of today and tomorrow,\u201d said Johnson. \u201cThis defense package invests in our troops, secures our supply chains, and expands production capacity. These investments will reinforce our national security for generations to come.\u201d\n\nJohnson priorities included in the 2027 NDAA:", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-delivers-remarks-supporting-supplemental-funding-request-at-appropriations-committee-hearing", "Rounds Delivers Remarks Supporting Supplemental Funding Request at Appropriations Committee Hearing", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) delivered testimony in support of the President\u2019s supplemental funding request of $87.6 billion for national defense and agricultural aid. Rounds spoke as part of a member panel at a hearing of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.\n\n\u201cIn South Dakota, farming and ranching is more than a job, it's a way of life built on hard work, stewardship and the hope of leaving the land better for the next generation,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cFeeding and fueling the world has never been easy. Producers continue showing up year after year despite drought, floods, disease, pests, volatile markets and other challenges beyond their control.\u201d\n\n\u201cProtecting America's food supply, energy supply and national defense are not separate priorities: they reinforce one another,\u201d continued Rounds. \u201cThis supplemental provides needed assistance to help farm and ranch families endure today's economic challenges while Congress and the administration continue advancing long-term policies that strengthen American agriculture.\u201d\n\nClick HERE to watch Rounds\u2019 full testimony. Read Rounds\u2019 remarks as prepared for delivery below.\n\n+++\n\nChair Collins, Vice Chair Murray and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to highlight why food security and national security go hand in hand.\n\nI\u2019d also like to thank the Trump administration for recognizing that input pressures have made it more difficult for American farmers to support their own operations.\n\nIn South Dakota, farming and ranching is more than a job, it's a way of life built on hard work, stewardship and the hope of leaving the land better for the next generation. Feeding and fueling the world has never been easy. Producers continue showing up year after year despite drought, floods, disease, pests, volatile markets and other challenges beyond their control.\n\nThis supplemental funding request comes at a critical time. Farmers and ranchers are facing production costs that exceed market returns. Higher fertilizer, diesel fuel, seed, equipment and crop protection costs, coupled with retaliatory trade practices and continued market uncertainty, have put enormous financial pressure on producers. Specifically, the projected loss per acre across the country in 2026 for corn is $131; for cotton, $342; for wheat, $114; and for soybeans, $80.\n\nWhile we work to strengthen America's ability to produce more of what we need here at home and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains, Congress should provide stability so producers can remain in business and continue producing the best food and fuel in the world.\n\nToday's threats extend well beyond weather and markets. Foreign adversaries, cyber threats, industry consolidation, arbitrary standards and unfair trade practices impact farmers\u2019 ability to produce food, fiber and fuel. Food security, energy security and national security are connected.\n\nWe also have an opportunity to strengthen both agriculture and energy security by permanently authorizing voluntary access to nationwide, year-round sales of E15. Giving consumers the option to choose a higher ethanol blend would increase domestic fuel production, expand markets for corn growers, reduce reliance on foreign energy sources and provide families with a lower-cost option at the pump.\n\nGiven the significant defense investments included in this supplemental, I also want to emphasize the importance of fully funding our national defense. We are living in one of the most complex and lethal threat environments since the Second World War, and the brave men and women who volunteer to defend this country deserve the leadership, training, equipment and resources necessary to maintain America's military advantage.\n\nProtecting America's food supply, energy supply and national defense are not separate priorities: they reinforce one another.\n\nThis supplemental provides needed assistance to help farm and ranch families endure today's economic challenges while Congress and the administration continue advancing long-term policies that strengthen American agriculture.\n\nI urge my colleagues to support this supplemental request to provide stability to our ag producers at this time.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-hopeful-democrats-will-cooperate-in-funding-the-government/", "Thune Hopeful Democrats Will Cooperate in Funding the Government", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, the Senate is in the middle of a busy work period, and we have a lot to accomplish in the coming weeks and months.\n\n\u201cAnd we have some great opportunities for bipartisan collaboration:\n\n\u201cMarket structure legislation.\n\n\u201cThe Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act.\n\n\u201cThe National Defense Authorization Act.\n\n\u201cFISA.\n\n\u201cBut at the top of the list right now is funding the government.\n\n\u201cIf there\u2019s any responsibility we have as members of Congress, it is that.\n\n\u201cAnd our country cannot afford another shutdown like the two shutdowns we\u2019ve experienced over the course of this fiscal year.\n\n\u201cShutdowns take a toll on our economy.\n\n\u201cOn our national security.\n\n\u201cThey create havoc at airports.\n\n\u201cAnd, of course, they take an incredible toll on hardworking Americans inside and outside of government whose paychecks depend on the government being open.\n\n\u201cI think a lot of Americans remember pretty clearly what things looked like during the Democrats\u2019 two record-breaking shutdowns this past year.\n\n\u201cGovernment workers lining up at food banks. Charging essentials on credit cards and taking up any work they could find in hopes of being able to make ends meet.\n\n\u201cGovernment services reduced.\n\n\u201cNational security agencies strained.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t think any American who traveled will forget the effect those two shutdowns had on air travel.\n\n\u201cHours-long TSA lines \u2026 snaking \u2026 around airport concourses and out airport doors.\n\n\u201cCanceled and delayed flights.\n\n\u201cA nationwide reduction in air traffic, when our air traffic control system could no longer safely maintain regular flight schedules.\n\n\u201cAnd the list goes on.\n\n\u201cWe cannot \u2013 cannot \u2013 have this again, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s why I\u2019ve asked Appropriations Chair Collins to draft a bipartisan and clean continuing resolution to fund the government until after the November election.\n\n\u201cAnd I intend for the Senate to vote on that before we head to our states to work during August.\n\n\u201cThe Senate Appropriations Committee is hard at work reviewing anomalies from OMB to ensure we have a bipartisan product ready to move quickly.\n\n\u201cNo one is served by our waiting until the last minute to take this up.\n\n\u201cAnd after all that our country has been through with the past two shutdowns, the American people deserve to have confidence that their government will be open and running.\n\n\u201cNot to mention the fact that government employees \u2013 like our own staffers and the Capitol Police officers standing guard around this building \u2013 deserve to know that their paychecks will be coming.\n\n\u201cIt was not a good year on the government funding front, with two record-breaking government shutdowns.\n\n\u201cBut we have an opportunity now to chart a new path.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m encouraged that so far my Democrat colleagues have signaled that they do not want to force another government shutdown.\n\n\u201cAnd I appreciate Chair Collins\u2019 work to engage with Democrats and produce a bipartisan continuing resolution.\n\n\u201cNo one \u2013 no one, Mr. President \u2013 is served by another shutdown \u2013 not either political party, and most of all not the people that we represent.\n\n\u201cSo I look forward to bringing up a bipartisan CR in the coming days.\n\n\u201cAnd I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation and give the American people the certainty that they deserve.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-lujan-barrasso-legislation-to-expedite-broadband-permits-to-unserved-communities-heads-to-full-senate/", "Thune, Luj\u00e1n, Barrasso Legislation to Expedite Broadband Permits to Unserved Communities Heads to Full Senate", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/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 Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) today applauded the Commerce Committee for unanimously passing their Accelerating Broadband Permits Act of 2026 (S. 4448), bipartisan legislation that would improve federal agencies\u2019 review and processing of broadband permits and allow service to be more quickly deployed to unserved communities. The legislation, which now heads to the full Senate, would cut unnecessary red tape and increase transparency into the federal permitting process. It would also require all federal agencies to implement controls to ensure broadband applications are being processed within the required 270-day deadline.\n\n\u201cIn order to ensure rural communities in South Dakota have access to reliable broadband, it\u2019s critical that federal agencies are processing permits in a timely fashion and are being held accountable for any delays,\u201d said Thune. \u201cI\u2019m pleased that the committee has passed our legislation to help accelerate the deployment of broadband across our nation, and I look forward to its consideration by the full Senate.\u201d\n\n\u201cMore must be done to address the barriers that have long kept rural communities from accessing reliable broadband,\u201d said Luj\u00e1n. \u201cFor years, I have pushed the federal government to streamline and expedite permitting processes to improve rural broadband connectivity. I\u2019m encouraged that our bipartisan legislation has advanced with the support of my colleagues. This is an important step toward expanding broadband infrastructure in New Mexico and across the country while ensuring programs like BEAD are implemented efficiently. I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this bill across the finish line and deliver high-speed, affordable broadband to every American.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn Wyoming, nearly half the land is owned by the federal government,\u201d said Barrasso. \u201cWashington red tape makes it harder to expand broadband infrastructure on these lands. This results in higher costs and less internet access in rural areas. Our legislation will improve the permitting process and provide rural communities with more reliable internet service. Today\u2019s committee passage is an important step toward getting this bill across the finish line in the Senate.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/the-working-families-tax-cuts-law-invests-in-future-generations/", "The Working Families Tax Cuts Law Invests in Future Generations", "2026-07-21", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, every parent wants to give their kids a better life than they had.\n\n\u201cSo parents spend a lot of time making sure that their kids are ready when opportunity comes their way.\n\n\u201cIn many cases, that involves putting money aside for their future.\n\n\u201cMr. President, opportunity is one of the pillars of Republicans\u2019 Working Families Tax Cuts.\n\n\u201cThat means both creating opportunity and helping more Americans to seize those opportunities and get ahead.\n\n\u201cAnd one of the ways this bill does that is by helping parents to save and invest in their children\u2019s futures.\n\n\u201cThat starts with lower tax bills so parents keep more of their hard-earned money.\n\n\u201cAnd on top of that, we\u2019ve made it easier for parents to support their kids\u2019 dreams with things like the bill\u2019s new Trump Accounts.\n\n\u201cThese new tax-advantaged investment accounts can be a powerful tool for parents and other family members to give the next generation a brighter future.\n\n\u201cBecause Trump Accounts can be used for a broad array of expenses.\n\n\u201cMoney from a Trump Account can go toward education expenses.\n\n\u201cBuying a first home.\n\n\u201cStarting a business.\n\n\u201cOr buying the family farm or ranch when the time comes.\n\n\u201cKids can even opt to use the accounts as retirement savings when they reach adulthood \u2013 a financial priority for every American.\n\n\u201cMr. President, Trump Accounts will help bring big dreams closer within reach.\n\n\u201cParents of children born between 2025 and 2028 can opt in to receive an initial $1,000 balance in their Trump Account from the government.\n\n\u201cOn top of that, numerous companies have already made pledges to contribute to the Trump Accounts for their employees\u2019 children.\n\n\u201cAnd some philanthropists have made similar commitments.\n\n\u201cPlus, as I indicated earlier, any member of the family can contribute to a Trump Account.\n\n\u201cSo an aunt or an uncle, grandma or grandpa, can add money to a Trump Account as a birthday or Christmas gift \u2013 further boosting the amount a child will have available when he or she reaches young adulthood.\n\n\u201cMr. President, even $20 per month can build to a substantial sum of money by the time a baby born this year turns 18.\n\n\u201cAnd the Trump Accounts app even includes modules and other resources for parents and children to learn about investing and grow their financial literacy \u2013 which will help them throughout their lives.\n\n\u201cMr. President, Trump Accounts are a significant tool for parents and their kids.\n\n\u201cBut it\u2019s far from the only thing that we did in this bill to help the next generation get a head start on the American Dream.\n\n\u201cThe Working Families Tax Cuts also made some significant improvements to the traditional 529 education savings plan, allowing those savings to be used for a greater variety of education-related expenses.\n\n\u201cTutoring.\n\n\u201cHomeschool materials.\n\n\u201cAnd vocational and continuing education.\n\n\u201cPlus, we doubled the withdrawal limit for 529s to $20,000 per year.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I\u2019m also proud of how the Working Families Tax Cuts strengthens pathways to meaningful career options for the next generation.\n\n\u201cOn the higher education side, we implemented accountability and reforms that put downward pressure on the cost of college degrees.\n\n\u201cWe also made permanent a policy I authored that allows employers to pay off a portion of their employees\u2019 student loans without the employee having to pay taxes on the repayment amount.\n\n\u201cFor Americans who are interested in learning a skilled trade, the bill is transformative.\n\n\u201cAs I mentioned, it allows 529 savings to go toward vocational education.\n\n\u201cIt also created the Workforce Pell program, which will provide financial assistance to Americans in shorter-term skills and career-training programs \u2013 whether they\u2019re just starting out, or looking to switch careers or develop new skills in their current field.\n\n\u201cMr. President, states are just beginning the process of identifying programs that will qualify for Workforce Pell.\n\n\u201cAnd it\u2019s already generating excitement.\n\n\u201cOne community college president in New York said of Workforce Pell, and I quote, \u2018The potential is absolutely huge.\u2019\n\n\u201cAnother community college administrator in Oregon hailed how Workforce Pell will provide assistance for the college\u2019s truck-driving certificate program.\n\n\u201cA popular program that leads to high-paying jobs, but for which financial aid is hard to come by.\n\n\u201cWorkforce Pell will change that.\n\n\u201cAnd Workforce Pell will also be a gamechanger for mid-career professionals.\n\n\u201cAs Colette Atkins, who works at Kirkwood Community College in Iowa, said, and I quote, \u2018We have students that are working already and they can\u2019t step away for two years, but can they step away to do that 8 to 15 weeks to get that training? They sure can. And now there\u2019s financial support to help them do that.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. President, suffice it to say, Workforce Pell will open new pathways and create opportunities for a lot of Americans.\n\n\u201cAnd it\u2019s getting started thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts.\n\n\u201cMr. President, putting more money in Americans\u2019 pockets.\n\n\u201cHelping them seize opportunities to get ahead.\n\n\u201cAnd creating new pathways to success.\n\n\u201cThat is the Working Families Tax Cuts at work.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-22T07:34:13Z", "2026-07-22T07:35:16Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-there-is-plenty-of-work-the-senate-can-do-if-democrats-decide-to-cooperate/", "Thune: There Is Plenty of Work the Senate Can Do If Democrats Decide to Cooperate", "2026-07-21", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a busy week here in the United States Senate, and I would say that there is no shortage of opportunities for bipartisan legislating in the weeks ahead.\n\n\u201cThere are a number of things that we can do, one of which would be a market structure bill \u2013 that\u2019s something that\u2019s a candidate for consideration.\n\n\u201cThe Lindsey O. Graham sanctioning Russia legislation is also something that\u2019s being worked on, and is something I hope we can get the necessary support to get to the floor.\n\n\u201cAnd then, obviously, a defense authorization bill, which was voted down on the motion to proceed last week by the Democrats, is something that also normally is a bipartisan piece of legislation.\n\n\u201cBut none of those things get done if the Democrats continue their posture of trying to block even getting on legislation.\n\n\u201cAnd again, I used the defense authorization bill as an example of something that we\u2019ve done for 65 years in a row, which last week the Democrats decided \u2013 even though \u2026 a number of them had voted for the legislation when it came out of the Armed Services Committee \u2013 decided to block its consideration on the floor.\n\n\u201cSo that\u2019s something that ought to be able to get done.\n\n\u201cAnd then, obviously, the most important thing that we need to do is to fund the government.\n\n\u201cAnd on that front, Chair Susan Collins is working with Democrats on the Appropriations Committee to find a path forward to have a continuing resolution to keep the government funded to get past the November elections, so that we don\u2019t have the specter of a government shutdown \u2013 something that happened a couple of times this last year.\n\n\u201cAnd the disruption, the chaos that creates is just something that both sides ought to be willing to try and avoid.\n\n\u201cAnd so, I think it\u2019s going to be really important that we figure out a path forward to get a bipartisan agreement to fund the government that will keep government open and ensure that government employees are getting paid.\n\n\u201cAnd that is something that I intend to bring to the floor for a vote before the August break.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-22T07:34:13Z", "2026-07-22T07:35:16Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-democrats-embrace-far-left-agenda/", "Thune: Democrats Embrace Far-Left Agenda", "2026-07-20", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, at the beginning of last year the New York Times took a poll of American voters.\n\n\u201cAnd the headline captures their results:\n\n\u201cThis is what it said: \u2018Many Americans Say the Democratic Party Does Not Share Their Priorities.\u2019\n\n\u201cLet me repeat that, Mr. President.\n\n\u201c\u2018Many Americans Say the Democratic Party Does Not Share Their Priorities.\u2019\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s right.\n\n\u201cA New York Times poll taken \u2026 weeks after voters rejected Democrats at the ballot box suggested that one of the reasons for Democrats\u2019 loss was that Americans don\u2019t think Democrats share their priorities.\n\n\u201cThe story went on to say, and I quote, \u2018The issues that people cited as most important to them personally were the economy and inflation, health care and immigration\u2026\u2019\n\n\u201cBut when the poll asked Americans to identify Democrats\u2019 most important priorities, Americans identified issues like abortion and climate change, among others.\n\n\u201cMr. President, our Democrat colleagues have found themselves out of power for 18 months now.\n\n\u201cAnd we\u2019ve given them plenty of opportunities to show some evolution \u2013 perhaps even moderation \u2013 to voters.\n\n\u201cBut as the record shows, Democrats are still in thrall to the far left of their party.\n\n\u201cThey still have the same priorities that turned voters off from Democrats in the last election.\n\n\u201cFor starters, radical transgender ideology remains an article of faith among Democrats.\n\n\u201cDemocrats have repeatedly opposed efforts to keep biological men out of women\u2019s sports.\n\n\u201cAnd when the Supreme Court ruled unanimously last month that state laws protecting women\u2019s sports are allowable under the plain language of Title IX, one Democrat senator called the ruling \u2018unjust.\u2019\n\n\u201cUnjust, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cAs if a young woman working hard all season only to lose to a man with an inherent biological advantage is somehow just.\n\n\u201cMr. President, the overwhelming majority of Americans believe that biological men should not be playing women\u2019s sports.\n\n\u201cBut that doesn\u2019t seem to matter to Senate Democrats.\n\n\u201cAnd their commitment to transgender ideology doesn\u2019t end with supporting the presence of men in women\u2019s sports.\n\n\u201cDemocrats have also tacitly \u2013 or not so tacitly \u2013 endorsed radical gender transition procedures being performed on minors.\n\n\u201cProcedures, I might add, with no substantial medical evidence to support them \u2013 and plenty of reason to believe they are extremely dangerous for children.\n\n\u201cBut apparently Democrats are fine subjecting children to those risks.\n\n\u201cAnd of course, Mr. President, Democrats are still proudly pro-abortion.\n\n\u201cAnd when I say pro-abortion, I mean pro-abortion.\n\n\u201cHow else do you describe a party that won\u2019t even support legislation to provide medical care to a baby born alive during a failed abortion?\n\n\u201cA party that can\u2019t bring itself to support a bill to ensure that a pregnant college student knows that there are resources available to help her finish her degree and have her baby.\n\n\u201cA party that directed small-business COVID relief funds to Planned Parenthood, even though they were legally ineligible.\n\n\u201cA party that is doing everything it can to eliminate pregnancy resource centers simply because they won\u2019t recommend abortion.\n\n\u201cMr. President, as I said, Democrats are in thrall to the far left of their party.\n\n\u201cAnd it\u2019s not just on those issues.\n\n\u201cFar-left activists seem to be the audience for almost everything Democrats do these days.\n\n\u201cTake, for example, Democrats\u2019 two \u2013 that\u2019s right, two \u2013 record-long government shutdowns.\n\n\u201cLast fall, Democrats shut down the entire federal government for a record 43 days to show the far left that they were \u2018fighting\u2019 President Trump.\n\n\u201cAnd while TSA lines snaked outside of airports and Americans were visiting food banks because they had to work without pay, the Democrat leader was quoted saying, and I quote, \u2018Every day gets better for us.\u2019\n\n\u201cBetter, that is, for Democrats seeking the approval of the far left.\n\n\u201cThen earlier this year, Democrats shut down the Department of Homeland Security because they didn\u2019t want to fund law enforcement.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s right.\n\n\u201cDefunding law enforcement \u2013 once a fringe position in their party \u2013 became the official position of the Democrat Party as they tried to completely \u2013 completely \u2013 defund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol.\n\n\u201cOnce again, it didn\u2019t matter to Democrats whether Americans would be less safe with open borders.\n\n\u201cTheir audience \u2013 far-left activists \u2013 wanted them to defund border security and immigration enforcement officers, so they did.\n\n\u201cAnd Democrats weren\u2019t done.\n\n\u201cLast week, Democrats here in the United States Senate blocked the National Defense Authorization Act, the bill that authorizes funding for our military.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s right, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cDemocrats voted against authorizing funding for our military.\n\n\u201cMr. President, it\u2019s a sad day when Democrats are playing politics with everything all the way up to our national security.\n\n\u201cBut that\u2019s where we are.\n\n\u201cDemocrats have had numerous opportunities in the last year and a half to work with us on things that matter to the American people.\n\n\u201cAnd again and again, they have chosen to follow members of their far-left base.\n\n\u201cIn some cases \u2013 see New York City\u2019s mayor \u2013 follow them directly into socialism.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s right.\n\n\u201cSelf-identified democratic socialists have been winning elections across the country.\n\n\u201cSo what\u2019s next?\n\n\u201cWill the Democrat Party adopt the platform of the Democratic Socialists of America?\n\n\u201cMr. President, to quote the New York Times again, and I quote, \u2018Many Americans Say the Democratic Party Does Not Share Their Priorities.\u2019\n\n\u201cA year and a half later, it\u2019s obvious that that\u2019s still the case.\n\n\u201cMen in women\u2019s sports. Abortion up until the moment of birth. Open borders. Defunding law enforcement.\n\n\u201cInstead of moving toward the middle, Democrats are just getting more extreme.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-21T07:32:02Z", "2026-07-21T07:33:33Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-rounds-legislation-to-advance-lewis-and-clark-water-expansion-project-approved-by-committee/", "Thune, Rounds Legislation to Advance Lewis and Clark Water Expansion Project Approved by Committee", "2026-07-20", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) applauded the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for passing their legislation on Thursday, July 16, that would authorize a feasibility study for the proposed expansion of the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System. The bill now heads to the full Senate.\n\n\u201cThe Lewis and Clark Regional Water System continues to achieve meaningful progress toward fully serving its member communities across South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota,\u201d said Thune. \u201cI\u2019m pleased that the committee has passed our legislation and look forward to its consideration by the full Senate. I thank Senator Rounds for working with me on this important effort.\u201d\n\n\u201cContinued access to clean and reliable water is critical to economic development and quality of life in our state,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cI\u2019m pleased that the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources has advanced our legislation that would authorize a feasibility study for an expansion of the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System. I look forward to working with Senator Thune and my colleagues to get this feasibility study through the Senate and into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cLewis and Clark Regional Water System is grateful to Congress and the champions of this legislation, including Leader Thune, for recognizing the importance of long-term water infrastructure planning,\u201d said Troy Larson, executive director of the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System. \u201cThe success of our region depends on a dependable water supply, and this measure will help ensure we are prepared to meet future needs as our communities grow. Thoughtful planning today will help secure reliable water service, economic opportunity, and quality of life for generations to come. We thank the bill sponsors for their leadership.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Thune and Rounds, the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System Expansion Feasibility Study Act (S. 3725) is cosponsored by U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn).", 1, "2026-07-21T07:32:02Z", "2026-07-21T07:33:33Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-fetterman-fischer-introduce-legislation-to-improve-the-fccs-broadband-mapping-process/", "Thune, Fetterman, Fischer Introduce Legislation to Improve the FCC\u2019s Broadband Mapping Process", "2026-07-17", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) on Thursday introduced the Broadband Mapping Accurate Providers (MAP) Act of 2026, bipartisan legislation that would direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to evaluate and improve its broadband mapping process. The FCC has made significant strides in enhancing the accuracy of its National Broadband Map, but providers have reported difficulties with the FCC\u2019s challenge process, which allows providers to dispute the serviceability of certain locations. The Broadband MAP Act of 2026 would instruct the FCC to review and assess its mapping and challenge procedures.\n\n\u201cBroadband providers who are on the ground in South Dakota and across rural America have vital, firsthand knowledge of the communities they serve,\u201d said Thune. \u201cEnsuring the accuracy of the FCC\u2019s broadband map and its corresponding challenge process is critical to build on our progress to make federal broadband investments as effective and efficient as possible. I thank Chairman Carr for supporting our efforts and for his continued commitment to connecting households across our country to the internet.\u201d\n\n\u201cBroadband internet is a necessity, especially for our rural communities,\u201d said Fetterman. \u201cThe first step we can take to ensure families have internet access across Pennsylvania and the country is figuring out who still doesn\u2019t. I\u2019m proud to join Senator Thune in introducing this bill to get us one step closer to bringing connectivity to every American. I look forward to working with the FCC when the maps are complete to continue to expand broadband.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe need a better understanding of where internet connectivity falls short, especially in rural America,\u201d said Fischer. \u201cWith broadband maps, we can accomplish this goal; however, they must be accurate. I\u2019m joining Leader Thune to make sure these maps correctly identify unserved and underserved communities. This will safeguard taxpayer dollars while connecting more Americans to high-speed internet.\u201d\n\n\u201cFrom his time as chairman of the Commerce Committee to today, Leader Thune has passed smart broadband policies that have expanded affordable broadband,\u201dsaid Brendan Carr, chairman of the FCC. \u201cThis legislation will make more great progress by ensuring the FCC\u2019s National Broadband Map stays up to date and serves as a trusted resource for the American people and broadband builders for years to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe South Dakota Telecommunications Association (SDTA) member companies know firsthand that accurate, location-level broadband mapping is essential for the FCC to make sound policy and funding decisions,\u201d said Kara Semmler, executive director of SDTA. \u201cThe Broadband MAP Act of 2026 would help ensure continued refinement to the map through a careful review of the standards, processes, and data used to determine where broadband is truly available. On behalf of SDTA\u2019s member companies and the South Dakota communities they serve, we appreciate Majority Leader Thune\u2019s leadership in advancing legislation that will help ensure broadband resources are directed where they are needed to expand and sustain service, essential for a rural state like South Dakota.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhile we have seen improvements to the National Broadband Map over time, precisely because this is an iterative and evolving process, there is more to be done to make sure the map accurately captures where services are in fact available and the locations that could be served,\u201d said Mike Romano, chief executive officer of NTCA \u2013 The Rural Broadband Association. \u201cThe Broadband MAP Act of 2026 would help spur continuous improvement in the map through a renewed look at the standards and processes used to develop and refine it. I applaud Majority Leader Thune and Senators Fetterman and Fischer for their leadership in seeking to ensure that broadband policy and funding decisions are based upon the best possible real-world data.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-18T06:58:50Z", "2026-07-18T07:00:34Z"], ["https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/johnson-targeted-biden-dojs-arctic-frost", "Johnson Targeted by Biden DOJ\u2019s Arctic Frost", "2026-07-16", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Dusty Johnson", "J000301", "dustyjohnson.house.gov", "dustyjohnson", "https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) released the following statement regarding Operation Arctic Frost in which President Joe Biden\u2019s Department of Justice officials obtained and reviewed the Congressman\u2019s text messages. The investigative team improperly reviewed the messages of 44 Members of Congress.\n\n\u201cMy text messages obtained by Jack Smith\u2019s rogue investigation team shows an unprecedented level of carelessness for the rule of law and the constitutional separation of powers,\u201d said Johnson. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to the whistleblowers who brought these acts to light and to the Senate Judiciary Committee for continuing this Congressional oversight.\u201d\n\nJohnson will review the classified information obtained by the Justice Department.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary released evidence that the United States Department of Justice Special Counsel investigation lead by Jack Smith improperly obtained and reviewed text messages from Members of Congress from across political lines.\n\nThe Justice Department\u2019s letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley can be viewed here.", 1, "2026-07-17T07:15:58Z", "2026-07-17T07:17:05Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-celebrates-americas-250th-birthday/", "Thune Celebrates America\u2019s 250th Birthday", "2026-07-16", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, we recently celebrated the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence \u2013 the 250th birthday of our country.\n\n\u201cOn July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration.\n\n\u201cThe document laid out the causes which impelled the colonists\u2019 separation from Great Britain.\n\n\u201cBut more than that, it laid out the political beliefs that would govern the new nation.\n\n\u201c\u2018We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.\u2019\n\n\u201cUnalienable rights.\n\n\u201cRights inherent in man, given by God.\n\n\u201cRights that exist before government, and that it is the job of government to protect.\n\n\u201cGovernment not by divine right or military might, but by consent.\n\n\u201cA government that represents the people, not the will to power.\n\n\u201cA revolutionary document, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cPun intended.\n\n\u201cMany of the ideas in the Declaration, of course, were not new.\n\n\u201cIt was a document built on the wisdom of the ages, on the tradition of British common law, on the inheritance of Christianity, and the colonists\u2019 own experiment in self-government in the colonies.\n\n\u201cJefferson himself, writing in 1825, said of the Declaration, and I quote, \u2018Neither aiming at originality of principle or sentiment, nor yet copied from any particular and previous writing, it was intended to be an expression of the American mind, and to give to that expression the proper tone and spirit called for by the occasion. All its authority rests then on the harmonizing sentiments of the day, whether expressed in conversation, in letters, printed essays, or in the elementary books of public right, as Aristotle, Cicero, Locke, Sidney, etc.\u2019\n\n\u201cBut while many of the ideas in the Declaration were not new, the document was nevertheless, as I said, revolutionary.\n\n\u201cBecause the Declaration marked an event essentially unique in human history.\n\n\u201cThere had been philosophical treatises laying out principles of government.\n\n\u201cBut this was not a philosophical treatise.\n\n\u201cIt was the founding of a government, of a new nation, based on philosophical principles.\n\n\u201cA nation inaugurated not by conquest but on a set of ideas.\n\n\u201cAnd what ideas, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cAll men are created equal.\n\n\u201cWhere before in the history of governments do we find that?\n\n\u201cAll men are created equal.\n\n\u201cNo one is given special dignity by nature. No man has a divine right to rule over any other.\n\n\u201cNo.\n\n\u201cAll men are created equal.\n\n\u201cCreated equal and endowed by their Creator with unalienable rights.\n\n\u201cRights that cannot be taken away.\n\n\u201cRights that are not the gift of government, but \u2026 of nature and of nature\u2019s God.\n\n\u201cRights that government must defer to and defend.\n\n\u201cMr. President, as everyone knows, the United States is currently hosting the World Cup.\n\n\u201cAnd the media has been filled with stories on how much visitors to this country are enjoying the United States.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019re encountering the American character \u2013 generous, optimistic, big-hearted, friendly.\n\n\u201cAnd they are embracing it.\n\n\u201cAnd it occurs to me, Mr. President, that that American character almost unquestionably has a lot to do with our founding principles.\n\n\u201cWhen you believe that all men are created equal, when you believe that they have God-given rights and dignity \u2013 well, that has consequences.\n\n\u201cAll men are created equal.\n\n\u201cThere is no class of divinely appointed rulers.\n\n\u201cNo hereditary aristocratic class.\n\n\u201cNo barrier set to prevent you from rising.\n\n\u201cThose principles have consequences.\n\n\u201cSo I don\u2019t think it\u2019s surprising that Americans are generous and big-hearted and optimistic and friendly.\n\n\u201cI think it\u2019s the natural consequence of the principles that we espouse.\n\n\u201cMr. President, every Fourth of July is a day of celebration.\n\n\u201cBut this one, marking 250 years, was particularly special.\n\n\u201cSouth Dakota was honored to welcome President Trump to our fireworks at Mount Rushmore \u2013 a truly spectacular event.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s no better place to reflect on the majesty of this great country.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s fitting too, though, that along with the celebrations \u2013 along with the fireworks and the parades and the hot dogs and the hamburgers \u2013 that July 4th be a day of thanksgiving.\n\n\u201cFor the Declaration of Independence and the nation it founded.\n\n\u201cFor the blessings of liberty.\n\n\u201cAnd for all those who have pledged their lives to its defense, from the founding of our country to the present day.\n\n\u201cMr. President, Ralph Waldo Emerson, in his \u2018Concord Hymn,\u2019 referred to the opening shot of the battles of Lexington and Concord as, and I quote, \u2018the shot heard round the world.\u2019\n\n\u201cWell, Mr. President, if I may borrow his phrase, I think it\u2019s fair to say that the Declaration was the statement heard round the world.\n\n\u201cIt is still \u2013 still \u2013 heard around the world, to this day.\n\n\u201cAnd I pray it will be heard until the end of time.\n\n\u201cMay God bless our beloved country and keep us faithful to the principles for which we stand.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-17T07:15:58Z", "2026-07-17T07:17:05Z"], ["https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/johnson-highlights-postal-service-improvement-areas", "Johnson Highlights Postal Service Improvement Areas", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Dusty Johnson", "J000301", "dustyjohnson.house.gov", "dustyjohnson", "https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) sent a letter to U.S. Postmaster General David Steiner highlighting geographic areas of South Dakota still experiencing Postal Service delays and service issues.\n\n\u201cA functional and efficient Postal Service is essential for many South Dakotans,\u201d said Johnson. \u201cWhile I\u2019m encouraged to see some improvements in service, progress for southeastern South Dakota is failing to meet the standard of service South Dakotans expect. I\u2019m looking forward to ongoing discussions with the Postmaster General on how we can work together to provide a Postal Service that works for South Dakota.\u201d\n\nUnited States Postal Service data shows continued delivery delays for postal customers in the Sioux Falls metro area and southeastern South Dakota.\n\nSouth Dakotans can submit feedback to the United States Post Office\u2019s Office of the Inspector General here.\n\nClick here to view the letter.\n\nBackground:\n\nJohnson surveyed thousands of South Dakotans in December 2025 about their experiences with USPS. He heard hundreds of stories about the impacts of delayed delivery and package routing negatively impacting families and businesses.\n\nJohnson hosted a roundtable event in Sioux Falls January 2026 to hear first-hand experiences with the Postal Service. Johnson was joined by Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX) who chairs the subcommittee which has oversight of the USPS.\n\nJohnson then sent a letter to Steiner detailing the Postal Services\u2019 shortcomings in service. Rep. Sessions joined Johnson for a tour of the Sioux Falls mail processing facility on April 2, 2026.\n\nJohnson\u2019s full letter to Steiner:\n\nPostmaster General Steiner,\n\nI am writing once again regarding the performance of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in South Dakota. Earlier this year, I shared concerns raised by thousands of South Dakotans, outlined persistent service challenges, and expressed my hope that by July 2026 we would be able to point to measurable improvements in service reliability, staffing, and delivery performance.\n\nI appreciate the work USPS has undertaken to improve operations over the past year. The latest performance data shows meaningful progress across much of South Dakota, demonstrating that operational improvements are possible even in some of the nation\u2019s most geographically challenging rural delivery areas. Those improvements deserve recognition, and I appreciate the efforts of USPS employees and leadership who have helped produce them.\n\nHowever, South Dakotans in the Sioux Falls region still report delayed and missed deliveries, inconsistent service, staffing shortages, and disruptions affecting prescriptions, financial documents, newspapers, and small businesses. In a rural state like South Dakota, dependable mail service is not simply a convenience, it is essential infrastructure that families, businesses, and communities rely upon every day.\n\nThese concerns are reflected in USPS\u2019s own performance data, attached to this letter. Using September 2025 \u2013 the closest available ZIP3 benchmark to the beginning of your tenure, as the point of comparison \u2013 USPS has achieved measurable improvements across nearly every South Dakota service region. ZIP3 regions 572 through 577 have all shown improvement across key inbound mail performance metrics. Those results are encouraging and demonstrate that meaningful progress is achievable.\n\nHowever, the two service areas that encompass nearly half of South Dakota\u2019s resident \u2013 ZIP3 regions 570 and 571 \u2013 have experienced measurable declines over the same period. Given the success achieved elsewhere in the state, understanding why these two regions remain outliers is particularly important.\n\nI am encouraged by USPS\u2019s decision to install a new PILS machine serving the 571 region. That investment reflects a recognition that additional operational capacity is needed, and I am hopeful it will produce the same measurable improvements that residents in other parts of South Dakota have already begun to experience.\n\nAt the same time, I recognize that no single investment is likely to resolve every operational challenge affecting service in the 570 and 571 regions. For that reason, I want to ensure the deployment of this new equipment is accompanied by whatever additional operational, staffing, or transportation improvements may be necessary to restore reliable service. My office stands ready to assist that effort wherever Congress can be helpful.\n\nAccordingly, I respectfully request a written response addressing the following:\n\nThe primary operational factors contributing to declining performance in ZIP3 regions 570 and 571, including staffing levels, vacancy rates, transportation networks, mail processing operations, facility capacity, or any other relevant challenges;\n\nThe specific actions USPS is taking to improve service in these regions, including how the new PILS machine fits into the agency\u2019s broader operational strategy and whether successful practices implemented elsewhere in South Dakota can be applied in these service areas;\n\nThe measurable performance goals and anticipated timeline for improvement in the affected regions, including how USPS intends to evaluate and communicate progress; and\n\nAny legislative, regulatory, operational, or resource constraints that may be limiting USPS\u2019s ability to improve service and where Congress may be able to provide assistance.\n\nMy objective is not simply to identify shortcomings, but to better understand how we can work together to improve mail service for the people of South Dakota. If there are barriers preventing USPS from delivering the level of service South Dakotans deserve, I want to understand what role Congress can play in addressing them.\n\nThe progress achieved across much of the state demonstrates that improvement is possible. I am hopeful the investments now being made in the Sioux Falls region will allow those same gains to extend to the communities that have yet to experience them. I look forward to working with you to ensure that every South Dakotan receives the reliable postal service they depend on.\n\nThank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response.\n\nSincerely,\n\nDUSTY JOHNSON\n\nMember of Congress", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-introduces-dni-nominee-jay-clayton-at-senate-intelligence-committee-hearing", "Rounds Introduces DNI Nominee Jay Clayton at Senate Intelligence Committee Hearing", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "Mike Rounds", "R000605", "www.rounds.senate.gov", "rounds", "https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today delivered the introduction for Director of National Intelligence nominee Jay Clayton at his nomination hearing in front of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Rounds first met Jay through his role on the Senate Banking Committee when Clayton was nominated and confirmed to be Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2017.\n\n\u201cJay is a consummate professional with a distinguished career in both the private and public sectors,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cThe Senate previously confirmed him on a bipartisan basis to serve as the SEC Chair, and I\u2019d like to think we were proven correct in judging his character the first time around.\u201d\n\n\u201cJay\u2019s time at the SEC and in the private sector has given him valuable experience with issues that the DNI faces on a daily basis: cyber threats from state and non-state actors, illicit finance, economic competition with China, and the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence by both our adversaries and our own intelligence community,\u201d continued Rounds. \u201cHe brings valuable insight into each of these areas that will serve him well.\u201d\n\nClick HERE to watch Rounds\u2019 full introduction. Read Rounds\u2019 remarks as prepared for delivery below.\n\n+++\n\nThank you, Mr. Chairman.\n\nToday, I have the privilege of introducing the Honorable Jay Clayton, President Trump\u2019s nominee to serve as the next Director of National Intelligence.\n\nI first met Jay through my role on the Banking Committee when he was nominated by President Trump and confirmed by the Senate to be Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2017.\n\nHe\u2019s a consummate professional with a distinguished career in both the private and public sectors. The Senate previously confirmed him on a bipartisan basis to serve as the SEC Chair, and I\u2019d like to think we were proven correct in judging his character the first time around.\n\nIt\u2019s no surprise President Trump would select him to serve in his cabinet. The DNI has to be a trusted, unbiased voice to provide ongoing intelligence to the President. I believe Jay will do great work in this role.\n\nJay is an accomplished lawyer with decades of experience, and he currently holds one of the most high-profile and demanding posts in the Department of Justice as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.\n\nHe\u2019s made the most of his time in New York by prosecuting some of America\u2019s worst enemies and threats to our national security: Mohamed Al-Sadia, the Iranian-Iraqi national responsible for over a dozen terrorist attacks in Europe and two attempted attacks in America, Nicolas Maduro, and multiple other narco-terrorists.\n\nThese efforts required extensive coordination with the intelligence community and larger national security enterprise, including the Department of Justice, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. If confirmed, Jay\u2019s experience at the helm in New York will serve him well as DNI.\n\nMr. Clayton chaired the SEC through a period of significant uncertainty for financial markets during the depths of the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020.\n\nHis success in leadership roles at the SEC and DOJ is strong evidence of his ability to be an effective coordinator as the Director of National Intelligence.\n\nMany of the most pressing national security threats we face today are cross-cutting issues that involve technology and economics and go beyond the IC\u2019s traditional focus on foreign military capabilities and foreign leadership intentions.\n\nJay\u2019s time at the SEC and in the private sector has given him valuable experience with issues that the DNI faces on a daily basis: cyber threats from state and non-state actors, illicit finance, economic competition with China, and the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence by both our adversaries and our own intelligence community. He brings valuable insight into each of these areas that will serve him well.\n\nJay holds a TS/SCI clearance and has worked in highly classified compartmented environments requiring discretion and security compliance. As a result, he knows first-hand the critical importance of Section 702 of FISA. His extensive experience working across agencies is a quality needed as DNI. He has a working relationship with CIA director Ratcliffe that will make for a smooth transition into this leadership role.\n\nWhile Jay may not have served in the intelligence community, he has the right mix of practical experience working with the IC, including experience with the Justice Department and coordination with the Department of the Treasury. His professional background is important to the growing demands being placed upon the IC related to technology and economic competition. Furthermore, his diverse experience in the private sector, the SEC and as a U.S. attorney in a very active district give him the wealth of management, leadership, and organizational experience to succeed in coordinating with all the different equities that make up the Intelligence Community.\n\nIn closing, I offer my strong endorsement for Mr. Clayton to serve as the next Director of National Intelligence. Thank you.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-introduces-legislation-to-expedite-scientific-research-on-diseases", "Rounds Introduces Legislation to Expedite Scientific Research on Diseases", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "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 Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) today introduced legislation to expedite scientific research on diseases through specimen collection. This is the first piece of legislation introduced using feedback from Rounds and Heinrich\u2019s American Science Acceleration Project (ASAP), a national initiative to support making American science 10 times faster by 2030.\n\nThe Homestake AI Act would establish a pilot program in the Department of Energy (DOE) focused on the collection, cataloguing and sequencing of whole genomes and metabolites from samples collected in unique locations. This includes locations exposed to extreme properties such as high heat or pressure, locations at extreme risk of destruction in coming decades and other locations that hold potential for finding useful organisms to help advance health care treatments.\n\nThe Homestake AI Act was inspired by the case of the Gila monster. The Gila monster, native to the deserts of North America, can survive on just a few meals a year due to a digestion-slowing hormone in its venom. This discovery helped pave the way for Ozempic, a drug for diabetes patients to manage blood sugar.\n\n\u201cThe Homestake AI Act would take great strides to accelerate scientific research on diseases here in the United States,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cEvidenced by the Gila monster, species who survive in extreme environments usually hold an interesting secret to doing so. Increasing the amount of data we collect from these specimens could unlock cures to diseases such as Alzheimer\u2019s, diabetes and different types of cancers. I\u2019m pleased to be unveiling our first piece of legislation related to our ASAP initiative. Thank you to everyone who provided information to make this legislation possible.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe need to leave no stone unturned in the race to discover cures and treatments for cancer, diabetes, and dementia,\u201d said Heinrich. \u201cOur Homestake AI Act will establish a new initiative at the Department of Energy that helps researchers harness the power of AI to identify, catalog, and sequence plants, animals, and microbes that may hold the secret to potential cures and treatments. This is how we keep America at the forefront of scientific innovation while saving lives.\u201d\n\nSupporters of the Homestake AI Act include:\n\n\u201cThe South Dakota Science and Technology Authority (SDSTA) owns and operates the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, SD. SURF is America\u2019s Underground Lab and has a strong track record of supporting leading biological research deep underground,\u201d said Mike Headley, Executive Director of SDSTA and Lab Director at SURF. \u201cWe\u2019re excited to potentially play a role in the Extremophile Whole Genome Sequencing Initiative and thank Senators Rounds and Heinrich for their strong support of U.S. science leadership.\u201d\n\n\u201cArtificial intelligence is only as powerful as the infrastructure that supports it,\u201d said Dr. Jos\u00e9-Marie Griffiths, Chancellor of Dakota State University. \u201cThe Homestake AI Act, the first legislative initiative of the American Science Acceleration Project led by Senator Mike Rounds and Senator Martin Heinrich, recognizes that the next generation of breakthroughs will depend not only on advanced computing, but also on access to rich, high-quality biological data. By investing in the collection, preservation, and accessibility of genomic and metabolic data, this act lays the foundation for AI-driven discoveries that could transform how we prevent, diagnose, and treat countless health challenges. Building this research infrastructure today will ensure the United States remains at the forefront of scientific innovation and discovery for decades to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cBiological organisms\u2019 diversity is an incredibly rich resource for America and the world,\u201d said Barry Dunn, President of South Dakota State University. \u201cTheir genomes carry the information we need to harness a diversity of organisms' unique properties for our greater use. The Homestake AI Act is a critically important step toward discoveries that will change the way we live.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Homestake AI Act underscores the tremendous potential of artificial intelligence and scientific discovery to improve lives. By strengthening scientific datasets and accelerating research, this initiative can help unlock new insights into some of our most pressing health challenges,\u201d said Sheila K. Gestring, President of the University of South Dakota. \u201cAt the University of South Dakota, we see every day how innovation, data-driven research and strong partnerships can advance knowledge and create meaningful impact. This legislation recognizes the value of investing in discovery today to improve health outcomes for future generations. We commend Senators Mike Rounds and Martin Heinrich for their leadership in advancing this forward-looking effort and strengthening America\u2019s capacity for scientific innovation.\u201d\n\n\u201cSouth Dakota Mines strongly supports the Homestake AI Act,\u201d said Dr. Brian Tande, President of the South Dakota School of Mines. \u201cThis bill would accelerate American science by using artificial intelligence and unique datasets to pursue breakthroughs in treating cancer, diabetes, dementia, and other serious diseases. It enhances the kind of bold research we do at Mines every day: driving innovation and improving lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica's leadership in AI and biotechnology depends on building the scientific infrastructure that will power the next generation of discovery,\u201d said Ylli Bajraktari, CEO of the Special Competitive Studies Project Action Program. \u201cThe Homestake AI Act recognizes that the genomes and molecular diversity of living organisms represent a strategic and largely untapped resource for innovation. By investing in the systematic collection and analysis of these data, the United States can accelerate the development of new therapies, fuel AI-driven scientific breakthroughs, and strengthen our nation's leadership in innovation, economic competitiveness, and national security for decades to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cAlphaFold solved protein structure prediction only because researchers spent decades building the dataset behind it,\u201d said Josh New, Director of Policy at SeedAI. \u201cThe Homestake AI Act lets us jumpstart that process for genomics, treating untapped genomes as the national resource they are and turning them into an open library for American researchers that could speed new treatments for some of our worst diseases. The pace of scientific discovery is a choice, and the Homestake AI Act is a choice to move faster. This kind of effort is why we launched Accelerate Science Now, and SeedAI applauds Senators Rounds and Heinrich for their progress with the American Scientific Acceleration Project (ASAP) and commitment to keeping America the global leader in scientific discovery\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are grateful to Senators Rounds and Heinrich for their bipartisan leadership on the Homestake AI Act,\u201d said Chan Park, Head of U.S. and Canada Policy and Partnerships at OpenAI. \u201cBy creating a secure, interoperable collection of genomic data from extreme environments, this bill would give American scientists a powerful new resource to accelerate breakthroughs in medicine and other critical fields.\u201d\n\n\u201cI applaud the bipartisan effort of Senators Rounds and Heinrich to accelerate American scientific breakthroughs, especially those that directly improve individual health and well-being,\u201d said Pat Gelsinger, General Partner at Playground Global. \u201cFrom its inception, Playground Global has taken big bets on hard problems. The Homestake AI Act similarly recognizes that technological advancement alone won't cure cancer; it requires a moonshot. By ensuring America secures and responsibly shares relevant data, this bill unlocks new innovation opportunities by addressing a significant bottleneck to medical scientific progress.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Homestake AI Act proposes the creation of a national biological data resource for research that can accelerate progress on longstanding health challenges while strengthening the nation's scientific and national security capabilities,\u201d said Fred Humphries, CVP of U.S. Government Affairs for Microsoft. \u201cWe commend Senators Rounds and Heinrich for their leadership.\u201d\n\n\u201cBy supporting the collection, cataloguing, and sequencing of genomes and metabolites, the Homestake AI Act would help build a powerful scientific resource that could accelerate treatments for serious diseases, such as cancer,\u201d said Eliezer Van Allen, MD, Chandra Nohria Family Chair for AI in Cancer Research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. \u201cMaking these data broadly accessible to researchers, while safeguarding national security, is an important investment in American science that could save lives at Dana-Farber and across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor all human existence the language of life was an unreadable secret--until American scientists deciphered the DNA-based alphabet of life,\u201d said Daniel Gluesenkamp, Executive Director of the California Institute for Biodiversity. \u201cToday, the Homestake AI Act gives America a golden library card to the most powerful library in existence. The Institute for Biodiversity applauds the ambitious plan: send the best scientists on Earth to collect the rarest and most imperiled creatures, leverage AI to turn their secrets into miraculous medicines and new materials and store these priceless samples in repositories secure against even meteor strike. This legislation seizes a strategic opportunity to secure some of the most valuable resources in the world, and ensure American leadership in the most crucial technologies of the 21st century and beyond.\u201d\n\n\u201cBiomedical insights and innovation using AI begin with great data, and by preserving and sharing the genomes of extraordinary species, this bill helps turn nature's ingenuity into treatments and cures,\u201d said Tom Secunda of the Secunda Family Fondation. \u201cThe Secunda Family Foundation is proud to support the Homestake AI Act, and I thank Senator Rounds and Senator Heinrich for their leadership.\u201d\n\nClick HERE for full bill text.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-democrats-must-come-to-their-senses-stop-obstructing-ndaa/", "Thune: Democrats Must Come to their Senses, Stop Obstructing NDAA", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s been a heavy week here in the United States Senate, with the tragic and unexpected passing of Senator Lindsey Graham.\n\n\u201cLindsey was a great American patriot.\n\n\u201cHe was a champion for the Republican Party.\n\n\u201cAnd for many of us, he was a trusted and loyal friend and adviser.\n\n\u201cAnd so, we mourn his loss, and we welcome his beloved sister Darline here to the United States Senate.\n\n\u201cShe will take up his duties and responsibilities as a senator for the state of South Carolina.\n\n\u201cAnd I say all this in the context of, I wish we had Lindsey here, because right now we are dealing with an important national security matter, the National Defense Authorization Act, something that Congress has done every year now for the last 65 years.\n\n\u201cAnd yesterday, we had what was simply a motion to proceed to get on the bill \u2013 actually, it was a cloture motion to proceed to get on the bill \u2013 and the Democrats blocked it, every single one.\n\n\u201cAnd that, my friends, I believe is really unfortunate.\n\n\u201cThis is an issue that ought to be bipartisan.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s about the national security interest of this country, and the Democrats seem to be dug in and willing to play politics with America\u2019s vital national security interests.\n\n\u201cThis is not about funding for Iran.\n\n\u201cThis is something we do on an annual basis, and we have for the last 65 years in a row.\n\n\u201cSo, I am hopeful that at some point the Democrats will come to their senses and realize that national security ought to be a priority for them.\n\n\u201cIt certainly is for us.\n\n\u201cAnd we will give them more opportunities in which to change that vote, and to express their support for even moving forward and having the debate.\n\n\u201cBy the way, I would add that there were 38 Democrat amendments that were included in the National Defense Authorization Act that we tried to get up on the floor yesterday.\n\n\u201cSo, national security is important to this country.\n\n\u201cBorder security is important to this country.\n\n\u201cThe Democrats have a pattern, going back now over a year, of, you know, not wanting to pay air traffic controllers, not wanting to pay border security personnel, and in this particular case, holding hostage the pay increases for our men and women in uniform.\n\n\u201cThat is really unfortunate and unprecedented, and I certainly hope that soon they\u2019ll come to their senses.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-on-ndaa-democrats-latest-national-security-hostage-taking-exercise/", "Thune on NDAA: Democrats\u2019 Latest National Security Hostage-Taking Exercise", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, Americans tend to trust Republicans more than Democrats when it comes to national security, and boy oh boy, do Democrats seem determined to demonstrate why that is the case.\n\n\u201cYesterday afternoon, Democrats voted against the National Defense Authorization Act \u2013 the annual bill that authorizes spending for our nation\u2019s defense.\n\n\u201cTheir ostensible excuse was the conflict in Iran.\n\n\u201cWell, in case they were operating under a misconception, I am happy to tell them that this year\u2019s National Defense Authorization Act is not an Iran funding supplemental.\n\n\u201cIt is the annual \u2013 annual \u2013 legislation authorizing the basic needs of our military and the basic needs of our men and women in uniform.\n\n\u201cNeeds that exist no matter what is happening in Iran.\n\n\u201cLet\u2019s just talk about what Democrats voted against yesterday.\n\n\u201cThey voted against a pay increase for our troops.\n\n\u201cThey voted against quality-of-life improvements for our troops.\n\n\u201cThey voted against the reform of the Pentagon\u2019s acquisition process.\n\n\u201cThey voted against funding for unmanned systems, like drones and counter-drone measures \u2013 an essential security need in this day and age.\n\n\u201cThey voted against shipbuilding efforts to strengthen our naval fleet.\n\n\u201cThey voted against measures to maintain our nation\u2019s air power.\n\n\u201cThey voted against including 38 of their own amendments!\n\n\u201cI could go on here, Mr. President, but you get the point.\n\n\u201cOnce again, Democrats are playing fast and loose with our nation\u2019s security.\n\n\u201cI say once again, Mr. President, because Democrats have been playing fast and loose with our nation\u2019s security all year.\n\n\u201cFirst there was their record-breaking full-government shutdown last fall, which affected our military and all of our nation\u2019s security agencies \u2013 to say nothing of the impact that it had on air travel.\n\n\u201cThen there was their record-breaking shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, which lasted a staggering 76 days.\n\n\u201cThen, after that, Democrats refused to reauthorize a critical intelligence-gathering tool, which the Democrat leader himself has described as, I quote, a \u2018very important tool for ensuring our national security.\u2019\n\n\u201cAnd now they\u2019ve blocked the Senate from considering the National Defense Authorization Act.\n\n\u201cAnd who knows what\u2019s next?\n\n\u201cMr. President, in either a fit of self-delusion or an attempt to distract from their actions, Democrats are trying to peddle the narrative that somehow they can\u2019t agree to anything because Republicans are trying to make things partisan.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s right, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cWell, let me spend just a minute correcting the record here.\n\n\u201cThe National Defense Authorization Act that Democrats voted against yesterday?\n\n\u201cBipartisan.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s right, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cThe National Defense Authorization Act is bipartisan legislation.\n\n\u201cFour Democrats voted for a bill \u2013 for a bill \u2013 at the committee markup.\n\n\u201cDemocrats\u2019 record-breaking full-government shutdown in the fall?\n\n\u201cWell, that was because they wouldn\u2019t accept a nonpartisan, short-term, clean government funding extension to allow bipartisan negotiations to continue.\n\n\u201cThe Democrats\u2019 record-breaking Department of Homeland Security shutdown?\n\n\u201cWell, that was also because Democrats couldn\u2019t take yes for an answer.\n\n\u201cDemocrats and Republicans had agreed on a bipartisan DHS funding bill; Democrats reneged on that agreement because they wanted to negotiate for more; and Republicans said yes to negotiation \u2013 and then Democrats shut down the department anyway.\n\n\u201cEven though Republicans were willing to negotiate further.\n\n\u201cEven though the White House repeatedly offered a robust package of reforms.\n\n\u201cSo as I said, Mr. President, I don\u2019t know whether it\u2019s self-delusion or deliberate deception, but I have heard few things more ludicrous than Democrats\u2019 narrative that they can\u2019t agree to legislation because Republicans are being partisan.\n\n\u201cHere are the facts, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cDemocrats can\u2019t bring themselves to authorize funding for our nation\u2019s security \u2013 whether that\u2019s security at our border, funding for our military, or paychecks for our troops.\n\n\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter how bipartisan the bill is.\n\n\u201cDemocrats can\u2019t bring themselves to support our nation\u2019s security.\n\n\u201cIs it politics, Mr. President?\n\n\u201cDo Democrats think that voting against our national defense and our nation\u2019s military will gain them points with their base?\n\n\u201cOr do they simply think they can afford to ignore our nation\u2019s defense needs until some hostile actor takes advantage of our weakness?\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t know, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cBut I do know that our nation is less safe because of Democrats\u2019 actions.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-calls-on-democrats-to-support-the-bipartisan-national-defense-authorization-act/", "Thune Calls on Democrats to Support the Bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, before I begin my remarks this morning, I want to offer a word of welcome to the new senator from South Carolina.\n\n\u201cLater today, we will swear in Darline Graham to fill the seat of her brother and our friend, Lindsey Graham.\n\n\u201cAnd I know Darline will carry on Lindsey\u2019s tireless service for South Carolina, and I look forward to serving with her.\n\n\u201cMr. President, like many of us, I represent a state with a rich heritage of military service.\n\n\u201cAnd South Dakota continues to punch above its weight in our armed forces.\n\n\u201cOur National Guard is frequently called up for critical deployments at home and around the world.\n\n\u201cAnd Ellsworth Air Force Base is a key asset to our national defense.\n\n\u201cIn fact, today Ellsworth is the largest construction site in the Air Force as it prepares to host the first B-21 bombers next year.\n\n\u201cDuring the recent state work period, I was glad to welcome Air Force Secretary Troy Meink \u2013 a South Dakota native \u2013 to Ellsworth.\n\n\u201cWe met with the base leadership and some of the airmen stationed there, and we saw the progress the base is making as it prepares for its important new mission.\n\n\u201cMr. President, whether responding to a natural disaster at home or fighting our enemies abroad, the men and women in America\u2019s armed forces stand ready to answer the call.\n\n\u201cThey are our most important national security asset.\n\n\u201cAnd we have an obligation here in Congress to ensure that they have everything they need for whatever the mission may be.\n\n\u201cI know senators on both sides of the aisle take that obligation seriously.\n\n\u201cAnd we must.\n\n\u201cAs I\u2019ve said so often before, if you don\u2019t get national security right, the rest is just conversation.\n\n\u201cIf we don\u2019t make national security a priority here, we run the risk that Americans serving in uniform won\u2019t have what they need when they need it.\n\n\u201cMr. President, that\u2019s why the National Defense Authorization Act is one of the most important bills that we do each year.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s the bill that helps ensure our military is ready today and prepared for tomorrow.\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019m proud that our colleagues on the Armed Services Committee \u2013 with the leadership of Chairman Wicker and Ranking Member Reed \u2013 have reported out a strong National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027.\n\n\u201cFor the 66th year in a row, the Armed Services Committee has produced a bipartisan NDAA.\n\n\u201cAnd later today, we\u2019re going to have a vote to proceed to this important bill.\n\n\u201cMr. President, we\u2019ve had regular reminders over the last few years that we live in a dangerous world.\n\n\u201cThat America still has enemies \u2013 enemies that want to attack us, our allies, and our interests.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve seen, too, how quickly warfare evolves in this day and age.\n\n\u201cMr. President, this year\u2019s NDAA will not only help ensure that America can keep pace with those challenges, but also that we can outpace our adversaries.\n\n\u201cIt puts a heavy emphasis on unmanned systems \u2013 especially drones and counter-drone measures.\n\n\u201cIt also continues shipbuilding efforts to strengthen our naval fleet.\n\n\u201cAnd as for our air power, this year\u2019s bill will help ensure we maintain a force of at least 1,800 fighters and supports the new B-21 long-range strategic bomber.\n\n\u201cMr. President, there\u2019s a lot I could talk about in this bill, from investing in our nuclear deterrent to supporting munitions production.\n\n\u201cBut I\u2019ll mention just two more important aspects of this year\u2019s bill.\n\n\u201cFirst, it builds on efforts in last year\u2019s NDAA to reform defense acquisition.\n\n\u201cThat includes allowing multi-year procurement contracts that allow the Pentagon to do business more efficiently with greater predictability and savings for taxpayers.\n\n\u201cAnd Mr. President, I need to mention what this bill does for the men and women serving our country \u2013 and their families who serve alongside them.\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s NDAA supports a 3.6 percent pay raise for our troops.\n\n\u201cAnd it invests in a number of quality-of-life improvements for them and their families.\n\n\u201cInvestments in education.\n\n\u201cHousing.\n\n\u201cHealth care.\n\n\u201cAnd child care.\n\n\u201cMr. President, our colleagues on the Armed Services Committee have put forward a strong bill.\n\n\u201cA strong bill for our national security and for the men and women who defend our nation.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s my hope that we\u2019ll be able to pass this bill out of the Senate soon and begin the process of working with our counterparts in the House and with the White House on a final bill.\n\n\u201cRepublicans are ready to go.\n\n\u201cThe question is, how will Democrats vote today?\n\n\u201cAre there enough Democrat senators who support moving forward with a bipartisan \u2013 bipartisan, Mr. President \u2013 defense bill?\n\n\u201cI see no reason there shouldn\u2019t be.\n\n\u201cBut then again, Democrats have allowed the politics of obstruction to determine so many of their actions for the last year and a half.\n\n\u201cI certainly hope that Democrats won\u2019t now put politics ahead of support for our men and women in uniform.\n\n\u201cBut that\u2019s up to them.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-joins-fox-news-cnn-and-newsmax-to-reflect-on-decades-long-friendship-with-senator-graham/", "Thune Joins Fox News, CNN, and Newsmax to Reflect on Decades-Long Friendship With Senator Graham", "2026-07-13", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch Fox News, here to watch CNN, and here to watch Newsmax.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined America\u2019s Newsroom on Fox News, Inside Politics on CNN, and The Record with Greta Van Susteren on Newsmax.\n\nOn Senator Graham\u2019s legacy:\n\n\u201cOn a personal level, he was a very good friend to me \u2026 He came out to my first campaign, my first House campaign in 1996. And then the last couple of years, he\u2019s been out in South Dakota with me, and we\u2019ve been just a lot of places together through the years. But more important than all of that is just the impact he\u2019s had on this country and the voice that he has been on so many issues that are critical to America\u2019s national security interests and to protecting the American people.\u201d\n\n[\u2026]\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve never seen anybody, honestly, who \u2026 had more energy, more passion \u2026 Sometimes we kind of find ourselves going through the motions here; Lindsey was never that way. He believed every day in what he was doing and why he was doing it. He had a great sense of mission and purpose, and that is absolutely going to be missed here.\u201d\n\n[\u2026]\n\n\u201cLindsey was a bigger-than-life impact player in terms of the international scene, domestic politics, legislation, policy, things he was passionate about. But like you said, there are a lot of us who knew him as a close friend. He was that to me. He was a trusted advisor, somebody I could go to to give me straight advice and counsel, and just spent a lot of time through the years.\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019m really, really, incredibly sad and still in shock, I think like a lot of people are, but we\u2019re doing our best to process it. And you know, we just have to make the best of the situation and do everything we can to honor and give tribute to Lindsey and his life and his impact and just the difference he made here as a public servant through all these years.\u201d\n\n[\u2026]\n\n\u201cI can\u2019t imagine this place without Lindsey. I can\u2019t imagine the world writ large without Lindsey, for the incredible impact that he had on so many levels. Just so passionate about national security, obviously huge influence and voice on matters affecting judges and the judiciary. He was chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, got us through two reconciliation bills this last year. And of course, one of the strongest voices for the pro-life movement in this country.\u201d\n\n[\u2026]\n\n\u201cIt is going to be very, very hard to envision the United States Senate, our country, certainly South Carolina, or for that matter the world, without Lindsey.\u201d\n\n[\u2026]\n\n\u201cHe was somebody who was fearless in the way he approached the legislative process. He was willing to take on tough issues and speak out about them. And of course, he had just one of the sharpest wits I\u2019ve ever been around, and he was able to use that when he communicated. He was a very gifted and talented communicator.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-14T07:08:55Z", "2026-07-14T07:10:52Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-pays-tribute-to-the-life-and-legacy-of-senator-lindsey-graham/", "Thune Pays Tribute to the Life and Legacy of Senator Lindsey Graham", "2026-07-13", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, I come to the floor today with a heavy heart.\n\n\u201cI look to my right and I see a desk which we in the Senate refer to and know as the John Calhoun desk.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s covered with a black shroud.\n\n\u201cAnd on \u2026 top of that shroud is a bowl of white roses.\n\n\u201cThat, Mr. President, is Lindsey Graham\u2019s desk.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s difficult to believe that Lindsey Graham is no longer here with us \u2013 that we won\u2019t run into him at a meeting today, or share a joke with him at this afternoon\u2019s vote.\n\n\u201cThe halls of the Senate already feel empty without him.\n\n\u201cAnd I know I\u2019m not alone in that feeling.\n\n\u201cHe was a friend to so many of us, on both sides of the aisle.\n\n\u201cAnd I know that I\u2019m not the only one who finds it difficult to imagine the Senate without Lindsey Graham.\n\n\u201cMr. President, the events of Lindsey\u2019s life have been well-documented over the past couple of days.\n\n\u201cHis humble beginnings in South Carolina, sharing a single room with the rest of his family behind his family\u2019s bar.\n\n\u201cHis guardianship of his younger sister Darline, after the untimely death of their parents.\n\n\u201cHis long service in the Air Force, the South Carolina Air National Guard, and the Air Force Reserve.\n\n\u201cHis career in politics, first as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives; then as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, where I served with him for six years; and then in the Senate, where he was just completing his fourth term.\n\n\u201cIn the Senate, Lindsey distinguished himself as a staunch conservative \u2013 and a fierce advocate for South Carolina \u2013 but also as someone who was willing to work across the aisle to find common ground and to reach solutions.\n\n\u201cA lawyer by trade, he served as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 2019 to 2021, where he helped confirm a Supreme Court justice and numerous federal judges \u2013 the kind of judges who believe in following the law and the Constitution, instead of legislating policy from the bench.\n\n\u201cMost of all, of course, Mr. President, Lindsey was known for his national security and foreign policy work.\n\n\u201cThere was no bigger believer in America\u2019s role in the world.\n\n\u201cHe was confident that the United States could be a force for good, and he gave everything he had to ensuring that we would be.\n\n\u201cHe was a friend and defender of freedom-loving peoples all over the world.\n\n\u201cHe stood with the Ukrainian people in their fight against Russian aggression, and he died with his boots on, having just returned from a trip to Ukraine \u2013 his tenth.\n\n\u201cHe believed fiercely in the importance of a strong national defense \u2013 in ensuring that our country, and our military men and women, were always prepared to deter and defeat any threat.\n\n\u201cBut while there was always a lot made of his support for American hard power, he was also a big believer in the use of soft power \u2013 economic, diplomatic, and political solutions to the world\u2019s problems.\n\n\u201cI was fortunate to travel with him all over the world \u2013 including to Israel after Hamas\u2019 October 7th attack \u2013 and I saw firsthand the work that he did to promote American security and the security of freedom-loving peoples around the globe.\n\n\u201cAnd of course, I don\u2019t need to tell anyone in this body that Lindsey was fearless in his commitment to the causes that he espoused.\n\n\u201cIt didn\u2019t matter to him whether he would catch flack on an issue \u2013 he was undaunted by the politics if he believed he was right on the principle.\n\n\u201cSenator. Warrior. Patriot. Statesman.\n\n\u201cWords that will be written about Lindsey.\n\n\u201cBut for me, most of all, Mr. President, he was my friend.\n\n\u201c\u2018Without friends,\u2019 Aristotle said, \u2018no one would choose to live\u2019 \u2026 \u2018though he had all other goods.\u2019\n\n\u201cAnd it\u2019s difficult to count the ways in which Lindsey\u2019s friendship made this job richer \u2013 and its burdens lighter.\n\n\u201cLindsey was as loyal as they come \u2013 and a trusted adviser.\n\n\u201cI could always rely on him for straight-talking advice.\n\n\u201cHe never minced words or pulled punches.\n\n\u201cI could also rely on him for a steady flow of humor and encouragement.\n\n\u201cHe always could make me laugh.\n\n\u201cAlways.\n\n\u201cIn the last couple of years, he came to South Dakota twice, and twice we sat on the deck and watched the sun go down on Lake Oahe \u2013 a familiar scene to me but new to him.\n\n\u201cAnd as the stars came out, you could see the Milky Way overhead and you could hear coyotes howling and rooster pheasants cackling down below.\n\n\u201cLindsey\u2019s wit punctuated all of it.\n\n\u201cAnd I will cherish those memories for a long time to come.\n\n\u201cMr. President, if there is any light to be found in this grief, it is this:\n\n\u201cThat as a Christian, like Lindsey, I know that death is not the end.\n\n\u201cThe Apostle Paul writes, and I quote, \u2018Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.\u2019\n\n\u201cOr as another Graham once put it, and I quote, \u2018Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don\u2019t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God.\u2019\n\n\u201cI will miss Lindsey\u2019s friendship, Mr. President, more than I can say.\n\n\u201cWe pray for his staff and for his family, whom he loved dearly, and who loved him dearly in return.\n\n\u201cBut I am comforted by the knowledge that in the end, he has just changed his address.\n\n\u201cAnd that one day, Mr. President, we will laugh together again.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-14T07:08:55Z", "2026-07-14T07:10:52Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-to-attend-independence-day-fireworks-at-mount-rushmore-with-president-trump", "Rounds to Attend Independence Day Fireworks at Mount Rushmore with President Trump", "2026-06-25", "2026", "2026-06", "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 will be attending the Independence Day fireworks display at Mount Rushmore alongside President Trump on July 3.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to attending the fireworks show at Mount Rushmore on July 3 with President Trump,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cIn South Dakota, we don\u2019t just climb mountains \u2013 we carve them. Thanks to President Trump and his team, fireworks will once again be displayed over Mount Rushmore for the first time since 2020, just in time for the 250th anniversary of America\u2019s founding. There\u2019s no better place to celebrate than at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. Thank you to everyone who has been working hard to put on a great event.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-26T06:29:35Z", "2026-06-26T06:31:46Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-hyde-smith-lead-legislation-to-ban-barbaric-abortion-procedures", "Rounds, Hyde-Smith Lead Legislation to Ban Barbaric Abortion Procedures", "2026-06-24", "2026", "2026-06", "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 Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), chair of the Senate Pro-Life Caucus, today introduced the Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act of 2026. This legislation would establish a federal prohibition on dilation and evacuation procedures, commonly known as dismemberment abortions, in which surgical instruments are used to extract an unborn child piece by piece. Under this bill, physicians who knowingly perform these procedures will face fines and/or imprisonment of up to two years.\n\n\u201cEvery life is a precious gift from God and should be treated with dignity,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cDismemberment abortions are among the most brutal methods of abortion, accounting for around 80% of second trimester abortions. Our legislation would make performing a dismemberment abortion a criminal offense, with the doctor or health care provider who performs it liable to fines and up to two years in prison.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery pre-born child is precious, and it\u2019s appalling that any physician trained to save lives would dismember a child in the womb. The fact that this horrifying procedure is still being done to babies who can feel pain in the womb is why we need to enact the Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act,\u201d Hyde-Smith said.\n\nCompanion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Kat Cammack (R-Fla.).\n\n\u201cUnder our current system, abortion procedures exist in a legal gray area with no federal standards and no accountability. Providers can perform inhumane extraction methods and face zero consequences. That ends now,\u201d said Cammack. \u201cThis bill sets a clear federal standard that holds providers accountable, protects the dignity of all life, and ensures women are protected, not prosecuted.\u201d\n\nThe Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act is supported by South Dakota Right to Life, the National Pro-Life Alliance, National Right to Life, the Ethics and Religions Liberty Commission, Susan B. Anthony Pro-life America and Live Action.\n\n\u201cSouth Dakota Right to Life strongly supports this legislation to protect unborn children from the brutal and heinous practice of dismemberment abortion,\u201d said Jenn Lee, Executive Director of South Dakota Right to Life. \u201cEvery child in the womb is a human life with immeasurable value, and our laws should reflect our commitment to defending the most vulnerable among us. This legislation is an important and compassionate step toward protecting babies from violence and affirming our nation's dedication to life.\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator Mike Rounds is a steadfast pro-life champion dedicated to protecting the unborn from the moment of conception,\u201d said Marisa Jorge, Director of Legislation at the National Pro-Life Alliance. \u201cWe applaud this legislation to end one of the most brutal abortion procedures performed in the United States. His bill shines a light on the horrific reality of dismemberment abortions and exposes the radical agenda of the pro-abortion lobby, which continues to oppose even the most basic protections for unborn children. The National Pro-Life Alliance is grateful for Senator Rounds' unwavering commitment to defending the most vulnerable. The Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act represents a step toward restoring respect for human life and affirming the dignity of every child, born and unborn.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act addresses a horrific abortion procedure commonly performed in the United States,\u201d said Carol Tobias, President of National Right to Life. \u201cNo child should be subjected to being torn apart piece by piece before birth. This bill affirms the fundamental principle that every human life has inherent dignity and worth. We thank Senator Rounds for reintroducing this critical piece of legislation. National Right to Life proudly supports this measure and urges Congress to pass it.\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator Rounds' legislation would be a common-sense extension of current law to bar a particularly egregious form of abortion,\u201d said Dr. Evan Lenow, President of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. \u201cDismemberment abortions are cruel, and the civil penalty should reflect the seriousness of the harm inflicted.\u201d\n\n\u201cOn the fourth anniversary of the landmark Dobbs decision, we face the grim reality that abortions are up across the nation,\u201d said Hon. Marilyn Musgrave, Vice President of Government Affairs for Susan B. Anthony Pro-life America. \u201cThe most common second trimester abortion method, dismemberment abortions, end the life of an unborn baby by tearing off her arms and legs, removing her torso, then crushing her tiny head. This barbaric practice takes the lives of 60,000 to 70,000 fully formed babies every year. We applaud Senator Rounds, Senator Hyde-Smith, and their colleagues in the Senate for introducing this bill to put an end to these brutal abortions. As we continue onward in a post-Roe America, we look forward to continuing to work with members of Congress to pass legislation that protects unborn children and their mothers from the horror of abortion.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery child, no matter how small, deserves protection under the law,\u201d said Mark T. Wiltz, Director of Government Affairs at Live Action. \u201cThe Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act would end a barbaric procedure that brutally takes the life of a preborn child. While Live Action believes that every abortion unjustly ends an innocent human life and should ultimately be abolished, this legislation is a step toward protecting vulnerable children. Live Action is grateful to Senator Rounds for standing for the fundamental human rights of the most vulnerable among us.\u201d\n\nClick HERE for full bill text.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-25T06:30:03Z", "2026-06-25T06:31:21Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-marks-fourth-anniversary-of-supreme-courts-dobbs-decision/", "Thune Marks Fourth Anniversary of Supreme Court\u2019s Dobbs Decision", "2026-06-24", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, today we mark four years since the Supreme Court\u2019s Dobbs decision \u2013 the landmark Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade and returning the question of abortion to the people and their elected representatives.\n\n\u201cRoe was, quite simply, terrible constitutional law \u2013 a fact that\u2019s been acknowledged by legal scholars across the political spectrum.\n\n\u201cAnd the Dobbs decision reversed this decades-old error and made it clear that Roe\u2019s \u2026 supposed constitutional right to an abortion simply didn\u2019t exist.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to have fought, along with my Republican colleagues, to put justices on the Supreme Court who focus on interpreting the law and the Constitution \u2013 instead of creating new constitutional law out of thin air, as justices did in Roe.\n\n\u201cMr. President, it\u2019s fitting that the Dobbs decision occurs close to our nation\u2019s birthday \u2013 July 4, the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.\n\n\u201cAnd as we prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration \u2013 the 250th birthday of our country \u2013 the proximity of these two anniversaries has been on my mind.\n\n\u201cThe Declaration lays out the fundamental principles underlying our system of government.\n\n\u201cAnd no lines are more important than these:\n\n\u201c\u2018We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018\u2026 that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.\u2019\n\n\u201cUnalienable rights, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cRights given by God, rights that come before government, and that government is required to protect.\n\n\u201c\u2018All men are created equal \u2026 [and] endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. President, as our country knows, to its sorrow, we haven\u2019t always lived up to the principles of the Declaration.\n\n\u201cAnd the sad truth is that when it comes to unborn Americans, we are failing to live up to those principles today.\n\n\u201cBecause in state after state around this country, it is legal to kill unborn human beings \u2013 unborn Americans \u2013 in some cases up until the point of birth.\n\n\u201cUp until the point of birth, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cThese babies \u2013 these human beings \u2013 will never have the chance to enjoy the rest of their unalienable rights because they are denied their most fundamental right while they\u2019re still in their infancy.\n\n\u201cThis is not, of course, something you will hear from my Democrat colleagues when they attempt to defend abortion.\n\n\u201cYou won\u2019t hear about the baby whose rights are at stake.\n\n\u201cIn fact, my Democrat colleagues do everything they can to obscure the baby in this debate.\n\n\u201cThey mention women and \u2018health care\u2019 and \u2018reproductive freedom\u2019 \u2013 as if killing an innocent person could ever be something we\u2019re free to do \u2013 and they never mention the other person in question, which is the unborn human being who is sacrificed in every abortion.\n\n\u201cProbably because they know at some level that supporting the killing of an innocent human being is indefensible \u2013 and completely incompatible with our nation\u2019s creed.\n\n\u201cAnd let\u2019s be very clear here, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cWhen we talk about abortion, we are talking about the killing of a human being.\n\n\u201cEveryone knows this \u2013 even my Democrat colleagues know this, although they might like to gloss over the fact.\n\n\u201cYou don\u2019t even need to have seen a baby kicking her feet and sucking her thumb on an ultrasound to know that she\u2019s human.\n\n\u201cBecause human moms and human dads \u2026 have other human beings.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s Biology 101.\n\n\u201cNo, Mr. President, the question isn\u2019t whether the unborn baby is a human being \u2013 the question is whether we value that human being. Whether we really believe our American creed.\n\n\u201c\u2018We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life \u2026\u2019\n\n\u201cDo we really believe that, Mr. President?\n\n\u201cOr do we believe that it\u2019s okay to say that some human beings are more important than others?\n\n\u201cThat some human beings can be sacrificed for others?\n\n\u201cI would hope history has taught us that it is a very dangerous thing to say that some groups of human beings are not worthy of protection.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I am proud to be from a state that has extended the full protection of the laws to unborn human beings \u2013 that has recognized that unborn Americans are also created equal and endowed by their Creator with unalienable rights.\n\n\u201cAnd I am proud to have supported, sponsored, and co-sponsored pro-life legislation here in Congress.\n\n\u201cThe overturning of Roe has opened the door to substantive pro-life legislation \u2013 and Republicans in Congress are going to keep up the fight for real protections for unborn Americans.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m very proud that with the Working Families Tax Cuts, Congress enacted the first pro-life law in decades.\n\n\u201cThanks to Republicans\u2019 landmark legislation, this year some of the nation\u2019s largest abortion providers \u2013 including Planned Parenthood \u2013 were prohibited from receiving federal Medicaid funding.\n\n\u201cOrganizations that have turned the killing of babies into a business were cut off from this source of taxpayer dollars.\n\n\u201cMr. President, the Dobbs decision was a landmark decision because it opened the door for full protection of the unalienable rights of unborn Americans.\n\n\u201cBut there is a lot more work to be done.\n\n\u201cThe Democrat Party fights tooth and nail to ensure that even the most commonsense measures \u2013 like measures to protect babies who survive abortions, or to ensure pregnant college students are aware that they have alternatives to abortion \u2013 do not make it through Congress.\n\n\u201cAnd currently mail-order abortion drugs are flooding into states \u2013 in defiance of the law \u2013 thanks to the Biden administration\u2019s decision to loosen restrictions on these drugs, despite the fact that they pose a danger to women \u2013 as well as, obviously, to their babies.\n\n\u201cSo, as I said, Mr. President, the fight to protect the right to life for all Americans continues.\n\n\u201cAnd I and my Republican colleagues will continue to do everything we can here in Congress to support moms and to protect babies.\n\n\u201c\u2018We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.\u2019\n\n\u201cMay the day soon come when we fully live up to that creed.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-25T06:30:03Z", "2026-06-25T06:31:21Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-requests-south-dakotans-submit-complaints-with-postal-service", "Rounds Requests South Dakotans Submit Complaints with Postal Service", "2026-06-23", "2026", "2026-06", "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 requesting that South Dakotans submit comments to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) detailing the issues they are having with the United States Postal Service (USPS). As part of their investigation in South Dakota at Rounds\u2019 request, OIG is asking for first-hand accounts of poor mail service.\n\n\u201cMy office continues to hear from South Dakotans on a daily basis about the issues they\u2019re experiencing with mail delivery,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cAt my request, the Office of the Inspector General has opened an investigation into South Dakota\u2019s postal service. They are currently soliciting feedback from South Dakotans as a part of this investigation. I encourage anyone experiencing issues with their postal service to submit a comment to help paint a full picture of USPS problems in our state.\u201d\n\nOIG is taking comments from South Dakotans until July 26, 2026. Click HERE to submit feedback.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nRounds has been a leader on USPS issues in South Dakota, leading the push to keep local processing facilities in South Dakota. In April 2024, Rounds sent a letter to USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy urging USPS to avoid downsizing or significantly reorganizing mail processing operations in South Dakota. As a result, in February 2025, USPS committed to keeping the Dakota Central processing facility in Huron open, as well as investing $3 million in improvements to the facility. Rounds also secured a commitment from former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to keep mail that originates within South Dakota from leaving the state for processing.\n\nIn September 2025, Rounds sent a letter to new Postmaster General David Steiner urging him to restore reliable mail service and requesting a meeting. Rounds and Steiner met in October. Steiner followed up on the meeting with a letter dismissing the issues raised by Rounds, claiming that the mail delays were caused by issues at processing facilities in Chicago, St. Louis and Kansas City despite none of these facilities handling South Dakota\u2019s intrastate mail. USPS leadership continues to deny any issues with South Dakota\u2019s mail service despite the first-hand accounts from South Dakotans that say otherwise.\n\nIn December 2025, Rounds requested an investigation into persistent issues with USPS delivery in South Dakota. In April 2026, Rounds was notified that the Office of the Inspector General was on the ground in South Dakota to investigate mail service. In June 2026, Rounds sent a letter to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs announcing his intention to place a hold on all USPS nominees until South Dakota\u2019s issues are resolved.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-24T06:25:30Z", "2026-06-24T06:26:49Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-a-stronger-america-is-a-safer-america-2/", "Thune: A Stronger America Is a Safer America", "2026-06-23", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, I spoke on the floor yesterday about the landmark bill Republicans passed last year: the Working Families Tax Cuts bill.\n\n\u201cAnd I talked about how this bill fits into Republicans\u2019 efforts to turn things around in our country.\n\n\u201cTurn things around by putting more money in Americans\u2019 pockets.\n\n\u201cHelping small businesses grow.\n\n\u201cStrengthening the agriculture sector.\n\n\u201cAnd giving a lifeline to rural health care.\n\n\u201cMr. President, any one of those things alone would have been a significant achievement, but the Working Families Tax Cuts addressed all of them \u2013 all of them and more.\n\n\u201cMuch more.\n\n\u201cAnd this morning, I want to talk about how this bill helps to make America more secure.\n\n\u201cThat too, Mr. President, is unfortunately a turnaround story.\n\n\u201cAnd I say unfortunately, because the previous administration allowed our nation\u2019s security to fall into a sorry state.\n\n\u201cImages of the chaos at the southern border during the Biden administration come to mind.\n\n\u201cSo does the state of our military readiness.\n\n\u201cMr. President, in recent years, our military readiness has not been where it needs to be to deter and counter threats.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve had ships in need of maintenance.\n\n\u201cPlanes that can\u2019t fly.\n\n\u201cMeanwhile, China was investing in key military technologies.\n\n\u201cYet the Biden administration showed little interest in making the type of investment needed to get our military back to where it needed to be.\n\n\u201cAnd so when Republicans took control last year, we didn\u2019t waste any time.\n\n\u201cAs part of the Working Families Tax Cuts, Republicans made a generational investment in America\u2019s military.\n\n\u201cIt was a major investment to help get our readiness to where it needs to be \u2013 quickly.\n\n\u201cIt invested in shipbuilding, missile defense, defense manufacturing capacity, critical munitions, drones and counter-drone technology, an expanded Air Force fighter fleet, nuclear modernization, U.S. infrastructure in the Pacific, and more.\n\n\u201cAnd alongside robust funding in the annual defense bill, these investments will help restore America\u2019s military strength and make our adversaries think twice before crossing us.\n\n\u201cMr. President, as I mentioned, we also needed to address border security.\n\n\u201cWhen President Trump took office, he wasted no time implementing policies that restored order at America\u2019s southern border and put criminal illegal immigrants living in our country on notice.\n\n\u201cAnd we saw the results.\n\n\u201cIllegal crossings dropped precipitously.\n\n\u201cBorder agents weren\u2019t being stretched so thin anymore, and could spend more time stopping cartels and other criminals.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s how things should be at the border, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cAnd Republicans are making sure that it stays that way.\n\n\u201cAs part of the Working Families Tax Cuts, we made a generational investment in border security.\n\n\u201cWe provided the resources necessary to finish the border wall and deploy additional barriers and technology to secure the border.\n\n\u201cThere was funding to support the hiring of new agents.\n\n\u201cAnd to bring on more immigration judges to address the massive backlog in immigration cases.\n\n\u201cAnd those resources are making a difference.\n\n\u201cThanks to President Trump and the Working Families Tax Cuts, as of the end of last month apprehensions at the southern border are more than 90 percent lower than they were under the Biden administration.\n\n\u201cBorder Patrol is seeing a few hundred border crossings on a typical day \u2013 compared with as many as 10,000 in a single day at times under President Biden.\n\n\u201cAnd not a single illegal immigrant has been released from the border in more than a year.\n\n\u201cMr. President, the American people support border security.\n\n\u201cAnd keeping America safe should be something that cuts across party lines.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, our Democrat colleagues have repeatedly demonstrated zero interest in border security, and they\u2019ve consistently reaffirmed their belief in open borders.\n\n\u201cFirst there was their complicit silence as the Biden administration opened our borders to a flood of illegal immigrants.\n\n\u201cThen every Democrat opposed our border security measures in the Working Families Tax Cuts.\n\n\u201cAnd then this year \u2013 this year, Mr. President, Democrats took their radical open-border beliefs to a new level and tried to defund Border Patrol and ICE.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s right.\n\n\u201cDemocrats not only opposed giving these agencies adequate resources to do their jobs, they opposed giving them any resources.\n\n\u201cFortunately, Democrats\u2019 radical proposal did not carry the day.\n\n\u201cAnd Republicans were once again able to fund border security and immigration enforcement \u2013 unfortunately without Democrats\u2019 assistance.\n\n\u201cMr. President, the security of our country is one of our greatest responsibilities.\n\n\u201cWithout it, nothing else matters.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a responsibility that Republicans are taking seriously.\n\n\u201cThe Working Families Tax Cuts is a big step toward a more secure America.\n\n\u201cIt invests in safer streets with funding for state and local law enforcement.\n\n\u201cSafer skies by supporting air traffic control modernization.\n\n\u201cA secure border.\n\n\u201cAnd a strong military.\n\n\u201cMr. President, we all watch the news and can see that the world is a dangerous place.\n\n\u201cThere will always be bad actors and other dangers threatening the safety and security of the American people.\n\n\u201cBut Republicans are working to ensure there are individuals standing ready to protect us, and that they have everything they need to keep America safe.\n\n\u201cMr. President, a stronger America is a safer America.\n\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s what Republicans are delivering.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-24T06:25:30Z", "2026-06-24T06:26:49Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-republicans-work-to-make-americans-safer-and-more-prosperous-ahead-of-america-250/", "Thune: Republicans Work to Make Americans Safer and More Prosperous Ahead of America 250", "2026-06-23", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here or on the picture to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cThis is an exciting season of our year.\n\n\u201cWe are heading up now on the 250th anniversary, a celebration for our country.\n\n\u201cAnd I think I can say that we are very fortunate to live in the greatest land, in my view, in the history of the world.\n\n\u201cAnd we can be enormously thankful and grateful to those who have come before us, who have sacrificed and served to make that possible for the rest of us.\n\n\u201cAnd as we think about this 250th anniversary, it\u2019s also a good time to reflect on many of the things that we\u2019ve been able to accomplish and the issues that we\u2019ve been trying to address here in the United States Senate.\n\n\u201cFirst and foremost, of course, right now, as you know, is the housing bill.\n\n\u201cIt just passed; it\u2019s going to be taken up by the House later and hopefully signed into law by the president.\n\n\u201cIt gets at the very heart of an issue that I think is really important to the American people, and that\u2019s the issue of affordability.\n\n\u201cYou know, homeownership has always been considered to be part of that American dream, and to be able to, you know, put your flag in the ground and have someplace where you can take care of your family \u2013 this legislation is going to make that more possible.\n\n\u201cAnd I can\u2019t think of anything that is a better way to celebrate the 250th anniversary of this country than \u2026 making it easier for people to pursue the American dream of homeownership.\n\n\u201cAnd as we think about wrapping up this session of the Congress, as we get into the upcoming election, Republicans continue to stay focused on keeping our country safe, on safe streets, on the American people having more money in their pockets, and better opportunities to get ahead.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s what our focus has been and will continue to be, and we look forward to, you know, the days ahead, and hopefully more victories for the American people.\n\n[\u2026]\n\n\u201cA year ago, we passed the Working Families Tax Cuts legislation, and we will celebrate the one-year anniversary of that on July 1 here in the Senate.\n\n\u201cBut one of the things that came out of that were these Trump Accounts, and those Trump Accounts go live on July 4, and that\u2019s an opportunity for people in this country to save and to provide a better future for their kids.\n\n\u201cAnd so that was just one feature of the many that were included in that legislation.\n\n\u201cAnd so we will be celebrating 250 years of American history and freedom, and the sacrifices that those who came before us made \u2013 we\u2019ll also be celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Working Families Tax Cuts legislation.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-24T06:25:30Z", "2026-06-24T06:26:49Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-the-working-families-tax-cuts-delivered-major-wins-for-the-american-people/", "Thune: The Working Families Tax Cuts Delivered Major Wins for the American People", "2026-06-22", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMadam President, we\u2019re approaching one year since the Working Families Tax Cuts became law.\n\n\u201cFor nearly a year now, the American people have been seeing the benefits of this bill.\n\n\u201cFrom a more secure border to a stronger military.\n\n\u201cLarger paychecks and bigger refunds.\n\n\u201cSupport for farmers and ranchers.\n\n\u201cAnd a lifeline for struggling rural health care providers.\n\n\u201cMadam President, for the past year the story of the Working Families Tax Cuts has been unfolding across the country in a number of ways.\n\n\u201cAnd this afternoon, I want to talk about how Republicans\u2019 landmark bill has strengthened our economy and put more money in Americans\u2019 pockets.\n\n\u201cMadam President, when this Republican majority took over last year, the American people were reeling from the pain of the Biden economy.\n\n\u201cThey had suffered through an inflation crisis during which the cost of living increased by more than 20 percent in just a few years.\n\n\u201cAnd without action from Congress, they were looking at a $4 trillion tax hike in the not-too-distant future.\n\n\u201cFor folks in my home state, that would have meant paying $2,500 more in federal taxes this year.\n\n\u201cAnd that was completely unacceptable to Republicans.\n\n\u201cAnd so we set out to prevent that tax hike.\n\n\u201cAnd not just prevent it, Madam President.\n\n\u201cWe made our 2017 tax reform permanent so that that tax hike would never come.\n\n\u201cAnd then we provided additional tax relief to lower- and middle-income Americans so that they would be able to keep more of their hard-earned money.\n\n\u201cThanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts, 97 percent of Americans who filed taxes this year got a tax cut.\n\n\u201cLet me repeat that, Madam President.\n\n\u201cRepublicans delivered a tax cut for \u2026 97 percent \u2026 of tax filers, collectively saving them $82 billion on their federal taxes just this year.\n\n\u201cWe made lower tax rates permanent.\n\n\u201cRaised the standard deduction and made that permanent as well.\n\n\u201cWe increased the child tax credit to $2,200 and linked it to the cost of living so that it never loses its value.\n\n\u201cThen we created a number of new tax relief provisions.\n\n\u201cThe new senior deduction helped 35 million Americans over age 65 reduce their tax burden this year.\n\n\u201cNo tax on tips meant that 7.5 million workers\u2019 income from tips landed in their pockets instead of going to the IRS.\n\n\u201cAnd 29 million workers \u2013 from nurses to police officers and factory workers \u2013 took advantage of the new overtime deduction.\n\n\u201cAll told, Madam President, Americans earning between $100,000 and $200,000 last year who took advantage of the new tax relief saw an average tax cut of $1,250.\n\n\u201cA bakery owner in Sioux Falls said her head chef got a bigger refund this year, and that she was able to put that extra money toward a crib for her new baby.\n\n\u201cAnd she\u2019s not the only one.\n\n\u201cHardworking people all across the country have additional money to put toward their expenses or their savings thanks to Republican tax relief.\n\n\u201cBut Madam President, the good news doesn\u2019t stop there.\n\n\u201cThe Working Families Tax Cuts also delivered meaningful pro-growth tax reforms for America\u2019s small businesses, farms, and ranches, enabling them to invest more in their operations and their employees.\n\n\u201cSmall businesses have benefited from lower tax rates.\n\n\u201cAnd the 199A small business deduction is now a permanent feature of the tax code.\n\n\u201cOne agricultural co-op in my state estimates the impact of that one provision helped its co-op members reinvest more than $100 million into our local economy in the last 10 years.\n\n\u201cThen there\u2019s 100 percent immediate expensing for new equipment, which allows small businesses, farms, and ranches to deduct the full cost of any new piece of equipment the year they start using it.\n\n\u201cThe owner of Montgomery\u2019s, a furniture store in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, called bonus depreciation, and I quote, \u2018a huge, huge deal\u2019 for his furniture store.\n\n\u201cAnd a car dealer in my state said this provision enabled his business \u2026 to build an addition and hire 10 new employees.\n\n\u201cAnd the now-permanent research and development tax credit is making a similar impact on small businesses in my state and on our farm economy.\n\n\u201cIn fact, our former colleague and neighbor to the north in North Dakota \u2013 former Democrat Senator Heidi Heitkamp \u2013 has said, and I quote, \u2018For many producers and ag-related businesses, this is more than a tax break; this is a real opportunity to reinvest, innovate and stay competitive.\u2019\n\n\u201cShe\u2019s right, and the same could be said for a good number of provisions in this bill.\n\n\u201cMadam President, I\u2019ve already talked a little about how [the] tax relief we passed benefits farmers and ranchers.\n\n\u201c\u2026 Although I haven\u2019t mentioned the higher estate tax threshold that protects a lot more family farms and ranches from the death tax \u2013 not to mention the costly estate-planning that comes with that unfair tax.\n\n\u201cBut this bill went further than tax relief.\n\n\u201cIt strengthened critical programs that producers depend upon.\n\n\u201cIt raised reference prices for every covered commodity so they more closely reflect the actual market conditions farmers are dealing with.\n\n\u201cIt bolstered crop insurance.\n\n\u201cAnd it supported livestock producers by making existing programs more responsive to drought.\n\n\u201cMadam President, we still have more work to do to strengthen the ag sector, but the Working Families Tax Cuts delivered meaningful relief to farmers after a challenging few years defined by higher input costs, higher interest rates, and natural disasters \u2013 all while many farm programs were inadequate to meet the circumstances that farmers were living in.\n\n\u201cSo helping our ag producers was a priority for Republicans when we came in last year, and it will continue to be a priority for us moving forward.\n\n\u201cMadam President, I\u2019ve spent a lot of time this afternoon talking about how Republicans aimed to turn things around with this bill.\n\n\u201cAnd there\u2019s one more thing I want to discuss before I finish.\n\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s rural health care.\n\n\u201cMadam President, for all the challenges in health care today, it\u2019s even harder for rural providers.\n\n\u201cMore than 100 rural hospitals have closed in the last two decades, and doctors in rural areas can be hard to come by.\n\n\u201cSo last year, in the Working Families Tax Cuts, Republicans did something to address the rural health care crisis.\n\n\u201cAnd in the last year, every single state has applied for funding from the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program created by our landmark bill.\n\n\u201cRather than a top-down, Washington-based approach, we\u2019re giving states the resources and freedom to find solutions to their unique challenges and to find sustainable ways of ensuring access to health care in their rural communities.\n\n\u201cAnd as I said, the response has been robust.\n\n\u201cEvery single state \u2013 red, blue, and purple \u2013 is planning to take advantage of this much-needed support, and they have big plans for folks in rural parts of their states.\n\n\u201cAnd I can\u2019t wait to see just how transformative the Rural Health Transformation Program is across this country.\n\n\u201cMadam President, it\u2019s fair to say that things weren\u2019t going great in a lot of ways the last few years before President Trump and Republicans took control in Washington.\n\n\u201cBut we\u2019ve been working to address those issues and implement solutions to the problems facing the American people.\n\n\u201cAnd far from patting ourselves on the back, we\u2019re keeping our foot on the gas.\n\n\u201cLater today, we\u2019ll pass a housing affordability bill.\n\n\u201cThe Agriculture Committee is continuing work on a farm bill and additional agricultural relief.\n\n\u201cAnd we continue important legislative efforts on issues from cryptocurrency to artificial intelligence to reining in waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government.\n\n\u201cMadam President, one year ago Republicans delivered major wins for the American people in the Working Families Tax Cuts.\n\n\u201cAnd we are working every day to build on that success and to deliver again and again.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-23T06:27:52Z", "2026-06-23T06:29:20Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-the-21st-century-road-to-housing-act-makes-life-more-affordable-for-americans/", "Thune: The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Makes Life More Affordable for Americans", "2026-06-18", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, this week the Senate takes a big step forward on an issue that\u2019s important to many Americans.\n\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s homeownership.\n\n\u201cWhether you read about it in the news or hear about it in conversation with friends and family members, most people know that the dream of homeownership is out of reach for too many people in our country.\n\n\u201cLimited housing supply and burdensome regulations have contributed to higher prices, and many Americans are simply being priced out of the housing market.\n\n\u201cThat, Mr. President, is a problem.\n\n\u201cAnd it\u2019s a problem we aim to address with the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act.\n\n\u201cMr. President, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act tackles some of the causes of the higher prices that are preventing too many Americans from realizing the dream of homeownership.\n\n\u201cAs much as 25 percent of the cost of building a new single-family home comes from regulations.\n\n\u201cThat figure rises to 40 percent for multi-family construction.\n\n\u201cAs you can imagine, that contributes quite a bit to the price that Americans pay for that home.\n\n\u201cSo this bill cuts unnecessary red tape that\u2019s delaying construction and driving up prices.\n\n\u201cFor example, it removes the outdated chassis requirement for manufactured housing, which will not only reduce the cost of manufactured homes but allow for more innovation in manufactured home design.\n\n\u201cAnd then there are the costs and delays associated with the environmental review process.\n\n\u201cThis bill enables state, local, and tribal governments to streamline environmental reviews.\n\n\u201cIt right-sizes the NEPA process and exempts certain rural housing projects from these extensive and often burdensome reviews.\n\n\u201cAnd it directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the USDA to coordinate joint environmental reviews for housing projects funded by both agencies.\n\n\u201cIt should go without saying, Mr. President, that if it\u2019s one project, there should be one review.\n\n\u201cAnd because federal regulations are only one layer of the costs and burdens placed on new home construction, this bill also encourages local governments to reform zoning laws to encourage home construction.\n\n\u201cMr. President, lifting regulatory burdens will do a lot to bring down housing prices and encourage more construction.\n\n\u201cBut it\u2019s not the only aspect of encouraging homeownership.\n\n\u201cThe 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act also takes meaningful steps to support financing the purchase of a new home.\n\n\u201cIt lifts regulatory burdens on community banks and credit unions to ensure that these local lending institutions can be focused on people rather than paperwork.\n\n\u201cAnd it tailors regulations for smaller and new financial institutions, which will help increase competition that benefits the American people.\n\n\u201cMr. President, this bill is the result of years of hard work by many of our colleagues as well as months of negotiations with our colleagues in the House.\n\n\u201cThey have worked tirelessly to produce a bill that addresses some of the barriers to homeownership in this country.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m grateful for the work of Senators Rounds and Ricketts to support housing in rural areas.\n\n\u201cFor Senators Moreno and Hagerty\u2019s contributions to the financial institutions component of this bill.\n\n\u201cAnd for Senators Kennedy and Crapo\u2019s efforts to support work at the local level to build more housing.\n\n\u201cMr. President, thanks to all of their hard work, and that of many others, this bill is almost across the finish line.\n\n\u201cAnd, Mr. President, no one has been more committed to the success of this legislation than Chairman Tim Scott.\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019m especially grateful to Chairman Scott for his leadership in getting this landmark bill on a path to becoming law very soon.\n\n\u201cMr. President, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is a significant bill to make life more affordable for hardworking Americans.\n\n\u201cAnd it\u2019s just the latest item on Republicans\u2019 agenda to address the cost of living.\n\n\u201cLast year, Republicans passed the Working Families Tax Cuts \u2013 another landmark bill, which cut taxes for lower- and middle-income Americans.\n\n\u201cThis year, these hardworking people saw larger tax refunds and larger paychecks \u2013 and I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if many of them put some of that money away to save for their dream of buying a home: a dream that the ROAD to Housing Act will help put within their reach.\n\n\u201cPlus, the Working Families Tax Cuts provisions like immediate 100 percent expensing for investments are also contributing to addressing housing shortages by making it easier for builders to, well, build.\n\n\u201cAnd our legislation gave a boost to affordable housing construction as well.\n\n\u201cAs one realtor in Sioux Falls wrote last year, and I quote, \u2018Developers now have stronger incentives \u2014 and fewer barriers \u2014 to build more affordable units \u2026 For Sioux Falls, where we see steady population growth and a strong workforce influx, this is a game-changer.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. President, a recent poll shows that the overwhelming majority of Americans see housing affordability as a major issue, and they want to see Congress address it.\n\n\u201cThe 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act does just that, and I\u2019m proud that it garners support from a similarly overwhelming majority here in the Senate \u2013 and, I expect, it will in the House as well.\n\n\u201cI look forward to getting this bill through Congress in short order, sending it to the president\u2019s desk, and delivering another major win for the American people.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-19T06:50:32Z", "2026-06-19T06:53:40Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-senate-to-prioritize-passage-of-ndaa/", "Thune: Senate to Prioritize Passage of NDAA", "2026-06-17", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, last week, a U.S. Army Apache helicopter went down off the coast of Oman.\n\n\u201cWithin two hours, a rescue boat had located the pilots.\n\n\u201cBut this was not an ordinary rescue boat, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cFor the first time ever, an unmanned sea drone was sent to pick up the pilots and bring them to safety.\n\n\u201cMr. President, from the battlefields of Ukraine to the conflict with Iran, drones and other unmanned systems have become the weapon of choice.\n\n\u201cYet the United States military has been dangerously behind in drone and counter-drone capabilities.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve made considerable progress in just the last year \u2013 as evidenced by the rescue last week.\n\n\u201cBut we still have more work to do.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s where the National Defense Authorization Act comes in.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I often say if we don\u2019t get national security right, the rest is just conversation.\n\n\u201cAnd this annual defense bill is one of the most important bills we consider each year because it\u2019s where we make the policies that help ensure we do get national security right.\n\n\u201cWe pass this bill every year so that these policies are up to date \u2013 so that we\u2019re giving our men and women in uniform the very best equipment and capabilities to do the job we ask them to do.\n\n\u201cMr. President, last week the Armed Services Committee reported out the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2027, and I\u2019m proud to say that this bill authorizes important investments to improve readiness and to provide the capabilities that we need to keep America safe today and into the future.\n\n\u201cThat includes a heavy focus on unmanned systems.\n\n\u201cThis bill would create a new combatant command overseeing these technologies.\n\n\u201cIt authorizes $1 billion in unmanned maritime systems.\n\n\u201cSupports drone and counter-drone capabilities at military bases and at America\u2019s borders.\n\n\u201cAnd will ensure that we are able to produce and procure enough munitions for all of these systems as well.\n\n\u201cAnd drones, Mr. President, are just the beginning.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s a lot more in this year\u2019s NDAA to strengthen America\u2019s military, improve readiness, and keep our armed services on the cutting edge.\n\n\u201cOne of those things is shipbuilding.\n\n\u201cThe bill reported out of committee authorizes investment in a number of new ships, including accelerating procurement of amphibious warfare ships and supporting domestic shipbuilding and repair capabilities.\n\n\u201cAs for our air power, this year\u2019s bill will help ensure we maintain a force of at least 1,800 fighters.\n\n\u201cIt supports the new B-21 long-range strategic bomber, which is expected to land at Ellsworth Air Force Base in my home state sometime next year.\n\n\u201cAnd it allows for multi-year procurement for fighter planes, which will allow the Pentagon to do business more efficiently with greater predictability and save taxpayers money.\n\n\u201cMr. President, this year\u2019s bill builds on the significant reforms to defense acquisition we enacted in last year\u2019s NDAA in a number of ways.\n\n\u201cAs I mentioned, it allows for multi-year procurement contracts for fighter aircraft as well as for munitions and vehicles.\n\n\u201cAnd it accelerates the process for new software to come online, removing unnecessary red tape that delays getting new technology into the hands of American soldiers.\n\n\u201cAnd speaking of our men and women in uniform, Mr. President, I\u2019m pleased to be able to say that this bill authorizes a 3.6 percent pay raise for our military members.\n\n\u201cIt also supports a number of quality-of-life improvements, including investments in education, health care, and child care for service members and their families.\n\n\u201cMr. President, as I\u2019ve already said, this is an important bill, and drafting a bill of this size is not a simple task.\n\n\u201cI appreciate the hard work by our colleagues on the Armed Services Committee.\n\n\u201cThanks to the leadership of Chairman Wicker and Ranking Member Reed, we have \u2013 for the 66th year, now, in a row \u2013 a bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act.\n\n\u201cThat too is no small feat.\n\n\u201cMr. President, when it comes to military capabilities, we just can\u2019t play catch-up; we need to be the leader in the capabilities that will define the future.\n\n\u201cCapabilities that will keep Americans safe by making our enemies think twice before crossing us.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s peace through strength.\n\n\u201cBut you can\u2019t get there with a strong budget one year and a weak budget the next.\n\n\u201cWe ask members of the armed forces to be ready whenever we need them, wherever we need them, and for whatever we need them to do.\n\n\u201cAnd we here have an obligation to make sure that when that call comes, they have what they need to answer it.\n\n\u201cMr. President, we need to make every concerted effort every year to strengthen our military.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s never a time when we can afford to put this on the backburner.\n\n\u201cTry as we might, we simply don\u2019t know what\u2019s coming over the horizon.\n\n\u201cAnd we\u2019ll eventually pay the price for failing to invest in a strong national defense today.\n\n\u201cMr. President, 251 years ago this week, the Continental Congress created the Continental Army and appointed George Washington its commander-in-chief.\n\n\u201cFor 251 years, Americans have bravely gone to fight our nation\u2019s battles.\n\n\u201cAnd for 251 years, it\u2019s been Congress\u2019 job to stand behind them and provide what they need to execute the mission.\n\n\u201cThe face of the battle has changed, but the fundamental duty \u2013 theirs and ours \u2013 has not.\n\n\u201cAs Washington himself said, and I quote, \u2018If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace \u2026 it must be known that we are at all times ready for war.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. President, we have to get national security right.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m glad this year\u2019s National Defense Authorization Act is up to the task, and I look forward to bringing it to the floor very soon.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-18T06:41:00Z", "2026-06-18T06:43:25Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-secures-national-defense-victories-in-senate-armed-services-committees-fiscal-year-2027-ndaa", "Rounds Secures National Defense Victories in Senate Armed Services Committee\u2019s Fiscal Year 2027 NDAA", "2026-06-16", "2026", "2026-06", "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 (SASC) and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, released the following statement on the committee\u2019s passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2027. The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration.\n\n\u201cThe NDAA is the hallmark piece of legislation that the Armed Services Committee works on each year, and it\u2019s always an honor to have a role in crafting it at the committee level,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cThis is the 12th NDAA I\u2019ve had the opportunity to work on as a member of the Armed Services committee. I was glad to have several wins for South Dakota in the committee version of this legislation, including $43.7 million for military construction projects for the South Dakota National Guard in Sioux Falls and Sturgis. Our committee version of the bill fully authorizes the B-21 Raider program to be housed at Ellsworth, with $3.23 billion for procurement and another $4.25 billion in ongoing research and development for the platform. As Chair of the Cybersecurity Subcommittee, I am also very pleased with the cyber provisions included to strengthen our nation\u2019s offensive and defensive cyber capabilities, as well as ongoing efforts to accelerate AI adoption.\n\nIn an increasingly dangerous world, a consensus on defense spending is more important than ever. I firmly believe that this year\u2019s NDAA takes great strides to secure our nation and put us in a position to fight away games rather than on our own soil. I look forward to working with the rest of my Senate colleagues and the House to get the NDAA passed and signed into law.\u201d\n\nRounds was named as the 6th most effective member of the United States Senate on defense and national security issues for the 118th Congress. Read a full list of his provisions in this year\u2019s NDAA below.\n\nRounds\u2019 South Dakota Victories:\n\nFully authorizes the B-21 Raider program, including over $3.23 billion for total procurement ($2.23 billion for procurement and $1 billion in advanced procurement), and an additional $4.25 billion in research and development.\n\nAuthorizes $146.8 million for B-1B Lancer.\n\nAuthorizes $40 million for an Aircraft Maintenance Hangar for the South Dakota Air National Guard\u2019s 114th Fighter Wing in Sioux Falls.\n\nAuthorizes $3.7 million for a Vehicle Maintenance Shop for the South Dakota Army National Guard in Sturgis.\n\nAuthorizes $10 million for Cold Regions Advanced Materials and Manufacturing research being done at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.\n\nAuthorizes $10 million for Large Area Additive Deposition work being done on large area additive manufacturing by VRC Metal Systems and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, South Dakota.\n\nAuthorizes $5 million for Innovate High Energy Density Sodium Battery research being done by South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.\n\nAuthorizes $30 million for the University Consortium for Cybersecurity including Dakota State University.\n\nRequires the Army and the Air Force to provide the congressional defense committees a briefing on the resources needed for environmental restoration activities on the Pine Ridge Reservation, and encourages the Secretary of the Army, Secretary of the Air Force, and Army Corps of engineers to conduct government-to-government consultation with the Oglala Sioux Tribe.\n\nRequires with the Under Secretary for Research & Engineering, Under Secretary for Acquisition & Sustainment, and the geographic combatant commands to develop a comprehensive strategy for cost-effective, attritable high-altitude systems, including cross-Department coordination of investments and what policy, budgetary, and industrial base changes are needed to accelerate adoption at speed and scale.\n\nRequires the Secretary of the Air Force and the commander of U.S. Strategic Command to reevaluation the B-21 Raider program of record and provide an assessment of the number of B-21 aircraft necessary to meet the nuclear and conventional mission requirements in the FY26 National Defense Strategy. They must also provide a plan for producing the necessary number of aircraft. (It is likely that many of the aircraft purchased beyond the initially planned 100 B-21s will make their way to Ellsworth.)\n\nRequires the Secretary of Defense to provide the full report and unredacted materials used in the review of the Medals of Honor provided to soldiers for their conduct at Wounded Knee Creek in December 1890.\n\nAuthorizes $50 million for small businesses and non-traditional contractors to cover their Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification costs (to meet the Department\u2019s cybersecurity standards).\n\nRounds\u2019 Major National Defense Victories:\n\nCreates an Under Secretary of Defense for Cyber, Information, and Networks, merging the Department\u2019s Chief Information Officer and the Principal Cyber Advisor to the Secretary of Defense into a single dual-hat individual.\n\nDirects the Secretary of Defense to establish a joint program with Germany for co-development and co-production of air defense and air-to-air munitions to increase the defense industrial base capacity of both countries.\n\nDirects the Department to develop a strategy and resource plan to enhance U.S. cyber cooperation with Indo-Pacific allies and partners\n\nRequires AI models being used by the Department of Defense to provide source attribution, helping prevent dissemination of foreign adversary propaganda.\n\nProvides resources to the National Guard and Reserve cyber components who are participating in ongoing cyber military operations.\n\nRequires the Department to mandate effective software acquisition pathway for all software purchases to support more flexible appropriations options for software activities to speed up software acquisition and development activities.\n\nRequires the Department to provide an update on the development of Dynamic Spectrum Sharing capabilities to facilitate better use of the spectrum by both the military and commercial interests.\n\nAuthorizes $1 million to strengthen cooperation between U.S. Cyber Command and the Kingdom of Jordan.\n\nDirects Department of Defense Cyber Defense Command to submit annual reports to Congress on their Cyber Operational Readiness Assessment program, which is critical to securing the Department\u2019s networks.\n\nDirects the Chief Information Officer of the Department to reduce administrative burden of the Department\u2019s risk management framework, making it easier for cyber, AI, and software companies to work with the military.\n\nEstablishes artificial intelligence governance rules for the Department and our miliary to make sure autonomous weapon systems and AI tools require human judgment when appropriate, without slowing down our warfighters and industry partners from developing and utilizing cutting edge technologies.\n\nDirects an independent study on the roles, responsibilities, authorities, and resourcing of the Principal Cyber Advisors of the military departments.\n\nDirects a plan to remove unnecessary bureaucratic procedures and regulations related to the AUKUS partnerships between the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom so our defense industrial bases are better able to work together.\n\nRequires the Department to develop a plan for a public-private partnership to train individuals at the scale required for modern drone warfare.\n\nRequires an Army report on potential Army National Guard drone units.\n\nRequires an Army report on a potential Army National Guard Drone Center of Excellence.\n\nRounds-Supported Victories:\n\nAuthorizes funding to support a 3.6 percent pay raise for military members.\n\nEncourages the Department to establish a Robotic and Autonomous Systems Combatant Command.\n\nRequires acceleration of the adoption and purchase of low-cost munitions.\n\nAuthorizes the establishment and continued operation of Joint Interagency Task Force-Counter Cartel to coordinate and bolster the counter-cartel mission and defending the southwest border.\n\nEstablishes the United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative to expand and accelerate bilateral defense technology research, development, testing, evaluation, coordination, and industrial cooperation between the U.S. and Israel.\n\nCodifies the Department review process for autonomous weapon systems and AI capabilities, specifying standards for human judgment, validation and testing requirements, prohibited uses, and a centralized incident reporting repository.\n\nEstablishes comprehensive prohibitions against betting on military operations in prediction markets.\n\nRequires the Department to accept the Classic Learning Test at military service academies.\n\nClick HERE to read an executive summary from the Senate Armed Services Committee.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-17T06:49:24Z", "2026-06-17T06:50:53Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-democrats-break-all-the-wrong-records/", "Thune: Democrats Break All the Wrong Records", "2026-06-16", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, I don\u2019t think at this point there are too many people who think Democrats were actually interested in reforms of Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\n\n\u201cBecause it was pretty clear from their actions that they were not.\n\n\u201cIf you\u2019re interested in getting reforms, you don\u2019t say no when you\u2019re repeatedly offered a robust reform package.\n\n\u201cEven if you can\u2019t get every single thing you want.\n\n\u201cBut Democrats, of course, said no \u2013 again and again and again.\n\n\u201cAnd eventually they just walked away completely.\n\n\u201cAnd refused to provide even a dollar of funding for Border Patrol or ICE.\n\n\u201cClearly, they decided that having a political issue for November was more important than reforms.\n\n\u201cAnd, Mr. President, you certainly don\u2019t have to take my word for it.\n\n\u201cBecause the Democrat leader came out last week and admitted that the decisions he and his party have made this Congress have been about one thing, and that\u2019s improving Democrats\u2019 prospects in November.\n\n\u201cThis is a quote: \u2018We made a lot of strategic decisions that got us to this place \u2014 it didn\u2019t happen by accident,\u2019 the Democrat leader said, referring to his view of his party\u2019s position.\n\n\u201cAnd you know what he ticked off as some of the most strategic decisions, Mr. President?\n\n\u201cDemocrats\u2019 two record-breaking government shutdowns.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s right.\n\n\u201cDemocrats shut down the government \u2013 twice \u2013 to try to improve their chances in November.\n\n\u201cNot to help hardworking Americans. Not to get reforms at ICE and Border Patrol.\n\n\u201cNo.\n\n\u201cTo improve their chances in November.\n\n\u201cMr. President, let\u2019s just run down some of the consequences of Democrats\u2019 choices.\n\n\u201cThe disastrous situation at U.S. airports that resulted from Democrats\u2019 decision to cut off funding for air traffic controllers, for one.\n\n\u201cThere are the incredible lines that Americans faced at TSA in the middle of that shutdown.\n\n\u201cThe TSA officers who have left in droves thanks to Democrats\u2019 decision to force them to work without pay for quite literally months this fiscal year.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s the strain Democrats\u2019 actions placed on our national security agencies \u2013 and the people entrusted with protecting our nation.\n\n\u201cAnd then there were the government workers lining up at food banks, charging necessary expenses on credit cards, and wondering if they would be evicted from their homes because they couldn\u2019t afford to pay next month\u2019s rent.\n\n\u201cThe damage Democrats have caused has been immense.\n\n\u201cAnd for what?\n\n\u201cFor what, Mr. President?\n\n\u201cTo improve their chances in November.\n\n\u201cWell, Mr. President, Democrats would like you to believe they\u2019re the party of the little guy \u2013 of everyday American workers.\n\n\u201cBut a better insight into their real attitude might be gained by the Democrat leader\u2019s statement earlier in Democrats\u2019 first government shutdown, when he said this, and I quote:\n\n\u201c\u2018Every day gets better for us\u2019 \u2013 the \u2018us,\u2019 of course, being Democrats.\n\n\u201c\u2018Every day gets better for us.\u2019\n\n\u201cWell, Mr. President, when the Democrat leader made this statement, military families were on the verge of missing pay.\n\n\u201cSo were a lot of civilian government employees \u2013 like the Capitol Police officers who stand on guard for us around this building.\n\n\u201cPeople were wondering how they\u2019d cover their rent. Their food. Their commuting costs. Their electric bills.\n\n\u201cBut none of that was on the Democrat leader\u2019s mind.\n\n\u201cAll he could think about was whether the shutdown was good for Democrats\u2019 polling.\n\n\u201cAnd then there\u2019s the article that came out last week about what House Democrats\u2019 first bill would be should they take the majority in November.\n\n\u201cDemocrat leadership, of course, has been trying to push the narrative that Democrats\u2019 big interest is in making life more affordable for everyday Americans.\n\n\u201cBut as last week\u2019s article made clear, it turns out that House Democrats are by no means agreed that affordability should be at the top of their priority list.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019re interested in other issues, like a reboot of their proposed federal election takeover, or simply trying to undo anything President Trump has done \u2013 presumably simply because President Trump has done it.\n\n\u201cI wonder if they would try to undo the tax relief Republicans passed for working families \u2013 which every single Democrat voted against.\n\n\u201cHard to know.\n\n\u201cBut as the Democrat leader made clear last week, Mr. President, one thing\u2019s for sure: it\u2019s not the American people who are top of mind for Senate Democrats \u2013 it\u2019s their election prospects in November.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-18T06:41:00Z", "2026-06-18T06:43:25Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-democrats-must-stop-obstructing-fisa-reauthorization-help-to-quickly-confirm-jay-clayton/", "Thune: Democrats Must Stop Obstructing FISA Reauthorization, Help to Quickly Confirm Jay Clayton", "2026-06-16", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cJay Clayton is an eminently qualified individual to become the new director of national intelligence, and so we are looking forward to processing him this week.\n\n\u201cChairman Cotton, they will be \u2026 having his confirmation hearing tomorrow \u2026 and hopefully reporting him out later in the week.\n\n\u201cIt would take cooperation among the Democrats in order to get him confirmed this week, but in my view, at least, he has all the qualifications that are necessary, has the vision, the experience, the judgment, the competence \u2013 all the things that you want in that position.\n\n\u201cAnd so I\u2019m hopeful the Democrats will cooperate and enable us to get him into this position and get him confirmed there quickly.\n\n\u201cAnd that, of course, has not been a given.\n\n\u201cYou look at the fact that this president, President Trump, is the first president in history not to have a civilian nominee confirmed either by voice vote or unanimous consent.\n\n\u201cThat is truly, truly unprecedented.\n\n\u201cBut that\u2019s been the Democrat practice and pattern \u2026 in this current administration.\n\n\u201cBut I hope that they will waive that for this and allow us to get this done, because I think that also unlocks the 702 process.\n\n\u201cAnd as most of you know, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act\u2019s 702 program is the most successful tool when it comes to keeping people and this country safe.\n\n\u201cAnd we are currently lapsed, and that also is unprecedented, and we are lapsed because the Democrats block voted \u2013 block voted \u2013 against a bipartisan deal that had been worked out between members here in the Senate and the House, Democrats and Republicans, and so it is now currently not an authorized program.\n\n\u201cThat needs to be changed, it needs to be fixed quickly, and I hope that the Democrats will work with us in order to make that happen.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s going to be certainly something that\u2019s front and center for the balance of this week.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-18T06:41:00Z", "2026-06-18T06:43:25Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-joins-bret-baier-on-fox-news6-17/", "Thune Joins Bret Baier on Fox News", "2026-06-16", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Bret Baier on Fox News.\n\nOn Jay Clayton\u2019s nomination:\n\n\u201cI hope he gets through this week \u2026 The confirmation hearing will happen tomorrow in the Intelligence Committee. They will report him out. We will take him up as soon as we can, but that will take some cooperation from Democrats. If they want to, they can slow-walk it \u2026 They can\u2019t slow it down forever \u2013 we\u2019ll get him on the floor \u2013 but if we want to get him confirmed by the end of the week, we\u2019re going to need a little bit of help. And right now, we\u2019re getting mixed signals about whether or not the Democrats will participate and help with that.\u201d\n\nOn FISA:\n\n\u201cFISA has, in an unprecedented way, gone dark. And the FISA, which is short for Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, there is a section there, Section 702, which is the principal tool by which we keep this country safe. It prevents terrorist attacks, it\u2019s helped us in times of war, protects American citizens, and that program right now [has] \u2018gone dark.\u2019\n\n\u201cWhen we say that, it\u2019s no longer authorized by the Congress. And so the Democrats had agreed to passing it with reforms that Republicans had agreed to. It was a bipartisan deal, and then when Pulte was nominated, they completely block voted against even getting on the bill. So right now, in my view, they own this. That was an irresponsible thing to do on a program that\u2019s critical for America\u2019s national security.\u201d\n\nOn Iran:\n\n\u201cI give the president great credit for having the guts and the courage to do the hard thing that no president for the last 50 years has been willing to do, and that is to degrade Iran\u2019s nuclear capability and significantly diminish their military capabilities in the region. How it winds down now is the thing we\u2019re all paying attention to, and in that respect, I think it\u2019s the old Reagan axiom: you trust but you verify. You\u2019ve got to make sure that \u2026 we\u2019ve got a good path forward here.\u201d\n\nOn the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act:\n\n\u201cThe housing bill, carefully negotiated, what we call four corners \u2013 bipartisan, bicameral, Democrats and Republicans in the House and the Senate. It is an issue that directly gets at the heart of the affordability question for a lot of Americans. It creates additional supply of housing in this country, makes housing more affordable, and so I\u2019m hoping that\u2019s something, too, that we can complete, get on the president\u2019s desk, get signed into law \u2026\u201d", 1, "2026-06-18T06:41:00Z", "2026-06-18T06:43:25Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-on-jay-claytons-nomination-and-consequences-of-democrats-fisa-lapse/", "Thune on Jay Clayton\u2019s Nomination and Consequences of Democrats\u2019 FISA Lapse", "2026-06-15", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, on Thursday President Trump nominated Jay Clayton \u2013 the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York \u2013 to be the director of national intelligence.\n\n\u201cHe has an impressive resume, with experience in both the public sector and the private sector.\n\n\u201cAnd he has the kind of skill set necessary for managing issues as complex and varied as those faced by the director of national intelligence.\n\n\u201cAnd for some perspective from the other side of the aisle: the Democrat vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee noted on Thursday, and I quote, \u2018I have known and respected Jay Clayton for many years and believe he is a capable public servant.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. President, Republicans here in the Senate have built a record of acting quickly on the president\u2019s nominees, and we\u2019re going to do the same with Mr. Clayton.\n\n\u201cThe Senate Intelligence Committee has already announced that it will hold a hearing on Mr. Clayton\u2019s nomination this week.\n\n\u201cAnd once he is approved by the committee, it is my intention to bring his nomination to the floor very quickly.\n\n\u201cAnd I hope we will have bipartisan support for making that happen.\n\n\u201cMr. President, while we didn\u2019t know exactly when it would arrive, we knew a nomination like Mr. Clayton\u2019s was coming.\n\n\u201cHow?\n\n\u201cBecause the president made it very clear that his choice of Bill Pulte for acting director of national intelligence was a temporary pick.\n\n\u201cDespite this, Democrats decided to hold Section 702 of FISA hostage over Mr. Pulte\u2019s temporary, short-term appointment.\n\n\u201cAnd thanks to their decision, as of Friday this program authorization has lapsed.\n\n\u201cWhat does that mean, Mr. President?\n\n\u201cIt means the nation is currently operating without the full capacity of its most critical intelligence-gathering tool.\n\n\u201cLet that sink in for just a minute.\n\n\u201cThanks to Democrats\u2019 actions, the nation is currently operating without the full capacity of its most critical intelligence-gathering tool.\n\n\u201cAll over a short-term, temporary presidential appointment.\n\n\u201cMr. President, you certainly don\u2019t have to take my word for it on the importance of the 702 program to the security of our nation.\n\n\u201cLet me just read a few quotes from my Democrat colleagues last time we were in danger of having the program authorization lapse.\n\n\u201cThis was from the Democrat leader, and I quote: \u2018[T]his very important tool for ensuring our national security is going to lapse, and that would be unacceptable.\u2019\n\n\u201cFrom the senior Democrat from Delaware, and I quote again: \u2018This program is critical to the security of our nation, and we could not permit it to lapse.\u2019\n\n\u201cFrom the senior Democrat from New Mexico, and I quote again: \u2018As a member of the Intelligence Committee, I\u2019ve learned the vital role that FISA\u2019s Section 702 authority plays in bolstering our nation\u2019s ability to effectively fight terrorism, disrupt foreign cyberattacks, impede drug trafficking, and protect U.S. troops. For our national security and the safety of the American people, it is simply too important of a tool to let it expire.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. President, just last week the Democrat vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee called Section 702, and I quote again, \u2018one of the most important intelligence tools we have.\u2019\n\n\u201cAnd yet despite all this, Mr. President, despite my Democrat colleagues\u2019 clear awareness and acknowledgement of the importance of this program, they voted to let the authorization for this program lapse.\n\n\u201cAnd what the consequences of that will be, we cannot fully predict.\n\n\u201cWe do know information secured through this program has been repeatedly used to help protect our nation and American lives from a range of threats, from fentanyl to cyberattacks to terrorism.\n\n\u201cAnd that information from this program is used on a near-daily basis by those entrusted with the defense of our country.\n\n\u201cThe Democrat vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee has himself referred to the suspension of FISA as, and I quote again, \u2018a high-risk proposition.\u2019\n\n\u201cSo, Mr. President, while we can\u2019t know the consequences of Democrats\u2019 decision to allow Section 702 authorization to lapse, we do know it is almost certainly putting our nation at greater risk.\n\n\u201cAnd I hope and pray that my Democrat colleagues will rethink their decision to take this program hostage and to restore this key safeguard of our country\u2019s security.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-18T06:41:00Z", "2026-06-18T06:43:25Z"], ["https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/johnson-announces-service-academy-appointments-2", "Johnson Announces Service Academy Appointments", "2026-06-15", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Dusty Johnson", "J000301", "dustyjohnson.house.gov", "dustyjohnson", "https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) announced nine South Dakotans will be attending the United States service academies. They will begin their military training at their respective schools in June. Johnson nominated each of these students in December 2025, and they recently accepted their appointment offers. This is a highly competitive process; approximately ten percent of applicants receive appointment offers across the five service academies.\n\n\u201cOne of the best parts of my job is nominating South Dakota\u2019s best and brightest who strive to begin their service to our country at one of our nation\u2019s esteemed service academies,\u201d said Johnson. \u201cThese students are exceptional, and their willingness to dedicate their lives to defending America\u2019s freedom is honorable. I know they will all represent South Dakota well at their respective institutions.\u201d\n\nRepresentative Johnson\u2019s Class of 2030 Service Academy Appointees:\n\nMiles Bender \u2013 United States Air Force Academy\n\nMiles Bender of Sioux Falls, S.D. will be attending the United States Air Force Academy and intends to study operations research or civil engineering. He is eager to serve his country and live by a code.\n\nMiles participated with the Civil Air Patrol\u2019s youth cadet program for three years and held leadership roles at O\u2019Gorman High School in campus ministry, rotary club, and student council, including student council president. He was a member of O\u2019Gorman\u2019s Hope Squad, which helps fellow students with mental health issues, and as a regular volunteer at a local meal ministry. Additionally, Miles participated in football, tennis, and powerlifting. Each of these have instilled \u201ca sense of discipline, teamwork, and a commitment to excellence \u2013 qualities that align and are upheld by the service academy.\u201d His mentors say, \u201cMiles excels at those traits that aren\u2019t always measurable.\u201d He\u2019s looking forward to the daily sports, beautiful nature of Colorado Springs, CO, and the drive of like-minded people.\n\nKanin Booth \u2013 United States Air Force Academy\n\nKanin Booth of Summerset, S.D. will be attending the United States Air Force Academy. Attending an academy was a childhood goal for Kanin. As a JROTC Cadet, Command Sergeant Major Kanin served as the Drill Team Captain and Color Guard Trainer. Kanin volunteered more than 320 community service hours, worked several jobs, and was very active in community programs such as the Future Business Leaders of America, he co-founded the Rapid City Student School Board, participated in the Rapid City Police cadet program, attended Boys State, and served as a delegate to the National League of Cities in Washington, D.C.\n\nKanin wants to major in Military and Strategic Studies and pursue a career in Air Force Special Warfare upon graduation. More specifically, he wants to be a Combat Rescue Officer. \u201cI strive to challenge myself both mentally and physically,\u201d Kanin explained. \u201cI believe that one can\u2019t learn to develop as a person unless they place themselves in situations that challenge them to adapt and overcome.\u201d\n\nMax Cook \u2013 United States Air Force Academy\n\nMax Cook of Gregory, S.D. will be attending the United Staes Air Force Academy. Inspired by the military service of both of his parents, Max has desired to serve his country for a long time. \u201cAbove all, the opportunity to serve my country at the highest level, and to become the best leader that I can be is what draws me to this noble institution,\u201d Max says.\n\nWhile at Gregory High School, Max participated in track and field, qualifying for the state meet. At a world engineering competition in Minneapolis, MN, Max and his team designed and built their own wind turbine. Max has spent this past year at the United States Air Force Preparatory School in Colorado Springs, CO, where he was selected as flight commander. Leading 22 of his peers has been a jump start to his military career and strengthened his leadership skills.\n\nEsten Foss \u2013United States Military Academy\n\nEsten Foss of Aberdeen, S.D. will be attending the United States Military Academy, where during a summer leadership program he attended as a high school junior, Esten witnessed how respect and duty were engrained in not only every cadet, but military faculty and civilian employees too. At Central High School, Esten is graduating second in his class. He participated in Boys State, was recognized for distinguished math and science skills, and has volunteered more than 100 service hours in his community.\n\nEsten ran track and field, was captain of his cross-country team, and was also captain of his wrestling team. \u201cWhat impresses me most about Esten is the level of passion he has for working with his teammates,\u201d his cross-country coach explained. Esten adds, \u201cIt is my duty to ensure that I hold myself to be an example of what I want the team to be through perseverance, consistency, and above all, a good attitude.\u201d\n\nLincoln Mansfield \u2013United States Naval Academy\n\nLincoln Mansfield of Hurley, S.D. is a Naval Academy Foundation Scholar at the Georgia Military Academy and will be attending the United States Naval Academy this summer. Attending a preparatory school gave Lincoln a chance to further hone his skills and get ready for the academy.\n\nAt Viborg-Hurley High School, Lincoln was on the Superior Honor roll six times and High Honor Roll one semester, and achieved All State Academic All Star for football, baseball, and track. He served as the junior class president and participated in Boys State. Lincoln is heavily involved with his community as a volunteer firefighter, T-ball coach, and softball umpire. Lincoln believes, \u201cbeing an officer in the Navy will allow me to help, serve, lead, and guide people.\u201d\n\nTyler Mueller \u2013 United States Air Force Academy\n\nTyler Mueller of Rapid City, S.D. will be attending the United States Air Force Academy to study aeronautical engineering. Tyler graduated ninth of his 367 classmates from Stevens High School. He participated in Rapid Acceleration, South Dakota\u2019s only FIRST\u00ae Robotics Competition team, where his team developed an award-winning open-source dashboard, autonomous navigation, and localization system on a competitive robot. Tyler also participated in a South Dakota School of Mines internship where he simulated the extraction of toxins from soil and researched substitute materials for vascular grafts. Additionally, Tyler conducted STEM outreach for Title I schools where he noted, \u201cpresenting these findings confirmed that research is not just about gaining knowledge but about using it to serve others.\u201d\n\nApplying this same work ethic to military service, Tyler said, \u201cI am certain that service and leadership are demonstrated through the consistent actions of those who endeavor valiantly in a worthy cause.\u201d He\u2019s most looking forward to the camaraderie at USAFA.\n\nGrant Roth \u2013 United States Military Academy\n\nGrant Roth of Sioux Falls, S.D. will be attending his first-choice school, the United States Military Academy, where he will major in mechanical engineering. A top performer at O\u2019Gorman High School, Grant excelled in academics, football, powerlifting, and track. Outside of school, Grant participated in Boys State, served on the Sioux Falls Mayor\u2019s Youth Council, was a Senate Page for the South Dakota state legislature, and participated on a mission trip to Guatemala. Furthermore, Grant has distinguished himself through his achievement as an Eagle Scout and as a mentor.\n\nAlways seeking to grow and push himself, Grant expressed his motivation to apply to the service academies is rooted in discipline and training himself physically, mentally, and morally. He\u2019s looking forward to continuing his personal character development and the rigorous education that lies ahead at such a prestigious school.\n\nTrinidy Sorensen \u2013 United State Naval Academy\n\nTrinidy Sorensen of Sioux Falls, S.D. will be attending the United States Naval Academy and majoring in chemistry. At Lincoln High School, Trinidy demonstrated both academic and athletic excellence. She was a top performer in her AP classes and served as the president and secretary for the National Honor Society. Trinidy participated in track, basketball, marksmanship, and served as the wrestling team captain. Trinidy was also the executive officer for her MCJROTC unit and intends to try out for the USNA silent drill team. Outside of school, Trinidy served others in her community through Faith Temple food giveaway, VFW pancake feeds, and several mission trips.\n\nTrinidy was inspired to serve others by her parents\u2019 example. She writes, \u201cThey instilled in me a sense of respect and a duty to help others.\u201d After the Naval Academy, she hopes to serve in either Explosive Ordinance Disposal or Surface Warfare in the Navy.\n\nAnders Van Olson \u2013 United States Military Academy\n\nAnders Van Olson of Yankton, S.D. will be attending the United States Military Academy to study cybersecurity. Anders is most excited to participate in West Point\u2019s leadership development program; he desires to serve his country and be the best version of himself that he can be. At Yankton High School, Anders was on the Honor Roll of Excellence all four years. He was on the hockey team, trap team, and a leader in orchestra, where he achieved first chair first violin, and was selected to All-State Orchestra three years in a row.\n\nAnders is inspired to serve by his grandfather, who served on destroyer escorts in World War II, and by the battlefield history of the upper plains at places like the Little Bighorn. Reflecting on these examples, Anders says he \u201cstarted to understand the process of training officers and the role of the academies in America\u2019s defense.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:11:26Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-on-democrats-refusal-to-prioritize-national-security/", "Thune on Democrats\u2019 Refusal to Prioritize National Security", "2026-06-11", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, last week, Senate Republicans passed legislation to fund Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the next three years.\n\n\u201cOn Tuesday, House Republicans passed the legislation.\n\n\u201cAnd yesterday, the president signed the bill into law.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I\u2019m proud that we got this done of course.\n\n\u201cRepublicans are deeply committed to ensuring a safe country and safe communities, and border security and immigration enforcement are key parts of that.\n\n\u201cNo country \u2013 no country \u2013 can be secure if bad actors can make their way freely across our borders, or if criminal illegal immigrants are able to operate freely within our neighborhoods.\n\n\u201cSo, as I said, I am proud that we got this done.\n\n\u201cBut, Mr. President, I also have to ask, how did we get here?\n\n\u201cHow did we get to the point where one party has completely abdicated any responsibility for our nation\u2019s security?\n\n\u201cAnd it\u2019s not just this bill, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cDemocrats have been playing fast and loose with our national security all year.\n\n\u201cTheir two record-breaking shutdowns strained our nation\u2019s critical national security agencies \u2013 particularly agencies at the Department of Homeland Security, which was shut down for a staggering 119 days all told this fiscal year.\n\n\u201cThe TSA, responsible for the security of our nation\u2019s airports, has seen a flood of resignations thanks to Democrats\u2019 decision to make these critical workers go without pay for quite literally months.\n\n\u201cAnd then there\u2019s border security and immigration enforcement.\n\n\u201cDemocrats absolutely refused to provide so much as a dollar \u2013 a dollar \u2013 to fund the agents who provide security at our nation\u2019s borders and remove criminal illegal immigrants from America\u2019s streets.\n\n\u201cI can\u2019t make that point enough, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cIf Democrats had their way, there would be zero \u2013 zero \u2013 physical presence at our nation\u2019s borders and zero agents to remove criminal illegal immigrants who do make their way into our country.\n\n\u201cIt is a breathtaking \u2013 breathtaking \u2013 level of irresponsibility.\u201cStill not done, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cBecause I haven\u2019t yet talked about FISA.\n\n\u201cSection 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is our nation\u2019s most critical intelligence-gathering tool.\n\n\u201cPolicymakers across the federal government \u2013 from both parties \u2013 rely on Section 702 information on a near-daily basis.\n\n\u201cAnd we were well on our way to reauthorizing it, with Democrat and Republican lawmakers here in the Senate working on an agreement.\n\n\u201cAnd then \u2013 as has happened more than once this year \u2013 Democrats backed out.\n\n\u201cAnd now this critical tool is set to go dark on Friday.\n\n\u201cAnd what the consequences of that will be, we cannot predict.\n\n\u201cMr. President, it\u2019s striking how weak Democrats\u2019 ostensible \u201creasons\u201d have been for all of these actions.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019re blocking a critical national security tool because they don\u2019t like the president\u2019s temporary, short-term pick for acting \u2013 acting \u2013 DNI.\n\n\u201cThey shut down the federal government twice \u2013 and refused to fund border security and immigration enforcement \u2013 because they couldn\u2019t take yes for an answer.\n\n\u201cUltimately, Democrats have made it clear this year that for them, it\u2019s always politics over policy.\n\n\u201cAnd if our economy suffers, if our national security suffers, because of Democrats\u2019 decision to shut down the government or refusal to fund border security \u2013 well, Democrats are apparently just fine with that.\n\n\u201cMr. President, polls tend to show that Americans trust Republicans more than Democrats when it comes to crime and national security.\n\n\u201cAnd I think Democrats are making it very clear why that is.\n\n\u201cThe fact that Republicans had to act alone to fund security at our nation\u2019s borders is all the evidence you need to know to show that Democrats are fundamentally unserious about their national security responsibilities.\n\n\u201cRepublicans, of course, will continue to do everything we can to keep our country and our communities secure.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s too bad the same cannot be said of Senate Democrats.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-18T06:41:00Z", "2026-06-18T06:43:25Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-joins-mornings-with-maria-and-americas-newsroom/", "Thune Joins Mornings With Maria and America\u2019s Newsroom", "2026-06-10", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch Fox Business and here to watch Fox News.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Mornings With Maria on Fox Business and America\u2019s Newsroom on Fox News.\n\nOn FISA:\n\n\u201cHere\u2019s the issue: This is an irresponsible position for the Senate Democrats to take. The 702 program \u2013 first off, you had \u2026 air [traffic] control issues, then it was the border security issues, sanctuary cities. This is a party of defund the police, open borders, sanctuary cities, and now, now shutting down one of the most important tools we have to keep people in this country safe. And this thing goes dark at midnight on Friday, and what you heard the speaker say yesterday is absolutely right: This is an absolutely irresponsible position for the Democrats to take, and one that puts at risk and in jeopardy the American people if this particular program goes dark.\u201d\n\n[\u2026]\n\n\u201c[Democrats want] to defund the intelligence gathering capability that has been responsible for 90 percent of the drug busts that we\u2019ve had. And it\u2019s prevented terrorist attacks, it is a tool, it\u2019s a national security tool, it needs to be reauthorized \u2026 When we moved to proceed to it last week, [Democrats] block voted against it.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve got to take care of the business of national security. If we don\u2019t get that right, the rest is conversation, and the Democrats right now are dug in over this Pulte issue, and it\u2019s an irresponsible position to take.\u201d\n\n[\u2026]\n\n\u201cThis is a bipartisan bill, it was negotiated \u2013 and bicameral \u2013 between the House, Senate, Democrats and Republicans, with significant reforms in it, and it needs to get passed. And it doesn\u2019t matter who\u2019s running DNI; this is legislation you want in place. So, it\u2019s a bogus argument, and this is the problem we have with Democrats: their Trump Derangement Syndrome, the blind hatred they have of the president, is preventing them from doing anything, even if it\u2019s something that is in the national security interest of the country.\u201d\n\nOn the Working Families Tax Cuts:\n\n\u201cRepublicans care about \u2026 creating an opportunity for working families to get ahead, and part of that means having more money in your pocket. And I think everything that we did [in the Working Families Tax Cuts] \u2013 whether it\u2019s no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, reducing taxes on seniors on Social Security, lower rates, incentives for business to create better-paying jobs for people in this country \u2013 it is the right economic policies. And \u2026 safe and secure communities, safe and secure neighborhoods. Is my neighborhood safe, is my community safe, is my country safe?\n\n\u201cI think those are the issues, and the Democrats are way off the reservation on all of those. But I think when it comes to the pocketbook issues, the kitchen table issues, it\u2019s making the argument to the American people that these policies are going to lead to a more prosperous future for them and their families. And if you look at where the benefits of the Working Families Tax Cuts went \u2013 when it\u2019s called the Working Families Tax Cuts, it\u2019s for a reason, because working families are the major beneficiaries of that.\u201d\n\nOn Iran:\n\n\u201cI think most Republican senators \u2026 believe we need to finish the job and want to support the president to ensure that that gets done. Now, if he can negotiate a deal that is acceptable, that\u2019s obviously one way of reaching an outcome. If it\u2019s necessary to use additional force to achieve that outcome, I certainly am supportive of that, because I think that we need to ensure that he finishes the job \u2013 and that job is to make certain that Iran never possesses or has a nuclear capability.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-18T06:41:00Z", "2026-06-18T06:43:25Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-rounds-legislation-to-advance-key-south-dakota-water-projects-approved-by-committee/", "Thune, Rounds Legislation to Advance Key South Dakota Water Projects Approved by Committee", "2026-06-10", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today applauded the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for passing their bills that would authorize feasibility studies for the Western Dakota Regional Water System (WDRWS) and the Dakota Mainstem Regional Water System, respectively. Thune\u2019s Western South Dakota Water Supply Project Feasibility Study Act (S. 3723) and Rounds\u2019 Dakota Mainstem Water Supply Project Feasibility Study Act (S. 3736) now head to the full Senate.\n\n\u201cThese bills are aimed at addressing the rapidly growing water needs in rural communities across South Dakota,\u201d said Thune. \u201cI\u2019m pleased that the committee has passed our bills and look forward to their consideration by the full Senate. I\u2019m proud to work with Senator Rounds on this critical effort.\u201d\n\n\u201cRural water projects are crucial for the success of South Dakota, both in the near future and for the next generation,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cI\u2019m pleased that the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources has passed our bills to authorize feasibility studies for the Dakota Mainstem Regional Water System and the Western Dakota Regional Water System. I thank Senator Thune for his leadership on this issue and look forward to working together to get these bills through the full Senate.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe advancement of S. 3723 to Senate markup is an encouraging step forward for the future of water security in western South Dakota,\u201d said Kristin Conzet, executive director of WDRWS. \u201cWDRWS is grateful for the leadership and diligent work of Senators Thune and Rounds, whose commitment has been instrumental in advancing our legislation. Reaching this stage reflects growing recognition of the need for a reliable, long-term water supply to support our communities, economy, agriculture, and national defense interests.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-18T06:41:00Z", "2026-06-18T06:43:25Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-the-working-families-tax-cuts-is-delivering-for-working-americans/", "Thune: The Working Families Tax Cuts Is Delivering for Working Americans", "2026-06-10", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, it\u2019s been almost a year since Republicans passed the Working Families Tax Cuts.\n\n\u201cOne year since Republicans delivered permanent tax relief to the American people and put more money in their pockets.\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019m proud to say that it\u2019s working.\n\n\u201cMr. President, at the start of this year, hardworking Americans saw their take-home pay go up as the new tax law took effect.\n\n\u201cThey saw its impact again in April when they filed their taxes, and many Americans saw a significant boost in their tax refunds.\n\n\u201cThe New York Times interviewed three dozen Americans and reported that, and I quote, \u2018Many of the taxpayers said they had received their largest refund in years, allowing them to pay down debt, save more or cover the cost of a vacation or a new bed.\u2019\n\n\u201cAnd, Mr. President, last week, we got yet more news that shows that the Working Families Tax Cuts is working.\n\n\u201cThe Treasury Department released data showing that [97] percent of Americans who filed taxes this last year actually got a tax cut.\n\n\u201cSo, take a look at that, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s a pretty stunning number, if you think about it.\n\n\u201c97 percent.\n\n\u201cThanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts, 97 percent of taxpayers got a tax cut this year, collectively saving about $82 billion on their tax bills.\n\n\u201cAnd who was it \u2013 who was it \u2013 that benefited from the Working Families Tax Cuts, Mr. President?\n\n\u201cWell, I\u2019ll give you a hint: It\u2019s in the name.\n\n\u201cWorking families.\n\n\u201cAlmost every one of the 97 percent of American taxpayers who saw a tax cut this year earned less than $200,000.\n\n\u201cNearly 70 percent earned less than $100,000.\n\n\u201cSo, if you take a look at this chart, Mr. President, you\u2019ll be able to see just exactly what I\u2019m talking about.\n\n\u201cIf you look at the dark blue line, those are the number of people who are making less than $100,000 a year who benefitted from the new tax deductions in this bill.\n\n\u201cAnd if you look at the light one, that\u2019s the number of people under $200,000 who got a benefit.\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019ll get into each of those specifics here in just a minute, but I think it\u2019s important to point out that the beneficiaries of the Working Families Tax Cuts were working families.\n\n\u201cIn other words, Mr. President, the Americans benefiting from this bill are people who get up every day and go to work to provide for their families.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019re not rich.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019re people who spend nights at the kitchen table putting together their budgets, trying to make ends meet and save a little bit for the future.\n\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s who Republicans were thinking about when we wrote the Working Families Tax Cuts, and as the numbers show, that\u2019s who\u2019s benefiting.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I\u2019ve said that the Working Families Tax Cuts is about putting more money into hardworking Americans\u2019 pockets.\n\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s exactly what this bill did.\n\n\u201cIt let working Americans keep more of their hard-earned money.\n\n\u201cMoney that they would have to send to the IRS if not for the Working Families Tax Cuts.\n\n\u201cAnd that they can now spend, invest, and save as they see fit.\n\n\u201cMr. President, the Working Families Tax Cuts delivered real tax savings to the American people through a number of tax relief policies.\n\n\u201cPermanent lower tax rates reduced Americans\u2019 tax burdens across the board.\n\n\u201cAnd the now-permanently doubled standard deduction helped 127 million Americans reduce and simplify their taxes this year.\n\n\u201cNearly 40 million families claimed the newly enhanced $2,200 child tax credit in 2025 \u2013 and as you can see from the chart, Mr. President, almost all of those families had incomes below $200,000.\n\n\u201cAnd, I said before, two-thirds earned less than $100,000.\n\n\u201cAnd again, that\u2019s from the enhanced child tax credit, which is the bottom number down there.\n\n\u201cMr. President, a New York Times story in April on \u2026 this year\u2019s larger tax refunds highlighted Nicole Mendoza, a 68-year-old Georgian who \u2018works a couple of shifts a week at a Cracker Barrel in Canton, Georgia, to supplement her Social Security income and savings. All told, Ms. Mendoza said, she earned about $38,000 last year and paid $551 in federal income taxes.\u2019\n\n\u201cAnd as Ms. Mendoza told the Times, and I quote, \u2018I got back every penny.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. President, this year millions of hardworking Americans like Ms. Mendoza were eligible for additional tax relief thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts.\n\n\u201cAmericans earning between $100,000 and $200,000 last year who took advantage of new tax relief in this bill saw an average tax cut of $1,250.\n\n\u201cOlder Americans were able to take advantage of the enhanced senior deduction, which helped 35 million seniors this past year.\n\n\u201cAnd 7.5 million tipped workers were able to take advantage of no tax on tips.\n\n\u201cFully 90 percent, Mr. President, of Americans who took advantage of the no tax on tips earned less than $100,000.\n\n\u201cNinety-nine percent \u2013 99 percent \u2013 earned less than $200,000.\n\n\u201cAnd so, if you look at the tipped wages, the number there on top, Mr. President, the dark blue \u2026 bar represents the number of people who were making less than $100,000 who benefited from the no tax on tips; the lighter blue bar represents the number of people making less than $200,000 in their income this year who benefited from the no tax on tips.\n\n\u201cSo look at that.\n\n\u201cI mean, 90 percent of people \u2013 90 percent of people who get tipped wages \u2013 who get the benefit of no tax on tips make less than $100,000 a year; 99 percent less than $200,000 a year.\n\n\u201cThat is pretty stunning, if you think about it.\n\n\u201cIf you talk about actually working families out there, people who are trying to make ends meet, and those numbers, I think, represent just how important that particular provision was in the bill.\n\n\u201cAnd the savings they\u2019re seeing is significant.\n\n\u201cThere was a bartender in Beloit, Wisconsin, said that he more than doubled his federal tax refund.\n\n\u201cKatie, who is a DoorDash driver in Oklahoma, said, and I quote, \u2018It increased my refund from $300 to $2,000.\u2019\n\n\u201cAnd another DoorDash driver in Oregon, said, and I quote, \u2018[No Tax on Tips] has changed life. I worry less about being able to cover all my expenses and I am able to work less which is better for my health and family.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. President, that\u2019s the Working Families Tax Cuts in action.\n\n\u201cAnd I haven\u2019t even talked about no tax on overtime, which \u2013 like everything else I\u2019ve talked about this morning \u2013 is overwhelmingly benefiting middle- and lower-income Americans.\n\n\u201cMr. President, last year, Republicans promised to deliver lower tax bills for hardworking Americans.\n\n\u201cAnd the data released last week proves that is exactly \u2013 exactly \u2013 what this bill does.\n\n\u201cThe Working Families Tax Cuts is delivering for working Americans.\n\n\u201cMr. President, as they have every time that \u2026 Republicans have lowered taxes for working people, Democrats have resurrected their dusty old talking points about tax cuts for the rich.\n\n\u201cI can\u2019t count \u2013 I can\u2019t count \u2013 the number of times that I\u2019ve heard a Democrat senator say this bill was just about tax cuts for billionaires.\n\n\u201cWell, Mr. President, look at the data.\n\n\u201cDoes this look like a billionaire tax cut to you?\n\n\u201cSeventy-five percent of Americans taking the overtime deduction make less than $100,000 a year.\n\n\u201cNinety percent of those taking no tax on tips made less than $100,000 a year.\n\n\u201cAnd 97 percent of Americans who filed their taxes this year got a tax cut.\n\n\u201cMr. President, this is real tax relief for hardworking Americans.\n\n\u201cAnd the American people are seeing it with their own eyes.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-18T06:41:00Z", "2026-06-18T06:43:25Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-democrats-must-not-expose-americans-to-the-consequences-of-letting-fisa-section-702-lapse/", "Thune: Democrats Must Not Expose Americans to the Consequences of Letting FISA Section 702 Lapse", "2026-06-09", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, in four days, authorization for our nation\u2019s most critical intelligence-gathering tool will expire.\n\n\u201cSection 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act allows the U.S. government to target the digital information of foreign actors located outside of the United States for specific national security purposes, such as counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction.\n\n\u201cEstablished in the wake of September 11 to address gaps in foreign intelligence collection, this program plays a vital role in foiling bad actors, including terrorists, cyber criminals, and drug and weapons traffickers.\n\n\u201cOur nation\u2019s policymakers \u2013 from the White House to the Pentagon to Congress \u2013 rely upon intelligence acquired from Section 702 on a near daily basis.\n\n\u201cTwenty-four percent of the National Security Agency\u2019s intelligence reports in 2025 contained Section 702 information.\n\n\u201cSo did 62 percent of products in the CIA\u2019s daily World Intelligence Review.\n\n\u201cAnd 63 percent of articles in the President\u2019s Daily Brief.\n\n\u201cAnd just to bring this down to the concrete, Mr. President, more than 90 percent \u2013 90 percent \u2013 of synthetic drug disruptions enabled by the CIA in 2025 relied on Section 702 information.\n\n\u201cSynthetic drug disruptions \u2013 that\u2019s operations targeting fentanyl and fentanyl analogues: poison intended for America\u2019s streets.\n\n\u201cThe CIA reports that one raid alone supported by Section 702 resulted in the seizure of more than one metric ton of fentanyl pills from a facility in Mexico.\n\n\u201cAnd drug disruption is just one activity supported by 702 information.\n\n\u201cSection 702 provided intelligence that helped prevent a terrorist attack at a Taylor Swift concert.\n\n\u201cIt enabled law enforcement to warn potential U.S. victims of ransomware attacks planned by North Korea.\n\n\u201cIt helped enable the successful mission against al-Qaeda\u2019s top leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, in 2022.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s identified threats to U.S. troops and provided information key to pursuing the release of Americans held hostage abroad.\n\n\u201cAnd the list goes on.\n\n\u201cSuffice it to say that Section 702 plays a vital role in providing intelligence to protect our country.\n\n\u201cNow, Mr. President \u2026 we\u2019ve considered multiple 702 reauthorizations since the program\u2019s inception, and each time there is a robust discussion of the program and its safeguards, to ensure that civil liberties are protected in the collection of vital intelligence.\n\n\u201cTwo years ago, a bipartisan coalition of senators voted to reauthorize this program with 56 bipartisan reforms that have now been fully implemented by the Trump administration.\n\n\u201cThe result is that 702 is the most overseen intelligence collection tool in the world.\n\n\u201cAnd over the past several weeks, both Senate Democrats and Republicans have been working on a Section 702 reauthorization in good faith.\n\n\u201cThe bill released by Chairmen Cotton and Grassley last week included additional bipartisan reforms over and above those included in the House-passed bill, and over and above the robust guardrails already in place to ensure that 702 operates within the law and with respect for civil liberties.\n\n\u201cAnd on Friday, Mr. President, I would have expected those Democrats who\u2019ve been working with us to vote to advance the bill.\n\n\u201cAfter all, some of the provisions in the bill were included at their request.\n\n\u201cBut they didn\u2019t.\n\n\u201cWhy?\n\n\u201cBecause they disagree with a short-term personnel choice made by the president \u2013 his temporary appointment for acting director of national intelligence.\n\n\u201cNow, Mr. President, Democrats have every right to disagree with the president\u2019s choice for this position \u2013 no matter how short-term the appointment is likely to be.\n\n\u201cBut I invite my Democrat colleagues to think about what they are doing here, in holding this vital intelligence collection program hostage because they don\u2019t like the president\u2019s temporary \u2013 temporary \u2013 DNI pick.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve talked at some length here today about the critical role that Section 702 plays on a near daily basis in protecting Americans from a range of threats.\n\n\u201cAnd you don\u2019t have to take my word for it.\n\n\u201cThe top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee has also made it clear that he regards Section 702 as a key intelligence source.\n\n\u201cAnd yet he and a number of his colleagues are holding up reauthorization because they disagree with the president\u2019s \u2013 again, temporary \u2013 DNI pick.\n\n\u201cMr. President, without Democrat cooperation, in four days the Section 702 program will go dark.\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s enemies, however, will not \u2013 will not \u2013 go dark.\n\n\u201cThey will continue working against the United States, whether that\u2019s conducting cyberattacks, planning terrorist activity, or trafficking fentanyl and other deadly drugs into our country.\n\n\u201cThe only difference is that our intelligence agencies will have a greatly reduced capacity to discover these activities.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I hope my Democrat colleagues will rethink their decision to hold the 702 program hostage before we all have cause to regret the consequences.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-18T06:41:00Z", "2026-06-18T06:43:25Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-joins-squawk-box-on-cnbc-3/", "Thune Joins Squawk Box on CNBC", "2026-06-09", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Squawk Box on CNBC.\n\nOn the Secure America Act:\n\n\u201cWe had to use [reconciliation] because Democrats wouldn\u2019t fund ICE and [Border Patrol] through the normal appropriations process, so we had to do it with Republican-only votes. It got a little complicated along the way, but we were successful in defeating all the poison-pill amendments that would have taken it down. And this week, hopefully, the House will vote on it, put it on the president\u2019s desk, and we\u2019ll get those important law enforcement agencies funded.\n\n\u201cIt is really unfortunate we had to resort to this \u2026 The Democrat mantra now is defund the police, open borders, and we\u2019re seeing more evidence of that this week as they block \u2026 the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act reauthorization, which is a critical tool that our intelligence agencies use to keep Americans safe.\u201d\n\nOn Democrats\u2019 sanctuary city policies:\n\n\u201cI think there is a high level of frustration at the sanctuary city policies and what they are doing to a lot of our major cities in this country. And I think the Department of Homeland Security, Secretary Mullin, obviously are coming up with ideas that they think would help at least incentivize a lot of these cities to start behaving in a way that doesn\u2019t give sanctuary to criminal illegal aliens in this country \u2026 I think the sanctuary city policy, coupled with defund the police, coupled with open borders \u2013 these are just Democrat policies right now that are anti-law enforcement, and frankly, are dangerous with respect to a lot of America\u2019s biggest cities and ensuring that those communities and those streets are safe and secure for people who live there.\u201d\n\nOn reconciliation:\n\n\u201cA reconciliation 3.0 is something that\u2019s been considered and talked about. There\u2019d have to be a specific reason for doing it, and you\u2019d have to ensure that you\u2019ve got 218 in the House and 50 votes in the Senate for it. These have become increasingly hard as we\u2019ve gotten into this year and a few of these primaries have gotten behind us. There are votes that are harder to get now in the Senate on some of these things, but we did fend off a lot of really bad poison-pill amendments last week on the last reconciliation bill.\n\n\u201cWhat happens on the next one remains to be seen \u2026 but we\u2019re not ruling it out, let me put it that way. Open to it, but also recognizing it has some serious challenges ahead of it if we get another reconciliation bill on the floor of the Senate.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-18T06:41:00Z", "2026-06-18T06:43:25Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-on-democrats-holding-fisa-hostage/", "Thune on Democrats Holding FISA Hostage", "2026-06-09", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cWe have a saying around here that, if you don\u2019t get national security right, the rest is just conversation.\n\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s certainly true with respect to some of the issues that we have in front of us right now.\n\n\u201cThe FISA legislation, which is pending here in the United States Senate, is critical to keeping this country safe and secure for Americans.\n\n\u201cAnd just to put a fine point on that, if you look at how effective FISA has been, it has stopped numerous terrorist attacks.\n\n\u201cIt has been used in 90 percent of the CIA\u2019s synthetic drug disruptions.\n\n\u201cSo, in other words, these drug busts that you keep reading about, a lot of that originates with information derived from the 702 process.\n\n\u201cSo, it\u2019s very, very concerning when you have the Democrats here in the United States Senate essentially saying that, \u2018We are not interested in reauthorizing this program,\u2019 which will go dark at midnight on Friday if we don\u2019t take action.\n\n\u201cAnd it would be alarming under any circumstance, but it\u2019s especially alarming now, given the fact that we are heading into a time where the U.S. starts hosting the World Cup, for example.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve got all kinds of 250th anniversary celebrations coming up here in the not-too-distant future.\n\n\u201cAnd you\u2019ve got a program that has a proven record when it comes to keeping this country safe that is at risk because Democrats here in the United States Senate have decided to block vote against it.\n\n\u201cThat is a very dangerous proposition.\n\n\u201cIt puts Americans at risk.\n\n\u201cAnd it started with the air traffic control, and then it was border security, the Department of Homeland Security \u2013 you go right down the list of all these agencies the Democrats have decided not to fund.\n\n\u201cThey truly are the party of open borders, defund the police, sanctuary cities, and unfortunately right now, defunding the 702 program, which is essential to America\u2019s national security interests.\n\n\u201cSo, Republicans are going to do everything we can to keep this program on track, but obviously \u2026 we\u2019re going to need some help from Democrats in order to get it across the finish line.\n\n\u201cAnd I certainly hope that they put the nation\u2019s national security interests ahead of their Trump Derangement Syndrome, which seems to be what\u2019s driving the decisions that they\u2019re making here on a daily basis.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-18T06:41:00Z", "2026-06-18T06:43:25Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=963EF55B-B715-4E6B-A8D9-B88B042DAF47", "Thune: Republicans Thwart Democrats\u2019 Pursuit of \u201cDefund the Police 2.0\u201d", "2026-06-08", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Clickhereto watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, sometimes I have to wonder if Democrats remember the last election \u2013 and how four years of record-breaking illegal immigration on President Biden\u2019s watch helped hand the House, the Senate, and the White House to Republicans.\n\n\u201cBecause to watch the Democrat Party right now, you\u2019d think that 2024 never happened.\n\n\u201cDemocrats not only haven\u2019t rejected the open-borders philosophy of the Biden administration, they\u2019ve doubled down.\n\n\u201cAt least we had the Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement under President Biden.\n\n\u201cNow every Senate Democrat is on record as wanting to shut down those agencies.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s right.\n\n\u201cDemocrats voted to defund \u2013 to defund \u2013 the agents who stand guard on our nation\u2019s borders and help prevent dangerous individuals from entering our country.\n\n\u201cThey voted to defund the agents who remove criminal illegal immigrants who do make their way into the United States.\n\n\u201cAnd when I say defund, Mr. President, I mean defund.\n\n\u201cDemocrats opposed giving these agencies a single dollar.\n\n\u201cAnd I hope \u2013 I really hope \u2013 that my Democrat colleagues are not going to attempt to defend themselves by claiming that they simply wanted reforms of these agencies, and that Republicans wouldn\u2019t give them.\n\n\u201cBecause as the record amply \u2013 amply \u2013 reflects, Democrats were offered reforms again and again.\n\n\u201cThe White House not only made reforms on its own, it repeatedly offered Democrats a robust legislative package.\n\n\u201cBut Democrats weren\u2019t interested.\n\n\u201cPresumably because they somehow thought that \u2018defund law enforcement\u2019 and \u2018abolish border security\u2019 would play well for them in November.\n\n\u201cOf course, I\u2019m pretty sure most Americans don\u2019t think we should eliminate security at our nation\u2019s borders, or open the floodgates for unchecked illegal immigration.\n\n\u201cBut that hasn\u2019t stopped Democrats from embracing Defund the Police 2.0.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I am happy to report that as of Friday, Democrats\u2019 crusade to defund border security and law enforcement is well on its way to failure \u2013 for now, at any rate.\n\n\u201cSenate Republicans passed legislation to fund Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the next three years, to ensure that Democrats can\u2019t try defunding these agencies again this fall.\n\n\u201cBut, Mr. President, it is deeply disturbing that we are in this position \u2013 that we are having to use the reconciliation process just to get normal appropriations passed for border security and immigration enforcement.\n\n\u201cThe damage that Democrats caused in the 2026 fiscal year has been immense.\n\n\u201cTwo record-breaking government shutdowns.\n\n\u201cCritical workers at DHS left for months without pay.\n\n\u201cGovernment workers lined up at food banks.\n\n\u201cTSA agents quitting in droves.\n\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s not to even mention what [could] be irreparable harm to the appropriations process here in the Senate.\n\n\u201cAnd then there\u2019s our subject today, Defund the Police 2.0 \u2013 Democrats\u2019 resolute refusal to spend a single dollar protecting our nation\u2019s borders or deporting criminals here in our country illegally.\n\n\u201cIt is absurd, Mr. President, that Republicans are having to act unilaterally to fund basic national security responsibilities.\n\n\u201cWhat is the Democrat Party going to propose defunding next?\n\n\u201cThe DEA? The FBI? Our nation\u2019s military?\n\n\u201cWhere exactly does this insanity end?\n\n\u201cThe Democrat leader has repeatedly attempted to cloud the issue \u2013 going so far as to make the insane suggestion that Congress somehow has to choose between our national security responsibilities and addressing the challenges facing hardworking Americans.\n\n\u201cTo which I say, not only can we walk and chew gum at the same time, but we have an obligation to do so.\n\n\u201cIt is our responsibility as members of Congress to work to alleviate not only the economic challenges facing Americans but to protect our nation\u2019s security \u2013 and that includes securing our borders and attempting to ensure that criminals, drug traffickers, terrorists, and other dangerous individuals do not make their way into our country.\n\n\u201cAnd that if they do make their way in, they are identified and deported.\n\n\u201cMr. President, as long as Republicans are in charge, we will be focused on both the economic challenges facing our country and on securing peace and safety for hardworking Americans.\n\n\u201cOn our watch, there will be agents at our borders to prevent terrorists, traffickers, and other dangerous individuals from making their way into our country, and there will be agents to take criminal illegal immigrants off of America\u2019s streets.\n\n\u201cI wish I could say the same of our Democrat colleagues.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-09T06:27:37Z", "2026-06-09T06:30:10Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-republicans-thwart-democrats-pursuit-of-defund-the-police-2-0/", "Thune: Republicans Thwart Democrats\u2019 Pursuit of \u201cDefund the Police 2.0\u201d", "2026-06-08", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cOn our watch, there will be agents at our borders to prevent terrorists, traffickers, and other dangerous individuals from making their way into our country, and there will be agents to take criminal illegal immigrants off of America\u2019s streets.\u201d\n\nClick here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, sometimes I have to wonder if Democrats remember the last election \u2013 and how four years of record-breaking illegal immigration on President Biden\u2019s watch helped hand the House, the Senate, and the White House to Republicans.\n\n\u201cBecause to watch the Democrat Party right now, you\u2019d think that 2024 never happened.\n\n\u201cDemocrats not only haven\u2019t rejected the open-borders philosophy of the Biden administration, they\u2019ve doubled down.\n\n\u201cAt least we had the Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement under President Biden.\n\n\u201cNow every Senate Democrat is on record as wanting to shut down those agencies.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s right.\n\n\u201cDemocrats voted to defund \u2013 to defund \u2013 the agents who stand guard on our nation\u2019s borders and help prevent dangerous individuals from entering our country.\n\n\u201cThey voted to defund the agents who remove criminal illegal immigrants who do make their way into the United States.\n\n\u201cAnd when I say defund, Mr. President, I mean defund.\n\n\u201cDemocrats opposed giving these agencies a single dollar.\n\n\u201cAnd I hope \u2013 I really hope \u2013 that my Democrat colleagues are not going to attempt to defend themselves by claiming that they simply wanted reforms of these agencies, and that Republicans wouldn\u2019t give them.\n\n\u201cBecause as the record amply \u2013 amply \u2013 reflects, Democrats were offered reforms again and again.\n\n\u201cThe White House not only made reforms on its own, it repeatedly offered Democrats a robust legislative package.\n\n\u201cBut Democrats weren\u2019t interested.\n\n\u201cPresumably because they somehow thought that \u2018defund law enforcement\u2019 and \u2018abolish border security\u2019 would play well for them in November.\n\n\u201cOf course, I\u2019m pretty sure most Americans don\u2019t think we should eliminate security at our nation\u2019s borders, or open the floodgates for unchecked illegal immigration.\n\n\u201cBut that hasn\u2019t stopped Democrats from embracing Defund the Police 2.0.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I am happy to report that as of Friday, Democrats\u2019 crusade to defund border security and law enforcement is well on its way to failure \u2013 for now, at any rate.\n\n\u201cSenate Republicans passed legislation to fund Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the next three years, to ensure that Democrats can\u2019t try defunding these agencies again this fall.\n\n\u201cBut, Mr. President, it is deeply disturbing that we are in this position \u2013 that we are having to use the reconciliation process just to get normal appropriations passed for border security and immigration enforcement.\n\n\u201cThe damage that Democrats caused in the 2026 fiscal year has been immense.\n\n\u201cTwo record-breaking government shutdowns.\n\n\u201cCritical workers at DHS left for months without pay.\n\n\u201cGovernment workers lined up at food banks.\n\n\u201cTSA agents quitting in droves.\n\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s not to even mention what [could] be irreparable harm to the appropriations process here in the Senate.\n\n\u201cAnd then there\u2019s our subject today, Defund the Police 2.0 \u2013 Democrats\u2019 resolute refusal to spend a single dollar protecting our nation\u2019s borders or deporting criminals here in our country illegally.\n\n\u201cIt is absurd, Mr. President, that Republicans are having to act unilaterally to fund basic national security responsibilities.\n\n\u201cWhat is the Democrat Party going to propose defunding next?\n\n\u201cThe DEA? The FBI? Our nation\u2019s military?\n\n\u201cWhere exactly does this insanity end?\n\n\u201cThe Democrat leader has repeatedly attempted to cloud the issue \u2013 going so far as to make the insane suggestion that Congress somehow has to choose between our national security responsibilities and addressing the challenges facing hardworking Americans.\n\n\u201cTo which I say, not only can we walk and chew gum at the same time, but we have an obligation to do so.\n\n\u201cIt is our responsibility as members of Congress to work to alleviate not only the economic challenges facing Americans but to protect our nation\u2019s security \u2013 and that includes securing our borders and attempting to ensure that criminals, drug traffickers, terrorists, and other dangerous individuals do not make their way into our country.\n\n\u201cAnd that if they do make their way in, they are identified and deported.\n\n\u201cMr. President, as long as Republicans are in charge, we will be focused on both the economic challenges facing our country and on securing peace and safety for hardworking Americans.\n\n\u201cOn our watch, there will be agents at our borders to prevent terrorists, traffickers, and other dangerous individuals from making their way into our country, and there will be agents to take criminal illegal immigrants off of America\u2019s streets.\n\n\u201cI wish I could say the same of our Democrat colleagues.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-27T20:01:11Z", "2026-06-28T06:33:41Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=0C174FF5-0FBB-478C-8906-E73069D070D9", "Thune: Republicans Invest in Border Security, Democrats Undermine Law Enforcement", "2026-06-04", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Clickhereto watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, I expect there will be a lot of amendments today on a lot of topics.\n\n\u201cSo I wanted to take just a minute to focus in on the essence of the bill that we are on, that we will be considering and voting on today.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a simple bill, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cIt will do nothing more than fund Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the next three years.\n\n\u201cAnd why are we doing this bill, Mr. President?\n\n\u201cWhy are we doing appropriations for these Department of Homeland Security agencies separately \u2013 and for three years instead of the usual one?\n\n\u201cBecause Democrats have refused to fund border security or immigration law enforcement.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s it, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cWe are here today only \u2013 only \u2013 because Democrats refused to appropriate a single dollar for our border and immigration law enforcement.\n\n\u201cThey originally agreed to fund them, of course.\n\n\u201cBack in January, Democrats in both houses \u2013 House and Senate \u2013 signed off on an appropriations bill that included multiple reforms.\n\n\u201cBut shortly before passage, after the events in Minneapolis, Democrats reneged.\n\n\u201cThey wanted more reforms, they claimed.\n\n\u201cAnd Republicans agreed to reopen negotiations.\n\n\u201cThe White House implemented a number of reforms on its own.\n\n\u201cAnd then the White House repeatedly \u2013 repeatedly \u2013 offered Democrats a robust package of legislative reforms.\n\n\u201cBut Democrats would not agree to anything.\n\n\u201cAnd eventually, they walked away altogether.\n\n\u201cPresumably because they thought that it would serve them better to have an issue for November.\n\n\u201cAlthough I would say it remains to be seen, Mr. President, how well \u2018defund law enforcement\u2019 and \u2018eliminate border security officers\u2019 play for Democrats this fall.\n\n\u201cBecause let\u2019s be very clear, Mr. President, that is what Democrats have opted for.\n\n\u201cNo \u2013 zero, no \u2013 officers at our nation\u2019s borders.\n\n\u201cAnd no officers to remove dangerous criminal illegal immigrants from our country.\n\n\u201cIf it weren\u2019t for Republicans, our nation\u2019s borders might currently be thrown wide open to drug traffickers, cartel members, terrorists, criminals, human smugglers, and other dangerous individuals.\n\n\u201cAnd dangerous criminal illegal aliens could be living freely in our country.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s, Mr. President, what no funding for border security and immigration enforcement means.\n\n\u201cAnd I can\u2019t emphasize that enough, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cIf Democrats had their way, our nation\u2019s borders would be completely \u2013 completely \u2013 unprotected.\n\n\u201cAnd criminal illegal immigrants would be allowed to remain in our country and endanger Americans.\n\n\u201cDemocrats\u2019 position is not just breathtakingly irresponsible; it\u2019s a betrayal of their obligation as members of our government.\n\n\u201cThis, Mr. President, is a national security issue, and Democrats have completely abdicated their national security responsibility.\n\n\u201cMr. President, as I said, I expect there will be a lot of amendments today.\n\n\u201cMany will be intended to distract from Democrats\u2019 \u2018defund law enforcement\u2019 position.\n\n\u201cSome may even echo the reforms the White House offered to Democrats \u2013 that Democrats rejected, but which they will now attempt to use to score political points.\n\n\u201cBut when all the political statements have been made, we will pass the underlying bill and be one step closer to funding border security and immigration law enforcement for the next three years.\n\n\u201cFor the next three years, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s what Democrats have forced us to do.\n\n\u201cI am grateful for the law enforcement officers who have helped secure our nation\u2019s border over the past 16 months and take criminal illegal immigrants off of our streets.\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019m grateful to Secretary Mullin and border czar Tom Homan for their leadership and their work to refocus things at DHS and ensure that both Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement are fully focused on their core mission of protecting our country.\n\n\u201cAnd Republicans are going to continue to ensure that these agencies have the funding that they need to fulfill their national security responsibilities.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-05T06:35:23Z", "2026-06-05T06:36:42Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-republicans-invest-in-border-security-democrats-undermine-law-enforcement/", "Thune: Republicans Invest in Border Security, Democrats Undermine Law Enforcement", "2026-06-04", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201c[W]hen all the political statements have been made, we will pass the underlying bill and be one step closer to funding border security and immigration law enforcement for the next three years.\u201d\n\nClick here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, I expect there will be a lot of amendments today on a lot of topics.\n\n\u201cSo I wanted to take just a minute to focus in on the essence of the bill that we are on, that we will be considering and voting on today.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a simple bill, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cIt will do nothing more than fund Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the next three years.\n\n\u201cAnd why are we doing this bill, Mr. President?\n\n\u201cWhy are we doing appropriations for these Department of Homeland Security agencies separately \u2013 and for three years instead of the usual one?\n\n\u201cBecause Democrats have refused to fund border security or immigration law enforcement.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s it, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cWe are here today only \u2013 only \u2013 because Democrats refused to appropriate a single dollar for our border and immigration law enforcement.\n\n\u201cThey originally agreed to fund them, of course.\n\n\u201cBack in January, Democrats in both houses \u2013 House and Senate \u2013 signed off on an appropriations bill that included multiple reforms.\n\n\u201cBut shortly before passage, after the events in Minneapolis, Democrats reneged.\n\n\u201cThey wanted more reforms, they claimed.\n\n\u201cAnd Republicans agreed to reopen negotiations.\n\n\u201cThe White House implemented a number of reforms on its own.\n\n\u201cAnd then the White House repeatedly \u2013 repeatedly \u2013 offered Democrats a robust package of legislative reforms.\n\n\u201cBut Democrats would not agree to anything.\n\n\u201cAnd eventually, they walked away altogether.\n\n\u201cPresumably because they thought that it would serve them better to have an issue for November.\n\n\u201cAlthough I would say it remains to be seen, Mr. President, how well \u2018defund law enforcement\u2019 and \u2018eliminate border security officers\u2019 play for Democrats this fall.\n\n\u201cBecause let\u2019s be very clear, Mr. President, that is what Democrats have opted for.\n\n\u201cNo \u2013 zero, no \u2013 officers at our nation\u2019s borders.\n\n\u201cAnd no officers to remove dangerous criminal illegal immigrants from our country.\n\n\u201cIf it weren\u2019t for Republicans, our nation\u2019s borders might currently be thrown wide open to drug traffickers, cartel members, terrorists, criminals, human smugglers, and other dangerous individuals.\n\n\u201cAnd dangerous criminal illegal aliens could be living freely in our country.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s, Mr. President, what no funding for border security and immigration enforcement means.\n\n\u201cAnd I can\u2019t emphasize that enough, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cIf Democrats had their way, our nation\u2019s borders would be completely \u2013 completely \u2013 unprotected.\n\n\u201cAnd criminal illegal immigrants would be allowed to remain in our country and endanger Americans.\n\n\u201cDemocrats\u2019 position is not just breathtakingly irresponsible; it\u2019s a betrayal of their obligation as members of our government.\n\n\u201cThis, Mr. President, is a national security issue, and Democrats have completely abdicated their national security responsibility.\n\n\u201cMr. President, as I said, I expect there will be a lot of amendments today.\n\n\u201cMany will be intended to distract from Democrats\u2019 \u2018defund law enforcement\u2019 position.\n\n\u201cSome may even echo the reforms the White House offered to Democrats \u2013 that Democrats rejected, but which they will now attempt to use to score political points.\n\n\u201cBut when all the political statements have been made, we will pass the underlying bill and be one step closer to funding border security and immigration law enforcement for the next three years.\n\n\u201cFor the next three years, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s what Democrats have forced us to do.\n\n\u201cI am grateful for the law enforcement officers who have helped secure our nation\u2019s border over the past 16 months and take criminal illegal immigrants off of our streets.\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019m grateful to Secretary Mullin and border czar Tom Homan for their leadership and their work to refocus things at DHS and ensure that both Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement are fully focused on their core mission of protecting our country.\n\n\u201cAnd Republicans are going to continue to ensure that these agencies have the funding that they need to fulfill their national security responsibilities.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-27T20:01:11Z", "2026-06-28T06:33:41Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=2C05CD29-E0ED-4E6F-A6A5-AF9B269AC895", "Thune: Trump Accounts Set Kids Up for Success", "2026-06-03", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Clickhereto watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, as of tomorrow, we will be one month away from the opening date for Trump Accounts.\n\n\u201cThese are new, tax-advantaged investment accounts for children created by Republicans\u2019 Working Families Tax Cuts.\n\n\u201cAnd as of a few days ago, parents can now download the new app for Trump Accounts.\n\n\u201cThe app will allow parents to track current and projected account balances.\n\n\u201cSchedule automatic account contributions \u2013 whether that\u2019s $20 a month, or $200 a month.\n\n\u201cAnd, eventually, choose among multiple broad-based investment accounts, all designed to make investment easy.\n\n\u201cThe app also offers several modules to educate children and parents on investing and to boost financial literacy.\n\n\u201cMr. President, Trump Accounts, as I said, were created as part of Republicans\u2019 Working Families Tax Cuts law.\n\n\u201cWe call it the Working [Families] Tax Cuts for a reason, Mr. President \u2013 because that\u2019s who we were focused on with this legislation.\n\n\u201cWe prevented a massive tax hike on Americans making less than $400,000.\n\n\u201cMade lower tax rates for hardworking Americans permanent.\n\n\u201cIncreased the child tax credit, which we had already doubled in 2017.\n\n\u201cImplemented no tax on tips and no tax on overtime to give American workers a further break on their taxes.\n\n\u201cInstituted a new bonus deduction for seniors.\n\n\u201cAnd more.\n\n\u201cAll of these measures were designed to help everyday Americans and to make life a little easier for working families and help put their dreams within reach.\n\n\u201cTrump Accounts are a part of that.\n\n\u201cThese tax-advantaged accounts were designed to allow parents to save for their children\u2019s future beyond their education: to give kids a nest egg, whether large or small, to help them buy a home or start a business \u2013 to help them pursue their American dream.\n\n\u201cAnd if kids choose not to withdraw money once they reach adulthood, they can use these accounts as retirement savings \u2013 a financial priority for every American.\n\n\u201cMr. President, to get savings started for a lot of families, kids born between 2025 and 2028 will receive a free $1,000 for their Trump Account should their parents choose to open one and opt in to the money.\n\n\u201cThat money alone will grow over a kid\u2019s childhood.\n\n\u201cAnd then, of course, parents will be able to add as desired \u2013 anywhere from a few dollars to up to $5,000 a year.\n\n\u201cAnd parents are not the only ones who can make contributions.\n\n\u201cEmployers will be able to contribute to Trump Accounts for their employees\u2019 kids.\n\n\u201cAnd multiple philanthropists are also offering initial contributions for a lot of American children.\n\n\u201cAll of this is designed to give kids a leg-up in the world of savings and investment \u2013 and, as I said, a head start on their American dream.\n\n\u201cMr. President, musician Nicki Minaj attended a Trump Accounts summit with the president a few months ago.\n\n\u201cShe grew up in a housing project in a family that faced its share of financial struggles, and now she\u2019s raising her own family.\n\n\u201cAnd she has said of the Trump Accounts, and I quote, \u2018This program will benefit everyone, decreasing the gap for future prosperity between children who traditionally aren\u2019t born with a full bank account and children who are.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018\u2026 decreasing the gap for future prosperity between children who traditionally aren\u2019t born with a full bank account and children who are.\u2019\n\n\u201cIncreasing opportunity.\n\n\u201cOpening new paths to prosperity.\n\n\u201cEnsuring that working families can keep more of their hard-earned money.\n\n\u201cThat, Mr. President, is Republicans\u2019 mission \u2013 and the goal of the Working Families Tax Cuts.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud that working families are benefiting.\n\n\u201cAnd I look forward to seeing the opportunities that will be unlocked next month when Trump Accounts kick off.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-04T06:38:12Z", "2026-06-04T06:39:44Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-trump-accounts-set-kids-up-for-success/", "Thune: Trump Accounts Set Kids Up for Success", "2026-06-03", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cThese tax-advantaged accounts were designed to allow parents to save for their children\u2019s future beyond their education: to give kids a nest egg, whether large or small, to help them buy a home or start a business \u2013 to help them pursue their American dream.\u201d\n\nClick here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, as of tomorrow, we will be one month away from the opening date for Trump Accounts.\n\n\u201cThese are new, tax-advantaged investment accounts for children created by Republicans\u2019 Working Families Tax Cuts.\n\n\u201cAnd as of a few days ago, parents can now download the new app for Trump Accounts.\n\n\u201cThe app will allow parents to track current and projected account balances.\n\n\u201cSchedule automatic account contributions \u2013 whether that\u2019s $20 a month, or $200 a month.\n\n\u201cAnd, eventually, choose among multiple broad-based investment accounts, all designed to make investment easy.\n\n\u201cThe app also offers several modules to educate children and parents on investing and to boost financial literacy.\n\n\u201cMr. President, Trump Accounts, as I said, were created as part of Republicans\u2019 Working Families Tax Cuts law.\n\n\u201cWe call it the Working [Families] Tax Cuts for a reason, Mr. President \u2013 because that\u2019s who we were focused on with this legislation.\n\n\u201cWe prevented a massive tax hike on Americans making less than $400,000.\n\n\u201cMade lower tax rates for hardworking Americans permanent.\n\n\u201cIncreased the child tax credit, which we had already doubled in 2017.\n\n\u201cImplemented no tax on tips and no tax on overtime to give American workers a further break on their taxes.\n\n\u201cInstituted a new bonus deduction for seniors.\n\n\u201cAnd more.\n\n\u201cAll of these measures were designed to help everyday Americans and to make life a little easier for working families and help put their dreams within reach.\n\n\u201cTrump Accounts are a part of that.\n\n\u201cThese tax-advantaged accounts were designed to allow parents to save for their children\u2019s future beyond their education: to give kids a nest egg, whether large or small, to help them buy a home or start a business \u2013 to help them pursue their American dream.\n\n\u201cAnd if kids choose not to withdraw money once they reach adulthood, they can use these accounts as retirement savings \u2013 a financial priority for every American.\n\n\u201cMr. President, to get savings started for a lot of families, kids born between 2025 and 2028 will receive a free $1,000 for their Trump Account should their parents choose to open one and opt in to the money.\n\n\u201cThat money alone will grow over a kid\u2019s childhood.\n\n\u201cAnd then, of course, parents will be able to add as desired \u2013 anywhere from a few dollars to up to $5,000 a year.\n\n\u201cAnd parents are not the only ones who can make contributions.\n\n\u201cEmployers will be able to contribute to Trump Accounts for their employees\u2019 kids.\n\n\u201cAnd multiple philanthropists are also offering initial contributions for a lot of American children.\n\n\u201cAll of this is designed to give kids a leg-up in the world of savings and investment \u2013 and, as I said, a head start on their American dream.\n\n\u201cMr. President, musician Nicki Minaj attended a Trump Accounts summit with the president a few months ago.\n\n\u201cShe grew up in a housing project in a family that faced its share of financial struggles, and now she\u2019s raising her own family.\n\n\u201cAnd she has said of the Trump Accounts, and I quote, \u2018This program will benefit everyone, decreasing the gap for future prosperity between children who traditionally aren\u2019t born with a full bank account and children who are.\u2019\n\n\u201c\u2018\u2026 decreasing the gap for future prosperity between children who traditionally aren\u2019t born with a full bank account and children who are.\u2019\n\n\u201cIncreasing opportunity.\n\n\u201cOpening new paths to prosperity.\n\n\u201cEnsuring that working families can keep more of their hard-earned money.\n\n\u201cThat, Mr. President, is Republicans\u2019 mission \u2013 and the goal of the Working Families Tax Cuts.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud that working families are benefiting.\n\n\u201cAnd I look forward to seeing the opportunities that will be unlocked next month when Trump Accounts kick off.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-27T20:01:11Z", "2026-06-28T06:33:41Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=136039E3-9F71-4DFF-AE86-86331DD02CDF", "Thune Commemorates C-SPAN\u2019s 40th Senate Anniversary and Discusses Recent Work in South Dakota", "2026-06-02", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Clickhereto watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, as we begin our proceedings this morning, I want to take a moment to recognize a milestone here in the Senate.\n\n\u201cOn this day 40 years ago, C-SPAN broadcast the United States Senate for the very first time.\n\n\u201cOn June 2, 1986, the American people were able to turn on their televisions and see the Senate come to order and their senators engage in debate until the gavel dropped later that day.\n\n\u201cGavel-to-gavel coverage, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s the C-SPAN way.\n\n\u201cAnd over the last 40 years, C-SPAN hasn\u2019t missed a beat.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s captured 43,830 hours of Senate proceedings.\n\n\u201cBroadcast 169,000 speeches by hundreds of United States senators who have served in these halls.\n\n\u201cAnd captured the moments large and small \u2013 historic and human \u2013 that make up the United States Senate.\n\n\u201cMr. President, on that day, that first day 40 years ago, the Senate was considering an education bill.\n\n\u201cAnd what a fitting topic of discussion for C-SPAN\u2019s first day covering this chamber.\n\n\u201cEducation is C-SPAN\u2019s entire mission.\n\n\u201cC-SPAN urges its viewers to \u2018Make Up Your Own Mind.\u2019\n\n\u201cAnd for 40 years, C-SPAN has enabled the American people to make up their own minds about what we do here in the Senate.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s helped countless American students see the legislative process in action.\n\n\u201cAnd it\u2019s ensured that what happens here is lost neither to the day\u2019s news cycle nor to history.\n\n\u201cAnd I trust that C-SPAN will continue to offer the American people a front-row seat to the Senate for many decades to come.\n\n\u201cMr. President, C-SPAN captures a lot of our work here in Washington, but just as important is the work that senators do back in our states.\n\n\u201cLast week, the cameras were off here in the chamber, and senators were back at home hearing from the people that we all represent.\n\n\u201cI spent last week back home in South Dakota, traveling around my state and hearing directly from South Dakotans.\n\n\u201cI had a chance to catch up with the mayors of Webster and Lennox.\n\n\u201cMayor Danny Fergen of Lennox took me around his city.\n\n\u201cHe showed me new housing developments in Lennox.\n\n\u201cI saw the city\u2019s infrastructure needs.\n\n\u201cAnd we went down Main Street to a few businesses, including El Mariachi restaurant.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I also spent some time up in northeastern South Dakota.\n\n\u201cAs I mentioned, I met with the mayor of Webster, Mike Grosek.\n\n\u201cAnd I dropped by a few local businesses that are benefiting from the permanent tax relief Republicans delivered in the Working Families Tax Cuts.\n\n\u201cI went to the Three22 Kitchen and Cocktails in Aberdeen and saw the Main Street expansion that the owners have undertaken, including the first rooftop lounge in the city.\n\n\u201cI visited \u2018Quite Possibly the Coolest Store Ever,\u2019 the Hitch\u2019n Post, a family-owned business that has been an icon in Aberdeen for over 50 years and was recently named one of America\u2019s best western retailers.\n\n\u201cAnd then over at the Meathouse in Andover, I had a conversation about the local agricultural economy \u2026 with the ranchers \u2026 who run that business and who take pride in their home-raised beef.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I\u2019ve [also] valued the opportunity I\u2019ve had lately to spend some time hearing from South Dakota\u2019s young people.\n\n\u201cThis past month, I\u2019ve been in classrooms in Winner, Rapid City, and Sioux Falls.\n\n\u201cAnd we\u2019ve had a number of school groups visiting Washington, D.C., as well.\n\n\u201cI attended the Dakota Relays at the beginning of May and then the state track meet this past Friday.\n\n\u201cAnd last week, I had the privilege of speaking at Boys State at Northern State University and then at Girls State at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.\n\n\u201cMr. President, it\u2019s always a pleasure to get to talk with young people and to hear what\u2019s on their minds and what their dreams are for their futures.\n\n\u201cAnd I suppose, Mr. President, that\u2019s because on any given day here in the Senate, that\u2019s what our focus as Republicans boils down to: cultivating a brighter future for young people and for all Americans.\n\n\u201cA future that\u2019s secure.\n\n\u201cWith greater prosperity.\n\n\u201cAnd more opportunities to get ahead.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s our focus here in the Senate, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cAnd it\u2019s what we continue to work toward every day.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-03T06:40:39Z", "2026-06-03T06:42:22Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=740AEA4A-0844-4EBA-92AD-A9C23BDB3419", "Thune on Republicans\u2019 Fight to Secure America", "2026-06-02", "2026", "2026-06", "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\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cLast Thursday was the 102nd anniversary of the Border Patrol in this country.\n\n\u201cAnd as we celebrate 250 years for America, I think it\u2019s interesting to also observe that we have had an agency like \u2026 Border Patrol defending our borders now for over 100 years.\n\n\u201cAnd if you think about what they\u2019ve done just in this last year, it\u2019s pretty remarkable, because what we inherited from the Biden administration was the most open border that we\u2019ve ever seen \u2013 literally millions of people crawling, pouring across the border, literally every single year, illegally.\n\n\u201cAnd in a year\u2019s time, Border Patrol has completely cleaned that up, to the point, as, I think it was the month of April, there was an entire year where there hadn\u2019t been a single illegal released into the country.\n\n\u201cAnd so a truly remarkable record and a tribute to the men and women, the dedicated men and women who make the Border Patrol work.\n\n\u201cAnd Rodney Scott, the commissioner, has said that the mission of the Border Patrol has never changed; what has changed is that now their members, their agents, are able to do their jobs, the jobs that lawfully we ask them to do.\n\n\u201cAnd so, tremendous change from one administration to the other, literally, in the time span of a year, Border Patrol has done just a truly incredible job of securing our southern border.\n\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s what we are committed to doing as Republicans here in the Senate, and we, as we move forward on the Secure [America] Act this week, intend to ensure that law enforcement \u2013 both ICE and CBP \u2013 have the resources they need to carry out the responsibilities that they are given by the American people.\n\n\u201cAnd I believe the American people are on our side on this issue.\n\n\u201cThey do not want to defund the police, they don\u2019t want open borders.\n\n\u201cThose are Democrat policies.\n\n\u201cRepublican policies are to have the back of law enforcement to ensure they have the resources, the personnel, the technology \u2013 everything they need to keep our border secure \u2013 and to ensure that our nation\u2019s laws are enforced, so that our communities in this country can be safe and secure for the people who live here, for our families.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-03T06:40:39Z", "2026-06-03T06:42:22Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-commemorates-c-spans-40th-senate-anniversary-and-discusses-recent-work-in-south-dakota/", "Thune Commemorates C-SPAN\u2019s 40th Senate Anniversary and Discusses Recent Work in South Dakota", "2026-06-02", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cC-SPAN captures a lot of our work here in Washington, but just as important is the work that senators do back in our states \u2026 I spent last week back home in South Dakota, traveling around my state and hearing directly from South Dakotans.\u201d\n\nClick here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, as we begin our proceedings this morning, I want to take a moment to recognize a milestone here in the Senate.\n\n\u201cOn this day 40 years ago, C-SPAN broadcast the United States Senate for the very first time.\n\n\u201cOn June 2, 1986, the American people were able to turn on their televisions and see the Senate come to order and their senators engage in debate until the gavel dropped later that day.\n\n\u201cGavel-to-gavel coverage, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s the C-SPAN way.\n\n\u201cAnd over the last 40 years, C-SPAN hasn\u2019t missed a beat.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s captured 43,830 hours of Senate proceedings.\n\n\u201cBroadcast 169,000 speeches by hundreds of United States senators who have served in these halls.\n\n\u201cAnd captured the moments large and small \u2013 historic and human \u2013 that make up the United States Senate.\n\n\u201cMr. President, on that day, that first day 40 years ago, the Senate was considering an education bill.\n\n\u201cAnd what a fitting topic of discussion for C-SPAN\u2019s first day covering this chamber.\n\n\u201cEducation is C-SPAN\u2019s entire mission.\n\n\u201cC-SPAN urges its viewers to \u2018Make Up Your Own Mind.\u2019\n\n\u201cAnd for 40 years, C-SPAN has enabled the American people to make up their own minds about what we do here in the Senate.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s helped countless American students see the legislative process in action.\n\n\u201cAnd it\u2019s ensured that what happens here is lost neither to the day\u2019s news cycle nor to history.\n\n\u201cAnd I trust that C-SPAN will continue to offer the American people a front-row seat to the Senate for many decades to come.\n\n\u201cMr. President, C-SPAN captures a lot of our work here in Washington, but just as important is the work that senators do back in our states.\n\n\u201cLast week, the cameras were off here in the chamber, and senators were back at home hearing from the people that we all represent.\n\n\u201cI spent last week back home in South Dakota, traveling around my state and hearing directly from South Dakotans.\n\n\u201cI had a chance to catch up with the mayors of Webster and Lennox.\n\n\u201cMayor Danny Fergen of Lennox took me around his city.\n\n\u201cHe showed me new housing developments in Lennox.\n\n\u201cI saw the city\u2019s infrastructure needs.\n\n\u201cAnd we went down Main Street to a few businesses, including El Mariachi restaurant.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I also spent some time up in northeastern South Dakota.\n\n\u201cAs I mentioned, I met with the mayor of Webster, Mike Grosek.\n\n\u201cAnd I dropped by a few local businesses that are benefiting from the permanent tax relief Republicans delivered in the Working Families Tax Cuts.\n\n\u201cI went to the Three22 Kitchen and Cocktails in Aberdeen and saw the Main Street expansion that the owners have undertaken, including the first rooftop lounge in the city.\n\n\u201cI visited \u2018Quite Possibly the Coolest Store Ever,\u2019 the Hitch\u2019n Post, a family-owned business that has been an icon in Aberdeen for over 50 years and was recently named one of America\u2019s best western retailers.\n\n\u201cAnd then over at the Meathouse in Andover, I had a conversation about the local agricultural economy \u2026 with the ranchers \u2026 who run that business and who take pride in their home-raised beef.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I\u2019ve [also] valued the opportunity I\u2019ve had lately to spend some time hearing from South Dakota\u2019s young people.\n\n\u201cThis past month, I\u2019ve been in classrooms in Winner, Rapid City, and Sioux Falls.\n\n\u201cAnd we\u2019ve had a number of school groups visiting Washington, D.C., as well.\n\n\u201cI attended the Dakota Relays at the beginning of May and then the state track meet this past Friday.\n\n\u201cAnd last week, I had the privilege of speaking at Boys State at Northern State University and then at Girls State at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.\n\n\u201cMr. President, it\u2019s always a pleasure to get to talk with young people and to hear what\u2019s on their minds and what their dreams are for their futures.\n\n\u201cAnd I suppose, Mr. President, that\u2019s because on any given day here in the Senate, that\u2019s what our focus as Republicans boils down to: cultivating a brighter future for young people and for all Americans.\n\n\u201cA future that\u2019s secure.\n\n\u201cWith greater prosperity.\n\n\u201cAnd more opportunities to get ahead.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s our focus here in the Senate, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cAnd it\u2019s what we continue to work toward every day.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-27T20:01:11Z", "2026-06-28T06:33:41Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-on-republicans-fight-to-secure-america/", "Thune on Republicans\u2019 Fight to Secure America", "2026-06-02", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cRepublican policies are to have the back of law enforcement to ensure they have the resources, the personnel, the technology \u2013 everything they need to keep our border secure \u2013 and to ensure that our nation\u2019s laws are enforced \u2026\u201d\n\nClick here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cLast Thursday was the 102nd anniversary of the Border Patrol in this country.\n\n\u201cAnd as we celebrate 250 years for America, I think it\u2019s interesting to also observe that we have had an agency like \u2026 Border Patrol defending our borders now for over 100 years.\n\n\u201cAnd if you think about what they\u2019ve done just in this last year, it\u2019s pretty remarkable, because what we inherited from the Biden administration was the most open border that we\u2019ve ever seen \u2013 literally millions of people crawling, pouring across the border, literally every single year, illegally.\n\n\u201cAnd in a year\u2019s time, Border Patrol has completely cleaned that up, to the point, as, I think it was the month of April, there was an entire year where there hadn\u2019t been a single illegal released into the country.\n\n\u201cAnd so a truly remarkable record and a tribute to the men and women, the dedicated men and women who make the Border Patrol work.\n\n\u201cAnd Rodney Scott, the commissioner, has said that the mission of the Border Patrol has never changed; what has changed is that now their members, their agents, are able to do their jobs, the jobs that lawfully we ask them to do.\n\n\u201cAnd so, tremendous change from one administration to the other, literally, in the time span of a year, Border Patrol has done just a truly incredible job of securing our southern border.\n\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s what we are committed to doing as Republicans here in the Senate, and we, as we move forward on the Secure [America] Act this week, intend to ensure that law enforcement \u2013 both ICE and CBP \u2013 have the resources they need to carry out the responsibilities that they are given by the American people.\n\n\u201cAnd I believe the American people are on our side on this issue.\n\n\u201cThey do not want to defund the police, they don\u2019t want open borders.\n\n\u201cThose are Democrat policies.\n\n\u201cRepublican policies are to have the back of law enforcement to ensure they have the resources, the personnel, the technology \u2013 everything they need to keep our border secure \u2013 and to ensure that our nation\u2019s laws are enforced, so that our communities in this country can be safe and secure for the people who live here, for our families.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-27T20:01:11Z", "2026-06-28T06:33:41Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=2115A147-837A-4432-B254-0F84CAC38F2F", "Thune to Democrats: Enforcing the Law Isn\u2019t A Choice", "2026-06-01", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Clickhereto watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, enforcing our nation\u2019s laws is not optional.\n\n\u201cSecuring our borders isn\u2019t optional.\n\n\u201cAnd supporting the men and women who do this important work \u2013 funding law enforcement \u2013 isn\u2019t optional either.\n\n\u201cThat should go without saying.\n\n\u201cBut unfortunately, Mr. President, members of the Democrat Party have made it very clear that they disagree.\n\n\u201cIncredibly, Democrats have refused to provide a single penny for border security and immigration law enforcement for fiscal year 2026.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s zero dollars for a physical presence at our nation\u2019s border.\n\n\u201cZero dollars to deport criminals who have made their way into our country illegally.\n\n\u201cIf Democrats had their way, illegal immigrants would be allowed to flood across our nation\u2019s southern border entirely unchecked.\n\n\u201cAnd I guess we really shouldn\u2019t be surprised, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cAfter all, this is hardly the first time Democrats have demonstrated that border security and immigration enforcement are at the very bottom of their priority list.\n\n\u201cFor decades now, Democrat-led cities and states have implemented sanctuary policies that prevent local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.\n\n\u201cThese policies have had deadly consequences, yet Democrats have defended them and continue to uphold them across the country.\n\n\u201cThen there was the crisis at the southern border.\n\n\u201cFour \u2013 four \u2013 straight years of record-breaking illegal immigration at our southern border under Democrats and President Biden.\n\n\u201cAs the New York Times reported, and I quote: \u2018After Mr. Biden became president, migrant encounters at the southern border quickly doubled, then kept rising. New arrivals overwhelmed border stations, then border towns, and eventually major cities like New York and Denver.\u2019\n\n\u201cThat from the New York Times, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cNow, contrast that with today.\n\n\u201cIllegal crossings have plummeted to a trickle.\n\n\u201cAnd as of the end of April, not a single illegal immigrant has been released at the border and into our country for an entire year.\n\n\u201cBut, Mr. President, Democrats are apparently determined to bring back unchecked illegal immigration.\n\n\u201cAnd to do that, they are embracing the far-left ideologies of \u2018defund law enforcement\u2019 and \u2018abolish ICE.\u2019\n\n\u201cThese were once considered fringe positions among Democrats.\n\n\u201cToday, they\u2019re basically the official position of the Democrat Party.\n\n\u201cThe junior senator from California said in January, and I quote, \u2018I\u2019m not giving ICE or Border Patrol another dime.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe junior senator from Massachusetts told a crowd in February, and I quote, \u2018We know that we must defund and abolish ICE.\u2019\n\n\u201cAnd one Democrat Senate candidate has even said, and I quote, \u2018Dismantling ICE is the moderate position.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. President, this is today\u2019s Democrat Party \u2013 a party in thrall to its far-left base.\n\n\u201cAnd a party that has completely abandoned its national security responsibilities when it comes to enforcing immigration law and securing our borders.\n\n\u201cMr. President, needless to say, as long as Republicans are in charge, we are not going to let Democrats defund border security and immigration law enforcement.\n\n\u201cSo we\u2019re moving forward with a bill to fund these important responsibilities for the remainder of the Trump administration, so that Democrats cannot again put our nation\u2019s security and Americans\u2019 safety in jeopardy.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I don\u2019t know who Democrats think benefits from blocking funding for Border Patrol and ICE.\n\n\u201cThe American people certainly don\u2019t benefit from there being no law enforcement at the border.\n\n\u201cThey don\u2019t benefit from human traffickers and drug smugglers being able to enter our country unchecked.\n\n\u201cOr from rapists, murderers, and other criminals being allowed to live freely in our country.\n\n\u201cAnd Democrats\u2019 position puts illegal immigrants in danger as well.\n\n\u201cBorder Patrol agents are the ones pulling illegal immigrants out of the Rio Grande and rescuing dehydrated migrants in the desert.\n\n\u201cBut Democrats don\u2019t support these agents\u2019 work.\n\n\u201cIf Democrats\u2019 position helps anyone, it helps the cartels, the coyotes, and other criminals who prefer to act without risk of detection and apprehension.\n\n\u201cAnd I suspect that\u2019s why we haven\u2019t heard much from Democrats in recent weeks about the core of this legislation.\n\n\u201cDemocrats haven\u2019t exactly demonstrated an eagerness to come to the floor and defend open borders \u2013 and I strongly suspect that\u2019s because at some level they know that their position is completely indefensible.\n\n\u201cMr. President, President Trump and Republicans have cleaned up Democrats\u2019 mess at the border.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve secured the southern border and put criminals on notice that they will no longer be living freely in our country.\n\n\u201cAnd we plan to keep it that way.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-02T06:40:38Z", "2026-06-02T06:42:17Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-to-democrats-enforcing-the-law-isnt-a-choice/", "Thune to Democrats: Enforcing the Law Isn\u2019t A Choice", "2026-06-01", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cDemocrats haven\u2019t exactly demonstrated an eagerness to come to the floor and defend open borders \u2013 and I strongly suspect that\u2019s because at some level they know that their position is completely indefensible.\u201d\n\nClick here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, enforcing our nation\u2019s laws is not optional.\n\n\u201cSecuring our borders isn\u2019t optional.\n\n\u201cAnd supporting the men and women who do this important work \u2013 funding law enforcement \u2013 isn\u2019t optional either.\n\n\u201cThat should go without saying.\n\n\u201cBut unfortunately, Mr. President, members of the Democrat Party have made it very clear that they disagree.\n\n\u201cIncredibly, Democrats have refused to provide a single penny for border security and immigration law enforcement for fiscal year 2026.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s zero dollars for a physical presence at our nation\u2019s border.\n\n\u201cZero dollars to deport criminals who have made their way into our country illegally.\n\n\u201cIf Democrats had their way, illegal immigrants would be allowed to flood across our nation\u2019s southern border entirely unchecked.\n\n\u201cAnd I guess we really shouldn\u2019t be surprised, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cAfter all, this is hardly the first time Democrats have demonstrated that border security and immigration enforcement are at the very bottom of their priority list.\n\n\u201cFor decades now, Democrat-led cities and states have implemented sanctuary policies that prevent local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.\n\n\u201cThese policies have had deadly consequences, yet Democrats have defended them and continue to uphold them across the country.\n\n\u201cThen there was the crisis at the southern border.\n\n\u201cFour \u2013 four \u2013 straight years of record-breaking illegal immigration at our southern border under Democrats and President Biden.\n\n\u201cAs the New York Times reported, and I quote: \u2018After Mr. Biden became president, migrant encounters at the southern border quickly doubled, then kept rising. New arrivals overwhelmed border stations, then border towns, and eventually major cities like New York and Denver.\u2019\n\n\u201cThat from the New York Times, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cNow, contrast that with today.\n\n\u201cIllegal crossings have plummeted to a trickle.\n\n\u201cAnd as of the end of April, not a single illegal immigrant has been released at the border and into our country for an entire year.\n\n\u201cBut, Mr. President, Democrats are apparently determined to bring back unchecked illegal immigration.\n\n\u201cAnd to do that, they are embracing the far-left ideologies of \u2018defund law enforcement\u2019 and \u2018abolish ICE.\u2019\n\n\u201cThese were once considered fringe positions among Democrats.\n\n\u201cToday, they\u2019re basically the official position of the Democrat Party.\n\n\u201cThe junior senator from California said in January, and I quote, \u2018I\u2019m not giving ICE or Border Patrol another dime.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe junior senator from Massachusetts told a crowd in February, and I quote, \u2018We know that we must defund and abolish ICE.\u2019\n\n\u201cAnd one Democrat Senate candidate has even said, and I quote, \u2018Dismantling ICE is the moderate position.\u2019\n\n\u201cMr. President, this is today\u2019s Democrat Party \u2013 a party in thrall to its far-left base.\n\n\u201cAnd a party that has completely abandoned its national security responsibilities when it comes to enforcing immigration law and securing our borders.\n\n\u201cMr. President, needless to say, as long as Republicans are in charge, we are not going to let Democrats defund border security and immigration law enforcement.\n\n\u201cSo we\u2019re moving forward with a bill to fund these important responsibilities for the remainder of the Trump administration, so that Democrats cannot again put our nation\u2019s security and Americans\u2019 safety in jeopardy.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I don\u2019t know who Democrats think benefits from blocking funding for Border Patrol and ICE.\n\n\u201cThe American people certainly don\u2019t benefit from there being no law enforcement at the border.\n\n\u201cThey don\u2019t benefit from human traffickers and drug smugglers being able to enter our country unchecked.\n\n\u201cOr from rapists, murderers, and other criminals being allowed to live freely in our country.\n\n\u201cAnd Democrats\u2019 position puts illegal immigrants in danger as well.\n\n\u201cBorder Patrol agents are the ones pulling illegal immigrants out of the Rio Grande and rescuing dehydrated migrants in the desert.\n\n\u201cBut Democrats don\u2019t support these agents\u2019 work.\n\n\u201cIf Democrats\u2019 position helps anyone, it helps the cartels, the coyotes, and other criminals who prefer to act without risk of detection and apprehension.\n\n\u201cAnd I suspect that\u2019s why we haven\u2019t heard much from Democrats in recent weeks about the core of this legislation.\n\n\u201cDemocrats haven\u2019t exactly demonstrated an eagerness to come to the floor and defend open borders \u2013 and I strongly suspect that\u2019s because at some level they know that their position is completely indefensible.\n\n\u201cMr. President, President Trump and Republicans have cleaned up Democrats\u2019 mess at the border.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve secured the southern border and put criminals on notice that they will no longer be living freely in our country.\n\n\u201cAnd we plan to keep it that way.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-27T20:01:11Z", "2026-06-28T06:33:41Z"], ["https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-legislation-to-prevent-smuggling-of-american-semiconductors-into-china-unanimously-passes-senate", "Rounds Legislation to Prevent Smuggling of American Semiconductors into China Unanimously Passes Senate", "2026-05-22", "2026", "2026-05", "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 his legislation to prevent the smuggling of American-made semiconductors into China has passed the Senate. The Stop Stealing our Chips Act would amend the Export Control Reform Act to create a whistleblower incentive program at the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). The program is designed to increase reporting of illegal exports.\n\n\u201cI am pleased that the Stop Stealing our Chips Act has passed the Senate,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cThe United States has taken extensive measures to prevent American-made semiconductors from falling into the wrong hands, particularly China; however, China continues to smuggle these chips into their country. As the use of artificial intelligence continues to accelerate, this creates a grave national security concern. Our legislation would strengthen BIS\u2019s export control enforcement by rewarding whistleblowers with credible information on illegal actions to come forward. I look forward to working with our colleagues in the House to get this important legislation through Congress and to President Trump\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\u201d\n\nSenator Mark Warner (D-Va.) is a cosponsor of this legislation.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s Senate passage of the Stop Stealing our Chips Act is an important step toward strengthening our export control system and protecting America\u2019s national security,\u201d said Warner. \u201cAs China continues working to acquire advanced American AI technology through illicit networks, we need stronger tools to detect and prevent these violations. This bipartisan legislation empowers whistleblowers to help expose illegal export schemes and gives BIS additional support in enforcing our export control laws. I\u2019m proud to work with Senator Rounds to help safeguard America\u2019s technological edge and keep sensitive technologies out of the wrong hands.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nThe smuggling of cutting-edge semiconductors from the United States into China is a growing national security concern, as China intends to use advanced AI systems created with these chips for military applications and advanced surveillance systems. Reporting has indicated that at least eight Chinese smuggling networks have conducted transactions exceeding $100 million each. Reports also indicate that these chips often reach sanctioned Chinese entities, including military research institutions and companies linked to the People\u2019s Liberation Army. The United States has taken measures to restrict China\u2019s access to these materials, but despite these measures, black-market networks and intermediaries have exploited loopholes to funnel restricted chips into China.\n\nRounds first introduced the Stop Stealing our Chips Act in April 2025. Specifically, Rounds\u2019 legislation would:\n\nRequire BIS to create a public, secure platform for submitting whistleblower reports.\n\nEstablish a fund, financed by fines collected from export control violations, to cover whistleblower rewards and program operations.\n\nIncludes confidentiality guarantees and anti-retaliation safeguards to protect whistleblowers.\n\nWhistleblowers providing original information leading to fines against violators can receive 10 to 30 percent of collected fines, with exceptions for known terrorists and criminals as well as federal employees acting within the scope of their duties. Reports deemed credible must lead to formal investigations within 60 days, with whistleblowers receiving status updates every 30 days. Any remaining funds from fines will be returned to the Treasury. No new funds are appropriated for this program. This program is modeled after the Securities and Exchange Commission\u2019s Whistleblower Incentive Program.\n\nClick HERE to read full bill text.\n\n###", 1, "2026-05-23T06:08:46Z", "2026-05-23T06:10:20Z"], ["https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/johnson-votes-advance-highway-bill", "Johnson Votes to Advance Highway Bill", "2026-05-22", "2026", "2026-05", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Dusty Johnson", "J000301", "dustyjohnson.house.gov", "dustyjohnson", "https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) voted to invest in America\u2019s critical transportation and infrastructure programs and protect American infrastructure from Chinese spy technology. Several of Johnson\u2019s priorities were included in the Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long-term Development (BUILD) for America\u2019s 250th Act, which passed the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee with a bipartisan 66-2 vote.\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s roads, bridges, and railways are among our most important assets,\u201d said Johnson. \u201cPeople use roads every day to get to and from work, school, or the doctor. For others, the roads are their office \u2013 they spend hours each day hauling goods across the country. Roads are critical to community life, the supply chain, and our national security. The BUILD America 250 Act provides a strong investment in our transportation system to keep America moving and gives states the driver\u2019s seat to address their unique needs.\u201d\n\nClick here to watch Johnson\u2019s remarks.\n\n\u201cThe South Dakota Trucking Association applauds the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee for advancing the BUILD America 250 Act,\u201d said Christine Erickson, President of the South Dakota Trucking Association. \u201cA long-term, sustainable surface transportation bill is critical to keeping freight moving safely and efficiently across South Dakota and the nation. Investments in our roads, bridges, and supply chain infrastructure support economic growth, strengthen rural connectivity, and ensure the trucking industry can continue delivering for American families and businesses.\u201d\n\nThe BUILD America 250 Act:\n\nProvides $45 billion for bridge program funding \u2013 the largest-ever investment in American bridges.\n\nMore than one-third of United States bridges need major repairs or replacement. Motorists drive across \u201cstructurally deficient\u201d bridges 163 million times each day.\n\nCuts red tape to ensure projects get built more quickly and with fewer costs due to permitting delays.\n\nInvests $750 million to expand truck parking to decrease the nationwide shortage of truck parking.\n\nFocuses resources on work zone safety and supports law enforcement.\n\nRequires the Secretary of Transportation to remove Commercial Driver\u2019s License mills from the provider registry to ensure truck drivers are properly trained and licensed.\n\nCombats cargo theft, which costs the freight industry more than $18 million per day. The BUILD America 250 Act protects these goods, driving down costs for consumers.\n\nJohnson priorities included in the bill:\n\nProvides more than $2 billion in federal highway funding for South Dakota over five years.\n\nProvides more than $460 million in bridge funding for South Dakota over five years, more than double the previous allocation of $225 million.\n\nJohnson\u2019s Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act, whichprohibits the Department of Transportation from using LiDAR technology from foreign adversaries like China, which creates millimeter-level accurate digital 3-D maps of our infrastructure.\n\nStreamlines National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews for Federal Highway Administration projects to ensure faster reviews for projects.\n\nExempts livestock haulers from electronic logging devices and hours-of-service requirements when traveling within a 150 air-mile radius from the final destination of the livestock.\n\nJohnson\u2019s amendment to establish a voluntary ten-year pilot program for states to increase truck weights on federal interstates up to 91,000 lbs. on six axles, easing burdensome regulations and improving driver recruitment and retention.\n\nIncreases funding for the Tribal Transportation Program.", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:21:02Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=93D60303-0376-4A56-B9C0-C02BBD77D091", "Thune: Democrats Cling to Open Borders, Republicans Want to Secure America", "2026-05-21", "2026", "2026-05", "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. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, the Democrat Party has gone off the rails.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s no secret that the Democrat Party has drifted sharply leftward in recent years.\n\n\u201cAnd it\u2019s become increasingly divorced from the concerns of ordinary Americans.\n\n\u201c\u2018Many Americans Say the [Democratic] Party Does Not Share Their Priorities\u2019 \u2013 that was a headline noted last year from The New York Times.\n\n\u201cBut it is remarkable just how extreme Democrats have become.\n\n\u201cEveryone remembers the Democrat Party\u2019s flirtation with \u2018Defund the Police\u2019 a few years ago.\n\n\u201cBut when it rapidly became apparent that we actually need the police, Democrats seemed to rein things in.\n\n\u201cBut no more.\n\n\u201cIn today\u2019s Democrat Party, \u2018Defund the Police\u2019 is back \u2013 and more strongly than ever.\n\n\u201cThe reason we\u2019re here today, Mr. President \u2013 I would say the sole, sole reason we are here today \u2013 is because we\u2019re considering this reconciliation bill because Democrats refused to fund law enforcement at the Department of Homeland Security.\n\n\u201cThey refused to fund Border Patrol.\n\n\u201cAnd they refused to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\n\n\u201cAt all.\n\n\u201cThey wouldn\u2019t agree to provide a single dollar for either of these agencies.\n\n\u201cNot a single dollar for a physical presence at our border.\n\n\u201cNot a single dollar to take criminal illegal aliens off of our streets.\n\n\u201cReally think about that for a minute, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cIs there any country in the world that doesn\u2019t have officers to protect its borders?\n\n\u201cWell, if Democrats had their way, that would now be the United States of America.\n\n\u201cThe public record provides ample evidence of the fact that among those who try to make their way illegally across the border, there are bad actors whose presence in this country would endanger Americans.\n\n\u201cDemocrats don\u2019t want there to be a single individual at the border to stop those individuals from entering our country.\n\n\u201cAnd they don\u2019t want there to be a single individual to enforce immigration law in this country.\n\n\u201cThe various women who were murdered by illegal immigrants who entered the country under the open-borders Biden administration? What about those?\n\n\u201cWell, Democrats apparently don\u2019t think that even one of those individuals should have been deported.\n\n\u201cMr. President, if what I\u2019m saying sounds extreme, let me confirm \u2013 it is.\n\n\u201cBut it is also an accurate description of the Democrats\u2019 position.\n\n\u201cIf this were about making reforms to the way ICE or Border Patrol does business, then Democrats would have accepted the robust package of legislative reforms they were offered by the White House \u2013 or engaged in serious negotiations to tweak the package.\n\n\u201cBut they didn\u2019t.\n\n\u201cThey put up a good show \u2013 for a little while.\n\n\u201cBut it rapidly became clear that Democrats were not interested in actually reaching any kind of agreement.\n\n\u201cAnd eventually they just walked away.\n\n\u201cPresumably because they felt that it was more valuable for them to have a political issue than to actually agree to any reforms.\n\n\u201cOf course, I\u2019m not sure what political constituency they were appealing to.\n\n\u201cBecause I don\u2019t think mainstream Americans believe in, for example, completely defunding our nation\u2019s Border Patrol.\n\n\u201cBut then again, I\u2019m not too sure the Democrat Party really understands or thinks about mainstream Americans.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019re in the pockets of the far left, and so they embrace positions guaranteed to appeal to the far left \u2013 no matter, no matter how out of step those positions are with those of mainstream Americans.\n\n\u201cMr. President, in recent days, perhaps realizing just how extreme \u2018Defund the Police\u2019 could seem to mainstream Americans, the Democrat leader has attempted to obfuscate what is happening here by suggesting that Republicans\u2019 consideration of this bill somehow means that Republicans are not concerned with the challenges facing ordinary Americans.\n\n\u201cTo which I say, give me a break.\n\n\u201cThis from the same Democrat leader who oversaw passage of legislation that plunged our country into an inflation crisis.\n\n\u201cFrom legislation to drive down the cost of prescription drugs at the pharmacy counter to our signature Working Families Tax Cuts, which permanently cut Americans\u2019 taxes and put more money in workers\u2019 pockets, Republicans have been focused \u2013 focused like a laser \u2013 on making life easier for hardworking Americans.\n\n\u201cBut remarkably, it is possible to walk and chew gum at the same time.\n\n\u201cAnd we can protect Americans by protecting our borders and continue to pass legislation that will alleviate some of the pressures facing hardworking Americans.\n\n\u201cWe not only can do both; we have a responsibility to do both.\n\n\u201cAnd Republicans are going to fulfill that responsibility.\n\n\u201cAs long as we\u2019re in charge, there will be agents at our borders to prevent terrorists, traffickers, and other dangerous individuals from making their way into our country, and there will be agents to take criminal illegal immigrants off of America\u2019s streets.\n\n\u201cOur nation\u2019s security demands nothing less.\u201d", 1, "2026-05-22T06:27:39Z", "2026-05-22T06:29:18Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-democrats-cling-to-open-borders-republicans-want-to-secure-america/", "Thune: Democrats Cling to Open Borders, Republicans Want to Secure America", "2026-05-21", "2026", "2026-05", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cAs long as [Republicans are] in charge, there will be agents at our borders to prevent terrorists, traffickers, and other dangerous individuals from making their way into our country, and there will be agents to take criminal illegal immigrants off of America\u2019s streets.\u201d\n\nClick here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, the Democrat Party has gone off the rails.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s no secret that the Democrat Party has drifted sharply leftward in recent years.\n\n\u201cAnd it\u2019s become increasingly divorced from the concerns of ordinary Americans.\n\n\u201c\u2018Many Americans Say the [Democratic] Party Does Not Share Their Priorities\u2019 \u2013 that was a headline noted last year from The New York Times.\n\n\u201cBut it is remarkable just how extreme Democrats have become.\n\n\u201cEveryone remembers the Democrat Party\u2019s flirtation with \u2018Defund the Police\u2019 a few years ago.\n\n\u201cBut when it rapidly became apparent that we actually need the police, Democrats seemed to rein things in.\n\n\u201cBut no more.\n\n\u201cIn today\u2019s Democrat Party, \u2018Defund the Police\u2019 is back \u2013 and more strongly than ever.\n\n\u201cThe reason we\u2019re here today, Mr. President \u2013 I would say the sole, sole reason we are here today \u2013 is because we\u2019re considering this reconciliation bill because Democrats refused to fund law enforcement at the Department of Homeland Security.\n\n\u201cThey refused to fund Border Patrol.\n\n\u201cAnd they refused to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\n\n\u201cAt all.\n\n\u201cThey wouldn\u2019t agree to provide a single dollar for either of these agencies.\n\n\u201cNot a single dollar for a physical presence at our border.\n\n\u201cNot a single dollar to take criminal illegal aliens off of our streets.\n\n\u201cReally think about that for a minute, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cIs there any country in the world that doesn\u2019t have officers to protect its borders?\n\n\u201cWell, if Democrats had their way, that would now be the United States of America.\n\n\u201cThe public record provides ample evidence of the fact that among those who try to make their way illegally across the border, there are bad actors whose presence in this country would endanger Americans.\n\n\u201cDemocrats don\u2019t want there to be a single individual at the border to stop those individuals from entering our country.\n\n\u201cAnd they don\u2019t want there to be a single individual to enforce immigration law in this country.\n\n\u201cThe various women who were murdered by illegal immigrants who entered the country under the open-borders Biden administration? What about those?\n\n\u201cWell, Democrats apparently don\u2019t think that even one of those individuals should have been deported.\n\n\u201cMr. President, if what I\u2019m saying sounds extreme, let me confirm \u2013 it is.\n\n\u201cBut it is also an accurate description of the Democrats\u2019 position.\n\n\u201cIf this were about making reforms to the way ICE or Border Patrol does business, then Democrats would have accepted the robust package of legislative reforms they were offered by the White House \u2013 or engaged in serious negotiations to tweak the package.\n\n\u201cBut they didn\u2019t.\n\n\u201cThey put up a good show \u2013 for a little while.\n\n\u201cBut it rapidly became clear that Democrats were not interested in actually reaching any kind of agreement.\n\n\u201cAnd eventually they just walked away.\n\n\u201cPresumably because they felt that it was more valuable for them to have a political issue than to actually agree to any reforms.\n\n\u201cOf course, I\u2019m not sure what political constituency they were appealing to.\n\n\u201cBecause I don\u2019t think mainstream Americans believe in, for example, completely defunding our nation\u2019s Border Patrol.\n\n\u201cBut then again, I\u2019m not too sure the Democrat Party really understands or thinks about mainstream Americans.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019re in the pockets of the far left, and so they embrace positions guaranteed to appeal to the far left \u2013 no matter, no matter how out of step those positions are with those of mainstream Americans.\n\n\u201cMr. President, in recent days, perhaps realizing just how extreme \u2018Defund the Police\u2019 could seem to mainstream Americans, the Democrat leader has attempted to obfuscate what is happening here by suggesting that Republicans\u2019 consideration of this bill somehow means that Republicans are not concerned with the challenges facing ordinary Americans.\n\n\u201cTo which I say, give me a break.\n\n\u201cThis from the same Democrat leader who oversaw passage of legislation that plunged our country into an inflation crisis.\n\n\u201cFrom legislation to drive down the cost of prescription drugs at the pharmacy counter to our signature Working Families Tax Cuts, which permanently cut Americans\u2019 taxes and put more money in workers\u2019 pockets, Republicans have been focused \u2013 focused like a laser \u2013 on making life easier for hardworking Americans.\n\n\u201cBut remarkably, it is possible to walk and chew gum at the same time.\n\n\u201cAnd we can protect Americans by protecting our borders and continue to pass legislation that will alleviate some of the pressures facing hardworking Americans.\n\n\u201cWe not only can do both; we have a responsibility to do both.\n\n\u201cAnd Republicans are going to fulfill that responsibility.\n\n\u201cAs long as we\u2019re in charge, there will be agents at our borders to prevent terrorists, traffickers, and other dangerous individuals from making their way into our country, and there will be agents to take criminal illegal immigrants off of America\u2019s streets.\n\n\u201cOur nation\u2019s security demands nothing less.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-27T20:01:11Z", "2026-06-27T22:21:02Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=0CB53BFD-D4C8-4EC4-B688-678E77A584A1", "Thune: Democrats Have Made Their Choice; Republicans Will Fund Border Security Despite Them", "2026-05-20", "2026", "2026-05", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Clickhereto watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, yesterday on the floor I discussed some of our accomplishments here in the Senate, and one of those accomplishments is restoring regular order consideration of appropriation bills.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, in fiscal year 2025, we were forced to do a full-year CR after the failures of the previous Democrat majority and the Biden administration to enact full-year bills in a timely manner.\n\n\u201cBut at the start of this year, we were on the verge of concluding an open, member-driven, and bipartisan appropriations process and passing the full complement of 12 full-year appropriations bills.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s what I said I wanted to do when Republicans took the majority last year.\n\n\u201cAnd we were about to get it done.\n\n\u201cThat is, until Democrats reneged on our bipartisan DHS funding bill \u2013 a bill, I might add, that included bipartisan reforms and money for additional body cameras for immigration enforcement.\n\n\u201cWhen they backed out of this deal, Democrats said they just needed two more weeks to negotiate additional reforms on immigration enforcement.\n\n\u201cRepublicans were willing to do that, and we began negotiations.\n\n\u201cBut then that two-week deadline came and went without much progress.\n\n\u201cAnd pretty soon it drug on into 40, 41, 42, 43, 45 days.\n\n\u201cAnd instead of agreeing to fund the Department of Homeland Security while negotiations continued, Democrats shut the department down.\n\n\u201cMeanwhile, the White House implemented reforms of its own.\n\n\u201cAnd as negotiations continued, the White House repeatedly offered Democrats a robust package of legislative reforms.\n\n\u201cBut as the weeks dragged on, it became very clear that Democrats weren\u2019t interested in reforms at all.\n\n\u201cAnd eventually, they just walked away.\n\n\u201cNow why would they do that, Mr. President?\n\n\u201cIf reforming immigration enforcement is as important as Democrats were claiming, why would Democrats choose to walk away from reforms?\n\n\u201cI suspect it\u2019s either that the reforms that the Trump administration implemented were adequate to solve the problem at hand, or \u2013 and I think this is the real reason \u2013 Democrats weren\u2019t interested in reforms at all.\n\n\u201cThey wanted a political issue.\n\n\u201cSomething that would please the far left.\n\n\u201cAnd apparently they decided that defunding law enforcement would be a winner for them.\n\n\u201cBecause that\u2019s what we are talking about here, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cDemocrats voted to defund border security.\n\n\u201cThey voted to defund immigration enforcement.\n\n\u201cNot reform, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cDefund.\n\n\u201cAnd defund completely.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s really quite shameful.\n\n\u201cA few weeks ago on the floor, the Democrat leader said that ICE and Border Patrol are two agencies that \u2018nobody respects in this country.\u2019\n\n\u201cNobody respects Border Patrol and ICE, Mr. President, those are the Democrat leader\u2019s words.\n\n\u201cApparently, the fact that there are men and women risking their lives against drug cartels and gang members doesn\u2019t merit respect from Democrats.\n\n\u201cNot only that, but Democrats apparently don\u2019t think we should have these agencies that go after criminals, stop illegal drugs from entering our country, fight human trafficking, and enforce our nation\u2019s immigration laws.\n\n\u201cAnd that last one is, I think, the real issue here, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cDo Democrats believe we should enforce our immigration laws?\n\n\u201cIt really seems like they don\u2019t.\n\n\u201cFor years now, Democrat-led cities and states have implemented sanctuary policies that prevent their law enforcement agencies from cooperating with immigration authorities.\n\n\u201cThose policies have had deadly consequences.\n\n\u201cThe murder of Laken Riley is just one example.\n\n\u201cYet Democrats still defend these misguided policies.\n\n\u201cThen, under President Biden, Democrats\u2019 embrace of open-border policies reached its zenith.\n\n\u201cThe Biden administration clearly did not believe in enforcing our immigration laws, and the result was year upon year of record-breaking illegal immigration.\n\n\u201cAs even the New York Times has reported, and I quote, \u2018After Mr. Biden became president, migrant encounters at the southern border quickly doubled, then kept rising. New arrivals overwhelmed border stations, then border towns, and eventually major cities like New York and Denver.\u2019\n\n\u201cStill, Mr. President, Democrats embrace open borders.\n\n\u201cAnd make no mistake, that is exactly what Democrats are embracing when they opt for giving no funding \u2013 zero funding \u2013 to Border Patrol and ICE.\n\n\u201cWhat they\u2019re suggesting is that we have no physical presence at our borders.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019re suggesting that we don\u2019t have law enforcement officers taking criminal illegal immigrants off of our streets.\n\n\u201cAnd I really have to wonder who they\u2019re doing this for.\n\n\u201cBecause letting illegal immigrants enter our country unchecked and allowing criminal illegal immigrants to roam free is certainly not putting the American people first.\n\n\u201cMr. President, Democrats have made their choice.\n\n\u201cThey would rather have applause from the far-left \u2018defund the police\u2019 crowd than keep the American people safe.\n\n\u201cThey would rather have a political issue this November than do their jobs.\n\n\u201cAs I say, they\u2019ve made their choice.\n\n\u201cFortunately, Republicans can fund these critical agencies without Democrats\u2019 assistance.\n\n\u201cAnd we will be moving forward with the final steps of that process shortly.\n\n\u201cMr. President, as I said at the top of my remarks, I wanted to restore regular order, bipartisan consideration of funding bills \u2013 and we were doing that.\n\n\u201cAnd despite Democrats\u2019 partisan games, we\u2019re still going to get the entire federal government funded.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re going to ensure our immigration laws are enforced and criminal illegal aliens are not allowed to live freely in our country.\n\n\u201cAnd if Democrats want to play partisan games and vote against border security, well, they\u2019re free to do that.\n\n\u201cBut Republicans are going to do our jobs and ensure that law enforcement can do theirs.\u201d", 1, "2026-05-21T06:28:16Z", "2026-05-21T06:29:43Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-democrats-have-made-their-choice-republicans-will-fund-border-security-despite-them/", "Thune: Democrats Have Made Their Choice; Republicans Will Fund Border Security Despite Them", "2026-05-20", "2026", "2026-05", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201c[D]espite Democrats\u2019 partisan games, we\u2019re still going to get the entire federal government funded. We\u2019re going to ensure our immigration laws are enforced and criminal illegal aliens are not allowed to live freely in our country.\u201d\n\nClick here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMr. President, yesterday on the floor I discussed some of our accomplishments here in the Senate, and one of those accomplishments is restoring regular order consideration of appropriation bills.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, in fiscal year 2025, we were forced to do a full-year CR after the failures of the previous Democrat majority and the Biden administration to enact full-year bills in a timely manner.\n\n\u201cBut at the start of this year, we were on the verge of concluding an open, member-driven, and bipartisan appropriations process and passing the full complement of 12 full-year appropriations bills.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s what I said I wanted to do when Republicans took the majority last year.\n\n\u201cAnd we were about to get it done.\n\n\u201cThat is, until Democrats reneged on our bipartisan DHS funding bill \u2013 a bill, I might add, that included bipartisan reforms and money for additional body cameras for immigration enforcement.\n\n\u201cWhen they backed out of this deal, Democrats said they just needed two more weeks to negotiate additional reforms on immigration enforcement.\n\n\u201cRepublicans were willing to do that, and we began negotiations.\n\n\u201cBut then that two-week deadline came and went without much progress.\n\n\u201cAnd pretty soon it drug on into 40, 41, 42, 43, 45 days.\n\n\u201cAnd instead of agreeing to fund the Department of Homeland Security while negotiations continued, Democrats shut the department down.\n\n\u201cMeanwhile, the White House implemented reforms of its own.\n\n\u201cAnd as negotiations continued, the White House repeatedly offered Democrats a robust package of legislative reforms.\n\n\u201cBut as the weeks dragged on, it became very clear that Democrats weren\u2019t interested in reforms at all.\n\n\u201cAnd eventually, they just walked away.\n\n\u201cNow why would they do that, Mr. President?\n\n\u201cIf reforming immigration enforcement is as important as Democrats were claiming, why would Democrats choose to walk away from reforms?\n\n\u201cI suspect it\u2019s either that the reforms that the Trump administration implemented were adequate to solve the problem at hand, or \u2013 and I think this is the real reason \u2013 Democrats weren\u2019t interested in reforms at all.\n\n\u201cThey wanted a political issue.\n\n\u201cSomething that would please the far left.\n\n\u201cAnd apparently they decided that defunding law enforcement would be a winner for them.\n\n\u201cBecause that\u2019s what we are talking about here, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cDemocrats voted to defund border security.\n\n\u201cThey voted to defund immigration enforcement.\n\n\u201cNot reform, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cDefund.\n\n\u201cAnd defund completely.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s really quite shameful.\n\n\u201cA few weeks ago on the floor, the Democrat leader said that ICE and Border Patrol are two agencies that \u2018nobody respects in this country.\u2019\n\n\u201cNobody respects Border Patrol and ICE, Mr. President, those are the Democrat leader\u2019s words.\n\n\u201cApparently, the fact that there are men and women risking their lives against drug cartels and gang members doesn\u2019t merit respect from Democrats.\n\n\u201cNot only that, but Democrats apparently don\u2019t think we should have these agencies that go after criminals, stop illegal drugs from entering our country, fight human trafficking, and enforce our nation\u2019s immigration laws.\n\n\u201cAnd that last one is, I think, the real issue here, Mr. President.\n\n\u201cDo Democrats believe we should enforce our immigration laws?\n\n\u201cIt really seems like they don\u2019t.\n\n\u201cFor years now, Democrat-led cities and states have implemented sanctuary policies that prevent their law enforcement agencies from cooperating with immigration authorities.\n\n\u201cThose policies have had deadly consequences.\n\n\u201cThe murder of Laken Riley is just one example.\n\n\u201cYet Democrats still defend these misguided policies.\n\n\u201cThen, under President Biden, Democrats\u2019 embrace of open-border policies reached its zenith.\n\n\u201cThe Biden administration clearly did not believe in enforcing our immigration laws, and the result was year upon year of record-breaking illegal immigration.\n\n\u201cAs even the New York Times has reported, and I quote, \u2018After Mr. Biden became president, migrant encounters at the southern border quickly doubled, then kept rising. New arrivals overwhelmed border stations, then border towns, and eventually major cities like New York and Denver.\u2019\n\n\u201cStill, Mr. President, Democrats embrace open borders.\n\n\u201cAnd make no mistake, that is exactly what Democrats are embracing when they opt for giving no funding \u2013 zero funding \u2013 to Border Patrol and ICE.\n\n\u201cWhat they\u2019re suggesting is that we have no physical presence at our borders.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019re suggesting that we don\u2019t have law enforcement officers taking criminal illegal immigrants off of our streets.\n\n\u201cAnd I really have to wonder who they\u2019re doing this for.\n\n\u201cBecause letting illegal immigrants enter our country unchecked and allowing criminal illegal immigrants to roam free is certainly not putting the American people first.\n\n\u201cMr. President, Democrats have made their choice.\n\n\u201cThey would rather have applause from the far-left \u2018defund the police\u2019 crowd than keep the American people safe.\n\n\u201cThey would rather have a political issue this November than do their jobs.\n\n\u201cAs I say, they\u2019ve made their choice.\n\n\u201cFortunately, Republicans can fund these critical agencies without Democrats\u2019 assistance.\n\n\u201cAnd we will be moving forward with the final steps of that process shortly.\n\n\u201cMr. President, as I said at the top of my remarks, I wanted to restore regular order, bipartisan consideration of funding bills \u2013 and we were doing that.\n\n\u201cAnd despite Democrats\u2019 partisan games, we\u2019re still going to get the entire federal government funded.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re going to ensure our immigration laws are enforced and criminal illegal aliens are not allowed to live freely in our country.\n\n\u201cAnd if Democrats want to play partisan games and vote against border security, well, they\u2019re free to do that.\n\n\u201cBut Republicans are going to do our jobs and ensure that law enforcement can do theirs.\u201d", 1, "2026-06-27T20:01:11Z", "2026-06-27T22:21:02Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=92C406B2-9938-4BBA-992D-4EA7E53A71BA", "Thune: Republicans Fight to Secure America", "2026-05-19", "2026", "2026-05", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "Clickhereto watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cThe former vice president said here recently that this is a moment when there are no bad ideas.\n\n\u201cWith all due respect to the former vice president, it seems to me, at least, to the Democrats, there\u2019s no shortage of bad ideas.\n\n\u201cAnd chief among those is this idea that they\u2019re going to defund the police.\n\n\u201cThat is the mantra of the Democrat Party, it\u2019s the position of the Democrats here in Washington in the House and the Senate.\n\n\u201cAnd as a consequence of that, Republicans are going to be forced to take care of the American people.\n\n\u201cBecause I think the question \u2026 that\u2019s before us is, do we want to live in safety and security?\n\n\u201cAnd obviously the answer to that, for most Americans, I think, is going to be yes.\n\n\u201cAnd if you look at the record of success that this administration and working with this Congress has had, in the last 12 months, there was not a single illegal immigrant released into this country.\n\n\u201cLast 12 months, not a single one.\n\n\u201cAnd you go back to just two years ago, under the Biden administration, there were literally thousands being released into the country every single day.\n\n\u201cSo, this is about whether or not you want to live in a country that is safe and secure, where you support law enforcement and the important job they do \u2013 Customs and Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement \u2013 or whether you don\u2019t.\n\n\u201cAnd Republicans do.\n\n\u201cRepublicans are going to have law enforcement\u2019s back.\n\n\u201cAnd so this week we\u2019re going to vote on the Secure America Act, which is a piece of legislation that will fund ICE and CBP, not only for this year but through the entirety of the Trump administration, because the Democrats have adopted a defund-the-police and open-borders policy, which is incredibly detrimental to this country, and we\u2019re going to ensure that that doesn\u2019t happen.\n\n\u201cSo that\u2019s what\u2019s going to be on the floor here, hopefully later this week.\n\n\u201cI expect again that the Democrats are, we\u2019ll see what they want to do in terms of amendments, and but I doubt you\u2019ll see many amendments that have to do with Border Patrol or \u2026 Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\n\n\u201cI think most of what you\u2019re going to see is a bunch of unrelated amendments, but we\u2019re going to stay focused on the job, keep our \u2026 foot on the gas \u2026 and ensure that the American people are able to live in safety and security in their communities in this country.\u201d", 1, "2026-05-20T06:27:31Z", "2026-05-20T06:28:54Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 256, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"party\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Republican", "p1": "SD", "p2": "2026"}}, 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