{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=C94E2B80-6854-420C-9CC3-7749D45A2899", "Thankful for a Happy and Healthy 2016", "2016-12-22", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sen. John Thune \r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tFor many South Dakotans, the presidential election probably dominated conversations with friends and family for much of the year. It\u2019s no surprise, considering how historic the election was from beginning to end. And while that certainly makes 2016 a year for the history books, I\u2019m sure there are many other reasons why South Dakotans will remember the last 12 months and be thankful for the opportunities that came their way. So before we flip the calendar from 2016 to 2017, I wanted to share just a handful of reasons why this year has been so special for me. \u00a0\r\nAfter my faith, my family means more to me than anything else in the world. Kimberley, my far better half, has been my rock for more than 30 years and continues to push me to be a better person both personally and professionally. Our daughters Brittany and Larissa never cease to amaze me, and I\u2019m so proud of the lives they continue to build with their respective husbands Luke and Scott.\r\nThis year was a year of firsts for our family as Larissa and Scott welcomed their first child, Henley Joy Hargens, who also happened to be our first grandchild. I joke with Kimberley that it was easier for her than me to add \u201cgrand\u201d to our titles of mother and father, but all joking aside, there is no way to fully describe in words the immense joy of seeing your baby girl holding a baby girl of her own. Next year will bring another first for our family as Brittany and Luke welcome their first child, too.\r\nAfter becoming a grandfather, it\u2019s hard not to think about my dad who is now a great grandfather to 20 amazing kids. While my dad will turn 97 years old this year, he\u2019s a perfect example of age merely being a number. He and I spent a morning on the golf course earlier this summer, and although he\u2019s more than 40 years my senior, he can still golf a better round than me. My dad still joins us every October for the pheasant opener, too. Roosters or not, he\u2019s usually one of the happiest people in camp.\r\nI\u2019m also thankful for the people of South Dakota. It\u2019s a humbling experience to be elected to the Senate and bring your voice to the halls of the U.S. Capitol. My staff, who work throughout South Dakota and in Washington, D.C., are easily the hardest-working group in the Senate. Like me, whether it is spring, summer, fall, or now during the holiday season, they are always ready to work hard for you.\r\n2016 has been busy, but it has also been a fun, healthy, and happy year. Here\u2019s to an even better 2017.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "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"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=C94E2B80-6854-420C-9CC3-7749D45A2899"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8063290733844042, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}