{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=0FE72C8A-F5C5-425E-8EB4-FFC5A675ABE7", "Thunes 2015-2016 Senate Accomplishments", "2016-12-14", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tBelow are several legislative accomplishments that U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) led, authored, or co-authored during the 114th Congress (2015-2016). During the 115th Congress, which begins on January 3, 2017, Thune and his Senate Republican colleagues will continue fighting to make America\u2019s economy stronger, the government more efficient and accountable, and our nation and world safer and more secure.\u00a0For more information and additional legislative accomplishments, visit www.thune.senate.gov.\r\n\u201cMy role as chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee puts me in a strong position to address the needs of rural states like South Dakota and deliver positive results for American consumers, producers, and shippers,\u201d said Thune. \u201cIt has been a busy two years. We have a lot to show for it, but there\u2019s more work ahead in 2017.\u201d\r\n114th Congress Highlights:\r\nStrengthened Airport Security\r\nThune\u2019s airport security legislation, which was signed into law in July 2016, takes important steps toward protecting the traveling public and tightening the vetting process for airport workers who have access to secure areas.\u00a0Thune\u2019s bill was the largest airport security bill in over a decade.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\nMade it Easier for Air Travelers, Families to Book Seats and Recover Fees\u00a0\r\nThe Thune-led Commerce Committee played an integral role in getting Thune\u2019s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016 to the president\u2019s desk in July. The bill provides stability for the aviation system by authorizing FAA programs and funding aviation infrastructure investment through fiscal year 2017. The bill also ensures families are able book seats next to one another on flights and baggage fees are refunded when bags are lost or significantly delayed.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\nImproved Investments in Infrastructure and Cut Red Tape for Agriculture Producers\u00a0\r\nThune helped author and negotiate the first long-term highway bill in over a decade.\u00a0The bill, which was signed into law in December 2015, ended the need for short-term patches that fueled uncertainty in the industry and extended for five years provisions that will increase funding for South Dakota roads and bridges by millions of dollars. As chairman of the Commerce Committee,\u00a0Thune authored a major title of this bill, including provisions to cut red tape for agriculture producers and fund a new freight rail investment program and South Dakota\u2019s 24/7 sobriety program.\u00a0\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\nAddressed Rail Backlog and Ensured South Dakota Shippers Are Treated Fairly\u00a0\r\nIn response to the 2013 and 2014 rail backlog, Thune authored legislation to improve the Surface Transportation Board\u2019s (STB\u2019s) current dispute resolution process, ensure it has the authority to proactively resolve problems before they escalate into larger disputes, and improve the agency\u2019s structure and decision making process by expanding the board\u2019s membership from three to five. Thune\u2019s bill, which was signed into law in December 2015, reformed the STB for the first time in 20 years.\r\n\u00a0\r\nFought for Completion of the Powder River Training Complex Expansion\r\nAn effort nearly nine years in the making, Thune was able to help secure expanded military training airspace over South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming.\u00a0The expanded airspace will help increase Ellsworth Air Force Base\u2019s mission capability and training opportunities for service members, ensuring it maintains its role in keeping America safe well into the future.\r\n\u00a0\r\nImproved Delivery of Rural Health Care\u00a0\r\nMultiple Thune-authored provisions, which were included in the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act and signed into law in December 2016, will protect South Dakota seniors\u2019 access to durable medical equipment, allow health professionals to volunteer their services at community health centers, and prevent Washington bureaucrats from interfering with therapeutic services in rural areas. Thune\u2019s Rural Health Care Connectivity Act, which was signed into law in June 2016, helps increase access to telehealth technologies for patients in rural nursing homes by allowing access to support from the Universal Service Fund\u2019s Rural Health Care Program.\r\n\u00a0\r\nSecured Multiple Tax and Trade Provisions for South Dakota Businesses and Families\u00a0\r\nThune\u2019s provisions, which were signed into law as part of the bipartisan trade enforcement bill in February 2016, will cut taxes on Internet service in South Dakota, help small businesses engage in global commerce, and ensure fair treatment of U.S. honey producers.\r\n\u00a0\r\nHelped Prevent Future Carelessly Started Prescribed Burns\u00a0\r\nThune\u2019s Prescribed Burn Approval Act of 2016, which will be signed into law this year, will require collaboration between the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and local officials before initiating a prescribed burn on USFS lands when fire danger is rated as extreme.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\nBlocked IRS From Levying Victory Tax on Medal-Winning Olympic Athletes\u00a0\r\nThune\u2019s bipartisan and bicameral United States Appreciation for Olympians and Paralympians Act, which became law in October 2016, exempts Team USA athletes with an adjusted gross income of $1 million or less from being taxed by the Internal Revenue Service on medals or prize money received from the U.S. Olympic Committee.\r\n\u00a0\r\nProtected Consumers Who Write Honest Online Reviews\u00a0\r\nThune\u2019s Consumer Review Freedom Act would outlaw the use of \u201cgag clauses\u201d in non-negotiable form contracts, which protects online consumers who wish to post honest reviews of businesses or products. The House version of Thune\u2019s pro-consumer bill will be signed into law this year.\r\n\u00a0\r\nHelped Address Tribal Youth Suicide Epidemic in Indian Country\u00a0\r\nThune\u2019s provisions, which became law in December 2015, require greater coordination among federal agencies to report on their efforts to address youth suicide, and they expand the use of Project School Emergency Response to Violence funds to include preventative efforts against youth suicide and other school violence.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\nHighlighted Tourism Opportunities in Native American Communities\u00a0\r\nThune\u2019s bipartisan Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act, which became law in September 2016, will enhance and integrate native tourism, empower native communities, and expand unique cultural tourism opportunities in South Dakota and across the United States.\r\n\u00a0\r\nDuring the 114th Congress, Thune served on the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee; the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee (of which he is chairman); and the Finance Committee. Thune also served as chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, the number three position in Senate Republican leadership, and was re-elected to that position for the 115th Congress.", 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/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=0FE72C8A-F5C5-425E-8EB4-FFC5A675ABE7"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0101650841534138, "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"}