Press releases
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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272 rows where chamber = "House", state = "SD" and year = 2019 sorted by date descending
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| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=466111FE-E80C-4AAD-BD16-5FAC3023D14A | Happy 100th Birthday, Dad | 2019-12-20 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Sen. John Thune In 1906, two brothers, Nikolai and Matthew Gjelsvik, arrived at Ellis Island from Norway. The only English they knew were the words apple pie and coffee, which they learned on the boat on the way over. The immigration officials at Ellis Island asked them to change their last name because they thought it would be too difficult for people in this country to spell and pronounce. So the two brothers picked a new name. They chose the name of the farm they worked at near Bergen, Norway which was called the Thune farm. So Nikolai Gjelsvik became Nick Thune my grandfather. The two brothers worked on the railroad as they built it west across South Dakota, learned English, and saved up enough money to start a small merchandising company, and then later a hardware store, in Mitchell, South Dakota. To this day there is a Thune Hardware in Mitchell, although the family sold it many years ago. In 1916, Nick Thune married an Iowa girl who had moved to South Dakota to teach school, and they had three sons. Their middle son, Harold, will turn 100 on December 28. That middle son is my dad. My dad is a World War II veteran, a member of the Greatest Generation, and he shares the qualities of so many in that generation humility, patriotism, quiet service. Dad was a Navy pilot who flew Hellcats off the USS Intrepid. And he was an excellent pilot. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross for shooting down four enemy planes in one engagement (that commendation was issued by Admiral John McCain, Sen. John McCain's grandfather.) But my dad didn't and still doesn't talk about his own exploits. In fact, without my mom, I'm not sure I'd ever have known about my dad's record in World War II. I interviewed Dad for the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project a few years back, and he shared a lot of wonderful details about his service. But as usual, his focus was never on his own achievements, but on those of his fellow pilots. I'd also probably never have learned what an outstanding athlet… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=20CBE167-60DF-41BE-A78F-74451A1D7C98 | Thune Statement on RFS Final Rule | 2019-12-19 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule that establishes the required renewable fuel volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program for 2020 and the biomass-based diesel volume for 2021. The EPA has committed to ensuring a net of 15 billion gallons of ethanol is blended in 2020, among other reforms. The administration has committed to reaching 15 billion gallons of ethanol-blended fuel next year, and South Dakota will hold them to it, said Thune. This final rule unfortunately falls short of the deal we reached in the Oval Office, and while the proof will be in the implementation, I am glad that EPA has at least recognized the compounded hardships the last three years of small refinery exemptions have placed on farm country. In addition to reducing the number of waivers and having more accountability, I am pleased to see EPA taking additional steps to build off our win to permit the year-round sale of E15, like by supporting an infrastructure program and reducing labeling requirements. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=8E7C71F1-EE14-407B-8239-99EC62408F82 | President Expected to Sign Thune-Markey Bill to Crack Down on Illegal Robocalls | 2019-12-19 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee and current chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), also a member of the Commerce Committee and author of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, issued the following statements after the Senate approved a modified version of their bipartisan Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act (S. 151) by a simple voice vote. The Senate first passed S. 151 by a vote of 97 to 1 on May 23, 2019, and the House of Representatives passed a modified version of the bill by a vote of 417 to 3 on December 4, 2019. It now heads to the president, who is expected to sign it into law. Amidst ever-increasing numbers of robocall scams, the TRACED Act, which the Washington Post editorial board recently said is what good, old-fashioned legislating looks like, gives regulators more time to find scammers and levy fines for those who are caught, promotes call authentication and blocking adoption,and brings relevant federal agencies and state attorneys general together to address impediments to criminal prosecution of robocallers who intentionally flout laws. I have yet to meet someone who says they enjoy receiving those unwanted and illegal robocalls that plague our phones, whether we're at home, at work, or in the car, which is why the TRACED Act takes several important steps in the fight to curb this scourge, said Thune. This bill represents a unique legislative effort that is not only bipartisan at its core, but it's nearly unanimously supported in Congress. Most importantly, this is a significant win for consumers in every corner of the country, and it finally and officially puts illegal robocallers on notice. While no process is perfect, I'm glad we were able to work together with Republicans and Democrats, senators and members of the House to reach this important compromise, which, once signed into law, will begin to make an important down paymen… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/johnson-statement-rfs-announcement | Johnson Statement on RFS Announcement | 2019-12-19 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Republican | House | SD | Dusty Johnson | J000301 | dustyjohnson.house.gov | dustyjohnson | https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today made the following statement after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a finalized rule, establishing renewable fuel volumes for 2020 as required under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). "EPA's announcement is an improvement in restoring integrity for the RFS, but there is much more work to be done to undo the Small Refinery Exemption abuses and the demand destruction SRE's have caused South Dakota's ethanol industry. I will continue to work with the administration to remove regulatory barriers and encourage ethanol exports across the world." In May, along with Agriculture Committee Chairman Peterson, Johnson introduced the Renewable Fuel Standard Integrity Act of 2019 which establishes an annual June 1st deadline for refineries to submit small refinery exemption (SRE) petitions from their RFS blending obligations each year and increases transparency in the process. The RFS Integrity Act would increase transparency by making information with respect to a petition subject to public disclosure. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-06-27T23:45:33Z |
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=F82E27C5-4124-4AEF-AD53-50270F8AB0AC | Thune Reflects on 2019 Accomplishments | 2019-12-18 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Click here or on the picture above to watch Thune's speech. WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed his number one priority in the Senate: serving the people of South Dakota. Thune discussed the importance of passing the National Defense Authorization Act, which will authorize the full annual funding request for development of the B-21 bomber, his effort to help Sioux Falls become one of the most rural 5G-enabled cities in the country, and other wins for the people of South Dakota. Thune also discussed his continued effort to strengthen the agriculture economy for our farmers and ranchers in South Dakota. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Mr. President, we're wrapping up the year here in the Senate, and I'm looking forward to getting home to Sioux Falls for Christmas. Before we leave, we'll wrap up this year's spending bills, including the defense funding bill. Yesterday, we passed the National Defense Authorization Act, yearly legislation to authorize funding for our military and our national defense. I'm pleased to report that this year's bill authorizes the full annual funding request for development of the B-21 bomber, which will be coming to Ellsworth in the not-too-distant future. Thenews that Ellsworth Air Force Base had been selected as the first home of the future B-21 Raider was exciting news this year. Ellsworth has been a priority of mine since I first came to the Senate and worked with a lot of dedicated people to prevent Ellsworth from being closed by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission in 2005. Since then, I've worked with the other members of the South Dakota delegation and Air Force and community leaders to make sure the base never again finds itself in the same position. Among other things, our efforts resulted in the expansion of the Powder River Training Complex into the largest training air space in the continental United States. And it's undoubtedly partly thanks to this air space that Ellsworth was chosen as the first home for the … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=A5F9ABBD-2E64-42F3-A6DD-23F26A030E52 | Thune Reflects on 2019 Accomplishments | 2019-12-18 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed his number one priority in the Senate: serving the people of South Dakota. Thune discussed the importance of passing the National Defense Authorization Act, which will authorize the full annual funding request for development of the B-21 bomber, his effort to help Sioux Falls become one of the most rural 5G-enabled cities in the country, and other wins for the people of South Dakota. Thune also discussed his continued effort to strengthen the agriculture economy for our farmers and ranchers in South Dakota. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Mr. President, we're wrapping up the year here in the Senate, and I'm looking forward to getting home to Sioux Falls for Christmas. Before we leave, we'll wrap up this year's spending bills, including the defense funding bill. Yesterday, we passed the National Defense Authorization Act, yearly legislation to authorize funding for our military and our national defense. I'm pleased to report that this year's bill authorizes the full annual funding request for development of the B-21 bomber, which will be coming to Ellsworth in the not-too-distant future. Thenews that Ellsworth Air Force Base had been selected as the first home of the future B-21 Raider was exciting news this year. Ellsworth has been a priority of mine since I first came to the Senate and worked with a lot of dedicated people to prevent Ellsworth from being closed by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission in 2005. Since then, I've worked with the other members of the South Dakota delegation and Air Force and community leaders to make sure the base never again finds itself in the same position. Among other things, our efforts resulted in the expansion of the Powder River Training Complex into the largest training air space in the continental United States. And it's undoubtedly partly thanks to this air space that Ellsworth was chosen as the first home for the B-21. Ellsworth is going from strength to strength, and I'm honored… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=6F06E6F9-75A0-43A9-95F0-0BE056E71389 | Thune: Tax Reform Has Delivered on Its Promises | 2019-12-17 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Click here or on the picture above to watch Thune's speech. WASHINGTON Senate Majority Whip Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the upcoming two-year anniversary of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act being signed into law and the positive results it has delivered to the American people. Since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act became law in December 2017, hard-working middle-income American families have seen lower rates, improved benefits, better job opportunities, and many other positive results. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Mr. President, December 22 will mark the second anniversary of the signing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Tax reform was a big priority for Republicans. We wanted to help American families by reducing their tax burden and spurring the kind of economic growth that would result in better jobs and better wages. And so at the end of 2017 we passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. We cut tax rates for American families, doubled the child tax credit, and nearly doubled the standard deduction. We lowered tax rates across the board for owners of small and medium-sized businesses, farms, and ranches. We expanded business owners' ability to recover the cost of investments they make in their businesses, which frees up cash that they can reinvest in their operations and their workers. And we lowered our nation's massive corporate tax rate which up until January 1 of 2018 was the highest corporate tax rate in the developed world and brought the U.S. international tax system into the 21st century so that American businesses are not operating at a competitive disadvantage next to their foreign counterparts. And over the last two years, tax reform has done exactly what we intended. It's allowed American families to keep more of their hard-earned money, and it's helped spur wage growth and increase the availability of good jobs for American workers. For 2018, the average family of four with an income of $75,000 saw a tax cut of more than $2,000. On top of that, company after company r… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=74BEE8BA-8347-4149-89B1-5FA613FE4F6A | Delegation Urges Veterans Affair Secretary to Prioritize Hot Springs VA in 2020 | 2019-12-17 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today urged U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert Wilkie to prioritize visiting the Hot Springs VA medical center in 2020 and address the long-standing matters of uncertainty at the facility. The letter follows the secretary's September 27, 2019, statement of intent to visit Hot Springs, which he issued in advance of traveling to the Fort Meade VA medical center. As you look ahead to your 2020 schedule, we request that you expand upon this experience and work to address the long-standing matters at the Hot Springs VA, the delegation wrote. As you know, the Hot Springs VA is a priority for veterans in western South Dakota and neighboring states.Unfortunately, thecampus has endured a persistent cloud of uncertainty for nearly a decade, which has affected employee recruitment and retention, reduced urgent care hours, required the use of short-term contractors. In November 2018, the South Dakota congressional delegation wrote to request that you visit Hot Springs to meet with veterans and VA employees that would be personally affected by the VA's realignment plan, as well as see firsthand the quality care and healing environment in the Veterans Town.' Gov. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) was copied on the letter. Full text of the letter below: December 17, 2019 The Honorable Robert Wilkie Secretary U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 810 Vermont Avenue Northwest Washington, DC 20420 Dear Secretary Wilkie: Thank you for your continued work to address the significant challenges facing America's veterans and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as you seek to improve access to quality care and increase VA accountability. We hope your October 3, 2019, visit to the Fort Meade VA medical center was productive and informative with respect to the unique challenges veterans in our region of the country face concerning access to care. We especially appreciate your attention to the needs of rur… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=A7C2AE45-B988-4329-B96F-6A0625E54E30 | Thune Statement on Senate Passage of the National Defense Authorization Act | 2019-12-17 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), today issued the following statement after the Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA is a positive step toward ensuring our troops are able to continue the important work of protecting Americans at home and abroad. Support for our national defense is essential and should never be subjected to partisan posturing. I am pleased Congress has been able to come to a consensus on this important legislation legislation that also delivers the largest pay raise for our military in a decade and authorizes a significant down payment for the B-21 bomber, which will soon be based at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. In today's global atmosphere, we must ensure America's military stands strong. With the passage of the NDAA, Congress delivers on fulfilling that fundamental responsibility. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=912A488A-AD7C-404C-812D-110CA2BE3E16 | The Season to Rejoice | 2019-12-13 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | The holiday season is a special time of year. We get to rejoice in God's gift to mankind while spending time with our family and friends, enjoying traditions of holidays past and the moments and memories created with those we love. It's also a good reminder to slow down and take stock of the blessings that surround us. For me, many of those blessings come in the form of family my wife, daughters, sons-in-law, and grandkids; my siblings and my dad, a World War II veteran who will turn 100 years old shortly after Christmas Day. A bounty of blessings, to be sure. The Christmas season can also be a time capsule of sorts both in terms of what you put in and everything you can take out. For example, this time of year often takes me back to a snow-covered Jackson Avenue in Murdo, which we'd sled down as kids. I'm reminded of all those Christmas Eve nights at my grandmother's house and the unmistakable aroma of her lutefisk and lefse wafting through the air. And I can't help but smile when I think of watching Brittany and Larissa perform in church and school Christmas programs through the years. I cherish the old memories and how they've shaped me and our family, but I also look forward to creating new ones with my kids and grandkids, who I hope will be able to remember these moments during Christmases yet to come. Looking back on 2019, like most years, there's a lot for which I can be thankful. Aside from health, happiness, and my family, I'm always thankful to know that I live in the greatest country on the face of the earth. There is no other place on the planet where people enjoy the same freedom and opportunities that are afforded to the American people, and we should never forget that. We also shouldn't forget that our freedom comes at a cost. A big one. I'm so thankful for the men and women in our military for their humility, honor, courage, and sacrifice. I'm also thankful for their families. Ask any service member, and they will tell you that service is a partnership, because families are just as investe… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=A32E091B-E320-4D12-9E17-CCCA7831AB92 | Thune: Proud of Bipartisan Support for TRACED Act | 2019-12-12 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Click here or on the image above to watch Thune's speech. WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, today discussed the TRACED Act, bipartisan legislation he introduced with Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) to combat the illegal robocall epidemic. Thune also discussed the final step in getting the bill to the president's desk passing it in the Senate. Thune is hopeful his TRACED Act could pass before Christmas. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Mr. President, every American has had to deal with annoying and illegal robocalls. All of us have been interrupted at one time or another by a robocall announcing we've won a prize or claiming to need important banking information so that our account won't be closed. These calls are a major nuisance. But of course they're not just a nuisance. Too many Americans fall victim to sophisticated robocall scammers and have their money or identity stolen. These individuals can spend months or years struggling to get their life back after falling prey to these scammers. There are currently laws and fines in place to prevent scam artists from preying on people through the telephone, but unfortunately these measures have not been sufficient. In many cases, robocall scammers simply build the current fines into the cost of doing business. And the Federal Communications Commission's enforcement efforts are hampered by a tight time window for pursuing violators. I've been working on this issue since my time as chairman of the Commerce Committee, and at the end of last year I introduced the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act, or TRACED Act, with my colleague Senator Markey. The Senate passed our bill in May, and last week our bill was passed by the House. The TRACED Act provides tools to discourage illegal robocalls, protect consumers, and crack down on offenders. Criminal prosecution of illegal robocallers can be difficult. Scammers are… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=2302A0CE-7443-419C-8834-426B8C9213D7 | Thune Statement on Committee Passage of 5G Spectrum Act | 2019-12-11 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Click here or on the image above to watch Thune's remarks. WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, today issued the following statement after the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation approved the 5G Spectrum Act, which he introduced in November with Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), chairman of the Commerce Committee. Their bill would ensure mid-band spectrum is quickly made available in the market by requiring a transparent and competitive public auctioning process. The bill would require that at least 50 percent of the first $40 billion in auction revenue be reserved for the American people and that a portion of those proceeds be dedicated specifically for rural broadband build-out. The bill prescribes a tiered system with respect to auction revenue, requiring 90 percent of the top tier any revenue above $50 billion to be returned to the American people. I support this legislation for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is that if we don't win the race to 5G, we're going to lose out on the economic benefit and dividend that comes with that, said Thune. China isn't having this kind of discussion right now. They're just clearing mid-band spectrum and allowing their companies to go after it. This is important to the future of this country that we get this right, and the only way we get it right is we've got to get more mid-band spectrum made available for commercial use And I will take a backseat to no one on this committee or in the Senate when it comes to advocating for more technology to be delivered, services to be delivered to rural areas of this country, and I will continue to do that. The 5G Spectrum Act would: Bring spectrum to market that provides the coverage and capacity essential for deployment in America's rural communities. Require the FCC to conduct a public auction of C band spectrum. Require the auction to start no later than December 31, 2020. Require the FCC to make a… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=C1ED44E8-F97A-4FA0-ADF7-17E2D171FFD9 | Thune: Pelosi Drug Bill is a Bad Prescription for the American People | 2019-12-11 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Click here or on the picture above to watch Thune's speech. WASHINGTON Senate Majority Whip Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the Pelosi prescription drug bill, Democrats' latest installment in their campaign to have the government takeover Americans' health care. If passed, the bill would reduce Americans' access to lifesaving treatments. Thune encouraged Congress to find a solution to lower prescription drug costs without resorting to government price controls and cited bipartisan proposals that could be passed through both chambers of Congress. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Mr. President, over in the House this week, Democrats are taking up the latest installment in their campaign to have the government take over Americans' health care: the Pelosi prescription drug bill. Now, Mr. President, there's no question that high prescription drug costs are a problem. One in four seniors reports difficulty affording medications, and there are too many stories of patients being forced to ration pills or abandon their prescription at the pharmacy counter. But the Pelosi drug bill is the wrong prescription for the problem of high drug prices. Why? Because it would reduce Americans' access to lifesaving treatments and discourage investment in prescription drug research. Mr. President, between 2011 and 2018, more than 250 new medications were introduced worldwide. American patients have access to nearly all of them. But that's not the situation for patients in a lot of other countries. The Chamber of Commerce reports that patients in France have access to just 50 percent of those new drugs. French patients, in other words, are missing out on fully half of the new drugs that have been introduced in the past eight years. So why do Americans have such tremendous access to new drugs, while other countries trail behind? Because the U.S. government doesn't dictate drug prices or drug coverage. As statistic after statistic demonstrates, when governments s… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/annual-defense-reauthorization-including-johnson-s-legislation-passes-house | Annual Defense Reauthorization Including Johnsons Legislation Passes House | 2019-12-11 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Republican | House | SD | Dusty Johnson | J000301 | dustyjohnson.house.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. Today, legislation authored by U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) was included in the House passed National Defense Authorization Act (S. 1790). The Rapid Fielding Defense Capabilities and Risk Assessment Act was included in the Senate and House of Representatives NDAA Conference Report which passed the House by 377-48. The bill will allow Department of Defense's (DOD) to develop and field defense acquisition capabilities more efficiently, therefore improving military readiness. Our nation's military should never swing in the balance, said Johnson. I am proud to support a bipartisan defense agreement that supports our nation's military branches, ensures survivors of deceased service members receive their benefits, and provides the biggest raise our troops have seen in over a decade. My legislation helps streamline defense acquisition efforts, and I'm grateful it was included in this bipartisan and bicameral agreement. The fiscal year 2020 NDAA Conference Report authorizes $738 billion in defense funding and provides a 3.1% military pay-raise. Additionally, the legislation includes a three-year phased repeal of the Widow's Tax. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/annual-defense-reauthorization-including-johnsons-legislation-passes-house | Annual Defense Reauthorization Including Johnson’s Legislation Passes House | 2019-12-11 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Republican | House | SD | Dusty Johnson | J000301 | dustyjohnson.house.gov | dustyjohnson | https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Washington, D.C. – Today, legislation authored by U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) was included in the House passed National Defense Authorization Act (S. 1790). The Rapid Fielding Defense Capabilities and Risk Assessment Act was included in the Senate and House of Representatives NDAA Conference Report which passed the House by 377-48. The bill will allow Department of Defense's (DOD) to develop and field defense acquisition capabilities more efficiently, therefore improving military readiness. "Our nation's military should never swing in the balance," said Johnson. "I am proud to support a bipartisan defense agreement that supports our nation's military branches, ensures survivors of deceased service members receive their benefits, and provides the biggest raise our troops have seen in over a decade. My legislation helps streamline defense acquisition efforts, and I'm grateful it was included in this bipartisan and bicameral agreement." The fiscal year 2020 NDAA Conference Report authorizes $738 billion in defense funding and provides a 3.1% military pay-raise. Additionally, the legislation includes a three-year phased repeal of the "Widow's Tax." | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-06-27T23:45:33Z |
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=21439B24-CED4-48C4-948C-89CEAD093013 | Thune: Defense Funding Should Not Be Delayed Any Longer | 2019-12-10 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Click here or on the image above to watch Thune's opening statement. WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), legislation that would give our troops the funding they need to best defend our country. Although this legislation has been held up by Democrats for far too long, Thune is hopeful they will come to the table and pass this critical defense funding bill before the end of the year. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Mr. President, I'm very pleased to hear that a deal has been reached to finally advance the fiscal year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. Every year, Congress takes up the National Defense Authorization Act to authorize funding for our military and our national defense. Like last year's NDAA, this year's bill focuses on rebuilding our military and ensuring we are prepared to meet 21st century threats. While many take it for granted that we have the strongest military in the world, in recent years our military advantage over near-peer adversaries has eroded. Budgetary impasses combined with increased operational demands left our military under-manned, under-equipped, and ill-prepared for the conflicts of the 21st century. In November 2018, the bipartisan National Defense Strategy Commission released a report warning that our readiness had eroded to the point where we might struggle to win a war against a major power like Russia or China. And the commission noted that we would be especially vulnerable if we were ever called on to fight a war on two fronts. That's not a good position to be in, and restoring our readiness has been and must continue to be our top priority. This year's National Defense Authorization Act continues our efforts to rebuild our military. It invests in the planes, combat vehicles, and ships of the future, including the Joint Strike Fighter and the future B-21 bomber, which will be based at Ellsworth Air Force Base in my home state of South Dakota. … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=176F9BF0-7A9E-449E-A25D-B3FDDFE40E79 | Thune, Klobuchar Lead Colleagues in Urging FCC to Prioritize Rural Broadband | 2019-12-09 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee and chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), also a member of the Commerce Committee, today led 46 of their Senate colleagues in urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to prioritize sustainable rural broadband networks as the FCC considers new rules in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) proceeding. If our rural communities are to survive and flourish, our rural constituents need access to services that are on par with those in urban areas, the senators wrote. By contrast, it would be an inefficient use of resources to promote services that cannot keep pace with consumer demand and the evolution of broadband in urban areas. As the FCC moves forward to adopt new rules in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund proceeding, we urge you to promote the deployment of networks that will be sustainable even as new advancements are made and are capable of delivering the best level of broadband access for the available USF budget for many years to come. Joining Thune and Klobuchar in sending the letter were U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-N.V.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Angus King (I-Maine), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Martha McSally (Ariz.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), David Perdue (R-Ga.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Pat Roberts (R-Ka… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=CC6AE80E-2978-487F-A6F9-86C276672508 | South Dakota Leading the Way | 2019-12-06 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | I served four years as chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which has jurisdiction over everything from planes, trains, and automobiles to the depths of the ocean and the heights of outer space. And no matter the subject, one of my favorite parts about serving in that role was giving South Dakota a seat at the table by elevating the issues that are important to the state and by providing South Dakotans with the opportunity and platform to share their expertise and experience on a wide range of issues. While I no longer serve as chairman of the full committee, I'm still a member, and I'm closing out my first year as chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet. It's been a fun and rewarding experience, particularly because I'm still able to give South Dakota a seat at the table. The subcommittee's membership mirrors the full committee's membership, so we have a variety of voices, experience, and priorities on which we can lean. I also love the subject matter. I'm able to continue working on several initiatives that began years ago, particularly my effort to ensure the United States wins the race to 5G mobile broadband technology. Winning the race to 5G isn't just about the jobs and opportunities it would create or the enhanced speed with which we'd be able to consume or share information. As important as those things are and they are very important this is also about better positioning the United States from a national security and economic security perspective. For these reasons, it's more imperative than ever that we beat our global competitors in this space, particularly China, which often plays by a different set of rules. I've been committed to doing everything I can to ensure the tools are available for the United States to be the first to carry this across the finish line, but we can't take our foot off the gas. Over the years, I've led full committee hearings on this topic. I've led subcommittee hearings on… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=8A92EF9A-9AAC-472F-A33D-6C9C5A626643 | Thune Reintroduces Bill to Eliminate Government Competition With Private Industry | 2019-12-05 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today reintroduced legislation that would require federal agencies to rely on the private sector when providing goods and services that are readily available. Thune's legislation, the Freedom from Government Competition Act (S. 2990), would ensure private enterprises that provide services that are replicated by the federal government have the ability to compete for the opportunity to deliver those federally provided services. Thune's legislation would make the federal government smaller and more efficient while providing the best value to the taxpayer. The bill has been likened to codifying a Yellow Pages test, meaning that if the federal government is doing something that can be found in the Yellow Pages, or now in a simple online search, the product or service should be subject to market competition. This bill is a commonsense approach in allowing small businesses to compete with the federal government if they can provide that same good or service, said Thune. These businesses can oftentimes provide services in a cheaper, more efficient manner. Fair competition will allow businesses to thrive and save taxpayers money. The Freedom from Government Competition Act does not mandate the privatization of any specific federal service and would protect those activities that are inherently governmental, such as certain national defense and homeland security functions, prosecutions, foreign policy, and activities to bind the United States to take or not to take some action by contract, policy, regulation, authorization, or order. Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) is the sponsor of the companion bill, which was introduced today in the U.S. House of Representatives. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E0EAD38F-BB63-4B27-A478-3119C72D9E9D | Thune Leads Hearing on MOBILE NOW, Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken Testifies | 2019-12-05 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Click here or on the image above to watch Thune's opening statement. WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, today led a hearing titled,The Evolution of Next-Generation Technologies: Implementing MOBILE NOW. The hearing examined the implementation of several mandates required by the Making Opportunities for Broadband Investment and Limiting Excessive and Needless Obstacles to Wireless (MOBILE NOW) Act. At the invitation of Thune, Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken testified on MOBILE NOW's spectrum provisions and the streamlining of broadband infrastructure deployment on federal lands, among other things. Thune is the author of theMOBILE NOW Act, which was signed into law in 2018. Thune's opening statement (as prepared for delivery): Good morning and welcome to today's hearing examining the implementation of the Making Opportunities for Broadband Investment and Limiting Excessive and Needless Obstacles to Wireless Act, also referred to as the MOBILE NOW Act. It is our job as policy makers, particularly those of us who serve on the Commerce Committee, to make sure that the United States is a leader in the deployment of next-generation technologies. To fulfill that obligation, we must ensure that the market has access to both licensed and unlicensed spectrum and that industry is not unnecessarily burdened when bringing this spectrum to market. That's where the MOBILE NOW Act plays a crucial role. MOBILE NOW reflected several years of hard work by many of the members who serve on this Committee. This important legislation made a down payment on both spectrum and infrastructure needs, positioning the United States to lead in the race to 5Ga race that has major implications for our national security and economy. It is also our job as policy makers to make sure that legislative efforts, like the MOBILE NOW Act, are implemented thoroughly. MOBILE NOW required identifying 255 megahertz for mobile and … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=F3BFED3B-8ECD-43C0-9145-EAD7E44EE13E | Thune Discusses His Bill to Give Consumers More Control Over Digital Content | 2019-12-05 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Click here or on the image above to watch the video. WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today participated in a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing titled, Examining Legislative Proposals to Protect Consumer Data Privacy. The hearing examined multiple legislative proposals and how they intend to provide consumers with more security, transparency, choice, and control over personal information, both online and offline. During the hearing, Thune discussed his Filter Bubble Transparency Act, bipartisan legislation that would increase internet platform transparency and provide consumers with greater control over digital content. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding today's hearing as members of this Committee continue to work on crafting a national consumer data privacy bill. It is my hope that we can ultimately work together on a bipartisan basis to produce legislation that puts consumers' interests first while still allowing the private sector to innovate and grow the economy. All of us understandor at least shouldthat only a bipartisan proposal has a chance of clearing the Senate and becoming law. And, my view is that a bipartisan outcome must include strong consumer protections while also avoiding the regulatory patchwork that is beginning to emerge at the state level. I remain committed to working with the chairman and ranking member and our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find a consensus solution. Since we started privacy discussions last Congress, I've said that consumers are entitled to clear and concise explanations of how the services they use are collecting and using their data. One specific area where I believe consumers deserve more transparency and control is with respect to how internet platforms use artificial intelligence and opaque algorithms to make inferences from the reams of data collected about all of us that too often results in users being caught in a so-called f… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=46312DCE-30CC-44BD-9601-062D2891F27C | Thune, Markey Statement on House Passage of the TRACED Act | 2019-12-04 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, and Ed Markey (D- Mass.), author of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, today released the following statements after the House of Representatives passed an amended version of their Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence(TRACED) Act (S. 151), legislation to combat the illegal robocall epidemic. Their bill, which will need to be reconsidered in the Senate, passed in May 2019 with near unanimous support. In today's political climate, it's hard to find an issue on which almost everyone can agree, but we found one with the TRACED Act, said Thune. With House passage of our bipartisan, bicameral legislation to protect consumers from pesky and sometimes financially harmful robocalls, we are one step closer to getting this legislation to the president's desk. I'm hopeful and confident that we will be able to bring this legislation to the Senate floor in the very near future. I applaud House of Representatives passage of the TRACED Act, my legislation with Senator Thune that cracks down on the deluge of robocalls that drown our phones every day, said Markey. There are no red robocalls or blue robocalls, only despised robocalls. I thank Senator Thune for his partnership on this important consumer protection bill. I expect quick passage of the legislation in the Senate so that Americans can finally get the relief they deserve from these harassing and fraudulent calls. Last month, House and Senate negotiators, including Thune, Markey, and U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.), Greg Walden (R-Ore.), Mike Doyle (D-Pa.), and Bob Latta (R-Ohio), announced an agreement on bipartisan, bicameral legislation to combat illegal robocalls. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=D9D83124-9653-40CD-8659-50C0D4A453D6 | Thune Previews Tomorrows MOBILE NOW Hearing on Senate Floor | 2019-12-04 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Click here or on the image above to watch Thune's speech. WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, will convene a hearing titled,The Evolution of Next-Generation Technologies: Implementing MOBILE NOW, tomorrow, December 5, 2019, at10:00 a.m. EST. The hearing, which will be livestreamed here, will examine the implementation of several mandates required by the Making Opportunities for Broadband Investment and Limiting Excessive and Needless Obstacles to Wireless (MOBILE NOW) Act. Witnesses, including Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken, will discuss MOBILE NOW's spectrum provisions and the streamlining of broadband infrastructure deployment on federal lands, among other things. Thune is the author of theMOBILE NOW Act, which was signed into law in 2018. Earlier today, Thune previewed the hearing on the Senate floor. Excerpt from Thune's speech below: And tomorrow, in my role as chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, I'll be chairing a hearing looking at the progress that has been made in implementing the MOBILE NOW Act. We have a great slate of witnesses testifying, including Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken, who has driven the implementation of advanced mobile broadband technology in Sioux Falls. The MOBILE NOW Act has helped us make progress toward the deployment of 5G, particularly in identifying licensed spectrum that can be used to support 5G deployment in more rural areas. Hearing Details: Thursday, December 5, 2019 10:00a.m. EST Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet Witness testimony,opening statements, and a live video of the hearingwill be available onwww.commerce.senate.gov. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/johnson-supports-usda-efforts-encourage-employment | Johnson Supports USDA Efforts To Encourage Employment | 2019-12-04 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Republican | House | SD | Dusty Johnson | J000301 | dustyjohnson.house.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. Today, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) finalized a rule impacting able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program (SNAP) benefits. This rule significantly reduces waivers, requiring ABAWDs to enroll in a training program, pursue higher education, or seek employment in order to remain eligible for SNAP benefits. U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations, issued the following statement applauding USDA's announcement: We all know education and work provide dignity and economic opportunity, said Johnson. The stats are clear. Nearly 75 percent of able-bodied SNAP recipients don't work. The unemployment rate is at an all-time low. Simply put, people who can work, should work. I applaud the administration for crafting a rule that supports adults as they transition towards and into employment. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=DCA749B8-B59F-4744-863A-18DF6D4DD438 | Shop Small in South Dakota | 2019-11-27 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | While I'm sure most people know about the Black Friday shopping event that follows Thanksgiving each year, a relatively new shopping holiday, of sorts, popped up in the last decade that is celebrated annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Small Business Saturday was created almost ten years ago to encourage people to shop small and check out their local brick and mortar stores that dot Main Streets across America. In South Dakota, with 99 percent of businesses classified as small businesses, this event is particularly special. There are over 86,000 small businesses in the state that employ over 210,500 employees, collectively. So, when you support small businesses and the hardworking people who make them possible, you also help support the economy of South Dakota. I recognize what these stores, shops, and restaurants mean to our communities.Aside from the economic impact they have on our state, they also help give South Dakota its charm. Almost every city in our state has a Main Street that is home to a number of unique stores, from restaurants to retail. A local downtown coffee shop can serve as a great spot for friends to gather. The town bookstore can be the spot for all generations to share stories and book recommendations. And these are just a few examples. Small businesses are not just Main Street shops, retail stores, and restaurants. Small businesses are also the construction companies that keep our state's communities growing by maintaining our local roads and infrastructure. They're the local dentist, optometrist, and doctor's offices that ensure our small towns have the services they need. They're the local insurance companies and law offices and many other businesses, too numerous to name. Small businesses are what make communities in our state great. Almost two years ago, Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, historic tax reform that has helped small businesses expand their operations, increase wages, add new employee benefits, and hire more workers. In addition, the reduction of unne… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=728024F8-0709-4759-8C8F-B5923F984399 | Thune to Hold Hearing on 5G Next Week, Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken to Testify | 2019-11-26 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, will convene a hearing titled,The Evolution of Next-Generation Technologies: Implementing MOBILE NOW, at10:00 a.m. EST on Thursday, December 5, 2019. The hearing will examine the implementation of several mandates required by the Making Opportunities for Broadband Investment and Limiting Excessive and Needless Obstacles to Wireless (MOBILE NOW) Act. Witnesses, including Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken, will discuss MOBILE NOW's spectrum provisions and the streamlining of broadband infrastructure on federal lands, among other things. Thune is the author of theMOBILE NOW Act, which was signed into law in 2018. Witnesses: The Honorable Paul TenHaken, mayor, City of Sioux Falls, South Dakota Mr. Jonathan Adelstein, president & CEO, Wireless Infrastructure Association Mr. Scott Bergmann, senior vice president of regulatory affairs, CTIAThe Wireless Association Ms. Mary Brown, senior director of technology and spectrum policy, Cisco Ms. Sarah Morris, director, Open Technology Institute, New America *Witness list subject to change Hearing Details: Thursday, December 5, 2019 10:00a.m. EST Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet Witness testimony,opening statements, and a live video of the hearingwill be available onwww.commerce.senate.gov. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=0A53BF16-4333-40C8-8F0B-CF6C566021D3 | Tis the Season to Be Thankful | 2019-11-21 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | (audio/video available here) Like every Thanksgiving, I'll be home in South Dakota, celebrating with my family: my wife, my daughters, my sons-in-law, and my four soon to be five! grandchildren. I'll be taking on my traditional job of carving the turkey and helping with the dishes afterward. I'm looking forward to a lot of good pie apple pie la mode, pumpkin (with a lot of whipped cream), and my favorite, anything in the cream pie family. I'm also looking forward to spending time outdoors. My daughters and I traditionally go on a trail run on Thanksgiving morning it's a good way to work up an appetite for all that pie and we all enjoy throwing around a football before or after the meal. South Dakotans are pretty resilient when it comes to being out in the cold, and as long as we don't have tons of snow, we like to get outdoors on Thanksgiving. Like many South Dakotans, I also love to squeeze in a little pheasant hunting over Thanksgiving weekend whenever I can. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, and I love sitting down with my whole family and extended family and getting to spend time in the outdoors before winter really hits us. Our current celebration of Thanksgiving can be traced to Abraham Lincoln, who issued a proclamation in 1863 inviting a national celebration of Thanksgiving on the last Thursday in November. In 1941, Congress codified the Thanksgiving holiday and permanently set the date as the fourth Thursday in November. I don't think it's too surprising that the celebration of Thanksgiving is a recurring part of our history. On Thanksgiving in my family, typically we go around the table and say what we're thankful for. And in this country, that's a pretty long list. The tremendous natural riches of this country, from great rivers to magnificent mountains to our wide-open access to the sea. The tremendous freedom we enjoy. In the twenty-first century, freedom of religion, of speech, of the press and other freedoms, like the freedom from unreasonable searches and seizur… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=9F1E69EE-A624-4C57-9823-FB7F1BA707AD | Thune: Senate Confirming Well-Qualified Judges at Record Pace | 2019-11-20 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Click here or on the picture above to watch Thune's speech. WASHINGTON Senate Majority Whip Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the Senate's latest action on judicial confirmations. With the confirmations of Justices Robert Luck and Barbara Lagoa, the Senate has now confirmed 48 appellate court judges during this administration more appellate court judges than had been confirmed at this point in any of the previous five presidential administrations. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Mr. President, yesterday we confirmed Robert Luck, a Florida Supreme Court justice, to be a U.S. circuit judge for the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. With Justice Luck's confirmation, the Senate has now confirmed 47 appellate court judges during this administration, and 163 Article III judges overall. That's more appellate court judges than had been confirmed at this point in any of the previous five presidential administrations. And it's a particularly outstanding number when you consider the fact that Democrats have made confirming these judges as difficult as they possibly can. From day one of this administration, Democrats were determined to obstruct anything this president did and his nominations in particular. Again and again and again, they've attempted to block nominees for no other reason than the fact that they were nominated by this president. Democrats have subjected roughly 75 percent of the administration's judicial nominees to the time-consuming cloture process. Compare that to the treatment of President Obama's nominees. At this point in President Obama's administration, roughly 3 percent of his judicial nominees had been subjected to cloture votes. Just 3 percent. And the difference in these numbers is not because this president has nominated scores of supposedly extreme nominees whom Democrats felt they couldn't support. In fact, Democrats have repeatedly turned around and voted for the very same judges they've obstructed. In one particularly egreg… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=F9D4E182-068D-409B-B467-5AAB07AD06BB | Thune: Its Time to Get Our Military the Funding It Needs | 2019-11-19 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Click here or on the picture above to watch Thune's speech. WASHINGTON Senate Majority Whip Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the defense appropriations bill, legislation that ensures our men and women in uniform have the resources they need to defend our country. The bill has been filibustered by Senate Democrats the last two times it was considered on the Senate floor. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Mr. President, our most fundamental responsibility as members of Congress is to provide for our nation's defense. And a big part of that is ensuring that our men and women in uniform have the resources they need to defend our country. That means, of course, that we have to ensure that our military receives adequate funding to meet today's priorities and prepare for the threats of the future. And it also means that we need to ensure that our military receives timely funding. Our military doesn't just need sufficient funding to cover defense priorities; it also needs to receive that money on time, on a predictable schedule. That means passing the defense appropriations bill before the end of each fiscal year, instead of forcing the military to rely on temporary funding measures that leave the military in doubt about funding levels and unable to start important new projects. Mr. President, right now, we're almost two full months into the 2020 fiscal year. We should have passed the defense appropriations bill by the end of September. But we didn't. Because unfortunately our Democrat colleagues were unable to resist the chance to pick yet another fight with the president. Mr. President, this wasn't supposed to happen. At the end of the summer, congressional leaders of both parties and the president reached an agreement on funding levels for 2020 and 2021. Leaders also agreed on a number of guidelines for appropriations bills, including a ban on poison pills intended to derail appropriations legislation. The idea behind this agreement was to pave … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=8EEAFACF-127D-4BAD-B07A-80AFF65F90BF | Wicker, Thune Introduce 5G Spectrum Act | 2019-11-18 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,and John Thune, R-S.D., chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, introduced the 5G Spectrum Act. This legislation would ensure mid-band spectrum is quickly available in the market by requiring a transparent and competitive public auctioning process. The bill specifically would require that at least 50 percent of the value of auction revenues be reserved for the American people. After years of delay, this legislation would get crucial mid-band spectrum into the market to benefit the American people and secure our position as the leaders in the race to 5G, said Wicker. Senator Thune and I have been working together for over a year to come up with the best way to expand access to 5G, especially in rural areas, andsecure value for all Americans.I look forward tocontinuing to workwith him as we get this legislation over the finish line. This legislation, which is a win-win for taxpayers, would quickly free up much-needed spectrum the airwaves over which digital information flows and, as a result, put more money back in the U.S. Treasury, said Thune. I have long supported efforts to make additional mid-band spectrum available for commercial 5G use so we can lead the world in the 5G revolution. More spectrum means more opportunities for American entrepreneurs and consumers, especially those in rural America, to innovate and access better and more efficient information and technology. The 5G Spectrum Act would: Provide the coverage and capacity essential for deployment in America's rural communities. Require the FCC to conduct a public auction of C band spectrum. Require the auction to start no later than December 31, 2020. Require the FCC to make availableat least280 MHz of spectrum. Require the FCC to capture for the taxpayerat least50 percent of the fair market value of the spectrum. To read the full bill, click here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E64AD361-D4D7-45F6-85C5-09F1A52D844F | Delegation Applauds Administrations Decision to Grant Disaster Declaration For Southeast South Dakota Following September Flooding and Tornadoes | 2019-11-18 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today applauded the Trump administration for approving a major disaster declaration for several South Dakota counties, including Aurora, Brookings, Brule, Charles Mix, Davison, Douglas, Gregory, Hanson, Hutchinson, Kingsbury, Lake, Lincoln, McCook, Miner, Minnehaha, Moody, Sanborn, Turner, Union, and Yankton, and the Yankton Indian Reservation and Flandreau Santee Indian Reservation following severe flooding and tornadoes from September 9-26. On October 30, 2019, the delegation wrote to the president in support of Gov. Kristi Noem's (R-S.D.) request. This is the fourth disaster declaration the president has approved for South Dakota this year alone. South Dakota has been hit with far more than its share of severe weather and flooding this year, said Thune. I'm glad the administration has been supportive of our state through these important disaster requests so communities across our state can quickly begin rebuilding and regain peace of mind. Mother nature has taken its toll on our state this year, said Rounds. Ithank President Trump for once again recognizing the need to provide disaster assistance to South Dakota communities impacted by recent storms. This will help communities and families across the state rebuild critical infrastructure, homes and businesses that were severely damaged. South Dakotans have been hit with tough weather over and over again, said Johnson. I appreciate Governor Noem and the administration's swift efforts to provide disaster relief to our communities hit the hardest. This disaster declaration will provide much needed relief ahead of the holidays. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/delegation-applauds-administration-s-decision-grant-disaster-declaration | Delegation Applauds Administrations Decision to Grant Disaster Declaration For Southeast South Dakota Following September Flooding and Tornadoes | 2019-11-18 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | SD | Dusty Johnson | J000301 | dustyjohnson.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today applauded the Trump administration for approving a major disaster declaration for several South Dakota counties, including Aurora, Brookings, Brule, Charles Mix, Davison, Douglas, Gregory, Hanson, Hutchinson, Kingsbury, Lake, Lincoln, McCook, Miner, Minnehaha, Moody, Sanborn, Turner, Union, and Yankton, and the Yankton Indian Reservation and Flandreau Santee Indian Reservation following severe flooding and tornadoes from September 9-26. On October 30, 2019, the delegation wrote to the president in support of Gov. Kristi Noem's (R-S.D.) request. This is the fourth disaster declaration the president has approved for South Dakota this year alone. South Dakota has been hit with far more than its share of severe weather and flooding this year, said Thune. I'm glad the administration has been supportive of our state through these important disaster requests so communities across our state can quickly begin rebuilding and regain peace of mind. Mother nature has taken its toll on our state this year, said Rounds. Ithank President Trump for once again recognizing the need to provide disaster assistance to South Dakota communities impacted by recent storms. This will help communities and families across the state rebuild critical infrastructure, homes and businesses that were severely damaged. South Dakotans have been hit with tough weather over and over again, said Johnson. I appreciate Governor Noem and the administration's swift efforts to provide disaster relief to our communities hit the hardest. This disaster declaration will provide much needed relief ahead of the holidays. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/johnson-murphy-and-roe-introduce-worker-s-choice-act | Johnson, Murphy, and Roe Introduce Workers Choice Act | 2019-11-18 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | SD | Dusty Johnson | J000301 | dustyjohnson.house.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Greg Murphy (R-N.C.), and Dr. Phil Roe (R-TN) today introduced the Worker's Choice Act, which would amend the National Labor Relations Act to empower employees in a unionized workplace to independently negotiate their employment terms with their employer. In Right-to-Work states like South Dakota, North Carolina, and Tennessee, an employee who opts-out of union participation is still subject to the collectively bargained employment terms negotiated by the union. The National Labor Relations Act provides unions with exclusive bargaining power, but under the Worker's Choice Act, workers will not be forced to have unions represent their interests and dictate employment terms. The Worker's Choice Act is supported by Heritage Action, FreedomWorks, Americans for Prosperity, Institute for the American Worker, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Center for Worker Freedom, Americans for Tax Reform, and Club for Growth. Employees deserve their own negotiating power, said Johnson. The Worker's Choice Act allows American workers in union shops to set their own terms with their boss, the employer. Ending exclusive representation would be a huge victory for workers' freedom. Jobs today are more unique, and many workers want more flexibility and opportunity than rigid union-negotiated contracts provide, said Murphy. Ending this relic of the past would free unions from having to represent non-dues paying members and it would free workers to choose their own method of negotiationsincluding one that does not force them into employment contracts that don't represent what they want and need. With the rapid growth of the U.S.economy, and more job openings than job seekers, workers are benefiting like never before,said Congressman Roe. I am proud to join my friend and colleague Congressman Dusty Johnson in supporting this commonsense piece of legislation to help empower workers to choose their workplace representation and to earn higher wages. Heritage Action: The Worker's … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=EA96DFFF-D82D-45C3-9271-F3AD9E81C074 | The Work Goes On | 2019-11-15 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | When I served as chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, we had a four-year track record of bipartisanship and a reputation for getting things done. I'm proud of what we accomplished, including helping to lay the groundwork for the 5G mobile broadband revolution, enhancing Ellsworth Air Force Base's strategic value, combatting human trafficking, improving weather forecasting, and working toward ending those illegal and abusive robocalls we all hate receiving. While I now serve as chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, I'm still the senior Republican member on the full committee, and I'm glad our members have not only maintained the panel's productive workload under the new chairman, but we have also continued to make progress on many of the issues we started working on years ago. For example, at our most recent committee markup, which is a formal committee process to consider legislation and presidential appointments, we sent more than two dozen bills and nominees to the Senate floor. Many of the bills we recently considered were bipartisan, and all of them were approved by voice vote, which means there was strong enough support for each of the measures to move without a single roll call vote something that only happens when there's little or no disagreement among senators. Three of the bills heading to the full Senate have my name attached to them, including my Learning Excellence and Good Examples from New Developers (LEGEND) Act, which I introduced in October with Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii). This legislation essentially recognizes that there are a lot of smart and talented people who work at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and we should make their innovative weather models available to other smart and talented people who don't work for the government so we can make NOAA's good ideas even better. Accurate weather forecasting is important for a lot of reasons, from safety to knowing wh… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=15F07626-0CFC-419A-BE72-BEB5F10D26AB | Midwest Senators Renew RFS Recommendations to President Trump | 2019-11-15 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) today renewed their recommendations to President Trump with respect to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) proposed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) supplemental rule. The letter, which enclosed their initial comments to EPA, urges the administration to take corrective action in its RFS rulemaking to uphold the agreement reached between President Trump and Midwest senators on September 12, 2019. This supplemental rulemaking is an opportunity to definitively restore integrity to the RFS, provide certainty for American agriculture, and further bolster our energy independence, the senators wrote.We are confident that reverting to the agreed upon framework to account for actual waived gallons will deliver on your agenda to support thousands of agriculture jobs throughout the Midwest and nation. Full text of the letter is below: Dear President Trump: We write to thank you for your continued commitment to America's farmers and resolve to see that integrity is restored to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).Your work to finalize the year-round sale of E15 was a milestone victory for American consumers and agriculture stakeholders alike.However, as you well know, this progress will be erased unless the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) begins to account for small refinery waivers (SREs) when setting future blending obligations. The September 12, 2019, meeting you convened in the Oval Office resulted in a restorative framework for EPA to incorporate in a supplemental rule.Your meeting, which was attended by Vice President Pence, Director of the National Economic Council Larry Kudlow, and acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, with Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler participating by phone, arrived at a multi-point roadmap for getting the RFS back on track.The reforms were built on a foundation of ensuring t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=181E4FC0-ABFE-46CB-ABDA-74A6D9A9C167 | Thune Recognizes Angels in Adoption Award Winners From Sioux Falls | 2019-11-15 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Click here or on the picture above to watch Thune's speech. WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today acknowledged National Adoption Month and discussed the important role adoption plays in the United States. Thune also recognized the Mike and Kim Adams family, Sioux Falls residents whom he nominated earlier this year for the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute's Angels in Adoption Award. Thune met with the Adams family earlier today in Washington, D.C. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Mr. President, November is National Adoption Month, and later this morning I'll be spending time with the family I nominated to receive an Angels in Adoption award this year. The Angels in Adoption Program is designed to bring recognition to individuals and organizations who are, in the words of the program, making extraordinary contributions to adoption, permanency, and child welfare. Angels in Adoption is a program of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, and each year members of Congress are invited to nominate an individual or family to receive an Angels in Adoption award. I've been making these nominations for more than a decade now. And it has been a privilege and an inspiration to meet South Dakota families who have opened their hearts and homes to children in need. This year, I nominated Mike and Kim Adams, fellow residents of Sioux Falls. Mike and Kim have a tremendous heart for children. They have five biological children, but as they learned more about the plight of children in poverty, they were drawn to adoption. God put the country of Ethiopia on their hearts in a particular way, and in 2008, they adopted a daughter from Ethiopia, Eva. Within a few years, they had adopted three more children Selena and Amanuel, from Ethiopia, and Shakira, from Uganda making them a family of 11. But the story doesn't end there. Seeing the poorest of the poor in Ethiopia deeply moved them, and in addition to adoption they sought ways to help commu… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=D21E5933-C79C-49EE-B5C2-D74DD3E3D841 | House & Senate Announce Agreement on Anti-Robocall Bill | 2019-11-15 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. Today, Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet Chairman John Thune (R-SD), Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Greg Walden (R-OR), Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Chairman Mike Doyle (D-PA), and Ranking Member Bob Latta (R-OH) announced that they have come to an agreement in principle on legislation, the Pallone-Thune TRACED Act, to combat the robocall epidemic: Today, we are proud to announce that we have come to an agreement in principle on legislation, the Pallone-Thune TRACED Act, to combat the robocall epidemic that we believe can be signed into law by the President, the six House and Senate leaders said. It's time to put Americans back in charge of their phones. Our agreement will require telephone carriers to verify calls and allow robocalls to be blocked in a consistent and transparent way, all at no extra charge to consumers. The agreement also gives the FCC and law enforcement the ability to quickly go after scammers. We look forward to finalizing the bill text in the coming days. In May, the Senate passed the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act by a vote of 97-1. In July, the House of Representatives passed the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act by a vote of 429-3. The bills will be merged and reconciled as part of the agreement in principle. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=55A86A4E-C659-46A4-9075-F07F33DF44D9 | Several Thune-Supported Bills Head to Full Senate | 2019-11-13 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today applauded the committee's passage of the Learning Excellence and Good Examples from New Developers (LEGEND) Act, Harvesting American Cybersecurity Knowledge through Education (HACKED) Act, and the Reliable Emergency Alert Distribution Improvement (READI) Act, all bills he's either sponsored orcosponsored. These bipartisan bills now head to the Senate floor for consideration. Today's executive session proves that my colleagues in the Senate can continue to get work done for the American people in a bipartisan manner, said Thune. My LEGEND Act will improve forecasting capabilities and will benefit farmers and producers, not only in my home state, but across the country, and the READI Act will make necessary improvements to the nation's emergency alert system. I'm thankful for Sen. Schatz's partnership on these important bills, both of which unanimously passed the committee today. I'd also like to thank both Sens. Wicker and Klobuchar for their help in strengthening the HACKED Act, legislation that would ensure we have the necessary cybersecurity workforce to combat any potential threats in today's internet and digital economy. Thune introduced the LEGEND Act last month with Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii). This legislation would require the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to make certain operational models publicly available and utilize any innovations to improve the models that are developed as a result of public collaboration. The READI Act, which Thune cosponsored with Schatz last month, would ensure more people receive relevant emergency alerts on their mobile phones, televisions, and radios, explore new ways of alerting the public through online video and audio streaming services, track and study false alerts when they occur, and improve the way states plan for emergency alerts. Thune joined Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Jacky Rose… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=B3657962-9692-40EB-BCCB-5C17D35F8D4D | Thune: Americans Have Waited Long Enough for USMCA | 2019-11-13 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Click here or on the picture above to watch Thune's speech. WASHINGTON Senate Majority Whip Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today called on House Democrats to bring up and pass the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). It has been 13 months since the administration concluded USMCA negotiations, but instead of passing this legislation that would bring real relief to American workers, Democrats are prioritizing partisan politics. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Mr. President, it's now been 13 months since the administration concluded negotiations on the United States-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement. 13 months of uncertainty for U.S. farmers and ranchers, manufacturers, small businesses, digital firms, financial institutions, and many others. 13 months of wondering what the rules of the road on trade are going to look like going forward. Mr. President, we should have passed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement months ago. Republicans in the Senate have been ready to take up this agreement for a long time. But trade agreements have to be considered by the House of Representatives first. And the House of Representatives is controlled by the Democrat Party, which is far more interested in partisan pursuits than in actually doing any meaningful legislating. While House Democrats are happy to consider far-left messaging bills that have no chance of going anywhere, they have no interest in working with Republicans to actually get something signed into law. Why? Democrats have convinced themselves that partisan posturing is more important than securing a bipartisan legislative victory, like a strong new trade deal that will benefit the American economy. And so they're currently opposing a trade agreement that would benefit millions of American workers. Mr. President, let's be very clear Democrats' decision to prioritize partisan politics is having real consequences for the American people. Right now, the members of our military are unable to fund n… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=0002AE13-E42B-4523-9F60-49FC67EE9903 | Bursting the Internet Filter Bubble | 2019-11-08 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Imagine walking into a local hardware store for its grand opening. As the door closes behind you, you look around and realize that almost all of the products in the store seem uncannily familiar. Those that aren't, they pique your interest. As the store manager greets you, it's as if he knew you were going shopping that day, and he directs you to the products and services you didn't know you needed or wanted. In fact, you were surprised to learn that he knew your dishwasher needed to be repaired, and you didn't even know it was broken. You come to find out that the store was designed for you the only customer and its entire inventory was assembled based on statistically driven predictions about the stores you've visited, the items you've purchased, the magazines you've subscribed to, and the conversations you've had with friends and family. But you didn't realize anyone was even paying attention. While the hardware store example seems relatively innocuous, the reality is that something like this is happening in the vast majority of Americans' online experiences, from simply trying to catch up on the news to socializing with friends. As technology has evolved and made life easier for the American people, so too have consumers' concerns over privacy and how their data is being collected, shared, and used by third parties. That's where my hardware store analogy might start to make a little more sense. As you use your smartphone, smart speaker, or computer to click, share, surf, download, purchase, post, or watch online, internet platforms are learning about you, and as they do, they use artificial intelligence to gorge on your data and create an engineered, just-for-you experience based on statistical predictions about what these platforms think you'll want to see or do next. When we're on our smartphone or on the internet, we're constantly being measured, receiving engineered feedback to keep us engaged on the platform. As internet platforms deliver this customized online experience, users can become ensnared… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=962BC0FA-BC9C-42D8-B7A1-E6F289221ED2 | Thune Statement on POW/MIA Flag Act Being Signed Into Law | 2019-11-08 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after the National POW/MIA Flag Act was signed in law. Thune cosponsored this bipartisan legislation, which will require the POW/MIA Flag to be displayed whenever the American flag is displayed on prominent federal properties to honor the more than 82,000 Americans who are listed as Prisoners of War (POW), Missing in Action (MIA), or otherwise unaccounted for from our nation's past wars and conflicts. Today and throughout the history of our country, our men and women in uniform have valiantly chosen to serve in defense of freedom and the security of the United States, said Thune. I'm glad this legislation is now law. Displaying a POW/MIA flag to honor those who have not returned home is the least we can do to recognize these heroes and the sacrifice of their families. The National POW/MIA Flag Act will ensure that the POW/MIA Flag is displayed whenever the U.S. flag is displayed, effectively ensuring that both flags are displayed concurrently and every day at federal locations already designated under existing law. Those locations include the U.S. Capitol, the White House, the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, every national cemetery, the buildings containing the official offices of the Secretaries of State, Defense, and Veterans Affairs, the office of the Director of the Selective Service System, each major military installation (as designated by the Secretary of Defense), each Department of Veterans Affairs medical center, and each United States Postal Service post office. Before the lawmakers' bill became law, the POW/MIA Flag was required to be displayed by the federal government on certain prominent federal properties only six days per year: Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, National POW/MIA Recognition Day, and Veterans Day. The legislation was sponsored by Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.). In addition to Thune, t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=11C5C7C3-59CF-4D13-99D4-F4AF5A0F3A90 | Thune, Rounds Join Corn-State Senators in Submitting Comments on EPAs Supplemental Rule on RFS Deal | 2019-11-07 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today joined a group of corn-state senators who submitted comments to the Federal Register regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) supplemental rule on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In individual letters to EPA Administrator Wheeler, the senators expressed concerns about the way the agency plans to calculate the reallocation of biofuel gallons lost due to exemptions for oil refineries. While I appreciate the administration's commitment to restore integrity to the RFS and provide that at least 15 billion gallons of conventional biofuels are blended into the fuel supply, the proposed supplemental rule unfortunately lacks safeguards that will assure its intent, said Thune. As you know, resolution of this matter is of critical importance to agriculture stakeholders in South Dakota and across the country, and I urge EPA to reconsider the incorporation of language to make certain that all gallons waived by SREs will be accounted for in final RVOs. Read his letter here. We're grateful to President Trump for his commitment to assuring 15 billion gallons of ethanol is blended into our fuel supply annually, said Rounds. However, the EPA's proposed rule fails to honor the agreement which the president directed them to formalize. Taking steps to fully restore the integrity of the RFS will honor the agreement as Congress intended. Read his letter here. Just this week, the CEO of a major oil refinery bragged that small refinery exemptions were a real cash flow that [they] get every year,' said Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.). This is at the expense of farmers and biofuel producers. The EPA's proposed rule fails to ensure that 15 billion gallons of conventional ethanol are actually blended into our nation's fuel supply. In my letter, I called on Administrator Wheeler to fulfill the president's commitment and provide certainty for rural America. Read her letter here. As the number one produc… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=59D3FC54-7098-4E93-A339-41557338DC28 | Thune: Funding Our Military Should Be Congresss First Priority | 2019-11-07 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Click here or on the picture above to watch Thune's speech. WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today called on Democrats, who are blocking the ordinarily bipartisan defense funding bill, to abandon their partisan politics and fund our military. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Mr. President, on Tuesday morning I visited with Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. We talked about the military's needs and national security priorities. And we talked about the fact that more than a month into the new fiscal year, Congress still hasn't funded the military for fiscal year 2020. We shouldn't have needed to talk about that, Mr. President. We should have passed the defense appropriations bill for 2020 weeks ago. But Democrats won't let us. Last week, Democrats blocked consideration of the 2020 defense appropriations bill for the second time. And apparently they have every intention of continuing to block military funding. Mr. President, this is politics at its worst. And make no mistake, this is politics. A couple of months ago, Democrats and Republicans got together and agreed on defense and non-defense funding levels for 2020 and 2021. The idea was to pave the way for the passage of appropriations bills in a timely fashion. It seemed for a moment that despite Democrats' fixation on partisan politics and impeachment, we could actually go about the business of funding the government and the military in a somewhat bipartisan fashion. But apparently that was too much to ask of the Democratic Party. Senate Democrats are currently running from the agreement, attempting to derail the defense funding bill with poison pills that would prevent the bill from ever being enacted into law. Mr. President, funding our military should be the first priority of every member of Congress. The safety of our country depends on the strength of our military. If we don't get national security right, well, the rest is just conversation. And getting national securi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=3D088147-0395-40DB-BE8C-AE09411C26F9 | Thune: America Can Lead the World in the 5G Revolution | 2019-11-06 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Click here or on the picture above to watch Thune's speech. WASHINGTON Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, today discussed the effort to make 5G a reality in the United States. Last Friday, Thune was in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to unveil the city's first 5G cells. Thune has been a leader in the race to make 5G a reality, authoring the MOBILE NOW Act, which was signed into law in 2018, and the bipartisan STREAMLINE Small Cell Deployment Act,legislation he reintroduced in June. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Mr. President, last Friday was an exciting day. I was home in Sioux Falls to mark a huge milestone for the city and for South Dakota the unveiling of Sioux Falls' first 5G small cells. By the end of this month, Sioux Falls will have a working, albeit limited, 5G network one of the first cities in the entire country to have one. Mr. President, most people take internet access for granted these days. We assume that anywhere we go, we'll be able to access our GPS, check Facebook, or send a text message. But the truth is that there are still areas of the United States where it can be difficult to get reliable internet access. Some of those areas are in South Dakota. That's why expanding access to broadband internet in rural communities has been a priority of mine since I came to the Senate. While it can be nice to turn off our phones and take a break, in this day and age Americans need reliable internet access. More and more of the business of daily life is being conducted over the internet, from scheduling appointments to figuring out the shortest way from point A to point B. The internet has also become an integral part of commerce. Small businesses and farms in areas without dependable internet access miss out on a lot of opportunities that most businesses take for granted. Both as chairman and as a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, I've had … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=87C20FC7-3F27-4FA2-A932-5DC2F1A733B5 | With Delegation Support, Brookings Receives Critical Infrastructure Grant | 2019-11-06 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today applauded the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT's) decision to award the City of Brookings $18.7 million in critical infrastructure funding under the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) program. Today's announcement follows requests from the delegation to DOT Secretary Elaine Chao for the project's funding. With the help of the infrastructure funding awarded by DOT, the City of Brookings will be able to move forward with this important project, which will relieve congestion, improve safety, and spur economic growth, said Thune. I want to congratulate the Brookings community and its leaders for advocating for this funding, and I'd like to thank Secretary Chao for recognizing how important projects like these are to South Dakota communities. Thanks to Secretary Chao for her commitment to investing in infrastructure projects in South Dakota,said Rounds.This BUILD grant will help relieve congestion along an important intersection in the city of Brookings, allowing for easier traffic flow in the area. We're grateful for all state and local officials who workto make sure our roads and highways are maintained so we can get where we need to go safely and efficiently. Brookings and the surrounding communities have seen tremendous growth over the last several years, said Johnson. This BUILD Grant will allow Brookings to continue on a path of economic success and foster opportunity for the I-29 corridor. The City of Brookings plans to use the BUILD funding to construct an interchange at the intersection of Interstate 29 and 20th Street. This project would allow for an additional arterial road to provide proper traffic flow between the residential and commercial sectors of the city, taking pressure off of the 6th Street interchange, which has become increasingly congested. It will also provide more convenient access to I-29 for southern Brookings as the area continues to g… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/delegation-support-brookings-receives-critical-infrastructure-grant | With Delegation Support, Brookings Receives Critical Infrastructure Grant | 2019-11-06 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | SD | Dusty Johnson | J000301 | dustyjohnson.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today applauded the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT's) decision to award the City of Brookings $18.7 million in critical infrastructure funding under the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) program. Today's announcement follows requests from the delegation to DOT Secretary Elaine Chao for the project's funding. With the help of the infrastructure funding awarded by DOT, the City of Brookings will be able to move forward with this important project, which will relieve congestion, improve safety, and spur economic growth, said Thune. I want to congratulate the Brookings community and its leaders for advocating for this funding, and I'd like to thank Secretary Chao for recognizing how important projects like these are to South Dakota communities. Thanks to Secretary Chao for her commitment to investing in infrastructure projects in South Dakota,said Rounds.This BUILD grant will help relieve congestion along an important intersection in the city of Brookings, allowing for easier traffic flow in the area. We're grateful for all state and local officials who workto make sure our roads and highways are maintained so we can get where we need to go safely and efficiently. Brookings and the surrounding communities have seen tremendous growth over the last several years, said Johnson. This BUILD Grant will allow Brookings to continue on a path of economic success and foster opportunity for the I-29 corridor. The City of Brookings plans to use the BUILD funding to construct an interchange at the intersection of Interstate 29 and 20th Street. This project would allow for an additional arterial road to provide proper traffic flow between the residential and commercial sectors of the city, taking pressure off of the 6th Street interchange, which has become increasingly congested. It will also provide more convenient access to I-29 for southern Brookings as the area continues to grow. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=34C74692-BB2A-4EBA-8D6F-27A2A53D41D3 | South Dakota Leading the Way on 5G | 2019-11-05 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Closing the digital divide in rural America has long been a priority for me, not only because it's urgently needed and long overdue, but because I've experienced the divide firsthand here in South Dakota. My guess is that you probably have, too. But for some of my Senate colleagues who represent more urban areas of the country, it's often hard for them to conceptualize the idea that there are still parts of America that lack basic connectivity. I don't just mean connecting your phone or computer to the internet, a hurdle in many areas of the country, including South Dakota, to be sure. I'm also talking about the pockets of dead zones that still exist, preventing people from even making a phone call. It's 2019, and people can communicate with one another as they fly above the Atlantic Ocean. If that can happen at 30,000 feet, the least we can expect is the ability to make a simple phone call here on the ground. While we all can likely agree that being in a dead zone might seem like a luxury where phone calls, social media, and emails can't distract us it's easy to see why the advantages of having access to mobile broadband and basic cell service far outweigh the disadvantages. For example, what if you get a flat tire late at night in the middle of a dark country road? Or worse, maybe you're involved in an accident and need medical attention. Having one bar of service or fewer just isn't going to cut it. So, if we looked at this issue purely from a safety perspective, it's enough of a reason alone to ensure that everyone who wants to be fully connected can achieve that goal and realize its full potential (and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with it). The same general principle could be applied to business, education, agriculture, telehealth or other parts of our everyday lives. Folks are far more likely to succeed if they have access to mobile broadband technology and the opportunities it can create. And we all know those opportunities can mean the difference between success and failure, high yields and lo… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=F0D3EA8C-D573-4A7F-89BB-027ABE2781F2 | Thune: Bipartisan Filter Bubble Bill Would Give Consumers More Control Over What They View Online | 2019-11-05 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Clickhereto watch Thune's speech. WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, today discussed hisFilter Bubble Transparency Act, bipartisan legislation he introduced last week that would require large-scale internet platforms to provide greater transparency to users and give more control to consumers over what they choose to view on online platforms. Thune also discussed the urgent need for Democrats to stop blocking the defense appropriations bill, which funds the military and our men and women in uniform. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Mr. President, the internet has brought Americans a host of benefits a wealth of information at our fingertips, unparalleled convenience, new opportunities for education and commerce, and innumerable new methods of communication. But I don't need to tell anyone that along with the countless benefits of the internet have come a number of concerns. One thing that's on the mind of many consumers is privacy. As the internet gradually permeates every area of our lives, internet companies become the repository for an ever-increasing amount of our personal data from what we ate for dinner last night to the temperature we like to keep our house. As chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, I spend a lot of time focused on data privacy issues. This past June, I convened a hearing entitled Optimizing for Engagement: Understanding the Use of Persuasive Technology on Internet Platforms, where we heard from a variety of experts about the ways companies use consumers' personal data to determine what individuals see online. As I said at the time, one reason I decided to hold the hearing was to inform legislation I was developing that would require internet platforms to give consumers the option to engage without having the experience shaped by algorithms driven by user-specific… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=F286E1D1-2DB7-4373-AB9E-CCBF876A7831 | Thune Joins Colleagues in Introducing the HACKED Act | 2019-11-05 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, today joined a bipartisan group of senators in introducing the Harvesting American Cybersecurity Knowledge through Education (HACKED) Act. This legislation would build on the important work being done by South Dakota universities to strengthen America's cybersecurity workforce by bolstering existing science education and cybersecurity programs within the National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Department of Transportation. In a world dominated by the internet and digital technology, a robust network of cybersecurity professionals is critical to America's national security and economic prosperity,said Thune.The HACKED Act would bolster partnerships between local employers and universities on cybersecurity education and workforce needs and require greater coordination between federal agencies on cybersecurity training and workforce development.This legislation would build upon the important work being done by universities across the nation including in South Dakota to prepare and sustain a strong, talented, and much-needed national cybersecurity workforce. Cybersecurity risks are constant in the growing digital world. It is critical that the United States stay ahead of malicious cyber activity with a workforce that can safeguard our innovation, research, and work environments,said Wicker, chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the bill's lead sponsor.This legislation is an important first step to expand the cybersecurity workforce and provide tools to support necessary education and training. In addition to Thune and Wicker, the bill is also cosponsored by Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) The HACKED Act would: Incentivize recruitment of cybersecurity educators. Align education and training with the… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/johnson-supports-real-meat-bill-fight-imitation-meat-labeling | Johnson Supports Real MEAT Bill to Fight Imitation Meat Labeling | 2019-11-05 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | SD | Dusty Johnson | J000301 | dustyjohnson.house.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) cosponsored the Real Marketing Edible Artificial Truthfully (MEAT) Act of 2019, to address imitation meat and to establish a federal definition of beef that applies to food labels. A plant-based creation isn't the same as South Dakota beef, said Rep. Johnson. It's to the benefit of consumers and producers alike when folks have a better understanding of where their food comes fromthe Real MEAT Act would provide the transparency Americans deserve. The Real MEAT Act would bolster misbranding provisions to prevent consumer confusion and provide tools to better enforce the law. This legislation was introduced by Rep. Marshall (R-KS) and Rep. Brindisi (D-NY). ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E1595915-69A3-456B-8CBA-0237F28AB4A3 | Thune, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Internet Platform Transparency and Provide Consumers With Greater Control Over Digital Content | 2019-11-01 | 2019 | 2019-11 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which has jurisdiction over the internet and consumer protection, and Mark Warner (D-Va.) today introduced the Filter Bubble Transparency Act. The bill would require large-scale internet platforms that collect data from more than 1 million users and gross more than $50 million per year to provide greater transparency to consumers and allow users to view content that has not been curated as a result of a secret algorithm. The Filter Bubble Transparency Act 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 filter bubble. This legislation is about transparency and consumer control, said Thune, chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet.For free markets to work as effectively and as efficiently as possible, consumers need as much information as possible, including a better understanding of how internet platforms use artificial intelligence and opaque algorithms to make inferences from the reams of personal data at their fingertips that can be used to affect behavior and influence outcomes.That's why I believe consumers should have the option to either view a platform's opaque algorithm-generated content or its filter bubble-free content, and, at the very least, they deserve to know how large-scale internet platforms are delivering information to their users. Consumers deserve to control their own online experiences instead of being manipulated by Big Tech's algorithms and analytics, said Blumenthal. So much of what we do online is increasingly being shaped without our knowledge or consent by the companies that own those platforms, which use our personal data to ch… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=A8411465-FEBF-49F7-AEEE-3AD664156C03 | Thune Statement on Democrats Blocking Military Funding | 2019-10-31 | 2019 | 2019-10 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON Senate Majority Whip Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after the Senate Democrats blocked passage of a bill that would provide essential funding for our troops. As members of Congress, it is our duty to ensure our men and women in uniform have the tools they need to keep our nation safe. By blocking this year's defense appropriations bill, Democrats are failing to fulfill that fundamental responsibility. The stakes are too high when it comes to our national defense. Not only are Democrats putting politics before the safety of our nation, but they are also blocking funding for a well-deserved pay raise for our troops. If Democrats are actually serious about legislating, then they need to put aside the political games and work with Republicans to get our military funded. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=D9E1371C-7D94-4D9B-BB5B-39533C541E5D | Thune: Senate Democrats Are Jeopardizing Military Funding | 2019-10-31 | 2019 | 2019-10 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Clickhereto watch Thune's speech. WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the importance of ensuring that U.S. troops have the funding they need to do their jobs and come home safely. Thune also urged Senate Democrats to abandon their partisan games by moving forward with the defense appropriations bill to give our military the resources it needs. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Mr. President, last weekend I had the privilege of attending the welcome-home ceremony for 112 members of the South Dakota National Guard. These men and women, who serve in the 147th Forward Support Company or in Bravo Battery of the 1-147th Field Artillery Battalion, were deployed to Europe as part of Atlantic Resolve a partnership with our allies in Eastern and Central Europe developed in response to Russia's invasion of the Crimea in 2014. Atlantic Resolve allows U.S. and allied forces to build strong working relationships and hone their ability to conduct joint operations. Members of Bravo Battery and the 147th Forward Support Company spent most of the year in Europe working with partner forces. They participated in two multinational exercises and brought artillery to Germany and Hungary. These soldiers finally got home last weekend, but they didn't leave Atlantic Resolve without South Dakota support. Other members of the 147th Forward Support Company and Alpha Battery of the 1-147th Field Artillery Battalion headed for Europe in September. Other South Dakota-based military members airmen from Ellsworth Air Force Base also deployed abroad recently. Four B-1 bombers from the 34th and 37th Bomb Squadrons at Ellsworth made a flying trip to Saudi Arabia late this month to support the U.S. military presence there. The bombers flew directly from South Dakota to Saudi Arabia, refueling six times in mid-air, once again demonstrating the incredible capability of this aircraft and of our Ellsworth airmen. Mr. President, Atlantic Resolve, the B-1 mission, the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/johnson-votes-against-impeachment-inquiry | Johnson Votes Against Impeachment Inquiry | 2019-10-31 | 2019 | 2019-10 | Republican | House | SD | Dusty Johnson | J000301 | dustyjohnson.house.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. Today U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) issued the following statement following the U.S. House of Representatives formal vote on the impeachment inquiry: I voted against the impeachment resolution, said Johnson. The process it establishes doesn't provide the transparency and fairness we need. It concentrates power in the hands of Adam Schiff, who is given a veto over Republican efforts to call witnesses and subpoena records. A tainted impeachment process does not better us as a nation. This formal impeachment vote comes thirty-seven days after the Speaker of the House launched impeachment proceedings. There have been seventy-two hours of testimony the majority of Congress and the American people has been denied access to. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=0C410F79-F1E5-451D-BAA4-CAA41AF73491 | Thune: Democrats Should Support our Military and Vote for Defense Funding | 2019-10-30 | 2019 | 2019-10 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Clickhereto watch Thune's speech. WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the responsibility of Congress to provide adequate funding to our troops, helping to ensure that our men and women in uniform are prepared to meet any threat. Thune urged Democrats to put aside partisan politics and work with Republicans to pass the defense appropriations bill. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Mr. President, ISIS took a big hit over the weekend when U.S. forces raided ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's compound in Syria. Al-Baghdadi died in the raid after he detonated a suicide vest in a final act of cowardice, killing three children with him. His second in command was confirmed killed in a second military strike hours later, leaving the organization temporarily leaderless. Mr. President, over the past few years, ISIS has spilled a river of blood across the Middle East. Its brutality has set it apart even among other terrorist organizations. Torture, rape, enslavement, crucifixions, beheadings, the deliberate targeting of whole populations based on their religious beliefs the list of crimes is long and often nearly unspeakable. The world is a safer place today because of al-Baghdadi's death. But this impact will only be temporary unless we dedicate ourselves to ensuring that ISIS is permanently defeated. Mr. President,the successful raid on al-Baghdadi's compound is a reminder of the fact that our military may be called on at a moment's notice to head halfway around the world to fight evil. The men and women of the United States military stand on guard 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, ready to put themselves between us and danger. This past weekend I had the honor of helping to welcome home 112 South Dakota Army National Guard soldiers of the 147th Forward Support Company and Bravo Battery of the 1-147th Field Artillery Battalion. These citizen soldiers were in Europe for nearly a year, working with our NATO allies and increasing unit readiness. A… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=3CF1B686-DB68-41FE-BE75-AABA0BEE9D15 | Delegation Urges Administration to Quickly Approve South Dakota Disaster Declaration | 2019-10-30 | 2019 | 2019-10 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sens. JohnThune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) todaysent a letter to President Trump in support of Gov. Kristi Noem's (R-S.D.) request for a major disaster declaration for the state of South Dakota as a result of severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding that began on September 9, 2019.The delegation has strongly supported South Dakota's previousdisaster requests, including those from late-winter storms that caused significant damage to infrastructure, livestock, homes, and bridges throughout the state. South Dakota has been hit with disastrous storm after storm this year, and the devastation has been catastrophic,wrote Thune, Rounds, and Johnson. We are determined to help South Dakota recover by supporting the local communities and the state of South Dakota as we continue to rebuild areas affected by these major weather events. Full text of theletteris below: The Honorable Donald Trump President of the United States The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Trump: We write in full support of Governor Kristi Noem's request for a major disaster declaration for the state of South Dakota as a result of severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding that began on September 9, 2019. As Governor Noem's disaster declaration request indicates, the severe weather last month caused extensive damage to homes and businesses, agriculture, and public infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, highways, railroads, parks, and electrical systems across southeastern South Dakota.Many residents had to be evacuated from flood waters or buildings that had been damaged from tornadoes.Thousands of acres of farmland cannot be planted due to severe flooding, which will have a financial impact on individual farming operations and the rural communities in which farmers live. South Dakota has been hit with disastrous storm after storm this year, and the devastation has been catastrophic. We are determined to help South Dakota recover by supportin… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/delegation-urges-administration-quickly-approve-south-dakota-disaster | Delegation Urges Administration to Quickly Approve South Dakota Disaster Declaration | 2019-10-30 | 2019 | 2019-10 | Republican | House | SD | Dusty Johnson | J000301 | dustyjohnson.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today sent a letter to President Trump in support of Gov. Kristi Noem's (R-S.D.) request for a major disaster declaration for the state of South Dakota as a result of severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding that began on September 9, 2019.The delegation has strongly supported South Dakota's previous disaster requests, including those from late-winter storms that caused significant damage to infrastructure, livestock, homes, and bridges throughout the state. South Dakota has been hit with disastrous storm after storm this year, and the devastation has been catastrophic, wrote Thune, Rounds, and Johnson. We are determined to help South Dakota recover by supporting the local communities and the state of South Dakota as we continue to rebuild areas affected by these major weather events. Full text of the letter is below: The Honorable Donald Trump President of the United States The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Trump: We write in full support of Governor Kristi Noem's request for a major disaster declaration for the state of South Dakota as a result of severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding that began on September 9, 2019. As Governor Noem's disaster declaration request indicates, the severe weather last month caused extensive damage to homes and businesses, agriculture, and public infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, highways, railroads, parks, and electrical systems across southeastern South Dakota.Many residents had to be evacuated from flood waters or buildings that had been damaged from tornadoes.Thousands of acres of farmland cannot be planted due to severe flooding, which will have a financial impact on individual farming operations and the rural communities in which farmers live. South Dakota has been hit with disastrous storm after storm this year, and the devastation has been catastrophic. We are determined to help South Dakota recover by supporting the lo… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=DB2B9B7C-79C5-47B3-9F39-5B2EFC3F38C0 | Thune: Democrats Want to Maximize Washington Control of Americans Health Care | 2019-10-29 | 2019 | 2019-10 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Clickhereor on the picture above to watch Thune's speech. WASHINGTON Senate Majority Whip Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the Democrats' latest political messaging bill, which would repeal guidance that the administration issued to give states more flexibility to design health insurance plans that meet the needs of their residents. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Mr. President, before I begin, I want to say that I was saddened to hear of the death of former Senator Kay Hagan yesterday. She was a dedicated public servant. My thoughts and prayers are with her family. Mr. President, later this week we will vote on a Democrat resolution to repeal guidance the president issued to give states more flexibility to design insurance plans that meet the needs of their residents. Democrats have tried to portray this resolution as a move to protect people with preexisting conditions. That is just a smokescreen. Democrats know very well that Republicans are committed to protecting those with preexisting conditions. In reality this is just another political messaging bill. It's also another attempt by Democrats to maximize Washington control of Americans' health care. In keeping with their push toward socialism, Democrats want to make very sure that states don't have the chance to escape from any of Obamacare's bureaucracy. But let me back up for a minute and talk about the waivers and the guidance from the president that Democrats are attacking. Section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act the law that Democrats enacted on a completely partisan basis allows states to apply for waivers from certain Obamacare requirements. The requirements that can and cannot be waived are the same today as they were the day Obamacare passed. Let me repeat that. The Obamacare requirements that can or cannot be waived are the same today as they were the day Obamacare passed. The 2018 guidance from the White House did not changeanythingabout what requirements can and can… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/johnson-introduces-bill-require-analysis-added-cftc-regulations | Johnson Introduces Bill to Require Analysis of Added CFTC Regulations | 2019-10-28 | 2019 | 2019-10 | Republican | House | SD | Dusty Johnson | J000301 | dustyjohnson.house.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. Today U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) introduced the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Cost Benefit Improvement Act to formalize the office of the Chief Economist at the CFTC and require the Commission to assess the cost and benefits of any Commission actions or added regulations. The House Agriculture Committee will consider this legislation on Wednesday during the markup of the CFTC reauthorization. A proper cost-benefit analysis will foster a more informed dialogue between regulators at the CFTC and market participants, said Rep. Johnson. Formalizing the office of the Chief Economist will ensure the best economic analysis is taken into account with every decision the Commission makes. In 2011, President Obama issued Executive Order No. 13563, which required non-independent executive branch agencies to conduct cost-benefit analyses to ensure that the benefits of any rulemaking outweigh the costs. The proposed legislation seeks to apply those same standards to the Commission. The CFTC Cost Benefit Improvement Act would raise the legal standard for cost-benefit analysis the Commission is required to perform by requiring the Commission to assess the costs and benefits, both qualitative and quantitative of Commission actions. Furthermore, the legislation would also formalize the Office of the Chief Economist in statute, in a manner consistent with the CFTC's General Counsel's office, to ensure there is a Chief Economist to task with producing the required analysis. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=B35DEDAE-751D-4C39-A42B-D55B7C4C1356 | Theres No Place Id Rather Be | 2019-10-25 | 2019 | 2019-10 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | There's nothing better than autumn in South Dakota. I always enjoy traveling around the state in the fall. So far this October, I've gotten to visit with South Dakota students, present a Purple Heart medal to a Vietnam vet, talk to the new commander at Ellsworth Air Force Base, attend the groundbreaking for Dakota Wesleyan University's new School of Business Innovation and Leadership, greet a returning Honor Flight, visit some outstanding South Dakota businesses, chat with Sioux Falls' mayor, and a whole lot more. And of course, I got to participate in Hobo Day South Dakota State University's (SDSU's) annual homecoming. Anyone who knows me knows I'm a big sports guy in particular a South Dakota sports guy so I keenly enjoy every visit to the home of the Jacks. And even as a graduate of the University of South Dakota, Hobo Day is a fall highlight. There's a parade, a lot of good food, and a lot of excited sports fans. What's not to love? The best Hobo Days, of course, are when the Jacks win their game, and that's exactly what they did this year, handily defeating Southern Illinois. And speaking of Jacks football, I know there was a lot of excitement on SDSU's campus and throughout the Brookings community when ESPN's College GameDay announced it would cover the annual Dakota Marker matchup, the show's first-ever visit to South Dakota a big deal for any college town! In addition to Hobo Day and Jacks football, one of the things I look forward to the most each fall in South Dakota is the start of pheasant hunting season. I went out with several friends this year, and we had a great day. The weather was gorgeous that blue, blue South Dakota sky and the fall colors were finally showing themselves after a late start to the season. Pheasant hunting's economic importance to South Dakota is one of the many reasons I've worked to support and expand the Conservation Reserve Program. Taking underperforming land out of production is not only good for the environment and for farmers, it's also key to maintaining wildl… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=A8AE66B5-A48A-4419-9476-1FC06A5FC0F4 | Thune: Drug Pricing Legislation Should be a Bipartisan Effort | 2019-10-23 | 2019 | 2019-10 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON Senate Majority Whip Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) this week discussed the importance of making drug pricing legislation a bipartisan effortto ensure Americans are able to access the medications they need at an affordable price. Thune also discussed the harm that would be done by Speaker Pelosi's prescription drug bill. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Mr. President, over in the House today, the Ways and Means Committee is marking up Speaker Pelosi's prescription drug bill, the latest installment in Democrats' campaign for government-run health care. Like Democrats' other plan for a government takeover of health care, so-called Medicare for All, the Pelosi drug bill would ultimately leave Americans worse off when it comes to access to care. Mr. President, there's no question that the American health care system isn't perfect. High drug costs are a problem, and one in four seniors reports difficulty affording medications. Stories of patients being forced to ration pills or abandon their prescription at the pharmacy counter are unacceptable. But upending the entire American health care system is not the answer. A strong majority of Americans are happy with their health insurance coverage and the quality of the health care they receive. And Americans have access to treatments that individuals in other countries simply don't have access to. Take cancer drugs, for example. Between 2011 and 2018, 82 new cancer drugs became available. U.S. patients have access to 96 percent of them. In Germany, by contrast, patients have access to just 73 percent of those drugs. In France, just 66 percent. And in Japan, patients only have access to 54 percent. In other words, Japanese patients are missing out on access to roughlyhalfof the new cancer drugs that emerged between 2011 and 2018. So why do Americans have such tremendous access to new drugs, while other countries trail behind? Because the U.S. government doesn't dictate drug prices or drug coverage. That's also the reason why Am… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=FDE5C1DB-6289-459E-A265-F89B8326A957 | Thune: I Will Continue to Fight to Protect Religious Liberty | 2019-10-23 | 2019 | 2019-10 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Clickhereor on the picture above to watch Thune's speech. WASHINGTON Senate Majority Whip Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the growing hostility to religion within the far-left wing of the Democrat Party, which recently included a proposal to selectively tax churches based on their religious beliefs. Thune also discussed the Democrats' desire to roll back a key provision of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which would amount to a tax cut for millionaires. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Today, Democrats are forcing a vote to repeal the administration's sensible rule to disallow bogus charitable deductions that are designed to circumvent the SALT deduction cap. Frankly, I welcome this vote and today's debate. It gives us an opportunity to review all of the benefits of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. While drafting the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Congress made a conscious choice to cap the state and local tax, or SALT, deduction at $10,000. Doing so allowed us to provide additional tax relief to the middle class, support families by doubling the child tax credit, and simplify the tax code for filers by nearly doubling the standard deduction. These changes resulted in the average family of four in my home state of South Dakota receiving a tax cut of more than $2,000. In response to this cap, certain high-tax states adopted what some call creative but I call bogus schemes to try to circumvent the cap. The so-called charities these states have set up are designed solely as an alternative method of paying state and local taxes so millionaires can shirk their federal tax obligations. So the IRS did what the law directed it enacted sensible regulations to shut down these bogus tax avoidance schemes. But it did so in a thoughtful manner, carefully considering more than 7,700 comments and creating a safe harbor for certain donations to avoid unintentionally discouraging actual charitable giving. It's ironic that Democrats who uniformly opposed the middle-class tax cuts in the new tax law ar… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/johnson-statement-house-energy-and-commerce-hearing-epa-refinery-exemptions | Johnson Statement on House Energy and Commerce Hearing on EPA Refinery Exemptions | 2019-10-23 | 2019 | 2019-10 | Republican | House | SD | Dusty Johnson | J000301 | dustyjohnson.house.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) voiced support following notice of a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee hearing on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Integrity Act of 2019, a bill that Johnson introduced along with Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN). The hearing will examine the Environmental Protection Agency's Small Refinery Exemption waivers and mismanagement of the RFS program. The EPA's newly proposed RFS rule does not deliver what was promised, said Johnson. President Trump has stood by our ethanol producers and the EPA should follow suit. I introduced the RFS Integrity Act along with the Chairman of the Ag Committee to provide certainty and close the waiver loophole. Our bill looks better every day, and I am encouraged this issue is getting the hearing it deserves. The bill is supported by Growth Energy, Fuels America, National Corn Growers Association, Renewable Fuels Association, and the National Biodiesel Board. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/what-they-are-saying-about-livestock-risk-management-and-education-act | What They Are Saying About the Livestock Risk Management and Education Act | 2019-10-22 | 2019 | 2019-10 | Republican | House | SD | Dusty Johnson | J000301 | dustyjohnson.house.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Liz Cheney (R-WY), and Frank Lucas (R-OK), introduced the Livestock Risk Management and Education Act, a bill that would provide grants to certain state land-grant universities to better equip livestock producers with risk management training. Cattle Association's and educators had the following to say: American Farm Bureau Federation, Scott VanderWal, Vice President: Livestock producers are not immune from a tough farm economy. Producers need every tool at their disposal to manage risk and have the market intel available to optimize their ability to weather economic volatility. The Livestock Risk Management and Education Act will help land-grant universities partner with producer associations to make sure more producers have market and risk management information they can trust to make vital business decisions. National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Todd Wilkinson, Policy Division Vice Chairman: In a market environment that continues to challenge even the most experienced multi-generational operations, NCBA believes that it is critical for producers to understand their options for managing risk. The Livestock Risk Management and Education Act policy will provide the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture the authority and flexibility to collaborate with industry to ensure that cattle farmers and ranchers have access to those options and the knowledge base to determine which ones are right for their operations. South Dakota State University, Daniel Scholl, VP Research and Economic Development: This bill strengthens the ability of South Dakota State University and other Land-Grant Universities to provide unbiased third-party research and expertise on livestock market risk management to one of the nation's high risk food sectors. We look forward to the possibility to develop and deliver cutting edge risk management tools and education programs to livestock producers in partnership with key industry organizations. This should be a win for U.S. livestock growers … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/johnson-cheney-lucas-introduce-livestock-risk-management-and-education-act | Johnson, Cheney, Lucas Introduce the Livestock Risk Management and Education Act | 2019-10-21 | 2019 | 2019-10 | Republican | House | SD | Dusty Johnson | J000301 | dustyjohnson.house.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. Today U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Liz Cheney (R-WY), and Frank Lucas (R-OK), introduced the Livestock Risk Management and Education Act, a bill that would provide grants to certain state land-grant universities to better equip livestock producers with risk management training. The Livestock Risk Management and Education Act would authorize the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to provide resources to improve livestock producers' knowledge of futures markets to better manage market volatility. An understanding of futures contracts and risk management strategies will allow producers both large and small to better anticipate cattle prices. This new authority would allow land-grant universities, such as South Dakota State University, to partner with grower associations to more directly reach producers. Producers already face an uphill battle of unpredictable weather, understanding cattle prices doesn't need to be an added challenge, said Rep. Johnson. The Livestock Risk Management and Education Act will supply producers with the tools needed to anticipate highs and lows in the futures markets. I'm proud to partner with my colleagues from cattle country to help best prepare our Ag economy and producers for the future. I am pleased to join Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) in his legislation to provide funds to improve available resources and educational materials for producers from land grant institutions, said Rep. Liz Cheney. With ever-changing markets, this measure will enable land grant universities like the University of Wyoming to assist ourproducersin giving them the background they need to properly plan for the future. While we've seen tremendous signs of a strong economy- witnessing record declines in unemployment and rising wages across America- sadly, our nation's farm industry continues to face challenging times, leaving our producers vulnerable to disruptions provoked by market instability and other factors. Livestock producers across the country have faced year… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=CB598C9D-7E4C-4E33-BEC2-4439936C1ADE | Leadership Our Airmen Can Count On | 2019-10-18 | 2019 | 2019-10 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | South Dakota has a special connection to the U.S. Air Force, especially to the airmen who support its missions in the United States and around the globe. It's because of this special connection that I've always had a particular interest in ensuring the Air Force's civilian leaders both meet the needs of those they lead and possess the right vision for the future of the military and our national security interests as a whole. For the last few years, South Dakota was proud to have Dr. Heather Wilson, former president of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, serve at the top as secretary of the Air Force. Having lived with Ellsworth Air Force Base in her backyard, Secretary Wilson brought a small piece of South Dakota with her when she led the department. I was proud to work with her on a number of projects, but I will never forget when the phone rang on the morning of March 27, 2019. I was sitting in my office in Washington when she delivered the news we had long been waiting for: Ellsworth Air Force Base had been officially selected to receive future B-21 training and operational squadrons, which meant South Dakota would be home to the first of our nation's newest bombers. I always appreciated Secretary Wilson's leadership, and while she has since left her post to resume her career in higher education, the Air Force is still in good hands. On October 16, 2019, Ambassador Barbara Barrett was overwhelmingly confirmed by the Senate to become the 25th secretary of the Air Force. Secretary Barrett is not only the fourth woman to lead the department in its history, but she is the third consecutive woman to hold this post since 2013, and I was proud to support her nomination. Secretary Barrett is uniquely qualified for this role, and you don't need to look further than her long and notable resume to prove it. She has served as U.S. ambassador to Finland, deputy administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, and as a member of the Civil Aeronautics Board. As impressive as those achievements are on th… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=B047B887-DBBD-4D84-B5A0-092D5D873F0B | Thune, Klobuchar Lead Colleagues in Urging USDA to Prioritize CRP State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement | 2019-10-17 | 2019 | 2019-10 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) today led a bipartisan group of senators in urging U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to prioritize enrollment and implementation of the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) initiative within the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). We are concerned that the decision to limit the practices and associated cost-share incentives available in recent continuous sign-ups, and excluding wildlife practices like SAFE, will decrease landowner interest in CRP and the effectiveness of the program,the senators wrote.The statutory purpose of CRP is to conserve and improve the soil, water, and wildlife resources' of enrolled land and address issues raised by state, regional, and national conservation initiatives.' The land enrolled through SAFE serves as an example of how USDA, landowners, and other partners can work together to address all three resource concerns on the same acre of enrolled land. In addition to Thune and Klobuchar, the letter was also signed by U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Tina Smith (D-Minn), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.). Fulltextof the letter below: The Honorable Sonny Perdue Secretary U.S. Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20250 Dear Secretary Perdue: We write to express our strong support for the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) initiative within the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and to urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prioritize enrollment and implementation of SAFE through future continuous CRP sign-ups. SAFE was created to allow states to design CRP practices that maintain the program's soil and water conservation benefits while targeting sp… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=F8302776-C399-4CA0-AD6E-802B219E4268 | Thune: Passing USMCA Will Boost the U.S. Economy | 2019-10-17 | 2019 | 2019-10 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Clickhereto watch Thune's speech. WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the need to pass the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to give farmers and ranchers more certainty and preserve and expand market access while boosting the U.S. economy as a whole. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Mr. President, farmers and ranchers have gotten some good news on the trade front in recent weeks, with the signing of a trade deal with Japan. U.S. farmers depend on access to the Japanese market it's the fourth-largest market for U.S. agricultural products and this agreement will remove barriers to the sale of a variety of products, from cheese and sweet corn to beef, pork, and wheat. But while this is very good news for farmers and ranchers, we have a lot more work to do on the trade front to help our ag community and increase demand for American agricultural products around the world. And we should start by passing the United States-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement. Canada and Mexico are the number-one and number-two markets for American agriculture products, and preserving and expanding access to these markets is key to improving the economic outlook for American farmers. Over a year ago, the administration finished negotiating a strong deal with these countries that will help boost our struggling agriculture economy. To start with, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement will provide farmers with certainty about what these important markets are going to look like going forward. One of the biggest challenges facing farmers on the trade front right now is the uncertainty about what markets around the world are going to look like. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement will give farmers and ranchers clarity about what trade is going to look like with these two key trading partners. In addition to providing certainty and preserving market access for American farmers and ranchers, the United States-Mexico-Canada agreement makes a number of i… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=F99DACE5-AAD2-49CB-A157-C5A22BF99510 | Thune: Looking Forward to the Future of Ellsworth Air Force Base | 2019-10-16 | 2019 | 2019-10 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Clickhereto watch Thune's speech. WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed newly confirmed U.S. Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett, Ellsworth Air Force Base, and the current situation in Syria. Earlier today, Thune met with Barrett where they discussed the future of Ellsworth Air Force Base as it prepares to serve as the first home of the B-21 bomber. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Mr. President, later today, the Senate will vote to confirm Barbara Barrett as secretary of the Air Force. I have come to the floor directly from a meeting with her this morning. Ambassador Barrett has had an impressive career, both inside and outside of government. Among other things, she has served as U.S. ambassador to Finland, deputy administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, and as a member of the Civil Aeronautics Board. Most importantly, she has a deep understanding of the U.S. Air Force, thanks to her work as a civilian adviser to the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs. As a member of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services, she fought to expand opportunities for women in the military. She became the first civilian woman to land an F-18 on an aircraft carrier, part of a mission to demonstrate women's fitness to fly in combat. Thanks in part to her work, in 1993 the military changed its regulations to allow women to fly combat aircraft. Mr. President, I'm always particularly interested in making sure we have an outstanding Air Force secretary because my state of South Dakota is lucky enough to play host to Ellsworth Air Force Base, home of the 28th Bomb Wing and future home of the B-21 bomber. Over the state work period in October, I was able to visit Ellsworth to sit down with the new commander of the 28th Bomb Wing, Colonel David Doss, as well as Command Chief Master Sergeant Rochelle Hemingway. We had a great discussion, and we had the chance to talk about the needs of the base going forward, including what will be ne… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=F2453A1C-51A3-41F2-B830-397D48553BE4 | Thune, Schatz Introduce Legislation to Improve Weather Forecasting Models | 2019-10-15 | 2019 | 2019-10 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today introduced the Learning Excellence and Good Examples from New Developers(LEGEND) Act, legislation that would require the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to make certain operational models publicly available and utilize any innovations to improve the models that are developed as a result of public collaboration. The livelihoods of farmers and ranchers in my state often depend on forecasting accuracy, so it's important that we find innovative ways to improve government forecasting capabilities,said Thune.This legislation, which builds off my work to improve weather forecasting throughout my time serving on the Commerce Committee, makes NOAA's current and future models more accessible to outside expertsincluding scientists and engineers in academia who can provide new insights to improve existing forecasting models. In a place like Hawaii, NOAA models provide vital warning for hurricanes, king tides, and tsunami,said Schatz.Making the code for these models open source will make it easier for experts to partner with NOAA to improve forecasts and keep our communities safe. On January 7, 2019, the National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018 included a requirement for the U.S. Weather Research Program to establish the Earth Prediction Innovation Center (EPIC), which was intended to advance weather modeling and improve the translation of forecasting research into operational models by leveraging private sector innovations.When fully established, EPIC would provide a platform for stakeholder collaboration to improve operational models and greatly advance NOAA's forecasting skill. The LEGEND Act would clarify and strengthen the efforts of EPIC through the following provisions: Make Certain Operational Models Publicly Available Stakeholders currently do not have access to the operational models developed by NOA… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=43C29E83-A2DD-4995-BE0B-D8652E0B176C | A Tradition Unlike Any Other | 2019-10-11 | 2019 | 2019-10 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | There's nothing quite like autumn cooler temperatures, the sound of crisp leaves under your feet (or snow as may be the case), and students settled back in school. After a warm summer, this time of year is usually highly-anticipated in South Dakota, but not just because of the relief from hotter temperatures and football season being back in full swing. Fall and October are synonymous with one thing for South Dakotans: pheasant hunting season. The third Saturday in October could be considered an unofficial holiday in our state. Friends and family have an excuse to get together, spend the day pursuing roosters, and usually end it celebrating bagging their limits by making some type of pheasant dish and enjoying in community with one another. I've been partaking in this tradition since I was 12 years old, and now I get to share this weekend with my daughters and sons-in-laws and hopefully one day with my grandkids, as well. Although South Dakota is probably the only state that hunts its state bird, it's not just South Dakotans that like to participate in this tradition. Nearly 100,000 out-of-state hunters flood to our state to pheasant hunt each year, adding over $200 million to the state's economy by shopping at our stores, eating at our restaurants, and staying in local hotels. Many of South Dakota's small businesses depend on the pheasant season's positive economic impacts each year. Every weekend that I'm able to share with family and friends and enjoy the beautiful outdoor landscapes of South Dakota is considered a win to me, but it's even more enjoyable when the ringnecks are plentiful. Something that contributes to a successful pheasant hunt and wildlife habitat in general is good conservation practices. The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is widely credited for creating an environment where pheasants can nest and raise their brood. I've been a champion of the program during my time in Congress, and I've continued to fight to ensure we strengthen CRP by raising the acreage cap in the 2018 far… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=CE31B81A-68B7-40BD-AD57-8FC4021A817F | Celebrating Native American Day | 2019-10-04 | 2019 | 2019-10 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | While much of the United States celebrates Columbus Day on the second Monday in October, South Dakotans instead proudly recognize Native American Day, honoring the rich heritage and tribal people of our state. A tradition that began in 1989 when Gov. George Mickelson proclaimed 1990 as the Year of Reconciliation, we've continued to celebrate Native American Day in lieu of Columbus Day. The South Dakota legislature formally recognized this day by unanimously passing legislation, and we have been honoring the day for nearly thirty years. Native American culture can be found in every corner of our state. One way to experience this culture is by attending a powwow. Powwows are still very prevalent in South Dakota today, and they provide an opportunity to participate in traditions that are passed on by the Native American people through things like traditional music and dancing. These events take place nearly every month from May to October, and I encourage all South Dakotans to attend these unique celebrations. Oral storytelling is another important tradition, allowing tribes to pass down their religions, history, and origin stories from one generation to the next. Oral storytelling is an art that is still practiced by tribes across the state, and it remains an important part of tribal people's connection to their past. One of my favorite stories shared in the Lakota language is of the importance of the tatanka, or buffalo. Although the term buffalo is now scientifically classified as a bison, the word buffalo is more frequently used in Native American cultures throughout the Midwest. Aside from being the basis of the Lakota diet and an integral part of their way of life from providing hide for shelter to the bones for tools the bison is also a large part of their spirituality. Because the tatanka provided the Lakota people with clothing, shelter, and food, among many other things, it was a sacred animal to the people. For example, the tatanka skull was used in many spiritual rituals. The tatanka skull … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=C7DAA1F9-933E-4DB6-A5C4-0482A1042AF4 | Thune Praises Administrations Commitment to Agriculture | 2019-10-04 | 2019 | 2019-10 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after the administration announced that it has reached a deal to restore integrity to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) by accounting for the issuance of small refinery exemptions when setting future ethanol blending targets. Thune has openly criticized the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) unprecedented and unnecessary use of small refinery exemptions, which have waived billions of gallons of biofuel blending. Today's announcement means that the EPA will also make related reforms to improve implementation of the RFS and increase ethanol blending. I want to thank the president for standing up for farm country and sticking to the commitment he recently made to me and several of my farm-state colleagues in the Oval Office, said Thune. The president understands that the agriculture community is hurting, and while I look forward to seeing the final details, this announcement builds off our E15 win and points to a new and brighter day at the EPA. It's no secret that I've been critical of the EPA's use of small refinery waivers, a process that when used for its intended purpose can help alleviate certain hardships for small companies that truly need it. Unfortunately, the EPA has abused this process over the last few years, having granted unnecessary waivers to large companies, which has significantly undermined the RFS. These actions have had a direct and negative effect on operations in South Dakota and other states throughout the Corn Belt, which is why I congratulate the president on today's announcement. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/johnson-praises-administration-s-biofuels-agreement | Johnson Praises Administrations Biofuels Agreement | 2019-10-04 | 2019 | 2019-10 | Republican | House | SD | Dusty Johnson | J000301 | dustyjohnson.house.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. Today U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) applauded the administration's announcement to expand ethanol blending beginning in 2020. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will partner to improve the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and implement it as intended. Today's announcement is a win for South Dakota farmers, ethanol producers and anyone that cares about a strong rural economy and job growth, said Johnson. I'm proud of the coalition of farm-state members that made it clear that we must maintain the integrity of the RFS as Congress intended. By maintaining the integrity of the RFS and preventing the abuse of Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs), as well as forward-looking proposals that cut red tape and build biofuel infrastructure, the Administration showed they are committed to rural America. In May, Johnson and Agriculture Committee Chairman Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN) introduced H.R. 3006 the Renewable Fuels Standard Integrity Act of 2019. The bill would reallocate gallons lost through SREs that undermine the integrity of the RFS, ensuring lost gallons are included in any final Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs). Today's announcement follows that intent and restores the integrity of the RFS by reallocating gallons on a three-year rolling average of waived gallons. Furthermore, the plan will roll-back regulations that have stood in the way of higher blends of ethanol and promote infrastructure investments for greater use here and abroad. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=1C8E7B79-5A06-4A3A-832E-AB67C5B2DF3C | Realizing the Joy of Being a Dad | 2019-09-27 | 2019 | 2019-09 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Every once in a while, you experience one of those occasions where you stop to appreciate how blessed you are. Our family had one of those times recently when our oldest daughter, Brittany, was inducted into her collegiate hall of fame. When our daughters were growing up, we encouraged them to try different activities at school. Of course, I wanted the girls to play basketball. They both tried it to appease me, but neither of them liked it, nor were they very good at it (as I think both girls would freely admit today) Soccer seemed to be a better fit for Larissa, our youngest daughter, where she excelled, but that wasn't where Brittany would find her niche either. However, as I observed Brittany on the soccer field, I saw that she had a nice, long stride, and I encouraged her to join track and field. It was running that turned out to be her gift. Brittany came onto the running scene during a very historic period in South Dakota. She got to run with, and against, some of the most competitive and accomplished track and cross country athletes the state has ever seen. Brittany was blessed with some talent, but she had a powerful work ethic, a quality that serves people well in running sports. We watched her battle through injuries to experience a high level of success as a high school athlete. Of course, we hoped she would compete in South Dakota as a college athlete, but she got a full-ride offer to run at Belmont University, a small Division I school in Nashville, Tennessee and run she did. She won back-to-back conference cross country championships and was twice named to the NCAA Division I All South Regional Team. She won numerous other awards, all of which contributed to her hall of fame induction. It was a well-deserved acknowledgement that all the hard work she put in through the years had paid off. But as we watched her on the stage that night, sharing her remarks at the induction ceremony, I saw something else. I saw that little red-haired, pony-tailed girl all grown up. I heard her talk about the gift… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=B88091E5-17D6-4BA2-BBD5-3F61C30A5D9E | Thune Hears From Livestock Industry Leaders on Market Transparency | 2019-09-26 | 2019 | 2019-09 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Clickhereto watch Thune's speech. WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today heard from cattle industry leaders in a committee hearing on perspectives of the livestock and poultry sectors. The fact that losing just one beef plant in the United States created so much volatility in the cattle marketplace, including decreased cattle prices for producers and increased boxed beef prices, is deeply concerning, said Thune.I think that transparency in these markets is really important. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=922945C9-6E09-4B64-89BF-65587E357175 | Thune Statement on Trade Deal With Japan | 2019-09-25 | 2019 | 2019-09 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a longtime member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today issued the following statement after President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abeannounceda limited tradeagreementbetween the two countries. The agreement will result in lower tariffs on U.S. agricultural products and streamline rules with respect to digital trade between the United States and Japan. Thune has been a strong advocate of a bilateral trade agreement with Japan ever since the United States announced it would withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a multilateral trade deal that would have included Japan. Amid what seems like a tidal wave of obstacles this year, this is exactly the kind of news farm country has been waiting for, and I expect this deal, once approved by Japan, will have a direct and positive effect on the U.S. agriculture industry, said Thune. In addition to helping beef and pork producers, this agreement will boost America's dairy, ethanol, and wheat industries. Any day that we can create more opportunities for U.S. companies to reach new or expanded markets around the world is a good day, and I can say with confidence that today is a good day. I look forward to more deals that will open new markets around the world. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=5539E793-75FE-4FA5-9700-2A4148FAFF59 | Delegation Applauds Administrations Decision to Approve South Dakota Disaster Declaration Following Severe Storms and Flooding | 2019-09-24 | 2019 | 2019-09 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today applauded the administration for approving a major disaster declaration for several South Dakota counties, including Aurora, Bennett, Brule, Butte, Campbell, Custer, Deuel, Fall River, Gregory, Haakon, Hamlin, Hanson, Jackson, Jones, Lyman, Meade, Mellette, Pennington, Sanborn, Todd, Tripp, Turner, Union, Walworth, and Ziebach, as well as the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation and the Rosebud Reservation following severe storms and flooding from May 26 to June 7, 2019. South Dakota has been hit with storm after storm this spring and summer, so I'm glad this disaster declaration was approved and will provide our state with some much-needed relief,said Thune. I'm thankful that the administration understood the urgency of this request and that folks affected by the storms and flooding will hopefully be able to get back on their feet more quickly. Thanks to President Trump for recognizing the need to provide disaster relief to South Dakota communities impacted by recent severe weather and flooding,said Rounds.This will help local units of government and certain non-profit organizations to rebuild critical infrastructure and facilities that have been severely damaged. South Dakota has had a tough year,said Johnson.This disaster declaration will allow South Dakota's communities to heal and repair more quickly, and I am grateful for the steadfast support the administration has shown our state during a year of unpredictable weather. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=BD001849-B29F-4749-94DB-A2E84AB5FAA9 | Thune: Its Time for Congress to Ratify USMCA Now | 2019-09-24 | 2019 | 2019-09 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Clickhereor on the picture above to watch Thune's speech. WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the importance of passing the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) as quickly as possible. Last week, seven former U.S. agriculture secretaries from both Democrat and Republican administrations sent a letter to House and Senate leadership stating their strong bipartisan support for USMCA. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Mr. President, in just a few days, we will mark the one-year anniversary of the president concluding negotiations on the United States-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement. It's time for Congress to ratify this agreement now. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement will benefit pretty much every sector of the U.S. economy. The automobile industry. Textiles. Digital trade and e-commerce. Services. Manufacturing. And, of course, agriculture. Mr. President, as the representative of a state whose lifeblood is agriculture, farmers and ranchers are always at the top of my mind. And a huge focus of mine right now is helping our struggling agriculture economy. Low commodity and livestock prices, natural disasters, and protracted trade disputes have meant a tough few years for farmers. One of the most important things we can do to help our agriculture economy recover is to open new markets for American agricultural products. During August, I spent a lot of time talking to farmers back home in South Dakota. And again and again, they emphasized that they need action on trade from Washington. With so many trade deals currently up in the air, farmers and ranchers are struggling with a lack of certainty about what international markets are going to look like. While they share the president's goal of addressing trade imbalances and securing more favorable conditions for American products, they also believe that we need to conclude the agreements we're negotiating as soon as possible. The longer negotiations drag on, t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=B97F76BE-2B6E-40EF-9B5F-8D4B03EBDE11 | The Time is Now to Pass USMCA | 2019-09-20 | 2019 | 2019-09 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | It's been a rough year in farm country. Severe weather. Flooding. A delayed (and in some cases non-existent) planting season. Sluggish agriculture economy. Barriers to market access. Ongoing trade disputes. There are plenty of things South Dakota's farmers and ranchers could complain about things for which most Americans would be sympathetic but these folks don't have a complaining bone in their body, because a complaint is time wasted, and it doesn't do anything to help an operation succeed. Farmers and ranchers are hardworking, glass-half-full optimists, and I'm proud of what they do, but I don't want to underplay the raw anxiety that exists in farm country today. While folks are glad this administration is willing to go toe-to-toe with China on trade, and they look forward to what that means for the future of agriculture, there's no doubt they are still concerned about the here and now and the difficult situation that currently exists. It's not just farmers' and ranchers' optimism that I admire. One, they know more about agriculture policy than just about anyone else I know. And two, they aren't shy. I rarely make a stop in South Dakota these days without hearing about the day-to-day struggles in the agriculture community as well as the many ideas folks have to address it, and I want to thank them for their counsel, especially on trade. Not only do I take the advice I receive throughout South Dakota seriously, I oftentimes take it directly to the White House to the Oval Office, if necessary. I've met with the president twice in September alone, during which I had the opportunity to advocate for South Dakota's agriculture producers. While negotiations with China and other countries are ongoing, there's one important trade agreement that's already been completed, and it's now up to Congress to get it across the finish line. The administration wrapped up its negotiations on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) literally hundreds of days ago. Mexico's government has already approved it,… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/johnson-usda-investigation-real | Johnson: USDA Investigation is For Real | 2019-09-19 | 2019 | 2019-09 | Republican | House | SD | Dusty Johnson | J000301 | dustyjohnson.house.gov | legacy | Click hereto watch the full speech. Washington, D.C. U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today spoke on the U.S. House of Representatives Floor regarding an ongoing investigation into the cattle market. Johnson's Remarks Below: Mr. Speaker, this is a town where some investigations last for years and sometimes cost millions. Other investigations are for insignificant little things, conducted to check a box before moving onto the next task. We all know in D.C. there are two types of investigations. Investigations that are for show and investigations that are for real. In cattle country we need an investigation for real. Times have been tough for cattle producers, especially the last couple of years. The producers I know don't ask for guarantees or handouts, all they want is a fair chance to earn a living. Unfortunately, prices have been soft, and those producers are not sure the market is accurately applying margin to our feeders and to our ranchers. Following the Holcomb fire, the market experienced extreme volatility. The producers I know, smart and savvy professionals, have told me the immediate aftermath caused serious damage to the long-term viability of their business and to their way of life. That's why I was grateful to see USDA, under the Packers and Stockyards Act, open up an investigation into the cattle market. An investigation like that does not happen every day. Many folks in South Dakota are anxiously awaiting the results. I know that I am. What I have seen and heard so far from USDA gives me a good feeling that they are conducting this investigation for real. I believe they are doing their best to gather and analyze the pertinent data. They want to get to the bottom of this. They want to determine if there have been unfair trade practices or market manipulation. Making that kind of a determination won't be easy. It will require real effort, real persistence, and a real willingness to dig deep. As I said at the beginning, there are two types of investigations in this town, those tha… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/johnson-urges-passage-usmca | Johnson Urges Passage of USMCA | 2019-09-18 | 2019 | 2019-09 | Republican | House | SD | Dusty Johnson | J000301 | dustyjohnson.house.gov | legacy | Click hereto watch the full speech. Washington, D.C. U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today repeated his support for the United States Mexico Canada Agreement on the U.S. House Floor. Johnson's remarks below: Mr. Speaker, it's time. It's time for Congress to pass the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement: the USMCA. This is not, as many of you know, a new issue. The administration finished its work months ago, 292 days ago to be exact. Well that's 292 days that Congress has had to ask questions. That's 292 days that we have had to assess the benefits of the agreement. That's 292 days that we have had to analyze the text of that agreement. During the August recess I had conversations with hundreds, maybe thousands of folks and their message was clear: USMCA is clearly a better agreement and Congress needs to do its job for the good of this country. There are a number of ways in which the president has negotiated a USMCA that is stronger, that is better than NAFTA. First, USMCA ensures that the digital economy will be more open and more secure. Second, the strong currency manipulation language and intellectual property language provides a model for other agreements, especially one with China. And third Mr. Speaker, the benefits to the Ag community are compelling. My colleagues have heard me speak before about the fact that our Ag producers have not had the easiest of time of it lately. They need the USMCA. This agreement opens up new access to Canadian markets for wheat, wine, egg, poultry, and dairy. It increases agricultural exports by nearly $200 billion per year and that is why 1,000 Ag groups across the country have endorsed USMCA. They know with fair access to markets, American producers can compete, and they can win. USMCA is not perfect, but collectively, with these improvements, can create 176,000 American jobs and would increase our GDP by $68 billion. That is real value across the agricultural, manufacturing and service sectors. The administration has done its job. The administration has negotiated an … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=8895FD54-7BED-4D4E-9674-1A9A62C82B28 | Thune: Defense Funding is Imperative | 2019-09-18 | 2019 | 2019-09 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the importance of funding the U.S. military by passing this year's defense appropriations bills. Thune also recognized the U.S. Air Force, but especially the airmen at Ellsworth Air Force Base, on their 72nd birthday today. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Mr. President, defense funding is always an imperative. There are always going to be bad actors who threaten our country, whether they're major powers like China or Russia or terrorist organizations like ISIS or al-Qaeda. And we have to be prepared to counter those threats. In the United States, we're used to having the most outstanding military in the world. We've come to rely on it. We assume our military will always be the best because it has been the best for as long as we can remember. But we can't forget that our military preeminence is the result of sustained investment. And while our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines constitute the most advanced and proficient fighting force in the world, they can't do their jobs or maintain our military superiority without adequate resources. And that includes funding not just the weapons, equipment, and technology of today, but also the weapons, equipment, and technology of the future. It's too late to modernize our military when the threat has reached us. We need to invest in the equipment and technology of the future now, so that when the threats of tomorrow materialize, we will be ready. This means delivering platforms like the future B-21 bomber on schedule and making robust investments in the cyber and space domains. Mr. President, right now, our military is rebuilding after years of underfunding and the strains of the war on terror. Here in the Senate, members of both parties have worked together over the past couple of years to meet our military's funding and rebuilding needs, and I hope that trend will continue. In November 2018, the bipartisan National Defense Strategy Commission released a report warning… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=4E1326D9-C884-4AD1-88C0-BF0C292823E6 | Thunes Office Accepting Spring Internship Applications | 2019-09-17 | 2019 | 2019-09 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) is currently seeking college students to serve as spring interns in his office in Washington, D.C., as well as in his offices in Aberdeen, Rapid City, and Sioux Falls. Interns in Thune's state offices will participate in constituent service and state outreach activities, while students in the Washington, D.C., office will have the opportunity to witness the legislative process, give Capitol building tours, and attend Senate votes and hearings. Both in-state and Washington, D.C., internships will allow students to work closely with constituents, hone their research and writing skills, and learn a multitude of valuable office skills. The opportunity to intern in a Senate office is one of the best ways to learn how our federal government works, while also serving the state of South Dakota said Thune. Interns in my offices will experience the inner workings of a Senate office firsthand, while improving their legislative knowledge and communication skills. I encourage all college students to consider applying for this rewarding experience. Thune serves as the Senate majority whip, the number two position in Senate leadership, and is a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; and a member of the Senate Committee on Finance. College students who are interested in interning in Thune's Washington, D.C., Aberdeen, Rapid City, or Sioux Falls offices should fill out an online application by November 1, 2019, athttps://sen.gov/Y191,or they can locate the application by searching intern program onwww.thune.senate.gov. For more information, please call 202-224-2321. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=624CD500-C1B1-4A08-B927-4BC72D1A7810 | Thune: Congress Should Pass USMCA As Soon As Possible | 2019-09-17 | 2019 | 2019-09 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Clickhereor on the picture above to watch Thune's speech. WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the benefits that the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) would have for farmers, ranchers, and the U.S. economy. Thune called upon House Democrats to commit to taking up and passing USMCA without further delay. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Mr. President, I spent a lot of time talking to South Dakota farmers over the August break. And I can tell you that if there's one thing on farmers' minds right now, it's trade. Farmers and ranchers have had a rough few years low commodity and livestock prices, natural disasters, and protracted trade disputes have left our agriculture economy trailing behind our economy as a whole. And as farmers emphasized to me during August, one of the biggest things we can do to help our agriculture economy is to implement trade agreements that benefit U.S. farmers and ranchers. The United States is currently involved in trade negotiations on multiple fronts with the European Union, with China, with Japan and other Asian-Pacific countries. Like many farmers and ranchers, I support the president's goal of addressing trade imbalances and securing more favorable conditions for American products abroad. But we need to conclude these agreements as soon as possible. The longer negotiations drag on, the tougher the situation for farmers, who face retaliatory tariffs as well as a lot of uncertainty about what markets are going to look like. We've had some recent successes in August the administration announced a deal to increase U.S. beef sales to Europe. And in May the administration announced a deal with Japan to remove all remaining age restrictions on U.S. beef, giving U.S. ranchers full access to the Japanese market for the first time in more than a decade. But that's just a tiny fraction of what needs to get done on the trade front when it comes to agriculture. And every time I speak with the president a… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/johnson-s-office-accepting-spring-internship-applications | Johnsons Office Accepting Spring Internship Applications | 2019-09-17 | 2019 | 2019-09 | Republican | House | SD | Dusty Johnson | J000301 | dustyjohnson.house.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) announced that his office is seeking internship applicants for Spring 2020 in his Washington, D.C., Rapid City, Aberdeen, and Sioux Falls offices. Duties will include researching legislation, attending committee hearings and briefings, leading tours of the U.S. Capitol, handling constituent phone calls, sorting mail and providing support to the staff and the Congressman. Interns will work closely with constituents and staff while developing their research, writing, and communications skills. Most importantly, they will gain an in-depth understanding of the South Dakota At-Large Congressional office. Working in the House of Representatives gives you a first-hand look at how the federal government operates on a day to day basis, said Johnson. Interns won't be making coffee runs, they are a major part of our team and we always strive to provide them with meaningful work and experiences, whether that is in Washington or in the state. Interested applicantsshould complete the online internship application and submit a resumeno later than November 1, 2019.More information about the internship program, along with the application, can be found online. Resumes should be submitted atdustyjohnson.house.gov/services/internships. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=EA7A1B87-7B41-438B-B329-A542FE15BF37 | Listening is One of the Best Ways to Stay Informed | 2019-09-13 | 2019 | 2019-09 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Shortly before the Senate adjourned for its annual August state work period, I went to the Senate floor to lay out my agenda for what I wanted to accomplish while I was home. At the top of my list was meeting with as many South Dakotans as possible, which has always been the best part of my job. I was also looking forward to fair season a great time to connect with people and taste some of the most iconic fair food our state has to offer: ice cream, pork sandwiches, milkshakes, cheese curds, Brown County's famous Tubby Burger, and more. After several weeks crisscrossing the state and putting on more miles (and calories) than I can count, I wanted to report on my progress and let you know how much I appreciate your feedback and advice. One of the most endearing qualities of South Dakotans is their honesty, particularly about my work in Washington, and that honesty is what keeps me grounded and focused on what matters. During the several weeks I was home, I attended the South Dakota State Fair, the Sioux Empire Fair, the Turner County Fair, and the Brown County Fair, and yes, I'm still dreaming of the Tubby Burger I inhaled for lunch a burger standard by which all other burgers should be judged. I held town hall meetings in Philip, Wall, Lemmon, and Bison, and I toured local businesses in communities in nearly every corner of the state. I received a lot of feedback along the way, but one of the most consistent concerns I heard from folks was about the agriculture economy and how tough of a year it's been for most producers in South Dakota. You don't need to talk to many people to realize how real of a concern this issue is for folks. I'll take a back seat to no one when it comes to my support for our farmers and ranchers, so I've used every opportunity possible to relay what I'm hearing from the South Dakota agriculture community directly to the president. I met with the president twice during the first week of the fall work period in Washington, and during both meetings, I had the opportunity put a plug in… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/farmers-want-usmca | Farmers Want USMCA | 2019-09-13 | 2019 | 2019-09 | Republican | House | SD | Dusty Johnson | J000301 | dustyjohnson.house.gov | legacy | By Rep. Dusty Johnson The six-week August break did folks some good my colleagues on the right, and many on the left, are ready to get to work on passing the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA). It's amazing the spark that ignites when legislators spend six weeks hearing from their bosses back home. Democrats and Republicans are finding common ground on this issue that's a win for America. I spent the majority of my first week back in Washington meeting with ag groups to talk trade. On Thursday, farmers from across the country gathered near the Capitol's reflecting pool to rally for the passage of this 21st century trade agreement. Farmers for Free Trade, a group led by former Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln, traveled by bus across the country to bring the message of USMCA to local agriculture communities. The last stop on the tour was the steps of our nation's Capitol. During our rally, former USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and President Zippy Duvall from the American Farm Bureau addressed a crowd of over one-hundred ag community leaders and legislators. Zippy urged both myself and my colleagues to finish the drill. I agree with Zippy we are in the fourth quarter at the end zone, it's not time to fumble. It's no secret in Washington that for months now, Speaker Pelosi has held up a vote on USMCA. However, during our USMCA rally with producers, Democrat Representative Cuellar from Texas assured the crowd that USMCA was going to get done this year and Pelosi would put the bill on the floor. Producers received further assurance from Ag Committee Chairman Collin Peterson that USMCA would happen and needs to wrap up quickly so we can continue to leverage with China. Not only will this agreement bring certainty to our nation's closest trading partners Canada and Mexico but it will provide farmers with the relief needed following unprecedented weather challenges and trade obstacles. Farmers don't want aid, they want trade exports would increase by $2.2 billion under USMCA. If we have the opportunity to o… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=AF9ADA0C-7385-453E-B6F4-A86FAB5B829B | Thune Statement on EPAs Commitment to Rolling Back WOTUS | 2019-09-12 | 2019 | 2019-09 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON Senate Majority Whip Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule to formally roll back the Obama administration's overly burdensome Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule, which, if enacted, would have amounted to one of the largest federal land grabs in U.S. history. Thune has long advocated for overturning the rule and hasco-sponsored legislationthat would have achieved that goal. WOTUS was one of the most ill-conceived ideas to have ever emerged from a federal government agency the kind of idea that gives the federal bureaucracy a bad name,Thune said. Opening up nearly every body of water, no matter how large or small they might be, to federal jurisdiction would be a nightmare for property owners and producers in South Dakota and around the country. While WOTUS was tangled in legal battles during the final years of the Obama administration, the uncertainty still hung over the heads of farmers and ranchers, which is why I'm glad this administration followed through on its commitment to unravel this rule once and for all. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=C8A07946-BD44-4940-8697-DE2A3B8B29E8 | Thune: I Will Continue to Fight for South Dakotas Priorities in Washington | 2019-09-12 | 2019 | 2019-09 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | I'm energized by the time I spent with South Dakotans during the August break, and I'm looking forward to continuing to fight for South Dakota's priorities here in Washington this fall. Clickhereor on the picture above to watch Thune's speech. WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed his work during the August state work period, which he spent traveling throughout South Dakota, meeting with constituents, visiting fairs, and he even held a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation fieldhearingon rural broadband in Sioux Falls. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Mr. President, it was a good August. While I head back to South Dakota almost every weekend, August gives me the chance to spend multiple uninterrupted weeks back home, visiting with South Dakotans and traveling to the far corners of the state. August is also fair season in South Dakota. And there is nothing better than a South Dakota fair. This year I got to attend the South Dakota State Fair, the Brown County Fair, the Sioux Empire Fair, and the Turner County Fair. And as usual, I had a great time at all four. The people are the best part of course. Although the fair food isn't far behind. I'm still dreaming of the Tubby Burger I had at the Brown County Fair. They don't have burgers like that in D.C. Agriculture is the lifeblood of South Dakota, and as always, a lot of my conversations over August were centered around agriculture. Farmers and ranchers have had a very rough few years, and addressing the needs of our agriculture community is one of my top priorities in Congress. One big concern for our producers is ethanol and biodiesel. While we received some good news this year with the approval of year-round E15 sales, the ethanol industry is still facing significant challenges owing to the excess of small refinery waivers that have been issued. Perhaps the biggest concern for our farmers right now is trade. Multiple protracted trade disputes… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=A3162FC2-C335-47B6-A486-58EB001581CD | Thune Commemorates the 18th Anniversary of 9/11 Terrorist Attacks | 2019-09-11 | 2019 | 2019-09 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON Senate Majority Whip Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today commemorated the 18th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that took place on September 11, 2001. Thune also discussed the severe weather that caused significant structural damage throughout Sioux Falls, South Dakota, last night. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Mr. President, before I begin, I need to mention the tornado that tore through my hometown of Sioux Falls last night. Thankfully there appear to have been no fatalities, but there was a lot of structural damage. I'm grateful to all the emergency responders, electric crews, and all those who worked through the night to keep residents safe. My thoughts are with Sioux Falls today and all those who are dealing with the tornado's aftermath. I had the opportunity this morning to speak with Mayor Paul TenHaken of Sioux Falls, who was, as you can expect, up throughout the night with his team and just expressed our support to him, to his team, to our community, as they begin the process of clean-up and recovery from what was a very, very damaging storm. I also talked with my wife and older daughter, who lives in Sioux Falls, both of whom were in their basements last night, as most, I think, residents were. But glad to hear that people took the necessary steps to keep themselves and their families safe. And, as I reported, so far, knock on wood, we're not aware of any injuries associated with that. But I will continue to monitor the situation, and my staff and I are available to help with whatever is needed, as a result of this storm. "Mr. President, it's difficult to believe that it's been 18 years since the September 11 attacks. That bright September morning is seared in our minds as if it were yesterday. The shock.The horror. The sense of unreality. And in the days that followed, the grief and loss. But also the resolve.And the unity of purpose. "And as always where there is great evil, good rose up in response. "The courageous passengers on Flight 93, who laid dow… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://dustyjohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/johnson-introduces-bill-expand-childcare-options-parents-college | Johnson Introduces Bill to Expand Childcare Options for Parents in College | 2019-09-10 | 2019 | 2019-09 | Republican | House | SD | Dusty Johnson | J000301 | dustyjohnson.house.gov | legacy | Washington, D.C. Today U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) introduced the Empower Parents in College Act (H.R. 4253), which would provide more flexibility for universities to partner with local child care providers to offer child care services to their student-parent population. The Empower Parents in College Act would allow colleges and technical institutes that serve low-income students to apply for existing grant funds from the Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP). SIP helps postsecondary schools expand their ability to serve low-socioeconomic students by providing funds for programs critical to college completion. If Congress can add flexibility for college student-parents at no extra cost to the program, it should be a no-brainer, said Johnson. More than 24% of college students nationwide are parents, and an even higher percentage of those parents are single mothers. The Empower Parents In College Act would provide resources for parents pursuing higher education outside of the traditional 9-5 schedule. Currently, colleges and technical schools utilize SIP, however, this program is limited, and the Department of Education's Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program is limited to campus-based child care. The Empower Parents in College Act would broaden the flexibility of SIP at no extra cost to the program. The Empower Parents in College Act is an important step in expanding solutions for student parents by enabling that access to safe and reliable childcare is not a barrier to completion, and we applaud Congressman Johnson's leadership on this issue. Today's students deserve updated federal policy to access and succeed in postsecondary education, and enactment of the Empower Parents in College Act would provide much needed support to today's student parents. Julie Peller, Executive Director, Higher Learning Advocates ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=68B3090E-705E-4A98-BDA8-F6A176C61B2B | Taking the Senate Commerce Committee on the Road | 2019-09-09 | 2019 | 2019-09 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | The only thing better than hosting a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on the importance of rural broadband is hosting one right here in South Dakota. Rural Americans, like many people throughout our state, understand the unique opportunities that broadband connectivity can provide, which is why I took the committee on the road for a field trip of sorts before Congress reconvenes this fall, hosting a hearing at Southeast Technical Institute on Transforming Rural America: A New Era of Innovation. Having a variety of perspectives on this issue is important, and I want to thank Brendan Carr, a commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission, and Nebraska U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer for coming to South Dakota to join me and representatives from Dakota State University, South Dakota State University, Avera eCARE, SDN Communications, and VIKOR Teleconstruction. Their collective insight helped paint a clear picture of the hurdles we still need to overcome in order to bridge the digital divide in South Dakota and around the country. Rural broadband connectivity is critical for many reasons, not the least of which, obviously, is that it helps connect people and communities to the world around them. The fact that it is 2019, and the technology exists to put a remotely operated vehicle on the surface of Mars, yet people in some parts of the United States can't even connect to the internet is astounding, and that's an understatement. It's for that reason that I've made closing the digital divide in rural America one of my top priorities. Through much-need investments, modernized broadband mapping, and commitments from elected leaders and federal, state, and local agencies, accomplishing this goal is well within reach. A fully connected United States means businesses can tap into markets that have been unreachable, and it means new educational opportunities for students and teachers alike. Imagine being able to have the world at your fingertips and what that can do to better position our students for careers now and in th… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=D6ED0FF1-CA93-4565-8817-907E70D77CBB | A Bipartisan Idea to Address Americas Mountain of Student Loan Debt | 2019-08-30 | 2019 | 2019-08 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Every summer, college graduates around the country don their caps and gowns in celebration of a job well done, with the hopes of using their degrees to propel them into a successful career. But for many young Americans entering the workplace, that first job will also bring with it the first payment on tens of thousands of dollars of student loan debt debt that can take them decades to pay off. While college is certainly not the only path to a good job, the fact is more than half of all jobs paying over $35,000 require a bachelor's degree or higher and that number is only expected to grow. Americans are following the money. Today more than 44 million Americans have outstanding student loan debt, which has become the one of the biggest consumer debt categories. All told, student debt in the U.S. now totals more than $1.5 trillion. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says it was easier for her to become a representative than pay off her For South Dakotans, more than 109,000 borrowers hold $3.3 billion in total outstanding federal student loan debt, according to recent data from the Department of Education. That averages out to more than $30,000 per borrower. In Virginia, more than 1 million borrowers hold $38 billion in total outstanding debt. Across America, it's estimated that the average borrower has more than $37,000 in debt, while more than 2 million student loan borrowers owe $100,000 or more and these figures continue to rise. As a result of this growing student debt crisis, many borrowers struggle to pay for day-to-day necessities like rent, groceries or car payments. For others, their student debt stands in the way of buying a home, starting a business or pursuing a new career opportunity. While the federal government already provides some assistance to those who are eligible, much more can be done to help graduates responsibly pay down their student debt and help employers recruit and retain qualified candidates for good-paying jobs. That is why we introduced the bipartisan Employer Participation in Repaym… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=70D9789B-9917-4E6E-B307-983083F21889 | Hope For a Better Future | 2019-08-23 | 2019 | 2019-08 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Sen. John Thune Being a parent to two beautiful daughters is the greatest gift in the entire world, although, as any parent can attest, it did come with its challenges. Sleepless nights, balancing siblings' needs and interactions, and helping them throughout school you name it. Raising kids can be a tall task for any parent, but I'm forever grateful for these challenges and opportunities, and they remind me of the additional sacrifices adoptive parents make each and every day to raise their children initial costs, medical bills, and helping children adapt to a new lifestyle, to name just a few. Parents who choose adoption give the gift of family to children, and I'm so thankful for the sacrifices these families make to better the life of these deserving kids. I've been a proud member of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption throughout my time in Congress. Every year, I nominate a family for an Angels in Adoption award, which recognizes the outstanding contributions of the men and women moms and dads across the country who have chosen to adopt or foster children who are in need and who inspire others to do so, too. This year, I nominated Mike and Kim Adams and their family from Sioux Falls. Mike and Kim have a heart for children, with five biological children and four adopted children. As they learned about the plight of kids in need, both here in our country and also around the world, their hearts were broken, and they wanted to do something about it. While Kim was pregnant with their youngest biological son, Josiah, she was making plans to adopt and was patiently waiting for the time to be right. At the same time, Mike was looking for ways to help address extreme poverty around the world. Through separate events and a lot of prayer, both of their hearts were drawn to Ethiopia. In 2008, they brought their first adoptive child home Eva. Seeing the poorest of the poor transformed them, and they sought to help children and communities stuck in poverty, as well as the children who were… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=7EF040CC-85FA-41F1-9516-825BD0C86C3F | Rural America Cannot Be Overlooked | 2019-08-16 | 2019 | 2019-08 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently announced that it was authorizing nearly $5 million to invest in expanding rural broadband access across South Dakota. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, who visited South Dakota with me in 2017, said that he was excited to see the benefits for rural residents who live all across the country. He went on to say, In South Dakota, this round of funding takes another step toward closing the digital divide, providing access to digital opportunity to nearly 900 more unserved rural homes and businesses. This might come as a surprise to folks who don't live in the heartland, but believe or not, there are still many places in America that don't have basic cell phone service, let alone high-speed rural broadband. This technology obviously exists, though, which is why I so strongly share Chairman Pai's commitment to closing the digital divide in rural America, particularly in parts of South Dakota that have been underserved or unserved all together over the years. This effort means so much more than ensuring customers can stream their favorite Netflix show a little bit faster. For many families and businesses, having access to reliable broadband services means connecting to the world in ways they haven't been able to do before. It means tapping into markets that have been unreachable or accessing information that has been beyond their fingertips for far too long. Long story short, it means bringing these communities further into the 21stcentury. I became chairman of the Senate's Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet earlier this year, and the very first hearing I convened was on the state of rural broadband in America. I wanted the subcommittee and the rest of my Senate colleagues to hear directly from South Dakota companies that are helping lead the way in expanding access to rural broadband, so I invited representatives from Golden West Telecommunications and Midcontinent Communications, which will be responsible for most of the infrastructure … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=C064E39B-96D6-4D43-95CC-EDB922E39C83 | Its Always Ag Appreciation Day in South Dakota | 2019-08-09 | 2019 | 2019-08 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | The Sioux Empire Fair's Ag Appreciation Day is one of many annual events throughout South Dakota that I try to attend each year. It's a great event for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is the hardworking farmers and ranchers who I'm able to see and personally thank for everything they do to help support our state's number one industry. This year's event was a successful one, as always, where the food and company was far better than my rendition of You Are My Sunshine another annual tradition. A big thanks to Mogen's Heroes for their musical accompaniment, but let's just say, I won't be selling out stadiums any time soon. I've spent a lot of time this year listening to South Dakota's agriculture community. Things have been tough, which is an understatement, I know. Mother Nature has thrown one thing after another at farmers and ranchers, and it would be hard enough if it were only the weather that had contributed to this year's difficulties, but it's not. Producers have been left in the wake of multiple protracted trade disputes that have only compounded the anxiety in farm country during this growing season. My message to the president and his administration throughout these ongoing trade disputes has been the same message that you've relayed to me: We need to successfully conclude these negotiations as soon as possible in order to expand existing markets and open new markets around the world. I believe it's the best way to create additional opportunities for producers and help ensure they are profitable in 2019 and beyond. While we've seen some recent successes in Japan and the European Union, China remains one of most challenging hurdles to overcome. They're always playing the long game, and they're willing to endure economic pain that could only be tolerated by a state-run economy, which they're using as a weapon in this trade dispute. Let me be clear: While I strongly support the president's goal in this fight, I can't emphasize enough how important it is that it come to a successful conclusion … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=B33EF80F-D63B-44C3-92E9-1D3231C9828C | Summer Road Trip | 2019-08-02 | 2019 | 2019-08 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Great faces. Great places.If you live in South Dakota or have traveled to the state, you've seen it on license plates and billboards, and some of you might have even had the catchy South Dakota Department of Tourism jingle (Great faaaces. Great plaaaces. South Dakota!) stuck in your head at one point or another, too. If not, maybe you do now It's a great slogan for a state that's home to the faces of Mount Rushmore and some of the best scenery in the United States, but it means more than just the obvious. South Dakotans the faces that visitors encounter in communities large and small across the state are some of the friendliest people in the world, and they play an integral role in showing off so many of the state's must-see tourist destinations like the Corn Palace in Mitchell, the Missouri River, the Badlands, Wall Drug, the Black Hills, the Crazy Horse Memorial, or Mount Rushmore, just to name a few. In my completely unbiased opinion, they all make South Dakota the best place to take your family on vacation or for a road trip. I know how great South Dakota is and so do you but I thought it was important to share everything our state has to offer with my colleagues and the rest of the American people directly from the Senate floor. While I can't say this with 100 percent certainty, I would venture to guess that my recent reference to Tubby Burgers on the Senate floor I'm looking at you, Brown County was the first in Senate history. Anyone who's had a Tubby Burger, though, knows they deserve the Senate's undivided attention. I commute to and from South Dakota nearly every week, but with the Senate having just begun its traditional August state work period, lawmakers like me get an extended stay back home, so bragging about South Dakota from the floor was a fitting end to this most recent Senate session. Having more time at home means more opportunities to travel to some corners of the state that are a little more difficult to get to between back-to-back weeks of voting in Washington. Many of those opp… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=0ADBE190-1E9C-42C1-8582-C6B9427AE2DA | Thune: Theres Nothing Better Than A South Dakota Road Trip | 2019-07-31 | 2019 | 2019-07 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Clickhereor on the picture above to watch Thune's speech. WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the upcoming congressional state work period, what he likes best about traveling around the state, including some of his favorite stops, and why South Dakota is the best place in the country to take a road trip. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Mr. President, I love August. I head back home to South Dakota almost every weekend to meet with South Dakotans. But August is wonderful for two reasons. First, August gives me time to visit the furthest corners of the state places it might be hard to visit on just a weekend. Places like Bison, and Milbank, and Clear Lake, and Huron, and Mobridge. I get to talk to folks who make their living in production agriculture in some of the most rural parts of South Dakota. There's nothing more valuable than getting to talk to these South Dakotans firsthand to hear what challenges they're facing and what I can do here in Washington to help out. Not to mention how wonderful it is to spend time in these beautiful parts of the state. If you haven't taken in the rugged beauty of the Badlands or the rivers and prairies of central South Dakota, you're missing out. The other thing I love about heading back to South Dakota for August is that it's fair season. The Sioux Empire Fair. The Turner County Fair. The Brown County Fair. Yankton Riverboat Days. And pow wows in tribal communities around the state. The list goes on! You'd be hard-pressed to find better events, better people or better food. I often joke that in August I'm basically just eating my way across South Dakota. Ice cream at the fair in Parker. Pork sandwiches with the pork producers. Milkshakes at Dakotafest. Cheese curds at the state fair. I could go on. I vividly remember the year I had a Tubby Burger, plus a big fries, plus a malt at the Brown County Fair. Then I got up early the next morning to run the 5K at Riverboat Day… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.thune.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=179F0B3D-B1E8-4AC7-B06F-D59860C8C60A | Thune: Im Here to Listen to South Dakotans Priorities | 2019-07-30 | 2019 | 2019-07 | Republican | House | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | legacy | Clickhereor on the picture above to watch Thune's speech. WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed how he has worked to address South Dakotans' priorities in Congress so far this year. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): Mr. President, I always find that the end of the July work period here in D.C. is a good time to take stock of the year so far. I'm looking forward to getting out of D.C. in the next few days and heading home to South Dakota. I'm lucky enough to get to meet with South Dakotans most weekends, but congressional recesses provide unbroken blocks of time to spend in the state and hear about South Dakotans' needs and priorities. It's been a busy year here in D.C. so far. In the last seven months, the Senate has worked to confirm nearly 50 well-qualified judges, provide funding to address the humanitarian and security crisis at our southern border, give our military the resources it needs to defend our country, and more. I'm proud that in May the Senate passed my bill to address illegal and abusive robocalls by an overwhelming bipartisan margin. My legislation would increase the financial penalties for making illegal robocalls, and it would give law enforcement more tools to go after these scammers, who prey on vulnerable populations. The TRACED Act, my bill to address illegal robocalls, is one of more than 80 pieces of legislation I've introduced or co-sponsored this year. My robocall bill grew out of my work on the Commerce Committee, which I've served on for seven years now, including four years as chairman. Serving on the Commerce Committee has given me an up-close look at the issue of consumer privacy. Last year, as chairman of the Commerce Committee, I convened hearings into consumer data privacy and the accessing of millions of Facebook users' personal data by the political intelligence firm Cambridge Analytica. I also led a hearing to discuss the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation and California's new privacy-related law. And I'… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |
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