Press releases
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435 rows where chamber = "Senate", state = "SD" and year = 2025 sorted by date descending
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| https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/president-trump-signs-rounds-wounded-knee-bill-into-law | President Trump Signs Rounds’ Wounded Knee Bill into Law | 2025-12-20 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | Mike Rounds | R000605 | www.rounds.senate.gov | rounds | https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, today issued the following statement after President Trump signed Rounds’ bill, the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act, into law. “President Trump has officially signed the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act into law,” said Rounds. “The land at this symbolic and sacred site will now be held in possession of both the Oglala Sioux and Cheyenne River Sioux tribes to be preserved for future generations. I’m pleased that our work on this legislation over the past three years has paid off. We will continue to tell the story of Wounded Knee and the events that occurred at this location 135 years ago this month.” The Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act would place 40 acres of land at the site of the Wounded Knee Massacre into restricted fee status, making certain that the land is held by both the Oglala Sioux and Cheyenne River Sioux tribes for generations to come. BACKGROUND: Rounds first introduced the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act in June 2023. Ryman LeBeau, Chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, and Frank Star Comes Out, President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, testified on the legislation in a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing. The committee later unanimously passed legislation, but was blocked from passing the full Senate. Rounds later reintroduced the bill to the 119th Congress in January 2025. The Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act unanimously passed the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in March 2025, and unanimously passed the full Senate on December 11, 2025. This legislation is cosponsored by Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.). Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) introduced companion legislation in the House. Click HERE to read full bill text. ### | 1 | 2026-04-04T05:28:40Z | 2026-04-04T05:30:10Z |
| https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-leads-legislation-to-increase-transparency-and-accountability-for-financial-regulators | Rounds Leads Legislation to Increase Transparency and Accountability for Financial Regulators | 2025-12-18 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | Mike Rounds | R000605 | www.rounds.senate.gov | rounds | https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) introduced legislation to increase transparency and accountability within the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC). The FSOC Improvement Act would enhance transparency and procedural fairness of the systemically important financial institutions (SIFI) designation process. Specifically, this legislation would codify 2019 guidance that requires FSOC to determine whether systemic risks could be better addressed through means other than designating a financial institution as a SIFI. It would also require them to consult with the primary regulator and the company on other means to address potential threats to financial stability. “I believe the FSOC Improvement Act is a crucial step towards enhancing the effectiveness and transparency of our financial regulatory system,” said Rounds. “SIFI designation is a blunt tool that comes with a significant increase in regulatory burden for individual companies. By allowing an affected institution to modify its business, structure or operations prior to the SIFI designation, we are creating a more resilient financial environment for the American people, fostering economic growth and stability.” “I fought tooth-and-nail to pass Dodd Frank to hold financial institutions accountable and prevent another economic catastrophe that devastated countless Michiganders,” said Peters. “This commonsense bill would build on that landmark law nearly two decades later by granting the Financial Stability Oversight Council the authority to better tailor regulatory oversight of certain financial institutions without compromising its core mission of maintaining the stability of the U.S. financial system. Doing so will ensure that our nation’s financial institutions can continue to meet the needs of all communities.” Rounds first introduced the FSOC Improvement Act in 2018 during the 115th Congress. Representatives Bill Foster (D-Ill.) and Bi… | 1 | 2026-04-04T05:28:40Z | 2026-04-04T05:30:10Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=A737023B-FC5E-4574-B8C6-5608B7AA3474 | Thune Joins Bret Baier on Fox News | 2025-12-18 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhere to watch the interview. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Bret Baier on Fox News. On Senate Republicans’ accomplishments: “The things that we did in the … [Working] Family Tax Cuts Act that was passed earlier this year are … really unprecedented and historic. You think about no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, reducing taxes for seniors on Social Security, locking in lower rates, the doubling of the child tax credit, near doubling of the standard deduction … “I think you’re going to see a remarkable 2026. I mean, we’re excited about the prospects for the economy, and you look at the things we did and the other things in the One Big Beautiful Bill … the school choice, child care tax credits, the newborn tax credits, or these accounts that are going to be created for people in this country. These are all pro-family initiatives that we think are going to start to yield big dividends.” On Republicans’ pro-growth policies: “[T]he president … he inherited this mess – [from] the Biden administration with … all the spending that they did, trillions and trillions of dollars of spending, which flooded our economy with more dollars, which drove inflation up.” […] “[T]hose steps that we took last summer, you’re going to start to see that, and the American people are going to start to feel that. When you start seeing the impact of what we did on taxes and regulations and energy, and you’re already seeing the cost of gasoline going down. You’re going to see that in other areas … “Inflation, which … in the month of October was … down to 2.7 percent … down from what was expected. You’re starting to see that already. But I also think you’re going to see more growth in the economy because of the policy changes that we made. “And when economy is growing and expanding, it’s throwing off better-paying jobs, people are doing better … I think what you’re going to see in 2026 is safer streets, you’re going to see more money in people’s pockets, and you’re going to see new oppor… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=D91B9F94-ABFD-4E88-90C0-C1E97CE5F98F | Thune on Senate Republicans’ Record-Breaking Year | 2025-12-18 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, as … we’re about to wrap up … our legislative work for 2025, I would say it’s been quite a busy year here in the United States Senate. “The longest session period in 15 years to kick off the year. “An historic number of votes – the most, literally, in half a century. “In fact, Mr. President, if you can see on this chart, the number of votes, you go back, the first date on there is [1983]. “Obviously, this is pretty small, difficult to see, perhaps, unless you’re standing right over it. “But if you look at the red line here, that’s this year – so, 653 votes cast so far this year. “Which dwarfs any year going back to 1989, which is what we had data going back to. “We have since researched farther back; turns out there was one year, 1976 – we went back eight decades – there was one year, 1976, where the Senate cast more votes than we did this year. “But if you go back to [1983], the closest one is right here, 1995, which for those of us who were actually following it back then, that was the Contract with America year, and so that was a record number of votes cast in both, I think, the House and the Senate. “But we have eclipsed that. “There were 613 votes cast in 1995; this year in the United States Senate, we have already cast 653 – and we are not quite done yet. “So, historic just in terms of the number of votes cast, the number of hours in session, and the number of days in session – also historic just in terms of the amount of time that we’ve been around here, Mr. President. “So we’ve put in a lot of time here this year. “Now, I have always said that you can’t equate volume of activity or busyness with productivity – I think you have to, those are sometimes separate metrics. “But I would argue, Mr. President, that what really matters is not the number of votes or the number of hours that we’ve wo… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=E421C422-FADB-429D-86DC-C870AD92463D | Thune: Democrats Delay Bipartisan Appropriations Bills | 2025-12-18 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, when I became majority leader, I made it very clear that I was committed to funding the government through the regular-order consideration of appropriations bills – not through an omnibus or long-term CR often times written behind closed doors. “The regular-order process gives senators from both parties the fullest chance to make their voices – and the voices of their constituents – heard. “Which is why I am disappointed that we will not be moving to our second package of appropriations bills tonight. “Republicans were ready to go. “But unfortunately my Democrat colleagues are not there yet. “Hopefully they will get there. “Mr. President, Republicans have worked hard all year to get us back to taking up appropriations bills through regular order. “We had a positive start, with the Senate passing three appropriations bills before the August state work period – something that hadn’t been done here since 2018. “But then we had a setback when Democrats decided to shut the government down for six weeks. “That, Mr. President, was disappointing. “But I want this body to know that I remain as committed as ever to funding the government through the regular-order process. “And when we come back after the holidays, we are going to redouble our efforts to get this government funded and prevent any repeat of the Democrats’ shutdown. “I hope, Mr. President, that my Democrat colleagues will join us. “Speaking to that effect, and I will take them at face value. “And I hope that we can work together to fund the government in the way it should be funded, through regular order and the appropriations process.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-secures-south-dakota-wins-in-final-ndaa | Rounds Secures South Dakota Wins in Final NDAA | 2025-12-17 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | Mike Rounds | R000605 | www.rounds.senate.gov | rounds | https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, released the following statement on the Senate’s passage of the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026. This is the 11th NDAA that Rounds has helped author as a member of SASC and the 65th consecutive NDAA passed by the full Senate. “The NDAA is an important piece of legislation passed annually to authorize funding for national security programs, as well as support for our servicemembers and their families,” said Rounds. “This year’s NDAA authorizes funding for construction projects at Ellsworth Air Force Base and funding for a facility for the Watertown Army National Guard. It also authorizes a 3.8 percent pay raise for troops and has a total topline of $900.6 billion in defense spending. This keeps our military ahead of the curve, making certain they never enter a fair fight and always have the advantage over our adversaries. “The NDAA is a great example of what we can accomplish when we work together. I’m grateful to have worked on this legislation from beginning to end for the 11th year in a row. I look forward to President Trump signing the NDAA into law.” In March, Rounds was named as the 6th most effective member of the United States Senate on defense and national security issues for the 118th Congress. Read a list of his provisions in this year’s NDAA below. Rounds’ South Dakota Victories: Fully authorizes the B-21 Raider program, including over $2.59 billion for procurement and $862 million in advanced procurement. Authorizes $378 million in military construction projects to support the B-21 Raider housed at Ellsworth. $63 million for B-21 Flight Simulator 2. $71 million for B-21 Alert Facility. $75 million for B-21 Environmental Protection Shelters. $88 million for B-21 South Environmental Protection Shelters. $81 million for B-21 West Alert Apron & Environmental Protection Shelters. Authorizes $28 million for … | 1 | 2026-04-04T05:28:40Z | 2026-04-04T05:30:10Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=2B4B7642-50D6-4C07-947F-2F0ED6F03989 | Thune, Smith Introduce Legislation to Support U.S. Honey Producers | 2025-12-17 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) today introduced the Trade Cheating Restitution Act of 2025, legislation that would support American honey producers and producers of other commodities, like crawfish, garlic, and mushrooms, who have been harmed by unfair trade practices, primarily by China. Specifically, the bill would direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to distribute interest realized on certain anti-dumping and countervailing duties since 2000 to qualifying U.S. producers harmed by decades of trade distortions that continue to undercut these domestic industries. The legislation is co-sponsored by Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and Bill Cassidy (R-La.). “South Dakota is one of the top honey-producing states in the country,” said Thune. “The unfair practice of circumventing U.S. trade laws, which jeopardizes honey producers’ financial security, should be met with strict enforcement and increased protections. South Dakota honey producers deserve a level playing field. This bipartisan legislation helps ensure fair treatment for affected domestic producers and strengthens their ability to compete globally.” “Minnesota farmers produce some of the highest quality honey in the world, and they shouldn’t be unfairly harmed because China doesn’t play by the rules and engages in illegal dumping,” said Smith. “I’m proud to lead this bipartisan bill to give Minnesota apiaries the relief they are owed so they can remain competitive and strong for years to come.” “South Dakotan beekeepers are fortunate to have a stalwart champion in Senator Thune, who has never faltered in his support of our industry,” said Kelvin Adee, of Adee Honey Farms, based in Bruce, South Dakota. “The much-needed funds that will be released to us through the bill he introduces today along with Senator Grassley and Senator Smith will help us compete with illegally traded honey and protect the health of our hives. Thank you, Senator Thune, for your leadership and standing up for us… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=9FB9CF90-106C-41E5-B60D-A72C72D35984 | Thune Applauds Passage of Annual Defense Policy Bill, Ellsworth Air Force Base Priorities | 2025-12-17 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after the Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, which includes significant provisions for Ellsworth Air Force Base, the forthcoming B-21 bomber mission, and the South Dakota Army National Guard in Watertown. The legislation also makes the most significant transformation of defense acquisition in decades to restock munitions, ensure warfighters have access to the best technology available, and advance the Golden Dome for America missile defense system to protect the United States. The bill now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law. “This year’s NDAA builds on the historic investments that Republicans delivered in the One Big Beautiful Bill to support our service members and ensure our country has the fighting force necessary to deter our adversaries and promote peace and stability,” said Thune. “In addition to authorizing a well-deserved pay raise for our service members, this bill strengthens the important role that South Dakota plays in keeping our nation safe by continuing to prepare Ellsworth Air Force Base for the arrival of the B-21 Raider and authorizing a new facility for the South Dakota Army National Guard in Watertown,” Thune continued. “I’m pleased the Senate gave this important legislation the time and attention it deserves this year, and I’m glad we were able to get it across the finish line.” The NDAA includes key priorities that will benefit South Dakota: | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=F0FCB4E8-8859-46D1-B0D5-CB2C9B746CD7 | Thune: Senate Republicans Break Confirmation Records Amid Historic Obstruction | 2025-12-17 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, either today or tomorrow, we will confirm another nominations package, bringing the total number of the president’s nominees confirmed this year to more than 400. “That number far exceeds total confirmations in the first year of both President Trump’s previous term and President Biden’s. “So it’s an impressive number all on its own. “But it’s particularly impressive when you consider the obstacles Democrats have put up. “Mr. President, I’m not exaggerating when I say that President Trump’s nominees have faced a historic level of obstruction from Senate Democrats. “When you look at this term, President Trump remains the only president on record not to have had a single civilian nomination confirmed by unanimous consent or voice vote. “Let me repeat that, Mr. President. “President Trump remains the only president on record not to have had a single civilian nomination confirmed by unanimous consent or voice vote. “Democrats have required a roll call vote on every single one of the president’s nominations – an unprecedented level of obstruction in modern times. “Now, of course Democrats would like you to believe that they’ve engaged in this historic level of obstruction because the president has put up, in the words of the Democrat leader, ‘historically bad nominees.’ “The only problem, Mr. President, is that a lot of these nominees have gotten Democrat votes on final passage. “So either Democrats are voting for historically bad nominees, or else something else has been going on here. “Something else that looks a lot like petty partisanship. “It became abundantly clear a while ago that the real reason Democrats have been dragging out nominations for assistant administrator for the Office of Solid Waste and director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement is nothing more than petty p… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=F7F786BB-5FEE-4E1D-8F44-FECB299CCECA | Thune Joins The Hugh Hewitt Show | 2025-12-17 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto listen the interview. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined the Hugh Hewitt show. On confirming President Trump’s nominees: “Democrats took unprecedented steps to basically blow up the nominations process. President Trump is the first president in history who didn’t have one of his nominees to a position in his administration confirmed either by voice vote or unanimous consent in the Senate, which is a way of taking noncontroversial nominees and being able to move them to get them in their position. “The Democrats were so dug-in fighting President Trump that even the most noncontroversial positions in his administration, they forced us to do the long way. So we spent the first six months doing it the long way. And it just got to a point where … the president is sitting there, he’s got all these vacant positions, [and] he can’t … run the government because he doesn’t have his people in place. And I think when people vote for a president, that’s what they’re voting for. They want him to be able to assemble his team and get them in place. So we made some tweaks and changes in the rules that enable us to move them now in stacks, and we’ve got a big stack today.” On Senate Republicans’ accomplishments: “The president’s agenda, for the most part, was all accomplished in that One Big Beautiful Bill. Whether it’s national security or the border, energy, tax policy … school choice has been a priority for the movement for a long time. Newborn accounts, childcare … we basically threw the farm bill in the One Big Beautiful Bill too, so. “It actually included the biggest spending reduction, literally, in history, and something that if you’re a fiscal conservative like I am, we’re really proud to be able to point to … It packs so much into one big piece of legislation, and … getting that across the finish line was a Herculean task.” […] “We’ve processed the president’s noms, and we’ve done 24 … Congressional Review Act resolutions of disapproval, which undoes a lot of th… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=64131D05-E904-4A61-A9C9-90989478B440 | Thune on a Year of Results: Safer Streets, More Money in Americans’ Pockets, New Opportunities | 2025-12-16 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “We are, as you all know, wrapping up what I think has been an incredibly historic and consequential legislative session. “And if you look at just in terms – we talk a lot about the number of votes cast, which is historic, largest number going back to 1976, and then also just the number of days we’ve been in – all those things add up. “But I would argue that it’s not just that, because I think volume doesn’t necessarily equate with productivity. “But I think we’ve had an incredibly productive session of this Congress as well, in terms of the things that we’ve accomplished to make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous. “Of course, as you all know, the One Big Beautiful Bill had a number of things in it on the tax side, things that [the] American people are going to benefit from, whether it’s no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, reduced taxes for seniors on Social Security. “Whether it deals with the taxes on the expanded child tax credit, standard deduction, making permanent the rate structure on the business side, all the business tax provisions that are going to incentivize investment in this country and create those good-paying jobs that keep our economy growing and expanding. “So, we’re very pleased with things that were accomplished as a result of that, and I would also say when it comes to keeping the country safer. “We haven’t had, in this last year, a single illegal immigrant admitted into the country, and we made a big investment in the border wall, fully funding the border wall. “We made a big investment in national security at a time when we live in a very dangerous world. “Energy independence was a priority, as you know, in the One Big Beautiful Bill. “And obviously newborn accounts, you can go right down the list of what I think are very consequential accomplishments and things that are go… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=7DD27A96-86ED-4CEB-A60B-4C34C368CBCE | Thune: NDAA Prioritizes Readiness, Deterrence, and Safety | 2025-12-16 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Click hereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, this week the Senate will be taking up the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026. “For the 65th consecutive year, the NDAA is the product of a bipartisan process in both chambers. “This bill reflects the input, expertise, and tireless efforts of many of our colleagues. “And I’m especially grateful for the work of our colleagues on the Armed Services Committee and for the leadership of Chairman Wicker on this year’s bill. “Mr. President, this annual defense bill is critical to ensuring the United States military is prepared for any threat that we face. “And not just the threats that may come in the next year. “It’s about putting us on a path that will ensure our military can deter – and if necessary, defeat – any threat that may arise in the future. “Unfortunately, this long view has not always prevailed, and we continue to see the consequences of underinvestment in our military. “In the last few years, we’ve had repeated reminders that the world remains a dangerous place. “That there are evil people in the world bent on aggression. “And that there are those who wish Americans and our allies harm. “Sadly, that was clear this weekend. “And my prayers today are with the families of the three Americans – two soldiers and an interpreter – who were killed in Syria on Saturday in an apparent ISIS attack. “Mr. President, the surest way of securing peace and keeping it is through strength. “And it’s a long-held tenet of American national security. “And it’s a view that the American people widely share. “Republicans have made it a priority to restore peace through strength. “And we know we have no time to waste. “And that’s why we made a generational investment in our armed forces in the One Big Beautiful Bill this summer. “And the NDAA before us this week builds upon that important … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=C5DBA023-7A8C-4166-8E75-534E5A16EFFC | Thune: Republicans Are Delivering for South Dakota | 2025-12-15 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, it’s been a busy year here in the United States Senate. “The new Republican majority has been working hard to deliver on our promises to the American people. “And while there is still more to accomplish, we’ve gotten a lot done in just one year. “We’re putting more money in Americans’ pockets. “Supporting farmers, ranchers, and small businesses, and helping them grow. “And we’re making America safer and stronger. “Investing in law and order here at home and a strong military to safeguard our national security. “And we’re creating a brighter future with new opportunities for Americans wherever they live and whatever their American Dream may be. “Mr. President, I want to take some time today to talk about how Republicans’ agenda is at work in my home state of South Dakota. “And I want to begin with the tax relief Republicans have delivered. “Whether I’m visiting a small business in Isabel, South Dakota, or talking to farmers at Dakotafest, higher prices are a concern for South Dakotans, as they are for many Americans. “And affordability begins with more money in your pocket, which is exactly what Republicans have delivered with the Working Families Tax Cuts. “Mr. President, if Congress failed to act this year, a typical family in South Dakota would have had less money in their budget. “They would have been looking at a $2,500 tax hike next year. “A typical farm would have seen a $5,000 tax hike. “And tens of thousands of small businesses would have seen their taxes go up as well. “Republicans were determined not to let that happen. “And thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts, which we passed in July as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill, South Dakotans won’t see a tax hike next year. “Instead they’ll start seeing tax relief in the new year when the new tax law takes effect. “They’ll be able to… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-bill-to-preserve-wounded-knee-massacre-grounds-unanimously-passes-senate | Rounds’ Bill to Preserve Wounded Knee Massacre Grounds Unanimously Passes Senate | 2025-12-11 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | Mike Rounds | R000605 | www.rounds.senate.gov | rounds | https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, today issued a statement following unanimous Senate passage of his legislation, the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act. The bill passed the House in January 2025 and now heads to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law. Rounds’ bill would place 40 acres of land at the site of the Wounded Knee Massacre into restricted fee status, making certain that the land is held by both the Oglala Sioux and Cheyenne River Sioux tribes for generations to come. “I am pleased that the Senate has passed the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act,” said Rounds. “We’ve been working to pass this legislation for almost three years. Our persistence has paid off. The Wounded Knee Massacre represents a devastating low point in U.S.-Lakota relations. The land at this symbolic and sacred site will now be held in possession of both the Oglala Sioux and Cheyenne River Sioux tribes to be preserved for future generations. We will continue to tell the story of this dark day in our nation’s history.” BACKGROUND: Rounds first introduced the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act in June 2023. Ryman LeBeau, Chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, and Frank Star Comes Out, President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, testified on the legislation in a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing. The committee later unanimously passed legislation, but was blocked from passing the full Senate. Rounds later reintroduced the bill to the 119th Congress in January 2025. The Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act unanimously passed the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in March 2025. This legislation is cosponsored by Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.). Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) introduced companion legislation in the House. Click HERE to read full bill text. ### | 1 | 2026-04-04T05:28:40Z | 2026-04-04T05:30:10Z |
| https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-nominates-krause-family-of-brandt-for-angels-in-adoption-award | Rounds Nominates Krause Family of Brandt for Angels in Adoption Award | 2025-12-11 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | Mike Rounds | R000605 | www.rounds.senate.gov | rounds | https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that he has nominated Riley and Emily Krause of Brandt for the 2025 Angels in Adoption award, presented by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption (CCAI). The Krauses live on a farm near Brandt, with Riley running the farm and Emily working as an elementary school teacher. The Krauses fostered eight children before receiving a call on November 4, 2020, asking them to take in a baby girl who had just been born with hip dysplasia and was very premature, in Huron. Livia Catherine was officially adopted into the Krause family at just over one year old. She is now a happy, healthy five-year-old. Livia’s hip dysplasia has healed completely and she is now keeping up with her peers. Emily and Riley continue to foster children and are currently working toward their second adoption. “I’m pleased to nominate Riley and Emily for this year’s Angels in Adoption Award,” said Rounds. “Foster parents and adoptive parents are a gift from God. The Krause family has opened their home to fourteen foster children, with some staying for a few days and others for months. Emily and Riley have welcomed all of these children with open arms, showing them love and care when they need it most.” “We are so grateful to have been nominated for this award in South Dakota,” said the Krause family. “We are incredibly glad we carried out God's plan to place Livy in her forever home and eagerly await an opportunity to add more children.” BACKGROUND: Rounds is a member of the CCAI. Each year, members of Congress are invited to nominate an outstanding family or organization from their state to receive an Angels in Adoption award. CCAI is a 501(c)3 nonpartisan organization dedicated to raising awareness about the tens of thousands of orphans and foster children in the United States and the millions of orphans around the world in need of permanent, safe and loving homes through adoption. For more information, visit CCAI’s website. Rounds’ office is currently accepting applications for … | 1 | 2026-04-04T05:28:40Z | 2026-04-04T05:30:10Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=119DF495-7856-4A9D-9FFB-B36DDE4A408D | Thune: Democrats’ Messaging Bill Won’t Fix Skyrocketing Health Care Costs | 2025-12-11 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, later today we will vote on the Democrats’ partisan messaging bill – which is a clean, three-year extension of the Biden COVID bonuses. “And when I say ‘clean,’ all I mean by that is no reforms. Straight-up extension. “Three years of a program without any reforms, any revisions, any changes that would actually help drive down health care costs instead of increasing health care costs and get rid of the rampant waste, fraud, and abuse in this program. “The Democrats’ ‘plan,’ that the Democrat leader called it on the floor the other day, it’s their ‘plan.’ “Apparently they think that a three-year extension with no reforms, to try and disguise the real impact of Obamacare’s spiraling costs, is actually a ‘plan.’ “I don’t know how you can call it a plan. “I came down here yesterday, Mr. President, to talk at length about some of the many problems with Obamacare and the perverse incentives it provides to move employees off of employer-provided insurance and into taxpayer-subsidized plans that have rampant year-over-year increases in premiums. “The perverse incentives that it provides to insurance companies to enroll Americans – some of whom don’t even know that they’ve been enrolled – so that the insurance companies can rake in even more subsidies. “And then, this so-called plan is rampant – and I say rampant – with fraud and abuse. “Mr. President, a Government Accountability Office report released just last week found a whole host of problems, including the successful enrollment of fake individuals, Social Security number fraud, failure to verify or sometimes even request documentation, improper payment of subsidies, and the list goes on. “And I want you to just take a look at this. “This is the finding that came out of that study that was done by the Government Accountability Office, Mr. President. “And… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=19B67675-5E46-4B83-804B-607BCCB599C8 | Thune Joins Hannity, America’s Newsroom | 2025-12-11 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhere to watch Hannity andhere to watch America’s Newsroom. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) joined Hannity and America’s Newsroom on Fox News. On Democrats’ health care crisis: “People [who] make $500,000, $600,000 a year are having their health insurance subsidized by people who are making $40,000 or $50,000 a year – that’s what the Democrat proposal does. And there are zero-dollar premiums; a lot of people have no idea they’re even covered, so the insurance companies auto-enroll them because they’re incentivized to do that. And so the costs keep going up, insurance premiums keep going up in the individual marketplace on the Obama exchanges – that’s got to stop.” […] “There are lots of flaws in Obamacare, but all the promises, none of them came to fruition. It was all a big lie, and I think the American people are onto it … [Democrats] made these promises [that] it was going to drive health care costs down … In the exchanges, from the inception of Obamacare to today, 221 percent increase in premiums. The CPI over that same time period was about 39 percent and in the individual market it was about … 68 percent … It’s a failure.” On Republicans’ plan to lower health care costs: “[Republicans] are for putting more money in the pockets of the American people so they can make their decisions about their health care coverage, instead of giving it to the insurance companies paid for by the taxpayers with no income limits.” […] “What [Republicans are] going to do today, Dana, is put a proposal on the floor that the Congressional Budget Office actually has determined reduces, by double digits, insurance premiums. That’s what this ought to be about. If it’s really about affordability, let’s focus on affordability and driving down insurance premiums. What the Democrats are doing is continuing to drive them up and giving the money to the insurance companies.” On confirming President Trump’s nominees at a record pace: “[T]his is something that applies just to district court judges … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-requests-investigation-into-postal-service-issues-in-south-dakota | Rounds Requests Investigation into Postal Service Issues in South Dakota | 2025-12-10 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | Mike Rounds | R000605 | www.rounds.senate.gov | rounds | https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) has formally requested an investigation into the persistent issues with United States Postal Service (USPS) delivery in South Dakota. In a letter to Tammy Hull, Inspector General of USPS, Rounds asked for Hull to determine the root cause of mail issues impacting South Dakota, as well as consider the need for a regional processing facility in South Dakota. In September, Rounds sent a letter to Postmaster General David Steiner urging him to restore reliable mail service and requesting a meeting. Rounds and Steiner met in October. Steiner followed up on the meeting with a letter dismissing the issues raised by Rounds, claiming that the mail delays were caused by issues at processing facilities in Chicago, St. Louis and Kansas City despite none of these facilities handling South Dakota’s intrastate mail. “In recent months, I have heard from hundreds of constituents across South Dakota voicing substantial issues with USPS service in my state,” wrote Rounds. “I believe these issues are caused by the flawed design of the USPS network, which all but guarantees that mail traveling across or to South Dakota must travel in a circuitous manner through locations around and outside of the state.” “The people of South Dakota depend on the Postal Service for critical communication, medicine and care,” continued Rounds. “I request that you act swiftly to identify and resolve the causes of these failures and help return South Dakota’s mail service to the standards Americans deserve.” BACKGROUND: Rounds has been a leader on USPS issues in South Dakota, leading the push to keep local processing facilities in South Dakota. In April 2024, Rounds sent a letter to USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy urging USPS to avoid downsizing or significantly reorganizing mail processing operations in South Dakota. As a result, in February 2025, USPS committed to keeping the Dakota Central processing facility in Huron open, as well as investing $3 million in improvements to the facility. Rounds al… | 1 | 2026-04-04T05:28:40Z | 2026-04-04T05:30:10Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=E2DD59A1-BFAB-439D-9476-BA96A35DC307 | Thune: Health Care 101: How Democrats’ Policies Fail Patients and Families | 2025-12-10 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | “[A] three-year extension without reforms, and furthermore, a three-year extension that actually backtracks on some of the reforms that have been made earlier – and that also is in Democrats’ bill – creates more fraud, more waste, more abuse, higher prices, and a higher cost for the American taxpayer.” Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, tomorrow we’re going to be voting on the Democrats’ partisan messaging exercise, which is their three-year extension of the Biden COVID bonuses. “Now, the Democrat leader came down here yesterday, and has a number of times now, and taken anybody who is listening here in the chamber or elsewhere around the country on a tour of fantasy land. “A tour of fantasy land, narrated by the Democrat leader. “Because, Mr. President, what he is saying about a Democrat plan that will lower health care costs is a fantasy. “It just is – it’s a fantasy. “I’m going to explain to you why in just a moment. “And it’s not any less a fantasy today than it was yesterday, than it was the day before that. “It’s that – it’s a fantasy. “Now, Mr. President, interestingly enough, the Democrat proposal, which is a three-year extension of the status quo, is an attempt to disguise the real impact of Obamacare’s spiraling health care costs. “So if we do this, if we extend this for three years – at a cost of $83 billion, taxpayers, $83 billion to the taxpayers – what happens after three years? “Another three-year extension or patch as Obamacare costs continue to spiral? “Mr. President, during the Democrats’ shutdown, one Democrat senator came to the floor, and to his credit, he admitted the truth, and this is what he said. “He said, ‘We did fail to bring down the cost of healthcare.’ “That was his quote, Mr. President. “‘We did fail to bring down the cost of healthcare.’ “And so what is the Democrat answer to that failure, Mr. Pres… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=695CEEA2-DC87-428B-A091-955A8A99F4DF | Thune on Republicans’ Historic Investments to Secure the Border | 2025-12-09 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, it wasn’t long ago that the southern border was in a state of chaos. “During the Biden administration, we routinely saw hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants arriving at the border in a single month. “It was a situation that the Democrat senator from Pennsylvania likened to the population of the city of Pittsburgh showing up at the border. “And that’s to say nothing of the 1.9 million known gotaways who slipped into the country during the Biden years. “Or the suspected terrorists, gang members, and other criminals who were among those coming across our open border. “And then there was the Biden administration’s catch and release approach to illegal immigration. “And the way the Biden administration abused asylum and parole to allow individuals to take up residence in our country. “Mr. President, it’s hard to believe that the Biden administration and Democrats allowed their border crisis to rage quite literally for years. “But they did. “Even the New York Times now admits that President Biden chose not to secure the border when given the chance. “The Times reported this weekend, and I quote, ‘[An] examination of Mr. Biden’s record found that he and his closest advisers repeatedly rebuffed recommendations that could have addressed the border crisis faster.’ “Let me repeat that, Mr. President. “They repeatedly rebuffed recommendations to ease the border crisis. “Well, Mr. President, I’m glad the New York Times is finally reporting what we’ve known for a long time, and that is that the Biden administration was completely uninterested in solving the border crisis. “Fortunately, those days are over. “When President Trump and Republicans took control this year, we moved to quickly restore order at the southern border. “And the numbers speak for themselves. “Customs and Border Protection report… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=E072B929-CA82-4A7D-ADE3-B98882DBBDD9 | Thune: Republicans Offer Better, More Affordable Health Care Solutions for Americans | 2025-12-09 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “As you all know, we’re going to have a vote this week, on Thursday, on a Democrat proposal to deal with the Biden COVID bonuses. “And this is a vote, as you all know, we could have had weeks ago. “It’s been on offer now before we had to go through a 43-day government shutdown. “But that’s what the Democrats opted to do, and so at the end of the 43 days now, we are going to have a vote on their proposal – which, as it turns out, is really a proposal that just extends the status quo, doesn’t do anything to reform these Biden COVID bonuses in a way that would get rid of the waste, fraud, and abuse. “And I think the one thing that’s clear about this, and I think you all who follow this subject know this, that the way that the program is structured, the money goes straight to the insurance companies. “And the way that we think this ought to work is … you ought to come up with a way in which you can deliver the benefit to the patients and not to the insurance companies, and that you shouldn’t have hardworking Americans subsidizing affluent people, people who make a lot of money, and that’s what their proposal continues to do. “There is no income limit. “There are zero-dollar premiums. “There are millions of Americans who don’t even know they have coverage. “And they have decided not to do anything – zero, zero reforms to this program – and so the bill that they’re going to put on the floor will fail. “But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a path forward here. “We also will have a vote. “Our members have decided that we’re going to vote on a Crapo-Cassidy proposal, which does the things that I mentioned. “It actually does make health insurance premiums more affordable. “It drives down, according to the Congressional Budget Office, premiums by double-digit levels. “It delivers the benefit directly to the pat… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=A11BF60B-6FAF-4559-B1AD-6E92ED4ABC05 | Thune: Even Democrats Admit Obamacare Has Failed | 2025-12-08 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, I would like to read a few quotes from some of my Democrat colleagues from the past couple of months. “This is from November 6, and I quote: ‘We did fail to bring down the cost of healthcare.’ “This is from September 30, and I quote: ‘Now, right now, we have a broken health care system. Nobody can afford health care.’ “This one, Mr. President, is from December 3, and I quote again: ‘I think we all agree there’s brokenness to the whole system.’ “Again, from December 3, and I quote: ‘As much as we disagree on things, I just want to note the underlying agreement that this system needs a lot of reform.’ “Now, all, as I said, Mr. President, of these are quotes from my Democrat colleagues in just the past couple of months. “Every quote is an implicit [admission] that Obamacare has failed. “Back in 2009, of course, Democrats were arguing that Obamacare was going to fix health care. “This was a quote from that time: ‘[A]n historic bill that will finally reform our broken health care system and help millions of our families and small businesses get the coverage they need at a price they can afford. It is about time.’ “That, again, a senior senator, Democrat senator, from back in 2009, Mr. President. “Or in the words of the Democrat leader, and I quote again, ‘Who would have thought that we could finally get a handle on the thing that is driving our budget deficit to great heights, which is health care costs, and at the same time do so much good by covering so many people?’ “Now, contrast that with the words of the Democrat leader today, Mr. President, and I quote again: ‘[T]he healthcare crisis is so deep and so real.’ “‘[T]he healthcare crisis is so deep and so real.’ “In other words, Mr. President, Democrats’ great scheme to fix health care, Obamacare, has failed. “So what are Democrats proposing to do t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-announces-nominations-to-us-service-academies-for-2026-2027-school-year | Rounds Announces Nominations to U.S. Service Academies for 2026-2027 School Year | 2025-12-05 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | Mike Rounds | R000605 | www.rounds.senate.gov | rounds | https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that he has nominated South Dakota students for appointments to the nation’s service academies. Rounds nominated Emma Kinyon of Rapid City as his principal nominee to the U.S. Naval Academy, Esten Foss of Aberdeen as his principal nominee to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and Malia Kranz of Watertown as his principal nominee to the U.S. Air Force Academy. “Each fall, I have the honor of nominating South Dakota students to attend our military service academies. These students are some of the best and the brightest our state has to offer,” said Rounds. “The U.S. service academies are among the most elite educational institutions in the world. After receiving a top-notch education, these South Dakotans will serve our country as active-duty military officers. They’ve worked hard to earn these nominations. We’re proud of these students and their desire to serve our nation.” Emma Kinyon of Rapid City – Principal Nominee, U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis) Emma is the daughter of Jason Kinyon and Megan Byrd. Emma is currently a senior at Rapid City Stevens High School, where she participates in FIRST Robotics, National Science Bowl and the Rapid City Youth Council. She also plays the viola in the school orchestra and plays on the varsity girls soccer team. Emma has also spent two summers conducting research with the Army Educational Outreach Program through the South Dakota School of Mines. Emma is a National Honor Society member and currently holds a 3.9 GPA. “I’m deeply grateful to have received the principal nomination to the United States Naval Academy from Senator Mike Rounds,” said Kinyon. “The academy has been a goal of mine for the past 3 years and I’m incredibly thankful for the peers, mentors, and teachers that have inspired me along the way. I’m also deeply grateful for my friends, family, and Senator Mike Rounds for their confidence in me. I’m excited, not only for the opportunity to improve myself mentally, morally, and physically, but… | 1 | 2026-04-04T05:28:40Z | 2026-04-04T05:30:10Z |
| https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-introduces-bill-to-increase-access-to-capital-for-start-ups | Rounds Introduces Bill to Increase Access to Capital for Start-Ups | 2025-12-04 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | Mike Rounds | R000605 | www.rounds.senate.gov | rounds | https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) today introduced the Developing and Empowering Our Aspiring Leader (DEAL) Act to increase access to capital for America’s innovators by modernizing the definition of venture capital fund for purposes of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registration. The DEAL Act passed the House of Representatives this week on the suspension calendar. Representative Ann Wagner (R-Mo.) is the lead sponsor. Specifically, this legislation amends the venture capital fund definition to permit venture capital funds to invest in other venture capital funds as a qualifying investment without triggering the 20% non-qualifying investment limitation. “The DEAL Act is a straightforward, commonsense step to help American innovators succeed,” said Rounds. “By allowing venture capital to include secondaries and fund-of-fund investments, we give young businesses more ways to access the capital they need to grow and stay competitive. This practical update supports early-stage companies, strengthens liquidity and helps keep the United States the best place in the world to build and scale a business.” “This bipartisan legislation will help more investment reach the small businesses and entrepreneurs in Georgia who are too often overlooked. By making it easier to support new businesses and ideas, we can create more opportunity for job growth, economic prosperity, and innovation,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. This legislation is supported by the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “The DEAL Act is an important step towards ensuring that the next generation of high-growth American companies can start and scale in every corner of the country—not just in traditional tech hubs,” said NVCA President and CEO Bobby Franklin. “By modernizing an outdated regulatory definition, this bill makes it easier for capital to reach entrepreneurs in South Dakota, Georgia, and other regions that have the talent and drive but too often … | 1 | 2026-04-04T05:28:40Z | 2026-04-04T05:30:10Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=31EB17CE-71CA-4E2B-8E9A-AC80F0B0B83C | Thune Joins the Ruthless Podcast | 2025-12-04 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined the Ruthless podcast. On Republicans’ message heading into 2026: “It’s safer streets, more money in your pocket, and … new opportunities for a better life. And those are all things that I think that we’re focusing on, it’s those bread and butter issues that the American people … care the most about. “Most elections, in my view, tend to be kind of economic elections. And I think … is my … neighborhood safe? Is my community safe? Is my country safe? … I think that safety and security are major issues. And I think the work that we’ve done to close the border, the work we’ve done on national security, to get more funding into the areas that make sure that the country is secure and safe and ready to deal with what is the … threat matrix that is out there in a very dangerous world. “And … on the economic front … the things we’re doing in the area of tax and regulatory policy, energy policy, will create better-paying jobs, better opportunities, and an expanding economy … The tax stuff that we’ve done is more money in the pockets of the American people … The average family in this country, at least in my state’s, about $2,500 less in taxes that they’re going to pay next year because we extended the tax relief from 2017. If that expired, everybody was going to be looking at a new huge tax increase … “People are … looking for new and better opportunities to get ahead, and we want to do everything we can to make that possible for them. Part of it is creating those better-paying jobs, better benefits, and obviously having … a kind of economic activity out there that allows companies to invest and grow and expand. And I think the types of policies that we’ve put in place on the regulatory front, the energy front, the tax front, provide those types of incentives.” On securing permanent tax relief for Americans: “I think most Americans … trust this president and his team to handle [the issue of affordability] and to ha… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=B299F71B-C198-44E0-94D7-513C68400AD3 | Thune: Senate Overcomes Historic Democrat Blockade to Confirm President Trump’s Nominees | 2025-12-04 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, I am very pleased to report that as of yesterday, the Senate has confirmed a total of 314 of President Trump’s civilian nominees. “And earlier this week I filed on another nominations package, which, when passed, will bring our total confirmations to more than 400. “That far outstrips total confirmations by this point in President Biden’s term, and in President Trump’s first term as well. “And it’s particularly notable that we’ve managed to beat those first-term numbers when you consider the obstacles the Democrats have put up. “I’ve talked more than once here on the floor about Democrats’ unprecedented obstruction of the president’s nominees this year. “And I really do mean unprecedented. “For decades upon decades, the Senate has expedited the consideration of large numbers of presidential nominees, confirming them by unanimous consent or voice vote. “Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, for example, each had 98 percent of their civilian nominees confirmed by unanimous consent or voice vote in the first term of their presidencies. “98 percent. “George W. Bush and Barack Obama each had 90 percent. “Now, it’s true that Democrats substantially eroded this tradition of bipartisanship during President Trump’s first term. “All of a sudden, positions that had traditionally gone by unanimous consent or voice vote were now requiring roll call votes. “But even so, both President Biden and President Trump in his first term had more than half of their nominees confirmed by voice vote. “And then there was this year. “This year, not one single presidential nominee has been confirmed by unanimous consent or voice vote. “Not one. “Democrats have dragged out the process on every single one of the president’s nominations. “The Democrat leader tried to justify Democrats’ historic blockade by claiming th… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=EEEB598F-698D-4975-91B3-666E42FCF73D | Thune: Republicans Delivered Tax Relief for Working Families | 2025-12-03 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, we are four weeks away from the new year – and from the date that the 2017 tax relief for Americans was set to expire. “Back in 2017, of course, Republicans passed a huge tax relief package. “We lowered tax rates for every income group. “We doubled the child tax credit. “And we nearly doubled the standard deduction. “But all of that was scheduled to expire at the end of this year. “And without action, Americans would have seen their tax rates increase and the child tax credit shrink by 50 percent. “A typical family would have seen its taxes go up by about $1,700 a year. “In my state of South Dakota, a typical family would have seen a $2,500 tax increase. “Republicans were determined not to let that happen. “And so a priority for 2025 became extending the 2017 tax relief. “But not just extending it – making it permanent. “We didn’t want hardworking Americans to have to worry every few years that their tax bills were suddenly going to soar. “And so in July we passed the Working Families Tax Cut to make permanent the 2017 tax relief. “We made those lower tax rates permanent. “We made the increased standard deduction permanent. “And we made the increased child tax credit permanent. “But, Mr. President, we didn’t stop there. “We expanded the child tax credit even further – and indexed it to inflation so that its value will never go down. “We also further increased the standard deduction, exempting additional money from Americans’ taxable income. “And we added a new $6,000 bonus deduction for seniors, allowing Americans on Social Security to keep more of their money. “And that’s still not all, Mr. President. “We eliminated taxes on tips for millions of tipped workers. “Uber and Lyft drivers. Hairstylists. Delivery drivers. Servers at restaurants. “We also eliminated taxes on overtime pay for m… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=0616C348-3F5F-4452-8ADD-A3D48C20B41A | Thune: Republicans Restore Common Sense to Federal Regulation | 2025-12-02 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Last month the incoming mayor of New York City – who is a leading voice in today’s Democratic Party – promised New Yorkers, and I quote, ‘We will prove that there is no problem too large for government to solve, and no concern too small for it to care about.’ “No problem too large, no concern too small for government to get involved. “That was the quote, Mr. President. “Well, Mr. President, that’s a dangerous way of thinking. “It’s a license for government growing unbounded. “And it’s a recipe for expanded bureaucracy and greater frustration for Americans who are just trying to live their lives. “But growing government is the driving philosophy of the Democrat Party. “And you can just look at the Biden years. “We had the federal government mandating masks for two-year-olds – outside. “Not in a building, outside – for two-year-olds! “The EPA regulating puddles and saddling farmers and ranchers with massive compliance costs – something that we experienced in my state of South Dakota. “Electric vehicle mandates. “If they had had their way, by next year, Mr. President, 35 percent of the vehicles on the highway would be EVs – 35 percent. “You know what that number is today? It’s about 10, 11, maybe 12. “There’s no way – no way – that could’ve been complied with. “And a reckless tax and spending spree that caused a years-long inflation crisis. “Inflation got up to the double-digit range, Mr. President – something that we haven’t seen in several decades. “Mr. President, Republicans have spent the last year cleaning up from the consequences of Democrats’ big-government philosophy. “President Trump has repealed a number of burdensome regulations and rules. “And here in Congress, we’ve used the Congressional Review Act to repeal rules, regulations, and mandates that were creeping into seemingly every facet of America… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=AE617CE0-0013-41DD-8A4D-8EC43B376D66 | Thune: Republicans Continue to Deliver for Working Families | 2025-12-02 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Good afternoon, everybody. Welcome back. “Get ready to buckle up for what should be a very busy last couple of weeks here this year, as we wrap up what has been a historic and very consequential legislative year. “Obviously, as we look at what we have to finish before the end of the year, it starts with a stack of nominees which we will be processing. “I filed on those last night, and it will be a significant number of people to fill out the president’s administration. “As you know, the Democrats have fought and blocked and obstructed and delayed along the way to try and prevent him from getting his team in place. “In spite of all that, we will be ahead in terms of the pace of the last two administrations when it comes to the president filling out his administration. “Secondly, obviously, is the defense authorization bill. “Senator Wicker, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, has been working aggressively with the team on his members of the committee, the full Senate, and the House of Representatives in trying to get to the finish line there. “And they’ve got a lot of good work that’s been done, a few issues outstanding, but I hope we’ll be able to process that in the next couple of weeks as well. “And I will tell you that [is], as you all know, one of the most important pieces of legislation that we do every year, and it fits in very consistently with the president’s peace-through-strength agenda. “And then we’ve got appropriations, and we’re trying to get another appropriations package up on the floor. “We processed three bills earlier this year, as you all know. “We have another minibus, if you will, of appropriations bills that we’re trying to get consent. “And I’m hoping that we will get to that here soon and be able to proceed forward on the appropriations process. “But it has been a very bu… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=B4FFF598-44B8-4456-83FE-5C475A29856B | Thune Sets the Record Straight on Democrats’ Health Care Spin | 2025-12-02 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, the Democrat leader was just talking about health care, and obviously there’s been a lot of conversation around that here these past few weeks and months. “In fact, the Democrats shut down the government for 43 days, the longest shutdown in history, allegedly over health care – although I think we all know that it was Trump Derangement Syndrome, more than anything else, that led to the government shutdown. “But I would just say … sometimes you have to kind of take a walk down memory lane to remind people that facts are stubborn things. “And facts are stubborn things. “The Democrat leader implied that Republicans are not interested in lowering health care costs, and that somehow [Democrats] are. “The contrary is actually the truth. “If you look at what has happened since the Obamacare exchanges went live over 10 years ago, health care premiums on the exchanges have gone up, on average, 221 percent. “221 percent increase, Mr. President, in health care premiums in the individual marketplace on the Obamacare exchanges. “Now, you might ask, why is that? “There are a lot of reasons behind it. “When they put the law into place in the first place, it was flawed structurally. “But then he referred to these so-called Biden COVID bonuses, which were the enhancements that the Democrats now want to lock into place. “Now remember, this was done in 2021 with a Democrat majority, Democrat in the White House, under reconciliation – so there wasn’t a single Republican who voted for these enhancements in the first place. “But remember, they were enhancements designed to be responsive to the pandemic. “They were COVID bonuses, only supposed to be temporary. “And then in 2022 they extended them again and set them up to expire at the end of this year. “This is a problem of Democrats’ making, Mr. President, pure and s… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=490D3215-A968-4D71-9BC4-D531D259A0D8 | Thune: After Shutdown Turbulence, Air Travel Modernization Is Ready for Takeoff | 2025-12-01 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel seasons of the year. “More than 80 million Americans traveled for the holiday last week. “And while most of them packed up the car and hit the road, about 6 million Americans boarded planes to spend the holiday with relatives and friends across the country. “And I’m sure all of them were breathing a sigh of relief that the government shutdown was over and that air traffic control had resumed normal operations before their trips. “Mr. President, the impact on air travel was one of the most visible aspects of the chaos that ensued during the Democrats’ 43-day government shutdown. “Flights were snarled throughout the shutdown, but it got progressively worse as the shutdown drug on. “By the time Democrats’ shutdown entered its second month, the FAA was forced to order … cutbacks in air traffic as a matter of safety. “And more would have been required if we hadn’t been able to finally reopen the government when we did. “So Mr. President, I’m relieved that air traffic was able to get back to normal levels before the holiday travel surge. “And I’m grateful to the thousands of air traffic controllers who were on duty during the shutdown without pay, and who work hard every day to keep planes moving quickly and safely. “They have an important job, and I know that every controller shares a commitment to putting safety first – whether it’s a normal day, the middle of a snowstorm, or a government shutdown. “Mr. President, even before the shutdown, our air traffic control system was facing challenges. “And modernization efforts have been a priority for both the Trump administration and for Congress this year. “Before the holiday, the Commerce Committee’s Aviation Subcommittee held a hearing that examined air traffic operations during the shutdown as well as the challeng… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=E89AC80D-8730-493F-8FB7-51B16BCF2D6F | Thune on the Horrific Attack on National Guard Members | 2025-12-01 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “I want to express my profound sorrow over the death of West Virginia National Guard member Specialist Sarah Beckstrom. “Sarah was one of two National Guard members shot in a targeted attack here in Washington, D.C., on the day before Thanksgiving. “The other Guard member, Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, is hospitalized in grave condition, and my prayers are with him and his family, as well as with the family of Specialist Beckstrom. “Mr. President, Sarah Beckstrom was just 20 years old. “Andrew Wolfe is just 24. “They’re both at an age when many are, quite naturally, figuring out their path in life. “But Sarah and Andrew chose early. “And they chose service. “Service, up to and including the sacrifice of their lives for their country and their fellow citizens. “It’s a remarkable thing, Mr. President. “And may we never forget how much we owe men and women like Andrew Wolfe and Sarah Beckstrom. “Again, my prayers are with the family of Specialist Beckstrom. “And I’m praying for Staff Sergeant Wolfe’s full and swift recovery.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-issues-statement-on-russia/ukraine-peace-negotiations | Rounds Issues Statement on Russia/Ukraine Peace Negotiations | 2025-11-22 | 2025 | 2025-11 | Republican | Senate | SD | Mike Rounds | R000605 | www.rounds.senate.gov | rounds | https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) issued the following statement on peace negotiations with Russia and Ukraine: “I appreciate Secretary Rubio briefing us earlier today on their efforts to bring about peace by relying on input from both Russia and Ukraine to arrive at a final deal.” ### | 1 | 2026-04-04T05:28:40Z | 2026-04-04T05:30:10Z |
| https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-king-seek-maximum-h-2b-work-visas-to-support-small-businesses-in-2026 | Rounds, King Seek Maximum H-2B Work Visas to Support Small Businesses in 2026 | 2025-11-19 | 2025 | 2025-11 | Republican | Senate | SD | Mike Rounds | R000605 | www.rounds.senate.gov | rounds | https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Angus King (I-Maine) recently sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) requesting that they release the maximum allowable number of additional H-2B visas for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, consistent with the previous three years. Rounds and King are joined by 31 of their colleagues in the Senate. H-2B visas fill needs for American small businesses when there are not enough American workers to fill the temporary, seasonal positions. As required by law, employers must first make a concerted effort to hire American workers to fill open positions. When the local workforce is insufficient, H-2B visas are used to employ workers to support local businesses and economies. “Chronic labor shortages—faced by seasonal U.S. employers throughout the nation’s history—have been exacerbated by the post-pandemic evolution of the American workforce,” wrote the senators. “As this need grows, so does the pressure on U.S. workers, whose employers’ workforce needs cannot be met with American workers alone. The H-2B program places requirements on employers to recruit U.S. workers, who are intentionally prioritized by the program and receive demonstrated, positive impacts from their seasonal colleagues.” “An efficient analysis, issuance of a rule, and release of these visas allows the supplemental tranche of H-2B visas to meet the seasonal market demand during the market cycles when they are most needed,” continued the senators. “We thank you for your continued support—in recognizing the vital benefit to the economy of these seasonal, temporary work visas—and we are hopeful the maximum allowable FY26 supplemental visas will promptly be released pursuant to Congressional authority and in the same manner as in the three previous years.” The letter was also signed by Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Amy Klob… | 1 | 2026-04-04T05:28:40Z | 2026-04-04T05:30:10Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=C17B7453-A649-4B09-A6CD-461908E82EA7 | Thune: Back to Regular Order | 2025-11-19 | 2025 | 2025-11 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, I’ve spoken a lot over the years about the need for a strong military. “I believe that keeping America at the cutting edge of military capabilities is one of the most important responsibilities we have in Congress. “And I often say that, if we don’t get national security right, the rest is conversation. “Mr. President, the need for a strong national defense has been put into stark relief over the last few years as the world has grown more dangerous – and as we’ve seen serious gaps in our own preparedness. “And after four years of underinvestment during the Biden administration, Republicans made it clear that we would work to put our military back on the right track by investing in modernization to ensure our military is ready for today’s threats – and tomorrow’s. “And we’ve followed through on that promise since taking office at the beginning of this year. “That began with a major investment in our military capabilities in the One Big Beautiful Bill. “We also prioritized passing the Senate’s National Defense Authorization Act, which includes significant reforms to weapons-buying as well as more than 100 amendments adopted through regular order on the Senate floor. “And this week, we continue those efforts with the defense appropriations bill, which will provide the resources to continue our mission of rebuilding our military capabilities. “Mr. President, that starts with the men and women serving in uniform. “This bill funds a 3.8 percent pay raise for our troops, and it supports military members and their families with investments in housing, child care, and education for military families. “It also funds bonuses that will hopefully help to ensure that we can sustain the record-setting recruitment success we’ve had this year – a complete turnaround, I might add, from the recruitment challenges of th… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=C25D1159-406D-4CED-85CF-6922E54A2578 | Thune: Regular Order Is the Path to a Stronger, Safer America | 2025-11-19 | 2025 | 2025-11 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Although it was totally unnecessary, the shutdown is over. “And thankfully, after 43 days, we had enough Democrats who concluded that continuing to punish the American people wasn’t the right way to deal with the challenges that face our country. “And so we’re all very pleased that we are out of the shutdown. “And of course, the question now is, what comes next? “And I think, at least here in the Senate, we have a lot of things, as you know, we have to get done. “The defense authorization bill, which has passed the Senate, is now being conferenced with the House, and when that conference is complete, we want to get that across the floor of the Senate. “We have another nominations package we need to clear before the end of the year. “And of course, we want to get the appropriations process moving again. “It got slowed down during the shutdown, unfortunately, and as a consequence of that, we’ve got a lot of ground to make up. “But as you all know, we did pass the three appropriations bills … MilCon-VA, Ag, and Leg Branch. “So three of the 12 are now law, and those three we got across the floor of the Senate before August, which is the first time that’s happened since 2018. “So, as you all know, we are very committed to regular order on appropriations. “We think that’s the best way to fund the government – rather than having an omnibus bill written in the leader’s office or a year-long CR. “Going through a normal appropriations process where the committee marks up bills, has input from all the members on the committee, reports them to the floor, and there’s an open process, transparent process on the floor, we think is the best way to fund the government. “And so, the challenge now is to get the next package ready to go – starting, we’ve got the defense appropriations bill ready. “We tried to move to tha… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=69AA1603-F36C-4271-80BD-5936F5E2C3BA | Thune: Americans Deserve Better Than Democrats’ Shutdown Dysfunction | 2025-11-18 | 2025 | 2025-11 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, after 43 days, the longest government shutdown in history is over. “Shellshocked government employees are getting paid again. “The air travel situation is improving. “Nutrition programs are back on a secure footing. “But the damage remains. “How many of those government employees now getting paid again are staring at credit card debt taken on to cover necessities during the month and a half they worked without pay? “Their newly restored salaries don’t contain extra to cover the interest on that debt. “How many small businesses are struggling thanks to the hit that their business took during the shutdown? “How long is it going to take to catch up on the 43-day backlog in government services that the shutdown created? “The pain this shutdown caused was immense. “And all of it, Mr. President … all of it could have been so easily avoided. “Republicans offered Democrats a clean, nonpartisan funding extension. “We did not make a single demand. “We didn’t ask for a single partisan policy. “We didn’t add a single partisan policy rider. “We simply asked Democrats to extend current funding levels for a few weeks so that we could continue bipartisan work on appropriations. “Instead, Democrats chose to plunge the country into chaos because the far left of their party demanded a showdown with President Trump. “That’s right, Mr. President. “All of this pain? All of this profound financial stress? All of this economic damage? “It’s because the far left demanded a showdown with President Trump. “And Democrats fell in line. “Mr. President, it’s disturbing enough that the Democrat Party was willing to shut down the government for 43 days – by far the longest government shutdown in history. “But what is even more disturbing is the fact that a number of Democrats were prepared to let this shutdown continue ev… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z |
| https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-issues-statement-following-senates-passage-of-continuing-resolution-appropriations-package | Rounds Issues Statement Following Senate’s Passage of Continuing Resolution, Appropriations Package | 2025-11-11 | 2025 | 2025-11 | Republican | Senate | SD | Mike Rounds | R000605 | www.rounds.senate.gov | rounds | https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) issued a statement following the Senate’s passage of a continuing resolution (CR) combined with three of the Senate’s appropriations bills for FY2026: “After 41 long days in a government shutdown, the Senate finally passed a CR to reopen the government. This CR continues current levels of government funding until January 30, 2026 and includes three of our appropriations bills in a package known as a ‘minibus.’ It now heads to the House of Representatives for final passage before being signed into law by the President. “I’m pleased that the final deal to end the shutdown included three of our twelve regular order appropriations bills: Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA); Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies (Agriculture); and Legislative Branch. These bills have been conferenced with the House of Representatives and are ready to be signed into law as soon as they pass the House. These bipartisan, regular order appropriations bills represent exactly how the Senate should work. I’m particularly pleased to have secured $21.9 million in projects for South Dakota in these bills, $17.7 million of which is for construction to support the bed down of the B-21 at Ellsworth. We now have until January 30 to work through the remaining nine bills. Five of these have already been passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee. “It’s now time to move forward and continue working on our regular order appropriations process, but we can’t ignore the devastating effect that six weeks of a government shutdown has had on our nation. This purely political shutdown was disastrous for the American people and should not have happened in the first place. Thousands of federal workers have gone without pay, millions of families have had the federal benefits they use to feed their children put at risk and our air travel system has been thrown into complete chaos. It’s my hope that these families who have suffere… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=BCF3315E-5453-4D5E-9578-C04607A24D48 | Thune: The Schumer Shutdown Is Almost Over | 2025-11-10 | 2025 | 2025-11 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, I’m glad to be able to say that eight Democrats joined Republicans last night to take the first step to reopen the government. “And in the very near future we will be voting on a final package – a clean continuing resolution until January 30 and three bipartisan, full-year appropriations bills. “Those bills are military construction-VA, agriculture, and legislative branch appropriations – three of the 12 bills that Congress needs to pass on an annual basis. “And what that means, Mr. President, is that year-long funding for SNAP, for WIC, for veterans, for essential farm programs, and for a number of other critical priorities will be met. “Mr. President, I said that we will be voting on the final package in the very near future. “And I’m hoping that will be hours and not days. “We’re on the 41st day of this shutdown. “Nutrition benefits are in jeopardy. Air travel is an extremely precarious situation. Our staffs and many, many other government workers have been working for nearly six weeks without pay. “I could spend an hour talking about all the problems we’ve seen, which have snowballed the longer this shutdown has gone on. “But all of us, Democrat and Republican, who voted for last night’s bill are well aware of the facts. “And I am grateful that the end is in sight. “But I would encourage every member of this body, Democrat or Republican, pro-bill or anti-bill, not to stand in the way of our being able to deliver the coming relief quickly. “The American people have suffered for long enough. “Let’s not pointlessly drag this bill out. “Let’s get it done, and get it over to the House, so that we can get this government open. “Mr. President, as I have emphasized since being elected majority leader last November, I remain deeply committed to advancing full-year appropriations bills through regular … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=896EEF33-E7AB-4303-8B21-EFBB2B271DCA | Thune: An End to the Schumer Shutdown Is Finally in Sight | 2025-11-09 | 2025 | 2025-11 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, after 40 long days, I’m hopeful that we can finally bring this shutdown to an end. “I don’t need to go over all the reasons why it’s imperative that we get the government open as soon as possible. “From the truly precarious situation we are in with regard to air travel to the fact that our staffs have been working without pay for a full 40 days now, all of us, Republicans and Democrats, who support this bill know that the time to act is now. “And so in just a few minutes I will call up the vehicle for a clean continuing resolution packaged with three bipartisan, year-long appropriations bills: agriculture appropriations, military construction-VA appropriations, and legislative branch appropriations. “These bills will fund SNAP for the entire fiscal year. They will fund WIC for the entire fiscal year. And they will fund our veterans for the entire fiscal year. “After 40 days of uncertainty, I’m profoundly glad to be able to announce that nutrition programs, our veterans, and other critical priorities will have their full-year funding. “And my goal is to quickly move to other full-year appropriations bills. “As I’ve said many times, I firmly believe that the way to fund the government is by passing appropriations bills through regular order – a process that gives senators from both parties the fullest chance to make their voices heard. “Mr. President, I also want to mention health care – “There’s been a lot of talk over the last several weeks – on both sides of the aisle – about the health care crisis in this country. “And I’m thankful to be able to say that we have senators, both Democrat and Republican, who are eager to get to work to address that crisis in a bipartisan way. “These senators are not interested in political games – they’re interested in finding real ways to address health care costs fo… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=B4755D48-0548-4E61-BF95-9FA3303A64B8 | Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day 39 | 2025-11-08 | 2025 | 2025-11 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, yesterday we finally heard Democrats entertain the notion of reopening the government. “It only took them 38 days. “Why, in the days before, progressives were urging Democrats to prolong the shutdown in perpetuity. “One House Democrat said, and I quote, ‘There would be hell to pay if Senate Democrats don’t let events play out.’ “And so while I’m glad to see Democrats – after 38 days – back down from the maximalist and, frankly, insane position they’ve held since September, the Democrat leader’s proposal is a nonstarter for the Republican majority. “The Democrat leader wants [us] to believe that this is a ‘simple’ proposal. “That it is some sort of ‘compromise.’ “But it is not. “He’s talking about throwing tens of billions more taxpayer dollars at a program that even Democrats admit has failed to lower health care costs. “The American people are tired of Washington taking their hard-earned money and spending it on costly government programs that fail to follow through on their promises. “Of course, that’s what Democrats have been doing for years with Obamacare. “They passed Obamacare 15 years ago without a single Republican vote. “And in that time, Democrats’ signature health care law has failed to do what Democrats promised. “If you like your health insurance you can keep it. “Not true. “If you like your doctor you can keep him or her. “Not true. “Premium costs will go down. “Not true – and actually the opposite is true. “They keep going up. “Obamacare drove premium prices higher. “So in 2021, in Democrats’ American Rescue Plan Act – a bill best known for setting off a years-long inflation crisis – Democrats created these Biden bonuses, further papering over the higher premium costs under Obamacare with bigger taxpayer subsidies. “Again, they did that without a single Republican vote. “An… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=215C98B2-D5E7-4AA7-B8E0-FECDA6A7D58A | Thune Joins America’s Newsroom on Fox News | 2025-11-07 | 2025 | 2025-11 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhere to watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined America’s Newsroom on Fox News. On Democrats prioritizing their far-left base: “The Democrats just have to take yes for an answer. We’ve given them everything, essentially, that they were asking for … Yesterday, at their Democratic caucus meeting in the Senate, [they] had a pep rally … they are celebrating this. It’s insane. “And what’s happening is the far left, which is the tail wagging the dog, is bullying the reasonable Democrats out of coming to the table. We have a proposal that they have been reviewing and looking at now for several days, mostly with things that they asked for, including a normal appropriations process: We open up the government, they get a vote on their Obamacare fix. “They want to sit down, meet with the president on a path forward, [and] he’s more than willing to do that. All those things are in play, but they can’t take yes for an answer, for fear. I mean, these people are scared spitless of their base, and that’s what’s happening. Yesterday was a bullying session. The far left in the Democrat caucus bullied the reasonable ones out of coming to the table and settling this. I’m still hoping that these people are going to come to the table, and we’ll find out soon enough.” On Democrats’ shutdown hypocrisy: “All [Democrats] have to do is take yes for an answer. We’ve offered them a solution. The president’s willing to meet with them. I’m willing to give them the vote. All the things that they said they wanted. … This is Trump Derangement Syndrome – nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. And these folks in their caucus right now, they don’t care what the issue is, if President Trump is involved with it, they just want to fight.” […] “President Trump is more than willing to weigh in and to talk to the Democrats about [the] path forward on how to fix the unaffordability and unsustainability problems of Obamacare, a problem the Democrats created. The president’s more than willin… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=3DDD1E44-7F67-48C2-809F-EE8382F7F894 | Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day 38 | 2025-11-07 | 2025 | 2025-11 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Well, Mr. President, the junior senator from Connecticut certainly believes in saying the quiet part out loud. “This is what he said, and I quote: “‘I think there will be some pretty substantial damage done to a Democratic brand that has been rehabilitated, if on the heels of an election in which the people told us to keep fighting, we immediately stop fighting.’ “He said on a podcast yesterday. “He went on to say that, ‘The 2026 election is just 12 months away. And if we surrender without having gotten anything, and we cause a lot of folks in this country who had started to believe in the Democratic Party to retreat again, I worry that it will be hard to sort of get them back up off the mat in time for next fall’s election cycle.’ “Let me repeat that, Mr. President. “This is what he said: ‘I worry that it will be hard to sort of get them back up off the mat in time for next fall’s election cycle.’ “Let that sink in for a minute, Mr. President. “I don’t think it’s a secret to anybody that the Democrats shut down the government for political reasons. “There’s been plenty of news coverage of the incredible pressure that their far-left base has been exerting. “But in case anyone was still under the impression that Democrats were driving this shutdown toward its 40th day out of concern for the American people – well, the junior Democrat from Connecticut pretty handily dispelled that notion. “Again, this is what he said: ‘I worry that it will be hard to sort of get them back up off the mat in time for next fall’s election cycle.’ “And just in case anyone needed any additional testimony, Axios reported on Wednesday, and I quote, ‘A set of post-election talking points circulated among Democratic congressional offices warned: “Caving without concessions would sap Democrats’ momentum and undercut the party’s support from i… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z |
| https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-scott-urge-federal-reserve-to-issue-final-rulemaking-on-basel-iii-endgame | Rounds, Scott Urge Federal Reserve to Issue Final Rulemaking on Basel III Endgame | 2025-11-06 | 2025 | 2025-11 | Republican | Senate | SD | Mike Rounds | R000605 | www.rounds.senate.gov | rounds | https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R-S.C.) today sent a letter to Jerome Powell, Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, and Michelle Bowman, Vice Chair for Supervision, urging the Board to issue a final rule on Basel III Endgame. Joining Rounds and Scott on the letter are Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) and Dave McCormick (R-Pa.). “In assessing the final rule, we urge the Board to view capital requirements holistically,” wrote the senators. “As part of this effort, the Board should endeavor to make sure that any proposal uses the baseline that existed before the post-pandemic capital ramp-up, not relative to today’s elevated capital levels.” “Since 2020, aggregate common equity tier 1 ratios for large U.S. banks have increased by more than 20 percent. This rise was driven in part by the growth in the Board’s balance sheet and the economy, not increased risk. Using current capital levels as the reference point would institutionalize excessive requirements, leading to higher costs and less access to capital for U.S. consumers and small businesses,” continued the senators. Read the full text of the letter HERE or below. +++ Dear Chairman Powell and Vice Chair Bowman: We write to express our support for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System’s (the Board’s) continued work to finalize a Basel III Endgame rulemaking that strengthens the resiliency of the U.S. financial system while preserving the efficiency and competitiveness of U.S. capital markets. We agree that a clear and durable final rule is in the public interest, and we appreciate the work that you are undertaking to ensure that is the case. As you work toward finalizing a reproposal, we want to highlight concerns from the original proposal, such as the structural overcapitalization of r… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=410681F7-AD6D-49FC-80A0-89AD4EC00618 | Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day 37 | 2025-11-06 | 2025 | 2025-11 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, we are 37 days into an entirely avoidable government shutdown. “And I say avoidable, Mr. President, because it was. “Democrats instigated this shutdown by rejecting a clean, nonpartisan funding resolution. “Republicans weren’t asking them to swallow a bunch of new conservative policies. “There isn’t a single partisan policy in the bill. “And yet Democrats couldn’t bring themselves to take yes for an answer. “Democrats, of course, have claimed their decision to shut down the government is about health care. “They want Republicans to bail out their Obamacare mess. “And as I’ve said probably a thousand times now, Mr. President, Republicans are one-hundred-percent willing to sit down and talk about the mess that Democrats have created. “We’re just not going to have that conversation while Democrats are holding the federal government hostage. “That was our position in September. “That was our position in October. “And, yes, it’s still our position in November. “We’re just waiting for Democrats to take yes for an answer. “Mr. President, I do know that Democrats have been under a lot of pressure from the far left. “The far left pushed them to shut down the government. “And the far left has pushed them to keep it shut down. “As one House Democrat told Axios yesterday, and I quote, ‘There would be hell to pay if Senate Democrats don’t let events play out.’ “‘There would be hell to pay if Senate Democrats don’t let events play out.’ “That quote, from a House Democrat just yesterday. “Well, Mr. President, what events need to play out? “What more needs to happen for the far left to be satisfied? “The pain this shutdown has caused is only getting worse. “Forty million Americans who rely on food assistance programs are now at risk of going hungry without a resolution to the shutdown. “I’m sure these A… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=27A9A89A-AE80-4054-B55A-87060B6C1AE8 | Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day 36 | 2025-11-05 | 2025 | 2025-11 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, can this be over now? “Have the American people suffered enough? “Or do Democrats need more? “Democrats have snarled air traffic. They’ve damaged small businesses. They’ve left federal workers in line at food banks. They’ve jeopardized food assistance – food assistance, Mr. President – for 40 million Americans. “Are they satisfied now? “Or does the far left want more? “Surely Democrats have hit enough milestones. “The election is over. “Democrats now have the extremely dubious honor of being responsible for the longest government shutdown in American history. “So, the question is, Mr. President: Can the American people get a break now? “Democrats should be embarrassed – embarrassed – that federal workers are lining up at food banks and missing bills and in danger of losing homes or cars because Democrats can’t summon enough members to support a clean, nonpartisan funding resolution. “That’s right, Mr. President. “A clean, nonpartisan funding bill, sitting right here at the Senate desk. “We’ve not asked Democrats to support a single new Republican policy. “We haven’t asked them to support a single partisan policy rider. “We simply asked them to extend current funding levels for a few weeks so that we could have time to do bipartisan work on appropriations bills. “But Democrats couldn’t take yes for an answer. “And on the subject of appropriations, Mr. President. “If any Democrats cherish the faintest hope of still funding the government through a full-year appropriations process – a process that they’ve … delayed for five weeks and counting – they should vote for the clean, nonpartisan CR today. “Mr. President, I realize that Democrats have been under a lot of pressure from their far-left base to keep the shutdown going. “And I assume that it was pressure from Democrats’ far-left base that sa… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=4091FB3C-62F6-494B-B932-3C83EA491575 | Thune: Will Democrats Finally Take Yes for an Answer? | 2025-11-04 | 2025 | 2025-11 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “We are now in the 35th day of the shutdown. “The longest shutdown on record and the most severe shutdown on record – something that was totally unnecessary in the first place, obviously. “But we’re hoping this will be the week when the Democrats come to their senses and decide to reopen the government. “Of course, if you look at why we are here in the first place, it’s hard to explain … I still don’t know exactly what it is they want. “We have accommodated a lot of their questions and concerns. “They want to have a discussion about health care, we offered that up a long time ago. “And, you know, clearly, we’ve talked, I’ve talked repeatedly about having a normal appropriations process where we put bills on the floor, open it up to the amendment process, and allow people to have their voices heard in how we fund the government the old-fashioned way. “But so I’m still at a loss as to what it is exactly they’re trying to get out of this. “The one thing I do know is, as the days roll by, the consequences and pain of this shutdown grow more severe for the American people, and especially if you are a government employee or the family of a government employee who’s no longer getting paid. “There are more and more stories of people out there who are trying to live paycheck to paycheck, and now you’ve got the food assistance going away, the SNAP program. “You have Head Start and young kids who need to be able to have access to education, that’s increasingly at risk. “You’ll see more and more, probably next week, with Veterans Day rolling around, Democrats out there posting nice videos and photos with veterans, which most of us probably should and will do – but the better thing they could do is actually support our veterans by opening up the government. “And allowing these regional offices to get … open again, and… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=9242221E-650C-4791-AD20-D67A657DB7C5 | Thune on the Passing of Vice President Dick Cheney | 2025-11-04 | 2025 | 2025-11 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, like many Americans, I was saddened to learn this morning of the death of former Vice President Dick Cheney. “Dick was a lifelong public servant who believed very deeply in our country, and brought his considerable knowledge and intelligence to its service. “As secretary of defense and later as vice president, he played a key role in shaping policy on many of the most consequential issues of his day. “He was also an avid outdoorsman and fly fisherman, who loved spending time in the mountains of his home state. “I enjoyed having him in South Dakota and showing off some of what our state has to offer. “Mr. President, my thoughts and prayers today are with his wife Lynne, with his two beloved daughters, and with his seven grandchildren.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=CECC17C5-3377-4E27-8985-C7A945774D88 | Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day 35 | 2025-11-04 | 2025 | 2025-11 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, ‘Every day gets better for us.’ “Those were the words of the Democrat leader a week into this shutdown, reflecting on the supposed benefits – political benefits – for Senate Democrats. “Well, Mr. President, I guess it’s nice that every day is getting better for Senate Democrats. “Because it sure isn’t getting better for anyone else. “We’re in the sixth week of the Democrats’ shutdown, Mr. President. “That’s right, the sixth week. “And Democrats’ victims are everywhere. “Let’s just go through a few headlines. “These are some headlines from newspapers and news outlets around the country: “‘Some Head Start preschools shutter as government shutdown continues’ “‘Shutdown crushes small business owners as losses hit billions — industry leaders beg Congress for “clean CR”’ “‘“Everyone is worried”: Dallas SNAP recipients navigate uncertainty, dwindling funds’ – that’s the Democrats’ shutdown at work, Mr. President. “Here’s another headline: ‘After a month of the shutdown, workers face mounting bills, car repossessions’ “And the subhead to that article said this: ‘Finances are becoming dire for the more than 750,000 government workers who have been going without pay for a full month.’ “Here’s some more headlines, Mr. President: ‘Flight delays pile up as government shutdown enters second month’ “‘Worst weekend for air traffic controller staffing since start of shutdown’ “‘Flight delays could worsen as government shutdown drags on’ “‘Could worsen,’ Mr. President. “And we’re entering one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, with people making holiday plans with their families. “Mr. President, there are a lot more headlines where those came from. “People are suffering. “All because Democrats can’t bring themselves to accept a clean, nonpartisan funding bill. “Mr. President, the list of people begg… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=4624CFC1-0C1D-404E-A75F-8B8CD0688B1E | Thune Joins Guy Benson on Fox News Radio | 2025-11-03 | 2025 | 2025-11 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhere to listen to the interview. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Guy Benson on Fox News Radio. On Democrats’ shutdown hypocrisy: “[Democrats] are blaming Trump at the same time they’re taking credit, and almost in the same breath … Republicans want our troops paid. We want the men and women of the Border Patrol to get paid. We want TSA agents, every federal employee to get their paychecks. “And right now, the Democrats are the ones standing in the way of that, but they’re trying to shift the blame and have it both ways.” On the consequences of Democrats’ shutdown: “I really hope … that this is the week that Democrats decide to end their shutdown, and they are owning it … I think people realize that [Democrats] have consistently now, 14 times … voted to block reopening the government. “I do think that the consequences are really starting to compound across the country. You’ve got now 40 million Americans whose food assistance is uncertain. You’ve got air travel delays that are skyrocketing. It’s having an economic impact on the country, and I think that only gets worse with each passing day. “We need five more Democrats to stand up and do the right thing and reopen the government, and we’ll see if this is the week.” On Democrats prioritizing their far-left base: “[Democrats are] trying to pull this thing off where they blame somebody else, and yet they get credit with their political base, and that’s what’s driving this. I mean, they’re so afraid – Schumer and their leaders are just absolutely running scared. “They are scared spitless of what their base will do to them if they vote to open up the government, which is why, in the end, I don’t think it’s going to be their leaders that do this. I think it’s going to be rank-and-file Democrats.” On preserving the legislative filibuster: “There just simply aren’t the votes to get rid of the Senate’s 60-vote threshold … It was an important tool for us when we were in the minority. You only have to look back to … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=71F8BA9E-89E4-4A44-95CA-6EA5C9ED035F | Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day 34 | 2025-11-03 | 2025 | 2025-11 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, it’s November. “November. “It’s been five weeks since Democrats shut down the government. “And once again, we start this week by asking: Is this the week that Democrats end their shutdown? “Mr. President, I’ve said it before, that there are no winners in a government shutdown. “There are no winners, but there are plenty of losers. “Chief among them is the American people. “As the senior Democrat from Virginia said just last year, and I quote, ‘Shutdowns aren’t victimless crimes.’ “And after five weeks, Mr. President, the victims of the Democrats’ shutdown are starting to pile up. “Military families have turned to food banks in significant numbers. “And they’re not the only ones. “Food banks in this area and around the country have seen an influx of federal workers who are missing paychecks due to the shutdown. “And things are set to get much worse, with SNAP running on limited emergency funds and its future uncertain. “Thanks to Democrats, millions more Americans – millions, Mr. President – are now at risk of going hungry. “And yet Democrats’ shutdown marches on. “And of course, letting Americans go hungry is just the beginning. “Thanks to Democrats, Head Start programs are beginning to close. “Housing assistance programs are at risk. “Seniors and people in rural areas can’t access telehealth services. “National Guard training is on hold. “Veterans programs are on pause. “I’m sorry to say I could go on. “Actually, I could go on for a while. “Shutdowns have consequences, and the pain is being felt around the country. “Mr. President, last week, it seemed that Democrats were beginning to acknowledge that their shutdown is having consequences. “We even heard Democrats express concern that Americans were suffering. “But when they were given the chance to end all of that suffering, the vast … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=0C5466F8-C83C-4CBD-B7A2-09FC1CCEF2C5 | Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day 30 | 2025-10-30 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, Democrats are grasping at straws these days. “The other day the Democrat leader came to the floor and tried to reboot the notion that the clean CR sitting before us here in the Senate is a partisan CR. “Yep. “Apparently a bill with no partisan add-ons, strictly a bill to fund the government, is a partisan bill. “Only in Democrat land, Mr. President. “The Democrat leader, of course, continues to try to push this ludicrous narrative that Republicans – or President Trump – shut down the government. “That’s right. “The party that demanded nothing – and put forward a clean, nonpartisan bill – is the party that shut down the government. “And the party that demanded $1.5 trillion to keep the government open until Friday, until Halloween? “That’s what their bill would do – $1.5 trillion in new spending to keep the federal government open until Friday. “I wonder if Democrats have seen some of the recent headlines like this one, and I quote: ‘Benefits cliff amps up pressure on Senate Democrats’ and ‘Largest federal workers union calls for an end to the shutdown, putting pressure on Democrats.’ “Putting pressure on Democrats, Mr. President. Not Republicans. “Why? “Because Republicans are ready to reopen the government today. “And we’re not demanding a single thing in exchange. “It’s the Democrats who are refusing. “In fact, the Democrats’ latest ploy is – get this – moral outrage that the president isn’t stepping in to save Democrats from the consequences of their actions. “That’s right. “Democrats are outraged – outraged – that they are coming face-to-face with the consequences of their decision to shut down the government. “And so they’re flailing around, blaming President Trump for not stepping in to somehow save the SNAP program from running out of money to pay benefits. “Yeah, that’s right, Mr. Pr… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=4EA93C0A-1B3F-4F4F-BCF5-ECD97C5F2AAD | Thune Joins Squawk Box on CNBC | 2025-10-30 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Becky Quick and Andrew Ross Sorkin on CNBC’s Squawk Box. On Congress’ responsibility to fund the government: “I’ve lived through several government shutdowns in my time here. Nobody wins. And if there’s anything about it, it’s just the stupidity of it. This is something we ought to be able to work out. It’s simply funding the government so that we can fund the rest of the government through the normal appropriations process.” On Democrats prioritizing their far-left base: “I think [Democrat] leadership is in a box. You’ve got the New York mayoral election coming up, you’ve got all these left-wing groups that are … clamoring for attention and to fight with Trump … I just think the Democrat leaders are scared and threatened by all this outside noise and afraid to open up the government. “So if this happens, I think it happens through the rank-and-file Democrats who come to the conclusion that this isn’t anybody’s best interest, and I think that’s going to happen, Becky … I’ve been through a few of these, and there isn’t anything instructive about it. Nobody wins … It needs to end, and the sooner, the better.” On Democrats’ shutdown hypocrisy: “If you take away a little bit of the … pain here, and a little bit of the pain here, but still, you’ve got … millions of federal employees who aren’t being paid, and many of whom are furloughed, but you have people who are working … I just think that you need to open it up. And the simplest way to do that is just to fund the entire government, not pick … winners and losers, or do these sort of one-off bills … “This government needs to be open on behalf of the American people … [I]t’s costing the economy … This is not a good thing for our country, and the longer it continues, the worse it’s going to get.” On President Trump’s trade agenda: “I’m obviously concerned about [China’s] role in the world and the things that they’re doing in other places, in Russia and Taiwan, etc. … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=422F4129-9E7C-4D15-BA5D-2A617139ECBD | Thune to Schumer’s Shutdown Senators: This Isn’t a Political Game, It’s People’s Livelihoods | 2025-10-29 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhere to watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, thank you. “Reserving the right to object. “Let me just point out, if I might, that we are 29 days into a Democrat shutdown. “And the senator from New Mexico is absolutely right; SNAP recipients shouldn’t go without food. “People should be getting paid in this country. “And we’ve tried to do that 13 times! “And you voted no 13 times! “This isn’t a political game. “These are real people’s lives that we’re talking about. “And you all just figured out – 29 days in – that, oh, there might be some consequences! “There are people running out of money. “Yeah, we’re 29 days in, and [the Trump administration has] done their best to make sure that a lot of these programs are funded. “But at some point the government runs out of money. “Thirteen times, people over here voted to fund SNAP. “Thirteen times they voted to fund WIC. […] “Finally realized this thing has consequences. “Well, you know what? “What Democrats are doing here, they’re making plans to keep the shutdown going, and they realize all of a sudden, 29 days in, that this is a real consequence, real-life pain for American families. “Something that results from their shutdown. “So, are they making plans to end the shutdown and reopen the government? “Nope. “They’re going to propose a bill to fund food stamps during their shutdown. “Mr. President, this request is a transparent admission that Democrats want to keep the shutdown – for what, another month? “Longer? “This bill is a cynical attempt to provide political cover for Democrats to allow them to carry on their government shutdown for the long term! “Now, I’ll point out: We did 13 short-term, clean CRs when they had the majority and President Biden was in the White House. “Thirteen. “They’ve now voted 13 times against a clean CR. […] “I have no idea where you’re coming from. “… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=ECCFC609-ABF6-4AC3-9521-6F9803F587A6 | Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day 29 | 2025-10-29 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhere to watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, we’re now in day 29 of the Democrat government shutdown. “And I say that because it is a Democrat shutdown. “Now, the Democrats are out there publicly saying, ‘Well, this is the Republicans who are responsible for shutting down the government,’ notwithstanding the fact that the House of Representatives has passed a bill, sitting right here, that with five more Democrats, we could pick up and pass, put on the president’s desk, he would sign it into law, and the government would reopen. “Those are the simple facts. “Those are indisputable facts. “Now, what it suggests to me, however, when they say that it’s the Republicans’ fault, or you know, somehow the Republicans are responsible for shutting the government down, it really defies facts. “It defies history. “It defies reality. “Because, as everybody who’s been around here knows, we have now voted 13 times – 13 times on that bill sitting at the desk that would open up the government, put everybody back to work, and all the pain that is being caused [for] the American people would go away. “Thirteen times, we’ve had that vote. “Now, interestingly enough, that matches the number of times the Democrats passed a clean CR when they had the majority. “The last four years under President Biden, 13 different occasions – 13 different occasions – they voted for a clean continuing resolution to fund the government. “And at the time, they talked about how terrible it is that, you know, the government should be taken hostage when you have a dispute over other issues. “You have tons of statements. “I mean, I could spend all day just repeating the statements that Democrats made over and over and over again about the importance of funding the government and not taking it hostage to discuss other issues. “The record is replete with statements like that coming out… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=5A48E0A3-4DF9-4B11-911C-F00C4BFD0475 | Thune: Democrats Admit They’re Allowing Families to Suffer for Political Leverage | 2025-10-28 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhere to watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Good afternoon, everyone. “It’s not very often that I get a chance to say this, but I agree with the AFGE – American Federation of Government Employees, largest government employees union – who said earlier this week that the Democrats need to reopen the government and start getting federal employees paid again. “And on that point, they are absolutely right. “This is going to get worse as the week goes on, as time goes on. “You’ve already seen the impacts. “Federal workers missed their first paycheck last Friday. “ATC employees are going to miss their paycheck today. “If by the end of the week this isn’t over, there’re going to be 40 million Americans who are not going to have food assistance. “And you add on top of that Head Start and telehealth, there are people who are getting their medical appointments canceled because of the shutdown. “And it just, it needs to end. It just needs to end. “And we have made it abundantly clear – every elected official here has made it abundantly clear that we are more than happy to sit down with the Democrats and talk about other issues, whether it’s the unaffordability and unsustainability of Obamacare, we’re happy to have that conversation, but we can’t do it with, as Chuck Schumer has said in the past, a gun to our heads. “That’s just, it’s just that simple. “So they’re going to have several opportunities, again, to vote to reopen the government. “And I sincerely hope, in the best interest of every American who is impacted by this shutdown, and particularly those who are going to be really adversely impacted come this weekend, that enough Democrats will come to their senses and deliver the five votes that are necessary to get this bill on the president’s desk. “I’ll remind everybody, everybody knows it: This bill passed the House a month ago. “It is sitting at t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=7A505692-19E4-4883-8A32-1D0E08153535 | Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day 28 | 2025-10-28 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, this is a quote: ‘The path forward for Congress is clear: Reopen the government immediately under a clean continuing resolution that allows continued debate on larger issues.’ “Mr. President, that is from the president of the American Federation of Government Employees – a labor union, I would add, most often aligned with Democrats. “But this is what AFGE’s president says, and I quote, ‘It’s time to pass a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown today.’ “Mr. President, I couldn’t have said it better myself. “And actually, I’ve been saying that for about a month now. “But far-left activists wanted a showdown with President Trump. “And so Democrats shut down the government and have forced hardworking Americans to live in uncertainty for four weeks – four weeks and counting. “And even as nutrition programs are running out of money and federal workers are lining up at food banks, Democrats continue to reject every opportunity to end the shutdown or mitigate its pain. “They’ve now blocked a clean, nonpartisan continuing resolution 12 times. “Twelve times, Mr. President. “A clean resolution, sitting right there, to open up the government. “Get everybody paid. “Get federal employees back to work. “That thing sitting at the desk that funds the government doesn’t have a single new Republican policy in it. “It doesn’t have a single partisan policy rider. “It simply extends current government funding. “But Democrats have said no to that, now, 12 times. “We offered them a chance to continue the bipartisan appropriations process starting with the defense appropriations bill – a bill that passed out of the committee by a big bipartisan vote of 26-3. “But Democrats said no to that, too – they didn’t want to lose leverage in the shutdown. “Then, last week, we offered up a bill to pay any federal em… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=A77C5139-3CDF-4834-9AD2-EC9A567B82F8 | Thune Joins Martha MacCallum on Fox News | 2025-10-28 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhere to watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Martha MacCallum on Fox News. On Democrats’ shutdown hypocrisy: “I talked to [President Trump] last night, and he’s willing to sit down next week with the Democrats in his office to talk about a path forward on dealing with the unaffordability and unsustainability of Obamacare, but not while they hold the government hostage. So, they vote to open up the government, the president sits down with them … “What more do they want? That seems to me to be giving [Democrats] exactly what they’re asking for … a chance to negotiate on these things.” […] “[Democrats are] looking at this like it’s some sort of political game … where there are winners and losers of the political game … [Republicans] look at this as real impacts on real families and people in the country.” On the consequences of Democrats’ shutdown: “[M]y staff isn’t getting paid, nor is anybody here who works in the Capitol, and I sent a letter to Disbursing, I’m not getting paid either, Martha, just to set the record straight … “On Friday, federal employees missed a check. Monday, yesterday, you had air traffic controllers missing their check. You’ve got these SNAP recipients out there, the 40 million or so families that are going to be impacted by this by the weekend. “This is just insanity, and the Democrats have got to come to their senses and realize that, while they may view this as leverage … look at a ledger of who’s winning [and] who’s losing in the political world, this is the real world we’re talking about here. And in the real world, people are hurting, and … this is going to be a painful, painful time … “It can be simply remedied today, getting five courageous Democrats with a backbone to join us and vote in the Senate today to open up the government, and the president would sign that bill into law.” On Democrats prioritizing their far-left base: “[Democrats] are afraid of their far-left base, the people who marched here during the … | 1 | 2026-04-07T15:46:19Z | 2026-04-07T20:18:37Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=FE579045-846C-4D3D-93A4-55CF2FDB5CF4 | Thune Joins Sean Hannity on Fox News | 2025-10-28 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) joined Sean Hannity on Fox News. On Democrats prioritizing their far-left base: “This is a big political game [to the Democrats]. This is to make a bunch of people on their far left – the people who were probably at the rally last weekend for Mamdani in New York – that’s the kind of constituency that the Democrats are appealing to right now.” […] “At some point, Schumer is probably going to have to do what Jeffries did over the weekend, and that is endorse Mamdani … [The far-left base is] now defining what the Democrat Party is about. This is a party without an identity … they’re floundering around, flailing around, keeping the government shut down so they can demand all these extraneous policies … “I think New York is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to where the Democrats are headed. And that’s the reason I think most Americans are going to say: enough of that; I don’t need that; I don’t need a socialist, left-wing ideology … running … New York, but also infecting … the Democrat Party all across the country.” On the consequences of Democrats’ government shutdown: “Unfortunately … millions of Americans are going to get impacted by [the government shutdown] … millions of Americans who aren’t getting paychecks, who work for the federal government … “[Forty]-some million people … depend upon food assistance [and] that runs out at the end of the week … These consequences are becoming real. Flight delays, ATC problems, air traffic controllers, in addition to TSA, Border Patrol, [and] Capitol Police [aren’t] getting paid. The troops aren’t going to be getting paid … “This is a real crisis for a lot of American families and the Democrats, as [House Democrat Whip Katherine Clark said], ‘this is [Democrats’] leverage,’ and they view it as a big political game.” On Democrats’ shutdown hypocrisy: “The Federal Employees Union … has come out in support of the clean continuing resolution sent over here to the Senate … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-accepting-spring-2026-internship-applications | Rounds Accepting Spring 2026 Internship Applications | 2025-10-27 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | Mike Rounds | R000605 | www.rounds.senate.gov | rounds | https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases | scraper | PIERRE – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) is currently accepting applications from college students to serve as interns during the spring 2026 semester. Positions are available in the Washington, D.C. office and the state offices in Pierre, Rapid City and Sioux Falls. Students will work closely with constituents and staff, polish their research and writing skills and gain an in-depth understanding of a Senate office. Duties in Rounds’ Washington, D.C. office include tracking legislation, researching bills, attending committee hearings and briefings, leading tours of the U.S. Capitol, answering constituent phone calls, sorting mail and providing legislative support. Duties in the South Dakota offices include researching constituent inquiries and requests, attending outreach activities, assisting staff on special projects, sorting mail and answering phone calls. Internships can also be tailored to an intern’s specific interest areas when possible. Spring internships typically run from January to May, but dates can be tailored to specific schedules. Interns will receive a stipend, and the office works closely with all universities to meet the criteria necessary for interns to receive college credit. “Our internship program is an incredible opportunity for students to experience a deeper understanding of the political process,” said Rounds. “Interns are crucial to our office operations both in South Dakota and in D.C. The program is open to students from all areas of discipline, not just political science. I encourage college students interested in serving the state of South Dakota to apply for the upcoming spring internship.” “I learned many valuable things during my time interning in Senator Rounds' office,” said Kaelyn Somsen, a summer 2022 intern in Rounds’ D.C. office who is now attending law school at the University of South Dakota. “I continue to use many of those lessons during my time in law school and while working in a law firm. Communication is a big part of interning in the Senate, whether it be com… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=871A699F-9CE2-4517-93F6-A6157246C28D | Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day 27 | 2025-10-27 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, ‘There is a time and a place to debate health care, just like there is a time and place to debate energy policy and immigration and education – but not, not, when the funding of the federal government, and all the lives that are impacted by it, hang in the balance.’ “‘There is a time and a place to debate health care … but not when the funding of the federal government, and all the lives that are impacted by it, hang in the balance.’ “Those are not my words, Mr. President. “Those are the words of the junior Democrat senator from Connecticut, back in 2013. “‘There is a time and a place to debate health care … but not when the funding of the federal government, and all the lives that are impacted by it, hang in the balance.’ “These words were once emblematic of the Democrat position here in the Senate. “Democrats once passionately opposed shutdowns – or so they said – in large part because of the impact they would have on American citizens and American workers. “Now? Well, now government workers – and every other American affected by this shutdown – have become nothing more than pawns in the Democrats’ political games. “On Friday federal workers missed their entire paychecks. “The next paycheck for our troops – for our troops – Mr. President, is in jeopardy. “And more than 40 million Americans could lose access to food stamps if the shutdown continues. “Forty million. “And yet none of it seems to matter to Senate Democrats. “The party that once decried the impact of shutdowns on Americans in need is now apparently content to see 40 million Americans go without food. “The senior Democrat senator from Vermont was on TV the other day, and one of the hosts suggested that members of Congress should refuse to take their paychecks during a shutdown. “And what did the senior Democrat senator from Vermont s… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=2D3E1146-AFA5-4A6D-87E9-C1E36FAC93EC | Thune Joins The Ben Shapiro Show | 2025-10-23 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined The Ben Shapiro Show. On Democrats’ shutdown hypocrisy: “[T]his is a real losing hand for [Democrats] to play. It’s certainly costing people all over the country, big time, particularly federal employees. And the longer this thing drags on, the worse it gets … “[Democrats] don’t seem prepared to want to come to their senses and actually do the right thing for the American people, which is to keep the government open.” […] “We ought to be able to … open up the government by just having five more Democrats vote with us … that’s all it’s going to take … Everything is harder than it should be right now because of Trump Derangement Syndrome, but I still think at some point there are going to be some rank-and-file Democrats who break with their leadership and do the right thing for the country, and that is open up the government.” On Democrats’ health care crisis: “[Democrats] created … this COVID cliff … [T]hese enhanced subsidies, which did go into effect … during the pandemic … was supposed to be a response to that, [and] the pandemic’s long over. [Democrats] created the expiration date. So this is really a problem of their own making.” […] “[E]verything that Obamacare has done, including these enhanced subsidies, has added to the cost of insurance policies. In fact, if you look from 2013 to 2025 to where we are today, insurance rates on … the Obamacare exchanges, have gone up about 221 percent … so it’s done nothing but inflate the cost that people are paying for health insurance across this country … “[T]he fundamental program is flawed. And then the enhanced subsidies were flawed, too … Insurance companies are incentivized to auto-enroll people, and so it’s become a money maker … just a factory for insurance companies to make money …” […] “Now [Democrats are] expecting Republicans to try and solve it for them. And that’s their price for opening up the federal government. And it’s a price that is a v… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=5F1DDE58-C030-447E-A486-06778B7B172F | Thune Joins America’s Newsroom on Fox News | 2025-10-23 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhere to watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined America’s Newsroom on Fox News. On Democrats prioritizing their far-left base: “The Democrats continue to play political games. They are afraid, just absolutely desperately afraid, of their base and that’s why we’re in the situation we’re in. So it’s going to take five Democrats, probably not going to come out of their leadership … they’re a lost cause. I think it’s going to have to be rank-and-file Democrats who end this.” […] “[Democrats] don’t care if people suffer … this is a political game to them.” On the consequences of Democrats’ government shutdown: “[Y]ou’ve got a whole lot of other programs out there, including the SNAP program that’s available to people who really need food assistance in this country, is going to go away here soon, too. So we’re getting to where the consequences of this are very real. “ On Democrats’ shutdown hypocrisy: “This is a routine thing, to continue to fund the government until we get the other appropriations bills done. This is a clean CR. It is nonpartisan, it is short-term, and it’s passed the House. It’s sitting at the desk at the Senate. We could pick it up, pass it today if we get five Democrats, put it on the president’s desk, he signs it into law, and the government opens up again …” […] “We need to open up the government. The other things that they want to talk about, I've told them we’re willing to do that, but [it] can’t be done while the federal employees are being held hostage … “[The] night before last, the Democrats had this drone-a-thon that went on all night. We had one Democrat senator who read the same poem four times, [while] 335 federal employees in the Capitol had to sit there all night and not get paid … and listen to these Democrats drone on endlessly. “[The government shutdown] … has to end … [I]t’s in [the Democrats’] hands right now. It’s up to them to end it.” On Senator Johnson’s Shutdown Fairness Act: “I think this vote today is a… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=B6DCE19C-3301-4168-BE93-3D9D61A5B4EC | Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day 23 | 2025-10-23 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, there was a time when Democrats opposed government shutdowns. “And not just opposed. “Democrats were critical of holding government funding hostage to political demands. “Our Democrat colleague from Michigan said that funding the government is ‘Congress’ most basic responsibility.’ “The senior senator from Massachusetts – a leading Democrat – said, and I quote, ‘The least we can do – the bare minimum that we can do – would be to pass a “continuing resolution” to keep the doors open and the lights on.’ “And the Democrat leader – just last year – decried the ‘chaos and pain and needless heartache’ that a shutdown brings to American families. “So, what’s changed? “Why are Democrats in 2025 suddenly comfortable shutting down the government and subjecting Americans to all that chaos, pain, and heartache that the Democrat leader described? “Why did Democrats instigate the longest full government shutdown in history? “Well, they’d like you to believe that it’s about health care. “It’s not. “Republicans have been perfectly clear that we’re willing to have a discussion about health care – just not while government funding is being held hostage, and all the federal employees that come with that. “So if this were really about health care, Democrats would be voting in favor of the clean CR as the quickest way to reopen the government and start the discussions. “But that’s not where we are. “And that’s because what’s really driving Democrats isn’t health care. “It’s not a desire for negotiations. “It’s politics and far-left activists who demanded a showdown with President Trump. “The real reason we’re now in the longest full government shutdown in history is because Democrats are afraid of backlash from the far left if they stand down. “One Democrat senator was quoted this week saying, and I quote, ‘“Peopl… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-discusses-argentinian-beef-imports-with-president-trump-secretary-rollins | Rounds Discusses Argentinian Beef Imports with President Trump, Secretary Rollins | 2025-10-21 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | Mike Rounds | R000605 | www.rounds.senate.gov | rounds | https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) issued a statement following his discussions with President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins regarding Argentinian beef imports: “I spoke with President Trump and Secretary Rollins today about the concerns I’ve heard from hundreds of South Dakota ranchers over the last two days regarding importing additional Argentinian beef. We agree that we need an America First game plan that prioritizes American ranchers. After today’s meeting, I am encouraged by the desire of President Trump and Secretary Rollins to do right by the American producer. I encourage patience as we await final details to be released, and in the meantime, continue to share your opinions with the administration. “At a White House meeting today, I had the opportunity to share with the President our concern specifically on this issue. I suggested that energy prices across the country are down not because we imported additional energy from other countries, but because we started producing more energy right here in the United States. The same rule should apply for American beef. We must place an emphasis on creating better conditions for American farmers and ranchers to drive prices down by increasing their ability to supply more product. “American cattle producers have been at a disadvantage for far too long. Opening the market to even more foreign beef, which American consumers cannot differentiate because of current labeling rules, would only exacerbate the problem and hurt domestic producers. Our producers will compete all day long, but only if there is a level playing field. “As I have said repeatedly, consumers should drive demand and the market should be able to work on its own. Unfortunately, the policy of Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (MCOOL), a commonsense policy that empowers consumers to choose, continues to sit on the shelf. The Packers and Stockyards Act continues to be ignored, as four companies, two of which are Brazilian-owned, monopolize the beef pr… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-works-with-white-house-and-usda-secretary-to-reopen-fsa-offices-during-shutdown | Rounds Works with White House and USDA Secretary to Reopen FSA Offices During Shutdown | 2025-10-21 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | Mike Rounds | R000605 | www.rounds.senate.gov | rounds | https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) issued a statement following U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins’ announcement that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be reopening Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices for a few days a week during the government shutdown: “After our meeting with Secretary Rollins this morning and multiple discussions with the White House, I’m pleased that the Department of Ag will be reopening Farm Service Agency offices for a few days each week during the shutdown. We’ve heard from producers who are selling their livestock and their grain who can’t get their checks endorsed while the government has been shut down, resulting in missed loan payments. Many producers use the FSA as a lender and they need to be able to release these funds as their loans are paid off. “This is another real example of the harmful effects the Schumer shutdown is having on the American people. Time for Democrats to get serious and reopen the government.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=108CC075-263E-42F8-AE71-FA6EE549E509 | Thune Joins The Hugh Hewitt Show | 2025-10-21 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhere to watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined The Hugh Hewitt Show. On Democrats prioritizing their far-left base: “Republicans want our troops to get paid. We want the men and women of the Border Patrol getting paid. We want TSA agents, ATC, air traffic control, every federal employee to get their paychecks … “They want – the Democrats, that is – far-left progressive activists to be less mad at them. I mean, that’s really what we’re talking about here. So I just think in the end, Hugh, that it’s a simple choice for them, and they can get the government back open, or they can choose to keep letting the far left call the shots. I think the majority of the country is starting to see through this, and is going to continue to move against them, but it doesn’t seem like they care. “I think they are so fearful, so afraid, so running scared, from that far-left base, which is where, you know, the money in Democrat politics is, you know, the small donor stuff, it’s where the activists, it’s where the energy is, and frankly, that’s where a lot of people end up getting primaried. And I think these Democrats here in the Senate are afraid of that.” On Democrats’ shutdown hypocrisy: “I’ve been very clear. I’ve been willing to sit down with Democrats. They want to discuss the growing unaffordability and unsustainability of Obamacare, and I’ve said I’m willing to give them a vote. But it’s under one condition: They’ve got to end the Schumer shutdown, open up the government … “We can’t negotiate under hostage conditions, and that’s where we are right now. As you know, we have a bill to fund the government passed the House, sitting on the desk at the Senate, the president’s ready to sign it. “The government could open up today. We just need a handful of Democrats to join us, because … it takes a supermajority, 60 votes in the Senate, to pass anything consequential. And Democrats continue to resist. “They just voted for the 11th time to keep the government shut dow… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=22D5257A-48ED-420C-8228-6CEA38C9E96D | Thune to Senate Democrats: Time to Stop the Political Theater and Reopen the Government | 2025-10-21 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference at the White House with Senate Republican leadership: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “We just had a great opportunity to meet with the president and talk about something that unifies all Republicans. “Senate Republicans, House Republicans, and the president of the United States are all in favor of reopening the federal government – in fact, so much so that we’ve now all voted 11 times to reopen the federal government. “But the longer the federal government stays closed, the more the impacts are being felt: travel delays, benefit delays, you know, farmers are being impacted, millions of people going without paychecks. “That’s what this government shutdown, Democrat government shutdown, is bringing to the American people. “So we’re hopeful that this will be the week when we break out of this and the Democrats come to their senses and decide to open up the government. “We’re going to give them several opportunities, as you know, to do that. “We’ll have another vote on the continuing resolution tomorrow – which is sitting at the desk of the Senate, can be sent down here to the White House, signed into law, the government would open up immediately. “We’re also going to vote on a Ron Johnson resolution that essentially would pay anybody who’s currently working. “So we’ll see how the Democrats react to that. “But the truth of the matter is, you have a bunch of people here, a united team that believes profoundly that we need to get our government open. “And if the Democrats want to talk about subjects unrelated to … getting the government open again, we’re happy to have those conversations, but we’ve repeatedly now gone through this, and at some point the Democrats are going to have to [take] yes for an answer. “We want a normal appropriations process. “We want to give them an opportunity to sit down and litigate some of the issues they want to talk about, but that can’t happen… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=5E5470DF-355B-492E-ADBA-AB20E37E9492 | Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day 21 | 2025-10-21 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, three weeks. “It’s been three weeks since Democrats shut down the government. “Since Democrats chose to put the demands of far-left activists ahead of serving the American people. “And over the last three weeks, Mr. President, it’s the American people who have borne the consequences of Democrats’ shutdown. “Thousands of flights have been delayed. “Nutrition assistance for millions of needy families is in jeopardy. “Military families are turning to food banks in ‘unprecedented’ numbers. “But Democrats are apparently willing to prolong the suffering until their far-left base is satisfied. “Mr. President, we’ve given Democrats here in the Senate numerous opportunities to end the shutdown. “We’ve held, now, 11 votes on a clean, nonpartisan continuing resolution to end the shutdown and the pain that comes with it. “And they said no every time. “We gave Democrats an opportunity to consider the bipartisan defense appropriations bill – something that, I might add, passed the Senate Appropriations Committee 26-3, in an overwhelming bipartisan vote. “We gave them an opportunity to consider that here on the floor, so we can at least protect our national security and pay our troops. “Democrats called it ‘unacceptable’ and a distraction to pay the troops. “We even offered to give them a vote on a health care proposal of their own design if they vote to reopen the government. “The answer again was no. “Mr. President, I don’t know what Democrats are looking for. “But if they’re looking for Republicans to give in to their hostage-taking, they should think again. “I’ve been very clear since the beginning. “On the first day of this shutdown, I said Republicans would be perfectly willing to discuss the issues Democrats are raising – but only after we reopen the government. “I said, and I quote – quoting myself… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=C5D4C4B1-6642-4F58-A34F-DB05BED56C75 | Thune: Republicans Want to Reopen the Government, Get Back to Work for the American People | 2025-10-21 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at the White House with President Trump: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Thank you, sir. “Well, Mr. President, thank you for having us. “This is the fourth week of the Democrat shutdown, but we are all here today because your Republican team in the Senate is unified. “This is now the longest full shutdown in history. “But everybody here has voted now 11 different times to open up the government. “And we are going to keep voting to open up the government. “And eventually, the Democrats – hopefully, sooner or later – are going to come around. “But Mr. President, your agenda is the right one for this country. “This is your team. “We are your partners in achieving and implementing the agenda that you campaigned on and the American people voted for. “And you just mentioned, it has been a series of promises made and promises kept. “Whether it’s national security, whether it’s the border, whether it’s the economy, taxes, regulations, energy, Trump newborn accounts, school choice. “You look at what we’ve accomplished so far, it is a remarkable, remarkable team and a record of accomplishment that can’t be matched – and I would argue, at least in my time here, but perhaps in all of history. “So thank you for your leadership, and we will continue to be good partners and work with you to get the work done for the American people. “And let’s hope that the Democrats get wise, and starting perhaps even today, vote to reopen the government so we can get back to work for the American people. “Mr. President, thank you for having us at your home. You have beautiful homes. “And thank you for everything you’re doing to make this such a beautiful place. “This is America’s house. We’re delighted to be here. Thank you.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=779F809B-1A25-4676-9CF6-49D56B19E37B | Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day 20 | 2025-10-20 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, you have to give the Democrats credit for one thing, and that’s a healthy dose of gall. “Both the House and the Senate Democrat leaders were out last week claiming that they can’t fund the government until – get this – we solve the ‘Republican health care crisis.’ “That’s right. “The Republican health care crisis. “It is truly amazing how a program Democrats created and tax credits that they chose to sunset have now become the Republicans’ crisis. “Republicans, in fact, never had anything to do with it. “Democrats created Obamacare – alone. “They implemented the enhanced tax credits – alone. “And they chose a sunset date for those tax credits – alone. “Democrats are solely – solely – responsible for the Obamacare tax credit cliff. “And yet they’re trying to pin this disaster on Republicans while at the very same time they’re asking Republicans to bail them out. “It’s really kind of ironic, Mr. President. “Now, Democrats may not win a lot of points for truthfulness, but you have to give them credit for gall. “Mr. President, while Democrats may have created this health care situation, I have made it clear from the beginning that Republicans are willing to have a discussion about how to address it. “In fact, I’m perfectly willing to guarantee Democrats a vote. “But none of that is going to happen until Democrats reopen the government. “We’re not going to negotiate on anything until Democrats stop holding government funding hostage. “And if they really want to address their Obamacare mess, they should stop running out the clock on a deal. “All they’re doing by that action, Mr. President, is keeping the government shut down and enhancing – enhancing, believe it or not – the chances this situation doesn’t get fixed. “Because the clock is running. “Mr. President, before I leave the subject of healt… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=DCDC2BEE-36EF-41F8-8D79-E5C8A320FD1B | Thune Joins Larry Kudlow on Fox Business | 2025-10-20 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhere to watch. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Larry Kudlow on Fox Business. On Democrats’ shutdown hypocrisy: “[Democrats] had their big … protest this weekend, got all their left-wing groups satisfied all over the country, and it seems like at least now they ought to come back to their senses and realize that shutting down the government’s not good for anybody, and I think they’re starting to feel the heat on that. “It’s just not a defensible position in the long term … If they don’t vote to open up the government … they’re going to have to start explaining to the American people why they consistently vote to shut down the government at a time when there are important priorities that need to be funded – whether that’s air traffic control, or TSA, or Border Patrol, law enforcement, our troops, obviously, first and foremost. “Those are all things that very shortly here are not going to get paid if … the government doesn’t open up.” On Democrats’ health care crisis: “[Democrats are] trying to hijack the federal government in exchange for $1.5 trillion in new spending and to bail out a program that is failing and is driving insurance premiums up for people in the individual marketplace – I don’t know how you defend and explain that. “And I think that’s starting to sink in with the American people. The Democrats are … going to own this. And like I said, we’ll give them another vote this evening to open up the government; see what they do.” […] “I’m happy to have the conversation about the unaffordability of Obamacare and what we might be able to do to fix that, but you can’t do that while the government is being held hostage … They want a guaranteed outcome. That’s what they continue to insist upon … I’ve offered them a vote … “But so far, they seem dug in … I think this is a lot less about a solution to that problem that they say they are trying to fix, and a lot more about having a political issue and satisfying that far-left base that was … marching in pla… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=DA8D5066-5F77-4915-84D4-81A3E4425A73 | Thune Joins The Briefing with Steve Scully | 2025-10-17 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhere to listen to The Briefing with Steve Scully WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined The Briefing with Steve Scully on SiriusXM radio. On Democrats’ historic obstruction: “[T]he politics around it is … largely different.” [T]he Democrats are under an enormous amount of pressure from their hard left, and they’ve got this big rally in town this weekend, and, you know, they’re just demanding that they fight, no matter what the issue is, the president, on pretty much … whatever comes up in the Senate these days. “[N]othing is as it’s been in the past in terms of moving legislation, moving executive branch nominations, everything is much harder than it used to be. I think part of it is … it’s the politics of the moment … but regrettably, we’re in a situation right now where a lot of federal workers aren’t getting paid. And the way to change that is to open up the government.” On Democrats’ shutdown hypocrisy: “[Y]ou know … nobody wins. I’ve said that before, and that used to be a view that was held by our colleagues on the other side, by the Democrats. But it seems, at least now, that there is a … partly, I think, around this big event this weekend here in Washington, with all the left-wing activist groups coming to town, a real sense that they needed to not do anything until that rally was over. “And even then, I mean, they’re just under a tremendous amount of pressure just to resist and fight. And I think at this point, even the simple things that normally, like we just tried to get on the defense appropriations bill, which should be legislation that, most years, gets 80-plus votes in the Senate, and the Democrats blocked even proceeding to it.” “[A] handful of folks on the other side have to come to their senses. “We have a bill that’s sitting at the desk in the Senate. You’ve covered this place long enough to know that we could pick that up today, pass it, send it to the president, he would sign it into law, and the government would open up again. “So for now …… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=43BFF203-09A2-4642-BECB-A8A0C4C5ECEB | Thune: Democrats Block Bipartisan Defense Bill to Pay Our Troops | 2025-10-16 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Well, Mr. President, the Democrat Party is the party that will not take ‘yes’ for an answer. “We offer Democrats a clean, nonpartisan CR – no Republican policies for them to swallow, nothing for them to object to. “They said no. “We offer to accommodate their health care demands by guaranteeing them a vote on their proposal if they vote to reopen the government. “The answer is no. “Okay, fine. “So we thought, if they don’t want to fund the government via continuing resolution, we’ll give them the chance to fund the government a different way, by attempting to move forward with regular-order appropriations bills. “And once again, the answer was no. “Democrats just voted to block the fiscal year 2026 defense appropriations bill – a bill, I would add, that passed the Senate Appropriations Committee by a robust bipartisan margin. “Twenty-six to three, I think it was. “That’s right, Mr. President. “After voting last week for an authorization bill to increase troop pay, Democrats just voted against the bill that would actually pay the troops. “You have to ask the question, ‘Why?’ Mr. President. “Because, to quote a recent news story – this is a direct quote – ‘voting to proceed with the defense bill relinquishes some of the party’s leverage.’ “‘Relinquishes some of the party’s leverage.’ “I mean, who really cares, right, if the troops are paid as long as the Democrats are able to get what they want? “Now, Mr. President, I offered up – and I had conversations with Democrats here on the floor – that if we could get on the defense appropriations bill, the interest they have in adding other bills, I would certainly accommodate. “And I suggested that that was the business model that we adopted when we passed the first three-bill package. “We got on the MilCon-VA appropriations bill, and then we worked collectively, bot… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=86EA7FB0-59E7-4FBE-93A1-E97B2F01473B | Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day 16 | 2025-10-16 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, this morning we will offer my Democrat colleagues yet another opportunity to vote to reopen the government. “To vote to reopen the government with a clean, nonpartisan CR. “That’s right. “We’re not asking Democrats to swallow any new Republican policies. “We’re not asking them to swallow any partisan policy riders. “We’re simply asking them to extend current funding levels for a few weeks while we work on full-year appropriations. “And you don’t have to take my word for it. “Everyone from the president of the Teamsters union to mainstream media outlets has confirmed that the CR Republicans have put forward is a clean CR. “But Senate Democrats chose to shut down the government anyway. “Now, Mr. President, Democrats’ ostensible reason for their 16-day shutdown is because they want Republicans to agree to bail out the health care mess that Democrats created – first with Obamacare, and then by passing and then sunsetting enhanced Obamacare tax credits that were put in place for the covid emergency, which I think as we all know, is long behind us. “And despite the fact that we’re only in this position because of Democrats’ poor policy choices, Republicans are ready for that discussion. “I’m ready. “My colleagues are ready. “The speaker and the president are ready. “But, Mr. President, only once we’ve reopened the government. “We’re not conducting negotiations in a hostage situation. “And we’re not going to pay a $1.5 trillion ransom to get Democrats to reopen government operations. “That’s right, Mr. President – $1.5 trillion. “That’s what Democrats are demanding. “Between their Obamacare bailout and the other partisan policies that they’ve included, they want a $1.5 trillion ransom to reopen the government for a handful of weeks. “Now, to put that number in perspective, that’s equivalent to almo… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=D764C6AD-5F84-4C96-941F-2740673947A0 | Thune Joins Ali Vitali on MSNBC | 2025-10-16 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) joined Ali Vitali on MSNBC’s Way Too Early. On Democrats’ health care crisis: “I don’t think you can do … a straight-up extension of the ACA tax credits, premium tax credits, they are enhanced subsidies, so they are over and above the base Obamacare program, which was available to people up to 400 percent of poverty. “What the Democrats did a couple years ago was they took the income cap off, so now you’ve got people [that] make five or $600,000 a year that are eligible for … subsidies under this program. You’ve also got insurance companies that are benefiting enormously because … they’re incentivized to sign people up, because the federal government is making direct payments to the insurance companies. “[Insurance companies] go out and auto-enroll people. There are tons of people out there who have these [subsidies] who don’t even know they’re covered. So this is a program that's desperately in need of reform.” […] “Democrats created the expiration date when they did this. They could have done this permanently and they didn’t.” “I don’t want to see anybody’s premiums go up … And that’s not going to be attributable exclusively to these enhanced credits. The insurance companies are raising rates everywhere every year anyway. Part of the reason for that is the basic program is flawed. “People ought to be able to buy the insurance that they want. And you know, they are in the exchanges and every year these premiums [are] going up … That’s not the way this ought to work.” […] “At some point, Democrats have to take yes for an answer … [Republicans] are all about getting health insurance down, making it affordable for more people. Premiums shouldn’t be going up … and one of the reasons they are is because there is waste, fraud, and abuse of this program. The incentive structure is skewed to the insurance companies, so insurance auto-enroll people, and they’re making bank doing it.” […] “These were covid subsidies … th… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=5F7718E7-8C19-4CA3-8E53-FB675749AF00 | Thune Joins The Brian Kilmeade Show | 2025-10-15 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto listen to The Brian Kilmeade Show. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined The Brian Kilmeade Show on Fox Radio. On Democrats’ shutdown hypocrisy: “[Democrats have] got to vote to open up the government … this hostage-taking has to stop … They’re asking for … $1.5 trillion in new spending … [and] all kinds of … provisions in there that would allow illegals to have free health care. Those are all just non-starters, and that’s where their leadership is … “I think a real solution and the way out of this is going to come from rank-and-file Democrats who are tired of sort of following their leadership over the cliff and are ready to make a deal to get the government back open again and get us actually doing the work we need to be doing on behalf of the American people.” […] “What the Democrats are doing here is entirely wrong … nobody benefits from a shutdown … Chuck Schumer described it a few years ago as ‘political idiocy’ to shut down the government, to take it hostage to try and achieve other political objectives, and that’s essentially what they’ve done here.” On how the shutdown is impacting national security: “Getting the defense authorization bill … [is] something we have to do every year, and then the defense appropriation bill actually writes the check that enables all those priorities to be funded … “This is going to be an opportunity for the Democrats to show whether or not they’re serious about what they say about wanting to have a regular appropriations process where we fund the government through what we call regular order – which is … allowing the committees to work, putting bills on the floor, opening up the amendment process. “The Democrats are going to have a chance to vote to get on that bill. That vote will … happen tomorrow – but we’ll see where they go.” […] “The Democrats are reluctant to do much of anything until that group gets here [on Saturday] and has their day and they can all … celebrate that they’re fighting Trump, but at some po… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=D70EDFDB-C7E7-4D50-8BE9-EEC15625BE6A | Thune: Schumer Celebrates the Government Shutdown While Families Suffer | 2025-10-15 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Well, good afternoon. “I think the American people are wondering when the Senate Democrats are going to end their temper tantrum and vote to reopen the government. “Every day that goes by, there are more and more Americans who are getting smaller and smaller paychecks, people who work for the federal government. “Now, fortunately, the Trump administration has been able to make sure that our troops, our military, gets paid for a while longer, but there are limits to what they can do. “And you’re already seeing, and I’m sure you’re going to see more. “There have been thousands of flight delays across the country, and the longer this drags on the more of that you’re going to see. “So what the Democrats need to do is to vote for a clean, short-term, nonpartisan funding resolution sitting at the desk right now in the Senate. “I’ve showed it to you before, 24 pages long. “All they have to do, we pick it up, we vote on it today, we send it to the president, the president signs it into law, the government reopens, and then we can be happy to have all the conversations the Democrats want to have about other issues. “But they will have a ninth opportunity today to vote to open the government. “They had an eighth opportunity yesterday. “And they will have, if necessary, a 10th opportunity to reopen the government tomorrow. “All we need – all we need – are five courageous Democrats with a backbone who aren’t afraid to buck their leadership, who are marching them right over a cliff. “So, we’re willing to have, as I said, conversations about all the other issues that they want to talk about, but … that can’t happen while they are holding the federal government, and all these federal employees, and our troops, and our air traffic controllers, and our TSA agents, and our Border Patrol officials hostage. “Open up the g… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=DE91FEE3-3AB4-4FC9-B4A2-BD30F9BB1096 | Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day 15 | 2025-10-15 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, Democrats are dug in. “Fifteen days into a government shutdown, and Democrats show no sign that they’re ready for it to end. “Not even the prospect of military families going without a paycheck was enough for Democrats to reopen the government. “Nor are Democrats concerned about needy families uncertain about the future of nutrition assistance. “Or Americans in flood zones, who are unable to update their insurance or close on a home in the midst of hurricane season. “No, Democrats are dug in. “And all those Americans living in uncertainty? “Well, they’re just going to have to wait until Democrats’ far-left base is satisfied. “Mr. President, Democrats attempt to defend their funding blockade by complaining that Republicans won’t negotiate. “But what exactly is there to negotiate? “Negotiation happens when you have two sides each with its own demands. “Republicans have no demands. “We’ve offered Democrats a clean, nonpartisan funding extension. “Democrats, on the other hand, are insisting on $1.5 trillion in new partisan spending in exchange for their votes. “Now, think about that, Mr. President. Let’s put that in perspective. “$1.5 trillion in new spending – in their proposal, to keep the government open for four weeks, until the end of October. “Well, we’re already at the middle of October. “So basically, they’re saying they want $1.5 trillion in taxpayer dollars to keep the government open for the next two weeks! “Think about that one. “As our colleague from Louisiana put it, you need a spreadsheet to keep track of everything they’re asking for. “The truth is that what Democrats really want is something Republicans can’t give them – and that’s the approval of their far-left base. “They’re looking for praise from the likes of MoveOn.org and Indivisible. “This weekend, Indivisible is holdin… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=0D9CA1DA-935D-4E7C-8F14-5F06B17745CB | Thune Joins Harris Faulkner on Fox News | 2025-10-14 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhere to watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Harris Faulkner on Fox News. On the Gaza peace deal: “It’s historic … it is really an epic development, Harris. You think about thousands of years of history and the warring that’s been going on in that region and more recently … the terrible attacks from a couple of years ago … “What the president has been able to achieve here is nothing short of remarkable, and he builds on the success of the Abraham Accords from his first term in office. But this truly is historic. [President Trump]deserves a tremendous amount of credit, and his team, who worked diligently and successfully to broker this deal.” […] “[Democrats] don’t want to give [President Trump] credit for anything. This is historic – an achievement … that will mark his administration … It’s something that is achieved when you try to make sure that your policy is one of peace through strength, Harris. That’s the policy of this administration. It’s been on display. And one of the reasons this was possible is because of the action the president took in Iran, and that enabled a lot of this to happen … “The president, and his team, is intent on ensuring that they are trying to bring about peaceful outcomes in some of these war-torn areas of the world and to save lives. And this is going to save hundreds and thousands of lives in that area.” On Democrats’ shutdown hypocrisy: “There is nothing to negotiate. This is a straightforward proposition, something that [Democrats] did 13 times when Biden was in the White House and when they had the majority in the Senate, there was a continuing resolution to keep the government funded. That’s all this is. Nothing more, nothing less, nothing else … “They should take this, get the government opened up again, and then we can talk about all these other issues they want to talk about. But this is an indefensible position … they are in a tough, tough spot. And I don’t know how you’re going to walk down to the floor t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=39007B93-9477-41D3-9FDF-408D031B4D14 | Thune on the Gaza Peace Agreement | 2025-10-14 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, I want to join my colleague, Senator Grassley from Iowa, and before I begin, mention the release of the hostages on Monday. “After more than two years in captivity, the final 20 living hostages were returned to Israel and reunited with their loved ones. “To see the peace process moving forward is an occasion for immense gratitude. “And I hope that both sides will adhere to the terms of the agreement so that this can mark the beginning of an end to the bloodshed. “That includes the prompt and respectful return by Hamas of the remains of the deceased hostages. “I know that President Trump – without whom this would not have happened –Secretary Rubio, and others continue to work to hammer out the remaining steps of the peace process. “That will have to include disarming Hamas, and ensuring that the organization plays no future role in governance in the Gaza strip. “My prayers are with the president, Secretary Rubio, and all of those on both sides who are working to make peace a reality.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=A07D8BAC-B566-461E-8C72-5BF633365F1D | Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day 14 | 2025-10-14 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, ‘every day gets better for us.’ “So said the Democrat leader in an interview published on Thursday – hours before Democrats once again voted to keep the government closed and to deny service members a paycheck. “Federal workers – including law enforcement officers – missed part of their pay last Friday. “But hey, at least life is getting better for Senate Democrats. “Mr. President, a CNN article from Thursday said that Democrats are preparing to keep on with this shutdown for, and I quote, ‘several more weeks.’ “I guess Democrats are not going to be satisfied until military families and government workers are lining up at food banks or visiting payday lenders or simply charging necessary items like milk and bread on their credit cards, to be repaid later – if they can – along with the big interest charges that come with that. “But hey, while military families and government workers may be deeply stressed, at least life is getting better every day for Senate Democrats. “Mr. President, I could at least understand a little bit more where Democrats are coming from if Republicans were asking them to swallow a lot of new Republican policies to reopen the government. “But Republicans aren’t asking Democrats for anything. “We’re not asking them to support any new Republican policies. “We’re not asking them to swallow any partisan policy riders. “We have put forward – and the House has passed – a clean, nonpartisan CR. “That’s the bill Democrats are rejecting. “And by the way, you certainly don’t have to take my word for it that we put forward a clean bill. “Here’s what one mainstream news publication said last week, and I quote, ‘It’s important to note that Democrats instigated this shutdown. They rejected a “clean” funding proposal and demanded significant and expensive health care policy changes in exch… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-secures-south-dakota-wins-in-senate-passed-fy26-ndaa | Rounds Secures South Dakota Wins in Senate-Passed FY26 NDAA | 2025-10-10 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | Mike Rounds | R000605 | www.rounds.senate.gov | rounds | https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, released the following statement on the full Senate’s passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026. This is the 11th NDAA that Rounds has helped author as a member of SASC, and the 65th consecutive NDAA passed by the full Senate. “The NDAA is a critical piece of legislation passed each year which authorizes funding for our national security, as well as our servicemembers and their families,” said Rounds. “Just like our committee version of the bill, we secured many wins for South Dakota, including $378 million for construction projects at Ellsworth to prepare for the B-21, $28 million for the Watertown Army National Guard vehicle maintenance facility and $3.4 billion for procurement of B-21 aircraft. The NDAA also authorizes funding to support a 3.8 percent raise for military members. This NDAA keeps the U.S. ahead of the curve and takes care of our men and women in uniform who fight every day to protect our freedoms. I’m hopeful that these provisions will remain as we conference this bill with the House of Representatives. “The full Senate’s version of the NDAA also includes my legislation to ban individuals and entities controlled by China, Russia, Iran and North Korea from purchasing agricultural land and businesses located near sensitive military sites. Our near-peer adversaries are looking for any possible opportunity to surveil our nation’s capabilities and resources. This is a preventative measure to keep these nations out of our business and away from our most critical resources. “Despite what my Democrat colleagues want the American people to think, we can still do bipartisan work in the Senate. Leader Thune has worked hard this year to get the Senate back to regular order, in which we pass appropriations bills on a bipartisan basis every year. The NDAA is a great example of that. As we remain in a government shutdown… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=A9C09FB6-4962-40C5-901E-9E5F8917943F | Thune Joins Martha MacCallum on Fox News | 2025-10-10 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhere to watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Martha MacCallum on Fox News. On Congress’ responsibility to fund the government: “Democrats have to decide whether they want to deliver the five votes that we need to open up the government. We have … 55 out of 100 senators. The House has passed it, it’s sitting on the desk at the Senate … “[Democrats] have to think long and hard about what they’re doing, and unfortunately, the consequences of this are becoming very real … for a lot of federal workers. We want our troops to get paid, we want our TSA agents to get paid, our Border Patrol agents to get paid, air traffic controllers to get paid.” On Democrats’ shutdown hypocrisy: “We’ve made it very, very easy. It’s a nonpartisan, short-term, clean continuing resolution to keep the government open. Democrats now have voted against it seven times – something that they voted for 13 times under Joe Biden when he was president and Chuck Schumer was the majority leader in the Senate. “This is a routine thing. What they’ve decided to do is hijack it, and they’ve consistently now, seven straight times, voted it down.” […] “Democrats have concluded … that they think this is a political game. I mean, the statement that Chuck Schumer said … to the press about, ‘this gets better for us every day.’ I mean, that is a cynical statement, and honestly, they ought to be ashamed, because this is a real thing for a lot of families across this country that could be completely eliminated. “All they simply have to do is vote for the bill that’s right at the Senate desk. All we need is five of them right now to get it done.” […] “The president, like us, just wants to see the government opened up again … The Democrats are asking for $1.5 trillion in new spending. They’re asking for free health care for noncitizens in their counter proposal. Those are not things that’re going to go anywhere. It’s not serious. “We have in front of them a serious proposal to open up the govern… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=CF75528C-7927-430E-A34B-D0687F29E1E2 | Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day 10 | 2025-10-10 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.). Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Well, good morning. “Leader Chuck Schumer may think that every day that goes by, the shutdown gets better for the political prospects of the Democrats. “But every day that it goes by, it gets a lot worse for the American people. “Now, Democrat senators might start to feel that a little bit personally when they try to fly out of airports, and you see some of the impacts that are already occurring with respect to TSA and air traffic control. “And families around the country are already seeing the impacts, and it’s about to get a whole lot worse. “Because we just needed five more votes – five more Democrat votes – that the Democrats wouldn’t give us yesterday. “The American people are going to … feel a lot more pain and miss a lot more paychecks in the very near future. “So, shame on the Democrats. “Shame on the Democrats for doing this to the American people. “I mean, look at that. “Really? “‘Every day gets better for us?’ “‘Every day gets better for us.’ “That’s their thought about what this shutdown means. “So, shame on the Democrats for what they’re doing to the American people. “Republicans want our troops to get paid. “We want our air traffic controllers to get paid. “We want our TSA agents to get paid. “We want our Border [Patrol] agents to get paid. “And we have voted that way now in the United States Senate seven times, to open up the government. “Democrats in the Senate are the last hurdle, the last hurdle to getting the government open again and the American people back to work. “But, what? “Instead, they’ve decided to pander to their far-left activist base, who are cheering – cheering – what’s going on here. “And the Democrats tend to be so afraid – I guess, is the only thing, or running scared from – that far-left activist base that they are willing to put that ahead of … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=13F7BD4D-EADC-4396-A128-6DC2902DA978 | Thune on Israel-Gaza Peace Agreement | 2025-10-09 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, before I begin, I want to mention the very welcome news that the first phase of the historic Israel-Gaza peace plan brokered by President Trump and his administration working with allies and partners in the region has been agreed to. “This will finally mean the release of all remaining hostages, living and dead, who have been held by Hamas since its October 7, 2023, attack. “It is vital that Israel and especially Hamas implement the terms of this agreement as quickly as possible, so that this can truly mark the beginning of an end to the bloodshed and – I hope – a lasting peace for this most war-torn of regions. “In addition to both sides adhering to all agreed-upon terms, true peace will also require that there is never again a threat to Israel emanating from Gaza. “This means that Hamas must disarm and relinquish any role in governance of the Gaza strip. “And I know the president and Secretary Rubio continue to work relentlessly to pursue peace and to make this a reality. “Mr. President, I am grateful for this news. “And my prayers today are for the successful release of all hostages, the success of this agreement, and the protection of all innocents in harm’s way.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=43F5CA44-E9CD-48BB-8D27-F0D4C7C0EC23 | Thune Applauds Senate Passage of NDAA, Urges Democrats to Stop Holding Troops’ Paychecks Hostage | 2025-10-09 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after the Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, which authorizes significant investments for Ellsworth Air Force Base and the future B-21 bomber mission. “This year’s NDAA builds on the historic security investments we secured in the One Big Beautiful Bill and will strengthen the important role that South Dakota plays in keeping our nation safe by providing critical resources to Ellsworth Air Force Base and the B-21 mission,” said Thune. “The NDAA is one of the most important bills that Congress considers every year, and I’m pleased that the Senate made it a priority this year to ensure our military has everything it needs to project American strength and promote peace. “While I’m pleased we were able to get this legislation across the finish line, it is imperative that Senate Democrats stop holding the federal government – and military pay – hostage and reopen the government,” Thune continued. “Democrats need to do the right thing and vote to reopen the government so our troops can get paid and continue to provide for their families.” The NDAA includes significant investments that will benefit South Dakota: | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=C262E313-91E0-4E55-A7CA-7CB1D529B571 | Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day Nine | 2025-10-09 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, we are now nine days into the Democrats’ government shutdown. “Nine days in which Democrats have had multiple opportunities to support a clean, nonpartisan CR, sitting right here at the Senate desk, to reopen the government. “Something that’s been passed by our colleagues in the House of Representatives. “That has achieved 55 senators – a senate majority. “Out of 100 senators, 55 senators support this 24-page resolution sitting at the desk, which could open up the government today – because as soon as the Senate passes it, the president will sign it into law. “And Mr. President, this is the same nonpartisan measure that, as I said, passed the House three weeks ago. “No partisan riders, no gimmicks, no … partisan policies, Republican policies, anything like that. “A simple resolution – 24 pages long – to open up our government and make sure that the federal employees and the American people who depend upon them get paid. “Mr. President, the president’s ready to sign it. “All it takes is a handful of Democrats. “There are three Democrats who have already supported this clean continuing resolution. “Just a handful more, and we can end this shutdown in a matter of hours. “Fifty-five senators – a Senate majority, a majority of the 100 United States senators. “A majority in the House of Representatives. “The president of the United States is prepared to sign it. “That’s how straightforward this proposition is. “We’ve already seen, Mr. President, plenty of negative impacts from the Democrats’ shutdown. “But a whole new wave of pain begins tomorrow if Democrats don’t act. “Because if we fail to fund the government by the end of the day today, American servicemembers will begin going without their paychecks starting tomorrow. “That’s right, Mr. President. “If Democrats can’t bring themselves to reope… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=C42975CE-38F2-45D2-8CF0-7B708C0BE2AD | Thune Joins Amna Nawaz on PBS NewsHour | 2025-10-09 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhere to watch. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Amna Nawaz on PBS’s NewsHour. On Congress’ responsibility to fund the government: “All we need is … five Democrats to vote with us … it’s passed in the House, president will sign it … We’ve got 55 senators currently – a majority of the United States Senate – who have voted multiple times now to open up the government.” […] “You can’t take the ... federal government hostage. This is something that is routine, at least it has been in the past, when you do a short-term funding extension, and the one that we put together is … nonpartisan, has no policy riders, no Republican priorities in there. It is a straightforward funding resolution to keep the government open until such time as we can complete and finish the appropriations process … something that when the Democrats had the majority the last four years and while Biden was president, they did 13 different times … “This is a hijacking of a process that should be very straightforward, and you shouldn’t take a hostage, like federal workers …” On Democrats’ shutdown hypocrisy: “What matters here is the people who get hurt by a government shutdown … the federal government should not be taken as a hostage. And that used to be a very heartfelt position of a lot of Democrats in the Senate, including the Democrat leader. “But now, all of a sudden, things flipped and what’s changed is [Democrats] got a new president in the White House, and it’s a president they don’t like. And the left-wing base in the country is very adamant about fighting this president … so the Democrat leaders in the House and the Senate have followed that lead. “But there are, I think, reasonable Democrats out there who recognize this is a bad strategy and it harms the American people and hostage-taking shouldn’t be something that’s permissible. “Government shutdowns hurt everybody, and it doesn’t matter who gets blamed. [This] shouldn’t be about politics. It ought to be about … what’s in the best … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=F1A13731-52A9-4C01-A328-0F46613C0E8C | Thune Joins Squawk Box, ABC News | 2025-10-09 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhere to watch Squawk Box andhere to watch ABC News. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) joined Joe Kernen on CNBC’s Squawk Box and Linsey Davis on ABC News. On Congress’ responsibility to fund the government: “The only thing standing between the government being opened up again and us having a conversation about this is five Democrats coming forward and doing the right thing for the country.” […] “This is a political game for [Democrats] … I understand they’ve got these outside groups and this left-wing constituency that is clamoring to fight with President Trump. But this isn’t about the game … These are the real life consequences that happen to the American people if their government doesn’t act in a responsible way.” On Democrats’ shutdown hypocrisy: “[Democrat] leadership has no interest in a solution. When Chuck Schumer is saying ‘this is getting better for us every day,’ that’s not somebody who wants to see this get resolved. And they are pandering to the left-wing special interest groups out there who have demanded this and demanded this showdown with the president of the United States. “We’ve got a bill … that’s passed the House, that’s sitting at the desk in the Senate, that we could pass today, put it on the president’s desk, he would sign it into law, and this shutdown, whole fiasco, ends, and people can get back to work, and we can start paying the federal employees who are starting to miss paychecks.” […] “The last year the Senate Democrats had the majority, we didn’t do a single appropriations bill. We’ve done three [this year]. We want to do more. The funding resolution is about … giving us the opportunity to finish the annual appropriations process in the way we should be doing it – transparent, open, through regular order … “We’ve got a very straightforward proposal out there: Keep the government open, and then let's sit down and talk about these other issues.” On the consequences of Democrats’ shutdown: “Right now, it’s all about politics. And as Chuck … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=F6616C7D-D7D0-4829-A0EF-D6BBC1036CA9 | Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day Eight | 2025-10-08 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, we are now in day eight of a government shutdown, which is truly unfortunate and unnecessary, and totally at the behest of left-wing Democrat special interest groups who have pressured the Democrat leadership into a position that makes absolutely no sense to any thinking person. “I want you to think about where we are. Think about this scenario. “You have a bill passed by the House of Representatives over here in the Senate. “Twenty-four pages long, clean, short-term, nonpartisan, no policy riders, no Republican priorities. “A clean resolution to fund the government, which there are 55 senators – 55 out of 100 senators are voting for the clean, short-term funding resolution that would open up the government. “The president of the United States has said that, as soon as it is passed in the Senate, he will sign it into law. “So what you have is complete unified support for a short-term funding resolution to keep the government open and make sure that all the government employees who are currently being impacted and their families can get back to work and get paid again. “And so it’s always interesting when the Democrat leader comes down here and describes this fantasy world where the bill that they proposed – which would only get 47 votes here in the United States Senate, not even 50, not 51, not a majority, and certainly not the 60 that are necessary to pass consequential legislation in the Senate. “It wouldn’t get a single vote in the House of Representatives. “So they’ve got a bill, a proposal that they say keeps the government open, that can’t pass the Senate, wouldn’t pass the House, and wouldn’t be signed into law by the president. “Now, you tell me – you tell me – who is responsible for the government shutdown. “Republicans passed a bill in the House, over here in the Senate, 24 pages long, sitt… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=276ED813-2D7D-4077-B719-5E7F736E3E5D | Thune Delivers Remarks on Two-Year Anniversary of Terrorist Attack on Israel | 2025-10-07 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, before I begin, I want to note that today marks two years since the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel. “By day’s end on that October 7, hundreds of innocent Israelis were dead, and more than 200 hostages had been taken. “And some of those hostages are still in captivity. “My prayers today are with the remaining hostages, the survivors of that day, and all those still grieving the loss of their loved ones – and for a just and lasting peace in the region.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=3FF0961E-0D3B-4775-86B3-25FEAAFC50A8 | Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day Seven | 2025-10-07 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, it’s been one week since Democrats shut down the government. “One week since Democrats put their far-left base before the American people. “Over the past week, the Senate has taken votes on two different continuing resolutions. “One, offered by Republicans, is a clean funding extension – something that we do routinely around here. “It adds no Republican policies. “It has no partisan policy riders. “It just extends current funding levels through November the 21st so that we can make more progress on full-year appropriations. “The Democrats’ proposal, on the other hand, shows their lack of seriousness. “Their resolution would fund the government until October 3 in exchange for $1.5 trillion in new partisan spending. “Yes, you heard that right, Mr. President. “$1.5 trillion in new partisan spending to fund the government through the end of the month. “Just the end of the month. “Four weeks for $1.5 trillion. “And then there’s the fact that their plan makes noncitizens eligible for federal health care programs. “Strips away commonsense work requirements for able-bodied adults to be eligible for Medicaid. “And repeals the transformative $50 billion rural health fund that Republicans enacted in July to support and bolster rural hospitals. “Why Democrats think that threatening health care in rural America is a winning proposition is beyond me. “But apparently they really do think so, because we’re still in this shutdown one week later. “And Democrats are digging in their heels on their partisan demands. “Now, Mr. President, needless to say, Democrats’ partisan, $1.5 trillion bill has zero chance of becoming law. “There is only one viable path out of the mess that the Democrats have created. “We need to pass the clean, nonpartisan CR that’s already passed the House of Representatives. “And that Pr… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=A9DCDBB8-6CB3-4776-98D4-07035FC9BD0B | Thune Joins Guy Benson on Fox News Radio | 2025-10-07 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhere to watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Guy Benson on Fox News Radio. On Democrats’ shutdown hypocrisy: “[Democrats are] voting against a clean, nonpartisan, … continuing resolution that has no policy riders, no … partisan priorities for Republicans. It’s simply a funding resolution. And in lieu of that, they have offered up this gargantuan … counter proposal … that has … $1.5 trillion in new spending, … [and] free health care for noncitizens. “It is … hard to figure out where [Democrats] are. They’re in search of an identity. They don’t really have a leader. And as a consequence, it’s the tail wagging the dog.” On the consequences of Democrats’ shutdown: “It’s all these outside left-wing groups and personalities in the state of New York who seem to be influencing the behavior of [Democrats] who ought to know better. And so I’m hoping eventually that the adults will come back and we’ll be able to keep the government funded and avoid all the adverse consequences that come with a shutdown, but at least at the moment, they seem really dug in. “It is purely and simply their absolute hatred for the president and … desire to fight him on everything that he’s trying to get done, even if it includes taking a hostage like the federal government.” On the Biden-era FBI targeting Republican senators: “That revelation, in and of itself, ought to send chills up every American’s spine, because that is an egregious violation of American liberty, privacy, and I just think that we have to do everything necessary to get to the bottom of it and to hold people accountable. There’s just no two ways around it … you don’t find many times in American history where something like that’s been done, if ever, and we … can’t let this go. We have to make sure that there is accountability.” […] “Congress needs to be involved. There were … eight United States senators who were among those … on whom they were snooping. And I think that the Senate Judiciary Committee obviou… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=FDDF9EBA-0546-465C-9A67-7CC87E892A4F | Thune: Americans Pay the Price for Democrats’ Government Shutdown | 2025-10-07 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Every day that the Democrats keep the government shut down is creating more, and worse, consequences for the American people. “The White House estimates that it’s costing our economy about $15 billion a week to continue to have the government shut down. “But it’s not just our economy. “It’s American families, the American people who are paying the price. “The program funding for the WIC program – Women, Infants, and Children Program – was about set to expire. “I think the White House is trying to figure out a way to move resources around to be able to keep that program up and funded. “Telehealth, hospital-at-home, programs like that have expired – meaning that hospitals are losing and patients are losing their flexibility and making it harder to cover the people who need to be covered. “And then, of course, this week, paychecks start being affected for federal workers, and that is going to have real consequences for them and their families as well. “So this shutdown continues to create more and more problems, and the Democrats are going to get another chance. “They’ve already voted five different times now to keep the government shut down and against opening up the government – which we have from our colleagues in the House a clean funding resolution, which is nonpartisan. “Something that 13 previous occasions during the Democrats’ majority here in the Senate and the Biden presidency, almost all Democrats voted for all 13 times. “This is a fairly routine thing that … happens around here on a regular basis. “So instead, what they’ve tried to do is hijack this to get $1.5 trillion in new spending. “And … there’s no universe in which that’s going anywhere around here. “This is a very simple and straightforward proposition. “The Democrats want to have a conversation about the covid tax credit cliff that t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=013C2630-E22D-4363-BE24-BAC888476339 | Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day Six | 2025-10-06 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, we’re now in day six of the Democrats’ government shutdown. “Day six. “And I’m wondering just what exactly Democrats think they’re gaining from all of this. “I guess they’re getting points from the far-left interest groups they’ve been coordinating their shutdown strategy with. “But I highly doubt that they’re earning a lot of points with everyday, hardworking Americans. “Like the voters that they lost in the last election. “Mr. President, a Reuters headline from Thursday noted, and I quote, ‘US government shutdown threatens food-aid program for low-income Americans.’ “Let me just read that again, Mr. President: “‘US government shutdown threatens food-aid program for low-income Americans’ “The article noted that while the Trump Agriculture Department is doing its best to continue administering the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children – more commonly known as WIC – the program is ‘critically low’ on funds. “And it won’t get new funds until Democrats agree to reopen the government. “Mr. President, Democrats own this. “They own any lapse in funding for critical food aid programs, just as they own every other negative effect of this shutdown. “Because let’s remember, Mr. President, the only reason the government is shut down is because Democrats refused to accept a clean, nonpartisan funding extension. “A clean, nonpartisan funding extension. “We didn’t ask Democrats to swallow any new Republican policies. “We didn’t ask them to swallow any partisan riders. “We simply asked them to agree to a clean, nonpartisan bill. “The same kind of bill, Mr. President, I might add, that they voted for 13 times – 13 times – during the Biden administration. “But Democrats said no. “And I should note, Mr. President, that you don’t have to take my word for it on the facts of the… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=F04CDF4E-50A9-4333-96F8-B3AE522E5D5D | Thune Joins Larry Kudlow on Fox Business | 2025-10-06 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhere to watch. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Larry Kudlow on Fox Business. On Congress’ responsibility to fund the government: “Nobody likes shutdowns. … Nobody gains from a shutdown, Larry. But the truth is, in this case, we’ve put before [Democrats] something they voted for 13 times when Biden was president and when the Democrats [had] the majority in the Senate – a short-term funding resolution to keep the government open while we consider, in this case, other appropriations bills to fund the government for the full year. “This is very straightforward, but [Democrats] have decided to hijack it and make it about everything else on their agenda, most of which is … $1.5 trillion in new spending … [and] free health care available to noncitizens. This is what they’ve staked their claim on. And they’re wrong … “Hopefully the American people see through it and understand that we do have a clean funding resolution, something [Democrats] voted on 13 times in the past, and it will keep the government open. “If [Democrats] want to have a conversation about some of these other issues, I’ve said we’re open to that, but you’ve got to open up the government first.” On Democrats’ shutdown hypocrisy: “I think when the impact of this shutdown starts really being felt, I believe there are some Democrats who are going to say, ‘You know, this isn’t a good position for us to be in,’ and come and work with us to keep the government open … “We’ve told [Democrats] we’ll have a conversation about … the ACA tax credits. Although that, in and of itself, is another issue that the Democrats created because they put the expiration date in place. They … expanded these … tax credits, in a way that was supposed to be responsive to covid; well, covid is no longer with us. So this is a problem of their own making, and now they want us to … bail them out of this mess. But we’re not going to have that conversation until the government gets opened up.” On Democrats’ manufactured crisis: “T… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=453953A9-7CA2-4FFD-9D09-67F3277C7649 | Thune Joins Maria Bartiromo on Fox News | 2025-10-05 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhere to watch. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo on Fox News. On Congress’ responsibility to fund the government: “There’s not a lot to negotiate, Maria. The Democrats just need to open up the government. Right now, we’re at a stalemate. They’ve now voted four times. We’ve given them the opportunity – a clean, nonpartisan, short-term funding resolution that continues government funding for the next seven weeks, and on four occasions now they’ve voted against it. “So they’ll get another chance on Monday to vote again, and I’m hoping that some of them have a change of heart … What’s happening here is the Democrats are trying to hijack a short-term, nonpartisan continuing resolution to fund the government merely for seven weeks, to give us an opportunity to get the appropriations process done – to try and get $1.5 trillion of new spending, make health care in this country, free health care available to noncitizens in this country, and guts a $50 billion rural hospital health fund that’s designed to support rural hospitals. “That’s what they’ve got on the table. That’s [Democrats’] proposal. It’s a nonstarter. It’s not serious, it’s not reasonable, it’s not realistic. Everybody knows that. The Democrats need to come to that realization and understand their option in front of them here is to open up the government, and then we can talk about all these other things they want to have a conversation about.” […] “[Chuck Schumer’s] rank-and-file members shouldn’t follow his lead on this. This is where you need to separate from your leader and actually do the right thing for your constituents and for your country.” […] “This is nonpartisan, we didn’t put anything on it – no gimmicks, no policy riders. Just a straightforward resolution to keep the government open so we can continue the appropriations work that … both sides, Republicans and Democrats in the Senate, want to do.” On the consequences of Democrats’ shutdown: “You’r… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=E7818D54-B561-4E2A-9681-1A56A985B5CC | Thune: Open the Government, Open the Discussions | 2025-10-03 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. “The Speaker is right. “We have an opportunity to pick up a House-passed bill that, if it passes the Senate, will be sent to the White House, the president will sign it, and the government will reopen. “It’s that simple and that straightforward, and that’s all we’re talking about here. “All we need is a handful more Democrats. “We have a majority of senators – 55 senators have already voted for this clean, short-term, nonpartisan CR. “As the speaker said, no policy riders, no gimmicks, nothing in here that benefits Republicans. “This is a straight-up seven-week funding resolution, and we need it to keep the government open. “And if we don’t keep the government open, you’ll have all the things that the speaker just alluded to, all the Americans who are adversely impacted by this government shutdown. “Now, this is something, as you all know, as recently as the last administration, during the Biden administration, when the Democrats had the majority here in the United States Senate, the Democrats, on 13 different occasions, voted for this, a short-term continuing resolution. “Now, I have to ask, what’s changed? “What’s different about this? “What’s different is who’s in the White House. “That’s what it is about. “It’s all about President Trump and the Democrats needing to pick a fight to satisfy their far-left political base, far-left activist organizations, who are the tail wagging the dog right now. “That’s all this is about. “And you have a Democrat leader from New York in the in the Senate, a Democrat leader in the House from New York, and you have a mayoral race in New York, you’ve got AOC, you’ve got all these people that are bringing pressure to bear on what should be a routine, simple, straightforward proposition, and that is a short-term continuing resolution … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
| https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=F471515F-0ECA-4795-930E-0A91A9678612 | Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day Three | 2025-10-03 | 2025 | 2025-10 | Republican | Senate | SD | John Thune | T000250 | www.thune.senate.gov | thune | https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases | scraper | Clickhereto watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, it’s been two weeks since our first vote on a clean continuing resolution to keep the government open. “This shutdown could have been avoided well before it began. “But because Democrats have not budged from their partisan demands, the shutdown is now entering its third day. “Mr. President, there’s a lot we could be doing right now. “We could be considering bipartisan appropriations bills through regular order. “Going to conference on the three appropriations bills we passed in August. “Or passing the bipartisan annual defense bill. “But instead we’re stuck in a shutdown mess of Democrats’ making. “And the American people are suffering as a result. “Mr. President, Republicans remain united around a clean, nonpartisan funding extension. “It’s passed the House of Representatives. “And it’s currently sitting here in the Senate ready to be voted on. “It has no new Republican policies. “No partisan policy riders. “It’s straightforward, simple, and clean. “All it does is reopen the government through November the 21st to give us more time to pass appropriations bills here on the floor. “We have a number of bipartisan bills waiting for floor consideration right now. “The only thing standing in the way of reopening the government and getting back to doing the important work is Democrats’ $1.5 trillion in partisan spending demands. “That’s right – $1.5 trillion. “Their partisan proposal demands more money – think about this – more money than our defense budget just to keep the government open for four weeks. “That’s not a credible proposal – it’s a far-left wish list. “And it’s not how we’re going to do things around here. “Mr. President, we can end this shutdown in just a few hours. “We need to take one roll call vote – just one roll call vote – on the House-passed, clean continuing resolution. … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T19:32:54Z |
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